Vehicular Environment Scanning Techniques
First Claim
1. A method for creating and managing a digital map for use by vehicles and including information relating to a travel lane on which the vehicles can travel or are traveling, comprising:
- illuminating the environment outside of and around the vehicle with infrared illumination in an eye-safe part of the infrared spectrum as the vehicle is traveling on a travel lane to be mapped;
forming, on the vehicle, at least one image from reflections from any objects in the path of the infrared illumination;
analyzing the at least one image formed from the received reflections to obtain information about the object from which the infrared illumination has been reflected; and
incorporating the information into the map if not already present therein.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Method for creating and managing a digital map for use by vehicles and including information relating to travel lanes on which the vehicles travel includes illuminating the environment outside of and around the vehicle with infrared illumination in an eye-safe part of the infrared spectrum as the vehicle is traveling on a travel lane to be mapped, forming, on the vehicle, at least one image from reflections from any objects in the path of the infrared illumination (such as by means of an image sensor), analyzing each image to obtain information about the object from which the infrared illumination has been reflected, and incorporating the information into the map if not already present therein. A driver of the vehicle may be alerted if the information obtained about an object in the environment outside of and around the vehicle indicates that a collision with the object is about to occur.
126 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for creating and managing a digital map for use by vehicles and including information relating to a travel lane on which the vehicles can travel or are traveling, comprising:
-
illuminating the environment outside of and around the vehicle with infrared illumination in an eye-safe part of the infrared spectrum as the vehicle is traveling on a travel lane to be mapped; forming, on the vehicle, at least one image from reflections from any objects in the path of the infrared illumination; analyzing the at least one image formed from the received reflections to obtain information about the object from which the infrared illumination has been reflected; and incorporating the information into the map if not already present therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method for creating and managing a digital map for use by vehicles and including information relating to a travel lane on which the vehicles can travel or are traveling, comprising:
-
arranging a scanner on the vehicle to direct infrared illumination in the eye-safe portion of the infrared spectrum into the environment outside of and around the vehicle; forming images of objects in the environment from which infrared illumination has been reflected; determining identity and location of objects in the environment based on the images; and incorporating the information about the identity and location of objects into the map if not already present therein. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
-
-
15. An arrangement for creating and managing a digital map for use by vehicles and including information relating to a travel lane on which the vehicles can travel or are traveling, comprising:
-
a scanner arranged on the vehicle to direct infrared illumination in the eye-safe portion of the infrared spectrum into the environment outside of and around the vehicle; an image forming system arranged on the vehicle to form images of objects in the environment from which infrared illumination has been reflected; and a processor coupled to said image forming system for determining identity and location of objects in the environment based on the images and incorporating the information about the identity and location of objects into the map if not already present therein. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification