Measurement controller for vehicle

• US 6,941,211 B1
• Filed: 08/17/2000
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Morizane, Hiroto, Takenaga, Hiroshi, Izumi, Shiho, Kuroda, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US10/239,151
• Time in Patent Office: 1,846 Days
• Field of Search: 701/70, 701/78, 701/79, 701/93, 701/96, 701/301, 342/46, 340/425.5, 340/435, 340/436
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/345 using triangular modulation
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/584 adapted for simultaneous range and velocity measurements
• 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 2013/93185 Controlling the brakes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9319 Controlling the accelerator
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9321 Velocity regulation, e.g. cruise control
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9323 Alternative operation using light waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9325 for inter-vehicle distance regulation, e.g. navigating in platoons

Abstract

A measuring and controlling apparatus for a vehicle includes an image processing device, which is mounted on a vehicle, photographs a circumferential state of the vehicle and processes the image signal; a radar signal processing device, which radiates radio wave or light to process a receiving signal; and a control device for controlling a brake, a throttle valve or a transmission based on the output results of the image processing device and the radar signal processing device. In such a measuring and controlling apparatus for a vehicle, the respective output information of the image processing device and the radar signal processing device includes time information at the time of photographing and time information at the time of measuring and the order of the photographed time and the measured time are adjusted. Thus, even if the processing time differs between the cases where a subject to be photographed is simple and complicated, since the photographed time and the measured time can be identified, the suitable processing according to the processing time can be executed. Thus, the running state of the vehicle can be controlled with high accuracy.

Claims

1. A measuring and controlling apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

an image pick-up means, which is mountable on the vehicle in order to photograph a circumferential state of the vehicle;

a first processing means for processing a signal from the image pick-up means;

a radar measuring means, which radiates radio or light waves to measure a distance to a subject at a periphery of the vehicle;

a second processing means for processing a signal from the radar measuring means; and

a control means for controlling at least one of a brake, a throttle valve and a transmission based on an output of the first processing means and an output of the second processing means, wherein output information of each of the first processing means and of the second processing means includes time information.

2. A measuring and controlling apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

an image pick-up means, which is mountable on the vehicle in order to photograph a circumferential state of the vehicle;

a first processing means for processing a signal from the image pick-up means;

a radar measuring means, which radiates radio or light waves to measure a distance to a subject at a periphery of the vehicle;

a second processing means for processing a signal from the radar measuring means;

a control means for controlling at least one of a brake, a throttle valve and a transmission based on an output of the first processing means and an output of the second processing means, wherein output information of each of the first processing means and of the second processing means includes time information; and

a means for adjusting a time order of the respective output information from the time information contained in the output information of the first processing means and the time information contained in the output information of the second processing means.

13. A measuring and controlling apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein common time information is added to the output information of the image pick-up means and the output information of the radar measuring means.

3. A measuring and controlling apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

an image pick-up means, which is mountable on the vehicle in order to photograph a circumferential state of the vehicle;

a first processing means for processing a signal from the image pick-up means;

a radar measuring means, which radiates radio or light waves to measure a distance to a subject at a periphery of the vehicle;

a second processing means for processing a signal from the radar measuring means; and

a control means for controlling at least one of a brake, a throttle valve and a transmission based on an output of the first processing means and an output of the second processing means, wherein output information of each of the first processing means and of the second processing means includes time information;

wherein common time information is added to the output information of the image pick-up means and the output information of the radar measuring means.

4. A measuring and controlling apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

an image pick-up means, which is mountable on the vehicle in order to photograph a circumferential state of the vehicle; and

a processing means for processing a signal from the image pick-up means, wherein output information of the processing means includes time information relating to the image pick-up means.

14. A measuring and controlling apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein said time information includes a time point when said image pick-up means picks up an image.

5. A measuring and controlling apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

an image pick-up means, which is mountable on the vehicle in order to photograph a circumferential state of the vehicle; and

a processing means for processing a signal from the image pick-up means, wherein output information of the processing means includes time information relating to the image pick-up means;

wherein the time information is information relating to a time point where the image pick-up means takes an image therein.

6. A measuring and controlling apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

an image pick-up means, which is mountable on the vehicle in order to photograph a circumferential state of the vehicle; and

a processing means for processing a signal from the image pick-up means, wherein output information of the processing means includes information relating to a delay time from a time point where the image pick-up means takes an image therein to a time point where the processing means outputs data.

7. A measuring and controlling apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a radar measuring means, which radiates radio or light waves to measure a distance to a subject at a periphery of the vehicle; and

a processing means for processing a signal from the radar measuring means, wherein output information of the processing means includes time information relating to the radar measuring means.

8. A measuring and controlling apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a radar measuring means, which radiates radio or light waves to measure a distance to a subject at a periphery of the vehicle; and

a processing means for processing a signal from the radar measuring means, wherein output information of the processing means includes time information relating to the radar measuring means

wherein the time information is information relating to a time point where the radar measuring means takes receiving data therein.

9. A measuring and controlling apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a radar measuring means, which radiates radio or light waves to measure a distance to a subject at a periphery of the vehicle; and

a processing means for processing a signal from the radar measuring means, wherein output information of the processing means includes information relating to a delay time from a time point where the radar measuring means takes receiving data therein to a time point where the processing means outputs data.

10. An automobile is characterized by including a measuring and controlling apparatus for a vehicle, which comprises:

an image pick-up means, which is mounted on the vehicle and photographs a circumferential state of the vehicle; and

a processing means for processing a signal from the image pick-up means, wherein output information of the processing means includes time information relating to the image pick-up means.

11. An automobile is characterized by including a measuring and controlling apparatus for a vehicle, which comprises:

an image pick-up means, which is mounted on the vehicle and photographs a circumferential state of the vehicle; and

a processing means for processing a signal from the image pick-up means, wherein output information of the processing means includes information relating to a delay time from a time point where the image pick-up means takes an image therein to a time point where the processing means outputs data.

12. A recording medium for recording therein a control program for a measuring and controlling apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a first processing for processing a signal from an image pick-up means, which is mounted on the vehicle and photographs a circumferential state of the vehicle;

a second processing for processing a signal from a radar measuring means, which radiates radio or light waves to measure a distance to a subject at a periphery of the vehicle;

a time information adding processing for adding respective time information to output information of the first processing and output information of the second processing, respectively;

a time adjusting processing for adjusting time order of the respective output information based on the time information contained in the output information of the first processing and the time information contained in the output information of the second processing; and

a control processing for controlling at least one of a brake, a throttle valve and a transmission based on the output of the first processing and the output of the second processing subjected to the time adjusting processing.

15. A measuring and controlling apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a radar means, which radiates radio or light waves to measure a distance to a subject at a periphery of the vehicle; and

a processing means for processing a signal from the radar measuring means, wherein output information of the processing means includes time information relating to the radar measuring means;

wherein said time information includes a time point when said radar measuring means measures a group of sampling data for the processing means.