Driver road hazard warning and illumination system

• US 6,281,806 B1
• Filed: 10/12/2000
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Rodin, Yelena Mordechai, Ebenstein, Samuel Edward, Smith, Gregory Hugh
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/689,411
• Time in Patent Office: 320 Days
• Field of Search: 340/901, 340/435, 340/438, 340/436, 340/540, 340/541, 340/545.2, 340/545.3, 340/903, 340/468, 340/425.5, 340/471, 180/271, 180/274, 307/9.1, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 340/901
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/191 Highlight information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/191 Highlight information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/085 due to special conditions, e.g. adverse weather, type of road, badly illuminated road signs or potential dangers B60Q1/10, B60Q1/12, B60Q1/1423 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/18 being additional front lights bracket mounted headlights B60Q1/0483
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/054 Variable non-standard intensity, i.e. emission of various beam intensities different from standard intensities, e.g. continuous or stepped transitions of intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/32 Road surface or travel path
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/335 Number or size of road lanes
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/45 Special conditions, e.g. pedestrians, road signs or potential dangers
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

A vision enhancement system 10 which aids the driver in visually identifying a sensed object 16 without diverting his/her attention from the road ahead. One or more sensors 20 used to collect information about the vehicle'"'"'s environment are operatively coupled with a controlled source of illumination 38. A processor 24 receives input from the sensors and intelligently determines whether a particular object sensed in or near the current path of the vehicle requires alerting the driver. If so, the processor outputs a control signal 30 to effect illumination of the sensed object. The source of illumination is controlled so as to continuously direct light onto the identified object, even as the vehicle and/or object move simultaneously with respect to one another.

Claims

1. An object detection and illumination system for a vehicle adapted to identify and illuminate an object so as to direct the attention of the driver of the vehicle to that object, said system comprising:

at least one sensor for collecting information about the surroundings of said vehicle;

an image processing system for receiving signals from said sensor and producing an output signal;

a light source drive system for receiving said output signal from said image processing system and for producing a light source control signal; and

a light source being activated and positionally directed in accordance with said control signal.

2. The object illumination system of claim 1 wherein said sensor is of a type selected from the group of visible light, near infrared, far infrared and radar.

3. The object illumination system of claim 2 wherein said system comprises a plurality of said sensors.

4. The object illumination system of claim 3 wherein at least one said sensor senses brightness, said illumination system adapted to be turned off and on based on an output signal produced by said brightness sensor.

5. The object illumination system of claim 1 wherein said light source is a fiber optic light source.

6. The object illumination system of claim 1 wherein said processing system receives input signals from another electronic device on-board the vehicle, said device including one from the group of navigation system, braking system and cruise control system.

7. The object illumination system of claim 1 wherein said system further comprises a source of near infrared illumination.

8. An object detection and illumination system for a vehicle adapted to identify and illuminate an object so as to direct the attention of the driver of the vehicle to that object, said system comprising:

a plurality of sensors for collecting information about the surroundings of said vehicle;

an image processing system operably connected to said sensors, said image processing system adapted to receive data from said sensor, run image processing algorithms utilizing said data to identify said object, said image processing system further adapted to produce an output signal indicative of the location of said object;

a light source drive system for receiving said output signal from said image processing system and for producing a light source control signal; and

a light source being activated and positionally directed in accordance with said control signal so as to direct illumination upon said object, as at least one of said vehicle and said object move with respect to the other.

9. The object illumination system of claim 8 further comprising a near infrared emitter.

10. A method for providing a system for identifying and controllably illuminating an object on or near the path in which a vehicle is traveling, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a sensor system on-board the vehicle;

coupling said sensor to an image processing system, said image processing system receiving data from said sensor and processing said data to identify said object;

providing a source of illumination; and

controlling said source of illumination so as to direct light produced by said source onto said object.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of providing a source of near infrared illumination.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of coupling said system for identifying and controllably illuminating to at least one other on-board vehicle system including one of a navigation system, braking system and cruise control system.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of providing a brightness sensor and enabling said system for identifying and controllably illuminating based upon an input from said brightness sensor.