Granted Patent B2

US 12,505,514 · App. 18/166,312 · Granted Dec 23, 2025

Inventors: David Hiskens (Ypsilanti, MI); Mark Gehrke (Ypsilanti, MI); Brian Bennie (Sterling Heights, MI)

G06T5/70G06T5/50G06T7/0002G06V20/56G06T2207/10024G06T2207/10048G06T2207/20221G06T2207/30168G06T2207/30252

Abstract

Claims (52)

1 . A method to enhance image quality comprising:

obtaining, by a processor, an infrared image from a vehicle infrared camera associated with a vehicle;

selecting a fade mask, from among a plurality of pre-stored fade masks, based on environment information in a proximity of the vehicle;

multiplying, by the processor, the infrared image with the fade mask;

generating, by the processor, a masked infrared image based on the multiplication;

obtaining a color image from a vehicle color camera;

combining the masked infrared image with the color image to generate a combined image; and

outputting the combined image.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle colored camera is disposed in proximity to a vehicle rearview mirror.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle infrared camera is disposed on a vehicle top exterior portion.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fade mask is rectangular or arc-shaped.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fade mask is static.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the fade mask further comprising:

receiving an input from a vehicle sensor; and

determining the environment information based on the input.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the vehicle environment information comprises at least one of: weather information, vehicle geolocation information, time of day information, and environmental light information.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fade mask fades infrared image edges.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein in the combined image:

a first portion of the color image disposed within the masked infrared image is visible; and

a second portion of the color image disposed within the masked infrared image is not visible.

10 . A system to enhance image quality comprising:

a processor; and

a memory for storing executable instructions, the processor programmed to execute the instructions to:

obtain an infrared image from a vehicle infrared camera of a vehicle;

select a fade mask, from among a plurality of fade masks, based on vehicle environment information in a proximity of the vehicle;

multiply the infrared image with a fade mask;

generate a masked infrared image based on the multiplication;

obtain a color image from a color camera of the vehicle;

combine the color image with the masked infrared image to generate a combined image; and

output the combined image.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the color camera is disposed in proximity to a vehicle rearview mirror.

12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the vehicle infrared camera is disposed on a vehicle top exterior portion.

13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the fade mask is rectangular or arc-shaped.

14 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the fade mask is static.

15 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive an input from a sensor of the vehicle; and

determine the vehicle environment information based on the input.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the vehicle environment information comprises at least one of: weather information, vehicle geolocation information, time of day information, and environmental light information.

17 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the fade mask fades infrared image edges.

18 . The system of claim 10 , wherein fade mask is pre-stored in the memory and wherein in the combined image:

a first portion of the color image within the masked infrared image is visible; and

a second portion of the color image within the masked infrared image is not visible.

19 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereupon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

obtain an infrared image from a vehicle infrared camera of a vehicle;

select a fade mask, from among a plurality of fade masks, based on environmental conditions in a proximity of the vehicle;

multiply the infrared image with the fade mask to generate a masked infrared image;

obtain a color image from a color camera of the vehicle;

combine the color image and the masked infrared image to generate a blended image; and

output the blended image.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein in the combined image:

a first portion of the color image within the masked infrared image is visible, wherein the first portion includes at least one traffic signal; and

a second portion of the color image within the masked infrared image is not visible.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (14)