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Vehicle-installation obstacle detection apparatus

  • US 20090240432A1
  • Filed: 03/16/2009
  • Published: 09/24/2009
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An obstacle detection apparatus comprisingan electronic camera installed on a vehicle, configured to capture an image of an external view ahead of said vehicle, andimage processing circuitry configured to process data produced by said camera, expressing said image, for detecting objects which may constitute obstacles located ahead of said vehicle;

  • wherein said obstacle detection apparatus comprises;

    a memory having image parameter information specific to said camera stored therein;

    communication circuitry configured to perform at least one of two modes of communication, said modes comprising inter-vehicle communication between said vehicle and a preceding vehicle and road-to-vehicle communication between said vehicle and a roadside apparatus;

    information generating circuitry configured to derive size dimension information expressing a size dimension of an object detected by said image processing circuitry, as measured in an image plane of said camera;

    information acquisition circuitry configured to acquire, via said communication circuitry, actual size dimension information expressing an actual size dimension of a specific obstacle located ahead of said vehicle; and

    distance calculation circuitry configured to calculate a value of distance of said specific obstacle, based upon said size dimension derived by said information generating circuitry, said actual size dimension, and said image parameter information.

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