Device for detecting a running surface for vehicle and vehicle using same

• US 7,012,509 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2002
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobile SA (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobile SA (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Riat, Jean-Christophe
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Blount, Eric
• Application Number:
  US10/474,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20050039960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,468 Days
• Field of Search: 340435-439, 340/463, 340/465, 340/500, 340/532, 340/517, 701/116, 701/300, 701/301, 701/302, 180/168, 180/169, 702/150
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/346 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for detecting a running surface for vehicle, comprising a plurality of sensors designed to be oriented towards the running surface to determine modifications thereof, means for processing the data concerning information picked up by the sensors, wherein at least part of the sensors are relatively arranged such that at least the transverse distances separating two adjacent points of aim on the ground of the sensors increase towards a longitudinal axis and along a direction substantially perpendicular to this axis. The invention also concerns a vehicle using this device.

Claims

1. Device for the detection of a running surface for a vehicle, comprising a plurality of sensors designed to be oriented towards the running surface to determine modifications thereof, means for processing data concerning information collected by the sensors, wherein at least part of the sensors are relatively arranged such that the transverse distances separating two adjacent points of aim on the ground of sensors increase in the direction of a longitudinal axis and along a direction substantially perpendicular to this axis.

2. Detection device according to claim 1, which comprises at least five sensors.

3. Detection device according to claim 1, wherein the sensors are located on both sides of a median longitudinal axis, and the transverse distances between the points of aim on the ground of the sensors are substantially symmetrical with respect to this axis.

4. Detection device according to claim 1, wherein the transverse distance dn in cm separating two adjacent points of aim on the ground of sensors is given by the formula dn=k.Rⁿ, where n is the serial number of the point of aim on the ground in the direction of the longitudinal axis, R is a first constant multiplicative coefficient comprised between about 1 and about 2, and k is a second constant coefficient comprised between about 5 and about 50.

5. Detection device according to claim 1, wherein the transverse distance dn in cm separating two adjacent points of aim on the ground of sensors is given by the formula $\mathrm{dn}=\mathrm{L2}·$

(E+L1E+2⁢

c)n,

so as to detect in particular a discontinuous marking line on the ground, and where n is the serial number of the point of aim on the ground in the direction of the longitudinal axis, L1 is the length in cm of a dash of the discontinuous line, L2 is the width in cm of a dash of the discontinuous line, E is the distance in cm separating two consecutive dashes, and c is a determined constant defining a detection security margin in cm.

6. Vehicle using a detection device according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of sensors oriented towards the running surface to determine modifications thereof, means for processing data concerning information collected by the sensors, wherein at least part of the sensors are relatively arranged such that the transverse distances separating two adjacent points of aim on the ground of sensors increase from the outside towards the inside of the vehicle along a direction substantially perpendicular to the median longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

7. Vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the sensors are located on both sides of the median longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and the transverse distances between the points of aim on the ground of the sensors are substantially symmetrical with respect to this axis.

8. Vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the transverse distance dn in cm separating two adjacent points of aim on the ground of sensors is given by the formula dn=k.Rⁿ, where n is the serial number of the point of aim on the ground in the direction of the longitudinal axis, R is a first constant multiplicative coefficient comprised between about 1 and about 2, and k is a second constant coefficient comprised between about 5 and about 50.

9. Vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the transverse distance dn in cm separating two adjacent points of aim on the ground of sensors is given by the formula $\mathrm{dn}=\mathrm{L2}·$

(E+L1E+2⁢

c)n,

so as to detect in particular the position of the vehicle with respect to a discontinuous marking line on the ground, and where n is the serial number of the point of aim on the ground of a sensor from the outside towards the inside of the vehicle, L1 is the length in cm of a dash of the discontinuous line, L2 is the width in cm of a dash of the discontinuous line, E is the distance in cm separating two consecutive dashes, and c is a determined constant defining a detection security margin in cm.

10. Vehicle according to claim 6, which comprises eleven sensors.

11. Vehicle according to claim 6, wherein at least part of the sensors are oriented laterally towards the outside of the vehicle.

12. Vehicle according to claim 6, wherein at least part of the sensors are inclined with respect to the vertical at an angle substantially equal to or above the half-angle of their cone of vision.

13. Vehicle according to claim 6, wherein at least part of the sensors are inclined with respect to the vertical at an angle comprised between about 5 and about 45 degrees.

14. Vehicle according to claim 6, wherein at least part of the sensors are disposed in the front bumper of the vehicle.

15. Detection device according to claim 4, wherein R is comprised between about 1 and about 1.2.

16. Vehicle according to claim 8, wherein R is comprised between about 1 and about 1.2.