System for imaging
First Claim
1. A system for emitting shaped light from a vehicle and projecting the shaped light onto a surface external to the vehicle, the surface external to the vehicle comprising a road or other terrain, a sidewalk, a kerb, a hard-shoulder, a wall, or a verge,the system comprising a controller, a sensor for detecting the presence of a nearby object, a plurality of light sources and at least one light emitter, wherein the at least one light emitter is arranged to emit at least a first light signal directed away from the vehicle towards said surface external to the vehicle, the light emitter comprising a projection head arranged to direct light externally to the vehicle and a beam shaper element,wherein the controller is configured to receive data from the sensor and to determine whether or not an obstruction is located within a projection envelope or within a viewing zone in dependence on the data, andwherein the controller is configured to prevent the shaped light from being projected in dependence on an obstruction being located in the projection envelope or within the viewing zone.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system (90) for emitting shaped light (26) from a vehicle (10) and for projecting the shaped light (26) onto a surface (18) external to the vehicle (10), the system comprising a controller, one or more light sources and at least one light emitter, wherein the at least one light emitter is arranged to emit at least a first light signal directed towards said surface (18) external to the vehicle (10), the light emitter comprising a projection head arranged to direct light externally to the vehicle (10) and a beam shaper element, wherein the at least one light emitter is coupled to at least one of said light sources by one or more optical fibers.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for emitting shaped light from a vehicle and projecting the shaped light onto a surface external to the vehicle, the surface external to the vehicle comprising a road or other terrain, a sidewalk, a kerb, a hard-shoulder, a wall, or a verge,
the system comprising a controller, a sensor for detecting the presence of a nearby object, a plurality of light sources and at least one light emitter, wherein the at least one light emitter is arranged to emit at least a first light signal directed away from the vehicle towards said surface external to the vehicle, the light emitter comprising a projection head arranged to direct light externally to the vehicle and a beam shaper element, wherein the controller is configured to receive data from the sensor and to determine whether or not an obstruction is located within a projection envelope or within a viewing zone in dependence on the data, and wherein the controller is configured to prevent the shaped light from being projected in dependence on an obstruction being located in the projection envelope or within the viewing zone.
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17. A vehicle comprising a system for emitting shaped light and for projecting the emitted shaped light onto a surface external to the vehicle, the projected shaped light thereby forming one or more visible images on said surface external to the vehicle, which one or more visible images comprise a graphical referencing element suitable for assisting a driver of the vehicle in gauging a distance relative to the vehicle, the graphical referencing element comprising a visible image indicative of the width of the vehicle, wherein the system is configured to project a graphical referencing element for gauging a distance relative to the vehicle comprising:
- a primary pair of spaced and parallel straight longitudinal lines along the path ahead of the vehicle;
a single straight transverse line across the path ahead of the vehicle extending between and terminating on said straight longitudinal lines of the primary pair; and
an arrow commencing on a medial point of said single straight transverse line and extending longitudinally therefrom and extending beyond the termination of the straight longitudinal lines of said primary pair such that the point of the arrow provides an indicator of the centremost point of a lane on a road. - View Dependent Claims (18)
- a primary pair of spaced and parallel straight longitudinal lines along the path ahead of the vehicle;
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19. A vehicle comprising a system for emitting shaped light and for projecting the emitted shaped light onto a surface external to the vehicle, the surface external to the vehicle comprising a road, the projected shaped light thereby forming one or more visible images on said surface external to the vehicle, which one or more visible images comprise a graphical referencing element suitable for assisting a driver of the vehicle in gauging a distance relative to the vehicle, the graphical referencing element comprising:
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a visible image indicative of the width of the vehicle, comprising a pair of spaced and parallel straight longitudinal lines along the path ahead of the vehicle which are aligned with the path of the wheels of the vehicle or which are spaced apart in a transverse direction by a distance which is similar or equal to the maximum width of the vehicle; and a pair of spaced and parallel straight longitudinal lines along the path ahead of the vehicle indicating an outer boundary of a lane of the road. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification