TRAFFIC SYSTEM FOR ENHANCING DRIVER VISIBILITY

• US 20130201336A1
• Filed: 01/28/2013
• Published: 08/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maplebear Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Longobardi, Giuseppe
• Granted Patent: US 8,817,099 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• 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 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, including a first image from a first camera of the plurality of cameras and a second image from a second camera of the 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;

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

6. A system comprising:

a fog detection unit configured to determine fog is present near a roadway,

wherein the fog limits visibility of the roadway;

a plurality of cameras located proximate the roadway, wherein the cameras are spaced along the roadway and configured to capture images, including a first image from a first camera of the plurality of cameras and a second image from a second camera of the plurality of cameras, wherein the images include different portions of the roadway that are visible through the fog;

an activation unit configured to activate the plurality of cameras after fog is detected near the roadway;

a roadway imaging unit configured to;

receive the first image and the second image, and,

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

a transceiver unit configured to send a signal that detects vehicles on the roadway, and to send the composite image to the vehicles traveling on the roadway.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the fog detection unit is further configured to determine the density of the fog by emission and collection of a light.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

display devices located within the vehicles, wherein the display devices are configured to display the composite image.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the display devices are handheld devices configured to be removed from the vehicles.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the display devices are integrated into dashboards of the vehicles.

11. A computer implemented method comprising:

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

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

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

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

12. The computer implemented method of claim 11, further comprising:

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

13. The computer implemented method of claim 12, further comprising:

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

14. The computer implemented method of claim 12, further comprising:

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

15. The computer implemented method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining a location of the vehicle on the roadway.

16. A computer program product comprising a computer readable memory device having computer readable code embodied therewith, said computer readable code comprising:

computer readable code configured to detect a vehicle traveling along a roadway;

computer readable code configured to receive data from a plurality of fog detectors located proximate the roadway;

computer readable code configured to determine, based on the data from the plurality of fog detectors, that fog is present about the roadway, wherein the fog limits visibility of the roadway;

computer readable code configured to obtain, after the determination that fog is present about the roadway, a plurality of images of the roadway by activation of a plurality of cameras, including a first image form a first camera of the plurality of cameras and a second image from a second camera of the 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;

computer readable code configured to receive the first image and the second image, and,

computer readable code 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 of the different portions of the roadway that are visible through the fog, and wherein the composite image shows the roadway unobstructed by fog; and

computer readable code configured to transmit the composite image to a display device located in a vehicle traveling along the roadway.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising:

computer readable code configured to determine, based on the data, a density of the fog.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the determination of the density of the fog includes transmission of a signal between some of the fog detectors.

19. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising:

computer readable code configured to detect a location of the vehicle relative to the plurality of cameras.

20. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising:

computer readable code configured to create 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

computer readable code configured to transmit the other composite image to the display device located in the vehicle traveling along the roadway.