Infrared road line detector
First Claim
1. A detector for detecting light reflected from discontinuous lane dividing lines on a highway surface from a moving motor vehicle, comprising:
- a photodetector mounted to receive light reflected from the discontinuous lane dividing lines when the vehicle is properly within a lane but not otherwise;
circuitry to provide an indication for each lane dividing line sensed;
circuitry to provide an indication of a characteristic of the line sensed;
logic circuitry to determine if a line is sensed within successive fixed periods of time in which it is expected that a line should be sensed and, if a line is sensed, to determine if the characteristic sensed for that line is consistent with prior lines sensed; and
an alarm to, when enabled, provide an alarm indication if the logic circuitry determines that a line consistent with prior lines is not sensed within one of the successive fixed periods of time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A detector for detecting light, such as infrared light, reflected from discontinuous lane dividing lines or other lines on a highway surface from a moving motor vehicle to determine the position of the vehicle on the highway detects light reflected from the surface of the highway and includes circuitry to determine from the reflected light sensed not only the presence of a road line but a characteristic of the road line sensed to determine if the road line detected is consistent with previously detected road lines and therefore appears to be a valid road line. The alarm, when enabled, is activated unless a road line consistent with previously sensed road lines is sensed within successive fixed periods of time in which it is expected that a line should be sensed. By detecting the beginning and end of a signal, various characteristics of the sensed line can be determined, and such things as the type of line likely sensed or the speed of travel of the vehicle can also be determined.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A detector for detecting light reflected from discontinuous lane dividing lines on a highway surface from a moving motor vehicle, comprising:
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a photodetector mounted to receive light reflected from the discontinuous lane dividing lines when the vehicle is properly within a lane but not otherwise;
circuitry to provide an indication for each lane dividing line sensed;
circuitry to provide an indication of a characteristic of the line sensed;
logic circuitry to determine if a line is sensed within successive fixed periods of time in which it is expected that a line should be sensed and, if a line is sensed, to determine if the characteristic sensed for that line is consistent with prior lines sensed; and
an alarm to, when enabled, provide an alarm indication if the logic circuitry determines that a line consistent with prior lines is not sensed within one of the successive fixed periods of time. - 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 detector for detecting light reflected from discontinuous lane dividing lines on a highway surface from a moving motor vehicle, comprising:
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a photodetector mounted to receive light reflected from the discontinuous lane dividing lines when the vehicle is properly within a lane but not otherwise;
detection means to provide an indication for each lane dividing line sensed;
detection means to provide an indication of a characteristic of the line sensed;
means to determine if a line is sensed within successive fixed periods of time in which it is expected that a line should be sensed and, if a line is sensed, to determine if the characteristic sensed for that line is consistent with prior lines sensed; and
an alarm to, when enabled, provide an alarm indication if the logic circuitry determines that a line consistent with prior lines is not sensed within one of the successive fixed periods of time. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A method for detecting whether a vehicle is maintaining position in a highway lane marked by at least one set of discontinuous lane dividing lines on the highway surface, comprising the steps of:
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detecting, using a photodetector, discontinuous lane dividing lines marking the lane in which the vehicle is traveling;
determining, using the photodetector, a characteristic of the line sensed;
determining through logic circuitry if a line is detected in each of a succession of time periods in which it would be expected lines would be detected if the vehicle stayed in the lane and detected such lines and, if a line is detected, determining if the characteristic sensed for that line is consistent with prior lines sensed; and
giving an alarm if consistent lines are not detected in each of the expected successive time periods, such consistent lines not being detected indicating the lines are not being sensed and possible drift of the vehicle out of the lane. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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Specification