US 9,070,305 B1Granted

Traffic light detecting system and method

AssigneeGoogle Inc.

InventorsTiruvilwamalai Venkatraman Raman, Charles L. Chen, Anthony Scott Levandowski

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Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for determining the status of traffic lights through a mobile device and communicating the status to the user of the device. The mobile device detects its geographical location, direction and elevation. The mobile device also receives information related to traffic lights, such as location and type. The device calculates positional deviation from the device to the traffic light and generates one or more prompts in the form of audible or tactile cues that progressively guide the user to point the device at the traffic light. The mobile device detects the image and color of the traffic light and determines the illumination and sign status of the traffic light. Then the mobile device communicates the traffic light status to the user.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A method of identifying a traffic light status, where the status comprises at least one of a color illumination status and a sign status of a traffic light, the method comprising:

receiving, at a user device, geolocation data associated with the traffic light and the user device, the user device geolocation data including a location of the user device, and the traffic light geolocation data including a location of the traffic light;
detecting an elevation and a direction of the user device;
determining from the geolocation data of the user device if a current location is adjacent to an intersection;
prompting a user to orient the user device to face the traffic light if the current location is adjacent to the intersection;
generating, with the user device, one or more instructions to orient the user device to face the traffic light based on the geolocation data associated with the traffic light and the user device, and on the elevation, the direction and an orientation of the user device;
capturing one or more images of the traffic light by an image capture device of the user device;
performing with the user device image processing on the captured images to determine a status of the traffic light;
and
communicating the status to a user of the user device.

6 more elements

A device for identifying a traffic light status of a traffic light, the device comprising:

memory for storing geolocation data of the traffic light, geolocation data of the device, and direction information and elevation information for the device;
and
a processor coupled to the memory, the processor being configured to execute a set of instructions stored in the memory to:
receive the geolocation data of the traffic light and the device;
determine a current elevation and a current direction of the device;
determine from the geolocation data of a user device if a current location is adjacent to an intersection;
prompt a user to orient the user device to face the traffic light if the current location is adjacent to the intersection;
determine with the device one or more instructions to orient the device to face the traffic light based on the received geolocation data, the current elevation,
the current direction and an orientation of the device;
receive light signals from a plurality of light sources, where one of the light sources comprises the traffic light;
filter light signals for frequency ranges emitted by the traffic light to determine a status of the traffic light including at least one of a color illumination status and a sign status;
and
communicate the status to a user of the device.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/011,036Filed 21 Jan 2011 · us provisional application
Priority: 22 Jan 2010
Published: US 2015/0179088 A125 Jun 2015
Granted: 30 Jun 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

G09B 21/007
Teaching or communicating with blind persons: using both tactile and audible presentation of the information
G06V 20/584
Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or…
H04M 1/72457
With means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions: according to geographic location
H04M 1/72481
Specially adapted for disabled users: for visually impaired users