Patents by Inventor Cathy Boon

Cathy Boon has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9401028
    Abstract: A method and system for video-based road departure warning for a vehicle on a road, is provided. Road departure warning involves receiving an image of a road in front of the vehicle from a video imager, and detecting one or more road markings in the image corresponding to markings on the road. Then, analyzing the characteristics of an image region beyond the detected markings to determine a rating for drivability of the road corresponding to said image region, and detecting the lateral offset of the vehicle relative to the markings on the road based on the detected road markings. A warning signal is generated as function of said lateral offset and said rating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: VALEO SCHALTER UND SENSOREN GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Kuehnle, Cathy Boon
  • Patent number: 8823799
    Abstract: The invention proposes a method and an arrangement for evaluating sensor images of an image-evaluating environment recognition system on a carrier, in which, in order to distinguish the light conditions in the area of the image-evaluating environment recognition system with regard to day or night, at least the gain and/or the exposure time of the at least one image sensor detecting the environment is/are monitored, a profile of the gain and/or the exposure time against time with relatively high gain or relatively long exposure times characterizing night-time light conditions, and a profile of the gain and/or the exposure time with relatively low gain and/or relatively short exposure times characterizing daytime light conditions. The environment recognition system according to the invention can also be used to search the detected environment for bright objects, the headlights of another carrier being used as additional information, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Andreas Kuehnle, Cathy Boon
  • Publication number: 20140177914
    Abstract: A method and system for video-based road departure warning for a vehicle on a road, is provided. Road departure warning involves receiving an image of a road in front of the vehicle from a video imager, and detecting one or more road markings in the image corresponding to markings on the road. Then, analyzing the characteristics of an image region beyond the detected markings to determine a rating for drivability of the road corresponding to said image region, and detecting the lateral offset of the vehicle relative to the markings on the road based on the detected road markings. A warning signal is generated as function of said lateral offset and said rating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventors: Andreas KUEHNLE, Cathy Boon
  • Publication number: 20130251208
    Abstract: The invention proposes a method and an arrangement for evaluating sensor images of an image-evaluating environment recognition system on a carrier, in which, in order to distinguish the light conditions in the area of the image-evaluating environment recognition system with regard to day or night, at least the gain and/or the exposure time of the at least one image sensor detecting the environment is/are monitored, a profile of the gain and/or the exposure time against time with relatively high gain or relatively long exposure times characterizing night-time light conditions, and a profile of the gain and/or the exposure time with relatively low gain and/or relatively short exposure times characterizing daytime light conditions. The environment recognition system according to the invention can also be used to search the detected environment for bright objects, the headlights of another carrier being used as additional information, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Andreas Kuehnle, Cathy Boon
  • Patent number: 8472673
    Abstract: A method and system for reflection detection in road video images, is provided. One implementation involves detecting road surface reflections, by receiving an image of a road in front of a vehicle from an image capturing device, determining a region of interest in an identified road in the image, and detecting road surface reflections in the region of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Kuehnle, Cathy Boon
  • Patent number: 8462988
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting road markings, is provided. One implementation involves receiving an image (3) of a road (4) in front of a vehicle (2) from an imager (1), determining a region of interest in an identified road in the image, and detecting road markings (8L, 8R) by detecting lane markings (7L, 7R) in the region of interest, and if lane markings cannot be detected, then detecting road boundaries in the region of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventor: Cathy Boon
  • Patent number: 8391556
    Abstract: A method and system for video-based road lane curvature measurement is provided. An image processing system receives roadway scene images from a vehicle-mounted video camera to measure road curvature. Road boundary indicators, such as lane markings, are used for identifying the road boundaries. The road curvature is approximated using a relation between the slope of a line connecting two points on a lane marking, and the average longitudinal distance from the camera to the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Kuehnle, Cathy Boon
  • Patent number: 8379088
    Abstract: A method and a system for evaluating sensor images of an image-evaluating adaptive cruise control system on a moving support, especially a vehicle which moves on a roadway, are disclosed. Irregularities, especially tar strips or tar joints on the roadway are evaluated due to their geometric shapes, their brightness, their contrast and/or their reflectivity to distinguish them from markings relating to the predetermined trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: VALEO Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Kuehnle, Cathy Boon
  • Patent number: 8373754
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement for evaluating sensor images of an image-evaluating surroundings-detection system on a moved carrier, preferably a vehicle (1), are proposed, wherein areas in the sensor images captured by a camera (4) which are dark in relation to the surroundings are evaluated in chronologically successive evaluation steps in order to determine whether said dark areas are moving toward the carrier at the speed of said carrier, and in that these dark areas are detected as shadows (7) of a static object and corresponding signaling is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: VALEO Schalter Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Kuehnle, Cathy Boon
  • Publication number: 20110211071
    Abstract: The invention proposes a method and an arrangement for evaluating sensor images of an image-evaluating environment recognition system on a carrier, in which, in order to distinguish the light conditions in the area of the image-evaluating environment recognition system with regard to day or night, at least the gain and/or the exposure time of the at least one image sensor detecting the environment is/are monitored, a profile of the gain and/or the exposure time against time with relatively high gain or relatively long exposure times characterizing night-time light conditions, and a profile of the gain and/or the exposure time with relatively low gain and/or relatively short exposure times characterizing daytime light conditions. The environment recognition system according to the invention can also be used to search the detected environment for bright objects, the headlights of another carrier being used as additional information, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: VALEO SCHALTER UND SENSOREN GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Kuehnle, Cathy Boon
  • Publication number: 20110109743
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement for evaluating sensor images of an image-evaluating surroundings-detection system on a moved carrier, preferably a vehicle (1), are proposed, wherein areas in the sensor images captured by a camera (4) which are dark in relation to the surroundings are evaluated in chronologically successive evaluation steps in order to determine whether said dark areas are moving toward the carrier at the speed of said carrier, and in that these dark areas are detected as shadows (7) of a static object and corresponding signaling is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: VALEO SCHALTER UND SENSOREN GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Kuehnle, Cathy Boon
  • Publication number: 20110109744
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system for evaluating sensor images of an image-evaluating adaptive cruise control system on a moving support, especially a vehicle (1) which moves on a roadway (2). According to the invention, irregularities, especially tar strips (8) or tar joints on the roadway (2) are evaluated due to their geometric shapes, their brightness, their contrast and/or their reflectivity to distinguish them from markings (7) relating to the predetermined trajectory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: VALEO SCHALTER UND SENSOREN GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Kuehnle, Cathy Boon
  • Publication number: 20100104139
    Abstract: A method and system for video-based road lane curvature measurement is provided. An image processing system receives roadway scene images from a vehicle-mounted video camera to measure road curvature. Road boundary indicators, such as lane markings, are used for identifying the road boundaries. The road curvature is approximated using a relation between the slope of a line connecting two points on a lane marking, and the average longitudinal distance from the camera to the line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: VALEO SCHALTER UND SENSOREN GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Kuehnle, Cathy Boon
  • Publication number: 20100086211
    Abstract: A method and system for reflection detection in road video images, is provided. One implementation involves detecting road surface reflections, by receiving an image of a road in front of a vehicle from an image capturing device, determining a region of interest in an identified road in the image, and detecting road surface reflections in the region of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: VALEO SCHALTER UND SENSOREN GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Kuehnle, Cathy Boon
  • Publication number: 20100079590
    Abstract: A method and system for video-based road departure warning for a vehicle on a road, is provided. Road departure warning involves receiving an image of a road in front of the vehicle from a video imager, and detecting one or more road markings in the image corresponding to markings on the road. Then, analyzing the characteristics of an image region beyond the detected markings to determine a rating for drivability of the road corresponding to said image region, and detecting the lateral offset of the vehicle relative to the markings on the road based on the detected road markings. A warning signal is generated as function of said lateral offset and said rating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: VALEO SCHALTER UND SENSOREN GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Kuehnle, Cathy Boon
  • Publication number: 20100054538
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting road markings, is provided. One implementation involves receiving an image (3) of a road (4) in front of a vehicle (2) from an imager (1), determining a region of interest in an identified road in the image, and detecting road markings (8L1 8R) by detecting lane markings (7L, 7R) in the region of interest, and if lane markings cannot be detected, then detecting road boundaries in the region of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: VALEO SCHALTER UND SENSOREN GMBH
    Inventor: Cathy Boon