Detecting device and method of using same

• US 7,634,341 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2003
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 1138037 Ontario Limited
• Original Assignee: 1138037 Ontario Limited
• Inventors: Patchell, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): To; Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US10/742,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20040148063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,185 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 701/301, 701/300, 701/96, 340/435, 340/436, 340/685, 340/686.6, 340/457, 340/438, 340/803, 340/903, 340/933, 340/904, 340/913, 340/938, 345/854, 345/709, 345/710, 250/338.1, 250/342, 348/153, 348/154, 348/148, 348/119, 348/143, 382/103, 382/291, 382/104, 342/42
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9315 Monitoring blind spots

Abstract

A detecting device for detecting moving target vehicles from a moving host vehicle, comprising a first detector means mounted to the host vehicle and aligned to a stationary target area for generating at least a first output representative of the stationary target area at least at a time T1, a second detector means mounted to the host vehicle and aligned to the stationary target area for generating at least a second output representative of the stationary target area at least at a time T2, and a control system to receive the first and second outputs and to compare the first output at T1 to the second output at T2 to identify any differences between the outputs, whereby a target vehicle moving in the stationary target area may be detected.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a vehicle moving relative to, and in proximity to a moving host vehicle comprising the steps of:

providing a first detector on said host vehicle, said first detector for detecting said moving vehicle in a target area which is stationary relative to a road at a first time;

providing a second detector on said host vehicle, said second detector for detecting said moving vehicle in said stationary target area at a second time;

providing a control system for

receiving outputs from said first and second detectors;

comparing said outputs at said first and second times to verify the presence of said moving vehicle in said stationary target area;

recording said outputs at said first and second times;

averaging said outputs; and

adjusting said outputs using said averaged outputs to compensate for changes in said outputs not originating from said target vehicle.

2. A method of claim 1 further including the step of:

generating an alarm upon verification of said presence of said moving vehicle in said target area.

3. A method of claim 1 wherein said detecting steps further includes:

thermally detecting said moving vehicle.

4. A detection system for detecting a vehicle moving relative to, and in proximity to a moving host vehicle, said system comprising:

first detection means mounted to said host vehicle for detecting said moving vehicle in a target area which is stationary relative to a road at a first time;

second detection means mounted to said host vehicle for detecting said moving vehicle in said stationary target area at a second time;

means for comparing said detection at said first and second times to verify the presence of said moving vehicle in said stationary target area, wherein said comparing means includes;

a control system to receive output from said first and second detection means at said first and second times, and wherein said control system further includes an averaging module for recording said outputs at said first and second times, for averaging said recorded outputs, and for adjusting said outputs to compensate for changes in said outputs not arising from said target vehicle.