Patents by Inventor Mark Gehrke

Mark Gehrke 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: 12567130
    Abstract: A first image of a scene captured by a first camera is received. The first image is resized to have an instantaneous field of view (IFoV) corresponding to the IFoV of a second image of the scene captured by a second camera. A distortion-corrected resized first image is constructed. A resampled distortion-corrected, resized first image is constructed to provide a resampled, distortion-corrected, resized first image, thereby registering first image to the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2026
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Gehrke, David Hiskens
  • Patent number: 12505514
    Abstract: A method to enhance image quality is disclosed. The method may include obtaining an infrared image from a vehicle infrared camera. The method may further include multiplying the infrared image with a fade mask, and generating a masked infrared image based on the multiplication. The method may additionally include obtaining a colored image from a vehicle colored camera. Responsive to obtaining the colored image, the method may include combining the masked infrared image with the colored image, and outputting a combined image based on the combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2025
    Inventors: David Hiskens, Mark Gehrke, Brian Bennie
  • Publication number: 20240420285
    Abstract: A first image of a scene captured by a first camera is received. The first image is resized to have an instantaneous field of view (IFoV) corresponding to the IFoV of a second image of the scene captured by a second camera. A distortion-corrected resized first image is constructed. A resampled distortion-corrected, resized first image is constructed to provide a resampled, distortion-corrected, resized first image, thereby registering first image to the second image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2023
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Gehrke, David Hiskens
  • Publication number: 20240420348
    Abstract: A first calibration image of a calibration target is received and resized to provide a resized first calibration image. Pixel coordinates of the resized first calibration image are mapped to pixel coordinates of the first calibration image to provide a resizing map. The resized first calibration image is distortion-corrected to provide a distortion-corrected resized first calibration image. Pixel coordinates of the distortion-corrected resized first calibration image are mapped to pixel coordinates of the resized first calibration image to provide a distortion correction map. The distortion-corrected resized first calibration image is resampled to provide a resampled, distortion-corrected, resized calibration image. Pixel coordinates of the resampled, distortion-corrected, resized calibration image are mapped to pixel coordinates of the distortion-corrected, resized calibration image to provide a resampling map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2023
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Hiskens, Mark Gehrke
  • Publication number: 20240265506
    Abstract: A method to enhance image quality is disclosed. The method may include obtaining an infrared image from a vehicle infrared camera. The method may further include multiplying the infrared image with a fade mask, and generating a masked infrared image based on the multiplication. The method may additionally include obtaining a colored image from a vehicle colored camera. Responsive to obtaining the colored image, the method may include combining the masked infrared image with the colored image, and outputting a combined image based on the combination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2023
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Hiskens, Mark Gehrke, Brian Bennie
  • Patent number: 11981326
    Abstract: A plurality of thermal images forward of a vehicle are collected. Thermal data in the plurality of thermal images is normalized based on an ambient air temperature to generate a plurality of normalized thermal images. The plurality of normalized thermal images are input to a machine learning program trained to output an identification of an object based on the ambient air temperature and a risk of collision between the vehicle and the object. A vehicle component is actuated based on the identification of the object and the risk of collision with the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alireza Rahimpour, Devesh Upadhyay, Jonathan Diedrich, Mark Gehrke
  • Publication number: 20240140462
    Abstract: A system for mitigating glare from at least one light source while driving a vehicle. The system includes determining an occurrence of a glare condition based on, at least in part, a visible light video stream generated by a visible light sensor. Upon determining the occurrence of the glare condition, indicia are presented at the vehicle display to assist in navigation of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Bennie, David Hiskens, Collin Hurley, Mark Gehrke, Jonathan Diedrich
  • Patent number: 11904666
    Abstract: A vehicle characterizes a sunload on the vehicle using an imaging system including at least one camera capturing image data (e.g., without using an ambient light sensor). The image data includes at least a portion of a passenger cabin. A region of interest (ROI) overlay receives the image data and extracts selected image data according to predetermined scene elements of the vehicle environment. An occupant overlay is configured to detect a vehicle occupant represented in the selected image data and configured to generate truncated image data by subtracting image data corresponding to the vehicle occupant from the selected image data. An ambient light model uses environmental parameters including a sun position to estimate an expected sunload range. A mapper generates a sunload map comprising respective sunload values for a plurality of locations on the vehicle according to the truncated image data and the expected sunload range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jake S. Schwartz, Nicholas A. Scheufler, Jonathan Diedrich, Eric R. Krieger, Mark Gehrke, Martin van Hoeckel, Brian Bennie
  • Publication number: 20230064450
    Abstract: First objects are detected in an infrared image from an infrared camera and second objects are detected in a color image from a color camera. The first objects are compared with the second objects to determine pairs of matching first objects and second objects. For each matching pair, a respective region of an output image is colorized by setting colors of pixels in the region based on colors of the pixels of the second object in the matching pair. The pixels in the region have locations corresponding to the locations of the pixels in the first object of the matching pair. When the colorizing is complete, pixels not in the colorized regions have intensities of the infrared image. The output image is a version of the infrared image with a region colorized according to the color image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Hiskens, Collin Hurley, Mark Gehrke, Jonathan Diedrich
  • Publication number: 20220379691
    Abstract: A vehicle characterizes a sunload on the vehicle using an imaging system including at least one camera capturing image data (e.g., without using an ambient light sensor). The image data includes at least a portion of a passenger cabin. A region of interest (ROI) overlay receives the image data and extracts selected image data according to predetermined scene elements of the vehicle environment. An occupant overlay is configured to detect a vehicle occupant represented in the selected image data and configured to generate truncated image data by subtracting image data corresponding to the vehicle occupant from the selected image data. An ambient light model uses environmental parameters including a sun position to estimate an expected sunload range. A mapper generates a sunload map comprising respective sunload values for a plurality of locations on the vehicle according to the truncated image data and the expected sunload range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Jake S. Schwartz, Nicholas A. Scheufler, Jonathan Diedrich, Eric R. Krieger, Mark Gehrke, Martin van Hoeckel, Brian Bennie
  • Publication number: 20220306088
    Abstract: A plurality of thermal images forward of a vehicle are collected. Thermal data in the plurality of thermal images is normalized based on an ambient air temperature to generate a plurality of normalized thermal images. The plurality of normalized thermal images are input to a machine learning program trained to output an identification of an object based on the ambient air temperature and a risk of collision between the vehicle and the object. A vehicle component is actuated based on the identification of the object and the risk of collision with the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alireza Rahimpour, Devesh Upadhyay, Jonathan Diedrich, Mark Gehrke
  • Patent number: 11447151
    Abstract: Advanced automotive active-safety systems, in general, and autonomous vehicles, in particular, rely heavily on visual data to classify and localize objects, most notably pedestrians and other nearby cars, to assist the corresponding vehicles maneuver safely in their environment. However, the performance of object detection methods is anticipated to degrade under challenging rainy conditions. Nevertheless, and despite major advancements in the development of deraining approaches, the impact of rain on object detection has largely been understudied, especially in the context of autonomous systems. This disclosure analyzes this problem space and presents an improved system for detecting objects under rainy conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignees: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University, Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hayder Radha, Mazin Hnewa, Jon Diedrich, Mark Gehrke
  • Patent number: 11400940
    Abstract: Real-time wind data for a location is determined based on a detected movement of an object relative to a vehicle. The real-time wind data includes a wind speed and a wind direction. Upon receiving stored wind data for the location from a remote computer, a crosswind risk is determined based on the real-time wind data and the stored wind data. A vehicle component is actuated to compensate for the crosswind risk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Cynthia M. Neubecker, Mark Gehrke, Jonathan Diedrich, David Hiskens
  • Publication number: 20220097713
    Abstract: Real-time wind data for a location is determined based on a detected movement of an object relative to a vehicle. The real-time wind data includes a wind speed and a wind direction. Upon receiving stored wind data for the location from a remote computer, a crosswind risk is determined based on the real-time wind data and the stored wind data. A vehicle component is actuated to compensate for the crosswind risk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Cynthia M. Neubecker, Mark Gehrke, Jonathan Diedrich, David Hiskens
  • Publication number: 20220041185
    Abstract: Advanced automotive active-safety systems, in general, and autonomous vehicles, in particular, rely heavily on visual data to classify and localize objects, most notably pedestrians and other nearby cars, to assist the corresponding vehicles maneuver safely in their environment. However, the performance of object detection methods is anticipated to degrade under challenging rainy conditions. Nevertheless, and despite major advancements in the development of deraining approaches, the impact of rain on object detection has largely been understudied, especially in the context of autonomous systems. This disclosure analyzes this problem space and presents an improved system for detecting objects under rainy conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicants: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University, Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hayder RADHA, Mazin HNEWA, Jon DIEDRICH, Mark GEHRKE
  • Patent number: 10818034
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for concealed fiducial markers for vehicle camera calibration. An example vehicle includes a frame, at least one panel coupled to the frame, and fiducial markers arranged in a predefined grid. The fiducial markers are configured to be detectable by a camera and concealed from observation by the human eye. The predefined grid of the fiducial markers is arranged to facilitate calibration of the thermal camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Gehrke, Jonathan Diedrich, Brian Bennie
  • Publication number: 20200284608
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments described in this disclosure are generally directed to systems and methods for providing cautionary driving notifications to a driver of an automobile. The cautionary driving notifications may be generated and stored by the driver himself/herself after driving along a travel route a few times or by a different driver who has driven along the travel route a few times. The notifications, which may be provided in various ways such as by audible warnings or beeps, warn the driver of a driving hazard or a driving limitation that is coming up as the automobile is subsequently driven along the travel route. Some examples of a driving hazard can include a traffic accident or a bad road condition. Some examples of a driving limitation can include a speed limit due to a blind curve in the road or in a school zone during certain times of the day.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Brian Bennie, Mark Gehrke, Jonathan Diedrich
  • Patent number: 10748012
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed to facilitate environmental visibility determination. An example vehicle comprises a sensor and a processor and memory. The sensor is to generate road image information. The processor and memory are in communication with the sensor and are configured to: detect vanishing points of lane markings in the road image information, convert an average pixel row value of the vanishing points to a distance value, and if the distance value is below a threshold, stop execution of at least one road condition monitoring feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Diedrich, Eric L. Reed, Adil Nizam Siddiqui, Mark Gehrke
  • Patent number: 10486649
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for vehicle security monitoring in a key-off state. An example vehicle includes low-power sensors and high-power sensors for security monitoring, a communication module, and a controller. The controller is to, when in a key-off state, determine a first score based on the low-power sensors. The controller also is to, responsive the first score exceeding a first threshold, activate the high-power sensors and determine a second score based on the high-power sensors. The controller also is to, responsive the second score exceeding a second threshold, send an alert via the communication module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Bennie, Mark Gehrke, Jonathan Diedrich, Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam
  • Publication number: 20190251371
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed to facilitate environmental visibility determination. An example vehicle comprises a sensor and a processor and memory. The sensor is to generate road image information. The processor and memory are in communication with the sensor and are configured to: detect vanishing points of lane markings in the road image information, convert an average pixel row value of the vanishing points to a distance value, and if the distance value is below a threshold, stop execution of at least one road condition monitoring feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Jonathan Diedrich, Eric L. Reed, Adil Nizam Siddiqui, Mark Gehrke