Arrangement and Method for Obtaining Information Using Phase Difference of Modulated Illumination
First Claim
1. A land-based vehicle including an arrangement for monitoring objects in or about a vehicle, comprising:
- a source from which modulated illumination is emitted into an area in or about the vehicle;
a receiver arranged to receive illumination reflected from an object in the path of the modulated illumination; and
circuitry coupled to said receiver and said source and arranged to compare a phase of the modulated illumination with a phase of the reflected radiation at a common frequency to determine whether there is a phase difference between the modulated illumination and the reflected illumination, whereby said phase difference is a measure of a property of the object.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Land-based vehicle including an arrangement for monitoring objects in or about a vehicle includes a source from which modulated illumination is emitted into an area in or about the vehicle, a receiver arranged to receive illumination reflected from an object in the path of the modulated illumination, and circuitry coupled to the receiver and the source and arranged to compare a phase of the modulated illumination with a phase of the reflected radiation at a common frequency to determine whether there is a phase difference between the modulated illumination and the reflected illumination. The phase difference is a measure of a property of the object, such as the distance between the object and the source/receiver, which can be co-located. Otherwise, if the source and receiver and not co-located or substantially co-located, the distance is a measure of the distance of travel of the illumination.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A land-based vehicle including an arrangement for monitoring objects in or about a vehicle, comprising:
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a source from which modulated illumination is emitted into an area in or about the vehicle;
a receiver arranged to receive illumination reflected from an object in the path of the modulated illumination; and
circuitry coupled to said receiver and said source and arranged to compare a phase of the modulated illumination with a phase of the reflected radiation at a common frequency to determine whether there is a phase difference between the modulated illumination and the reflected illumination, whereby said phase difference is a measure of a property of the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for monitoring objects in or about a land-based vehicle, comprising:
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emitting modulated illumination from a location on the vehicle into an area in or about the vehicle;
receiving illumination reflected from an object in the path of the modulated illumination at a location on the vehicle; and
comparing a phase of the modulated illumination with a phase of the reflected radiation at a common frequency to determine whether there is a phase difference between the modulated illumination and the reflected illumination, whereby the phase difference is a measure of a property of the object. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for controlling an occupant protection device in a vehicle which protects an occupant of the vehicle in the event of a crash involving the vehicle, comprising:
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emitting modulated illumination from a location on the vehicle into an area in or about the vehicle;
receiving illumination reflected from an object in the path of the modulated illumination at a location on the vehicle;
comparing a phase of the modulated illumination with a phase of the reflected radiation at a common frequency to determine whether there is a phase difference between the modulated illumination and the reflected illumination;
deriving a distance between the object and a location on the vehicle from which the illumination is emitted and at which the reflected illumination is received; and
controlling the occupant protection device based on the derived distance. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification