Vehicle environment monitoring system
First Claim
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1. A vehicle environment monitoring system comprising:
- an optical radar apparatus installed on a subject vehicle and including light transmission means for generating and irradiating a beam of light, scanning means for scanning the light beam in the area surrounding of the subject vehicle, and light receiving means for receiving the light beam irradiated from said light transmission means and reflected from an object;
a stepper motor for driving said scanning means;
driving means for driving said stepper motor so as to move said light beam by a predetermined angle;
distance calculation means for calculating the distance to said obstacle, each time said stepper motor drives said scanning means by the predetermined angle, on the basis of the time elapsed from the light sending time to the light received time;
scanning direction detection means for detecting the scanning direction of said optical radar apparatus; and
monitoring means for monitoring the surroundings of the subject vehicle on the basis of the outputs from said distance calculation means and said scanning direction detection means to thereby control an alarm means on the basis of the calculated distance.
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Abstract
A vehicle environment monitoring system is capable of monitoring the nearly entire region around a vehicle on which the system is installed, and is protected from staining or damaging. The system includes an optical radar apparatus comprising a light transmitter for generating and irradiating a beam of light; a scanner with a reflective mirror rotatably disposed on a support shaft in an inclined manner for scanning the light beam in the surroundings of the vehicle; and a light receiver for receiving the light beam reflected from an object. The apparatus is disposed on the ceiling inside or outside the subject vehicle, or on a bumper at a front or rear corner of the vehicle.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A vehicle environment monitoring system comprising:
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an optical radar apparatus installed on a subject vehicle and including light transmission means for generating and irradiating a beam of light, scanning means for scanning the light beam in the area surrounding of the subject vehicle, and light receiving means for receiving the light beam irradiated from said light transmission means and reflected from an object; a stepper motor for driving said scanning means; driving means for driving said stepper motor so as to move said light beam by a predetermined angle; distance calculation means for calculating the distance to said obstacle, each time said stepper motor drives said scanning means by the predetermined angle, on the basis of the time elapsed from the light sending time to the light received time; scanning direction detection means for detecting the scanning direction of said optical radar apparatus; and monitoring means for monitoring the surroundings of the subject vehicle on the basis of the outputs from said distance calculation means and said scanning direction detection means to thereby control an alarm means on the basis of the calculated distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A vehicle environment monitoring system comprising:
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an optical radar apparatus installed on a subject vehicle and including light transmission means for generating and irradiating a beam of light, scanner means for scanning the light beam in the surroundings of the subject vehicle, and light receiving means for receiving the light beam irradiated from said light transmission means and reflected from an object; distance calculation means for calculating the distance to said obstacle on the basis of the time elapsed from the light sending time to the light received time; scanning direction detection means for detecting the scanning direction of said optical radar apparatus; and monitoring means for monitoring the surroundings of the subject vehicle on the basis of the outputs from said distance calculation means and said scanning direction detection means to thereby control an alarm means on the basis of the calculated distance; wherein the optical axis of the beam of light irradiated from said optical radar apparatus is oscillated vertically; and
wherein said scanner means comprises;a reflective member pivotally supported on a support shaft in an inclined manner for reflecting the beam of light from said transmission means; drive means for driving said support shaft together with said reflective member to rotate; a tubular guide member disposed near said reflective member with said support shaft arranged therein, said tubular member having one end in a corrugated configuration with which said reflective member is in butting engagement; and biasing means disposed between said reflective member and said tubular guide for biasing said reflective member toward the corrugated end of said tubular guide member.
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26. A vehicle environment monitoring system comprising:
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a plurality of optical radar apparatuses installed on a subject vehicle, each of said optical radar apparatuses including light transmission means for generating and irradiating a beam of light, scanner means for scanning the light beam in the surroundings of the subject vehicle, and light receiving means for receiving the light beam irradiated from said light transmission means and reflected from an object; distance calculation means for calculating the distance to said obstacle on the basis of the time elapsed from the light sending time to the light received time; scanning direction detection means for detecting the scanning direction of said optical radar apparatuses; and monitoring means for monitoring the surroundings of the subject vehicle on the basis of the outputs from said distance calculation means and said scanning direction detection means to thereby control an alarm means on the basis of the calculated distance; wherein said monitoring means comprises object identification means for identifying said object on the basis of distance information and direction information obtained by said plurality of optical radar apparatuses.
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27. A vehicle environment monitoring system comprising:
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an optical radar apparatus installed on a subject vehicle and including light transmission means for generating and irradiating a beam of light, scanner means for scanning the light beam in the surroundings of the subject vehicle, and light receiving means for receiving the light beam irradiated from said light transmission means and reflected from an object; distance calculation means for calculating the distance to said obstacle on the basis of the time elapsed from the light sending time to the light received time; scanning direction detection means for detecting the scanning direction of said optical radar apparatus; and monitoring means for monitoring the surroundings of the subject vehicle on the basis of the outputs from said distance calculation means and said scanning direction detection means to thereby control an alarm means on the basis of the calculated distance; wherein said scanner means controls a scanning amount of the light beam from said light transmission means on the basis of the output from said scanning direction detection means; and wherein said scanner means diminishes the scanning amount for the front-to-rear direction of the subject vehicle in comparison with that for the right-to-left direction of the subject vehicle.
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28. A vehicle environment monitoring system comprising:
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an optical radar apparatus installed on a subject vehicle and including light transmission means for generating and irradiating a beam of light, scanner means for scanning the light beam in the surroundings of the subject vehicle, and light receiving means for receiving the light beam irradiated from said light transmission means and reflected from an object; situation judgment means for judging whether said optical radar apparatus is in a used state or an unused state; and protective means adapted to be controlled by said situation judgment means for protecting said optical radar apparatus if it is judged that said optical radar apparatus is in the unused state. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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Specification