Vehicle navigation methods, systems and computer program products
First Claim
1. A vehicle navigation method, comprising:
- receiving from a plurality of video image sensors associated with the vehicle a respective plurality of video images of a scene, wherein each video image comprises a respective array of pixels;
creating a composite video image of the scene from the plurality of video images, wherein the composite video image includes an array of composite image pixels, and wherein each composite image pixel in the array of composite image pixels is selected from a respective pixel in one of the respective array of pixels that has a highest signal level or highest signal-to-noise ratio; and
displaying on a display the composite video image in real time so that the vehicle can be navigated in real time using the displayed composite video image.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Vehicle navigation methods, systems and computer program products are provided that create a composite video image of a scene from video images of the scene generated by a plurality of video image sensors. The video image from each image sensor includes a respective array of pixels. The composite video image is created by selecting for a composite image pixel at a given position in an array of composite image pixels a pixel at the given position from one of the respective pixel arrays having the highest signal level or highest signal-to-noise ratio. The selecting is repeatedly performed for a plurality of given positions in the array of composite image pixels. The composite video image can be displayed via a display, such as a head-up display utilized in a vehicle.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A vehicle navigation method, comprising:
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receiving from a plurality of video image sensors associated with the vehicle a respective plurality of video images of a scene, wherein each video image comprises a respective array of pixels; creating a composite video image of the scene from the plurality of video images, wherein the composite video image includes an array of composite image pixels, and wherein each composite image pixel in the array of composite image pixels is selected from a respective pixel in one of the respective array of pixels that has a highest signal level or highest signal-to-noise ratio; and displaying on a display the composite video image in real time so that the vehicle can be navigated in real time using the displayed composite video image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of creating a composite video image that includes an array of composite image pixels, the method comprising:
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receiving from a plurality of video image sensors a respective plurality of video images of a scene, wherein each video image comprises a respective array of pixels; selecting for a composite image pixel at a given position in the array of composite image pixels a pixel at the given position in one of the respective array of pixels that has a highest signal level or highest signal-to-noise ratio. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An imaging system, comprising:
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first and second video image sensors configured to generate respective first and second video images of a scene, wherein the first and second video images comprise respective first and second arrays of pixels; an image processor configured to receive the first and second video images and create a composite video image that includes an array of composite image pixels, wherein, for a given pixel position in the composite pixel array, the image processor selects a pixel at the given position from one of the first and second arrays of pixels that has a highest signal level or highest signal-to-noise ratio. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A computer program product for creating a composite video image that includes an array of composite image pixels, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having encoded thereon instructions that, when executed on a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
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receiving from a plurality of video image sensors a respective plurality of video images of a scene, wherein each video image comprises a respective array of pixels; and selecting for a composite image pixel at a given position in the array of composite image pixels a pixel at the given position in one of the respective array of pixels that has a highest signal level or highest signal-to-noise ratio. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A method for creating a video image, comprising:
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receiving a video image from each of a plurality of video image sensors, wherein at least one of the plurality of video image sensors is mounted to a vehicle; receiving ground data that is at a resolution that is higher than the resolution of at least one of the video image sensors; using the ground data to determine expected image features; and combining the plurality of video images based on at least one of a maximum information content, adherence to the expected image features, and image quality metrics. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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Specification