System and assessment of reflective objects along a roadway
DCFirst Claim
1. An automated system that detects and determines reflective surfaces of interest in a scene of non-retroreflective surfaces along a roadway that is being traversed by a vehicle, the automated system comprising:
- an image capture system that captures images within a field of view along the roadway;
an active light sensor including;
a light source that illuminates an area along the roadway; and
a light sensor that measures light intensity values within at least a portion of the area illuminated by the light source; and
a computer processing system operably connected to the image capture system, and the active light sensor and configured to detect objects of interest within the field of view and for each object of interest;
determine whether the object of interest includes a reflective surface based on the light intensity values;
determine whether the reflective surface is a road marker based on an assessment of the reflective surface; and
determine a location of the road marker.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for classifying different types of sheeting materials of road signs depicted in a videostream compares estimated retroreflectivity values against known minimum retroreflectivity values for each of a plurality of colors. Once a road sign has been identified in the videostream, the frames associated with that road sign are analyzed to determine each of a plurality of colors present on the road sign. An estimated retroreflectivity for each of the plurality of colors present on the road sign is then determined. By comparing the estimated retroreflectivity for each of the plurality of colors against known minimum retroreflectivity values for the corresponding color for different types of sheeting materials, an accurate determination of the classification of the sheeting material of the road sign is established. Preferably, certain conditions of gross failure of the sheeting material are filtered out before classification of the sheeting material is determined.
159 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An automated system that detects and determines reflective surfaces of interest in a scene of non-retroreflective surfaces along a roadway that is being traversed by a vehicle, the automated system comprising:
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an image capture system that captures images within a field of view along the roadway; an active light sensor including; a light source that illuminates an area along the roadway; and a light sensor that measures light intensity values within at least a portion of the area illuminated by the light source; and a computer processing system operably connected to the image capture system, and the active light sensor and configured to detect objects of interest within the field of view and for each object of interest; determine whether the object of interest includes a reflective surface based on the light intensity values; determine whether the reflective surface is a road marker based on an assessment of the reflective surface; and determine a location of the road marker. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An automated system for assessing reflective surfaces disposed along a roadway comprising:
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an active light sensor that is traversed along a roadway that includes at least one reflective surface on a road marker, the road marker having a reflective characteristic, the active light sensor including; a light source to illuminate an area that includes the at least one reflective surface; and a light sensor that measures a plurality of light intensity values within a field of view which includes at least a portion of the area illuminated by the light source; and a computer processing system operably connected to the active light sensor and configured to detect objects of interest within the field of view and for each object of interest; determine whether the object of interest includes at least one light intensity value associated with a reflective surface of a road marker in the field of view; and analyze the at least one light intensity value to determine an assessment of a discrete location of the road marker within the field of view. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An automated method for assessing reflective surfaces disposed along a roadway comprising:
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activating a light source as the light source is traversed along a roadway to illuminate an area that includes at least one reflective surface on a road marker, the road marker having a reflective characteristic; determining a plurality of light intensity values with at least one intensity sensor directed to cover a field of view which includes at least a portion of the area illuminated by the light source; and using a computer processing system configured to; identify at least one light intensity value of the plurality of light intensity values associated with one of the at least one reflective surface of the road marker in the field of view; and analyze the at least one light intensity value of the plurality of light intensity values to determine an assessment of a discrete location of the road marker within the field of view. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification