Mid-infrared vehicle early warning system

• US 9,121,944 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2013
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Manotas, J. Jay Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): KOSTAK, VICTOR R
• Application Number:
  US13/871,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20140320652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging

Abstract

A method of warning a driver of a vehicle of an obstacle that is more than one kilometer from the vehicle includes emitting MIR laser energy from the vehicle. The laser energy has a wavelength approximately between 3500 nanometers and 5000 nanometers. A phase conjugate lens is used to orthogonally direct a portion of the laser energy that is reflected by the obstacle to an image-capturing device or sensor within the vehicle. An image of the obstacle is displayed to the driver. The image is based on the laser energy directed to the image-capturing device.

Claims

1. A method of warning a driver of a vehicle of an obstacle that is more than one kilometer from the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

emitting MIR laser energy from the vehicle, the laser energy having a wavelength approximately between 3500 nanometers and 5000 nanometers;

using a phase conjugate lens to orthogonally direct a portion of the laser energy that is reflected by the obstacle to an image-capturing device or sensor within the vehicle; and

displaying an image of the obstacle to the driver, the image being based on the laser energy directed to the image-capturing device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the image-capturing device comprises a MIR charge coupled device.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising the further steps of:

transmitting a signal from the image-capturing device to a processing device;

using the processing device to create image data dependent upon the signal from the image-capturing device; and

sending the image data from the processing device to a display device.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the displaying step includes using the display device to display the image data.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the laser energy has a wavelength approximately between 3700 nanometers and 4500 nanometers.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the laser energy has a wavelength approximately between 3800 nanometers and 4300 nanometers.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the laser energy has a wavelength approximately between 3900 nanometers and 4100 nanometers.

8. An obstacle early warning system for a vehicle, comprising:

a sensor;

a laser configured to emit MIR laser energy from the vehicle, the laser energy having a wavelength approximately between 3500 nanometers and 5000 nanometers;

a phase conjugate lens to configured to;

receive a portion of the laser energy that is reflected by the obstacle; and

orthogonally direct the portion of the laser energy to the sensor; and

a display device configured to display an image of the obstacle to the driver, the image being based on the laser energy directed to the sensor.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the sensor comprises a charge coupled device.

10. The system of claim 8 further comprising a processing device configured to:

receive a signal from the sensor;

create image data dependent upon the signal from the sensor; and

send the image data to the display device.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the display is configured to display the image data.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the laser energy has a wavelength approximately between 3700 nanometers and 4500 nanometers.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the laser energy has a wavelength approximately between 3800 nanometers and 4300 nanometers.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the laser energy has a wavelength approximately between 3900 nanometers and 4100 nanometers.

15. A method of warning a driver of a vehicle of an obstacle that is more than one kilometer from the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

emitting MIR laser energy from the vehicle, the laser energy having a wavelength approximately between 3500 nanometers and 5000 nanometers;

using a phase conjugate lens to orthogonally direct a portion of the laser energy that is reflected by the obstacle to an image-capturing device or sensor within the vehicle; and

displaying a representation of the obstacle to the driver, the representation being based on the laser energy directed to the image-capturing, device.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the displaying step includes displaying a symbol or icon representing the obstacle on a mapped view of an area less than two kilometers in front of the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 15 comprising the further steps of:

transmitting a signal from the image-capturing device to a processing device;

using the processing device to create image data dependent upon the signal from the image-capturing device; and

sending the image data from the processing device to a display device.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the laser energy has a wavelength approximately between 3700 nanometers and 4500 nanometers.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the laser energy has a wavelength approximately between 3800 nanometers and 4300 nanometers.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the laser energy has a wavelength approximately between 3900 nanometers and 4100 nanometers.