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

• US 7,608,822 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2007
• Issued: 10/27/2009
• 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: Nietering, Kenneth, Remillard, Jeffrey T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta; David P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Taningco; Marcus H
• Application Number:
  US11/865,054
• Publication Number:
  US 20080083875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 758 Days
• Field of Search: 250/330, 250/495.1, 250/504.R, 362/510
• 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 light 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 with a first center wavelength;

an adjustable filter having an adjustable second center wavelength;

a controller coupled to the filter and controlling generation of said illumination beam and controlling second center wavelength of the filter in response to the center wavelength of the light source.

2. A vision system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a temperature controller controlling the temperature of the light source to shift the first center wavelength.

3. A vision system as recited in claim 1 wherein the controller and temperature control shift the first center wavelength and second center wavelength in response to vehicle direction.