Of Relative Distance From An Obstacle Patents (Class 340/435)
  • Patent number: 10744877
    Abstract: An image display device includes: a camera that takes a rear-view image; a rear-view-image display unit including a mirror surface and a display for displaying the rear-view image; a distance obtainer that obtains a distance between a vehicle and a following vehicle; a cutout-image creator that cuts out a cutout image from the taken rear-view image based on a view-angle value; and a display controller that creates, based on the cutout image, a display image matching a size of a display region of the display and controls the display to display the created display image. The cutout-image creator is configured to, based on the obtained distance, determine the view-angle value to such a view-angle value that a size of the following vehicle to be displayed on the display image is equal to a size of the following vehicle that is to reflect in the mirror surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takumi Kochiya
  • Patent number: 10748419
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for generating a vehicle-to-vehicle traffic alert and updating a vehicle-usage profile. Various aspects include detecting, via one or more processors associated with a first vehicle, that an abnormal traffic condition exists in an operating environment of the first vehicle. An electronic message is generated and transmitted wirelessly, via a vehicle-mounted transceiver associated with the first vehicle, to alert a nearby vehicle of the abnormal traffic condition and to allow the nearby vehicle to avoid the abnormal traffic condition. The first vehicle receives telematics data regarding operation of the nearby vehicle after the nearby vehicle received the electronic message, and transmits the telematics data to a remote server for updating a vehicle-usage profile associated with the nearby vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian Mark Fields, Steven C. Cielocha, Jacob J. Alt, Laura A. Uphoff, Leo Nelson Chan, Mohamed A. Wazeer, Kristopher Keith Gaudin, Justin Davis, Nathan W. Baumann, Giles Roll
  • Patent number: 10745032
    Abstract: The invention concerns a system comprising a processor and a device. The processor may be configured to (i) analyze one or more vehicle systems and (ii) generate a first output signal and a second output signal corresponding to the vehicle systems. The device may be configured to (i) receive the second output signal and (ii) generate haptic feedback based on the second output signal. The first output signal is presented to enable feedback using a primary feedback device. The device may be worn by a user. The haptic feedback supports information provided by the primary feedback device. The second output signal is communicated to the device using wireless communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Ambarella International LP
    Inventor: Stefano Scheggi
  • Patent number: 10745006
    Abstract: Technical solutions are described for controlling an automated driving system of a vehicle. An example method includes computing a complexity metric of an upcoming region along a route that the vehicle is traveling along. The method further includes, in response to the complexity metric being below a predetermined low-complexity threshold, determining a trajectory for the vehicle to travel in the upcoming region using a computing system of the vehicle. Further, the method includes in response to the complexity metric being above a predetermined high-complexity threshold, instructing an external computing system to determine the trajectory for the vehicle to travel in the upcoming region. If the trajectory cannot be determined by the external computing system a minimal risk condition maneuver of the vehicle is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Donald K. Grimm, Wei Tong, Shuqing Zeng, Upali P. Mudalige
  • Patent number: 10741082
    Abstract: There is provided a driving assistance device. An imaging unit is configured to acquire an image of another vehicle running behind one vehicle which is equipped with the driving assistance device. A tailgating determining unit is configured to determine whether the another vehicle is tailgating the one vehicle on the basis of the image acquired by the imaging unit. A continuity determining unit is configured to determine whether tailgating determined by the tailgating determining unit has been performed continuously. An information providing unit configured to provide a driver of the one vehicle with information on the another vehicle, if the continuity determining unit determines that the tailgating has been performed continuously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji Kurata
  • Patent number: 10740627
    Abstract: A multi-camera vision system and method of monitoring. In one embodiment imaging systems provide object classifications with cameras positioned to receive image data from a field of view to classify an object among multiple classifications. A control unit receives classification or position information of objects and (ii) displays an image corresponding to a classified object relative to the position of the structure. An embodiment of a related method monitors positions of an imaged object about a boundary by continually capturing at least first and second series of image frames, each series comprising different fields of view of a scene about the boundary, with some of the image frames in the first series covering a wide angle field of view and some of the image frames in the second series covering no more than a narrow angle field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: FotoNation Limited
    Inventor: Peter Corcoran
  • Patent number: 10741149
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for providing visual assistance to a flight crew on an aircraft during flight. The method comprises generating a graphical user interface (GUI) element that displays a target aircraft symbol that represents a target aircraft and a horizontal range symbol that represents a pre-selected horizontal distance ahead of an ownship aircraft. The method further comprises positioning the target aircraft symbol at a variable position on the GUI element away from the horizontal range symbol, wherein the distance between the target aircraft symbol and the horizontal range symbol is proportional to an actual horizontal distance between the target aircraft position and the pre-selected horizontal distance ahead of the ownship aircraft; and causing the GUI element and the symbols to be displayed on a cockpit display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Tomas Bouda, Zdenek Eichler, Pavel Klang
  • Patent number: 10730434
    Abstract: A vehicular display control device includes a rear video data acquiring unit configured to acquire rear video data from a rear camera disposed to face rear portion of a vehicle to capture rear view of the vehicle, a rear side video data acquiring unit configured to acquire rear side video data from rear side cameras disposed on right-side and left-side of the vehicle to face rear portion of the vehicle to capture rear right-side view and rear left-side view of the vehicle, a state detecting unit configured to detect surrounding state of the vehicle, a video synthesizing unit configured to, according to the surrounding state of the vehicle, synthesize the rear side video data in upper portion on right-side and left-side of the rear video data, and a display controller configured to display the synthesized video data in a display for displaying the rear video data of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: JVC KENWOOD Corporation
    Inventors: Noboru Katsumata, Izumi Saeki, Hideaki Okamura
  • Patent number: 10730464
    Abstract: A vehicle may include a vehicle detector configured to detect an obstacle and a condition of the inside and the outside of the vehicle; and a controller, when a front obstacle is detected by the vehicle detector, configured to determine a required braking distance or a time to collision (TTC) with respect to the obstacle, configured to determine whether a door side collision with the obstacle is estimated, when a collision with the obstacle is estimated according to the result of the determination, and configured to open a door in emergency or convert the door into a manual opening mode when the door side collision is estimated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: YoungIl Na, Wooyeol Jeong, Jungwan Park, Chiyoung An, Donghyuk Kim
  • Patent number: 10732396
    Abstract: In one aspect an imaging system includes: an illumination system including an array of light sources; an optical system including one or more lens arrays, each of the lens arrays including an array of lenses, each of the lenses in each of the one or more lens arrays in alignment with a corresponding set of light sources of the array of light sources; an imaging system including an array of image sensors, each of the image sensors in alignment with a corresponding lens or set of lenses of the one or more lens arrays, each of the image sensors configured to acquire image data based on the light received from the corresponding lens or set of lenses; a plate receiver system capable of receiving a multi-well plate including an array of wells, the plate receiver system configured to align each of the wells with a corresponding one of the image sensors; and a controller configured to control the illumination of the light sources and the acquisition of image data by the image sensors, the controller further configure
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Jinho Kim, Changhuei Yang
  • Patent number: 10730514
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to a manner of extending the use of originally-equipped automotive vehicle sensors to other types of transportation. In one embodiment, a method includes acquiring data from a vehicle-equipped detachable sensor about one or more object in an environment around a non-automotive entity when the vehicle-equipped detachable sensor is mounted to the non-automotive entity. The vehicle-equipped detachable sensor is capable of sensing a portion of an environment around an automotive vehicle and configured to communicate with a mobile device. The vehicle-equipped detachable sensor is also structured to be detached from the automotive vehicle and mounted to the non-automotive entity. The method includes determining, based on the acquired data, whether a detected object impinges upon a current travel trajectory of the non-automotive entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott L. Frederick, Scott P. Robison
  • Patent number: 10726278
    Abstract: A method of providing notification information includes: obtaining information regarding a sensing region; determining a visible region and a non-visible region within the sensing region; and providing notification information regarding the non-visible region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mi-young Kim, Tae-hee Lee, Tae-gyu Lim, Seung-hoon Han, Min-su Hwangbo, Yeong-rok Lee, Sung-ho Lee, Hae-in Chun
  • Patent number: 10726576
    Abstract: A method includes capturing images of a vehicle driver's face from a driver facing camera and images of a forward road scene from a forward facing camera. The images are analyzed to derive gaze direction data in a vehicle frame of reference. The gaze direction data are statistically collated to determine a frequency distribution of gaze angles. One or more peaks in the frequency distribution are identified and associated with corresponding reference points in the images to determine one or more reference gaze positions in the vehicle frame of reference. The one or more reference gaze positions are correlated with a position of the reference points in a forward facing camera frame of reference to determine a camera pose of a forward facing camera in the vehicle frame of reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Seeing Machines Limited
    Inventors: John Noble, Timothy James Henry Edwards
  • Patent number: 10723343
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle having a drive unit (1), a transmission (2), and a driven end (3), where the transmission (2) is an automatic gearbox connected between the driven end (3) and the drive unit (1), and where the transmission (2) has a plurality of shift elements (4). The method includes implementing a downshift from an actual gear into a target gear in the transmission (2) originating from a coasting condition of the motor vehicle by disengaging at least one previously engaged shift element (4) and engaging at least one previously disengaged shift element (4). Additionally, the method includes applying a brake torque at the driven end (3) by a vehicle brake (5), the brake torque depending on the thrust torque present at the driven end (3) before implementing the downshift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: Reinhard Vollmar
  • Patent number: 10719699
    Abstract: Disclosed are a pedestrian detection method of a vehicle and a pedestrian detection system thereof. The pedestrian detection method includes transmitting and receiving a radar signal to and from an object in front of a vehicle to sense the object; capturing an exterior image of the vehicle; calculating a distance between the vehicle and the sensed object, detecting the sensed object in the captured image, and setting a region of interest (ROI) including the sensed object; and detecting a pedestrian in the ROI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jitesh Kumar Singh, Arpit Awasthi, Shripad Arun Kondra, Young-Ha Cho
  • Patent number: 10719957
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods for calibrating a camera. The method may include capturing an image that includes at least a traffic sign. The location of the traffic sign using the image may then be determined, which may include taking as input the location and direction of the vehicle and the location and the direction of the camera relative to the vehicle. The method may also include obtaining an actual location of the traffic sign. The camera may be determined to require recalibration if the determined location is different from the actual location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Pony AI Inc.
    Inventor: Jun Zhou
  • Patent number: 10720080
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for determining a quality of driving of a vehicle is presented. Information indicating at least one driving condition may be received from at least one driving condition information indicating device. The at least one driving condition may be different from each of a plurality of driving metrics, and may affect a relationship between the quality of driving and at least one of the plurality of driving metrics. Information indicating the at least one driving metric may be received. At least one indication of the quality of driving of the vehicle may be determined based on the information indicating the at least one driving metric and the received information from the at least one driving condition information indicating device. The at least one indication of the quality of driving may be provided to at least one of the driver, a driving instructor, or an insurance provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian Mark Fields, Nicholas R. Baker, Lee Marvin John Assam
  • Patent number: 10718864
    Abstract: A radar device includes a signal processing unit and a target information output unit. The target information output unit outputs only pair data having addition reliability equal to or larger than a threshold to the outside of the radar device as target information. The signal processing unit determines whether a first target and a second target belong to the same object. The first target is pair data derived later than the second target. If it is determined that the first target and the second target belong to the same object, the signal processing unit transfers reliability of the second target to the first target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: FUJITSU TEN Limited
    Inventor: Shozo Kaino
  • Patent number: 10710579
    Abstract: In some implementations, an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle is capable of using a collision prediction system to determine a confidence that any objects detected within a vicinity of the vehicle are on a trajectory that will collide with the vehicle. Laser obstacle points derived from recent sensor readings of one or more sensors of a vehicle are initially obtained. The laser obstacle points are projected into a pose coordinate system to generate an occupancy grid of a vicinity of the vehicle. A confidence that any objects represented by the laser obstacle points are on a trajectory that will collide with the vehicle is determined by applying a particle filter to the occupancy grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Wan-Yen Lo, Abhijit Ogale, David Ferguson
  • Patent number: 10710503
    Abstract: A method may include detecting, by a mobile device, a first signal transmitted from a mobile device mount located in a vehicle and transmitting, by the mobile device and in response to detecting the first signal, a second signal to a vehicle system interface device. The method may also include sending, by the vehicle system interface device and in response to receiving the second signal, a third signal to a camera configured to capture video data associated with objects located at least one of behind or to the side of the vehicle and transmitting video data by the camera, in response to receiving the third signal. The method further includes receiving, by the mobile device, the video data transmitted by the camera and automatically displaying, by the mobile device, the received video data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryant Elliott
  • Patent number: 10713503
    Abstract: A system includes a camera configured to generate two-dimensional (2D) image or video data of an area of a route ahead of a vehicle moving along the route, wherein wayside equipment is disposed alongside the route in the 2D image or video data. The system also includes one or more processors configured to determine a distance between reference markings in the route along a direction that is transverse to a direction of travel of the vehicle along the route. The one or more processors also are configured to determine a separation distance between the camera and the wayside equipment based on the distance between the reference markings in the route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jaymin Thakkar, Ankit Sharma, Priyanka Joseph
  • Patent number: 10710504
    Abstract: A surroundings-monitoring device according to embodiments includes, as an example, a memory unit that stores therein captured image data output from an imaging unit imaging an area including a road surface in a forward direction of a vehicle and an area extending upward from the road surface and an output unit that outputs, to a display device, captured image data having been previously imaged by the imaging unit and including a road surface corresponding to a position of the current vehicle in the imaged road surface, from among the captured image data stored in the memory unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayuki Nakasho, Kazuya Watanabe, Tetsuya Maruoka
  • Patent number: 10715977
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to device-to-device (D2D) and, more particularly, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication in which an efficient ranging protocol allows efficient ranging-assisted vehicle positioning. A vehicle transmits a first slot ID in a first control period, to indicate a first time slot for transmitting a first ranging signal in a ranging cycle including a plurality of time slots. The vehicle transmits the first ranging signal in the first time slot in the ranging cycle. From a second vehicle, the first vehicle receives a second ranging signal in a second time slot that is different from the first time slot in the ranging cycle. The first vehicle determines a first time-of-arrival (ToA) of the second ranging signal when received by the first vehicle, and transmits the first ToA in a second control period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Libin Jiang, Junyi Li, Sudhir Kumar Baghel, Shailesh Patil
  • Patent number: 10706291
    Abstract: A trailer angle detection system for a vehicle towing a trailer includes a camera disposed at a rear portion of the vehicle and having a field of view rearward of the vehicle. The camera includes a two dimensional imager array having multiple rows and columns of photosensing elements. An image processor processes image data captured by the camera. With the vehicle towing a trailer, and via processing by the image processor of image data captured by the camera, the trailer angle detection system detects a portion of the trailer that is being towed by the vehicle. The trailer angle detection system determines, via processing by the image processor of image data captured by the camera, an angle of the trailer relative to the vehicle responsive to determination of which columns of photosensing elements sense the detected portion of the trailer in the field of view of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Horst D. Diessner, Jyothi P. Gali, Nikhil Gupta, Hilda Faraji, Galina Okouneva
  • Patent number: 10696257
    Abstract: An automatic external incident detection and reporting system for a vehicle includes at least one of a plurality of cameras and a plurality of proximity sensors, an incident determination unit, a remote vehicle or object position determination unit, and a communication unit. The incident determination unit is configured to receive signals from the at least one of the cameras and proximity sensors, detect whether an external incident has occurred, and determine a type of incident. The remote vehicle or object position determination unit is configured to receive signals from the at least one of the cameras and proximity sensors and determine an incident location. The communication unit is configured to transmit at least the incident location and the type of incident to remote vehicles, to a local access point, or to share the incident location and the type of incident through a crowd-sourcing manner if the external incident has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventors: Haris Volos, Ravi Akella, Yunfei Xu, Takashi Bando
  • Patent number: 10699136
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to optical data processing or objects in proximity to an optical sensor or camera, such as a camera mounted on a vehicles. Image data is received from a camera mounted on a vehicle, the image data indicative of a motion of the camera with respect to a detected object within a proximity of the camera or the vehicle on which the camera may be mounted. An optical flow of the object in the image data is determined, and a height of the object is determined based on the determined optical flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: FARADAY & FUTURE INC.
    Inventors: Paul Alan Theodosis, Oliver Max Jeromin
  • Patent number: 10699357
    Abstract: An information processing system according to an aspect of the disclosure includes a movable moving body; a photographing device provided on the moving body; and an information processing device. The photographing device includes: a photographer for continuous photographing; and a transmitter for transmitting photographed images. The information processing device includes: a receiver to receive the photographed images; a specifier to specify articles and storage units in which the article is able to be stored from the photographed images; a selector to select a combination of the storage unit and the article stored in the storage unit based on the articles and the storage units which are specified by the specifier; and a memory to store, in a memory device, information indicating the storage unit and information indicating the article, the storage unit and the article which are contained in the combination selected by the selector, in association with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: NS SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masakazu Komiyama
  • Patent number: 10696297
    Abstract: A driving support apparatus according to the invention estimates the position of a moving body by controlling a position estimation unit when the tracking-target moving body leaves a first area or a second area to enter a blind spot area and detects the position of the moving body by controlling a position detection unit when the moving body leaves the blind spot area to enter the first area or the second area. In this manner, the trajectory of the tracking-target moving body is calculated so that the trajectory of the moving body detected in the first area or the second area and the trajectory of the moving body estimated in the blind spot area are continuous to each other and driving support is executed based on the calculated trajectory of the tracking-target moving body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Quy Hung Nguyen Van, Shoichi Hayasaka
  • Patent number: 10699569
    Abstract: [Object] To provide an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program capable of efficiently using information regarding a user evaluation of a target vehicle. [Solution] An information processing apparatus including: a recognition section configured to automatically recognize information of a target vehicle from environment information of a user; an acquisition section configured to acquire a user evaluation of the recognized target vehicle; and a generation section configured to generate information for issuing a notification of the acquired user evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kobayashi, Kenta Kawamoto, Naoki Ide, Shingo Takamatsu
  • Patent number: 10694336
    Abstract: A system for creating of list of active beacons includes at least one receiving device, comprising a receiver adapted to receive a beacon broadcast from one or more of a plurality of beacons, resulting in one or more received beacon broadcasts, a processor, a memory, and a smart beacon application. For each received beacon broadcast comprising informational data and data regarding a range of relevance for that beacon, the smart beacon application: 1) determines whether the beacon is relevant by comparing a strength of the received beacon broadcast to the range of relevance in the beacon broadcast, and 2) creates a list of relevant beacons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Industrial Scientific Corporation
    Inventors: Raghu Arunachalam, L. Robert Crouthamel
  • Patent number: 10694101
    Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed to generate a contrast-enhanced combined image based on a thermal image and high spatial frequency content extracted from a visual light image, said images depicting the same scene. In one example, a method comprises: determining a blending measure indicating the quality of at least one of said images; combining luminance components of pixel values comprised in the thermal image and of pixel values representing high spatial frequency content comprised in the visual light image based on the blending measure; and generating a contrast-enhanced combined image based on the thermal image and the combined luminance components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: FLIR Systems AB
    Inventors: Stefan Olsson, Christian Högstedt, Katrin Strandemar
  • Patent number: 10691959
    Abstract: In a travelling road estimating apparatus, an estimator estimates, based on the coordinates of at least one of edge points included in a selected candidate, a road parameter using a previously prepared filter having an adjustable response level. The road parameter is associated with a condition of the travelling road relative to the vehicle and a shape of the travelling road. A determiner determines whether there is an unstable situation that causes an accuracy of estimating the edge points by an edge extractor to be reduced. A response level adjuster adjusts the response level of the filter in accordance with determination of whether there is an unstable situation that causes an accuracy of estimating the edge points by the edge extractor to be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignees: SOKEN, INC., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunya Kumano, Shunsuke Suzuki, Kenta Hoki
  • Patent number: 10688923
    Abstract: An illuminated vehicle door handle assembly for easily locating vehicle door handles in the dark includes a plurality of door handle apparatuses and a photosensor. Each door handle apparatus comprises a housing defining a handle cavity. The housing is configured to be installed within a vehicle door interior of a vehicle. A handle has a pivot hinge extending from a handle top side through a handle bottom side and pivotably coupled to the housing. A handle front side has a light aperture extending through to the handle inside. A light is coupled within the handle adjacent the light aperture. The photosensor is coupled to a power wire of the light of each door handle apparatus. The sensor housing is configured to be coupled within a dashboard of the vehicle and connected to a vehicle electrical system to power the light of each door handle apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Inventor: Murray Ingram
  • Patent number: 10691945
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes: detecting, by a virtual wearable computing device, a hazardous condition based on monitoring a proximity of a user wearing the virtual wearable computing device to a physical obstruction; and alerting, by the virtual wearable computing device, the user regarding the detection of the hazardous condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: James E. Bostick, John M. Ganci, Jr., Martin G. Keen, Sarbajit K. Rakshit
  • Patent number: 10683002
    Abstract: A system for increasing efficiency of a current vehicle includes a power source designed to generate power to propel the current vehicle and a distance sensor designed to detect multiple distance measurements each corresponding to a distance from the current vehicle to a reference vehicle. The system also includes an electronic control unit (ECU) coupled to the power source and the distance sensor and designed to determine an acceleration or deceleration rate of the reference vehicle based on the multiple distance measurements. The ECU is also designed to predict a forthcoming acceleration or deceleration rate of the current vehicle based on the determined acceleration rate or the determined deceleration rate of the reference vehicle. The ECU is also designed to change operation of the power source to increase efficiency of the power source based on the predicted forthcoming acceleration or deceleration rate of the current vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Geller, Geoffrey D. Gaither
  • Patent number: 10684361
    Abstract: A sensor configuration system can determine imminent lighting conditions for one or more light sensing elements of an autonomous vehicle (AV), and can execute a set of configurations for the one or more cameras to preemptively compensate for the imminent lighting conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventor: Jean-Sebastien Valois
  • Patent number: 10683035
    Abstract: A parking assistance device includes an imager that captures an image of a surrounding of a vehicle, and a display that displays a guidance image for guiding the vehicle from a parking start position to a target parking position and displays a moving area in which the vehicle can move during a parking operation. An area and dimension of the moving area displayed on the display changes based on a change in a steering angle of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hirotaka Kamiyama
  • Patent number: 10683011
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for a graphical vehicle cluster display that conveys vehicle acceleration information. A controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of vehicle acceleration. A substantially circular icon is displayed on the screen when the signal indicates that the acceleration is approximately zero in a forward direction. A stretched elliptic icon is display on the screen when the acceleration of the vehicle in a forward direction is greater than zero. A compressed elliptic icon is displayed on the screen when the acceleration of the vehicle in the forward direction is less than zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Roder, Marius Noller, Philip Ventimiglia, Svea Hillenbrand, Cornelius Dosch
  • Patent number: 10683006
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for recognizing or detecting obstacles are provided. Passive infrared (PIR) sensors may be coupled to movable objects, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). PIR sensors may detect and recognize obstacles such as humans and determine or calculate a distance to the obstacles. Based on the distance from the movable object to the obstacle, one or more flight response measures such as collision avoidance maneuvers may be effected or implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jinzhu Huang, Cong Zhao
  • Patent number: 10676024
    Abstract: A driving assist apparatus of a vehicle of the invention predicts, as a predicted minimum left turn radius, a curvature radius of a moving route of the vehicle at a point where a curvature radius of the moving route is predicted to become smallest when the vehicle turns left, and sets a route curved along an arc having the predicted minimum left turn radius as a predicted moving route predicted for the vehicle to move. The apparatus predicts, as a predetermined minimum right turn radius, the curvature radius of the moving route of the vehicle at the point where the curvature radius is predicted to become smallest when the vehicle turns right, and sets the route curved along the arc having the predicted minimum right turn radius as the predicted moving route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuji Ikedo, Tomonori Akiyama, Ryo Morishita
  • Patent number: 10670713
    Abstract: A forward sensing system for a vehicle includes a radar sensor and an image sensor housed in a self-contained unit disposed behind and attached at the vehicle windshield. A control includes an image processor that has an image processing chip that processes image data captured by the image sensor to detect an object of interest present exterior of the vehicle. The control, responsive at least in part to processing of captured image data and to sensing by the radar sensor, determines that a potentially hazardous condition exists in a path of forward travel of the vehicle. The radar sensor and the image sensor collaborate in a way that enhances sensing capability of the sensing system. Responsive to determination that the object of interest is in the path of forward travel of the vehicle, the control may at least in part control a driver assistance system of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 10674317
    Abstract: Systems for muster include an entrance receiving device in a location adapted to receive a plurality of beacon broadcasts from one or more of a plurality of mobile beacons, each associated with a worker and broadcasting an identification ID of the worker, to create an on-site record of workers entering or exiting the location. The system includes a muster site receiving device at a muster site to record an identification ID from beacon broadcasts of workers at the muster site. The on-site record is compared to the recorded muster site IDs to determine if all workers have mustered. Alarms may be triggered if not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Industrial Scientific Corporation
    Inventors: Raghu Arunachalam, L. Robert Crouthamel
  • Patent number: 10671866
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: a communication device configured to receive information about a turn angle of an intersection at which the vehicle travels; an image sensor configured to photograph a reflector installed at the intersection to acquire an image of a target vehicle reflected in the reflector; and a controller configured to determine whether the target vehicle approaches the intersection, based on a change in position of the target vehicle on the image of the target vehicle, to decide an installation angle of the reflector based on the turn angle of the intersection, and to determine a position of the target vehicle reflected in the reflector based on the installation angle of the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Sungmin Ji
  • Patent number: 10663975
    Abstract: Models can be generated of a vehicle's view of its environment and used to maneuver the vehicle. This view need not include what objects or features the vehicle is actually seeing, but rather those areas that the vehicle is able to observe using its sensors if the sensors were completely un-occluded. For example, for each of a plurality of sensors of the object detection component, a computer may generate an individual 3D model of that sensor's field of view. Weather information is received and used to adjust one or more of the models. After this adjusting, the models may be aggregated into a comprehensive 3D model. The comprehensive model may be combined with detailed map information indicating the probability of detecting objects at different locations. The model of the vehicle's environment may be computed based on the combined comprehensive 3D model and detailed map information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Dmitri A. Dolgov, Christopher Paul Urmson
  • Patent number: 10661808
    Abstract: The Dynamic Vehicle Separation System (DVSS) according to the present application allows properly equipped vehicles in traffic to maintain safe and optimal separation distances (i.e., following distances), which are automatically and continually calculated based on numerous criteria. Vehicles are equipped with Dynamic Vehicle Separation Controllers (DVSCs) that communicate with each other to maintain proper separation distances among the vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Inventor: Arnold Chase
  • Patent number: 10663583
    Abstract: Provided are a parking assistance system of a vehicle and a method of improving detection performance of an ultrasonic sensor therefor. The parking assistance system includes an ultrasonic sensor configured to sense an object by outputting an ultrasonic wave to a first sensing area and a second sensing area set beyond the first sensing area, a memory configured to store a program for sensing an object on the basis of information sensed by the ultrasonic sensor, and a processor configured to execute the program stored in the memory. When the program is executed, the processor verifies an echo to the ultrasonic sensor on the basis of whether an object has been sensed in the first sensing area or the second sensing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 10663584
    Abstract: Systems and methods for publishing LIDAR cluster data are described. The vehicle can identify one or more clusters based on data from the LIDAR sensor. The identified one or more clusters can be representative of at least one object in an external environment of the vehicle. Additionally, the vehicle can publish the identified one or more clusters before the LIDAR sensor completes a full 360 degree rotation about the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Sakai, Nobuhide Kamata, Michael J. Delp, Michael R. James
  • Patent number: 10663582
    Abstract: A detection device includes a transmitter, an extraction unit, and a detector. The transmitter causes an ultrasonic sensor used in a vehicle to successively transmit a first transmission wave of a first frequency and a second transmission wave of a second frequency. The extraction unit extracts a frequency component from a reflected wave received by the ultrasonic sensor, the reflected wave having a reception level greater than a predetermined threshold. The detector detects an obstacle based on an extraction result of the component of the frequency. An amplitude level of the second transmission wave is greater than an amplitude level of the first transmission wave. The amplitude level of the first transmission wave is set to make the reception level of the reflected wave of the first transmission wave from a road surface less than or equal to the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Ogawa, Takashi Yoshida, Toru Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 10665113
    Abstract: Various navigation and other instrumentation systems may benefit from appropriate methods for display of traffic. For example, certain avionics systems may benefit from systems and methods for providing an ADS-B In display and control system. A system can include a traffic computer, such as a Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) computer. The system can also include a TCAS traffic display, the traffic computer is configured to display Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) In information on the TCAS traffic display. Optionally, the system can further include a graphical ADS-B In Guidance Display (AGD) operationally connected to the traffic computer. The system can additionally include a Multi-Purpose Control Display Unit (MCDU) operationally connected to the traffic computer. The TCAS traffic display and MCDU, and optionally the graphical AGD, can be configured to substitute for a Cockpit Display of Traffic Information (CDTI).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: AVIATION COMMUNICATION & SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Charles C. Manberg, Richard D. Ridenour
  • Patent number: 10663295
    Abstract: A distance measurement system includes a pair of cameras and is arranged on a roof of a mobile object or an upper edge portion of a door of the mobile object. One of the cameras is arranged at a first portion on an upper surface of the roof or on the upper edge portion of the door, includes an optical axis oriented upward from the upper surface, and has a field of view in all directions around the optical axis. The other camera is arranged at a second portion different from the first portion on the upper surface of the roof or the upper edge portion of the door, includes an optical axis oriented upward from the upper surface, and has a field of view in all directions around the optical axis. Distance measurement in all directions from the mobile object is performed by using this pair of cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: SOCIONEXT INC.
    Inventors: Shunsaku Imaki, Yukiteru Murao, Tetsuro Noguchi, Kenichi Ishida, Masato Suzuki, Kazuyuki Ohhashi