Traffic system for enhancing driver visibility

• US 8,416,300 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2009
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Maplebear Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Longobardi, Giuseppe
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Thu
• Assistant Examiner(s): WIDHALM, ANGELA M
• Application Number:
  US12/469,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20100295937A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,420 Days
• Field of Search: 340901-905, 340933-938, 340/500, 348143-161, 382/282, 382/284
• US Class Current: 348/153
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/32 involving image mosaicing
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

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.

Claims

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 the 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, 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;

creating a composite image by combining two or more of the images, 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 depicts the roadway unobstructed by fog; and

transmitting the composite image to a display device located in a vehicle traveling along the roadway.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, based on the data, a density of the fog.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining the density of the fog further comprises:

sending a signal between at least some of the fog detectors.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting a location of the vehicle relative to the plurality of cameras.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

creating another composite image by combining another two or more of the plurality of images, wherein the other composite image depicts the roadway unobstructed by fog; and

transmitting the other composite image to the display device located in the vehicle traveling along the roadway.