Abstract: A windshield corrective optical system includes a motor vehicle having a windshield. A camera is positioned within an occupant compartment of the motor vehicle directed toward the windshield and receiving light rays passing through the windshield. A sensor is configured to receive the light rays. A corrective element is configured to allow passage of the light rays through the corrective element to the sensor. The corrective element corrects aberrations of the light rays induced by passing through the windshield prior to the light rays reaching the sensor.

Abstract: A method for deblurring a blurred image includes dividing the blurred image into overlapping regions each having a size and an offset from neighboring overlapping regions along a first direction as determined by a period of a ringing artifact in the blurred image, or by obtained blur characteristics relating to the blurred image and/or attributable to the optical system, or by a detected cause capable of producing the blur characteristics, stacking the overlapping regions to produce a stacked output, wherein the overlapping regions are sequentially organized along the first direction, convolving the stacked output through a first convolutional neural network (CNN) to produce a first CNN output having reduced blur as compared to the stacked output, and assembling the first CNN output into a re-assembled image, and processing the re-assembled image through a second CNN to produce a deblurred image having reduced residual artifacts as compared to the re-assembled image.

Abstract: A perception system for a motor vehicle includes a camera with a lens having a field of view and configured to focus incident light from the field of view. The field of view includes a road having a road surface. The perception system also includes an imaging sensor arranged in the camera. The imaging sensor has a photosensitive surface defined by an imaging surface area configured to capture the incident light focused from the field of view. A first portion of the imaging surface area is configured to capture an image of the road. The perception system further includes a first polarizer array arranged across the first portion of the imaging surface area and configured to reduce glare from the road surface.

Abstract: A perception system for a motor vehicle includes a camera with a lens having a field of view and configured to focus incident light from the field of view. The field of view includes a road having a road surface. The perception system also includes an imaging sensor arranged in the camera. The imaging sensor has a photosensitive surface defined by an imaging surface area configured to capture the incident light focused from the field of view. A first portion of the imaging surface area is configured to capture an image of the road. The perception system further includes a first polarizer array arranged across the first portion of the imaging surface area and configured to reduce glare from the road surface.

Abstract: A protective cover for a camera includes a housing configured for attachment to one of the camera and a support structure which supports the camera, a lens attached to the housing and configured for alignment with an imaging axis of the camera, a light source attached to the housing and configured for providing light to a field of view of the camera, and an electrical connector carried by the housing and configured for receiving power and/or signal commands and for conveying the power and/or signal commands to the light source. The lens may be a meniscus-shaped macro lens, and a lightguide may be attached to or incorporated into at least one of the housing and the light source. The protective cover may be used to protect a camera mounted in a wheel well or anywhere along an outer surface of an automotive vehicle.

Abstract: An optical system, and method related thereto, includes a camera configured to capture images. The camera has an adaptive aperture plane configured to change both an aperture size and an aperture shape in response to an aperture signal. The camera also includes a first polarized surface and second polarized surface positioned relative to the adaptive aperture plane, such that light strikes the first polarized surface, the adaptive aperture plane, then the second polarized surface. First and second lenses may be located on opposite sides of the adaptive aperture plane. An image sensor is beyond the second polarized surface and configured to output image signals, and a processor is configured to execute image perception algorithms based on the image signals. The image perception algorithms alter the aperture size and the aperture shape by sending an aperture signal from the processor to the camera for subsequent captured images.

Abstract: Systems and method are provided for generating an image of an environment of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: determining, by a processor, a first position of a plurality of positions within a first field of view; controlling, by the processor, a discrete scanning device based on the first position; capturing, by an imaging device, pixel data for a plurality of pixels within a second field of view associated with the first position, wherein the second field of view is within the first field of view; and combining, by the processor, the pixel data from the second field of view with pixel data captured from a third field of view associated with one of the plurality of positions to form image data depicting the environment of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle, Lidar system for the vehicle and method of scanning an object with the Lidar system. The Lidar system includes a first quarter wave plate, a first deflection stage and a detector. The first quarter wave plate produces a circularly polarized scanning beam of light. The first deflection stage selects a rotation direction for a polarization vector of the scanning beam and deflects the scanning beam by a selected angle based on the selected rotation direction of the polarization vector. The detector receives a reflected beam that is a reflection of the scanning beam from the object.

Abstract: A protective cover for a camera includes a housing configured for attachment to one of the camera and a support structure which supports the camera, a lens attached to the housing and configured for alignment with an imaging axis of the camera, a light source attached to the housing and configured for providing light to a field of view of the camera, and an electrical connector carried by the housing and configured for receiving power and/or signal commands and for conveying the power and/or signal commands to the light source. The lens may be a meniscus-shaped macro lens, and a lightguide may be attached to or incorporated into at least one of the housing and the light source. The protective cover may be used to protect a camera mounted in a wheel well or anywhere along an outer surface of an automotive vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle control system for automated driver-assistance includes a low-resolution color camera that captures a color image of a field of view at a first resolution. The vehicle control system further includes a high-resolution scanning camera that captures a plurality of grayscale images, each of the grayscale images at a second resolution. The second resolution is higher than the first resolution. The grayscale images encompass the same field of view as the color image. The vehicle control system further includes one or more processors that perform a method that includes overlaying the plurality of grayscale images over the color image. The method further includes correcting motion distortion of one or more objects in the grayscale images. The method further includes generating a high-resolution output image by assigning color values to one or more pixels in the grayscale images based on the color image using a trained neural network.

Abstract: A visual perception system includes a scanning camera, color sensor with color filter array (CFA), and a classifier node. The camera captures full color pixel images of a target object, e.g., a traffic light, and processes the pixel images through a narrow band pass filter (BPF), such that the narrow BPF outputs monochromatic images of the target object. The color sensor and CFA receive the monochromatic images. The color sensor has at least three color channels each corresponding to different colors of spectral data in the monochromatic images. The classifier node uses a predetermined classification decision tree to classify constituent pixels of the monochromatic images into different color bins as a corresponding color of interest. The color of interest may be used to perform a control action, e.g., via an automated driver assist system (ADAS) control unit or an indicator device.

Abstract: A multi-directional viewing camera system for a motor vehicle including a vehicle body defining an interior compartment and a body panel having an exterior surface and an interior surface facing the interior compartment. The camera system includes a mirror module for mounting to the body panel exterior surface. The mirror module is configured to capture and transmit incident light from at least one field of view (FOV) and has a polarizing beam splitter configured to reflect an s-polarized component and transmit a p-polarized component of the incident light in a visible spectral range. The camera system also includes a camera module having a video camera for mounting to the body panel interior surface. The camera module is configured to receive from the mirror module the s-polarized or the p-polarized component of the incident light and selectively display at least one FOV within the interior compartment.

Abstract: A system for indicating an operating mode of a motor vehicle having a vehicle interior and an operator seat arranged therein includes a rotatable steering wheel arranged inside the vehicle interior relative to the operator seat. The steering wheel includes a front side facing the operator seat and an opposing back side. The system additionally includes a light source configured to project a beam of light onto the back side of the steering wheel. The back side of the steering wheel is configured to capture the light beam and illuminate therewith the front side of the steering wheel to thereby generate a sensory signal indicative of the operating mode to a vehicle operator positioned in the operator seat. A motor vehicle employing the system for generating a sensory signal to a vehicle operator for indicating an operating mode of the vehicle is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for measuring a distance to a target based upon time modulated polarization state illumination is provided. The method includes: transmitting a time varying polarized light beam toward the target; capturing, at a plurality of subpixel regions of a receiver, a reflected time varying polarized light beam that has been reflected off of the target; generating a plurality of polarization signals for each subpixel region that are indicative of the polarization state of the captured reflected light beam in the subpixel region; calculating a time difference between the transmitted time varying polarized light beam and the captured reflected light beam by comparing the polarization state of the captured reflected light beam with a polarization state of the transmitted time varying polarized light beam; and calculating the distance by multiplying the calculated time difference with the speed of light.

Abstract: A system including a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensor is arranged to monitor a field of view, and includes a LiDAR sensor and a linear resonant actuator. The LiDAR sensor includes a first portion including a laser array and a detector array, and a second portion including a transmitting lens and a receiving lens. The linear resonant actuator is arranged to oscillate one of the first portion or the second portion of the LiDAR sensor.

Abstract: A windshield corrective optical system includes a motor vehicle having a windshield. A camera is positioned within an occupant compartment of the motor vehicle directed toward the windshield and receiving light rays passing through the windshield. A sensor is configured to receive the light rays. A corrective element is configured to allow passage of the light rays through the corrective element to the sensor. The corrective element corrects aberrations of the light rays induced by passing through the windshield prior to the light rays reaching the sensor.

Abstract: A system to localize debris on an optical surface of a vehicle includes a first array along a first side of a perimeter of the optical surface and including a light source to emit light into a thickness of the optical surface. A second array is along a second side of the perimeter, opposite the first side, and includes a light detector to detect light scatter in the thickness and provide a corresponding output. A third array is along a third side of the perimeter and includes a light source to emit light. A fourth array is along a fourth side of the perimeter, opposite the third side, and includes a light detector to detect light scatter and provide a corresponding output. A controller identifies a presence of the debris, determines a position of the debris based on the output from the light detectors, and remediates the debris.

Abstract: Systems and methods in a vehicle involve transmitting light with an initial polarization from a lidar system, and controlling an external compensator, external to the lidar system, or an internal compensator within the lidar system to change the initial polarization of the light to a new polarization of the light. The method also includes receiving reflected light resulting from reflection of the light from one or more objects, and obtaining information about the one or more objects based on the reflected light.

Abstract: System and method of controlling operation of an optical sensor in a device. The optical sensor is configured to employ a scan pattern to scan respective portions of a full field of view. A navigation sensor is configured to obtain location coordinates of the device. An inertial sensor is configured to obtain an acceleration data of the device in a plurality of directions. A controller is configured to determine a position of the device at the present time based in part on the location coordinates and the acceleration data. The controller is configured to determine a sun striking zone based in part on a relative position of the sun and the device. When a sun overlap region between the respective portions of the full field of view and sun striking zone exceeds a first overlap threshold, operation of the optical sensor is modified.

Abstract: A scanning and perception system for a vehicle camera having an instantaneous field of view (iFOV) and configured to capture an image of an object at a saturation level in the camera's iFOV. The system also includes a light source configured to illuminate the camera's iFOV. The system additionally includes a radar configured to determine the object's velocity and the object's distance from the vehicle, and a mechanism configured to steer the radar and/or the camera. The system also includes an electronic controller programmed to regulate the mechanism and adjust illumination intensity of the light source in response to the saturation level in the image or the determined distance to the object. The controller is also programmed to merge data indicative of the captured image and data indicative of the determined position of the object and classify the object and identify the object's position in response to the merged data.