TRAFFIC SYSTEM FOR ENHANCING DRIVER VISIBILITY
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- detecting a vehicle traveling along a roadway;
receiving data from a plurality of fog detectors located proximate the roadway;
determining, based on the data from the plurality of fog detectors, that fog is present about the roadway, wherein the fog limits visibility of the roadway;
obtaining, after the determining that fog is present about the roadway, a plurality of images of the roadway by activating a plurality of cameras, including a first image from a first camera of the plurality of cameras and a second image from a second camera of the plurality of cameras, wherein the cameras are spaced along the roadway and configured to capture different portions of the roadway that are visible through the fog, and wherein each of the images includes one of the different portions of the roadway that is visible through the fog;
shrinking the second image and positioning the second image over the first image in accordance with a perspective of a driver to create a composite image, wherein the composite image includes two or more of the different portions of the roadway that are visible through the fog, and wherein the composite image shows the roadway unobstructed by fog; and
transmitting the composite image to a display device located in a vehicle traveling along the roadway.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments described herein comprise a system and method for improving visibility of a roadway using an improved visibility system. The method comprising receiving data from a plurality of fog detectors located proximate a roadway and determining, based on the data from the plurality of fog detectors, that fog is present about the roadway. The method further comprising obtaining, after the determining that fog is present about the roadway, a plurality of images of the roadway by activating a plurality of cameras located proximate the roadway. The method further comprising creating a composite image by combining two or more of the plurality of images, wherein the composite image depicts the roadway unobstructed by fog and transmitting the composite image to a display device located in a vehicle traveling along the roadway.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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detecting a vehicle traveling along a roadway; receiving data from a plurality of fog detectors located proximate the roadway; determining, based on the data from the plurality of fog detectors, that fog is present about the roadway, wherein the fog limits visibility of the roadway; obtaining, after the determining that fog is present about the roadway, a plurality of images of the roadway by activating a plurality of cameras, including a first image from a first camera of the plurality of cameras and a second image from a second camera of the plurality of cameras, wherein the cameras are spaced along the roadway and configured to capture different portions of the roadway that are visible through the fog, and wherein each of the images includes one of the different portions of the roadway that is visible through the fog; shrinking the second image and positioning the second image over the first image in accordance with a perspective of a driver to create a composite image, wherein the composite image includes two or more of the different portions of the roadway that are visible through the fog, and wherein the composite image shows the roadway unobstructed by fog; and transmitting the composite image to a display device located in a vehicle traveling along the roadway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system comprising:
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a fog detection unit configured to determine fog is present near a roadway, wherein the fog limits visibility of the roadway; a plurality of cameras located proximate the roadway, wherein the cameras are spaced along the roadway and configured to capture images, including a first image from a first camera of the plurality of cameras and a second image from a second camera of the plurality of cameras, wherein the images include different portions of the roadway that are visible through the fog; an activation unit configured to activate the plurality of cameras after fog is detected near the roadway; a roadway imaging unit configured to; receive the first image and the second image, and, shrink the second image and position the second image over the first image in accordance with a perspective of a driver to create a composite image, wherein the composite image includes two or more of the different portions of the roadway that are visible through the fog, and wherein the composite image shows the roadway unobstructed by fog; and a transceiver unit configured to send a signal that detects vehicles on the roadway, and to send the composite image to the vehicles traveling on the roadway. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer implemented method comprising:
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detecting, in a vehicle on a roadway, the presence of fog on the roadway; receiving, in the vehicle, a first image showing the roadway unobstructed by fog, wherein the first composite image includes data from a first plurality of images captured from a first plurality of locations along the roadway; receiving, in the vehicle, a second image showing the roadway unobstructed by fog, wherein the second composite image includes data from a second plurality of images captured from a second plurality of locations along the roadway; and shrinking the second image and positioning the second image over the first image in accordance with a perspective of a driver to create a composite image, wherein the composite image includes two or more of the different portions of the roadway that are visible through the fog, and wherein the composite image shows the roadway unobstructed by fog. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer program product comprising a computer readable memory device having computer readable code embodied therewith, said computer readable code comprising:
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computer readable code configured to detect a vehicle traveling along a roadway; computer readable code configured to receive data from a plurality of fog detectors located proximate the roadway; computer readable code configured to determine, based on the data from the plurality of fog detectors, that fog is present about the roadway, wherein the fog limits visibility of the roadway; computer readable code configured to obtain, after the determination that fog is present about the roadway, a plurality of images of the roadway by activation of a plurality of cameras, including a first image form a first camera of the plurality of cameras and a second image from a second camera of the plurality of cameras, wherein the cameras are spaced along the roadway and configured to capture different portions of the roadway that are visible through the fog, and wherein each of the images includes one of the different portions of the roadway that is visible through the fog; computer readable code configured to receive the first image and the second image, and, computer readable code configured to shrink the second image and position the second image over the first image in accordance with a perspective of a driver to create a composite image, wherein the composite image includes two or more of the different portions of the roadway that are visible through the fog, and wherein the composite image shows the roadway unobstructed by fog; and computer readable code configured to transmit the composite image to a display device located in a vehicle traveling along the roadway. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification