Patents by Inventor Joël Leleve

Joël Leleve 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: 8437918
    Abstract: In the invention, a system is proposed for the automatic and dynamic correction of an orientation of a light beam emitted by a vehicle light source according to the attitude of the vehicle, by associating an image processing with static correction adapted to the slow variations in the attitude caused in particular by variations in load within the vehicle and an image processing with dynamic correction adapted to the rapid variations in the attitude due in particular to braking and acceleration of the vehicle, by means of a device for making the fusion of and filtering signals emitted simultaneously by the devices. A device for controlling the rotation of the light source orients the light source in a way appropriate to the driving according to the information received from the fusion and filtering device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Joel Leleve
  • Patent number: 8315766
    Abstract: A process and system for detecting a phenomenon limiting the visibility for a motor vehicle. The process and system comprises the steps of determining at least one point of interest in an image captured of the environment of the vehicle (CALC_H(I)); determining a region of interest in the image (CALC_ROI(I)); determining a graph of different levels of grey on the basis of said region of interest (CALC_CL(ROI)), and determining an area in said graph of different levels of grey around said point of interest (CALC_A(CL, H)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Julien Rebut, Joël Leleve, David Hue
  • Patent number: 8180108
    Abstract: A method for determining the distance of visibility for a driver of a vehicle in the presence of an element disrupting the visibility of the driver, the method comprising the following steps: determining the luminosity of the pixels of a region of an image taken in the field of vision of the driver, resulting in a luminosity curve, determining a first tangent to the curve of luminosity, determining a second tangent to the curve of luminosity, determining a sweep-line according to the first tangent and second tangent, the sweep-line being representative of the distance of visibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Julien Rebut, Joël Leleve
  • Patent number: 8063935
    Abstract: The present invention relates in particular to a method for the early detection of the arrival of a motor vehicle in a dark sector. In general terms, the invention proposes to use a camera for early detection of the arrival of the vehicle in a dark area, for example a tunnel. For this purpose, in the invention, provision is made in particular for using an image processing application for determining on a set of images supplied by the camera, whether the vehicle is ready to enter a dark area and, if it turns out that the vehicle will enter a dark area, to cause a switching on of the lights. Particular embodiments of the method according to the invention also make it possible to dispense with storing a plurality of templates corresponding to the various shapes of tunnel entrances, by providing judicious and reliable recognition criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Joël Leleve, Abdelaziz Bensrhair, Julien Rebut
  • Patent number: 7987052
    Abstract: A method that utilizes at least a first camera and a second camera, which have optical axes that are parallel to a first axis of an orthogonal reference frame, the first and the second camera being positioned so as to have a first offset along a second axis and a second offset along a third axis of the orthogonal reference frame. The first offset is used to carry out a first stereoscopic calculation, and the second offset is used to carry out a second stereoscopic calculation, the distance sought finally being established by taking into consideration these two stereoscopic calculations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Anne Herbin, Joël Leleve
  • Patent number: 7920250
    Abstract: A process for the detection from a vehicle of a visibility interference phenomenon, comprising the following steps: the emission of a beam of light to illuminate the rear of the vehicle, the beam of light being emitted into a field of vision of a camera mounted in the vehicle, and the determination of a presence and the nature of a visibility interference phenomenon on the basis of at least one image captured by the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Caroline Robert, Joël Leleve, David Hue
  • Patent number: 7864981
    Abstract: A method for adjusting an orientation of a camera installed on a vehicle, comprising the following operations: installing the vehicle at a location provided with markings on the ground, detecting these markings, estimating a vanishing point based on these markings, and matching the vanishing point with a positioning point by angular displacement of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Joël Leleve, Julien Rebut
  • Patent number: 7860275
    Abstract: A method for detecting raindrops on a windscreen, which uses a camera, which is fitted inside the vehicle opposite the windscreen and which is focused at infinite. The method comprises steps of acquiring images by a camera through the windscreen, camera preferably focused at infinite, retrieving the contours of the spots present on the acquired images, and realizing the histogram of the widths of contours of the spots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Joël Lelevé, Julien Rebut, Abdelaziz Bensrhair, Georges Challita
  • Patent number: 7838836
    Abstract: A method for detecting a phenomenon affecting visibility generated by an automotive vehicle, comprising the steps of emitting a first beam of light, which beam of light can be reflected by an obstacle; emitting a second reference beam of light using a second emitting source; receiving on a receiver the reflected beam of light resulting from the first beam of light being reflected by an obstacle, and the second beam of light sent directly to the input of the receiver; generating one or more detection signals as a function of a combination of the reflected beam of light in the event of an obstacle and a reference beam; and comparing the modulation of one or more detection signals generated using reference data. According to the invention, the first and second beams of light are infra-red beams, and they are directed towards the rear of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Caroline Robert, Joël Leleve, David Hue
  • Patent number: 7733409
    Abstract: A method and system according to the invention comprises the means for or steps of: acquiring, by means of a digital image taking apparatus, a digital image with aberration of a scene, the digital image incorporating at least a first image zone and a second image zone, the first and second image zones having respectively at least a first resolution and at least a second resolution, the first and second resolutions being different, calculating a deployed digital image, by deployment of at least one zone of the digital image with aberration, applying an object detection algorithm in the deployed digital image, and supplying information on each object detected in the deployed digital image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Benoist Fleury, Joël Leleve, Caroline Robert
  • Patent number: 7699509
    Abstract: The fixed light for bends for a motor vehicle comprises at least two light sources, means sensitive to the path of the vehicle for supplying a signal dependent on the nature of the road followed by the vehicle, and means for controlling successive switching on the sources according to the signal delivered and providing an effect of light sweeping towards the inside of the bend. Each light source consists of one or more modules with light-emitting diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Joël Leleve
  • Patent number: 7693302
    Abstract: An obstacle detection device comprising an imaging system for a motor vehicle, including at least one optical sensor, integrated in a lighting or signaling device of this vehicle. A field of vision of this at least one optical sensor can be oriented substantially along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle or substantially along a transverse axis of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Ravier, Jean-François Le Bars, Benoit Reiss, Joël Leleve, Pierre Albou
  • Publication number: 20090118909
    Abstract: A process and system for detecting a phenomenon limiting the visibility for a motor vehicle. The process and system comprises the steps of determining at least one point of interest in an image captured of the environment of the vehicle (CALC_H(I)); determining a region of interest in the image (CALC_ROI(I)); determining a graph of different levels of grey on the basis of said region of interest (CALC_CL(ROI)), and determining an area in said graph of different levels of grey around said point of interest (CALC_A(CL, H)).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: VALEO VISION
    Inventors: Julien REBUT, Joel LELEVE, David HUE
  • Publication number: 20090046894
    Abstract: A process for the detection from a vehicle of a visibility interference phenomenon, comprising the following steps: the emission of a beam of light to illuminate the rear of the vehicle, the beam of light being emitted into a field of vision of a camera mounted in the vehicle, and the determination of a presence and the nature of a visibility interference phenomenon on the basis of at least one image captured by the camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: VALEO VISION
    Inventors: Caroline ROBERT, Joel LELEVE, David HUE
  • Publication number: 20090032712
    Abstract: A method for detecting a phenomenon affecting visibility generated by an automotive vehicle, comprising the steps of emitting a first beam of light, which beam of light can be reflected by an obstacle; emitting a second reference beam of light using a second emitting source; receiving on a receiver the reflected beam of light resulting from the first beam of light being reflected by an obstacle, and the second beam of light sent directly to the input of the receiver; generating one or more detection signals as a function of a combination of the reflected beam of light in the event of an obstacle and a reference beam; and comparing the modulation of one or more detection signals generated using reference data. According to the invention, the first and second beams of light are infra-red beams, and they are directed towards the rear of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: VALEO VISION
    Inventors: Caroline Robert, Joel Leleve, David Hue
  • Patent number: 7423752
    Abstract: The invention concerns a system and method for detecting, at night, the presence of an element such as fog interfering with the visibility of a road scene situated in front of a vehicle, comprising the following operations: acquiring an image of the road scene, extracting, from the image of the road scene, at least one light halo produced by a lighting device of the vehicle, approximating a form of this light halo by an elliptic curve, comparing the form of this light halo with the elliptic curve obtained in order to deduce therefrom the presence or absence of an element interfering with visibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Joël Leleve, Abdelaziz Bensrhair, Julien Rebut
  • Publication number: 20080151565
    Abstract: The fixed light for bends for a motor vehicle comprises at least two light sources, means sensitive to the path of the vehicle for supplying a signal dependent on the nature of the road followed by the vehicle, and means for controlling successive switching on the sources according to the signal delivered and providing an effect of light sweeping towards the inside of the bend. Each light source consists of one or more modules with light-emitting diodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: VALEO VISION
    Inventor: Joel Leleve
  • Patent number: 7390112
    Abstract: The fixed light for bends for a motor vehicle comprises at least two light sources, means sensitive to the path of the vehicle for supplying a signal dependent on the nature of the road followed by the vehicle, and means for controlling successive switching on the sources according to the signal delivered and providing an effect of light sweeping towards the inside of the bend. Each light source consists of one or more modules with light-emitting diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Joel Leleve
  • Publication number: 20080114518
    Abstract: In the invention, a system is proposed for the automatic and dynamic correction of an orientation of a light beam emitted by a vehicle light source according to the attitude of the vehicle, by associating an image processing with static correction adapted to the slow variations in the attitude caused in particular by variations in load within the vehicle and an image processing with dynamic correction adapted to the rapid variations in the attitude due in particular to braking and acceleration of the vehicle, by means of a device for making the fusion of and filtering signals emitted simultaneously by the devices. A device for controlling the rotation of the light source orients the light source in a way appropriate to the driving according to the information received from the fusion and filtering device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: VALEO VISION
    Inventor: Joel Leleve
  • Patent number: 7350945
    Abstract: A system for a motor vehicle for detecting driving conditions on a road, including a nebulosity, the range of visibility in the presence of a nebulosity or the distance between an obstacle in the road and the motor vehicle. The system includes a headlight which emits a visible light beam and an infrared light beam, at least one light sensor which receives at least a portion of the infrared beam reflected back to the vehicle, a optical device for directing at least a part of the reflected infrared beam to the light sensor and a device for detecting the modulated signal of the reflected infrared beam and determining at least one driving condition based on a comparison of the reflected infrared beam modulated signal and the corresponding emitted infrared beam modulated signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Pierre Albou, Joël Lelevé