IP Library Granted Patent US 12,437,362
Granted Patent B2
US 12,437,362 · App. 17/659,856 · Granted Oct 7, 2025

Systems and methods for vehicle-based imaging

Inventors: Dmitry Ogorodnikov (Amherstburg, CA); Omar Iftikhar (Dearborn, MI); Ricardo Walker (Southfield, MI); Steven Anthony Chapekis (Escanaba, MI)
G06T3/4038B60R1/22B60R1/29B60R11/04G06T7/70G06T11/60G06T13/40G06V20/58G06V20/593G06V40/10B60R2300/102B60R2300/105B60R2300/303B60R2300/8006G06T2207/30196G06T2207/30252G06T2207/30268
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,437,362
App. No.
17/659,856
Granted
Oct 7, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods associated with generating images. An example method executed by a processor may include receiving, from a first vehicle, a first image based on a first field of view of objects located in a cabin area of the first vehicle and a second image based on a second field of view of objects located outside the first vehicle. The method may further include receiving, from a second vehicle, a third image based on a third field of view of objects located outside the second vehicle. A composite image may be generated based on the first image, the second image, and the third image. In one case, the composite image may be generated by superimposing at least a portion of the first image upon at least a portion of the second image and/or upon at least a portion of the third image.

Claims (64)

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a processor, a first preview image based on a first field of view of objects located in a cabin area of a first vehicle and a second preview image based on a second field of view of objects located outside of the first vehicle;

evaluating, by the processor, the first preview image and the second preview image for suitability for generating a desired image;

receiving, by the processor, a first image based on the first field of view of objects located in the cabin area of the first vehicle and a second image based on the second field of view of objects located outside the first vehicle;

receiving, by the processor, a third image based on a third field of view of objects located outside of a second vehicle; and

generating, by the processor, a first composite image based on the first image, the second image, and the third image.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the objects located in the cabin area of the first vehicle include a first individual and/or a first animal, wherein the objects located outside the first vehicle and/or outside the second vehicle include a second individual and/or a second animal, and wherein the first composite image includes the first individual and/or the first animal and further includes the second individual and/or the second animal.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first composite image is generated by superimposing at least a portion of the first image upon at least a portion of the second image and/or upon at least a portion of the third image.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating, by the processor, a second composite image by superimposing a computer -generated graphic upon at least a portion of the first image, at least a portion of the second image, and/or at least a portion of the third image.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first image includes an individual who is seated in the cabin area of the first vehicle, and wherein the method further comprises:

generating, by the processor, an animated video clip based on integrating the second composite image with at least a fourth composite image comprising the individual and the computer-generated graphic.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first image includes an individual who is seated in the cabin area of the first vehicle, and wherein the method further comprises:

generating, by the processor, an avatar of the individual; and

generating, by the processor, a second composite image based on integrating the avatar with at least a portion of the first image, at least a portion of the second image, and/or at least a portion of the third image.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

generating, by the processor, an animated video clip based on integrating the second composite image with at least a fourth composite image comprising the avatar.

8. A method comprising:

receiving, by a processor, from a first vehicle, a first preview image based on a first field of view of objects located in a cabin area of the first vehicle and a second preview image based on a second field of view of objects located outside of the first vehicle;

evaluating, by the processor, the first preview image and the second preview image for suitability for generating a desired image;

receiving, by the processor, from the first vehicle, a first image based on a the first field of view of objects located in the cabin area of the first vehicle and a second image based on the second field of view of objects located outside the first vehicle; and

generating, by the processor, a first composite image based on the first image and the second image.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

receiving, by the processor, from a second vehicle, a third image based on a third field of view of objects located outside the second vehicle; and

generating, by the processor, a second composite image based on the third image and at least one of the first image or the second image.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the second field of view or the third field of view is a 360-degree field of view.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

generating, by the processor, a second composite image by superimposing a third image upon at least a portion of the first image and/or upon at least a portion of the second image.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the third image is one of provided by a second vehicle, obtained from a memory device, or generated by the processor.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the objects located in the cabin area of the first vehicle include a first individual, and wherein the method further comprises:

generating, by the processor, an avatar of the first individual; and

generating, by the processor, a second composite image by superimposing the avatar upon at least a portion of the first image and/or upon at least a portion of the second image.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the second composite image is a three -dimensional image.

15. A system comprising:

a first vehicle comprising:

an image capture system configured to capture first images based on a first field of view of objects located in a cabin area of the first vehicle and second images based on a second field of view of objects located outside the first vehicle;

an infotainment system comprising a first display screen; and

a first image generation system comprising:

a first memory containing computer-executable instructions; and

a first processor configured to access the first memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:

receiving a first preview image based on the first field of view of objects located in the cabin area of the first vehicle and a second preview image based on the second field of view of objects located outside of the first vehicle;

evaluating the first preview image and the second preview image for suitability for generating a desired image;

receiving a first image based on the first field of view of objects located in the cabin area of the first vehicle and a second image based on the second field of view of objects located outside of the first vehicle;

generating a first composite image based on the first image and the second image; and

displaying the first composite image upon the first display screen of the infotainment system.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first processor is further configured to access the first memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to perform additional operations comprising:

generating an avatar of an individual seated in the cabin area of the first vehicle; and

generating a second composite image by superimposing the avatar upon at least a portion of the first image and/or at least a portion of the second image.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first vehicle further comprises a communications system configured to convey the first composite image to a personal device, and wherein the first processor is further configured to access the first memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to perform additional operations comprising:

displaying the first composite image upon a second display screen of the personal device.

18. The system of claim 15 , further comprising:

a second vehicle; and

a computer comprising:

a second image generation system comprising:

a second memory containing computer-executable instructions; and

a second processor configured to access the second memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from the first vehicle, the first image and the second image;

receiving, from the second vehicle, a third image based on a third field of view of objects located outside the second vehicle; and

generating a second composite image based on the first image, the second image, and the third image.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the second processor of the second image generation system is further configured to access the second memory and execute computer- executable instructions to perform additional operations comprising:

generating a graphic; and

generating a third composite image by superimposing the graphic upon at least a portion of the first image, at least a portion of the second image, and/or at least a portion of the third image.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the second processor of the second image generation system is further configured to access the second memory and execute computer- executable instructions to perform additional operations comprising:

generating an animated video clip based on integrating the third composite image with at least a fourth composite image comprising the graphic.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2022
From: OGORODNIKOV, DMITRY; IFTIKHAR, OMAR; WALKER, RICARDO; CHAPEKIS, STEVEN ANTHONY
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 059779/0259 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230342880A1 · Oct 26, 2023
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