Time to Angle Sorting Camera

This invention provides a method to sort camera-captured images based on their arrival time employing short-pulsed illumination and MEMS spatial modulator. The time-to-angle sorting method works as an add-on to commercially available cameras. Primary uses would be for driver assistance and autonomous terrestrial/aerial vehicle sensing in the detection of hidden objects under low-visibility conditions, such as fog, rain, and snow.

Background: 
Camera-based object recognition and autonomous driving based on information, like location, type, and velocity of objects, is one of the critical functions of Advanced Driver Assistant Systems (ADAS) for automotive. Camera-based ADAS is not only applicable for ground-based mobility but also for mobility in the air. However, all mobility infrastructures rely upon situation awareness (SA) by the camera and other means such as radar and LIDAR (Light detection and ranging). One of the common challenges in situation awareness for urban mobility as an infrastructure is robustness to low-visibility weather conditions, such as fog, rain, and snow. This invention improves visibility in those conditions by using time-stamped images with short intervals of time. Although there are studies conducted all across the world, there’s no similar product with exact abilities in the market yet.

Applications: 

• Enhancing Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) for automotive and aerial mobility platforms by improving object recognition and situational awareness
• Security and surveillance applications, allowing better monitoring and detection of objects in low-visibility conditions 
• Add-on to commercially available cameras

Advantages: 

• Driver assistance
• Fog detection
• Increased situation awareness for urban mobility infrastructure
• Applicable to various weather conditions (fog, rain, snow)
• Compatible with Advanced Driver Assistant Systems (ADAS)