Patents by Inventor Hongzhi Kong
Hongzhi Kong 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).
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Patent number: 7623950Abstract: The present invention relates to systems for determining the position and the type of an occupant in a vehicle. More specifically, the present invention provides an occupant position and type classification system including an occupant detection module, a processor in communication with the occupant detection module, and memory accessible by the processor and storing program instructions executable by the processor to perform the steps of categorizing the occupant into one of a plurality of static categories, each of the static categories including at least one class indicative of the occupant's type or position in the vehicle, and classifying the occupant into one of the classes.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2005Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Hongzhi Kong, William A. Bauson, Qin Sun
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Patent number: 7548270Abstract: A method of exposure control for an imaging system. A predetermined number of images are captured by one or more imagers, wherein the images are defined by an image resolution matrix. The images are masked to establish a region of interest within the image resolution matrix and brightness of the images is analyzed within the region of interest. An exposure time is calculated for a subsequent image capturing step based on the brightness analysis, and an exposure time setting of the imager(s) is adjusted during the subsequent image capturing step based on the calculated exposure time.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2005Date of Patent: June 16, 2009Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Hongzhi Kong, Qin Sun
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Patent number: 7505841Abstract: A vehicle restraint system has a vision-based occupant classification system for control of airbag deployment during a crash scenario. The classification system utilizes two imaging sensors which together create a stream of paired images received and stored by an occupant classification controller. A computer program product of the controller utilizes the paired images to extract disparity/range features and stereo-vision differential edge density features. Moreover, the controller extracts wavelet features from one of the two paired images. All three features or maps are classified amongst preferably seven classifications by algorithms of the computer program product producing class confidence data fed to a sensor fusion engine of the controller for processing and output of an airbag control signal input into a restraint controller of the vehicle restraint system.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2005Date of Patent: March 17, 2009Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Qin Sun, Hongzhi Kong, David L. Eiche, Victor M. Nieto
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Patent number: 7472007Abstract: A method of classifying vehicle occupants utilizes a neural network engine having a state machine for determining if an occupant has changed preferably between an adult and adult, an adult and child, and a child and child from a pair of images. If no change has occurred, the method utilizes the prior occupant type and then decides if the occupant has changed in position. If no, the occupant is deemed static and the prior type is valid as a classification or output to preferably a vehicle restraint system. If the occupant has changed in position, a dynamic classification process is initiated by either an adult or a child dynamic classifier as dictated by the state machine. Valid dynamic classifier outputs or classifications can be sent to the restraint system and invalid dynamic classifier outputs are sent to a static classifier for update of the occupant type.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2005Date of Patent: December 30, 2008Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Hongzhi Kong, Qin Sun, David L. Eiche, Victor M. Nieto
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Patent number: 7308349Abstract: A vision-based occupant classification method utilizes a static classification routine for achieving highly accurate occupant classification, a dynamic detection routine for quickly responding to changes in occupant position, and a category state change routine for detecting potential changes in occupant category. The static classification routine determines an initial classification of the occupant, after which the dynamic detection routine monitors for changes in occupant position and the category state change routine monitors for a potential change in occupant category. If category state change routine detects a potential change in occupant category, the static classification routine is re-executed to re-classify the occupant. The category state change routine identifies a composite optical flow vector associated with occupant movement, and detects a potential change in occupant category when the composite flow vector crosses one or more pre-defined entry/exit motion gates.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2005Date of Patent: December 11, 2007Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Hongzhi Kong, John R. Bailey
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Patent number: 7205527Abstract: An automotive occupant position restraint apparatus senses a position of an occupant of a motor vehicle. The apparatus includes an optical energy source emitting a first beam of optical energy. A first optical arrangement is disposed in a path of the first beam of optical energy. The first optical arrangement expands the first beam of optical energy into a plurality of second beams of optical energy spanning across a first angle. A second optical arrangement is disposed in a path of the second beams of optical energy. The second optical arrangement expands the second beams of optical energy into a plurality of third beams of optical energy spanning across a second angle larger than the first angle. An optical energy receiver receives optical energy from the third beams, wherein the received optical energy has been reflected within a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2003Date of Patent: April 17, 2007Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Jianhua Li, Hongzhi Kong
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Publication number: 20070052839Abstract: A method of exposure control for an imaging system. A predetermined number of images are captured by one or more imagers, wherein the images are defined by an image resolution matrix. The images are masked to establish a region of interest within the image resolution matrix and brightness of the images is analyzed within the region of interest. An exposure time is calculated for a subsequent image capturing step based on the brightness analysis, and an exposure time setting of the imager(s) is adjusted during the subsequent image capturing step based on the calculated exposure time.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2005Publication date: March 8, 2007Inventors: Hongzhi Kong, Qin Sun
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Publication number: 20070055428Abstract: A method of classifying vehicle occupants utilizes a neural network engine having a state machine for determining if an occupant has changed preferably between an adult and adult, an adult and child, and a child and child from a pair of images. If no change has occurred, the method utilizes the prior occupant type and then decides if the occupant has changed in position. If no, the occupant is deemed static and the prior type is valid as a classification or output to preferably a vehicle restraint system. If the occupant has changed in position, a dynamic classification process is initiated by either an adult or a child dynamic classifier as dictated by the state machine. Valid dynamic classifier outputs or classifications can be sent to the restraint system and invalid dynamic classifier outputs are sent to a static classifier for update of the occupant type.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2005Publication date: March 8, 2007Inventors: Hongzhi Kong, Qin Sun, David Eiche, Victor Nieto
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Publication number: 20070055427Abstract: A vehicle restraint system has a vision-based occupant classification system for control of airbag deployment during a crash scenario. The classification system utilizes two imaging sensors which together create a stream of paired images received and stored by an occupant classification controller. A computer program product of the controller utilizes the paired images to extract disparity/range features and stereo-vision differential edge density features. Moreover, the controller extracts wavelet features from one of the two paired images. All three features or maps are classified amongst preferably seven classifications by algorithms of the computer program product producing class confidence data fed to a sensor fusion engine of the controller for processing and output of an airbag control signal input into a restraint controller of the vehicle restraint system.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2005Publication date: March 8, 2007Inventors: Qin Sun, Hongzhi Kong, David Eiche, Victor Nieto
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Publication number: 20060282201Abstract: The present invention relates to systems for determining the position and the type of an occupant in a vehicle. More specifically, the present invention provides an occupant position and type classification system including an occupant detection module, a processor in communication with the occupant detection module, and memory accessible by the processor and storing program instructions executable by the processor to perform the steps of categorizing the occupant into one of a plurality of static categories, each of the static categories including at least one class indicative of the occupant's type or position in the vehicle, and classifying the occupant into one of the classes.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2005Publication date: December 14, 2006Inventors: Hongzhi Kong, William Bauson, Qin Sun
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Publication number: 20060276945Abstract: A vision-based occupant classification method utilizes a static classification routine for achieving highly accurate occupant classification, a dynamic detection routine for quickly responding to changes in occupant position, and a category state change routine for detecting potential changes in occupant category. The static classification routine determines an initial classification of the occupant, after which the dynamic detection routine monitors for changes in occupant position and the category state change routine monitors for a potential change in occupant category. If category state change routine detects a potential change in occupant category, the static classification routine is re-executed to re-classify the occupant. The category state change routine identifies a composite optical flow vector associated with occupant movement, and detects a potential change in occupant category when the composite flow vector crosses one or more pre-defined entry/exit motion gates.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2005Publication date: December 7, 2006Inventors: Hongzhi Kong, John Bailey
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Patent number: 7095002Abstract: An object surface characterization system with adaptive lighting control includes a light projector, a light source, a camera, a processor and a memory subsystem. The processor is coupled to the light projector, the light source and the camera, as well as the memory subsystem. The memory subsystem stores code that, when executed by the processor, instructs the processor to perform a number of steps to achieve adaptive lighting control for the system.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2004Date of Patent: August 22, 2006Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Hongzhi Kong, Qin Sun, Adil Ansari, Jeffrey H. Burns
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Publication number: 20060092401Abstract: An automotive occupant position restraint apparatus senses a position of an occupant of a motor vehicle. An optical energy source emits optical energy that is substantially limited to a first range of wavelengths that corresponds to an atmospheric absorption peak. An optical energy receiver receives the optical energy emitted by the optical energy source after the optical energy has been reflected within a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. A range of wavelengths that the receiver is operable to receive is substantially limited to a second range of wavelengths that corresponds to the atmospheric absorption peak.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2004Publication date: May 4, 2006Inventors: John Troxell, Dale Partin, Hongzhi Kong, William Bauson, Michel Sultan, Andrew Harbach, Gregory Scharenbroch
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Patent number: 7002699Abstract: A technique for identifying beam images of a beam matrix includes a number of steps. Initially, a plurality of light beams of a beam matrix, which are arranged in rows and columns, are received after reflection from a surface of a target. Next, a reference light beam is located in the beam matrix. Then, a row pivot beam is located in the beam matrix based on the reference beam. Next, remaining reference row beams of a reference row that includes the row pivot beam and the reference beam are located. Then, a column pivot beam in the beam matrix is located based on the reference beam. Next, remaining reference column beams of a reference column that includes the column pivot beam and the reference beam are located. Finally, remaining ones of the light beams in the beam matrix are located.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2004Date of Patent: February 21, 2006Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Hongzhi Kong, Qin Sun, Stephen J. Kiselewich
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Publication number: 20050185194Abstract: A technique for identifying beam images of a beam matrix includes a number of steps. Initially, a plurality of light beams of a beam matrix, which are arranged in rows and columns, are received after reflection from a surface of a target. Next, a reference light beam is located in the beam matrix. Then, a row pivot beam is located in the beam matrix based on the reference beam. Next, remaining reference row beams of a reference row that includes the row pivot beam and the reference beam are located. Then, a column pivot beam in the beam matrix is located based on the reference beam. Next, remaining reference column beams of a reference column that includes the column pivot beam and the reference beam are located. Finally, remaining ones of the light beams in the beam matrix are located.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2004Publication date: August 25, 2005Inventors: Hongzhi Kong, Qin Sun, Stephen Kiselewich
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Publication number: 20050184217Abstract: An object surface characterization system with adaptive lighting control includes a light projector, a light source, a camera, a processor and a memory subsystem. The processor is coupled to the light projector, the light source and the camera, as well as the memory subsystem. The memory subsystem stores code that, when executed by the processor, instructs the processor to perform a number of steps to achieve adaptive lighting control for the system.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2004Publication date: August 25, 2005Inventors: Hongzhi Kong, Qin Sun, Adil Ansari, Jeffrey Burns
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Publication number: 20050121892Abstract: An automotive occupant position restraint apparatus senses a position of an occupant of a motor vehicle. The apparatus includes an optical energy source emitting a first beam of optical energy. A first optical arrangement is disposed in a path of the first beam of optical energy. The first optical arrangement expands the first beam of optical energy into a plurality of second beams of optical energy spanning across a first angle. A second optical arrangement is disposed in a path of the second beams of optical energy. The second optical arrangement expands the second beams of optical energy into a plurality of third beams of optical energy spanning across a second angle larger than the first angle. An optical energy receiver receives optical energy from the third beams, wherein the received optical energy has been reflected within a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2003Publication date: June 9, 2005Inventors: Jianhua Li, Hongzhi Kong
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Publication number: 20050073586Abstract: A host processor to camera interface includes a camera side interface, a host processor side interface and a cable coupling a camera side transmitter to a host processor side receiver.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2003Publication date: April 7, 2005Inventors: Songnian Li, Thomas Voreis, Hongzhi Kong
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Patent number: 6762427Abstract: Electromagnetic radiation is directed from an optical grating in a regular array of beams in rows and columns toward a target object surface; and the reflected beams are focused through a lens to form beam images on an image plane of a single camera. Each of the beam images has a position on the image plane that moves substantially linearly with variation of a target distance between the optical grating and a point on the object surface from which that beam image is reflected; and the direction of the substantially linear movement of each beam image forms a predetermined angle with the column of the array of beam images on the image plane to which that beam belongs at a common target distance.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2002Date of Patent: July 13, 2004Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Hongzhi Kong, Kambiz S. Panahi, Qin Sun
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Publication number: 20040119035Abstract: Electromagnetic radiation is directed from an optical grating in a regular array of beams in rows and columns toward a target object surface; and the reflected beams are focused through a lens to form beam images on an image plane of a single camera. Each of the beam images has a position on the image plane that moves substantially linearly with variation of a target distance between the optical grating and a point on the object surface from which that beam image is reflected; and the direction of the substantially linear movement of each beam image forms a predetermined angle with the column of the array of beam images on the image plane to which that beam belongs at a common target distance.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2002Publication date: June 24, 2004Inventors: Hongzhi Kong, Kambiz S. Panahi, Qin Sun