Multi-sensor system

• US 6,771,208 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2002
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eagle Harbor Holdings, L.L.C., AutoBrilliance, LLC (Jeffrey M. Gross)
• Original Assignee: Medius Inc
• Inventors: Lutter, Robert Pierce, Olson, Tracey
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALSOMIRI, ISAM A
• Application Number:
  US10/132,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20030201929A1
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 342/25, 342/29, 342/36, 342/41, 342/59, 342/66, 342/70-72, 342/104, 342/106, 342/108, 342/118, 342/147
• US Class Current: 342/52
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/12 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/726 Multiple target tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 Combination of radar systems with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/86 Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9323 Alternative operation using light waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/032 Constructional details for solid-state radar subsystems

Abstract

A multi-sensor system includes multiple sensors that are integrated onto the same substrate forming a unitary multi-sensor platform that provides a known consistent physical relationship between the multiple sensors. A processor can also be integrated onto the substrate so that data from the multiple sensors can be processed locally by the multi-sensor system.

Claims

1. A multi-sensor system, comprising:

multiple sensors used in multi-sensor units for detecting objects or impact conditions around a vehicle; and

substrates providing common mounting bases for the multiple sensor units; and

processors mounted to the substrates and electrically coupled to the multiple sensors in the multi-sensor units wherein the processors transfer the track files to another multi-sensor unit that has an adjacent sensed region when detected objects move into the adjacent sensed region for the other multi-sensor unit.

2. A multi-sensor system according to claim 1 wherein the substrates are made from a material resistant to dimensional changes due to temperature.

3. A multi-sensor system according to claim 1 wherein the substrates are is made from invar or a steel material.

4. A multi-sensor system according to claim 1 wherein the multiple sensors are rigidly mounted to the substrates prior to the substrate being installed in the vehicle.

5. A multi-sensor system according to claim 1 wherein the processors correlate data from the multiple sensors and converts the correlated data for detected objects into track files.

6. A multi-sensor system according to claim 5 including a CAN bus or a wireless connection coupled between the multi-sensor units to transfer the track files to another multi-sensor unit that has an adjacent sensed region when detected objects move into the adjacent sensed region.

7. A multi-sensor system according to claim 1 wherein a first one of the sensors in the multi-sensor units is a video camera and a second one of the sensors in the multi-sensor units is a radar or lidar module.

8. A multi-sensor system according to claim 1 wherein the multiple sensors in the multi-sensor units have coincident scan paths so that correlation of measurements for the multiple sensors do not have to be transformed into common coordinates.

9. A method for sensing events on a vehicle, comprising:

installing a first sensor on a platform;

installing a second sensor on the same platform;

installing the platform on the vehicle;

locating a processor on the platform and using the processor to generate track files from the first sensor and the second sensor;

exchanging the track files with other platforms on the vehicle that contain multiple sensors, each platform generating its own track files for objects detected around the vehicle.

10. A method according to claim 9 including correlating data from the first sensor and second sensor to identify and track objects around the vehicle.

11. A method according to claim 10 including locating a processor on the platform and using the processor to correlate the track files from the first sensor and the second sensor.

12. A method according to claim 11 including using the processor to generate track files that include position, speed, acceleration, range, angle, and heading of the identified objects.

13. A method according to claim 12 including notifying a central controller when the track files identify an object within a selected range of the vehicle.

14. A method according to claim 9 wherein the platform is a substrate and including integrally fabricating the first and second sensor onto the substrate so that the first and second sensors and the substrate coexist in a same integrated circuit.

15. A multi sensor system comprising:

plural multi sensor units, each multi sensor unit including;

multiple sensors for detecting objects or impact conditions around a vehicle;

a processor for processing data generated by the integrated sensors into track files; and

a wireless or wired communication link between the multi sensor units with overlapping or non-overlapping fields of view for sharing information in the track files.

16. A multi sensor system according to claim 15 wherein the communications link is wireless 802.11.

18. A multi sensor system according to claim 15 wherein the processor exchanges the track files with other multi-sensor systems that have adjacent sensed regions when objects or targets move into the adjacent sensed regions.

17. A multi sensor system according to wherein the communications link is a wired connection the automotive CAN bus.