Automated vehicle mirror adjustment

• US 10,358,091 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2013
• Issued: 07/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smart Auto Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Shivam Sikroria
• Inventors: Sikroria, Shivam
• Primary Examiner(s): Fujita, Katrina R
• Application Number:
  US13/951,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20150030207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,188 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/07 by electrically powered actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8026 in addition to a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10004 Still image; Photographic image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10028 Range image; Depth image; 3D point clouds
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30201 Face
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30268 Vehicle interior
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/73 using feature-based methods

Abstract

Technologies are generally described for methods and systems effective to adjust a position of a mirror in a vehicle. In an example, a method for adjusting a position of a mirror in a vehicle may include a processor effective to receive an image of an operator of a vehicle. The processor may identify a reference point in the image and depth data. The processor may generate a mirror adjustment signal based on the depth data and the reference point. The processor may further send the mirror adjustment signal to the mirror to adjust a position of the mirror.

Claims

1. A method for generating a mirror adjustment signal effective to adjust a position of first, second, and third mirrors in a vehicle, the method comprising, by a processor:

receiving an image of an operator of the vehicle from a camera, wherein the image is captured by the camera;

identifying a reference point in the image captured by the camera, wherein the reference point relates to a position of the operator relative to the camera, and the reference point is identified by a first and a second variable;

receiving depth data that indicates a distance between a sensor and the operator;

searching a table for values that correspond to the first and second variables;

identifying the values that correspond to the first and second variables based on the search in the table;

in response to the identification of the values that correspond to the first and second variables, searching the table for a value of the depth data based on the identified values;

generating an adjustment signal based on the value of the depth data identified by the search in the table, and based on the reference point, wherein the adjustment signal includes adjustment information for the first mirror, the second mirror, and the third mirror of the vehicle;

separating the adjustment signal into;

a first mirror adjustment signal effective to facilitate adjustment of a position of the first mirror of the vehicle;

a second mirror adjustment signal effective to facilitate adjustment of a position of the second mirror of the vehicle; and

a third mirror adjustment signal effective to facilitate adjustment of a position of the third mirror of the vehicle; and

sending the first mirror adjustment signal to a first motor of the first mirror, the second mirror adjustment signal to a second motor of the second mirror, and the third mirror adjustment signal to a third motor of the third mirror simultaneously.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the reference point includes analyzing the image.

3. The method of claim 1, where the reference point is an eye of the operator.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the table is a first table and generating the adjustment signal comprises:

searching the first table to produce a search result;

generating a pointer based on the search result, where the pointer includes an address of particular data in a second table; and

identifying the particular data in the second table.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein generating the adjustment signal includes generating adjustment data based on the particular data and based on a default value, where the default value is based on prior positions of the first, second, and third mirrors.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the adjustment data corresponds to a number of seconds to drive the first, second, and third motors to move the first, second, and third mirrors.

7. A system configured to generate a mirror adjustment signal to adjust a position of first, second, and third mirrors in a vehicle, the system comprising:

a memory;

a camera configured to capture an image of an operator of the vehicle;

a motor controller; and

a processor configured in communication with the memory, the camera, the sensor, and the motor controller, wherein the processor is configured to;

receive, from the camera, the image captured by the camera;

identify a reference point in the image captured by the camera, wherein the reference point relates to a position of the operator relative to the camera, and the reference point is identified by a first and a second variable;

receive depth data;

search a table for values that correspond to the first and second variables;

identify the values that correspond to the first and second variables based on the search in the table;

in response to the identification of the values that correspond to the first and second variables, search the table for a value of the depth data based on the identified values;

generate an adjustment signal based on the value of the depth data identified by the search in the table, and based on the reference point, wherein the adjustment signal includes adjustment information for the first mirror, the second mirror, and the third mirror of the vehicle;

send the adjustment signal to the motor controller, wherein the motor controller is configured to separate the adjustment signal into;

a first mirror adjustment signal effective to facilitate adjustment of a position of the first mirror of the vehicle;

a second mirror adjustment signal effective to facilitate adjustment of a position of the second mirror of the vehicle; and

a third mirror adjustment signal effective to facilitate adjustment of a position of the third mirror of the vehicle.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

the depth sensor, wherein the depth sensor is configured to generate the depth data, and wherein the depth data indicates a distance between the camera and the operator;

a gyroscope configured to generate orientation data;

and wherein the adjustment signal is further based on the orientation data.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the motor controller is further configured to send the first, second, and third mirror adjustment signals to a first motor of the first mirror, a second motor of the second mirror, and a third motor of the third mirror, respectively.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to:

identify the reference point in the image based on an analysis of the image.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the table is a first table and the processor is further configured to:

search the first table to produce a search result;

generate a pointer based on the search result, where the pointer includes an address of a particular data in a second table; and

identify the particular data in the second table.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to generate the adjustment signal based on the particular data and based on a default value, where the default value is based on a prior position of the mirror.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the adjustment data corresponds to a number of seconds to drive respective motors to move the first, second, and third mirrors.

14. A vehicle configured to generate a mirror adjustment signal for first, second, and third mirrors of the vehicle, the vehicle comprising:

the first mirror, where the first mirror includes;

a first motor effective to adjust the first mirror in a first direction; and

a second motor effective to adjust the first mirror in a second direction;

the second mirror, where the second mirror includes;

a third motor effective to adjust the second mirror in the first direction; and

a fourth motor effective to adjust the second mirror in the second direction;

the third mirror, where the third mirror includes;

a fifth motor effective to adjust the third mirror in the first direction; and

a sixth motor effective to adjust the third mirror in the second direction;

a memory;

a camera configured to capture an image of an operator of the vehicle;

a sensor configured to generate depth data that indicates a distance between the sensor and the operator;

a motor controller configured in communication with the first, second, and third mirrors; and

a processor configured in communication with the memory, the camera, the sensor, and the motor controller, wherein the processor is configured to;

receive, from the camera, the image captured by the camera;

identify a reference point in the image captured by the camera, wherein the reference point relates to a position of the operator relative to the camera, and the reference point is identified by a first and a second variable;

receive the depth data;

search a table for values that correspond to the first and second variables;

identify the values that correspond to the first and second variables based on the search in the table;

in response to the identification of the values that correspond to the first and second variables, search the table for a value of the depth data based on the identified values;

generate an adjustment signal based on the value of the depth data and the reference point, wherein the adjustment signal includes adjustment information for the first mirror, the second mirror, and the third mirror; and

send the adjustment signal to the motor controller, wherein the motor controller is configured to separate the adjustment signal into;

a first mirror adjustment signal effective to facilitate adjustment of a position of the first mirror of the vehicle;

a second mirror adjustment signal effective to facilitate adjustment of a position of the second mirror of the vehicle; and

a third mirror adjustment signal effective to facilitate adjustment of a position of the third mirror of the vehicle.

15. The vehicle in claim 14, wherein the motor controller is further configured to:

send the first mirror adjustment signal to the first motor and the second motor, the second mirror adjustment signal to the third motor and the fourth motor, and the third mirror adjustment signal to the fifth motor and the sixth motor simultaneously.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to:

identify the reference point in the image based on an analysis of the image.