DISTANCE DETECTING APPARATUS, AIR BAG SYSTEM CONTROLLING APPARATUS, AND METHOD OF DETECTING DISTANCE
First Claim
1. A distance detecting apparatus comprising:
- a light emitting unit configured to emit a light in a light emitting direction, the light having a distributed pattern in a predetermined direction;
a photographing device configured to obtain an image of an object along with a photographing direction;
a holding mechanism configured to hold the light emitting unit and the photographing device in such a relation that (a) the photographing direction is not in a plane that includes both the light emitting direction and the predetermined direction of the distributed pattern, and (b) the photographing direction is not parallel to the light emitting direction; and
a distance deriving unit configured to derive a distance between the object and a predetermined position based on the image obtained by the photographing device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A light emitting unit emits a light in a light emitting direction, which is the direction to an object, the light having a distributed pattern in a predetermined direction. A photographing device obtains an image of the object along with a photographing direction. A holding mechanism holds the light emitting unit and the photographing apparatus in such a relation that (a) the photographing direction is not in a plane that includes both the light emitting direction and the predetermined direction of the distributed pattern, and (b) the photographing direction is not parallel to the light emitting direction. A distance deriving unit derives a distance between the object and a predetermined position based on the image obtained by the photographing device.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A distance detecting apparatus comprising:
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a light emitting unit configured to emit a light in a light emitting direction, the light having a distributed pattern in a predetermined direction;
a photographing device configured to obtain an image of an object along with a photographing direction;
a holding mechanism configured to hold the light emitting unit and the photographing device in such a relation that (a) the photographing direction is not in a plane that includes both the light emitting direction and the predetermined direction of the distributed pattern, and (b) the photographing direction is not parallel to the light emitting direction; and
a distance deriving unit configured to derive a distance between the object and a predetermined position based on the image obtained by the photographing device.
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2. An air bag system controlling apparatus comprising:
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a light emitting unit configured to emit a light in a light emitting direction, the light having a distributed pattern in a predetermined direction;
a photographing device configured to obtain an image of an object along with a photographing direction;
a holding mechanism configured to hold the light emitting unit and the photographing device in such a relation that (a) the photographing direction is not in a plane that includes both the light emitting direction and the predetermined direction of the distributed pattern, and (b) the photographing direction is not parallel to the light emitting direction;
a distance deriving unit configured to derive a distance between the object and a predetermined position based on the image obtained by the photographing device; and
an air bag system controlling unit configured to control an operation of an air bag based on the distance derived. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An air bag system controlling apparatus comprising:
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a light emitting unit configured to emit a light in a light emitting direction which is the direction to an object the light having a distributed pattern in a predetermined direction;
a photographing device configured to obtain an image of an object along with a photographing direction;
a holding mechanism configured to hold the light emitting unit and the photographing device, in such a relation that (a) the photographing direction is not in a plane that includes both the light emitting direction and the predetermined direction of the distributed pattern, and (b) the photographing direction is not parallel to the light emitting direction;
a memory unit configured to store a computer program that executes a function of deriving a distance between the object and a predetermined position based on the image obtained by the photographing device and executes a function of controlling an operation of an air bag based on the distance derived; and
a computer processor configured to access the memory unit and execute the computer program stored in the computer readable memory unit.
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13. A method of detecting a distance, comprising:
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emitting light in a light emitting direction to thereby irradiate an object, the light being having a distributed pattern in a predetermined direction;
obtaining an image of the object along with a photographing direction, in such a manner that (a) the photographing direction is not in a plane that includes both the light emitting direction and the predetermined direction of the distributed pattern and (b) the photographing direction is not parallel to the light emitting direction; and
deriving a distance between the object and a predetermined position based on a position of the pattern light in the image.
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Specification