CAMERA ARRAY SYSTEM AND METHOD TO DETECT A LOAD STATUS OF A SEMI-TRAILER TRUCK

• US 20170262717A1
• Filed: 04/19/2017
• Published: 09/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spireon Incorporated (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Spireon Incorporated (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Drazan, Jeffrey M., Brady, James, Epler, Jim
• Granted Patent: US 10,311,315 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0003 inside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/406 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8006 for monitoring and displaying scenes of vehicle interior, e.g. for monitoring passengers or cargo
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8046 for replacing a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/08 for incorporation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/22 Matching criteria, e.g. proximity measures
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/59 inside of a vehicle, e.g. relating to seat occupancy, driver state or inner lighting conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/951 by using two or more images to influence resolution, frame rate or aspect ratio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253

Abstract

Disclosed are a method, a device and/or a system of utilizing a camera array system to detect a load status of a semi-trailer truck. A sensor array is affixed to a surface of a trailer of the semi-trailer truck to automatically determine whether a cargo area of the semi-trailer truck is occupied. A set of cameras of the sensor array have each camera embedded in individual recesses of the sensor array. The cargo area is illuminated using at least one light source of the sensor array. A memory and a processor associated with the sensor array are configured to store one baseline image of the cargo area of the trailer in an empty state. The processor is configured to detect a triggering event. The processor determines a cargo status based upon a difference between the current image and the baseline image, and sends the cargo status to a dispatcher.

Claims

1. A trailer of a semi-trailer truck, comprising:

a sensor array affixed to a surface of the trailer to automatically determine whether a cargo area of the semi-trailer truck is occupied;

a set of cameras of the sensor array,

wherein each camera of the set of cameras is each embedded in individual recesses of the sensor array such that each of the set of cameras do not protrude from the sensor array into the cargo area, and

wherein each of the set of cameras to peer into the cargo area of the semi-trailer truck;

at least one light source to illuminate the cargo area;

wherein a memory and a processor associated with the sensor array is configured to store at least one baseline image of the cargo area of the trailer when the trailer is in an empty state, and

wherein the processor is configured;

to detect a triggering event,

to illuminate the cargo area of the trailer using at least one light source,

to capture a current image of the cargo area of the trailer using at least one of the set of cameras,

to compare each current image of an interior cavity with the corresponding baseline image of a cargo cavity,

to determine a cargo status based upon a difference between the current image and the baseline image, and

to send the cargo status to a dispatcher using a cellular modem.

2. The trailer of the semi-trailer truck of claim 1 wherein the sensor array is affixed to an upper corner of the trailer.

3. The trailer of the semi-trailer truck of claim 1 wherein the sensor array is affixed to a middle top-section of the trailer, such that the sensor array is placed in a separate housing from the cargo area on an exterior face of the trailer.

4. The trailer of the semi-trailer truck of claim 1 wherein at least one light source is a light-emitting diode that is associated with each camera of the set of cameras.

5. The trailer of the semi-trailer truck of claim 1:

wherein each camera of the set of cameras automatically take a photograph of the cargo area in view of each camera upon an occurrence of the triggering event, and

wherein the triggering event is at least one of a trailer opening event, a trailer closing event, a motion detection event through at least one of a global positioning device and a motion sensor in the trailer, a stopping event, a time-based event, a geographic-location based event, and a velocity based event.

6. The trailer of the semi-trailer truck of claim 1:

wherein the sensor array to include a backup camera to observe a rear area of the trailer of the semi-trailer truck,

wherein the backup camera is mounted to the sensor array, wherein the backup camera to view at least one of a door of the trailer, a loading area of the trailer, and an area behind the trailer, and

wherein a driver of the trailer may view a video feed from the backup camera using at least one of a wired connection and a wireless connection between the backup camera and a display in a cabin area of the semi-trailer truck.

7. The trailer of the semi-trailer truck of claim 1, wherein a field of view of each of the set of cameras to at least partially overlap with the field of view of at least another of the set of cameras.

8. The trailer of the semi-trailer truck of claim 1, wherein the sensor array is powered by at least one of a battery, the semi-trailer truck, and a solar array mounted on the trailer.

9. The trailer of the semi-trailer truck of claim 1:

wherein the sensor array to communicatively generate a composite view of the cargo area using the set of cameras,

wherein the sensor array to communicate the composite view to at least one of the cabin area of the semi-trailer truck and a central server communicatively coupled with the semi-trailer truck through an Internet network using the processor and the memory of the semi-trailer truck, and

wherein the cellular modem to periodically provide a reporting of a location of the semi-trailer truck captured with a geographic positioning receiver to the central server along with the composite view using the processor and the memory.

10. A trailer of a semi-trailer truck, comprising:

a sensor array affixed to a surface of the trailer to automatically determine whether a cargo area of the semi-trailer truck is occupied;

a set of cameras of the sensor array,

wherein each camera of the set of cameras is each recessed relative to an interior region of the cargo area, and

wherein each of the set of cameras to peer into the cargo area of the semi-trailer truck;

wherein a memory and a processor associated with the sensor array is configured to store at least one baseline image of the cargo area of the trailer when the trailer is in an empty state, and

wherein the processor is configured;

to detect a triggering event,

to illuminate the cargo area of the trailer using at least one light source,

to capture a current image of the cargo area of the trailer using at least one of the set of cameras,

to compare each current image of an interior cavity with the corresponding baseline image of a cargo cavity,

to determine a cargo status based upon a difference between the current image and the baseline image, and

to send the cargo status to a dispatcher using a cellular modem.

11. The trailer of the semi-trailer truck of claim 10 wherein the sensor array is affixed to an upper corner of the trailer.

12. The trailer of the semi-trailer truck of claim 10 wherein the sensor array is affixed to a middle top-section of the trailer, such that the sensor array is placed in a separate housing from the cargo area on an exterior face of the trailer.

13. The trailer of the semi-trailer truck of claim 10 further comprising

at least one light source to illuminate the cargo area, and

wherein at least one light source is a light-emitting diode that is associated with each camera of the set of cameras.

14. The trailer of the semi-trailer truck of claim 10:

wherein each camera of the set of cameras automatically take a photograph of the cargo area in view of each camera upon an occurrence of the triggering event, and

wherein the triggering event is at least one of a trailer opening event, a trailer closing event, a motion detection event through at least one of a global positioning device and a motion sensor in the trailer, a stopping event, a time-based event, a geographic-location based event, and a velocity based event.

15. The trailer of the semi-trailer truck of claim 10:

wherein the sensor array to include a backup camera to observe a rear area of the trailer of the semi-trailer truck,

wherein the backup camera is mounted to the sensor array, wherein the backup camera to view at least one of a door of the trailer, a loading area of the trailer, and an area behind the trailer, and

wherein a driver of the trailer may view a video feed from the backup camera using at least one of a wired connection and a wireless connection between the backup camera and a display in a cabin area of the semi-trailer truck.

16. The trailer of the semi-trailer truck of claim 10, wherein a field of view of each of the set of cameras to at least partially overlap with the field of view of at least another of the set of cameras.

17. The trailer of the semi-trailer truck of claim 10, wherein the sensor array is powered by at least one of a battery, the semi-trailer truck, and a solar array mounted on the trailer.

18. The trailer of the semi-trailer truck of claim 10,

wherein the sensor array to communicatively generate a composite view of the cargo area using the set of cameras,

wherein the sensor array to communicate the composite view to at least one of the cabin area of the semi-trailer truck and a central server communicatively coupled with the semi-trailer truck through an Internet network using the processor and the memory of the semi-trailer truck, and

wherein the cellular modem to periodically provide a reporting of a location of the semi-trailer truck captured with a geographic positioning receiver to the central server along with the composite view using the processor and the memory.

19. A trailer of a semi-trailer truck, comprising:

a sensor array affixed to a surface of the trailer to automatically determine whether a cargo area of the semi-trailer truck is occupied;

a set of cameras of the sensor array,

wherein each camera of the set of cameras is each embedded in individual recesses of the sensor array such that each of the set of cameras are interior to a flush plane of the surface to prevent cargo from damaging each camera, and

wherein each of the set of cameras to peer into the cargo area of the semi-trailer truck;

at least one light source to illuminate the cargo area;

wherein a memory and a processor associated with the sensor array is configured to store at least one baseline image of the cargo area of the trailer when the trailer is in an empty state, and

wherein the processor is configured;

to detect a triggering event,

to illuminate the cargo area of the trailer using at least one light source,

to capture a current image of the cargo area of the trailer using at least one of the set of cameras,

to compare each current image of an interior cavity with the corresponding baseline image of a cargo cavity,

to determine a cargo status based upon a difference between the current image and the baseline image, and

to send the cargo status to a dispatcher using a cellular modem, and

wherein the sensor array to include a backup camera to observe a rear area of the trailer of the semi-trailer truck,

wherein the backup camera is mounted to the sensor array, wherein the backup camera to view at least one of a door of the trailer, a loading area of the trailer, and an area behind the trailer, and

wherein a driver of the trailer may view a video feed from the backup camera using at least one of a wired connection and a wireless connection between the backup camera and a display in a cabin area of the semi-trailer truck.

20. The trailer of the semi-trailer truck of claim 19,

wherein the sensor array to communicatively generate a composite view of the cargo area using the set of cameras,

wherein the sensor array to communicate the composite view to at least one of the cabin area of the semi-trailer truck and a central server communicatively coupled with the semi-trailer truck through an Internet network using the processor and the memory of the semi-trailer truck, and

wherein the cellular modem to periodically provide a reporting of a location of the semi-trailer truck captured with a geographic positioning receiver to the central server along with the composite view using the processor and the memory.