Apparatus for photographing road ruts

• US 4,052,712 A
• Filed: 05/13/1975
• Issued: 10/04/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Pasco
• Original Assignee: Pacific Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Ohama, Masanori, Nakada, Yutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Gonzales, John
• Application Number:
  US05/577,007
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 354/75-77, 354/80, 354/81, 354/126, 354/354, 346/107 R
• US Class Current: 352/121
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/25 by projecting a pattern, e.g. one or more lines, moiré fringes on the object G01B11/255 takes precedence ; image analysis for depth or shape recovery G06T7/50
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 7/02 of land surfaces

Abstract

Apparatus for photo-recording road ruts comprising projecting a beam of light having a linear boundary between bright and dark portions from a light projector onto a road surface in the transverse direction of the road, and photographing the boundary portion in a camera from a position having a predetermined angular relation with the light projector. The projector and camera can be mounted on a vehicle such that the camera is at the predetermined angular position in relation to the light projector. A detecting device on the vehicle for detecting vehicular travel over a fixed distance can serve to operate the projector and the camera synchronously.

Claims

1. Apparatus for photographing a road surface to evaluate the presence of ruts therein, said apparatus comprising a vehicle adapted for traveling along a road whose surface is to be evaluated for ruts, light projecting means on said vehicle for projecting a beam of light on the road surface to form a linear boundary between an illuminated and a non-illuminated portion of the road extending transversely thereof, said light projecting means being oriented on said vehicle to direct said beam of light onto said road at an acute angle thereto and camera means on said vehicle for photographing said boundary, said camera means being mounted on said vehicle such that the axis of the camera is perpendicular to the road surface and is at a predetermined angular position in relation to said light projecting means, said light projecting means comprising a light source including a flash lamp, a condensor lens in front of said flash lamp, a projection lens in front of said condensor lens and a shading plate interposed between said condensor lens and said projection lens, said shading plate including one portion opaque to the light source and another portion pervious to the light source.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising means on said vehicle for operating said light projecting means and said camera means in synchronism after the vehicle has traveled predetermined distances along said road.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means for synchronously operating the light projecting means and the camera means comprises detecting means for determining the travel of said vehicle along said predetermined distances on the road, said detecting means being connected to the light projecting means and camera means.