David A Herman

US Patent:

20210279479, Sep 9, 2021

Filed:

Mar 9, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/812849

Inventors:

- Dearborn MI, US
David Michael Herman - Oak Park MI, US
Brian Quinn Kettlewell - Cambridge, CA
Kyle Sorensen - Canton MI, US
Ali Husain - Dearborn MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

G06K 9/00
G05D 1/00
G06F 13/16

Abstract:

The disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for sharing a video feed of a camera among multiple image processing components in a vehicle. A first priority may be applied to a first image processing component that performs a first image processing function. A second priority that is lower than the first priority, is applied to a second image processing component that performs a second image processing function. The first function may be deemed more important than the second function due to various reasons. Consequently, the first image processing component is offered priority to apply a first set of camera settings on the camera. The second image processing component may prefer to apply a different set of camera settings for executing the second image processing function. An access arbitrator allows the second image processing component to do so when the first image processing component relinquishes control of the camera.

US Patent:

20210264169, Aug 26, 2021

Filed:

Feb 24, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/798956

Inventors:

- Dearborn MI, US
David Michael Herman - Oak Park MI, US
Kyle B. Sorensen - Canton MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

G06K 9/00
G06K 9/46
G06T 3/40
G06K 9/40
G06K 9/20
G05D 1/02

Abstract:

A processing system comprises a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to receive a polarimetric image from a polarimetric camera sensor, and to identify a road surface in the received image based on a vehicle location, an orientation of the camera sensor, and a vehicle pose. The memory stores instructions, upon identifying, in the polarimetric image, polarized light reflections from the identified road surface based on a polarization direction and a polarization degree determined from the polarimetric image, to remove the identified polarized light reflections from the polarimetric image, thereby generating an updated polarimetric image including generating a de-mosaicked imaged based on the identified polarized light reflections, wherein the identified polarized light reflections are ignored at de-mosaicking, and to identify a road feature including a lane marking based on the updated polarimetric image.

US Patent:

20210020031, Jan 21, 2021

Filed:

Jul 19, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/516709

Inventors:

- Dearborn MI, US
David Michael HERMAN - Oak Park MI, US

International Classification:

G08G 1/01
H04W 4/46

Abstract:

A vehicle may determine that it is stopped and detect a perimeter-modification event predefined as correlating to a changed vehicle perimeter. The vehicle may further, responsive to the perimeter-modification event, define an expanded vehicle perimeter, larger than a perimeter predefined as representing the vehicle in travel. The perimeter expansion may be done in accordance with a predefined modification associated with the detected perimeter modification event. The vehicle may additionally wirelessly share the expanded vehicle perimeter with at least one other vehicle.

US Patent:

20200389582, Dec 10, 2020

Filed:

Jun 4, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/431510

Inventors:

- Dearborn MI, US
David Michael Herman - Oak Park MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

H04N 5/235

Abstract:

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for reducing flickering artifacts in imaged light sources. Example methods may include receiving images corresponding to a scene captured by a camera; determining a light source in the scene using at least one artificial intelligence (AI)-based algorithm; determining, using an event-based camera, data representing flickering of the light source, the flickering having a frequency; determining, based on the data, that a time duration of overlap between an on state of the light source and an exposure time of the camera is below a threshold; and delaying the exposure time of the camera by a delay time to increase the time duration of overlap.

US Patent:

20200364663, Nov 19, 2020

Filed:

May 17, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/416055

Inventors:

- Dearborn MI, US
Andrea Chowanic - West Bloomfield MI, US
David Michael Herman - Oak Park MI, US
Ashwin Arunmozhi - Canton MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

G06Q 10/08
G01C 21/34
G05D 1/00

Abstract:

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for automated multimodal delivery. Example methods may include determining information associated with the delivery; determining, based on at least a first portion of the information, that a first confidence level indicative of a delivery capability using a first vehicle is above a first threshold; and determining, based on at least a second portion of the information, a second confidence level indicative of a delivery preference for delivery using the first vehicle relative to a second vehicle.

US Patent:

20200293799, Sep 17, 2020

Filed:

Mar 12, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/299510

Inventors:

- Dearborn MI, US
David M. Herman - Oak Park MI, US

International Classification:

G06K 9/00
G06K 9/46
G06K 9/62
G06T 7/586
H04W 4/40

Abstract:

Abandoned articles left by a user departing from an autonomous vehicle are automatically detected by capturing image data including a plurality of diversely-illuminated images of a target area within a passenger cabin of the vehicle. A plurality of normal vectors are determined for respective pixels representing the target area in a normal extractor based on the images. A normal-driven map is stored in a first array in response to the plurality of normal vectors. A baseline map is stored in a second array compiled from baseline images of the target area in a nominal clean state. Differences between the normal-driven map and the baseline map indicative of an object not present in the clean state are detected in a comparator. Difficult to detect objects can be found using a single, fixed camera.

US Patent:

20200282921, Sep 10, 2020

Filed:

Mar 8, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/297228

Inventors:

- Dearborn MI, US
David Michael Herman - Oak Park MI, US

International Classification:

B60R 11/04
H04N 5/374
H04N 5/235
H01L 27/092
H04N 5/232

Abstract:

Vehicles and methods are described for improved vehicle camera functionality. An example vehicle includes a CMOS camera, lights, and an imaging controller. The imaging controller is configured to capture a plurality of image frames by, for each image frame: exposing one or more rows of the CMOS camera at a time, and pausing exposure during a frame time gap after capturing a last row of the CMOS camera. The imaging controller is also configured to, for one or more of the plurality of image frames: operate the one or more lights at a reduced intensity level during a first section of the image frame, wherein the reduced intensity level is lower than a maximum average intensity level; and operate the one or more lights at an increased intensity level during a second section of the image frame, wherein the increased intensity level is higher than the maximum average intensity level.

US Patent:

20200285231, Sep 10, 2020

Filed:

Mar 6, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/294541

Inventors:

- Dearborn MI, US
David Michael Herman - Oak Park MI, US

International Classification:

G05D 1/00
A61B 5/0245
A61B 5/00
A61B 5/01
B60Q 9/00
B60W 50/14

Abstract:

Method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring of steering wheel engagement for autonomous vehicles. An example vehicle includes an autonomy unit configured to perform autonomous motive functions, a steering wheel, capacitive sensors coupled to the steering wheel, a second sensor configured to monitor an operator, and a controller. The controller is configured to detect a first heart rate via the capacitive sensors, detect a second heart rate via the second sensor, identify that an engagement-imitating device is coupled to the steering wheel responsive to determining that the first heart rate does not correlate with the second heart rate, and emit an alert responsive to determining that the engagement-imitating device is coupled to the steering wheel.