Night detection of front-parked vehicles

• US 10,464,479 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2018
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hangzhou Haicun Information Technology Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hangzhou Haicun Information Technology Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Zhang, Guobiao
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T
• Application Number:
  US16/044,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20180326903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• Field of Search: 3409322, 340933, 340937, 340902, 340904, 340994, 340995
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/002 for parking purposes, e.g. for warning the driver that his vehicle has contacted or is about to contact an obstacle warning arrangements in garages E04H6/42
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/106 using night vision cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/584 of vehicle lights or traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/586 of parking space

Abstract

To detect front-parked vehicles at night (i.e. a vehicle is parked with its head facing the inside of a parking space), the present invention discloses a night-detection device. It comprises a moving-vehicle sensor and a parked-vehicle sensor. It uses the light beam from a passing-by vehicle to extract at least a reflection of at least a tail light or at least a portion of a back bumper.

Claims

1. A night-detection device fixedly located near and above at least a parking space for monitoring if said parking space is occupied by a front-parked vehicle, comprising:

a moving-vehicle sensor for sensing a moving vehicle within a pre-determined range of said parking space;

a parked-vehicle sensor for determining if said parking space is occupied, comprising a processor for extracting at least a reflection of a portion of a back bumper of said front-parked vehicle when said moving-vehicle sensor detects said moving vehicle and a light beam of said moving vehicle illuminates said front-parked vehicle.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said moving-vehicle sensor is an audio sensor, an optical sensor, or an electromagnetic sensor.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said moving-vehicle sensor is located at a same location as said parked-vehicle sensor.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said moving-vehicle sensor is located at a different location from said parked-vehicle sensor.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein said moving-vehicle sensor communicates with said parked-vehicle sensor using a wireless means.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said parked-vehicle sensor comprises an optical detector for capturing at least an image of said parking space, and a processor for extracting said portion of said back bumper from said image.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said optical detector comprises at least a camera.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein said camera operates more frequently at night than during the day.