Patents by Inventor Steven G. Chinn

Steven G. Chinn 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: 11203340
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a side-viewing camera mounted within an exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at a side of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular vision system. The side-viewing camera has a field of view at least sideward of the side of the equipped vehicle at which the exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached. The side-viewing camera captures an image of a scene occurring exterior of the equipped vehicle. The captured image includes an image data set representative of the exterior scene. A control includes an image processor, and the image data set is provided to the control. The control processes a reduced image data set of the image data set provided to the control to detect edges present exterior of the equipped vehicle within an area of interest of the scene occurring exterior of the equipped vehicle that is within the field of view of the side-viewing camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: John A. Pawlicki, Martha A. McMahon, Steven G. Chinn, Joel S. Gibson
  • Publication number: 20200307585
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a side-viewing camera mounted within an exterior rearview mirror assembly attached at a side of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular vision system. The side-viewing camera has a field of view at least sideward of the side of the equipped vehicle at which the exterior rearview mirror assembly is attached. The side-viewing camera captures an image of a scene occurring exterior of the equipped vehicle. The captured image includes an image data set representative of the exterior scene. A control includes an image processor, and the image data set is provided to the control. The control processes a reduced image data set of the image data set provided to the control to detect edges present exterior of the equipped vehicle within an area of interest of the scene occurring exterior of the equipped vehicle that is within the field of view of the side-viewing camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: John A. Pawlicki, Martha A. McMahon, Steven G. Chinn, Joel S. Gibson
  • Patent number: 10683008
    Abstract: A vehicular driving assist system includes a forward-viewing camera and a side object detection system disposed at a vehicle equipped with the vehicular driving assist system. The side object detection system includes a driver side-sensing radar sensor and a passenger side-sensing radar sensor. Image data captured by the forward-viewing camera is processed to detect traffic lane markers for a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle. Responsive at least in part to one of the radar sensors detecting a vehicle travelling in the same direction as the equipped vehicle and approaching from rearward of the equipped vehicle in a traffic lane that is to the respective side of the traffic lane that the equipped vehicle is travelling in, the vehicular driving assist system alerts a driver of the equipped vehicle of presence of the detected vehicle regardless of turn signal usage by the driver of the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: John A. Pawlicki, Martha A. McMahon, Steven G. Chinn, Joel S. Gibson
  • Publication number: 20190351907
    Abstract: A vehicular driving assist system includes a forward-viewing camera and a side object detection system disposed at a vehicle equipped with the vehicular driving assist system. The side object detection system includes a driver side-sensing radar sensor and a passenger side-sensing radar sensor. Image data captured by the forward-viewing camera is processed to detect traffic lane markers for a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle. Responsive at least in part to one of the radar sensors detecting a vehicle travelling in the same direction as the equipped vehicle and approaching from rearward of the equipped vehicle in a traffic lane that is to the respective side of the traffic lane that the equipped vehicle is travelling in, the vehicular driving assist system alerts a driver of the equipped vehicle of presence of the detected vehicle regardless of turn signal usage by the driver of the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: John A. Pawlicki, Martha A. McMahon, Steven G. Chinn, Joel S. Gibson
  • Patent number: 10351135
    Abstract: A vehicular control system includes a plurality of cameras, at least one radar sensor, and a control having at least one processor. Captured image data and sensed radar data are provided to and processed at the control to detect objects present exteriorly of the vehicle. The control receives data relevant to a geographic location of the vehicle. The vehicular control system wirelessly communicates information that is relevant to the geographic location of the vehicle to a remote receiver. The information wirelessly communicated to the remote receiver is derived, at least in part, from image data captured by at least a forward-viewing camera. The vehicular control system, based at least in part on processing at the control of at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) captured image data and (ii) captured radar data, detects another vehicle that is present exterior of the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: John A. Pawlicki, Martha A. McMahon, Steven G. Chinn, Joel S. Gibson
  • Publication number: 20190061760
    Abstract: A vehicular control system includes a plurality of cameras, at least one radar sensor, and a control having at least one processor. Captured image data and sensed radar data are provided to and processed at the control to detect objects present exteriorly of the vehicle. The control receives data relevant to a geographic location of the vehicle. The vehicular control system wirelessly communicates information that is relevant to the geographic location of the vehicle to a remote receiver. The information wirelessly communicated to the remote receiver is derived, at least in part, from image data captured by at least a forward-viewing camera. The vehicular control system, based at least in part on processing at the control of at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) captured image data and (ii) captured radar data, detects another vehicle that is present exterior of the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: John A. Pawlicki, Martha A. McMahon, Steven G. Chinn, Joel S. Gibson
  • Patent number: 10118618
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle includes a plurality of cameras, at least one radar sensor, and a control having at least one processor. Captured image data and sensed radar data are provided to the control. The control processes captured image data to detect objects present exteriorly of the vehicle and is operable to determine whether a detected edge constitutes a portion of a vehicle. The control processes sensed radar data to detect objects present exteriorly of the vehicle. The control, based at least in part on processing of (i) captured image data and/or (ii) sensed radar data, detects another vehicle and determines distance from the equipped vehicle to the detected other vehicle. The control, based at least in part on determination of distance from the equipped vehicle to the detected other vehicle, may control a steering system operable to adjust a steering direction of the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: John A. Pawlicki, Martha A. McMahon, Steven G. Chinn, Joel S. Gibson
  • Publication number: 20180105176
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle includes a plurality of cameras, at least one radar sensor, and a control having at least one processor. Captured image data and sensed radar data are provided to the control. The control processes captured image data to detect objects present exteriorly of the vehicle and is operable to determine whether a detected edge constitutes a portion of a vehicle. The control processes sensed radar data to detect objects present exteriorly of the vehicle. The control, based at least in part on processing of (i) captured image data and/or (ii) sensed radar data, detects another vehicle and determines distance from the equipped vehicle to the detected other vehicle. The control, based at least in part on determination of distance from the equipped vehicle to the detected other vehicle, may control a steering system operable to adjust a steering direction of the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: John A. Pawlicki, Martha A. McMahon, Steven G. Chinn, Joel S. Gibson
  • Patent number: 9834216
    Abstract: A vehicular control system includes a plurality of cameras that capture image data, at least one radar sensor that senses radar data and a control that processes image data captured by the cameras and sensed radar data. The control, responsive to processing of captured image data, detects lane markers and/or road edges and determines curvature of the road being traveled by the equipped vehicle. The control processes captured image data and sensed radar data to detect vehicles. The control, based on processing of captured image data and/or sensed radar data, detects another vehicle and determines distance from the equipped vehicle to the detected other vehicle. The control may, based at least in part on the detection of another vehicle and the determination of distance from the equipped vehicle to the detected other vehicle, determine whether it is safe for the equipped vehicle to execute a lane change maneuver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: John A. Pawlicki, Martha A. McMahon, Steven G. Chinn, Joel S. Gibson
  • Publication number: 20170129489
    Abstract: A vehicular control system includes a plurality of cameras that capture image data, at least one radar sensor that senses radar data and a control that processes image data captured by the cameras and sensed radar data. The control, responsive to processing of captured image data, detects lane markers and/or road edges and determines curvature of the road being traveled by the equipped vehicle. The control processes captured image data and sensed radar data to detect vehicles. The control, based on processing of captured image data and/or sensed radar data, detects another vehicle and determines distance from the equipped vehicle to the detected other vehicle. The control may, based at least in part on the detection of another vehicle and the determination of distance from the equipped vehicle to the detected other vehicle, determine whether it is safe for the equipped vehicle to execute a lane change maneuver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: John A. Pawlicki, Martha A. McMahon, Steven G. Chinn, Joel S. Gibson
  • Patent number: 9643605
    Abstract: A forward-facing vision system for a vehicle includes a forward-facing camera disposed in a windshield electronics module attached at a windshield of the vehicle and viewing through the windshield. A control includes a processor that, responsive to processing of captured image data, detects taillights of leading vehicles during nighttime conditions and, responsive to processing of captured image data, detects lane markers on a road being traveled by the vehicle. The control, responsive to lane marker detection and a determination that the vehicle is drifting out of a traffic lane, may control a steering system of the vehicle to mitigate such drifting, with the steering system manually controllable by a driver of the vehicle irrespective of control by the control. The processor, based at least in part on detection of lane markers via processing of captured image data, determines curvature of the road being traveled by the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: John A. Pawlicki, Martha A. McMahon, Steven G. Chinn, Joel S. Gibson
  • Patent number: 9555803
    Abstract: A driver assistance system for a vehicle includes a forward-viewing camera disposed in a windshield electronics module attached at a windshield of the vehicle and viewing through the windshield. A control includes a processor that, responsive to processing of captured image data, detects lane markers on a road being traveled by the vehicle. The processor determines curvature of the road being traveled by the vehicle and detects another vehicle that is present exterior of the equipped vehicle and determines that the detected other vehicle is in the same traffic lane as the equipped vehicle or is in an adjacent traffic lane. The processor processes captured image data to determine distance from the equipped vehicle to the detected other vehicle that is present exterior of the equipped vehicle and within the exterior field of view of the forward-viewing camera. The processor processes captured image data for vehicle speed control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: John A. Pawlicki, Martha A. McMahon, Steven G. Chinn, Joel S. Gibson
  • Publication number: 20160257308
    Abstract: A driver assistance system for a vehicle includes a forward-viewing camera disposed in a windshield electronics module attached at a windshield of the vehicle and viewing through the windshield. A control includes a processor that, responsive to processing of captured image data, detects lane markers on a road being traveled by the vehicle. The processor determines curvature of the road being traveled by the vehicle and detects another vehicle that is present exterior of the equipped vehicle and determines that the detected other vehicle is in the same traffic lane as the equipped vehicle or is in an adjacent traffic lane. The processor processes captured image data to determine distance from the equipped vehicle to the detected other vehicle that is present exterior of the equipped vehicle and within the exterior field of view of the forward-viewing camera. The processor processes captured image data for vehicle speed control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: John A. Pawlicki, Martha A. McMahon, Steven G. Chinn, Joel S. Gibson
  • Publication number: 20160046288
    Abstract: A forward-facing vision system for a vehicle includes a forward-facing camera disposed in a windshield electronics module attached at a windshield of the vehicle and viewing through the windshield. A control includes a processor that, responsive to processing of captured image data, detects taillights of leading vehicles during nighttime conditions and, responsive to processing of captured image data, detects lane markers on a road being traveled by the vehicle. The control, responsive to lane marker detection and a determination that the vehicle is drifting out of a traffic lane, may control a steering system of the vehicle to mitigate such drifting, with the steering system manually controllable by a driver of the vehicle irrespective of control by the control. The processor, based at least in part on detection of lane markers via processing of captured image data, determines curvature of the road being traveled by the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: John A. Pawlicki, Martha A. McMahon, Steven G. Chinn, Joel S. Gibson
  • Patent number: 9171217
    Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes a single forward facing camera and a control having a processor, with the camera and processor disposed in a unitary module installed in the vehicle. The processor, responsive to processing of captured image data, detects headlights of oncoming vehicles and the control, responsive to the detection, provides an output for a headlamp control system of the vehicle. The processor, responsive to processing of captured image data, detects lane marks on a road being traveled by the vehicle and, responsive to the detection, provides an output for a lane departure warning system of the vehicle. The processor may estimate distance from the vehicle to an object or vehicle present exteriorly of the vehicle. The module is supplied by an automotive supplier to the vehicle manufacturer with software operable by the processor for a plurality of driver assistance systems of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: John A. Pawlicki, Martha A. McMahon, Steven G. Chinn, Joel S. Gibson
  • Publication number: 20140204212
    Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes a single forward facing camera and a control having a processor, with the camera and processor disposed in a unitary module installed in the vehicle. The processor, responsive to processing of captured image data, detects headlights of oncoming vehicles and the control, responsive to the detection, provides an output for a headlamp control system of the vehicle. The processor, responsive to processing of captured image data, detects lane marks on a road being traveled by the vehicle and, responsive to the detection, provides an output for a lane departure warning system of the vehicle. The processor may estimate distance from the vehicle to an object or vehicle present exteriorly of the vehicle. The module is supplied by an automotive supplier to the vehicle manufacturer with software operable by the processor for a plurality of driver assistance systems of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: John A. Pawlicki, Martha A. McMahon, Steven G. Chinn, Joel S. Gibson
  • Patent number: 8665079
    Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor operable to capture an image data set representative of a scene occurring in the exterior field of view of the imaging sensor. A processor processes the captured image data set via an edge detection algorithm, which is applied to a reduced image data set of the captured image data set to detect edges of objects present exteriorly of the equipped vehicle and within a target zone within the exterior field of view of the imaging sensor. The reduced data set is processed more than other image data of the captured image data set in order to detect objects present exteriorly of the equipped vehicle and within the target zone. The target zone encompasses a geographic area of the exterior scene where an object of interest to the driver of the equipped vehicle is realistically expected to be present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Pawlicki, Martha A. McMahon, Joel S. Gibson, Steven G. Chinn
  • Patent number: 8289142
    Abstract: An imaging system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor and a control. The imaging sensor is operable to capture an image of a scene occurring exteriorly of the vehicle. The control is responsive to the imaging sensor. The imaging system may be associated with a side object detection system, a lane change assist system, a lane departure warning system, a monitoring system, a passive steering system and/or the like. The control may be operable to process a reduced image data set more than other image data, which are representative of areas of the captured image outside of a target zone, to detect objects present within the target zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Pawlicki, Martha A. McMahon, Steven G. Chinn, Joel S. Gibson
  • Patent number: 7679498
    Abstract: An imaging system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor and a control. The imaging sensor is operable to capture an image of a scene occurring exteriorly of the vehicle. The control is responsive to the imaging sensor. The imaging system may be associated with a side object detection system, a lane change assist system, a lane departure warning system, a monitoring system, a passive steering system and/or the like. The control may be operable to process a reduced image data set more than other image data, which are representative of areas of the captured image outside of a target zone, to detect objects present within the target zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Pawlicki, Martha A. McMahon, Steven G. Chinn, Joel S. Gibson
  • Publication number: 20100002081
    Abstract: An imaging system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor and a control. The imaging sensor is operable to capture an image of a scene occurring exteriorly of the vehicle. The control is responsive to the imaging sensor. The imaging system may be associated with a side object detection system, a lane change assist system, a lane departure warning system, a monitoring system, a passive steering system and/or the like. The control may be operable to process a reduced image data set more than other image data, which are representative of areas of the captured image outside of a target zone, to detect objects present within the target zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATION
    Inventors: John A. Pawlicki, Martha A. McMahon, Steven G. Chinn, Joel S. Gibson