Automated defrost and defog performance test system and method

• US 9,862,317 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2015
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Fragoso Iniguez, Marcos Ahuizotl, Rolinski, Kevin M., El Aile, Rachid E., Monroy, Oscar
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley, Christopher S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tarko, Asmamaw G
• Application Number:
  US14/739,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20160362049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 348148, 348122
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/002 with means for clear vision, e.g. anti-frost or defog panes, rain shields window heating in H05B3/84, H05B3/86
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8053 for bad weather conditions or night vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/023 including defroster or demisting means
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10016 Video; Image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30268 Vehicle interior
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0004 Industrial image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/30 Determination of transform parameters for the alignment of images, i.e. image registration
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/33 using feature-based methods
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A system for evaluating performance of a vehicle window defrosting/defogging apparatus includes at least one computing device having at least a processor and a memory, and one or more imagers configured for obtaining images of one or more windows of a vehicle. The processor is configured to execute instructions for analyzing the images to determine a defrosted/defogged portion of the one or more windows at predetermined time intervals, including controlling illumination to optimize the system'"'"'s ability to distinguish cleared window areas. A graphical user interface is configured for displaying and/or manipulating at least one of the one or more images, digital data of the one or more images, and a predetermined template for determining the defrosted/defogged portion of the one or more windows. The system includes instructions for aligning the one or more images with the predetermined template, including processing the images to correct for window taper, curvature, and size.

Claims

1. A system for evaluating performance of a vehicle window defrosting/defogging apparatus, comprising:

at least one computing device comprising a processor and a memory; and

one or more imagers operatively connected to the computing device and configured for obtaining one or more images of one or more windows of a vehicle;

wherein the processor is configured to execute non-transitory computer-executable instructions for analyzing the one or more images to determine a defrosted/defogged portion of the one or more windows at predetermined time intervals, for controlling a level of illumination within at least a field of view of the one or more imagers, and for aligning the one or more images with a predetermined template.

2. The system of claim 1, further including a graphical user interface operatively connected to the computing device and configured for displaying and/or manipulating at least one of the one or more images, digital data of the one or more images, and the predetermined template for determining the defrosted/defogged portion of the one or more windows.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to execute non-transitory computer-executable instructions for processing to adjust a taper of the one or more images according to the predetermined template.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to execute non-transitory computer-executable instructions for processing to adjust a curvature of the one or more images according to the predetermined template.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to execute non-transitory computer-executable instructions for processing to adjust a height dimension and/or a width dimension of the one or more images according to the predetermined template.

6. A vehicle including the system of claim 1.

7. A method for evaluating performance of a vehicle window defrosting/defogging apparatus, comprising:

by a defrosting/defogging apparatus of a vehicle, initiating a window defrosting cycle;

by one or more imagers, obtaining one or more images of one or more windows of a vehicle;

transmitting the one or more images to a computing device comprising at least a processor and a memory; and

by the processor, executing non-transitory computer-executable instructions for analyzing the one or more images to determine a defrosted/defogged portion of the one or more windows at predetermined time intervals, for controlling a level of illumination within at least a field of view of the one or more imagers, and for aligning the one or more images with a predetermined template.

8. The method of claim 7, further including, by a graphical user interface operatively connected to the computing device, displaying and/or manipulating at least one of the one or more images, digital data of the one or more images, and the predetermined template for determining the defrosted/defogged portion of the one or more windows.

9. The method of claim 7, further including, by the processor, executing non-transitory computer-executable instructions for illuminating a passenger cabin of the vehicle to control the level of illumination within at least a field of view of the one or more imagers.

10. The method of claim 7, further including, by the processor, executing non-transitory computer-executable instructions for processing to adjust a taper of the one or more images according to the predetermined template.

11. The method of claim 7, further including, by the processor, executing non-transitory computer-executable instructions for processing to adjust a curvature of the one or more images according to the predetermined template.

12. The method of claim 7, further including, by the processor, executing non-transitory computer-executable instructions for processing to adjust a height dimension and/or a width dimension of the one or more images according to the predetermined template.

13. A system for evaluating performance of a vehicle window defrosting/defogging apparatus, comprising:

at least one computing device comprising a processor and a memory;

one or more imagers operatively connected to the computing device and configured for obtaining one or more images of one or more windows of a vehicle; and

a graphical user interface operatively connected to the computing device and configured for displaying and/or manipulating at least one of the one or more images, digital data of the one or more images, and a predetermined template for determining the defrosted/defogged portion of the one or more windows;

wherein the processor is configured to execute non-transitory computer-executable instructions for analyzing the one or more images to determine a defrosted/defogged portion of the one or more windows at predetermined time intervals, for controlling a level of illumination within at least a field of view of the one or more imagers, and for aligning the one or more images with the predetermined template.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to execute non-transitory computer-executable instructions for processing to adjust a taper of the one or more images according to the predetermined template.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to execute non-transitory computer-executable instructions for processing to adjust a curvature of the one or more images according to the predetermined template.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to execute non-transitory computer-executable instructions for processing to adjust a height dimension and/or a width dimension of the one or more images according to the predetermined template.