Patents by Inventor Horst D. Diessner

Horst D. Diessner 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: 11967098
    Abstract: A vehicular trailer angle detection system includes a camera disposed at a rear portion of a vehicle. The system determines, via processing of frames of image data captured by the camera, features of a trailer present rearward of the vehicle and hitched to the vehicle by determining features that have similar position changes between a current frame of image data captured by the camera and a previous frame of image data captured by the camera. Responsive to movement of the trailer relative to the vehicle, and via processing of captured frames of image data, the system tracks determined features over multiple captured frames of image data for different positions of the trailer relative to the vehicle. The system determines angle of the trailer relative to the vehicle based at least in part on tracking of determined features of the trailer over multiple captured frames of image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Horst D. Diessner, Jyothi P. Gali, Nikhil Gupta, Hilda Faraji, Galina Okouneva, Akinyele O. Ikuseru
  • Patent number: 11787338
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a vehicular camera disposed at a vehicle and operable to capture frames of image data. The vehicular vision system is operable to detect, via processing by an image processor of multiple frames of captured image data, when multiple objects are viewed by the vehicular camera. During a driving maneuver, and when multiple objects are detected, the vehicular vision system determines which detected object of the multiple detected objects is closest to the vehicle, and determines movement of at least the determined closest object relative to the vehicle. During the driving maneuver, and based at least in part on the determined relative movement of the determined closest object, the vehicular vision system determines whether the determined relative movement is indicative of the determined closest object being in or moving toward a position where collision may occur between the determined closest object and the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Horst D. Diessner
  • Publication number: 20230290155
    Abstract: A method for determining a safe state for a vehicle includes disposing a camera at a vehicle and disposing an electronic control unit (ECU) at the vehicle. Frames of image data are captured by the camera and provided to the ECU. An image processor of the ECU processes frames of image data captured by the camera. A condition is determined via processing at the image processor of the ECU frames of image data captured by the camera. The condition includes a shadow present in the field of view of the camera within ten frames of image data captured by the camera or a damaged condition of the imager within two minutes of operation of the camera. The ECU determines a safe state for the vehicle responsive to determining the condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Horst D. Diessner, Richard C. Bozich, Aleksandar Stefanovic, Anant Kumar Lall, Nikhil Gupta
  • Publication number: 20230289991
    Abstract: A vehicular trailer angle detection system includes a camera disposed at a rear portion of a vehicle. The system determines, via processing of frames of image data captured by the camera, features of a trailer present rearward of the vehicle and hitched to the vehicle by determining features that have similar position changes between a current frame of image data captured by the camera and a previous frame of image data captured by the camera. Responsive to movement of the trailer relative to the vehicle, and via processing of captured frames of image data, the system tracks determined features over multiple captured frames of image data for different positions of the trailer relative to the vehicle. The system determines angle of the trailer relative to the vehicle based at least in part on tracking of determined features of the trailer over multiple captured frames of image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Horst D. Diessner, Jyothi P. Gali, Nikhil Gupta, Hilda Faraji, Galina Okuoneva, Akinyele O. Ikuseru
  • Publication number: 20230256905
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a rearward-viewing camera disposed at a vehicle and viewing at least rearward of the vehicle. The rearward-viewing camera connects with a control via a cable. The cable carries control data from the control to the rearward-viewing camera and carries image data captured by the rearward-viewing camera from the rearward-viewing camera to the control. The control generates an output provided to a video display device of the vehicle. The video display device includes a video display screen viewable by a driver of the vehicle. During a reversing maneuver of the vehicle, the video display screen displays video images of an area rearward the vehicle derived from image data captured by the rearward-viewing camera and carried to the control by the cable. Image data captured by the rearward-viewing camera is processed at an image processor to detect an object present rearward of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Joern Ihlenburg, Andreas Koppe, Achim Gieseke, Hossam Mahmoud, Horst D. Diessner
  • Patent number: 11657620
    Abstract: A method for determining a safe state for a vehicle includes disposing a camera at a vehicle and disposing an electronic control unit (ECU) at the vehicle. Image data is captured via the camera and provided to the ECU. An image processor of the ECU processes captured image data. A condition is determined via processing at the image processor of the ECU captured image data. The condition comprises a shadow present in the field of view of the camera within ten frames of captured image data or a damaged condition of the imager within two minutes of operation of the camera. The condition is indicative of a condition where processing of captured image data degrades in performance. The ECU determines a safe state for the vehicle responsive to determining the condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Horst D. Diessner, Richard C. Bozich, Aleksandar Stefanovic, Anant Kumar Lall, Nikhil Gupta
  • Patent number: 11651510
    Abstract: A method for determining features of a trailer being towed by a vehicle includes initiating a calibration drive of the vehicle and capturing frames of image data via a vehicle camera, and, via processing by an image processor of frames of captured image data, determining features of the trailer being towed by the vehicle during the calibration drive. The features of the trailer are determined by determining features that have similar changes between a current frame of captured image data and a previous frame of captured image data captured during the calibration drive. The features are tracked over multiple frames of captured image data for different angular positions of the trailer relative to the vehicle to determine trailer length from the hitch ball of the vehicle to an axle of the trailer. The trailer angle is determined based on the determined trailer length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Horst D. Diessner, Jyothi P. Gali, Nikhil Gupta, Hilda Faraji, Galina Okouneva, Akinyele O. Ikuseru
  • Patent number: 11648877
    Abstract: A method for detecting an object via a vehicular vision system includes disposing first and second cameras at respective locations at a vehicle so as to have respective first and second fields of view rearward of the vehicle. The locations are vertically and horizontally spaced apart by respective vertical and horizontal separation distances. With the first and second cameras disposed at the respective locations, the first field of view at least partially overlaps the second field of view. An electronic control unit (ECU) is provided that includes an image processor. Image data is captured by the cameras and provided to the ECU and processed at the ECU. The ECU, responsive to processing of captured image data and based on the separation distances, determines presence of an object in the overlapping region of the first and second fields of view and determines the location of the object relative to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Horst D. Diessner
  • Patent number: 11634073
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a front camera and a rear camera disposed at a vehicle and each viewing exterior of the vehicle. Each of the cameras connects with a control via a respective mono coaxial cable. The respective mono coaxial cables carry control data from the control to the respective cameras and carry image data captured by the respective cameras to the control. The control generates an output provided to a video display device of the vehicle. The video display device includes a video display screen viewable by a driver of the vehicle. During a reversing maneuver of the vehicle, the video display screen displays video images of an area rearward the vehicle derived from image data captured by the rear camera and carried to the control by the respective mono coaxial cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Joern Ihlenburg, Andreas Koppe, Achim Gieseke, Hossam Mahmoud, Horst D. Diessner
  • Patent number: 11634136
    Abstract: A vehicular trailer hitching assist system includes a camera disposed at a rear portion of a vehicle and viewing at least rearward of the vehicle. An electronic control unit (ECU) includes an image processor operable to process image data captured by the camera. The ECU, via image processing of image data captured by the camera, detects a trailer rearward of the vehicle and determines a first path of travel for the vehicle to follow to maneuver the vehicle toward the trailer and to align the tow ball of the vehicle with a trailer hitch of the trailer. The ECU generates an output to maneuver the vehicle along the determined first path of travel. Responsive to detection of an object entering the first path of travel, the ECU determines a second path of travel for the vehicle to follow that avoids the detected object entering the determined path of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Nikhil Gupta, Horst D. Diessner, Richard Bozich, Jyothi P. Gali, Aleksandar Stefanovic, Hilda Faraji, Miad Moarref, Xai Phan, Galina Okouneva, Brijendra Kumar Bharti
  • Patent number: 11400919
    Abstract: A vehicular parking system includes a plurality of exterior viewing cameras, at least one receiver and a control. The control, when the vehicle is located at an entrance of a parking structure, controls the vehicle to autonomously drive the vehicle from the entrance of the parking structure toward a parking location in the parking structure. The parking structure includes a positioning system having a plurality of short range communication devices at known locations at the parking structure. Responsive to communication signals generated by the devices, the control determines the location of the vehicle relative to the known locations and drives the vehicle from the entrance of the parking structure toward the parking location in the parking structure. With the vehicle positioned at the parking location, and responsive at least to image processing by the image processor of captured image data, the control parks the vehicle in the parking location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Horst D. Diessner
  • Publication number: 20220234502
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a vehicular camera disposed at a vehicle and operable to capture frames of image data. The vehicular vision system is operable to detect, via processing by an image processor of multiple frames of captured image data, when multiple objects are viewed by the vehicular camera. During a driving maneuver, and when multiple objects are detected, the vehicular vision system determines which detected object of the multiple detected objects is closest to the vehicle, and determines movement of at least the determined closest object relative to the vehicle. During the driving maneuver, and based at least in part on the determined relative movement of the determined closest object, the vehicular vision system determines whether the determined relative movement is indicative of the determined closest object being in or moving toward a position where collision may occur between the determined closest object and the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventor: Horst D. Diessner
  • Patent number: 11305691
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a rearward viewing camera and a control, which includes a processor that processes image data captured by the camera. During a reversing maneuver of the vehicle, the control, via processing of captured image data, detects points of interest of detected objects. Responsive to detection of the points of interest of the detected objects, the control determines if the detected objects have height dimensions and determines that objects having a height dimension greater than a threshold height are objects of interest. During the reversing maneuver of the vehicle, the control determines distances to the determined objects of interest and determines which object of interest is closest to the vehicle. During the reversing maneuver of the vehicle, responsive to the determination of the closest object of interest rearward of the vehicle, the control determines whether the determined closest object of interest is a potential hazard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Horst D. Diessner
  • Publication number: 20220041103
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a front camera and a rear camera disposed at a vehicle and each viewing exterior of the vehicle. Each of the cameras connects with a control via a respective mono coaxial cable. The respective mono coaxial cables carry control data from the control to the respective cameras and carry image data captured by the respective cameras to the control. The control generates an output provided to a video display device of the vehicle. The video display device includes a video display screen viewable by a driver of the vehicle. During a reversing maneuver of the vehicle, the video display screen displays video images of an area rearward the vehicle derived from image data captured by the rear camera and carried to the control by the respective mono coaxial cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Joern Ihlenburg, Andreas Koppe, Achim Gieseke, Hossam Mahmoud, Horst D. Diessner
  • Patent number: 11142123
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes forward viewing camera and a rear camera each having a respective field of view exterior of the vehicle. Each of the cameras has an LVDS chip and connects with a control via a respective mono coaxial cable. Each mono coaxial cable carries via LVDS image data captured by the respective camera. Image data captured by the forward viewing camera and carried to the control by the respective mono coaxial cable is processed at the control for object detection. The control generates an output provided to a video display device of the vehicle, the video display device having a video display screen viewable by a driver of the vehicle. The video display screen displays video images of an area rearward of the vehicle derived from image data captured by the rear camera and carried to the control by the respective mono coaxial cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Joern Ihlenburg, Andreas Koppe, Achim Gieseke, Hossam Mahmoud, Horst D. Diessner
  • Publication number: 20210300245
    Abstract: A method for detecting an object via a vehicular vision system includes disposing first and second cameras at respective locations at a vehicle so as to have respective first and second fields of view rearward of the vehicle. The locations are vertically and horizontally spaced apart by respective vertical and horizontal separation distances. With the first and second cameras disposed at the respective locations, the first field of view at least partially overlaps the second field of view. An electronic control unit (ECU) is provided that includes an image processor. Image data is captured by the cameras and provided to the ECU and processed at the ECU. The ECU, responsive to processing of captured image data and based on the separation distances, determines presence of an object in the overlapping region of the first and second fields of view and determines the location of the object relative to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventor: Horst D. Diessner
  • Publication number: 20210276557
    Abstract: A vehicular trailer hitching assist system includes a camera disposed at a rear portion of a vehicle and viewing at least rearward of the vehicle. An electronic control unit (ECU) includes an image processor operable to process image data captured by the camera. The ECU, via image processing of image data captured by the camera, detects a trailer rearward of the vehicle and determines a first path of travel for the vehicle to follow to maneuver the vehicle toward the trailer and to align the tow ball of the vehicle with a trailer hitch of the trailer. The ECU generates an output to maneuver the vehicle along the determined first path of travel. Responsive to detection of an object entering the first path of travel, the ECU determines a second path of travel for the vehicle to follow that avoids the detected object entering the determined path of travel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Nikhil Gupta, Horst D. Diessner, Richard Bozich, Jyothi P. Gali, Aleksandar Stefanovic, Hilda Faraji, Miad Moarref, Xai Phan, Galina Okouneva, Brijendra Kumar Bharti
  • Publication number: 20210241008
    Abstract: A method for determining a safe state for a vehicle includes disposing a camera at a vehicle and disposing an electronic control unit (ECU) at the vehicle. Image data is captured via the camera and provided to the ECU. An image processor of the ECU processes captured image data. A condition is determined via processing at the image processor of the ECU captured image data. The condition comprises a shadow present in the field of view of the camera within ten frames of captured image data or a damaged condition of the imager within two minutes of operation of the camera. The condition is indicative of a condition where processing of captured image data degrades in performance. The ECU determines a safe state for the vehicle responsive to determining the condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Horst D. Diessner, Richard C. Bozich, Aleksandar Stefanovic, Anant Kumar Lall, Nikhil Gupta
  • Publication number: 20210201523
    Abstract: A method for determining features of a trailer being towed by a vehicle includes initiating a calibration drive of the vehicle and capturing frames of image data via a vehicle camera, and, via processing by an image processor of frames of captured image data, determining features of the trailer being towed by the vehicle during the calibration drive. The features of the trailer are determined by determining features that have similar changes between a current frame of captured image data and a previous frame of captured image data captured during the calibration drive. The features are tracked over multiple frames of captured image data for different angular positions of the trailer relative to the vehicle to determine trailer length from the hitch ball of the vehicle to an axle of the trailer. The trailer angle is determined based on the determined trailer length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Horst D. Diessner, Jyothi P. Gali, Nikhil Gupta, Hilda Faraji, Galina Okouneva, Akinyele O. Ikuseru
  • Patent number: 11034295
    Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes first and second cameras configured to be disposed at respective locations at the vehicle so as to have respective first and second fields of view exterior of the vehicle. The locations are vertically and horizontally spaced apart by respective vertical and horizontal separation distances. With the first and second cameras disposed at the respective locations, the first field of view at least partially overlaps the second field of view. A control includes an image processor operable to process image data captured by the cameras. The control, with the first and second cameras disposed at the respective locations, and responsive to processing of captured image data and based on the separation distances, is operable to determine presence of an object in the first and second fields of view and to determine the location of the object in three dimensional space relative to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Horst D. Diessner