METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR OBTAINING INFORMATION ABOUT OBJECTS AROUND A VEHICLE

• US 20110285982A1
• Filed: 07/19/2011
• Published: 11/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Inventors: BREED, David S.
• Application Number:
  US13/185,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20110285982A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/4.01
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0022 for sensing anthropometric parameters, e.g. heart rate or body temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0025 by using weight measurement
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0026 for distinguishing between humans, animals or objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0028 of a body part, e.g. of an arm or a leg
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0029 for detecting the motion of the occupant
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0035 characterised by the sensor data transmission, e.g. wired connections or wireless transmitters therefor; characterised by the sensor data processing, e.g. seat sensor signal amplification or electric circuits for providing seat sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0268 using sensors or detectors for adapting the seat or seat part, e.g. to the position of an occupant
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0272 using sensors or detectors for detecting the position of seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0276 reaction to emergency situations, e.g. crash
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/267 alerting means responsive to presence or absence of children
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/28 Seats readily mountable on, and dismountable from, existing seats or other parts of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2806 for securing the child seat to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2863 backward facing
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/12 Capacitive; Electric field
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/16 Electromagnetic waves
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/18 Infrared
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/20 Radar
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/24 : Cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/26 : Ultrasonic, e.g. sonar
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/42 : Strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2220/20 : using a deterministic algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2220/30 : using a neural network
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/30 : Signal processing of sensor data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/208 : by automatic or remote control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 : including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 : responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0152 : using strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01534 : using electromagneticwaves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01536 : using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01538 : for image processing, e.g. cameras or sensor arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/25 : using biometry
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/252 : Fingerprint recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/255 : Eye recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/257 : Voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/87 : Combinations of sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/88 : Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 : Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/59 : inside of a vehicle, e.g. relating to seat occupancy, driver state or inner lighting conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 : Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands

Abstract

Arrangement and method for obtaining information about objects exterior of a vehicle in which a light source is mounted in the vehicle, structured light is projected into an area of interest exterior of the vehicle, rays of light forming the structured light originate from the light source, reflected light is detected at an image sensor at a position different than the position from which the structured light is projected, and the reflected light is analyzed relative to the projected structured light to obtain information about the object in the area of interest exterior of the vehicle. The structured light is designed to appear as if it comes from a source of light (virtual or actual) which is at a position different than the position of the image sensor.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining information about the area surrounding a vehicle or objects external of the vehicle, comprising:

mounting a light source on the vehicle;

projecting structured light into an area of interest external to the vehicle, rays of light forming the structured light originating from the light source, the structured light being a pattern of light including a plurality of light areas and at least one dark area alongside one another;

detecting reflected light at an image sensor arranged on the vehicle at a position different than the position from which the structured light is projected and at a position from which light reflected from any objects in the area of interest in the exterior of the vehicle is received; and

analyzing the reflected light relative to the projected structured light to obtain information about the area of interest and objects located in the area of interest.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the light source is mounted inside and projecting outside of the vehicle such that information about an object or topology exterior of the passenger compartment of the vehicle is obtained.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising imposing a pattern of the light and dark areas in the projected structured light.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising arranging the image sensor at a different location in the vehicle than the light source such that the structured light originating from the light source is directed into the area of interest in a first direction and is reflected to the image sensor by any objects in the area of interest in a second direction which is not opposite to the first direction.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising arranging the image sensor such that a line between the image sensor and the area of interest is at an angle of 20°

to 45°

to a line between the location from which the structured light is projected and the area of interest.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising

projecting at least one structured light pattern from the light source into the area of interest;

and

modifying the light pattern to create a virtual light source different than the light source.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

generating the at least one structured light pattern by interposing a first filter between the light source and the area of interest which blocks at least one portion of the light being projected from the light source to thereby create a dark area of the pattern of light; and

arranging a second filter similar to the first filter between the area of interest and the image sensor.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing step comprises determining a distance between the light source and at least a part of an object in at least a part of the area of interest.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the structured light comprises lines of light spaced apart from one another with the lines of light being light areas in the pattern of light and spaces between the lines of light being dark areas of the pattern of light such that light and dark areas alternate with one another in the pattern of light.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the structured light comprises dots of light spaced apart from one another.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming the structured light by polarizing the rays of light from the light source so that different parts of the area of interest are illuminated with light having different polarization.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming the structured light by imposing spatial patterns on the rays of light from the light source such that the time domain is used to identify particular transmission angles with particular reflections.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising imposing a pattern of the light and dark areas in the projected structured light.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising

projecting at least one structured light pattern from the light source into the area of interest;

and

modifying the light pattern to create a virtual light source different than the light source.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

generating the at least one structured light pattern by interposing a first filter between the light source and the area of interest which blocks at least one portion of the light being projected from the light source to thereby create a dark area of the pattern of light; and

arranging a second filter similar to the first filter between the area of interest and the image sensor.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of analyzing the reflected light relative to the projected structured light to obtain information about the area of interest and the object when located in the area of interest comprises analyzing light from a plurality of points on the object reflected at the same time whereby the obtained information is information about a three-dimensional form of the objects between the points from which light was reflected at the same time.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising arranging the image sensor at a different location in the vehicle than the light source such that an angle greater than zero is defined between the projecting structured light beam impacting the object and the received reflected light arising from that impacting beam of projected structured light.

18. A method for obtaining information about the area surrounding a vehicle or objects external of the vehicle, comprising:

mounting a light source in the vehicle;

projecting structured light into an area of interest external to the vehicle, rays of light forming the structured light originating from the light source, the structured light being a pattern of light including a plurality of discrete light areas and at least one discrete dark area alongside one another;

detecting reflected light at an image sensor arranged on the vehicle at a position different than the position from which the structured light is projected and at a position from which light reflected from any objects in the area of interest external to the vehicle is received; and

analyzing the reflected light relative to the projected structured light to obtain information about the area of interest external to the vehicle and the object when located in the area of interest.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the analyzing step comprises determining a distance between the light source and at least a part of an object in at least a part of the area of interest.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the structured light comprises lines of light spaced apart from one another with the lines of light being light areas in the pattern of light and spaces between the lines of light being dark areas of the pattern of light such that light and dark areas alternate with one another in the pattern of light.