US Patent 10531075 Synchronization controller unit for sensor node

A vehicular synchronization system includes an image sensor of a vehicle. The image sensor captures image data for an image sensor field of view. The vehicular synchronization system also includes a light sensor having a radial view. The light sensor captures light data from around the vehicle in a full rotation. The vehicular synchronization system includes a synchronization control unit having a data receiving module, a trigger time determination module, a timer module, and a sensor trigger module. The data receiving module receives a data packet from the light sensor. The trigger time determination module determines a trigger time when a desired light sensor orientation overlaps with the image sensor field of view. The timer module sets a timer to elapse at the trigger time. The sensor trigger module controls the image sensor to capture image data at the trigger time when the timer elapses.