Vehicle with rear vehicle detecting apparatus

• US 6,184,782 B1
• Filed: 06/09/1999
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Baba, Satosi, Motoyama, Junshiro, Oda, Naoki, Sano, Masahiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US09/328,448
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 340/435, 340/436, 340/903, 340/901, 340/904, 340/932, 340/939, 340/942, 340/587, 340/588, 340/589, 340/565, 340/584, 340/187, 180/167, 180/169
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes

Abstract

In order to achieve an aspect of the present invention, a rear vehicle detecting apparatus of a vehicle include an alarm unit, a temperature detecting section, a reference temperature data generating section, a comparing section, and a drive section. The temperature detecting section detects a first temperature data based on heat radiated from another vehicle which exists behind the vehicle. The reference temperature data generating section generates a second temperature data as a reference. The comparing section compares the first temperature data and the second temperature data. The driving section drives the alarm unit based on the comparing result by the comparing section.

Claims

1. A rear vehicle detecting apparatus of a vehicle comprising:

an alarm unit;

a temperature detecting section detecting a first temperature data based on heat radiated from another vehicle which exists behind said vehicle;

a reference temperature data generating section generating a second temperature data as a reference, said second temperature based on at least one environmental factor;

a comparing section comparing said first temperature data and said second temperature data; and

a drive section driving said alarm unit based on the comparing result by said comparing section.

2. A rear vehicle detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said temperature detecting section includes:

an optical system collecting the heat radiated from the other vehicle which exists behind the vehicle;

an infrared sensor detecting the collected heat by said optical system; and

a converting section converting the detected heat into said first temperature data.

3. A rear vehicle detecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said optical system includes a lens,

wherein said temperature detecting section includes a plurality of sets of said lens and said infrared sensor, and

wherein said plurality of sets are provided to have different fields of view.

4. A rear vehicle detecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said optical system includes:

a first mirror collecting the heat radiated from the other vehicle which exists behind said vehicle;

a second mirror which reflects the collected heat by said first mirror on said infrared sensor.

5. A rear vehicle detecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said optical system includes:

a prism collecting the heat radiated from the other vehicle on said infrared sensor when the other vehicle exists in different positions relative to the vehicle.

6. A rear vehicle detecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said temperature detecting section further comprises:

a drive section driving said optical system and said infrared sensor to orient different fields of view, depending upon time.

7. A rear vehicle detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rear vehicle detecting apparatus includes two sets of said temperature detecting sections respectively provided in a rear portion of said vehicle on left and right sides.

8. A rear vehicle detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reference temperature data generating section includes:

a measuring unit measuring said at least one environmental factor about said vehicle; and

a generating unit generating said second temperature data based on said measuring result of said measuring unit.

9. A rear vehicle detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said temperature detecting section includes a plurality of infrared sensors detecting the radiated heat, and

said comparing section time-divisionally comparing said first temperature data and said second temperature data for every infrared sensor.

10. A rear vehicle detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said alarm unit is driven to output an alarm auditorily.

11. A rear vehicle detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said alarm unit is provided in a front portion of said vehicle.

12. A rear vehicle detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said temperature detecting section includes at least an infrared sensor, and

said infrared sensor is of a bolometer type.

13. A rear vehicle detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said temperature detecting section includes at least an infrared sensor, and

said infrared sensor is of a pyroelectric type.

14. A rear vehicle detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said temperature detecting section includes at least an infrared sensor, and

said infrared sensor is of a thermopile type.

21. The rear vehicle detecting apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one environmental factor comprises ambient temperature.

15. A vehicle having a rear vehicle detecting apparatus which comprises:

a heat detecting section provided in a rear portion of said vehicle to detect heat radiated from another vehicle and to compare said detected heat to a reference temperature based on at least one environmental factor; and

an alarm unit provided to output an alarm corresponding to the detecting result by said heat detecting section.

16. A vehicle according to claim 15, wherein said alarm unit is driven to output an alarm auditorily.

17. A vehicle according to claim 15, wherein said alarm unit is provided in a front portion of said vehicle.

18. A vehicle according to claim 15, wherein said temperature detecting section includes at least an infrared sensor, and

said infrared sensor is of a bolometer type.

19. A vehicle according to claim 15, wherein said temperature detecting section includes at least an infrared sensor, and

said infrared sensor is of a pyroelectric type.

20. A vehicle according to claim 15, wherein said temperature detecting section includes at least an infrared sensor, and

said infrared sensor is of a thermopile type.

22. A vehicle having a rear vehicle detecting apparatus of claim 15 wherein said at least one environmental factor comprises ambient temperature.