Combined imaging and distance monitoring for vehicular applications
First Claim
1. A vehicular arrangement for obtaining information about objects exterior to the vehicle, comprising:
- at least one combined imaging and distance measuring system arranged along the windshield, an edge or a side of the vehicle, each of said at least one combined system including;
an infrared illuminator for directing infrared illumination outward from the vehicle;
an imager sensitive to infrared illumination, said imager being arranged to form images of an environment around the vehicle including objects;
at least one distance determining system, each comprising a source of a directed narrow beam of electromagnetic waves separate from said infrared illuminator and a receiver for receiving reflections of the electromagnetic waves, arranged to, after images of the environment around the vehicle have been formed by said imager, simultaneously determine a distance between the vehicle and objects in images obtained by said imager; and
a reactive system arranged on the vehicle to consider both the presence of the objects and their distance from the vehicle and react accordingly,at least one of the illumination from said infrared illuminator or the electromagnetic waves from said source being in an eye-safe range.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Vehicular arrangement for obtaining information about objects exterior to the vehicle includes at least one combined imaging and distance measuring system arranged along an edge or a side of the vehicle, each combined system including an infrared illuminator for directing infrared illumination outward from the vehicle, an imager sensitive to infrared illumination and visible light, the imager being arranged to form images of an environment around the vehicle and thereby enable identification of objects in the images, a radar or laser radar system arranged to simultaneously determine a distance between the vehicle and objects identified in images obtained by the imager with the identification of the objects in the images. A reactive system is arranged on the vehicle to consider both the identification of the objects and their distance from the vehicle and react accordingly.
99 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A vehicular arrangement for obtaining information about objects exterior to the vehicle, comprising:
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at least one combined imaging and distance measuring system arranged along the windshield, an edge or a side of the vehicle, each of said at least one combined system including; an infrared illuminator for directing infrared illumination outward from the vehicle; an imager sensitive to infrared illumination, said imager being arranged to form images of an environment around the vehicle including objects; at least one distance determining system, each comprising a source of a directed narrow beam of electromagnetic waves separate from said infrared illuminator and a receiver for receiving reflections of the electromagnetic waves, arranged to, after images of the environment around the vehicle have been formed by said imager, simultaneously determine a distance between the vehicle and objects in images obtained by said imager; and a reactive system arranged on the vehicle to consider both the presence of the objects and their distance from the vehicle and react accordingly, at least one of the illumination from said infrared illuminator or the electromagnetic waves from said source being in an eye-safe range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 21)
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15. A vehicle, comprising:
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at least one combined imaging and distance measuring system, each arranged at a respective corner of the vehicle or on a respective side of the vehicle, each of said at least one combined imaging and distance measuring system including; an infrared illuminator for directing infrared illumination outward from the vehicle; an imager sensitive to infrared illumination, said imager being arranged to form images of an environment around the vehicle including objects; at least one distance determining system, each comprising a source of a directed narrow beam of electromagnetic waves separate from said infrared illuminator and a receiver for receiving reflections of the electromagnetic waves, arranged to, after images of the environment around the vehicle have been formed by said imager, simultaneously determine a distance between the vehicle and objects in images obtained by said imager; and a common reactive system arranged on the vehicle and coupled to said at least one combined imaging and distance measuring system, said reactive system being arranged to consider both the presence of the objects and their distance from the vehicle and react accordingly, at least one of the illumination from said infrared illuminator or the electromagnetic waves from said source being in an eye-safe range. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 22)
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18. A method for operating a vehicle in consideration of exterior to the vehicle, comprising:
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arranging at least one combined imaging and distance measuring system arranged along an edge of the vehicle or at a corner of the vehicle, each of the at least one combined system including an infrared illuminator for directing infrared illumination outward from the vehicle, an imager sensitive to infrared illumination and a distance determining system that comprises a source of a directed narrow beam of electromagnetic waves separate from the infrared illuminator and a receiver for receiving reflections of the electromagnetic waves; simultaneously determining using the distance determining system, a distance between the vehicle and objects in images obtained by the imager; monitoring using a processor, the objects and their distance from the vehicle; and undertaking an action to prevent an accident between the vehicle and the object based on the monitored objects and their distance from the vehicle, at least one of the illumination from the infrared illuminator or the electromagnetic waves from the source being in an eye-safe range. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 23)
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Specification