Apparatus and method for thermal side detection in a vehicle

• US 7,439,507 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2006
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Taylor, Ronald M., Rege, Siddharth S., Ansari, Adil, Deasy, Kevin M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta; David P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim; Kiho
• Application Number:
  US11/609,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20070152152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 2503381-3385
• US Class Current: 250/338.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/40 Photo, light or radio wave sensitive means, e.g. infrared sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/095 Predicting travel path or likelihood of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/04 Traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0022 for sensing the radiation of moving bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads

Abstract

A detecting device for a vehicle and method thereof is provided. The device includes a first infrared detector, a second infared detector, and a controller. The first infrared detector is configured to repeatedly measure a temperature of a first target area by receiving infrared radiation of the first target area over a sampling period. The second infrared detector is configured to repeatedly measure a temperature of a second target area by receiving infrared radiation of the second target area over the sampling period. The controller is configured to receive and store the plurality of first and second signals, wherein the controller repeatedly compares a plurality of correlation values to a predetermined tolerance range above a minimum threshold value, wherein the correlation values are determined by repeatedly comparing a plurality of time delayed signals of the second plurality of signals to a real time signal of the plurality of first signals.

Claims

1. A detecting device for a vehicle, the detecting device comprising:

a first infrared detector configured to repeatedly measure a temperature of a first target area by receiving infrared radiation of the first target area, the first infrared detector being configured to provide a plurality of first signals each corresponding to a measured temperature of the first target area over a sampling period;

a second infrared detector configured to repeatedly measure a temperature of a second target area by receiving infrared radiation of the second target area, the second infrared detector being configured to provide a plurality of second signals each corresponding to a measured temperature of the second target area over the sampling period, the second target area being different from the first target area; and

a controller configured to receive and store the plurality of first signals and the plurality of second signals in a storage medium, wherein the controller repeatedly compares a plurality of correlation values to a predetermined tolerance range above a minimum threshold value to determine if an object is moving in either the first target area or the second target area and towards the detecting device, wherein the plurality of correlation values are determined by repeatedly comparing a plurality of time delayed signals of the second plurality of signals to a real time signal of the plurality of first signals;

wherein the controller is configured to ignore a constant difference between a first set of correlation values and a second set of correlation values if the vehicle speed is below a predetermined value by applying an offset value to the first set of correlation values.

2. The detecting device as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of time delayed signals comprises a first discrete signal, a second discrete signal and a third discrete signal, wherein the first discrete signal is selected by determining a distance “

d1”

between a central portion of the second target area and a central portion of the first target area and by dividing “

d1”

by a current velocity of the vehicle to determine a time delay for selecting the first discrete signal of the second plurality of signals, wherein the second discrete signal is selected by determining a distance “

d2”

, which is less than d1 and by dividing “

d2”

by a current velocity of the vehicle to determine a time delay for selecting the second discrete signal of the second plurality of signals and wherein the third discrete signal is selected by determining a distance “

d3”

, which is greater than d1 and by dividing “

d3”

by a current velocity of the vehicle to determine a time delay for selecting the third discrete signal of the second plurality of signals.

3. The detecting device as in claim 1, wherein the controller repeatedly compares three discrete signals of the second plurality of signals to a current one of the first plurality of signals to provide three discrete differences and wherein the controller repeatedly correlates a plurality of the three discrete differences to provide the plurality of correlation values.

4. The detecting device as in claim 3, wherein a first discrete signal is selected by determining a distance “

d1”

between a central portion of the second target area and a central portion of the first target area and by dividing “

d1”

by a current velocity of the vehicle to determine a time delay for selecting the first discrete signal of the second plurality of signals, wherein a second discrete signal is selected by determining a distance “

d2”

which is less than d1 and by dividing “

d2”

by a current velocity of the vehicle to determine a time delay for selecting the second discrete signal of the second plurality of signals and wherein a third discrete signal is selected by determining a distance “

d3”

, which is greater than d1 and by dividing “

d3”

by a current velocity of the vehicle to determine a time delay for selecting the third discrete signal of the second plurality of signals.

5. The detecting device as in claim 1, wherein the first infrared detector and the second infrared detector are co-located in a single housing mounted to the vehicle and wherein the warning signal is provided if an object is moving towards the detecting device and a side portion of the vehicle.

6. The detecting device as in claim 5, wherein the first target area is proximate to a rear portion of the vehicle and the second target area is closer to a forward portion of the vehicle than the first target area and the correlation values are a mean square difference of a plurality of differences between the plurality of time delayed signals and the real time signal.

7. The detecting device as in claim 5, wherein the second target area is proximate to a rear portion of the vehicle and the first target area is closer to a forward portion of the vehicle than the rear target area.

8. The detecting device as in claim 1, wherein the first infrared detector and the second infrared detector are co-located in a single housing mounted to the vehicle and the first infrared detector and the second infrared detector are passive detectors positioned to receive radiation from reflective optics.

9. The detecting device as in claim 1, wherein the offset value is determined by summing and averaging the first set of correlation values to provide a first average signal and summing and averaging the second set of correlation values to provide a second average signal and determining the difference between the first average signal and the second average signal, wherein the difference is the offset value.

10. The detecting device as in claim 9, wherein the first infrared detector and the second infrared detector are co-located in a single housing mounted to the vehicle and wherein the first target area is proximate to a rear portion of the vehicle and the second target area is closer to a forward portion of the vehicle than the first target area and wherein the first infrared detector and the second infrared detector are passive detectors positioned to receive radiation from reflective optics.

11. A detecting device for a vehicle, the detecting device comprising:

a first infrared detector configured to repeatedly measure a temperature of a first target area by receiving infrared radiation of the first target area, the first infrared detector being configured to provide a plurality of first signals each corresponding to a measured temperature of the first target area over a sampling period;

a second infrared detector configured to repeatedly measure a temperature of a second target area by receiving infrared radiation of the second target area, the second infrared detector being configured to provide a plurality of second signals each corresponding to a measured temperature of the second target area over the sampling period, the second target area being different from the first target area;

a storage medium comprising a low speed buffer and a standard speed buffer, wherein a predetermined number of the plurality of first signals are first stored in the low speed buffer before a single one of the plurality of first signals is stored in the standard speed buffer and a predetermined number of the plurality of second signals are stored in the low speed buffer before a single one of the plurality of second signals is stored in the standard speed buffer; and

a controller configured to receive and store the plurality of first signals and the plurality of second signals in the storage medium, wherein the controller repeatedly compares a plurality of correlation values to a predetermined tolerance range above a minimum threshold value to determine if an object is moving in either the first target area or the second target area and towards the detecting device, wherein the plurality of correlation values are determined by repeatedly comparing a plurality of time delayed signals of the second plurality of signals to a real time signal of the plurality of first signals, and the controller is configured to ignore a constant difference between a first set of correlation values and a second set of correlation values of either the low speed buffer or the standard speed buffer if the vehicle speed is below a predetermined value by applying an offset value to the first set of correlation values.

12. The detecting device as in claim 11, wherein the offset value is determined by summing and averaging the first set of correlation values to provide a first average signal and summing and averaging the second set of correlation values to provide a second average signal and determining the difference between the first average signal and the second average signal, wherein the difference is the offset value.

13. The detecting device as in claim 11, wherein the offset value is a low speed offset value determined by summing and averaging the first set of correlation values in the low speed buffer to provide a first average signal and summing and averaging the second set of correlation values in the low speed buffer to provide a second average signal and determining the difference between the first average signal and the second average signal, wherein the difference is the low speed offset value.

14. The detecting device as in claim 11, wherein the first infrared detector and the second infrared detector are co-located in a single housing mounted to the vehicle and wherein the first target area is proximate to a rear portion of the vehicle and the second target area is closer to a forward portion of the vehicle than the first target area and wherein the first infrared detector and the second infrared detector are passive detectors positioned to receive radiation from reflective optics.

15. The detecting device as in claim 11, wherein the offset value is a standard speed offset value determined by summing and averaging the first set of correlation values in the standard speed buffer to provide a first average signal and summing and averaging the second set of correlation values in the standard speed buffer to provide a second average signal and determining the difference between the first average signal and the second avenge signal, wherein the difference is the standard speed offset value.

16. A method for detecting whether an object is approaching a vehicle, the method comprising:

sampling a first target area with a first infrared detector configured to repeatedly measure a temperature of the first target area by receiving infrared radiation of the first target area, the first infrared detector being configured to provide a plurality of first signals each corresponding to a measured temperature of the first target area over a sampling period;

sampling a second target area with a second infrared detector configured to repeatedly measure a temperature of the second target area by receiving infrared radiation of the second target area, the second infrared detector being configured to provide a plurality of second signals each corresponding to a measured temperature of the second target area over the sampling period, the second target area being different from the first target area;

storing the plurality of first signals and the plurality of second signals in a storage medium;

determining a plurality of correlation values by repeatedly comparing a plurality of time delayed signals of the second plurality of signals to a real time signal of the plurality of first signals;

comparing the plurality of correlation values to a predetermined tolerance range above a minimum threshold value to determine if an object is moving in either the first target area or the second target area and towards the detecting device; and

providing a warning signal if a predetermined amount of the correlation values are outside the tolerance level range.

17. The method as in claim 16, wherein the first infrared detector and the second infrared detector are co-located in a single housing mounted to the vehicle.

18. The method as in claim 16, wherein the first target area is proximate to a rear portion of the vehicle and the second target area is closer to a forward portion of the vehicle than the first target area.

19. The method as in claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to ignore a constant difference between a first set of correlation values and a second set of correlation values if the vehicle speed is below a predetermined value by applying an offset value to the first set of correlation values.

20. The method as in claim 19, wherein the offset value is determined by summing and averaging the first set of correlation values to provide a first average signal and summing and averaging the second set of correlation values to provide a second average signal and determining the difference between the first average signal and the second average signal, wherein the difference is the offset value.

21. The method as in claim 20, wherein the first infrared detector and the second infrared detector are co-located in a single housing mounted to the vehicle and wherein the first target area is proximate to a rear portion of the vehicle and the second target area is closer to a forward portion of the vehicle than the first target area and wherein the first infrared detector and the second infrared detector are passive detectors positioned to receive radiation from reflective optics.

22. A method for detecting whether an object is approaching a vehicle, the method comprising:

sampling a first target area with a first infrared detector configured to repeatedly measure a temperature of the first target area by receiving infrared radiation of the first target area, the first infrared detector being configured to provide a plurality of first signals each corresponding to a measured temperature of the first target area over a sampling period;

sampling a second target area with a second infrared detector configured to repeatedly measure a temperature of the second target area by receiving infrared radiation of the second target area, the second infrared detector being configured to provide a plurality of second signals each corresponding to a measured temperature of the second target area over the sampling period, the second target area being different from the first target area;

storing the plurality of first signals and the plurality of second signals in a storage medium, wherein the storage medium comprises a low speed buffer and a standard speed buffet, wherein a predetermined number of the plurality of first signals are first stored in the low speed buffer before a single one of the plurality of first signals is stored in the standard speed buffer and a predetermined number of the plurality of second signals are stored in the low speed buffer before a single one of the plurality of second signals is stored in the standard speed buffer and wherein the controller is configured to ignore a constant difference between a first set of correlation values and a second set of correlation values of either the low speed buffer or the standard speed buffer if the vehicle speed is below a predetermined value by applying an offset value to the first set of correlation values;

determining a plurality of correlation values by repeatedly comparing a plurality of time delayed signals of the second plurality of signals to a real time signal of the plurality of first signals;

comparing the plurality of correlation values to a predetermined tolerance range above a minimum threshold value to determine if an object is moving in either the first target area or the second target area and towards the detecting device; and

providing a warning signal if a predetermined amount of the correlation values are outside the tolerance level range.

23. The method as in claim 22, wherein the offset value is determined by summing and averaging the first set of correlation values to provide a first average signal and summing and averaging the second set of correlation values to provide a second average signal and determining the difference between the first average signal and the second average signal, wherein the difference is the offset value.

24. The method as in claim 22, wherein the offset value is a low speed offset value determined by summing and averaging the first set of correlation values in the low speed buffer to provide a first average signal and summing and averaging the second set of correlation values in the low speed buffer to provide a second average signal and determining the difference between the first average signal and the second average signal, wherein the difference is the low speed offset value.

25. The method as in claim 22, wherein the first infrared detector and the second infrared detector are co-located in a single housing mounted to the vehicle and wherein the first target area is proximate to a rear portion of the vehicle and the second target area is closer to a forward portion of the vehicle than the first target area and wherein the first infrared detector and the second infrared detector are passive detectors positioned to receive radiation from reflective optics and the correlation values are mean square differences of the differences between a first portion of the plurality of first signals and a second portion of the plurality of second signals.

26. The method as in claim 22, wherein the offset value is a standard speed offset value determined by summing and averaging the first set of correlation values in the standard speed buffer to provide a first average signal and summing and averaging the second set of correlation values in the standard speed buffer to provide a second average signal and determining the difference between the first average signal and the second average signal, wherein the difference is the standard speed offset value.

27. A detecting system for a vehicle, the detecting system, comprising:

an infrared detection device comprising;

a first infrared detector configured to repeatedly measure a temperature of a first target area by receiving infrared radiation of the first target area, the first infrared detector being configured to provide a plurality of first signals each corresponding to a measured temperature of the first target area over a sampling period; and

a second infrared detector configured to repeatedly measure a temperature of a second target area by receiving infrared radiation of the second target area, the second infrared detector being configured to provide a plurality of second signals each corresponding to a measured temperature of the second target area over the sampling period, the second target area being different from the first target area, wherein the first infrared detector and the second infrared detector are located in a single housing mounted to the vehicle and wherein the first target area is proximate to a rear portion of the vehicle and the second target area is closer to a forward portion of the vehicle than the first target area; and

a controller comprising;

a microprocessor and a storage medium, wherein the storage medium and the microprocessor are operably coupled to the first infrared detector and the second infrared detector and the storage medium is configured to receive and store the plurality of first signals and the plurality of second signals, wherein the microprocessor is configured to repeatedly compare a plurality of correlation values to a predetermined tolerance range above a minimum threshold value to determine if an object is moving in either the first target area or the second target area and towards the detecting device, wherein the plurality of correlation values are determined by the microprocessor executing a control algorithm that is configured to repeatedly compare a plurality of time delayed signals of the second plurality of signals to a real time signal of the plurality of first signals.

28. The detecting system as in claim 27, wherein the plurality of time delayed signals comprises a first discrete signal, a second discrete signal and a third discrete signal, wherein the first discrete signal is selected by determining a distance “

d1”

between a central portion of the second target area and a central portion of the first target area and by dividing “

d1”

by a current velocity of the vehicle to determine a time delay for selecting the first discrete signal of the second plurality of signals, wherein the second discrete signal is selected by determining a distance “

d2”

, which is less than d1 and by dividing “

d2”

by a current velocity of the vehicle to determine a time delay for selecting the second discrete signal of the second plurality of signals and wherein the third discrete signal is selected by determining a distance “

d3”

, which is greater than d1 and by dividing “

d3”

by a current velocity of the vehicle to determine a time delay for selecting the third discrete signal of the second plurality of signals.

29. The detecting system as in claim 27, wherein the controller is configured to ignore a constant difference between a first set of correlation values and a second set of correlation values if the vehicle speed is below a predetermined value by applying an offset value to the first set of correlation values, wherein the offset value is determined by summing and averaging the first set of correlation values to provide a first average signal and summing and averaging the second set of correlation values to provide a second average signal and determining the difference between the first avenge signal and the second average signal, wherein the difference is the offset value.