Device for detecting the crossing of a road marking for motor vehicle

• US 7,199,368 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2003
• Issued: 04/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: EM Microelectronic - Marin SA (The Swatch Group AG)
• Original Assignee: EM Microelectronic - Marin SA (The Swatch Group AG)
• Inventors: Willemin, Michel, Hirt, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): GAGLIARDI, ALBERT J
• Application Number:
  US10/522,317
• Publication Number:
  US 20050231389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,365 Days
• Field of Search: 250/341.8, 250/341.7, 340/435, 340/901
• US Class Current: 250/341.8
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/002 specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle, e.g. for viewing tyres, bumpers or the like integrated in the windows B60R1/001; combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/105 Optical arrangements giving a view under the vehicle, e.g. using periscopes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/87 Combinations of systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4813 Housing arrangements

Abstract

The present invention concerns a device for detecting crossing of a horizontal land demarcation marker of a carriageway for motor vehicles, characterized in that it includes at least one box (2) to be placed under the vehicle and enclosing means for projecting two light beams (4, 6) onto the carriageway (8) in two distinct zones (10, 12) that do not overlap, and distinct means for picking up each of the two light beams (14, 16) after reflection onto the carriageway (8).

Claims

1. A device for detecting crossing of a horizontal lane demarcation mark of a carriageway for motor vehicles, wherein the device includes:

(a) at least one box to be placed under a vehicle and enclosing master and slave means for projecting two light beams onto a carriageway in two distinct zones; and

(b) distinct means for picking up each of the two light beams after reflection onto the carriageway.

2. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one box, exhibiting a general axis of symmetry encloses

i. a single light source emitting a primary light beam in the direction of the carriageway;

ii. at least one photo-sensor for detecting the light after reflection on the carriageway;

iii. two first optical devices whose optical axes are inclined at a first value with respect to the general axis of symmetry of the box, each of the two first optical devices disposed on a path of the primary light beam as the primary light beam exits the optical source so as to split said primary light beam into two secondary light beams projected onto the carriageway in two distinct zones; and

iv. two second optical devices whose optical axes are inclined at a second value with respect to the general axis of symmetry of the box are disposed on the path of the secondary light beams after the secondary light beams have been reflected onto the carriageway and before the secondary light beams reach the at least one photo-sensor.

3. The detection device according to claim 2, wherein the first two optical devices and the second two optical devices each include at least one lens.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the lenses are revolution lenses or do not exhibit axial symmetry.

5. The detection device according to claim 4, wherein the lenses are of the mineral type.

6. The detection device according to claim 4, wherein the lenses are of the organic type.

7. The detection device according to claim 3, wherein the lenses are of the mineral type.

8. The detection device according to claim 3, wherein the lenses are of the organic type.

9. The detection device according to claim 8, wherein the optical unit includes a base on which two optical transmission tubes stand and two optical reception tubes.

10. The detection device according to claim 9, wherein the body of the box has cavities for receiving the transmission tubes and reception tubes of the optical unit.

11. The detection device according to claim 3, wherein the box includes a body and an optical unit which carries the lenses.

12. The detection device according to claim 11, wherein the lenses are individually mounted on the optical unit.

13. The detection device according to claim 11, wherein the lenses are integral with the optical unit.

14. The detection device according to claim 2, wherein the light sources include light emitting diodes emitting in the infrared range.

15. The detection device according to claim 2, wherein the light sources and the photo-sensors are mounted by SMD or flip-chip on a printed circuit board.

16. The device according to claim 2, wherein the first two optical devices and the second two optical devices include a screen disposed obliquely in front of the light sources and pierced with a hole.

17. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one box, exhibiting a general axis of symmetry encloses

i. two light sources each emitting a light beam in the direction of the carriageway;

ii. at least one photo-sensor for detecting the light after reflection on the carriageway;

iii. two first optical devices whose optical axes are inclined at a first value with respect to the general axis of symmetry of the box, each one of the first two optical devices disposed on a path of one of the light beams as the one light beam exits the corresponding optical source so as to project said two light beams onto the carriageway in two distinct zones; and

iv. two second optical devices whose optical axes are inclined at a second value with respect to the general axis of symmetry of the box are disposed on the path of the light beams after the light beams have been reflected onto the carriageway and before the light beams reach the at least one photo-sensor.

18. The detection device according to claim 17, wherein the first two optical devices and the second two optical devices each include at least one lens.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the lenses are revolution lenses or do not exhibit axial symmetry.

20. The detection device according to claim 19, wherein the lenses are of the mineral type.

21. The detection device according to claim 19, wherein the lenses are of the organic type.

22. The detection device according to claim 18, wherein the lenses are of the mineral type.

23. The detection device according to claim 18, wherein the lenses are of the organic type.

24. The detection device according to claim 18, wherein the box includes a body and an optical unit which carries the lenses.

25. The detection device according to claim 24, wherein the lenses are individually mounted on the optical unit.

26. The detection device according to claim 24, wherein the lenses are integral with the optical unit.

27. The detection device according to claim 17, wherein the light sources include light emitting diodes emitting in the infrared range.

28. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the light beams are focussed at the surface of the carriageway.

29. A device for detecting crossing of a horizontal lane demarcation mark of a carriageway for motor vehicles, wherein the device includes:

(a) at least one box to be placed under a vehicle and enclosing master and slave means for projecting two light beams onto a carriageway in two distinct zones; and

(b) distinct means for picking up each of the two light beams after reflection onto the carriageway, wherein the at least one box, exhibiting a general axis of symmetry, encloses

i. two light sources each emitting a light beam in the direction of the carriageway;

ii. at least one photo-sensor for detecting light after reflection on the carriageway;

iii. two first optical devices whose optical axes are inclined at a first value with respect to the general axis of symmetry of the box, each of the two first optical devices disposed on a path of one of the light beams as the one light beam exits the corresponding optical source so as to project the two light beams onto the carriageway in two distinct zones; and

iv. two second optical devices whose optical axes are inclined at a second value with respect to the general axis of symmetry of the box are disposed on the path of the light beams after the light beams have been reflected onto the carriageway and before the light beams reach the at least one photo-sensor, wherein the light sources and the photo-sensors are mounted by SMD or flip-chip on a printed circuit board.

30. A device for detecting crossing of a horizontal lane demarcation mark of a carriageway for motor vehicles, wherein the device includes:

(a) at least one box to be placed under a vehicle and enclosing master and slave means for projecting two light beams onto a carriageway in two distinct zones; and

(b) distinct means for picking up each of the two light beams after reflection onto the carriageway, wherein the at least one box, exhibiting a general axis of symmetry, encloses

i. two light sources each emitting a light beam in the direction of the carriageway;

ii. at least one photo-sensor for detecting light after reflection on the carriageway;

iii. two first optical devices whose optical axes are inclined at a first value with respect to the general axis of symmetry of the box, each of the two first optical devices disposed on a path of one of the light beams as the one light beam exits the corresponding optical source so as to project the two light beams onto the carriageway in two distinct zones; and

iv. two second optical devices whose optical axes are inclined at a second value with respect to the general axis of symmetry of the box are disposed on the path of the light beams after the light beams have been reflected onto the carriageway and before the light beams reach the at least one photo-sensor, wherein the first two optical devices and the second two optical devices include a screen disposed obliquely in front of the light sources and pierced with a hole.