VEHICLE PATH ASSESSMENT

• US 20150043779A1
• Filed: 08/09/2013
• Published: 02/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Huntzicker, Fred W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,098,752 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/005 using a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/305 merging camera image with lines or icons
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/307 virtually distinguishing relevant parts of a scene from the background of the scene
• 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 number of variations include a vehicle path assessment system.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining if objects are in a vehicle path comprising;

(a) producing at least one of a first image and/or first amount of image data for an area;

(b) determining a vehicle path and overlaying it on the at least one first image and/or representing it within the first amount of image data;

(c) producing at least one of a second image and/or second amount of image data for the area;

(d) using the at least one first image and/or first amount of image data and correlating it to the at least one second image and/or second amount of image data to determine objects which may be displaced in the at least one second image and/or second amount of image data;

(e) determining whether objects which are displaced are in the vehicle path;

(f) producing a notification of objects in the vehicle path via capable hardware based upon the outcome of the determining whether objects which are displaced are in the vehicle path.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first image or first amount of image data is stored in a storage device which is capable of storing the at least one image or image data.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second image or second amount of image data is stored in a storage device which is capable of storing at least one image or image data.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein step a is triggered by the vehicle'"'"'s position with regard to the area.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein step a is triggered by the vehicle'"'"'s movement with regard to the area.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein step c is triggered by the vehicle'"'"'s position with regard to the area.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein step c is triggered by the vehicle'"'"'s movement with regard to the area.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the production of the notification of step f involves the use of hardware which is onboard the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one first image and/or the at least one second image has depth data overlaid thereon.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the first amount of image data and/or the second amount of image data has/have depth data represented therein.

11. The method of claim 2 wherein the vehicle'"'"'s position is determined by a global positioning satellite.

12. The method of claim 4 wherein the vehicle'"'"'s position is determined by a global positioning satellite.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the first image or image data is stored in the storage device which is capable of storing at least one image or image data.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein the second image or image data is stored in the storage device which is capable of storing at least one image or image data.

16. The method of claim 8 wherein the imaging hardware is induced to create an image or image data in light of at least one of vehicle position or movement or position or movement data.

17. The method of claim 8 wherein the imaging hardware is onboard the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 8 wherein the hardware for producing a sensory notification is onboard the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 8 wherein the controller is onboard the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 8 wherein the storage device is onboard the vehicle.

13. A method comprising:

providing a vehicle;

providing imaging hardware;

providing a storage device which is capable of storing at least one image or image data;

providing a controller for correlating or comparing images or image data;

positioning the vehicle in an area such that the imaging hardware may create image(s) and/or image data which is relative to the vehicle'"'"'s position and which is sufficiently reproducible if the imaging hardware were to perform the image(s) and/or image data creation while the vehicle is in a moderately similar position relative to the area;

using the imaging hardware to create at least one first image or image data;

using the imaging hardware to create at least one second image or image data;

using a controller to correlate or compare the at least one first image or image data to the at least one second image or image data to detect a difference between the at least one first image or image data to the at least one second image or image data;

producing a sensory notification of objects in the vehicle path via capable hardware based upon the detection of a difference between the at least one first image or image data to the at least one second image or image data.