Camera array system and method to detect a load status of a semi- trailer truck

Abstract

Disclosed are a method, a device and/or a system of utilizing a camera array system to detect a load status of a semi-trailer truck. A sensor array is affixed to a surface of a trailer of the semi-trailer truck to automatically determine whether a cargo area of the semi-trailer truck is occupied. A set of cameras of the sensor array have each camera embedded in individual recesses of the sensor array. The cargo area is illuminated using at least one light source of the sensor array. A memory and a processor associated with the sensor array are configured to store one baseline image of the cargo area of the trailer in an empty state. The processor is configured to detect a triggering event. The processor determines a cargo status based upon a difference between the current image and the baseline image, and sends the cargo status to a dispatcher.

1 . A trailer of a semi-trailer truck, comprising:
 a sensor array affixed outside of the trailer in a manner to provide optimal utilization of interior spaces to automatically determine whether a cargo area of the semi-trailer truck is occupied,   the sensor array comprising a set of cameras and a backup camera,
 wherein each camera of the set of cameras is each embedded in individual recesses of the sensor array such that each of the set of cameras do not protrude from the sensor array into the cargo area, 
 wherein the backup camera to observe a rear area of the trailer, and 
 wherein each of the set of cameras to peer into the cargo area of the semi-trailer truck, and 
 wherein the sensor array is placed in a separate housing from the cargo area outside the trailer resting on an exterior face of the trailer such that storage space inside the cargo area is not constrained because the sensor array is placed outside the cargo area; 
   a light source to illuminate the cargo area;
 wherein the sensor array and the light source are powered by a solar array mounted on the trailer, 
 wherein a memory and a processor associated with the sensor array is configured to store a baseline image of the cargo area of the trailer when the trailer is in an empty state, 
 wherein the processor is configured:
 to detect a triggering event, 
 to illuminate the cargo area of the trailer using at least one light source, 
 to capture, when triggered by the triggering event:
 a current image of the cargo area of the trailer using at least one of the set of cameras, and 
 another current image of the rear area of the trailer, 
 
 to compare each current image of an interior cavity with the corresponding baseline image of a cargo cavity, 
 to determine a cargo status based upon a difference between the current image and the baseline image, and 
 to send the cargo status to a dispatcher using a cellular modem, 
 
 wherein the triggering event is at least one of a trailer opening event, a trailer closing event, a motion detection event through at least one of a global positioning device and a motion sensor in the trailer, a stopping event, a geographic-location based event, and a velocity based event, and 
 wherein the light source is placed in another separate housing from the cargo area outside the trailer resting on another exterior face of the trailer such that storage space inside the cargo area is not constrained because the light source is placed outside the cargo area. 
   
     
     
         2 . The trailer of the semi-trailer truck of  claim 1  wherein the sensor array is affixed to an upper corner of the trailer. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The trailer of the semi-trailer truck of  claim 1  wherein at least one light source is a light-emitting diode that is associated with each camera of the set of cameras. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The trailer of the semi-trailer truck of  claim 1 :
 wherein the backup camera is mounted to the sensor array, wherein the backup camera to view at least one of a door of the trailer, a loading area of the trailer, and an area behind the trailer, and   wherein a driver of the trailer may view a video feed from the backup camera using at least one of a wired connection and a wireless connection between the backup camera and a display in a cabin area of the semi-trailer truck.   
     
     
         7 . The trailer of the semi-trailer truck of  claim 1 , wherein a field of view of each of the set of cameras to at least partially overlap with the field of view of at least another of the set of cameras. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The trailer of the semi-trailer truck of  claim 1 :
 wherein the sensor array to communicatively generate a composite view of the cargo area using the set of cameras,   wherein the sensor array to communicate the composite view to at least one of the cabin area of the semi-trailer truck and a central server communicatively coupled with the semi-trailer truck through an Internet network using the processor and the memory of the semi-trailer truck, and   wherein the cellular modem to periodically provide a reporting of a location of the semi-trailer truck captured with a geographic positioning receiver to the central server along with the composite view using the processor and the memory.   
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A trailer of a semi-trailer truck, comprising:
 a sensor array affixed outside of the trailer in a manner to provide optimal utilization of interior spaces to automatically determine whether a cargo area of the semi-trailer truck is occupied,   the sensor array comprising a set of cameras and a backup camera,
 wherein each camera of the set of cameras is each embedded in individual recesses of the sensor array such that each of the set of cameras do not protrude from the sensor array into the cargo area, 
 wherein the backup camera to observe a rear area of the trailer, and 
 wherein each of the set of cameras to peer into the cargo area of the semi-trailer truck, and 
 wherein the sensor array is placed in a separate housing from the cargo area outside the trailer resting on an exterior face of the trailer such that storage space inside the cargo area is not constrained because the sensor array is placed outside the cargo area; 
   a light source to illuminate the cargo area;
 wherein the sensor array and the light source are powered by a solar array mounted on the trailer, 
 wherein a memory and a processor associated with the sensor array is configured to store a baseline image of the cargo area of the trailer when the trailer is in an empty state, 
 wherein the processor is configured:
 to detect a triggering event, 
 to illuminate the cargo area of the trailer using at least one light source, 
 to capture, when triggered by the triggering event:
 a current image of the cargo area of the trailer using at least one of the set of cameras, and 
 another current image of the rear area of the trailer, 
 
 to compare each current image of an interior cavity with the corresponding baseline image of a cargo cavity, 
 to determine a cargo status based upon a difference between the current image and the baseline image, and 
 to send the cargo status to a dispatcher using a cellular modem, 
 
 wherein the triggering event is at least one of a trailer opening event, a trailer closing event, a motion detection event through at least one of a global positioning device and a motion sensor in the trailer, a stopping event, a geographic-location based event, and a velocity based event, 
 wherein the light source is placed in another separate housing from the cargo area outside the trailer resting on another exterior face of the trailer such that storage space inside the cargo area is not constrained because the light source is placed outside the cargo area, 
 wherein the sensor array is affixed to an upper corner of the trailer, 
 wherein at least one light source is a light-emitting diode that is associated with each camera of the set of cameras, 
 wherein the backup camera is mounted to the sensor array, 
 wherein the backup camera to view at least one of a door of the trailer, a loading area of the trailer, and an area behind the trailer, 
 wherein a driver of the trailer may view a video feed from the backup camera using at least one of a wired connection and a wireless connection between the backup camera and a display in a cabin area of the semi-trailer truck, 
 wherein a field of view of each of the set of cameras to at least partially overlap with the field of view of at least another of the set of cameras, 
 wherein the sensor array to communicatively generate a composite view of the cargo area using the set of cameras, 
 wherein the sensor array to communicate the composite view to at least one of the cabin area of the semi-trailer truck and a central server communicatively coupled with the semi-trailer truck through an Internet network using the processor and the memory of the semi-trailer truck, and 
 wherein the cellular modem to periodically provide a reporting of a location of the semi-trailer truck captured with a geographic positioning receiver to the central server along with the composite view using the processor and the memory.