Illuminating The Subject Patents (Class 352/49)
  • Patent number: 10889232
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle that includes at least one camera and a lamp, the method including: controlling the at least one camera to capture at least one image of an area in front of the vehicle; extracting, from the at least one image, a light distribution pattern formed by the lamp in the area in front of the vehicle; and performing at least one control related to the extracted light distribution pattern, based on a comparison result obtained by comparing the extracted light distribution pattern with a reference light distribution pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: ZKW Group GmbH
    Inventors: Sangshin Park, Taeyoung Na
  • Patent number: 10634772
    Abstract: A light detection and ranging (lidar) system is provided that is incorporated into a vehicle and which is configured to efficiently adapt to varying road conditions as well as potential obstacles that may lie in the vehicle's pathway. The system employs a spatial light modulator (SLM) to create a plurality of illumination zones within the system's field of view. The SLM allows the lidar system to alter the size of each illumination zone as well as the light intensity within each of the zones as required by road conditions and potential obstacles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: ATIEVA, INC.
    Inventors: Wiebke Eckstein, Hans-Christoph Eckstein, Eric Magnus Bach
  • Patent number: 10391927
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle headlight (1) comprising a light source (2), a primary optical system (3), a projection optical system (4), a control device, an output unit and an optoelectronic component (7) having a controllable arrangement of several, individually adjustable optoelectronic elements (8) in the form of a two-dimensional matrix. Said vehicle headlight (1) is designed to emit light from at least one light source (2) in the direction of the optoelectronic component (7) and to modulate by means of the optoelectronic component (7), and to radiate at least partially in the direction of the projection optical system (4) and to form a light image in front of the vehicle. The control device is connected to the output unit. The output unit is connected to the optoelectronic component (7) and can control the optoelectronic elements (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: ZKW Group GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Lahmer
  • Patent number: 8953095
    Abstract: The invention provides a flash light device, which includes a light source, a light diffuser and a light diffuser's driving unit. The light diffuser's driving unit provides the light diffuser with a required driving voltage according to a voltage information, in which the voltage information is determined according to an original image without light-complementing of the light source and a pre-flash image with light-complementing of the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Altek Corporation
    Inventor: Ming-Jiun Liaw
  • Patent number: 7684007
    Abstract: Apparatus for adaptively and interactively lighting a scene includes a digital light projector that includes a light emitter and a digital light processor optically coupled to the emitter such that the emitter light is projected onto respective individual fields of view of a field of regard illuminating the scene in accordance with a projector control signal. A camera adjacent to the projector is operative to detect light reflected or projected from the illuminated scene and generate a signal corresponding to the detected light. A signal processor coupled to the projector and the camera is operative to receive the camera signal, process the received signal into a light projector control signal in accordance with an associated set of instructions, and apply the control signal to the light projector such that the light projected onto the respective individual fields of view of the illuminating array is controlled in accordance with the instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jerald A. Hull, Jonathan J. Gallegos
  • Patent number: 7227611
    Abstract: Apparatus for adaptively and interactively lighting a scene includes a digital light projector that includes a light emitter and a digital light processor optically coupled to the emitter such that the emitter light is projected onto respective individual fields of view of a field of regard illuminating the scene in accordance with a projector control signal. A camera adjacent to the projector is operative to detect light reflected or projected from the illuminated scene and generate a signal corresponding to the detected light. A signal processor coupled to the projector and the camera is operative to receive the camera signal, process the received signal into a light projector control signal in accordance with an associated set of instructions, and apply the control signal to the light projector such that the light projected onto the respective individual fields of view of the illuminating array is controlled in accordance with the instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jerald A. Hull, Jonathan J. Gallegos
  • Patent number: 6545742
    Abstract: A lighting system comprises a plurality of switchable light generators the light output from which can be switched ‘on’ or ‘off’. The system further comprises a camera to which light from a scene illuminated by a designated light generator is directed, a scene record inhibitor and a sync. signal generator means which is arranged to synchronise switch operation of the light generators with operation of the record inhibitor. In this manner the camera records light from the scene only when the scene is illuminated by the designated light generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Inventor: Paul Allan Peter O'Hagan
  • Publication number: 20020008849
    Abstract: A lighting system comprises a plurality of switchable light generators the light output from which can be switched ‘on’ or ‘off’. The system further comprises a camera to which light from a scene illuminated by a designated light generator is directed, a scene record inhibitor and a sync. signal generator means which is arranged to synchronise switch operation of the light generators with operation of the record inhibitor. In this manner the camera records light from the scene only when the scene is illuminated by the designated light generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventor: Paul Allen Peter O'Hagan
  • Patent number: 6211941
    Abstract: The present invention provides a matte process employing an improved backing screen having particular application for use in composite photography. In particular, the present invention relates to color difference composite photography, whether still, motion picture, video, solid state digital electronic or electrophotographic imaging, in which foreground and background scenes are separately recorded and subsequently combined using known “blue screen” or special color background techniques to form a single image. The present invention includes a biaxially stretchable fabric of synthetic fibers treated with a dye formulation, including fluorescence which is reactive to the visible spectrum, to achieve any of a variety of specific spectral loci and luminances, for the purpose of providing a precise chromatic actinic stimulus response for a silver halide photographic film, or similar response for electronic imaging devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Inventor: Jonathan Erland
  • Patent number: 4669840
    Abstract: A cinematograph camera flicker indicating or control device uses a microprocessor to determine the combinations of camera speed and/or exposure period, or shutter opening, which will be likely to cause unacceptably uneven exposure of successive frames when filming is carried out under AC powered light sources. An alarm may be activated; alternatively, the camera speed and/or the exposure period and/or the lighting frequency may be automatically controlled by the microprocessor to eliminate or reduce such uneven exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignee: dSam Ltd.
    Inventor: David Samuelson
  • Patent number: 4417791
    Abstract: A reverse blue screen process for travelling matte cinematography, which comprises the formation of travelling mattes by pre-coating models or other foreground subjects utilized in composite cinematography with one or more phosphor materials which are invisible upon exposure to visible light, but which emit light of predetermined wavelengths upon excitation by ultraviolet light, and exposing the models through appropriate filters to produce mattes of the predetermined portions of the models coated with the phosphorescing materials, by thus reversing the conventional blue screen process for travelling matte cinematography and exposing an illuminating foreground subject against an opaque background rather than an opaque foreground subject against an illuminated background, it is possible for the first time to successfully matte finely detailed models or other foreground subjects displaying specular reflectance in a single film process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1983
    Inventors: Jonathan Erland, Roger Dorney
  • Patent number: 4383287
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a method and apparatus for illuminating a subject to be photographed wherein the subject is illuminated in such a manner that a uniform highlight is produced upon reflective surface, substantially uniform illumination of the subject is achieved at front and lateral areas, and the background may be modified to lower the background contrast, and if desired, the background may be removed completely. A light source of elongated configuration produces a uniform light source of a vertical dimension greater than the vertical dimension of the subject being photographed. The light source is translated across the subject matter at a predetermined uniform rate while the camera aperture is open while photographing the front and lateral portions of the subject illuminated by the light source. The passing of the light source behind the subject lowers the contrast of the existing background, and such contrast may be sufficient to remove the background completely, if desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1983
    Inventor: Frank E. Fette