Object detection apparatus

• US 6,700,123 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2002
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Muth Global Visions, LLC
• Original Assignee: KW Muth Company
• Inventors: Musiel, Michael J., Morgovsky, Marc, Naroditsky, Dmitry, Voigt, James R., Gaber, Leonld, Volkov, Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): Gutierrez, Diego
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cohen, Amy R.
• Application Number:
  US10/060,887
• Publication Number:
  US 20030141452A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 250/330, 250/214.VT, 250/333, 250/340, 250/341.1, 313/523, 313/524, 313/530, 313/540, 313/541, 313/542
• US Class Current: 250/330
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/12 with means for image conversion or intensification

Abstract

An object detection apparatus including a light intensifier tube for use on an overland vehicle is described and which includes an electromagnetic radiation emitter which emits electromagnetic radiation which is reflected from an object of interest; and an electromagnetic radiation receiver which discriminately receives the reflected electromagnetic radiation at predetermined time intervals and which provides an output signal from which information regarding the object of interest may be derived.

Claims

1. An object detection apparatus for an overland vehicle, comprising:

an electromagnetic radiation emitter borne by the overland vehicle and which emits electromagnetic radiation which is directed towards and reflected from an object which is located within an area of interest which has depth dimension of less than about 400 meters and which is located at a distance from the overland vehicle which is in a range from about 0 to about 600 meters, and wherein the reflected electromagnetic radiation is reflected back generally in the direction of the overland vehicle;

an electromagnetic radiation receiver borne by the overland vehicle and which selectively collects both the reflected electromagnetic radiation which originated from the electromagnetic radiation emitter, and other electromagnetic radiation which originates from another source, and wherein both sources of electromagnetic radiation are generally directed towards the overland vehicle, and wherein the electromagnetic radiation receiver provides an output signal from which information regarding the object in the area of interest may be derived;

an operator display coupled in output signal receiving relation relative to the electromagnetic radiation receiver and which provides a visibly discernible image of the object within the area interest which is located at the distance from the overland vehicle;

a controller operably coupled with both the electromagnetic radiation emitter and receiver, and which controls the processing of the electromagnetic radiation by the electromagnetic radiation receiver and which is reflected from the object which is located within the area of interest, or which originates from another source of electromagnetic radiation within the area of interest, and which further minimizes the processing of electromagnetic radiation coming from locations other than the area of interest; and

wherein the control circuit is influenced by an operating condition of the overland vehicle; and

wherein the operating condition is the operating speed of the overland vehicle, and wherein an increase in the overland speed of the overland vehicle causes the area of interest to be moved to greater distances away from the overland vehicle, and a decrease in speed causes the area of interest to be moved to closer distances relative to the overland vehicle.

2. An object detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and wherein an increase in the operating speed of the overland vehicle causes the area of interest to increase in size, and a decrease in the speed of the overland vehicle causes the area of interest to decrease in size.

3. An object detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and wherein an increase in the overland speed of the overland vehicle causes the area of interest to simultaneously increase in size, and move to greater distances away from the overland vehicle, and a decrease in speed of the overland vehicle causes a substantially simultaneous movement of the area of interest to a location closer to the overland vehicle, and a decrease in the size of the area of interest.

4. An object detection apparatus for an overland vehicle, comprising:

an electromagnetic radiation emitter borne by the overland vehicle and which emits eye safe electromagnetic radiation having Predetermined wavelengths in a given direction toward an area of interest which is spaced a predetermined distance from the overland vehicle and along a possible path of movement of the overland vehicle, and wherein the electromagnetic radiation emitted strikes an object located within the area of interest and is reflected back in the direction of the overland vehicle;

a light intensifier tube borne by the overland vehicle and which is operable to selectively receive and amplify the reflected electromagnetic radiation emitted by the electromagnetic radiation emitter, and other electromagnetic radiation originating from other sources within the area of interest, and wherein the light intensifier tube has a first end and an opposite second end, and wherein an adjustable shutter electrode is made integral with the light intensifier tube, and further has a first operational condition which permits electromagnetic radiation to be amplified by the light intensifier tube, and a second operational condition which substantially prohibits the amplification of the electromagnetic radiation entering into the light intensifier tube, and wherein electromagnetic radiation entering into the light intensifier tube is amplified to provide a visibly discernible light output which is provided at the second end thereof;

an optical filter disposed in optical filtering relation relative to the first end of the light intensifier tube and which passes the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the electromagnetic radiation emitter and which has the predetermined wavelengths and which are reflected from the object of interest which is located within the area of interest;

a charge couple device coupled in optical receiving relation relative to the second end of the light intensifier tube and which produces an electrical output representative of the visibly discernible light output provided at the second end of the light intensifier tube;

an operator display borne by the overland vehicle and which is coupled in receiving relation relative to the electrical output provided by the charge couple device, and which Produces a visibly discernible image of the object located within the area of interest;

a controller borne by the overland vehicle and which simultaneously, and selectively energizes the electromagnetic radiation emitter to produce discrete pulses of electricmagnetic radiation, and further causes the shutter electrode to selectively assume the first and second operational conditions to facilitate the amplification of the reflected electromagnetic radiation originating from objects of interest located within the area of interest, or from other sources of electromagnetic radiation located within the area of interest, and to simultaneously minimize the amplification of electromagnetic radiation originating from locations outside of the area of interest;

a control circuit electrically coupled with the controller and which causes the controller to adjust the distance that the area of interest is from the overland vehicle;

a sensor borne by the overland vehicle and electrically coupled with the control circuit, and wherein the sensor provides information regarding ambient environmental conditions and operational conditions of the overland vehicle which effects the safe operation of the overland vehicle to the control circuit, and wherein the control circuit adjusts the distance that the area of interest is from the overland vehicle based upon the sensor information, and wherein the ambient environmental conditions include darkness, reduced visibility due to weather conditions, the relative speed of the overland vehicle and/or changing driving conditions which could effect the safe operation of the overland vehicle, and wherein an increase in the speed of the overland vehicle causes the control circuit to move the area of interest to greater distances away from the overland vehicle.

5. An object detection apparatus as claimed in claim 4, and wherein an increase in the speed of the overland vehicle causes the control circuit to increase the size of the area of interest.

6. An object detection apparatus as claimed in claim 4, and wherein an increase in the speed of the overland vehicle causes the control circuit to both increase the size of the area of interest, and to further move the area of interest to greater distances away from the overland vehicle.

7. An object detection apparatus as claimed in claim 4, and wherein the control circuit dynamically adjusts the area of interest based upon the sensor information.

8. An object detection apparatus as claimed in claim 4, and wherein the control circuit is under the influence of an operator of the overland vehicle.

9. An object detection apparatus as claimed in claim 4, and wherein the control circuit cannot be influenced by an operator of the overland vehicle.

10. An object detection apparatus for use on an overland vehicle, comprising:

an electromagnetic radiation emitter borne by the overland vehicle and which emits electromagnetic radiation which is directed towards and reflected from an object of interest located at a distance from the overland vehicle and within an area of interest;

an electromagnetic radiation receiver borne by the overland vehicle and which selectively collects electromagnetic radiation which originates or is reflected from the object within the area of interest;

an operator display electrically coupled with the electromagnetic radiation receiver and which produces a visibly discernable image of the object within the area of interest;

a controller electrically coupled in controlling relation relative to the electromagnetic radiation emitter and receiver; and

a control circuit electrically coupled to the controller and which is operable to adjust the location of the area of interest from the overland vehicle based upon an operating condition of the overland vehicle which effects the safe operation of the overland vehicle, and wherein an increase or a decrease in the speed of the overland vehicle causes the area of interest to be selectively moved to a distance from the overland vehicle which will facilitate the safe operation of the overland vehicle.

11. An object detection apparatus for use on an overland vehicle, comprising:

an electromagnetic emitter for emitting electromagnetic radiation which is reflected from an object within an area of interest which is located within a path of travel of the overland vehicle;

an electromagnetic receiver for selectively receiving the reflected electromagnetic radiation and providing an electrical output;

an operator display electrically coupled with the electromagnetic receiver and which produces a discernable image of the object within the area of interest

a controller electrically coupled to the emitter and receiver; and

a control circuit influenced by the speed of operation of the overland vehicle and which adjusts the location of the area of interest based, in part, upon the speed of operation of the overland vehicle.