Distance detecting apparatus

• US 5,291,424 A
• Filed: 08/28/1991
• Issued: 03/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Asayama, Yoshiaki, Kajiwara, Yasuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, Jack B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEESO, THOMAS R
• Application Number:
  US07/751,006
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 364/460, 364/561, 364/516, 364/517, 358/103, 358/88, 358/107, 358/126, 358/105, 358/125, 340/937
• US Class Current: 702/59
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/12 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves

Abstract

A distance detecting apparatus in which an operator is able to readily and accurately see to which one of a plurality of objects the distance is detected. The apparatus is able to concurrently detect the distances to a plurality of objects which exist within the field of view of the subject vehicle. To this end, the apparatus includes: a pair of first and second image sensors including a pair of optical systems for optically sensing a plurality of objects; a first memory for storing the pictures of the objects sensed by the first image sensor as first image signals; a second memory for storing the pictures of the objects sensed by the second image sensor as second image signals; a window defining device for defining a plurality of windows at specific areas of the first or second image signals; and a calculator for making image signals within the respective windows defined by the window defining device as reference signals. The calculator is operable to make a comparison between those of the first and second image signals which correspond to the reference signals, to individually calculate the distance to each object in each window. Preferably, the first and second image sensors are disposed in a vertically spaced apart relation.

Claims

1. A distance detecting apparatus comprising:

a pair of first and second image sensors each including an optical system for optically sensing a plurality of individual objects and producing respective image pictures thereof;

a first memory for storing the image pictures of the plurality of objects sensed by said first image sensor as first image signals;

a second memory for storing the image pictures of the plurality of objects sensed by said second image sensor as second image signals;

window defining means for concurrently defining a plurality of individual, spaced windows at specific areas of the first and second memories;

an image display for simultaneously displaying the plurality of individual, spaced windows and the plurality of objects sensed by one of the first and second image sensors, and stored in a corresponding one of the first and second memories; and

a calculator device for selecting image signals within the respective windows defined by said window defining means as reference signals, said calculator device comparing the reference signals to the first or second image signals which correspond to the reference signals, to individually and simultaneously calculate the distances to the plurality of objects displayed in said windows.

2. A distance detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second image sensors are disposed in a vertically spaced apart relation.

3. A distance detecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image display has a screen on which the windows defined by said window defining means are displayed.

4. A distance detecting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said window defining means defines the plurality of windows in such a manner that the windows are displayed on the screen of said display in a horizontally spaced and separate manner.