Automatic braking system including laser module and image capturing module and vehicle having same

• US 8,612,111 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2012
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Tseng, Kuo-Fong
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, Alex C
• Application Number:
  US13/592,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20130245905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 701/70
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle

Abstract

An automatic braking system includes a laser module, an image capturing module, a braking module, and a control module. The laser module emits a laser beam along a forward direction of a vehicle and receives the reflected laser beam. The image capturing module captures a road image in front of the vehicle. The braking module slows the vehicle. The control module is electrically connected to the laser module, the image capturing module, and the braking module. When an intensity of the reflected laser beam is greater than a pre-set value, the image capturing module is controlled by the control module to captures the road image. When the control module decides that there are human characteristics in the road image, the control module activates the braking module.

Claims

1. An automatic braking system for a vehicle, comprising:

a laser module configured for emitting a laser beam along a forward direction of the vehicle and receiving the reflected laser beam;

an image capturing module configured for capturing a road image in front of the vehicle;

a braking module configured for slowing the vehicle; and

a control module electrically connected to the laser module, the image capturing module, and the braking module;

wherein when an intensity of the reflected laser beam is greater than a pre-set value, the image capturing module is controlled by the control module to capture the road image;

when the control module decides that there are human characteristics in the road image, the control module activates the braking module.

2. The automatic braking system of claim 1, wherein the laser module comprises a laser emitting module and a laser receiving module, the laser emitting module is configured for emitting a laser beam along the forward direction of the vehicle, the laser receiving module is configured for receiving the reflected laser beam.

3. The automatic braking system of claim 2, wherein the control module comprises a light control module connected to the laser emitting module and the laser receiving module;

the light control module is configured for adjusting intensity of the laser beam emitting from the laser emitting module and comparing the intensity of the reflected laser beam received by the laser receiving module with the pre-set value.

4. The automatic braking system of claim 1, wherein the control module comprises an image control module connected to the image capturing module, the image control module is configured for controlling the image capturing module to capture the rode image in the front of the vehicle and analyzing the road image to decide whether or not there are human characteristics in the road image.

5. The automatic braking system of claim 1, wherein the control module comprises a braking control module connected to the braking module, the braking control module is configured for activating the braking module.

6. The automatic braking system of claim 1, further comprising a starting module connected to the control module, wherein when the starting module is turn on, the automatic braking system is activated.

7. The automatic braking system of claim 1, wherein the image capturing module is an infrared camera.

8. A vehicle, comprising:

a body;

wheels rotatably assembled on the body; and

an automatic braking system comprising;

a laser module positioned on the body and configured for emitting a laser beam along a forward direction of the vehicle and receiving the reflected laser beam;

an image capturing module positioned on the body and configured for capturing a road image in front of the vehicle;

a braking module configured for slowing a rotation speed of the wheels; and

a control module electrically connected to the laser module, the image capturing module, and the braking module;

wherein when an intensity of the reflected laser beam is greater than a pre-set value, the image capturing module is controlled by the control module to capture the road image;

when the control module decides that there are human characteristics in the road image, the control module activates the braking module.