Proximity warning system for vehicles
First Claim
1. A proximity warning system for warning of the proximity of an obstacle within at least one zone of interest adjacent to a vehicle, the system comprising:
- (a) at least one primary sensor deployed to receive radiation from at least part of the zone of interest, said primary sensor being configured to produce a primary output indicative of a quantity of electromagnetic radiation incident on said primary sensor;
(b) means for generating a compensation output indicative of a quantity of background electromagnetic radiation incident on said primary sensor;
(c) at least one transmitter configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal towards at least part of the zone of interest;
(d) a compensation module associated with said means for generating a compensation output and said transmitter, said compensation module being responsive to said compensation output to vary a transmission power of said electromagnetic signal; and
(e) a processing module associated with at least said primary sensor, said processing module being responsive to said primary output to generate a warning signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for warning of the proximity of an obstacle within a zone of interest adjacent to a vehicle includes at least one primary sensor configured to produce a primary output indicative of a quantity of electromagnetic radiation incident on the primary sensor from the zone of interest. Also provided is a device for generating a compensation output indicating a quantity of background electromagnetic radiation incident on the primary sensor. A number of transmitters transmit an electromagnetic signal towards the zone of interest. A compensation module responds to the compensation output to vary a transmission power of the electromagnetic signal. A processing module associated with at least the primary sensor generates a warning signal in response to the primary output.
44 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A proximity warning system for warning of the proximity of an obstacle within at least one zone of interest adjacent to a vehicle, the system comprising:
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(a) at least one primary sensor deployed to receive radiation from at least part of the zone of interest, said primary sensor being configured to produce a primary output indicative of a quantity of electromagnetic radiation incident on said primary sensor; (b) means for generating a compensation output indicative of a quantity of background electromagnetic radiation incident on said primary sensor; (c) at least one transmitter configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal towards at least part of the zone of interest; (d) a compensation module associated with said means for generating a compensation output and said transmitter, said compensation module being responsive to said compensation output to vary a transmission power of said electromagnetic signal; and (e) a processing module associated with at least said primary sensor, said processing module being responsive to said primary output to generate a warning signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A proximity warning system for warning of the proximity of an obstacle within a zone of interest adjacent to a vehicle, the zone being delineated at least in part by a virtual straight line, the system comprising:
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(a) a plurality of transmitter elements responsive to an actuating power supply to transmit an electromagnetic signal towards the virtual straight line; and (b) at least one sensor responsive to a received reflected electromagnetic signal from an obstacle located at said virtual straight line to generate a reception signal, wherein the configuration and the deployment of said transmitter elements and of said at least one sensor are such that, for a given level of actuating power supply, said reception signal resulting from reflection of said transmitted electromagnetic signal from the surface of an object remains substantially constant as the object is moved along a path corresponding to a part of the virtual line. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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Specification