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Method and apparatus for lane sensing for automatic vehicle steering

  • US 5,318,143 A
  • Filed: 06/22/1992
  • Issued: 06/07/1994
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A vehicle control system for controlling a vehicle operable to travel over a surface, the system comprising:

  • a transmitter on the vehicle operable to illuminate a first predetermined area of the surface beneath the vehicle;

    first receiver on the vehicle operable to receive reflections from a second predetermined area of the surface beneath the vehicle;

    a second receiver on the vehicle operable to receive reflections from a third predetermined area of the surface beneath the vehicle, said second and third predetermined areas disposed substantially adjacent one another and each comprising portions of said first predetermined area; and

    a processor coupled to said first and second receivers and operable to determine the difference in the amplitudes of the reflections received by said first and second receivers and generate a steering control signal responsive to said difference, said first and second receivers receiving reflections from a stripe broken in predetermined intervals of unmarked and reflective areas disposed on the surface and illuminated by the transmitter resulting in said difference when said stripe is not disposed equally in said second and third predetermined areas.

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