US 11,447,063 B2 · Steerable scanning and perception system with active illumination

Abstract

A scanning and perception system for a vehicle camera having an instantaneous field of view (iFOV) and configured to capture an image of an object at a saturation level in the camera's iFOV. The system also includes a light source configured to illuminate the camera's iFOV. The system additionally includes a radar configured to determine the object's velocity and the object's distance from the vehicle, and a mechanism configured to steer the radar and/or the camera. The system also includes an electronic controller programmed to regulate the mechanism and adjust illumination intensity of the light source in response to the saturation level in the image or the determined distance to the object. The controller is also programmed to merge data indicative of the captured image and data indicative of the determined position of the object and classify the object and identify the object's position in response to the merged data.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A scanning and perception system for a vehicle, comprising:

a camera having an instantaneous field of view (iFOV), and configured to capture an image of an object at a saturation level in the iFOV;
a light source configured to illuminate the iFOV;
a radar configured to determine velocity of the object and distance of the object from the vehicle;
a mechanism configured to steer at least one of the radar and the camera toward the object;
and
an electronic controller in electronic communication with and configured to regulate operation of the camera, the light source, the radar, and the mechanism, and programmed to:
adjust illumination intensity of the light source in response to one of the saturation level in the captured image and the determined distance of the object to the vehicle;
merge data indicative of the captured image and data indicative of the determined velocity and distance;
and
classify the object and identify a position of the object in response to the merged data.

7 more elements

A method of scanning for and perception of an object from a vehicle, the method comprising:

capturing, via a camera having an instantaneous field of view (iFOV), an image of an object at a saturation level in the iFOV;
illuminating, via a light source, the iFOV;
determining, via a radar, velocity of the object and distance of the object from the vehicle;
steering, via a mechanism, at least one of the radar and the camera toward the object;
adjusting, via an electronic controller in electronic communication with and configured to regulate operation of the camera, the light source, the radar, and the mechanism, illumination intensity of the light source in response to one of the saturation level in the image and the determined distance of the object from the vehicle to optimize resolution of the image;
merging, via the electronic controller, data indicative of the captured image of the object and data indicative of the determined velocity and distance;
and
classifying the object and identifying a position of the object, via the electronic controller, in response to the merged data.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Steerable scanning and perception system with active illumination

Life of this patent

Steerable scanning and perception system with active illumination

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20