Vehicular Patents (Class 348/148)
  • Patent number: 12190698
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to operations related to extracting subsections of an obtained image corresponding to an environment. The operations may further include, determining one or more gradients of pixel intensities corresponding to the subsections of the obtained image. Further, determining one or more vectors based on a frequency corresponding to the one or more gradients of pixel intensities corresponding to the subsections corresponding to the obtained image. The operations may further include classifying one or more characteristics corresponding to the obtained image using one or more machine learning models and detecting a presence of one or more safety triggers in the environment based on the one or more determined vectors corresponding to the one or more subsections of the obtained image. Further, the operations may include automatically deploying a safety indicator based on the detecting the presence of the one or more safety triggers in the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Inventors: Matthew Cole Hendrickson, Matthew Todd Hendrickson, Nicholas Todd Hendrickson
  • Patent number: 12190604
    Abstract: An object detection device includes a processor. The processor is configured to apply a Hough transform to coordinate points on a UD map to detect a straight line having a predetermined length, and detect a target disparity corresponding to the detected straight line having the predetermined length as a disparity corresponding to an object parallel to a direction of travel of a stereo camera. In the UD map, a target disparity satisfying a predetermined condition among disparities acquired from a captured image is associated with coordinate points, each of the coordinate points having two-dimensional coordinates formed by a first direction and a direction corresponding to a magnitude of a disparity. The processor is configured to convert, in the Hough transform, a straight line passing through coordinate points associated with the target disparity and a predetermined range based on a vanishing point into a Hough space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Fuko Takano, Kazumasa Akimoto, Junya Kishimoto, Kazuyuki Ota
  • Patent number: 12187201
    Abstract: The invention relates to a management method of an assistance system for a windscreen of a cab of a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a camera assembly including at least one camera located on the top of the windscreen with an angle between 25° and 75° with respect to the windscreen, for providing a captured image of a wide angle field of view located in front of the vehicle, said wide angle field of view comprising a first front field of vision, a second field of vision of a front-view and a third rear field of the vision, the method comprising: Determining a state of the windscreen using the at least one camera and Processing the captured image, according to the state of the windscreen, to operate the windscreen system on the windscreen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventor: Nicolas Berne
  • Patent number: 12192637
    Abstract: The present invention provides a new and useful paradigm in wide area imaging, in which wide area imaging is provided by a step/dwell/image capture process and system to capture images and produce from the captured images a wide area image. The image capture is by a sensor that has a predetermined image field and provides image capture at a predetermined frame capture rate, and by a motorized step and dwell sequence of the sensor, where image capture is during a dwell, and the step and dwell sequence of the sensor is synchronized with the image capture rate of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: DIVERSIFIED INNOVATIONS FUND, LLLP
    Inventors: Andrew J. Griffis, Michael B. Powell, Mark J. Howell
  • Patent number: 12188845
    Abstract: A drive-through vehicle inspection system with a method for acquiring information from markings on tire sidewall surfaces of a moving vehicle. As the vehicle passes through the inspection system, sets of colored light sources, disposed at different relative orientations on opposite lateral sides of the vehicle, illuminate each passing wheel, enabling optical imaging systems associated with the opposite lateral sides of the inspection lane to acquire color images of the illuminated tire sidewall surfaces. Acquired color images are passed to a processing system and separated into individual red, green, and blue color channels for image processing. The processed output from each color channel is recombined by the processing system into a synthesized grayscale image highlighting and emphasizing markings present on the tire sidewall surfaces for evaluated by an OCR algorithm to retrieve tire identifying information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventor: David A. Voeller
  • Patent number: 12191888
    Abstract: A vehicle computing system onboard an autonomous vehicle can include one or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer-readable media that store instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to perform operations. The operations can include obtaining sensor data from one or more sensors of the autonomous vehicle; applying lossy compression to the sensor data to generate compressed sensor data; storing data describing the compressed sensor data; decompressing the compressed sensor data to generate decompressed sensor data; and inputting data describing the decompressed sensor data into an autonomy system comprising one or more machine-learned models. The autonomy system can be configured to control operations of the autonomous vehicle based on the decompressed sensor data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: AURORA OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Joshua Oren Silberman, Dillon Collins
  • Patent number: 12187212
    Abstract: Disclosed is a pedestrian collision determination system including a collision detection sensor and a control unit, the collision detection sensor including a conductive pattern disposed on a front surface of a shock absorber of a vehicle bumper to form an electromagnetic field by an application of alternating current power and a conductive material disposed at a position facing the conductive pattern on an inner surface of a bumper skin of the vehicle bumper, and the control unit determining an occurrence or non-occurrence of a collision of a pedestrian based on a change of a current flowing in the conductive pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Byung Hyuk Park
  • Patent number: 12181885
    Abstract: A system configured to cause a vehicle to autonomously maneuver to a safe haven during a triggering event includes a communication component configured to receive parameters corresponding with conditions of the triggering event and, based on the parameters and on characteristics of the safe haven, instruct the vehicle to maneuver to the safe haven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Alexander B. Nagelberg, Bradly Jay Billman, Donnette L. Moncrief Brown
  • Patent number: 12179666
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a first camera mounted on the vehicle to have a first field of view facing a front or rear of the vehicle and configured to acquire first image data, a second camera mounted on the vehicle to have a second field of view facing a left or right side of the vehicle and configured to acquire second image data, and a display. The vehicle also has a controller configured to display first around-view data in which the first image data and the second image data are combined so that a boundary between the first image data and the second image data becomes a first reference angle on the display. The controller is also configured to combine the first image data and the second image data so that an angle between the boundary and a driving direction of the vehicle becomes a second reference angle greater than the first reference angle based on an opening of a door or trunk lid or gate of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Min Kyung Noh, Jaeseob Choi, Yonghun Lee
  • Patent number: 12179675
    Abstract: A closure on a vehicle with a sensor mounted to the closure that pivots relative to the closure as the closure is opened and closed to maintain a desired orientation of the sensor when the closure is in different positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael S. Robertson, Jr., Tyler D. Hamilton, Venkatesh Krishnan
  • Patent number: 12181883
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a scene determination unit determining whether or not a current traveling scene is a traveling-restricted scene, an order setting unit setting priorities corresponding to a restriction with respect to driving behaviors previously classified for different purposes in a case where it is determined that the traveling scene is the traveling-restricted scene and setting priorities with respect to the plurality of driving behaviors in a case where it is not determined that the traveling scene is the traveling-restricted scene, a traveling plan generating unit generating traveling plans corresponding to the plurality of priority-set driving behaviors, an executability determination unit determining executability of each of the plurality of generated driving behaviors, a traveling plan selection unit selecting the traveling plan corresponding to the driving behavior with the highest priority, and a traveling control unit controlling the traveling of the host vehicle based on the trav
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Matsubara, Masaki Matsunaga, Kenichiro Aoki, Yoshinori Watanabe, Ryuta Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 12185017
    Abstract: A display control apparatus includes a vehicle detector and a processor, the processor generating a background image of a vehicle, setting, when a surrounding vehicle is detected in a predetermined region, a second projection plane to a position at which the surrounding vehicle is detected, generating a surrounding vehicle image by projecting a plurality of captured images onto the second projection plane, and superimposing the surrounding vehicle image on the background image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yudai Ishibashi, Yoshimasa Okabe
  • Patent number: 12173479
    Abstract: A shovel includes a lower travel body, an upper swivel body that is swingably installed on the lower travel body, an attachment that is installed on the upper swivel body, and a posture detecting device that detects a posture of the attachment, wherein a virtual plane is generated by utilizing information about a position of a predetermined portion of the attachment obtained from an output of the posture detecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: SUMITOMO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuji Shiratani, Hajime Aragaki, Tomoki Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 12176682
    Abstract: An infrared-laser source device provided with an external housing, said external housing comprising: a light output interface arranged in a front part of the external housing, at least one infrared-laser source arranged in a rear part of the external housing and configured to emit an IR-laser beam providing a first emitting area at the light output interface, and a first light distributing element configured to diverge light at the light output interface, wherein said infrared-laser source device further comprises a second light distributing element separated from the first light distributing element and providing, at the light output interface, a second emitting area larger than the first emitting area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
    Inventors: Soeren Smits, Detlef Wilke, Albrecht Haack
  • Patent number: 12175803
    Abstract: An information processing device includes at least one processor. The processor communicates with a vehicle and receives deterioration information that is involved in deterioration of a part provided within a cabin of the vehicle; stores the received deterioration information; and estimates a deterioration degree of the part on the basis of the stored deterioration information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Jun Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 12172310
    Abstract: A method for controlling a robotic system includes: capturing, by an imaging system, one or more images of a scene; computing, by a processing circuit including a processor and memory, one or more instance segmentation masks based on the one or more images, the one or more instance segmentation masks detecting one or more objects in the scene; computing, by the processing circuit, one or more pickability scores for the one or more objects; selecting, by the processing circuit, an object among the one or more objects based on the one or more pickability scores; computing, by the processing circuit, an object picking plan for the selected object; and outputting, by the processing circuit, the object picking plan to a controller configured to control an end effector of a robotic arm to pick the selected object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Intrinsic Innovation LLC
    Inventors: Guy Michael Stoppi, Agastya Kalra, Kartik Venkataraman, Achuta Kadambi
  • Patent number: 12172576
    Abstract: An identification apparatus for an equipped vehicle includes a camera configured to capture image data in a field of view directed to an exterior region proximate to the equipped vehicle and a controller in communication with the camera. The controller identifies an object in the image data and identifies a proportion of the object in response to pixels representing the object in the image data. The controller then communicates a notification indicating a trailing vehicle in response to the object approaching the camera in excess of a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vikas Rajendra, Raj Sohmshetty
  • Patent number: 12173861
    Abstract: A light emitting system includes a light pipe, a light source disposed at least partially within an interior of the light emitting system, and configured to emit light when receiving electrical power from an electrical power source, wherein the light source is arranged adjacent to and directed towards the light pipe, a lens substantially enclosing the interior of the light emitting system, the light pipe and the light source, the lens having an inner surface and an outer surface disposed opposite the inner surface, and a mask comprising a coating that is applied on the lens and laser etched to form a desired pattern, wherein light emitted from the light source passes through the light pipe and lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Motherson Innovations Company Limited
    Inventors: James Nicholson, Shane Randell Koehne, Scott Edwards, Simon Belcher, Jacob Heath Messenger, Matthew Chapman-Winter, Gary Dekievit, Simon David Field, Shahad Algurabi, Sam Thoday, Dean Caruso, Bill Frank, Sascha Björn Heib, Andreas Herrmann, Ilka Rötzer, Matthias Koller
  • Patent number: 12177609
    Abstract: A communication apparatus (10) includes: a communication unit (11) configured to transmit sensor information detected using at least two or more sensors, the two or more sensors being adapted to detect states of a mobile body in directions different from one another with the mobile body being a base point; a moving state recognition unit (12) configured to recognize a moving state; a peripheral state recognition unit (13) configured to recognize a peripheral state of the mobile body; and a communication control unit (14) configured to determine a priority level of each of the two or more sensors based on the moving state and the peripheral state and perform communication control so that the sensor information detected by the sensor having a high priority level is transmittable in quality higher than that of the sensor information detected by the sensor having a low priority level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kosei Kobayashi, Takanori Iwai
  • Patent number: 12177598
    Abstract: Devices and methods for capturing vehicle undercarriage images are described. In some instances, a mirror assembly may be used to reflect images of portions of a vehicle undercarriage into a field of view of a camera to be captured, e.g., as a vehicle passes over the mirror assembly. Composite images may be reconstructed from the reflected portions of the vehicle undercarriage, and analysis may be performed on those reconstructed, composite images to identify features in the composite vehicle undercarriage images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: ACV Auctions Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Carolus, Timothy Poulsen, Charlie Campanella, Darin Chambers, Reid Gershbein, Daniel Magnuszewski, Michael Pokora, Philip Schneider
  • Patent number: 12175861
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling traffic signaling includes a wireless sensor operable to detect and receive wireless signals emitted from a vehicle, an image sensor operable to capture a stream of images of a field of view. A traffic control system is operable to extract geographic positioning information for the vehicle from the wireless signals, track the vehicle's movement using the extracted geographic positioning information, detect and track an object in the stream of images corresponding to the vehicle. The vehicle's geographic movement is further tracked using a pixel location of the object in steam of images and a traffic control action is executed based on the geographic movement to facilitate passage of the at least one vehicle through a monitored traffic control location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: FLIR BELGIUM BVBA
    Inventors: Stefan Schulte, Martijn Withouck, Wouter Favoreel
  • Patent number: 12168457
    Abstract: An autonomous driving apparatus and a method for generating a precise map using the autonomous driving apparatus are configured to vary an application ratio of interpolation to precise map data to be stored depending on an accident risk on a corresponding road and a distance from a host vehicle during driving so as to optimize the precise map data to be stored. The autonomous driving apparatus includes an accident risk classification unit configured to vary the application ratio of interpolation to data and whether or not to store data acquired by applying interpolation to the data depending on the accident risk on the corresponding road and the distance from the host vehicle during driving, and an autonomous driving controller configured to generate the precise map data depending on the accident risk classification unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Jeong Hun Kim, Sung Won Yoon
  • Patent number: 12169956
    Abstract: An image recognition method includes a feature amount extracting step of generating, from an input image, a base feature map group including a plurality of base feature maps; an inferring step of deriving a plurality of inference results using each of a plurality of machine-learned inference devices for a plurality of inference inputs based on the base feature map group; and an integrating step of integrating the plurality of inference results by a specific manner to derive a final inference result, where each of the plurality of inference inputs has some or all base feature maps of the plurality of base feature maps, and each of the plurality of inference inputs has the some or all base feature maps that are different in part or whole from the some or all base feature maps of another inference input in the plurality of inference inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Takuya Miyamoto, Kazunori Tanaka, Kanako Morimoto, Rui Hamabe, Naomichi Higashiyama
  • Patent number: 12169574
    Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods associated with communicating privacy rights pertaining to data captured from a vehicle. An example method executed by a processor of a data capture apparatus in a vehicle can include capturing an image. In an example scenario, the image may include an individual who is located outside the vehicle. Furthermore, in some cases, the image can be a part of a video clip containing multiple images. The method further includes generating an identifier for identifying the image(s). The identifier can be a machine-readable symbol such as, for example, a QR-code symbol or a barcode. A notification that includes the identifier may be generated and conveyed to the individual for use by the individual to exercise his/her rights to privacy with respect to the images in which he/she is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Katharina Mitschker, Ryan Sorsby, David Michael Herman
  • Patent number: 12165417
    Abstract: An object detection vision system and methods are disclosed. A method for detecting objects in a vision system of an industrial machine includes receiving image data from one or more vision cameras and receiving detection data from one or more detect devices. The detection data includes one or more detected objects. The method includes combining the detection data and the image data and transforming the detection data in the image data based on one or more objects in the image data. The method also includes displaying an indication of the detected one or more objects in the image data based on the transformed detection data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Petrany, Matthew A. Guttag, Jacob C. Maley, Vamsi K. Pannala, Robert S. Mcfarland
  • Patent number: 12164360
    Abstract: The vehicular advertisement display device includes a processor. The processor is configured to display advertisement information on a display unit provided on an outer surface of the vehicle main body. The processor is also configured to reduce power consumption of the vehicle based on the vehicle state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeo Moriai, Masakazu Setoyama, Teruo Mori, Takanobu Hirakoshi
  • Patent number: 12166960
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a sensing performance evaluation and diagnosis system capable of detecting a failure sign of an external-environment recognition sensor as a diagnosis target without relying on reference information registered in advance on a map, by comparing an output of the external-environment recognition sensor as the diagnosis target with a reference output of the external-environment recognition sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiichi Satoh
  • Patent number: 12159323
    Abstract: A vehicle monitoring apparatus includes a hardware processor functioning as an image acquisition unit, an abnormality information acquisition unit, a damage determination unit, and a damage reporting unit. The image acquisition unit serves to acquire a captured image including an image representation of an exterior of a vehicle body of a vehicle. The abnormality information acquisition unit serves to acquire vehicle-body abnormality information indicating an abnormality in the vehicle body. The damage determination unit serves to determine presence or absence of damage to the vehicle body on the basis of the captured image and the vehicle-body abnormality information. The damage reporting unit serves to report, to an information processing apparatus, a damage report including the captured image or an image generated on the basis of the captured image. The damage report is reported in accordance with on a result of the determination on the damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Okabe, Takashi Okohira, Yuya Hamai, Yudai Ishibashi, Naoki Hayashi, Toshihiko Hashinaga, Jun Nakai, Kiyohiko Fujiwara, Masato Yuda
  • Patent number: 12157418
    Abstract: In mobile equipment that is configured for remote operation there are the competing interests of minimizing the number and complexity of cameras by using wide-angle cameras, while avoiding the fisheye distortion inherent in wide-angle cameras, which can be disorienting to remote operators. Thus, a method is disclosed that switches between video processing configurations depending on a machine state of the mobile equipment. For example, a first machine state may represent that the mobile equipment is immobile, whereas a second machine state may represent that the mobile equipment is mobile. In the first machine state, the video configuration does not correct for fisheye distortion, so as to maximize the field of view in the video while the mobile equipment is immobile. In the second machine state, the video configuration does correct for fisheye distortion, so as to prevent disorientation of the remote operator while the mobile equipment is mobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron R. Shatters
  • Patent number: 12159384
    Abstract: In an implementation, a method for pixel level roadway crack segmentation is provided. The method includes: receiving a plurality of roadway range images; generating a plurality of image patches from the plurality of roadway range images; generating a crack map for the plurality of image patches by a DCNN; and generating a crack map for the plurality of roadway range images based on the generated crack map for the plurality of image patches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA
    Inventors: Wei Song, Shanglian Zhou
  • Patent number: 12159454
    Abstract: This document discloses system, method, and computer program product embodiments for mitigating the addition of false object information to a track that provides a spatial description of an object, such as a track of radar data or lidar data. The system will analyze two or more frames captured in a relatively small time period and determine whether one or more parameters of an object detected in the frames remain consistent in a specified model. Models that the system may consider include a constant velocity model, a surface model, a constant speed rate model or a constant course rate model. If one or more parameters of the detected object are not consistent over the sequential frames in the specified model, the system may prune the track to exclude one or more of the sequential frames from the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shubhendra Chauhan, Xiufeng Song
  • Patent number: 12151618
    Abstract: A control device includes circuitry configured to: generate a bird's-eye view image and a three-dimensional image that show a moving body and surroundings of the moving body, based on respective pieces of imaging data obtained by a plurality of imaging devices of the moving body; cause a display device to display the generated bird's-eye view image and the generated three-dimensional image; and determine whether a predetermined object is present in a boundary region between the respective pieces of imaging data in the bird's-eye view image and the three-dimensional image. Upon determining that the predetermined object is present in the boundary region, the circuitry is configured to preferentially change the boundary region in the three-dimensional image among the displayed bird's-eye view image and the displayed three-dimensional image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuro Fujiwara, Yasushi Shoda, Jumpei Morita
  • Patent number: 12154423
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for assisted parking, an electronic device, and a storage medium are provided. The method for assisted parking includes: obtaining a set of images around a vehicle; determining environment information for the vehicle based on the set of images; obtaining location information associated with a target parking location according to the environment information; and sending the location information to provide such to a user terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apollo Intelligent Driving Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Changsen Chu, Jia Song
  • Patent number: 12151698
    Abstract: A notification control device includes an occupant state identifying unit, a behavior change obtaining unit, and a notification processing unit. The occupant state identifying unit is configured to identify a state of an occupant of the vehicle among a plurality of states. The behavior change obtaining unit is configured to obtain an imminent behavior change of the vehicle during the automated driving. The notification processing unit is configured to cause a notification device to notify the occupant of the imminent behavior change when the imminent behavior change obtained by the behavior change obtaining unit satisfies a notification condition. The notification condition is set for each of the plurality of states. The notification condition for a first distracted state categorized into a distracted group is different from the notification condition for a second distracted state categorized into the distracted group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaya Okada
  • Patent number: 12155916
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a window; a sensor housing including an air inlet, a first air outlet, and a second air outlet; an image sensor supported by the sensor housing; and a blower positioned to draw in air through the air inlet and expel the air through the first air outlet and the second air outlet. The first air outlet is aimed at the image sensor, and the second air outlet is aimed at the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Michael Regalbuto, Venkatesh Krishnan, Kunal Chaudhari, Michael Robertson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12154345
    Abstract: A system and method for legible capture of vehicle identification data includes video cameras and a computer. Recording attributes such as gain, gain shutter speed, and white balance are adjusted throughout ranges to maximize the likelihood of capturing at least one frame in which characters, such as those on the license plate, are legible. Successful capture of a legible frame may trigger storage of the data, while unsuccessful capture may trigger additional scans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Digital Ally, Inc.
    Inventors: Peng Han, Jeremy A. Dick
  • Patent number: 12151613
    Abstract: An anti-collision warning system for a vehicle door includes a sensing module, a detection module, and a warning module. The sensing module is configured to sense whether a passenger has an intention to open a vehicle door and output a sensing result. The control module is coupled to the sensing module, the detection module and warning module, and the control module is configured to control the warning module to issue an alert based on information on traffic conditions from the detection module in response to the sensing result being YES. The anti-collision warning system can issue an alert to the passenger in a timely and effective manner when it senses that the passenger has the intention to open the vehicle door. Therefore, the passenger would be alerted and determine whether it is an appropriate time to open the vehicle door, thus preventing the vehicle door from colliding with an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Siteng Ma, Simon Le Moal, Xiaofeng Guo
  • Patent number: 12146755
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to improving locating favorable entrances. In one embodiment, a method includes acquiring sensor data about a parking facility entrance from at least one vehicle sensor, processing the sensor data into characteristics about the parking facility entrance, storing the characteristics about the parking facility entrance in a map that includes a location of the parking facility entrance, and providing a recommendation for a parking facility based, at least in part, on the map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takamasa Higuchi, Kentaro Oguchi
  • Patent number: 12148297
    Abstract: An in-vehicle apparatus to be mounted in a vehicle includes receiving circuitry, which, in operation, receives, from a roadside apparatus providing a distribution service of a road video, an advertisement message indicating that the distribution service is provided; control circuitry, which, in operation, generates, based on reception of the advertisement message, a message regarding transmission of the road video to the roadside apparatus; and transmitting circuitry, which, in operation, transmits the message to the roadside apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management CO., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takenori Sakamoto, Hiroyuki Motozuka, Kosei Nakano, Akihiro Egami, Masataka Irie
  • Patent number: 12145513
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a camera module mounted at a mounting structure that is disposed at a windshield of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular vision system. The camera module views through a light transmitting portion of the mounting structure and forward of the vehicle. The camera module includes a camera and circuitry including an image processor, with the image processor processing image data captured by the camera. With the windshield mounted at the vehicle and the camera module mounted at the mounting structure, the windshield is separable from the mounting structure so that the windshield is removable from the vehicle without removing the mounting structure from the vehicle and without affecting mounting of the camera module at the mounting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Nagender Reddy Kasarla
  • Patent number: 12149868
    Abstract: Example implementations are provided for an arrangement of co-aligned rotating sensors. One example device includes a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) transmitter that emits light pulses toward a scene according to a pointing direction of the device. The device also includes a LIDAR receiver that detects reflections of the emitted light pulses reflecting from the scene. The device also includes an image sensor that captures an image of the scene based on at least external light originating from one or more external light sources. The device also includes a platform that supports the LIDAR transmitter, the LIDAR receiver, and the image sensor in a particular relative arrangement. The device also includes an actuator that rotates the platform about an axis to adjust the pointing direction of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Pierre-Yves Droz, Simon Verghese, Brendan Hermalyn
  • Patent number: 12146273
    Abstract: A paving machine includes a plurality of sensor(s) for generating sensor data associated with a paving operation. Criteria associated with paving mat defects are compared against the sensor data to determine whether the criteria is satisfied and whether paving mat defects are predicted. For example, criteria may include whether a hopper of the paving machine is activated, whether a screed assembly of the paving machine is floating, a speed of the paving machine, and whether heat is applied to the screed assembly. In instances where defects are predicted, notifications of such may be provided, or displayed, on a control interface of the paving machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Craig M. Steffen, Toby A. Frelich, John L. Marsolek
  • Patent number: 12145535
    Abstract: A vehicular apparatus includes a controller unit configured to control a displaying operation of a video by a camera on a display and a communicator unit as an acquisition unit configured to acquire a vehicle state signal indicating a vehicle state. The controller unit is configured to perform a preparation for displaying the video by the camera on the display in response to the communicator unit acquiring the vehicle state signal indicating the vehicle state where the video by the camera is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouji Ueno, Shunsuke Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 12145575
    Abstract: This document describes techniques and systems for selecting a parking space using a probabilistic approach. An example system includes a processor that can determine whether multiple parking spaces are available in proximity to a host vehicle using sensor data. Parking-space characteristics (e.g., a width, entry turning radius, and longitudinal distance to the parking space) of each available parking space are determined using the sensor data. The processor can then choose a selected parking space among the multiple parking spaces based on the parking-space characteristics. The processor or another processor can then control the host vehicle to park in the selected parking space using an assisted-driving or autonomous-driving system. In this way, the described system can select and navigate to a parking space using a probabilistic approach. The processor can choose the parking space and parking maneuver based on programmable and customizable parking-space characteristics in some implementations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
    Inventors: Qian Wang, Guoguang Zhang
  • Patent number: 12145510
    Abstract: A device for a vehicle may have a fixed support, a sensor unit, which can be moved between a rest position and an operating position, and a protective element for the sensor unit and a decorative element, which can each be moved between a closed position and an open position. The sensor unit may be placed in its operating position when the protective element and the decorative element are in the open position. The sensor unit, the protective element, and the decorative element may be movably coupled to one another by a lever mechanism, and the protective element and the decorative element may be mounted rotatably and coaxially to one another on the support, and the sensor unit may be articulated on the lever mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Witte Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Manuel Scholer
  • Patent number: 12148272
    Abstract: A method of retrieving a lost item from a compartment to an owner of the lost item is provided. The method comprises detecting the lost item in the compartment to define an item image of the lost item relative to the compartment, updating an inventory list of lost objects, and identifying at least one potential user of the lost item. The method further comprises providing notification to the at least one potential user and providing viewable access of the item image. The method further comprises verifying ownership of the lost item to define the owner of the lost item, determining a preferred pickup location for the owner, storing the lost item at the preferred location defining a stored item, and confirming identity of the owner for retrieval of the stored item at the preferred location. The method further comprises allowing access to the stored item from the preferred location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ke Liu, Jingyan Wan, Ron Hecht, Omer Tsimhoni
  • Patent number: 12146746
    Abstract: A control unit 15 of an in-vehicle device 1 configured to acquire, from landmark data LD that is map data including position information of one or more features, plural pieces of position information of a feature which is drawn on a road surface and which exists at or around a vehicle. Then, the control unit 15 is configured to calculate a normal vector of an approximate plane calculated based on the acquired plural pieces of the position information. Then, the control unit 15 is configured to calculate at least one of a pitch angle or a roll angle of the vehicle based on the orientation of the vehicle and the normal vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiro Kato
  • Patent number: 12148292
    Abstract: A traffic monitoring assembly includes a roof rack that is mountable to a roof of a vehicle. A global positioning system transceiver is attached to the roof rack to receive global positioning system coordinates of the vehicle. A laser sensor is attached to the roof rack for detecting the distance between the vehicle and adjacent traffic vehicles traveling on the same roadway as the vehicle. An ultrasonic sensor is attached to the roof rack to capture ultrasonic sound waves reflected from objects near the vehicle. A camera is attached to the roof rack to capture imagery of the environment surrounding the vehicle. A radar sensor is coupled to the roof rack to emit a radar signal for detecting the speed of adjacent traffic vehicles travelling on the same roadway as the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Inventor: Carlos Silva
  • Patent number: 12141982
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises: a image capturing unit configured to capture an image including a region corresponding to an inside of a vehicle and a region corresponding to an outside of the vehicle; an acquisition unit configured to acquire a plurality of images captured by the image capturing unit at predetermined time intervals; a generation unit configured to generate a mask filter for masking the region corresponding to the inside of the vehicle in the image captured by the image capturing unit based on an amount of change in the plurality of images acquired by the acquisition unit; and a storage unit configured to store the mask filter generated by the generation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuji Yasui
  • Patent number: 12142020
    Abstract: Systems and methods herein provide for improving visibility in a scene. In one embodiment, a system includes a first camera device operable to capture images of a scene at a first band of wavelengths, and a second camera device operable to capture images of the scene at a second band of wavelengths. The first and second bands are different. The system also includes a processor communicatively coupled to the first and second camera devices, the processor being operable to detect an object in the scene based on a first of the images from the first camera device and based on a first of the images from the second camera device that was captured at substantially a same time as the first image from the first camera device, to estimate an obscurant in the scene based on the first images, and to estimate a visibility parameter of the scene based on the object and the estimated obscurant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Arete Associates
    Inventors: Timothy M. Klein, Peter J. Rusello, Benjamin E. K. Sugerman, Amanda M. Steck