Device for detecting a running surface and vehicle using same

• US 20040011120A1
• Filed: 01/09/2003
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobile SA (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobile SA (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Riat, Jean-Christophe
• Granted Patent: US 6,925,859 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/346 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages

Abstract

A device for detecting a running surface for a vehicle, comprising a plurality of sensors (c1 to c8) designed to be oriented towards the running surface to detect modifications thereof, data processing means for processing data derived from the sensors, wherein the sensors are relatively arranged so as to associate at least part of the points of aim on the ground (v1 to v8) in pairs (p1 to p4), the two points of aim on the ground being spaced apart by a first specific distance, and the transverse distances separating two adjacent pairs (p1 to p4) of points of aim on the ground increase towards a longitudinal axis along a direction substantially perpendicular to said axis.

Claims

1. Device for detecting a running surface for a vehicle, comprising a plurality of sensors (c1 to c8) designed to be oriented towards the running surface (4) to detect modifications thereof, means (2) for processing data obtained by the sensors, characterized in that the sensors are disposed relative to each other so as to associate at least a part of their points of aim on the ground (v1 to v8) by pairs (p1 to p4), the two points of aim of a pair being spaced apart by a first specified distance (e), and in that the transverse distances (d1 to d6) separating two adjacent pairs (p1 to p4) of points of aim on the ground (vn) increase towards a longitudinal axis (5) along a direction substantially perpendicular to that axis (5).

2. Detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least two pairs of sensors.

3. Detection device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sensors are disposed on both sides of a median longitudinal axis (5), and in that the transverse distances (d1 to d6) separating the adjacent pairs (p1 to p7) of points of aim on the ground (v1 to v14) of sensors are substantially symmetrical with respect to the median longitudinal axis (5).

4. Detection device according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the transverse distance dn in cm separating two adjacent pairs (pn, pn+1) of points of aim on the ground is given by the formula dn=K.Rⁿ, where n is the serial number of the pair (pn) of points of aim on the ground (vn) towards the longitudinal axis (5), R is a first constant multiplicative coefficient comprised approximately between 1 and 20, and K is a second constant coefficient comprised approximately between 10 and 80.

5. Detection device according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the transverse distance (dn) in cm separating two adjacent pairs (pn, pn+1) of points of aim on the ground of sensors is given by the formula

6. Vehicle using a detection device according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of sensors (c1 to c14) oriented towards the running surface (4) to detect modifications thereof, means (2) for processing data obtained by the sensors, characterized in that the sensors are disposed relative to each other so as to associate at least a part of their points of aim on the ground (vn) by pairs (pn), the two points of aim on the ground of a pair (p1 and p7) being spaced apart by a first specified distance (e), and in that the transverse distances (d1 to d6) separating two adjacent pairs (p1 to p7) of points of aim on the ground (v1 to v14) increase from the outside towards the inside of the vehicle (1) along a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (5) of the vehicle.

7. Vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that the sensors (c1 to c14) are disposed on both sides of the median longitudinal axis (5) of the vehicle, and in that the transverse distances (d1 to d6) separating the pairs (p1 to p7) of points of aim on the ground (c1 to c14) of sensors are substantially symmetrical with respect to the median longitudinal axis (5).

8. Vehicle according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the transverse distances (dn) in cm separating two adjacent pairs (pn, pn+1) of points of aim on the ground are given by the formula dn=K.Rⁿ, where n is the serial number of the pair (pn) of points of aim on the ground towards the longitudinal axis (5), R is a first constant multiplicative coefficient comprised approximately between 1 and 20, and K is a second constant coefficient comprised approximately between 10 and 80.

9. Vehicle according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the transverse distances (dn) in cm separating two adjacent pairs (pn, pn+1) of points of aim on the ground of sensors are given by the formula

10. Vehicle according to any of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that at least a part of the sensors (c1 to c14) are slanted with respect to the vertical, at an angle substantially equal to or higher than the half angle (A) of their vision cone (7).

11. Vehicle according to any of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that at least a part of the sensors (c1 to c14) are slanted with respect to the vertical at an angle (B) comprised approximately between 5 and 45 degrees.

12. Vehicle according to any of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that at least a part of the sensors (c1 to c14) are disposed in the front bumper (8) of the vehicle.

13. Vehicle according to any of claims 6 to 12, characterized in that it comprises seven pairs (p1 to p7) of sensors (c1 to c14).

14. Vehicle according to any of claims 6 to 13, characterized in that the distance (e) separating the two points of aim on the ground (vn) of a same pair (pn) is comprised approximately between 5 and 25 cm.