Traffic system for enhancing driver visibility

• US 9,706,176 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2014
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maplebear Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Longobardi, Giuseppe
• Primary Examiner(s): Winder, Patrice
• Assistant Examiner(s): WIDHALM DE RODRIG, ANGELA MARIE
• Application Number:
  US14/461,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20140354817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• 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 computer implemented method comprising:

detecting, in a vehicle on a roadway, presence of fog on the roadway;

receiving a first image showing the roadway unobstructed by fog, wherein the first image includes data from a first plurality of images captured from a first plurality of cameras along the roadway;

receiving a second image showing the roadway unobstructed by fog, wherein the second image includes data from a second plurality of images captured from a second plurality of cameras along the roadway; and

shrinking, by one or more processors in the vehicle, 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 different portions of the roadway that are visible through the fog, and wherein the composite image shows the roadway unobstructed by fog.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, in the vehicle, a density of the fog.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

selecting the first plurality of cameras based on the density of the fog.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

selecting the second plurality of cameras based on the density of the fog.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a location of the vehicle on the roadway.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating the composite image in accordance with a speed of the vehicle.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first image and the second image are selected in accordance with a wall of visibility formed by the fog.

8. A system comprising:

one or more processors in a vehicle; and

a receiver coupled to the one or more processors, the receiver to receive a first image showing a roadway unobstructed by fog, wherein the first image includes data from a first plurality of images captured from a first plurality of cameras along the roadway and to receive a second image showing the roadway unobstructed by fog, wherein the second image includes data from a second plurality of images captured from a second plurality of cameras along the roadway; and

wherein the one or more processors are 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 different portions of the roadway that are visible through the fog, and wherein the composite image shows the roadway unobstructed by fog.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine a density of the fog.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are configured to select the first plurality of cameras based on the density of the fog.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are configured to select the second plurality of cameras based on the density of the fog.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine a location of the vehicle on the roadway.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are configured to update the composite image in accordance with a speed of the vehicle.

14. A computer program product comprising a computer readable memory device that is not a propagating signal, the computer readable memory device having-program instructions embodied therein, the program instructions executable by one or more processors of a vehicle that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to:

receive an indication of a presence of fog on a roadway;

receive data for a first image showing the roadway unobstructed by fog, wherein the first image includes data from a first plurality of images captured from a first plurality of cameras along the roadway;

receive data for a second image showing the roadway unobstructed by fog, wherein the second image includes data from a second plurality of images captured from a second plurality of cameras along the roadway; and

shrink 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 different portions of the roadway that are visible through the fog, and wherein the composite image shows the roadway unobstructed by fog.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the program instructions further comprise program instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to determine a density of the fog.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the program instructions further comprise program instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to select the first plurality of cameras based on the density of the fog.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the program instructions further comprise program instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to select the second plurality of cameras based on the density of the fog.

18. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the program instructions further comprise program instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to determine a location of the vehicle on the roadway.

19. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the program instructions further comprise program instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to update the composite image in accordance with a speed of the vehicle.

20. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the first image and the second image are selected by the one or more processors in accordance with a wall of visibility formed by the fog.