Camera with cleaning system

• US 10,752,218 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2018
• Issued: 08/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Turner, Taneshia, Krishnan, Venkatesh, Baldovino, Segundo
• Primary Examiner(s): Osinski, Michael S
• Application Number:
  US15/902,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20190256054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/56 specially adapted for cleaning other parts or devices than front windows or windscreens rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior including cleaning devices B60R1/0602
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/157 Monitoring by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/15 Preventing contamination of the components of the optical system or obstruction of the light path
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0006 with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0257 using a radar radar systems designed for anti-collision purposes between land vehicles or between land vehicle and fixed obstacles G01S13/931
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30252 Vehicle exterior; Vicinity of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0002 Inspection of images, e.g. flaw detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads

Abstract

A computer in a vehicle includes a processor is programmed to detect an object proximate to the vehicle. The processor is further programmed to activate at least one of a plurality of cameras from a deactivated state and operate the vehicle according to an object type determined with data from the at least one of the cameras.

Claims

1. A computer in a vehicle comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor such that the processor is programmed to:

detect an object proximate to the vehicle based on first data from first sensors;

determine that a type of the object is indeterminate based on the first data from the first sensors;

activate at least one of a plurality of cameras from a deactivated state based on the determination that the type of the object is indeterminate based on the first data from the first sensors, wherein the at least one of the plurality of cameras was in the deactivated state at a time of detecting the object;

determine the type of the object based on second data from the at least one of the plurality of cameras;

and

operate the vehicle according to the type of the object determined with the second data from the at least one of the plurality of cameras.

2. The computer of claim 1, wherein the processor is further programmed to:

stop the vehicle based on the determination that the type of the object is indeterminate based on the first data from the first sensors.

3. The computer of claim 2, wherein the processor is further programmed to:

request a server to determine the type of the object based on the camera data;

receive a message from the server indicating that the server determined that the type of the object is indeterminate based on the first data; and

maintain the vehicle in a stopped condition based on the determination by the server that the type of the object is indeterminate.

4. The computer of claim 1, wherein the first sensors have a first field of vision and the plurality of cameras have a second field of vision that includes an area between the first field of vision and the vehicle.

5. The computer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cameras are located below a roofline of the vehicle.

6. The computer of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of cameras is located at one of a side-view mirror of the vehicle, a front grill area of the vehicle, and a rear license plate area of the vehicle.

7. The computer of claim 1, wherein the processor is further programmed to:

request a server to determine the type of the object based on the data from the at least one of the plurality of cameras; and

receive the type of the object from the server.

8. The computer of claim 1, wherein the processor is further programmed to:

clean one or more of the plurality of cameras.

9. The computer of claim 1, wherein detecting the object proximate to the vehicle includes programming to determine that the object is within a predetermined distance of a path of the vehicle.

10. A system comprising:

first sensors mountable to a vehicle;

a plurality of cameras mountable to the vehicle; and

a computer comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor such that the processor is programmed to;

detect an object proximate to the vehicle based on first data from the first sensors;

determine that a type of the object is indeterminate based on the first data from the first sensors;

activate at least one of the plurality of cameras from a deactivated state based on the determination that the type of the object is indeterminate based on the first data from the first sensors, wherein the at least one of the plurality of cameras was in the deactivated state at a time of detecting the object;

determine the type of the object based on second data from the at least one of the plurality of cameras;

and

operate the vehicle according to the type of the object determined with the second data from the at least one of the plurality of cameras.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further programmed to:

stop the vehicle based on the determination that the the type of the object is indeterminate based on the first data from the first sensors.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a server programmed to;

receive a request from the processor to determine the type of the object type based on the second data from the at least one of the plurality of cameras;

determine the type of the object; and

send the type of the object to the processor.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the first sensors have a first field of vision and the plurality of cameras have a second field of vision that includes an area between the first field of vision and the vehicle.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein one of the plurality of cameras is located at one of a side-view mirror of the vehicle, a front grill area of the vehicle, and a rear license plate area of the vehicle.

15. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

cleaning means, wherein the processor is further programmed to;

activate the cleaning means to clean at least one of the cameras.

16. A system comprising:

first sensors;

image capturing means;

processing means;

wherein the processing means is programmed to;

detect an object proximate to a vehicle based on first data from the first sensors;

determine that a type of the object is indeterminate based on the first data from the first sensors;

activate the image capturing means from a deactivated state based on the determination that the type of the object is indeterminate based on the first data from the first sensors wherein the image capturing means was in the deactivated state at a time of detecting the object;

determine the type of the object based on second data from the image capturing means; and

operate the vehicle according to the type of the object determined with second data from the image capturing means.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the processing means is further programmed to:

stop the vehicle based on the determination that the type of the object is indeterminate based on the first data from the first sensors; and

activate cleaning means to clean the image capturing means.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the processing means is further programmed to:

request a server to determine the type of the object based on the second data from the image capturing means;

receive a message from the server indicating that the type of the object is indeterminate for the server; and

maintain the vehicle in a stopped condition, based on the determination that the type of the object is indeterminate for the server.