Vehicle collision avoidance system and method
First Claim
1. A vehicle collision avoidance system comprising:
- a circumferentially rotating pulsed infrared laser beam scanner apparatus including a laser pulsed emitter and an infrared laser sensor for generating a first signal representative of an obstacle scanned, the laser pulsed emitter rotating circumferentially in a horizontal plane and a vertical plane simultaneously, the infrared laser sensor circumferentially rotating synchronously with the laser pulsed emitter in the horizontal plane and receiving a reflected laser beam signal from the obstacle scanned;
wherein the laser pulsed emitter is emitting a laser beam signal over a 360°
field of view and the infrared laser sensor is receiving the reflected laser beam signal over the 360°
field of view;
a processing circuit coupled to the circumferentially rotating pulsed infrared laser beam scanner apparatus for processing the first signal and generating a plurality of signals;
a processor coupled to the processing circuit for processing the plurality of signals and generating a braking signal; and
a braking apparatus responsive to the braking signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle collision avoidance system includes a 360 degree circumferentially rotating pulsed infrared laser beam scanner apparatus which rotates in a horizontal plane and a vertical plane simultaneously for generating a first signal representative of an obstacle. An analog processing circuit is coupled to the circumferentially rotating pulsed infrared laser beam scanner apparatus for processing the first signal and generating a plurality of signals. A processor is coupled to the processing circuit for processing the plurality of signals and generating a braking signal and providing a braking apparatus with the braking signal. Associated methods are also provided. The system and method of the invention are based on a second order model which characterizes the relationship in both space and time between the vehicle and the obstacle. The circumferentially rotating pulsed infrared laser beam scanner apparatus includes an eye-safe laser apparatus in terms of peak power, pulse width, repetition rate and divergent angle.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A vehicle collision avoidance system comprising:
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a circumferentially rotating pulsed infrared laser beam scanner apparatus including a laser pulsed emitter and an infrared laser sensor for generating a first signal representative of an obstacle scanned, the laser pulsed emitter rotating circumferentially in a horizontal plane and a vertical plane simultaneously, the infrared laser sensor circumferentially rotating synchronously with the laser pulsed emitter in the horizontal plane and receiving a reflected laser beam signal from the obstacle scanned; wherein the laser pulsed emitter is emitting a laser beam signal over a 360°
field of view and the infrared laser sensor is receiving the reflected laser beam signal over the 360°
field of view;a processing circuit coupled to the circumferentially rotating pulsed infrared laser beam scanner apparatus for processing the first signal and generating a plurality of signals; a processor coupled to the processing circuit for processing the plurality of signals and generating a braking signal; and a braking apparatus responsive to the braking signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of avoiding a vehicle collision comprising:
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determining features of an obstacle using a circumferentially rotating pulsed infrared laser beam scanner apparatus including a laser pulsed emitter and an infrared laser sensor for generating a first signal representative of the obstacle scanned, the laser pulsed emitter rotating circumferentially in a horizontal plane and a vertical plane simultaneously, the infrared laser sensor circumferentially rotating synchronously with the laser pulsed emitter in the horizontal plane and receiving a reflected laser beam signal from the obstacle scanned; wherein the laser pulsed emitter is emitting a laser beam signal over a 360°
field of view and the infrared laser sensor is receiving the reflected laser beam signal over the 360°
field of view;processing signals representative of the determined features, and braking the vehicle in the event the processed signals indicate an imminent collision. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A method of avoiding a vehicle collision comprising:
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circumferentially detecting bodies proximate the vehicle using a circumferentially rotating pulsed infrared laser beam scanner apparatus including a laser pulsed emitter and an infrared laser sensor for generating a first signal representative of a body scanned, the laser pulsed emitter rotating circumferentially in a horizontal plane and a vertical plane simultaneously, the infrared laser sensor circumferentially rotating synchronously with the laser pulsed emitter in the horizontal plane and receiving a reflected laser beam signal from the body scanned; wherein the laser pulsed emitter is emitting a laser beam signal over a 360°
field of view and the infrared laser sensor is receiving the reflected laser beam signal over the 360°
field of view;obtaining data from the circumferentially rotating pulsed infrared laser beam scanner apparatus including a time when the beam reaches a first edge of each body and a time when the beam reaches a second edge of each body; determining a relative distance from the scanner apparatus to each body; determining a time to collision with each body; and determining a braking force to avoid a collision with each body. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification