Device and method for object illumination and imaging using light pulses
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A reduced glare imaging system for motor vehicles traveling on roadways, comprising:
- at least one pulsed light source;
a synchronization system including structure for obtaining a time reference coupled to said light source;
a trigger for initiating emission of periodic light pulses from said light source during one of a plurality of different fixed time slot intervals relative to said time reference, wherein a first vehicle or first group of vehicles on said roadway is allocated a first of said plurality of fixed time slots and at least a second vehicle or second group of vehicles on said roadway is allocated a second of said plurality of fixed time slots; and
an imaging device for receiving scattered light from objects illuminated by said periodic light pulses, wherein said imaging device is gated to receive said scattered light only during defined gating periods.
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Abstract
A reduced glare imaging system for motor vehicles which includes at least one light source capable of modulation. The system also includes a synchronization system which has structure for obtaining a time reference, and a trigger for modulating emissions from the light source. The trigger initiates emission of periodic light pulses from the light source at fixed times relative to the time reference. The fixed times can be randomly selected. The light pulses can have a wavelength in the range of 0.19 μm to 5 μm.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A reduced glare imaging system for motor vehicles traveling on roadways, comprising:
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at least one pulsed light source; a synchronization system including structure for obtaining a time reference coupled to said light source; a trigger for initiating emission of periodic light pulses from said light source during one of a plurality of different fixed time slot intervals relative to said time reference, wherein a first vehicle or first group of vehicles on said roadway is allocated a first of said plurality of fixed time slots and at least a second vehicle or second group of vehicles on said roadway is allocated a second of said plurality of fixed time slots; and an imaging device for receiving scattered light from objects illuminated by said periodic light pulses, wherein said imaging device is gated to receive said scattered light only during defined gating periods. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A motor vehicle, comprising:
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an illumination system mounted to said vehicle, said illumination system including; at least one light source capable of modulation; a synchronizing system including structure for obtaining a time reference coupled to said light source; a trigger for initiating emission of periodic light pulses from said light source during one of a plurality of different fixed time slot intervals relative to said time reference, wherein on a roadway said vehicle is allocated a first of said plurality of fixed time slots, wherein another vehicle on said roadway is allocated a second of said plurality of fixed time slots; and an imaging device for receiving scattered light from objects illuminated by said periodic light pulses, wherein said imaging device is gated to receive said scattered light only during defined gating periods.
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23. A method of providing reduced glare imaging for motor vehicles sharing roadways, comprising the steps:
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receiving a time reference; triggering a light source to initiate emission of periodic light pulses from said light source during one of a plurality of different fixed time slot intervals relative to said time reference, wherein on a roadway a first vehicle or first group of vehicles is allocated a first of said plurality of fixed time slots and at least a second vehicle or second group of vehicles on said roadway is allocated a second of said plurality of fixed time slots; exclusively during gating periods correlating to said light pulses, receiving light scattered from objects illuminated by said periodic light pulses; and displaying images based on said scattered light. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification