Indicia contrast enhancement for vehicle borne infrared vision system

• US 5,023,451 A
• Filed: 02/20/1990
• Issued: 06/11/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Burley, Harvey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannaher, Constantine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Glick, Edward J.
• Application Number:
  US07/481,404
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 250/330, 250/340, 250/341, 250/342, 40/582, 40/583, 40/559, 40/561, 40/562, 40/612, 350/1.1, 350/109, 350/97, 350/103
• US Class Current: 250/330
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0472 Traffic signs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/16 Signs formed of or incorporating reflecting elements or surfaces, e.g. warning signs having triangular or other geometrical shape

Abstract

In conjunction with a vehicle borne infrared receiver, sign indicia are defined by infrared reflective surfaces oriented so as to reflect infrared radiation to the receiver from a contrast enhancing source of radiation such as the sky and/or the ground thereby improving the contrast of the sign indicia within the displayed image.

Claims

1. For use in conjunction with a vehicle borne infrared vision system including a detector for detecting infrared radiation received from a scene and a monitor for displaying an image of the detected scene in which the amount of contrast between different portions of the displayed image is based upon the amount of detectible difference in the intensity of the infrared radiation received from the corresponding portions of the scene;

an improvement for increasing within the displayed image of the scene the contrast between a particular indicia and an adjacent portion of the scene, the improvement comprising;

means for defining the indicia to be contrasted within the displayed image of the scene, the means including one or more infrared reflective surfaces oriented so as to reflect infrared radiation to the detector from a contrast enhancing source of infrared radiation having an intensity which is detectibly different form the intensity of infrared radiation received from the adjacent portion of the scene by an amount which is greater than would be the case without the infrared reflective surfaces, the contrast enhancing source of infrared radiation being at least one of the sky and the ground.