IP Library Granted Patent US 10,776,636
Granted Patent B2
US 10,776,636 · App. 15/390,409 · Granted Sep 15, 2020

Stereo camera-based detection of objects proximate to a vehicle

Inventors: Oliver Max Jeromin (Holland, MI); Paul Alan Theodosis (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA)
Assignee: FARADAY&FUTURE INC.
G06K9/00805G06K9/00208G06K9/00369G06T7/85H04N7/181H04N13/239H04N13/243H04N13/246H04N13/271B60R11/04G06T2207/10012G06T2207/30261H04N2013/0081
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,776,636
App. No.
15/390,409
Granted
Sep 15, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system is disclosed. The system includes one or more processors, and a memory including instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method. The method includes receiving first image data from a first image sensor mounted on a vehicle and second image data from a second image sensor mounted on the vehicle, the vehicle including an element configured to open into a space external to the vehicle; generating a depth map from a comparison of the first image data and the second image data, the depth map including an object; in accordance with a determination that the object, in the depth map, is within the space into which the element is configured to open, determining that the object will interfere with opening of the element into the space; and in accordance with a determination that the object, in the depth map, is not within the space into which the element is configured to open, determining that the object will not interfere with opening of the element into the space.

Claims (69)

1. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory including instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:

receiving first image data from a first image sensor mounted on a vehicle and second image data from a second image sensor mounted on the vehicle, the vehicle including an element configured to open into a space external to the vehicle;

generating a depth map from a comparison of the first image data and the second image data, the depth map including an object;

generating a confidence value associated with the depth map; and comparing the confidence value to a predetermined threshold;

in accordance with the confidence value being above the predetermined threshold and a determination that the object, in the depth map, is within the space into which the element is configured to open, determining that the object will interfere with opening of the element into the space; and

in accordance with the confidence value being above the predetermined threshold and a determination that the object, in the depth map, is not within the space into which the element is configured to open, determining that the object will not interfere with opening of the element into the space;

in accordance with the confidence value being below the predetermined threshold,

locating the object using ultrasonic detection;

in accordance with a determination that the object, as located using ultrasonic detection, is within the space into which the element is configured to open, determining that the object will interfere with opening of the element into the space; and

in accordance with a determination that the object, as located using ultrasonic detection, is not within the space into which the element is configured to open, generating a warning notification and determining that the object will not interfere with opening of the element into the space.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the element comprises a door configured to open into an interaction space external to the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first image sensor is mounted on the door, and the second image sensor is mounted on an additional door of the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein generating the depth map comprises:

in accordance with a determination that the vehicle will likely stop within a time threshold, generating the depth map; and

in accordance with a determination that the vehicle will not likely stop within the time threshold, forgoing generating the depth map.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein generating the depth map comprises:

in accordance with a determination that the vehicle is stopped, generating the depth map; and

in accordance with a determination that the vehicle is not stopped, forgoing generating the depth map.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first image sensor is mounted a first distance from the second image sensor, and the depth map is generated based on the first distance.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second image sensors comprise a stereo camera.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:

in accordance with a determination that the object will interfere with the opening of the element into the space, preventing the opening of the element; and

in accordance with a determination that the object will not interfere with the opening of the element into the space, allowing the opening of the element.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:

detecting user input for opening the element;

in response to detecting the user input:

in accordance with a determination that the object will interfere with the opening of the element into the space, partially opening the element into the space to the extent allowed by the object; and

in accordance with a determination that the object will not interfere with the opening of the element into the space, fully opening the element into the space.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:

detecting a user approaching the vehicle;

in response to detecting the user approaching the vehicle:

in accordance with a determination that the object will interfere with the opening of the element into the space, partially opening the element into the space to the extent allowed by the object; and

in accordance with a determination that the object will not interfere with the opening of the element into the space, fully opening the element into the space.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:

receiving first image data from a first image sensor mounted on a vehicle and second image data from a second image sensor mounted on the vehicle, the vehicle including an element configured to open into a space external to the vehicle;

generating a depth map from a comparison of the first image data and the second image data, the depth map including an object;

generating a confidence value associated with the depth map; and comparing the confidence value to a predetermined threshold;

in accordance with the confidence value being above the predetermined threshold and a determination that the object, in the depth map, is within the space into which the element is configured to open, determining that the object will interfere with opening of the element into the space; and

in accordance with the confidence value being above the predetermined threshold and a determination that the object, in the depth map, is not within the space into which the element is configured to open, determining that the object will not interfere with opening of the element into the space;

in accordance with the confidence value being below the predetermined threshold,

locating the object using ultrasonic detection;

in accordance with a determination that the object, as located using ultrasonic detection, is within the space into which the element is configured to open, determining that the object will interfere with opening of the element into the space; and

in accordance with a determination that the object, as located using ultrasonic detection, is not within the space into which the element is configured to open, generating a warning notification and determining that the object will not interfere with opening of the element into the space.

12. A method comprising:

receiving first image data from a first image sensor mounted on a vehicle and second image data from a second image sensor mounted on the vehicle, the vehicle including an element configured to open into a space external to the vehicle;

generating a depth map from a comparison of the first image data and the second image data, the depth map including an object;

generating a confidence value associated with the depth map; and comparing the confidence value to a predetermined threshold;

in accordance with the confidence value being above the predetermined threshold and a determination that the object, in the depth map, is within the space into which the element is configured to open, determining that the object will interfere with opening of the element into the space; and

in accordance with the confidence value being above the predetermined threshold and a determination that the object, in the depth map, is not within the space into which the element is configured to open, determining that the object will not interfere with opening of the element into the space;

in accordance with the confidence value being below the predetermined threshold,

locating the object using ultrasonic detection;

in accordance with a determination that the object, as located using ultrasonic detection, is within the space into which the element is configured to open, determining that the object will interfere with opening of the element into the space; and

in accordance with a determination that the object, as located using ultrasonic detection, is not within the space into which the element is configured to open, generating a warning notification and determining that the object will not interfere with opening of the element into the space.

13. A vehicle comprising:

a first image sensor;

a second image sensor;

an element configured to open into a space external to the vehicle; and

a memory including instructions, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:

receiving first image data from the first image sensor mounted on the vehicle and second image data from the second image sensor mounted on the vehicle;

generating a depth map from a comparison of the first image data and the second image data, the depth map including an object;

generating a confidence value associated with the depth map; and comparing the confidence value to a predetermined threshold;

in accordance with the confidence value being above the predetermined threshold and a determination that the object, in the depth map, is within the space into which the element is configured to open, determining that the object will interfere with opening of the element into the space; and

in accordance with the confidence value being above the predetermined threshold and a determination that the object, in the depth map, is not within the space into which the element is configured to open, determining that the object will not interfere with opening of the element into the space;

in accordance with the confidence value being below the predetermined threshold,

locating the object using ultrasonic detection;

in accordance with a determination that the object, as located using ultrasonic detection, is within the space into which the element is configured to open, determining that the object will interfere with opening of the element into the space; and

in accordance with a determination that the object, as located using ultrasonic detection, is not within the space into which the element is configured to open, generating a warning notification and determining that the object will not interfere with opening of the element into the space.

Assignments (9)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 25, 2024
From: FARADAY&FUTURE, INC.
To: SENYUN INTERNATIONAL LTD.
Reel/Frame 069048/0500 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 15, 2022
From: FARADAY&FUTURE INC.
To: FF SIMPLICY VENTURES LLC
Reel/Frame 061176/0756 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 050234/0069 Recorded Jun 8, 2022
From: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS SUCCESSOR COLLATERAL AGENT
To: CITY OF SKY LIMITED; EAGLE PROP HOLDCO LLC; FARADAY & FUTURE INC.; FARADAY FUTURE LLC; FF EQUIPMENT LLC; FF HONG KONG HOLDING LIMITED; FF INC.; FF MANUFACTURING LLC; ROBIN PROP HOLDCO LLC; SMART KING LTD.; SMART TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LTD.; FARADAY SPE, LLC
Reel/Frame 060314/0263 →
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF SUCCESSOR COLLATERAL AGENT UNDER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 29, 2021
From: BIRCH LAKE FUND MANAGEMENT, LP, AS RETIRING AGENT
To: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS SUCCESSOR AGENT
Reel/Frame 057019/0140 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 14, 2020
From: ROYOD LLC
To: BIRCH LAKE FUND MANAGEMENT, LP
Reel/Frame 054076/0157 →
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF SUCCESSOR COLLATERAL AGENT UNDER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 5, 2020
From: BIRCH LAKE FUND MANAGEMENT, LP, AS RETIRING AGENT
To: ROYOD LLC, AS SUCCESSOR AGENT
Reel/Frame 052102/0452 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2019
From: CITY OF SKY LIMITED; EAGLE PROP HOLDCO LLC; FARADAY FUTURE LLC; FE EQUIPMENT LLC; FF HONG KONG HOLDING LIMITED; FF INC.; FF MANUFACTURING LLC; ROBIN PROP HOLDCO LLC; SMART KING LTD.; SMART TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LTD.; FARADAY SPE, LLC; FARADAY & FUTURE INC.
To: BIRCH LAKE FUND MANAGEMENT, LP
Reel/Frame 050234/0069 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 14, 2019
From: SEASON SMART LIMITED
To: FARADAY&FUTURE INC.
Reel/Frame 048069/0704 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 28, 2017
From: FARADAY&FUTURE INC.
To: SEASON SMART LIMITED
Reel/Frame 044969/0023 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62272556 · Dec 29, 2015
Related Publication 20170185851A1 · Jun 29, 2017