Facet Technology Corporation

Big Sky Financial Corporation

Google Inc.

Lasermaster Corporation

Colorspan Corporation

Rialcardo Tice B.v. LLC

Mandli Communications, Inc.

Robert Anthony Laumeyer

James Eugene Retterath

Jamie E Retterath

Benjamin P Leonard

Steven A Chapman

Neill Arthur Johnson

Henry V Holec

Lawrence J Lukis

Danny James Vatland

John H Bode

John Patrick Novotny

Christopher J Laurel

Methods, systems, and computer program products for acquiring three-dimensional LiDAR information of a scene are disclosed. According to one aspect, acquiring three-dimensional information includes emitting N pulses in a sequence with each successive pulse having a relative time shift to the sampling reference, thus producing a reconstructed sampled signal with an effective sampling rate of N times the sampling reference. According to another aspect, acquiring three-dimensional information includes emitting two or more frequencies, the differences of each pair of differing frequencies being designated as Δf, and sampling the return information with the use of a sampling reference. Frequency analysis is performed on the sampled information to determine the reference times at which the Δf signals occur and the signal intensity of the Δf signals at each time. Systems as described herein can be utilized for autonomous vehicle navigation, collision avoidance and navigation systems for UAVs, roadway surface texture analysis, non-contact friction analysis, and in-motion deflectometer measurement.

Methods and apparatus for increased precision and improved range in a multiple detector LIDAR array

LiDAR (light detection and ranging) systems use one or more emitters and a detector array to cover a given field of view where the emitters each emit a single pulse or a multi-pulse packet of light that is sampled by the detector array. On each emitter cycle the detector array will sample the incoming signal intensity at the pre-determined sampling frequency that generates two or more samples per emitted light packet to allow for volumetric analysis of the retroreflected signal portion of each emitted light packet as reflected by one or more objects in the field of view and then received by each detector.

Methods and apparatus for object detection and identification in a multiple detector lidar array

Methods, systems, and computer program products for acquiring three-dimensional LiDAR information of a scene are disclosed. According to one aspect, acquiring three-dimensional information includes emitting N pulses in a sequence with each successive pulse having a relative time shift to the sampling reference, thus producing a reconstructed sampled signal with an effective sampling rate of N times the sampling reference. According to another aspect, acquiring three-dimensional information includes emitting two or more frequencies, the differences of each pair of differing frequencies being designated as &#x394;f, and sampling the return information with the use of a sampling reference. Frequency analysis is performed on the sampled information to determine the reference times at which the &#x394;f signals occur and the signal intensity of the &#x394;f signals at each time. Systems as described herein can be utilized for autonomous vehicle navigation, collision avoidance and navigation systems for UAVs, roadway surface texture analysis, non-contact friction analysis, and in-motion deflectometer measurement.

Methods and apparatus for increased precision and improved range in a multiple detector LiDAR array

An array-based light detection and ranging (LiDAR) unit includes an array of emitter/detector sets configured to cover a field of view for the unit. Each emitter/detector set emits and receives light energy on a specific coincident axis unique for that emitter/detector set. A control system coupled to the array of emitter/detector sets controls initiation of light energy from each emitter and processes time of flight information for light energy received on the coincident axis by the corresponding detector for the emitter/detector set. The time of flight information provides imaging information corresponding to the field of view. Interference among light energy is reduced with respect to detectors in the LiDAR unit not corresponding to the specific coincident axis, and with respect to other LiDAR units and ambient sources of light energy. In one embodiment, multiple array-based LiDAR units are used as part of a control system for an autonomous vehicle.

Methods and apparatus for array based LiDAR systems with reduced interference

A system for classifying different types of sheeting materials of road signs depicted in a videostream compares estimated retroreflectivity values against known minimum retroreflectivity values for each of a plurality of colors. Once a road sign has been identified in the videostream, the frames associated with that road sign are analyzed to determine each of a plurality of colors present on the road sign. An estimated retroreflectivity for each of the plurality of colors present on the road sign is then determined. By comparing the estimated retroreflectivity for each of the plurality of colors against known minimum retroreflectivity values for the corresponding color for different types of sheeting materials, an accurate determination of the classification of the sheeting material of the road sign is established. Preferably, certain conditions of gross failure of the sheeting material are filtered out before classification of the sheeting material is determined.

System and assessment of reflective objects along a roadway

A system for the determination of retroreflectivity values for reflective surfaces disposed along a roadway repeatedly illuminates an area along the roadway that includes at least one reflective surface using a light source. Multiple light intensity values are measured over a field of view which includes at least a portion of the area illuminated by the light source. A computer processing system is used to identifying a portion of the light intensity values associated with a reflective surface and analyze the portion of the light intensity values to determine at least one retroreflectivity value for that reflective surface.

System for the determination of retroreflectivity of road signs and other reflective objects

An automated and extensible system for analysis and retrieval of images based on region-of-interest (ROI) analysis of one or more true objects depicted by an image is provided. The system uses a database that is a relational or analytical database containing searchable vectors that represent the images stored in a repository. Entries in the database are created by an image locator and ROI classifier working together to locate images within the repository and extract relevant information to be stored in the ROI database. The ROI classifier analyzes objects in an image to arrive at actual features of the true object. Graphical searches are performed by the collaborative workings of an image retrieval module, an image search requestor and an ROI query module. The image search requestor is an abstraction layer that translates user or agent search requests into the language understood by the ROI query.

Methods and apparatus for automated true object-based image analysis and retrieval

A system for the assessment of reflective surfaces disposed along a roadway repeatedly illuminates an area along the roadway that includes at least one reflective surface using a light source. Multiple light intensity values are measured over a field of view which includes at least a portion of the area illuminated by the light source. A computer processing system is used to identifying a portion of the light intensity values associated with a reflective surface and analyze the portion of the light intensity values to determine assessment for that reflective surface.

An automated and extensible system is provided for the analysis and retrieval of images based on region-of-interest (ROI) analysis of one or more true objects depicted by an image. The system uses an ROI database that is a relational or analytical database containing searchable vectors representing images stored in a repository. Entries in the ROI database are created by an image locator and ROI classifier that locate images within the repository and extract relevant information to be stored in the ROI database. The ROI classifier analyzes objects in an image to arrive at actual features of the true object. Graphical searches may also be performed.

The present invention is an automated and extensible system for the analysis and retrieval of images based on region-of-interest (ROI) analysis of one or more true objects depicted by an image. The system uses an ROI database that is a relational or analytical database containing searchable vectors that represent the images stored in a repository. Entries in the database are created by an image locator and ROI classifier that work to locate images within the repository and extract relevant information that will be stored in the ROI database. The ROI classifier analyzes objects in an image identify actual features of the true object. Graphical searches are performed by the collaborative workings of an image retrieval module, an image search requestor and an ROI query module. The image search requestor is an abstraction layer that translates user or agent search requests into the language understood by the ROI query.

Growing community of inventors

Minneapolis, MN, United States of America

Robert Anthony Laumeyer