System for vehicle identification

• US 10,733,402 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2018
• Issued: 08/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Riccardi, John L., Dubner, Andrew D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Seung H
• Application Number:
  US16/235,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20190318138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0017 Devices integrating an element dedicated to another function
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/3015 Optical cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06009 with optically detectable marking G06K19/063, G06K19/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1408 the method being specifically adapted for the type of code
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/16 Signs formed of or incorporating reflecting elements or surfaces, e.g. warning signs having triangular or other geometrical shape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

The sensors on a vehicle can have difficulties identifying surrounding objects in the environment. Markers with predetermined properties that match with reading capabilities of the on-vehicle sensors would provide information about the surrounding environment. In particular, adjacent vehicles may have markers with predetermined properties that match with reading capabilities of the vehicle sensors. The sensors would obtain information about the surrounding vehicles on the road, which could be used to provide context for decision making of the advanced driver assistance system.

Claims

1. A system for identifying a first vehicle comprising:

a set of optically active markers, each optically active marker on at least a portion of opposing outward surfaces of the first vehicle and each optically active marker comprises machine-readable information;

a image capture device on a second vehicle that detects and produces an image of at least one of the optically active markers;

a processor that processes the image to find the machine-readable information and associates the machine-readable information with information of the first vehicle,

wherein the set of optically active markers comprises;

a first optically active marker on a first outward facing surface of the first vehicle;

a second optically active marker on a second outward facing surface of the first vehicle, opposite from the first outward facing surface of the first vehicle;

a third optically active marker on a third outward facing surface of the first vehicle;

a fourth optically active marker on a fourth outward facing surface of the first vehicle, opposite from the third outward facing surface of the first vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one optically active marker is a number plate of the first vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an additional optically active marker on the first vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the additional optically active marker is on any one of the outward facing surface of the first vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one optically active marker is retroreflective.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one optically active marker is infrared absorbing, scattering, or reflecting and the image capture device is an infrared camera.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one optically active marker comprises a retroreflective layer and at least a portion comprising an infrared selective layer.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one optically active marker returns polarized light and the image capture device responds to polarized light.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the optically active markers are visibly transparent or a color corresponding to the outward surface of the vehicle to which it is attached.

10. The system of claim 1, instructions indicate the location on the outward facing surface of the first vehicle for each optically active marker.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the information regarding the first vehicle include exterior color information, and wherein the optically active markers for attachment to outward facing surfaces of the first vehicle correspond in color to the exterior color information.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable information comprises a code wherein the processor associates machine-readable information of the code with code information.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor accesses a database and associate machine-readable information of the code with code information.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein each optically active marker comprises the same machine-readable information.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein each optically active marker comprises different machine-readable information.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein information about the first vehicle comprises any one of vehicle type, vehicle color, vehicle owner, unique vehicle identification information, vehicle placement.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable information causes the second vehicle to respond.