# US 12,182,948 B2 · Augmented reality traffic advisor system and method

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- Number: US 12,182,948 B2
- Document ID: US12182948B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/951,582
- Filed: 2022-09-23
- Published: 2023-03-23
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2021-09-23
- Assignees: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
- Applicants: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
- Inventors: Caleb Garrett; Angelo Arcaria
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12182948B2

## CPC

- B60Q 1/50: for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
- G06T 19/006: {Mixed reality (object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00)}
- G06T 7/70: Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras (camera calibration G06T7/80)
- G06T 19/20: Editing of three-dimensional [3D] images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts
- H04N 9/3138: {using arrays of modulated light sources (electroluminescent display devices G09G3/30)}
- H04N 9/3179: {Video signal processing therefor}
- H04N 9/3182: {Colour adjustment, e.g. white balance, shading or gamut (white balance per se H04N9/73; control of amplitude of colour signals H04N9/68; colour control circuits for displays in general G09G5/02, G09G3/2003, G09G3/3607)}
- H04N 9/3185: {Geometric adjustment, e.g. keystone or convergence (optical or mechanical adjustment of convergence H04N9/317; using scanning means H04N3/22; optical or mechanical adjustments of projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14)}
- H04N 9/3188: {Scale or resolution adjustment (scaling in general G06T3/40; resolution modifying circuits for displays in general G09G5/391)}
- H04N 9/3194: {including sensor feedback}
- B60Q 2400/50: Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body
- G06T 2207/30236: Traffic on road, railway or crossing
- G06T 2219/2004: Aligning objects, relative positioning of parts
- G06T 2219/2012: Colour editing, changing, or manipulating; Use of colour codes
- G06T 2219/2016: Rotation, translation, scaling
- G06T 2219/2021: Shape modification
- B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

Systems and methods for displaying projected image onto a surface to create an active augmented reality environment may include a lighting device and a controller. The controller may receive information, such as a user input or sensor information, and determine one or more projection properties for the lighting device. The lighting device may receive a control signal from the controller and adjust one or more parameters in order to project the image onto the surface in accordance with a desired user input and the sensor information.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for projecting an image onto a surface, comprising:
a projector module, the projector module having a matrix of lighting devices, wherein the projector module comprises at least a microLED matrix;
one or more sensors, the one or more sensors to obtain at least one or more image parameters associated with the image;
a processor; and
a memory having instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:
receive one or more image parameters from the one or more sensors;
determine one or more image projection properties based, at least in part, on the one or more image parameters, the one or more image projection properties adjusting features of the projector module to display the image according to a selected output format; and
cause the image to be projected, by the projector module, in accordance with the one or more image projection properties.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more image parameters comprises at least one of a shape, a size, a color, a textural component, a graphical component, or a relative position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more projection properties comprises at least one of a projection angle, an optic angle, a processing parameter, or an intensity.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors include at least one camera, LIDAR sensor, or range finder.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein adjusting features of the projector module further comprises adjusting the image position, image shape, or image size.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a user input device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 further comprising one or more optics for focusing the image onto a surface.

### Claim 8

A method for projecting an image onto a surface, comprising:
receiving a user input associated with an output message of the image;
receiving sensor information associated with at least a relative position of a projector module and the surface;
determining, based at least in part on the sensor information and the output message, one or more projection properties; and
illumining one or more lighting devices in a pattern to display the image.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the user input is at least one of a custom input or a predetermined input.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more lighting devices are microLEDs.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more projection properties comprise a type of image, the output message, a color of the image, or a position of the image.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the sensor information is received from at least one camera, LIDAR sensor, or range finder.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8 wherein the one or more projection properties adjust one of more of a size of the image, a position of the image, and a curvature of an image.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8 wherein the one or more projection properties further comprises known properties intrinsic to the projector.

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8 further comprising:
adjusting the image based on ambient lighting level.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15 wherein the image is adjusted by changing the color or causing the image to move or pulse.

### Claim 17 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8 further comprising:
adjusting one or more optics to focus the image.

### Claim 18

A system for projecting an image onto a surface, comprising:
a projector module, the projector module having a matrix of lighting devices;
one or more sensors, the one or more sensors to obtain at least one or more image parameters associated with the image;
a global navigation satellite system receiver and mapping data, wherein the global navigation satellite system receiver and mapping data determine the one or more image parameters;
a processor; and
a memory having instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:
receive one or more image parameters from the one or more sensors;
determine one or more image projection properties based, at least in part, on the one or more image parameters, the one or more image projection properties adjusting features of the projector module to display the image according to a selected output format; and
cause the image to be projected, by the projector module, in accordance with the one or more image projection properties.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18 further comprising one or more optics for focusing the image onto a surface.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein the one or more image parameters comprises at least one of a shape, a size, a color, a textural component, a graphical component, or a relative position.