Active night vision thermal control system using wavelength-temperature characteristic of light source

• US 7,368,714 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2007
• Issued: 05/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Remillard, Jeffrey T., Nietering, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta; Dave
• Assistant Examiner(s): Taningco; Marcus H
• Application Number:
  US11/865,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20080017798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 219 Days
• Field of Search: 250/330
• US Class Current: 250/330
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/106 using night vision cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/205 using a head-up display
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/00 Protecting lighting devices from thermal damage; Cooling or heating arrangements specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting fixtures combined with outlets for air-treatment systems F24F13/078
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/12 with means for image conversion or intensification
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/06804 by monitoring an external parameter, e.g. temperature

Abstract

A thermal control system (11) for a light source (46) of a vision system (10) includes a heater (63) that is thermally coupled to the light source (46). A thermal sensor (60) is thermally coupled to the tight source (46) and generates a temperature signal. A controller (50) is coupled to the heater (63) and to the thermal sensor (60). The controller (50) operates the heater (63) when the temperature signal is below a maximum temperature limit. The minimum and maximum temperature limits are obtained from the light-source wavelength-temperature characteristic.

Claims

1. A vision system of a vehicle comprising:

an illuminator assembly having a light source and generating an illumination beam, said light source having a wavelength-temperature characteristic;

a thermal control system thermally coupled to said illuminator assembly;

a receiver assembly generating an image signal in response to at least a reflected portion of said illumination beam; and

at least one controller controlling generation of said illumination beam and said image signal and thermally controlling operating range of said light source in response to the wavelength temperature characteristic of the light source.

2. A vision system as in claim 1 wherein said thermal control system comprises:

a heater thermally coupled to the light source; and

a thermal sensor thermally coupled to the light source and generating a temperature signal;

a controller coupled to said heater and to said thermal sensor, said controller operating said heater when said temperature signal is below a maximum temperature limit, said maximum temperature limit corresponds to the wavelength-temperature characteristic of the light source.

3. A system as in claim 2 wherein said thermal control system comprises:

a cooling assembly having a cooling device and being thermally coupled to the light source;

a thermal sensor thermally coupled to the light source and generating a temperature signal; and

a controller coupled to said cooling assembly and to said thermal sensor and operating said cooling device when said temperature signal is above a minimum temperature limit, said minimum temperature limit corresponding to the wavelength-temperature characteristic of the light source.

4. A system as in claim 3 wherein said cooling assembly comprises:

a heat sink thermally coupled to said light source;

an air sleeve thermally coupled to said heat sink; and

a cooling fan thermally coupled to said air sleeve;

said controller operating said cooling fan when said temperature signal is above said minimum temperature limit.

5. A vision system as in claim 1 wherein said receiver assembly filters said reflected portion to correspond with an operating range of said light source.