Patents by Inventor Michael J. Higgins-Luthman
Michael J. Higgins-Luthman 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: 8543277Abstract: A vehicular imaging system includes an imaging device that captures image data and a control for processing captured image data. The control may utilize edge detection in processing captured image data. Responsive at least in part to processing of captured image data by the control, the control determines objects of interest present in the field of view of the imaging device. The objects of interest determined to be present in the field of view of the imaging device include at least one of (i) vehicles present exterior of the vehicle, (ii) headlights of vehicles present exterior of the vehicle, (iii) a bicycle that is present exterior of the vehicle and (iv) a bicycle rider that is present exterior of the vehicle. Responsive at least in part to processing of captured image data by the control, a driver of the vehicle is alerted to a hazardous condition.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2013Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.Inventor: Michael J. Higgins-Luthman
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Publication number: 20130229523Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes an image sensor and image processor. The image sensor is disposed at the vehicle and has a field of view exterior of the vehicle for capturing image data of a scene forward of the vehicle. The field of view encompasses at least a portion of a road surface ahead of and in the direction of travel of the vehicle. The image processor processes captured image data. Responsive to image processing of captured image data by the image processor, the vehicle vision system determines the presence of an animal on the road surface within the field of view. At least in part responsive to determination of the animal on the road surface within the field of view, the vehicle vision system at least one of (a) generates an alert and (b) controls the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2013Publication date: September 5, 2013Applicant: MAGNA ELECTRONICS, INC.Inventors: Michael J. Higgins-Luthman, Yuesheng Lu
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Patent number: 8451107Abstract: An imaging system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor (12) and a display device (15) for displaying images representative of image data captured by the imaging sensor. The imaging sensor (12) has a rearward field of view when mounted at the vehicle. The imaging system generates a plurality of graphic overlays (130a, 130b, 130c) on the displayed images to enhance the driver's cognitive awareness of an object rearward of the vehicle. The graphic overlays comprises a plurality of graphic overlay segments. The graphic overlay segments convey three dimensional information to a person viewing the displayed images and the graphic overlays. The imaging system may adjust at least one of a color, an intensity and a rate of flashing of at least one of the plurality of graphic overlay segments in response to an object being detected rearward of the vehicle and within a distance threshold.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2008Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: Magna Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Yuesheng Lu, Joel S. Gibson, Michael J. Higgins-Luthman, Steven V. Byrne, Richard D. Shriner
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Patent number: 8446470Abstract: An imaging system suitable for use in a vehicle includes an imaging sensor having a two-dimensional array of photosensing elements, an image processor for processing image data captured by the imaging sensor, and a display for displaying images responsive to the image processor. The array has a plurality of sub-arrays, with each of the sub-arrays having a first pixel sensing primarily a first color, a second pixel sensing primarily a second color, a third pixel sensing primarily a third color and a fourth pixel sensing primarily infrared radiation. The image processor processes the output of the fourth pixel to determine an infrared component of the imaged scene and subtracts the infrared component from the outputs of the first, second and third pixels to obtain a more accurate or true color response for the pixels and to limit or avoid infrared color wash-out.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2008Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Magna Electronics, Inc.Inventors: Yuesheng Lu, Michael J. Higgins-Luthman, William R. Livengood, James Daniel Harris
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Patent number: 8386114Abstract: A vehicular imaging system includes an imaging device that is part of an exterior rearview mirror assembly and having a field of view rearward and/or sideward of the vehicle. A control processes captured image data utilizing edge detection. Responsive at least in part to the processing, the control determines objects of interest present in the field of view of the imaging device. Objects of interest determined to be present in the field of view include (i) a vehicle that is rearward and/or sideward of the vehicle, (ii) a headlight of a vehicle that is rearward and/or sideward of the vehicle, (iii) a bicycle that is rearward and/or sideward of the vehicle, and/or (iv) a bicycle rider that is rearward and/or sideward of the vehicle. Responsive at least in part to the processing of captured image data, a driver of the vehicle is alerted to a hazardous condition.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2012Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventor: Michael J. Higgins-Luthman
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Patent number: 8376595Abstract: An automatic headlamp control system for a vehicle which has an image sensor having a forward field of view that captures image data of a scene forward of the vehicle. The image processor processes the image data and detects objects of interest. A controller is responsive to the image processing to control a beam illumination state of the headlamps of the equipped vehicle. The controller is operable to detect at least a partial blocking condition at the image sensor and is operable to limit switching to a different beam illumination state in response to a signal indicative of an outside temperature at the equipped vehicle being below a threshold temperature level.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2010Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: Magna Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Michael J. Higgins-Luthman
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Publication number: 20120293658Abstract: A vehicular imaging system includes an imaging device that is part of an exterior rearview mirror assembly and having a field of view rearward and/or sideward of the vehicle. A control processes captured image data utilizing edge detection. Responsive at least in part to the processing, the control determines objects of interest present in the field of view of the imaging device. Objects of interest determined to be present in the field of view include (i) a vehicle that is rearward and/or sideward of the vehicle, (ii) a headlight of a vehicle that is rearward and/or sideward of the vehicle, (iii) a bicycle that is rearward and/or sideward of the vehicle, and/or (iv) a bicycle rider that is rearward and/or sideward of the vehicle. Responsive at least in part to the processing of captured image data, a driver of the vehicle is alerted to a hazardous condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2012Publication date: November 22, 2012Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATIONInventor: Michael J. Higgins-Luthman
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Publication number: 20120253596Abstract: A driver assistance system includes a stereo vision system that includes at least one camera and at least one sensor disposed on or in a vehicle; a roadside marker detection unit configured to receive stereo image data from the stereo vision system, and to detect roadside markers from the stereo image data; and a road path estimation unit configured to estimate a road path in a direction of travel of the vehicle, based on the roadside markers detected by the roadside marker detection unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2012Publication date: October 4, 2012Inventors: Faroog IBRAHIM, Michael J. Higgins-Luthman
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Patent number: 8239086Abstract: An imaging system for a vehicle includes an imaging array sensor and a control. The imaging array sensor is disposed at least partially within an exterior rearview mirror assembly that is attached at a side of a vehicle. The field of view of the imaging array sensor encompasses at least one of a rearward field of view, a sideward field of view and a forward field of view. The control may utilize edge detection in processing captured image data. Responsive at least in part to processing of captured image data by the control, the control determines an object of interest present in the field of view of the imaging array sensor. A portion of the equipped vehicle is present in the field of view of the imaging array sensor and the control may be operable to determine that the portion of the equipped vehicle is not an object of interest.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2012Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventor: Michael J. Higgins-Luthman
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Publication number: 20120182425Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes an imaging device and a control operable to process image data captured by the imaging device. The control is operable to process the captured image data to detect at least one of (i) a sign ahead of the equipped vehicle, (ii) an animal ahead of the equipped vehicle and (iii) a pedestrian ahead of the equipped vehicle. The control is operable to process the captured image data to detect an oncoming headlight or a leading taillight of another vehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle. An illumination source is operable to illuminate generally forwardly and/or generally sidewardly of the equipped vehicle, and wherein illumination emanating from the illumination source is adjustable.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2012Publication date: July 19, 2012Applicant: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Michael J. Higgins-Luthman, Yuesheng Lu, William C. Ince
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Publication number: 20120140078Abstract: An imaging system for a vehicle includes an imaging array sensor and a control. The imaging array sensor is disposed at least partially within an exterior rearview mirror assembly that is attached at a side of a vehicle. The field of view of the imaging array sensor encompasses at least one of a rearward field of view, a sideward field of view and a forward field of view. The control may utilize edge detection in processing captured image data. Responsive at least in part to processing of captured image data by the control, the control determines an object of interest present in the field of view of the imaging array sensor. A portion of the equipped vehicle is present in the field of view of the imaging array sensor and the control may be operable to determine that the portion of the equipped vehicle is not an object of interest.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2012Publication date: June 7, 2012Applicant: Donnelly CorporationInventor: Michael J. Higgins-Luthman
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Patent number: 8142059Abstract: An automatic lighting system for a vehicle includes a control and an imaging device having a forward field of view. The control is operable to process image data captured by the imaging device to determine if an object imaged by the imaging device is an object of interest present generally forwardly and/or sidewardly of the vehicle as the vehicle travels along the road. An illumination source is operable to illuminate generally forwardly and/or sidewardly of the vehicle. The illumination source includes an array of light emitting diodes and illumination emanating from the illumination source is adjustable via selectively activating at least some individual light emitting diodes of the array of light emitting diodes. Adjustment of the illumination source is responsive to determination by the control that an imaged object is an object of interest to the driver of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2011Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Higgins-Luthman, Yuesheng Lu, William C. Ince
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Publication number: 20120051599Abstract: An automatic lighting system for a vehicle includes a control and an imaging device having a forward field of view. The control is operable to process image data captured by the imaging device to determine if an object imaged by the imaging device is an object of interest present generally forwardly and/or sidewardly of the vehicle as the vehicle travels along the road. An illumination source is operable to illuminate generally forwardly and/or sidewardly of the vehicle. The illumination source includes an array of light emitting diodes and illumination emanating from the illumination source is adjustable via selectively activating at least some individual light emitting diodes of the array of light emitting diodes. Adjustment of the illumination source is responsive to determination by the control that an imaged object is an object of interest to the driver of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2011Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Michael J. Higgins-Luthman, Yuesheng Lu, William C. Ince
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Patent number: 8116929Abstract: An imaging system for a vehicle includes an imaging array sensor and a control. The imaging array sensor has a plurality of photo-sensing pixels and is positioned at a vehicle equipped with the imaging system and has a field of view exteriorly of the equipped vehicle. The imaging array sensor is operable to capture image data, and the control processes the captured image data. The control, responsive to the processing of the captured image data, may distinguish an object present in the field of view of the imaging array sensor from a shadow present in the field of view of the imaging array sensor. The control, responsive at least in part to the processing of the captured image data, determines an object of interest present in the field of view of the imaging array sensor.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2011Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventor: Michael J. Higgins-Luthman
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Publication number: 20120008129Abstract: An object detection system for a host vehicle includes an imaging device, a ranging device and a processor. The imaging device has a field of view exterior of the host vehicle and is operable to capture image data representative of an object exterior the host vehicle. The ranging device has a field of view that sweeps at least the field of view of the imaging device and that detects the object exterior the host vehicle. The processor processes image data from the imaging device and processes data from the ranging device in order to determine if the detected object is an object of interest. The determination that the detected object is an object of interest is made in accordance with a priority score.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2011Publication date: January 12, 2012Applicant: MAGNA ELECTRONICS, INC.Inventors: Yuesheng Lu, Michael J. Higgins-Luthman
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Patent number: 8070332Abstract: An automatic lighting system for a vehicle includes an imaging device, an illumination source and a control. The illumination source is directed generally forwardly with respect to a direction of forward travel of the vehicle. The imaging device captures image data and the control processes the captured image data to detect an object of interest generally forwardly and sidewardly of the vehicle. The control is operable to adjust the illumination source in response to detection of an object of interest. The imaging device may be synchronized with flashing of at least one lighting element of the illumination source to capture image data during a time period that the lighting element is being flashed. The control may adjust the illumination source to direct illumination toward an area encompassing a detected object of interest when the object of interest is detected.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2011Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Higgins-Luthman, Yuesheng Lu, William C. Ince
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Publication number: 20110285850Abstract: A vehicular imaging system comprises an imaging device having a plurality of photosensor elements. The imaging device captures image data of a scene exterior of the vehicle within its field of view. Image data captured by the imaging device is provided to a control. The control also receives via a communication bus at least one of vehicle pitch information, vehicle yaw information and vehicle steering information. The control detects two substantially straight and converging road features along the road the vehicle is travelling and determines a point of intersection where they would converge using, at least in part, the received vehicle information and the control automatically corrects for misalignment of the imaging device mounted at the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2011Publication date: November 24, 2011Inventors: Yuesheng LU, Michael J. HIGGINS-LUTHMAN, Antony V. JEYARAJ, Manoj R. PHIRKE
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Publication number: 20110279256Abstract: An imaging system for a vehicle includes an imaging array sensor and a control. The imaging array sensor has a plurality of photo-sensing pixels and is positioned at a vehicle equipped with the imaging system and has a field of view exteriorly of the equipped vehicle. The imaging array sensor is operable to capture image data, and the control processes the captured image data. The control, responsive to the processing of the captured image data, may distinguish an object present in the field of view of the imaging array sensor from a shadow present in the field of view of the imaging array sensor. The control, responsive at least in part to the processing of the captured image data, determines an object of interest present in the field of view of the imaging array sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2011Publication date: November 17, 2011Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATIONInventor: Michael J. Higgins-Luthman
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Publication number: 20110280026Abstract: An automatic headlamp control system for a vehicle which has an image sensor having a forward field of view that captures image data of a scene forward of the vehicle. The image processor processes the image data and detects objects of interest. A controller is responsive to the image processing to control a beam illumination state of the headlamps of the equipped vehicle. The controller is operable to detect at least a partial blocking condition at the image sensor and is operable to limit switching to a different beam illumination state in response to a signal indicative of an outside temperature at the equipped vehicle being below a threshold temperature level.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2010Publication date: November 17, 2011Inventor: Michael J. HIGGINS-LUTHMAN
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Patent number: 8027029Abstract: An object detection system for a vehicle includes an imaging device, an image processor and a Lidar device. The imaging device is operable to capture image data representative of a scene exterior the vehicle. The image processor processes image data to detect an object of interest in the field of view of the imaging device. The Lidar device is responsive to the image processing so as to have its line of sight guided to point toward the detected object of interest. The Lidar device is operable to measure the distances between the host vehicle and the detected object of interest.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2008Date of Patent: September 27, 2011Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.Inventors: Yuesheng Lu, Michael J. Higgins-Luthman