IP Library Granted Patent US 9,098,752
Granted Patent B2
US 9,098,752 · App. 13/963,531 · Granted Aug 4, 2015

Vehicle path assessment

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,098,752
App. No.
13/963,531
Granted
Aug 4, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A number of variations include a vehicle path assessment system.

Claims (36)

1. A method comprising:

determining if objects are in a vehicle path comprising:

(a) producing at least one of a first image and/or first amount of image data for an area;

(b) determining a vehicle path and overlaying it on the at least one first image and/or representing it within the first amount of image data;

(c) producing at least one of a second image and/or second amount of image data for the area;

(d) using the at least one first image and/or first amount of image data and correlating it to the at least one second image and/or second amount of image data to determine objects which may be displaced in the at least one second image and/or second amount of image data;

(e) determining whether objects which are displaced are in the vehicle path;

(f) producing a notification of objects in the vehicle path via capable hardware based upon the outcome of the determining whether objects which are displaced are in the vehicle path.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first image or first amount of image data is stored in a storage device which is capable of storing the at least one image or image data.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the vehicle's position is determined by a global positioning satellite.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the second image or second amount of image data is stored in a storage device which is capable of storing at least one image or image data.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein step a is triggered by the vehicle's position with regard to the area.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the vehicle's position is determined by a global positioning satellite.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein step a is triggered by the vehicle's movement with regard to the area.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein step c is triggered by the vehicle's position with regard to the area.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein step c is triggered by the vehicle's movement with regard to the area.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the production of the notification of step f involves the use of hardware which is onboard the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the first image or image data is stored in the storage device which is capable of storing at least one image or image data.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the second image or image data is stored in the storage device which is capable of storing at least one image or image data.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the imaging hardware is induced to create an image or image data in light of at least one of vehicle position or movement or position or movement data.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the imaging hardware is onboard the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the hardware for producing a sensory notification is onboard the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the controller is onboard the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein the storage device is onboard the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one first image and/or the at least one second image has depth data overlaid thereon.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the first amount of image data and/or the second amount of image data has/have depth data represented therein.

20. A method comprising:

providing a vehicle;

providing imaging hardware;

providing a storage device which is capable of storing at least one image or image data;

providing a controller for correlating or comparing images or image data;

positioning the vehicle in an area such that the imaging hardware may create image(s) and/or image data which is relative to the vehicle's position and which is sufficiently reproducible if the imaging hardware were to perform the image(s) and/or image data creation while the vehicle is in a moderately similar position relative to the area;

using the imaging hardware to create at least one first image or image data;

using the imaging hardware to create at least one second image or image data;

using a controller to correlate or compare the at least one first image or image data to the at least one second image or image data to detect a difference between the at least one first image or image data to the at least one second image or image data;

producing a sensory notification of objects in the vehicle path via capable hardware based upon the detection of a difference between the at least one first image or image data to the at least one second image or image data.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034189/0065 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 12, 2014
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 033135/0440 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 9, 2013
From: HUNTZICKER, FRED W.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 030980/0221 →