Passive infra-red pedestrian detection and avoidance system
First Claim
1. A method for identifying and preventing pedestrian dangers between a moving vehicle and a pedestrian, and for adjusting operation of the vehicle accordingly, said method comprising:
- detecting a thermal signature generated by a human on the side or within the traveled portion of a roadway using passive thermal emission detection;
determining if the human thermal signature is within or moving in a direction toward a predicted pathway of the vehicle;
assessing the need for responsive action in the vehicle'"'"'s operation; and
triggering responsive action in the vehicle'"'"'s operation if a need for such action is identified.
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Abstract
A passive infra-red pedestrian detection and avoidance system and method for augmenting the operation of a vehicle on a roadway, especially for identifying potential pedestrian/vehicular collision danger for the vehicle in operation and adjusting the position and operation of the vehicle accordingly, includes at least one passive infra-red sensor array mounted on the vehicle in operative communication with an image processor tied into the operational system of the vehicle. The system detects, using thermal imaging and processing, the presence of people that may be in or laterally crossing into the travel lane of the vehicle. The image processor analyzes the detection of a human thermal signature and determines if the detected human thermal signature is moving, in what direction and at what speed, to assess any potential threat to the pedestrian or biker, and further whether any responsive action needs to be triggered in the vehicle'"'"'s operation to avoid a collision.
38 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for identifying and preventing pedestrian dangers between a moving vehicle and a pedestrian, and for adjusting operation of the vehicle accordingly, said method comprising:
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detecting a thermal signature generated by a human on the side or within the traveled portion of a roadway using passive thermal emission detection; determining if the human thermal signature is within or moving in a direction toward a predicted pathway of the vehicle; assessing the need for responsive action in the vehicle'"'"'s operation; and triggering responsive action in the vehicle'"'"'s operation if a need for such action is identified. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for identifying pedestrian dangers between a moving vehicle and a pedestrian, and for adjusting operation of the vehicle accordingly, said system comprising:
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a thermal sensor array assembly for detecting a human thermal signature generated by a human on the side of the roadway or within a predicted pathway of the vehicle on the roadway using passive thermal emission detection; an image processor in operative communication with the thermal sensor array assembly for determining if the human thermal signature is within or moving in a direction toward the predicted pathway of the vehicle and assessing the need for responsive action in the vehicle'"'"'s operation; and a central vehicle control system in operative communication with the image processor for triggering responsive action in the vehicle'"'"'s operation if a need for such action is identified. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for identifying and preventing pedestrian dangers between a moving vehicle and a pedestrian, and for adjusting operation of the vehicle accordingly, said method comprising:
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detecting a thermal signature generated by a human on a side or within a traveled portion of a roadway using passive thermal sensing; determining if the thermal signature generated by the human is indicative of the human being within or moving in a direction toward a predicted pathway of the vehicle; assessing the need for responsive action in the operation of the vehicle; and triggering responsive action in the operation of the vehicle if a need for such action is identified; wherein the detection of the thermal signature generated by the human comprises filtering the detected thermal emission data through a predefined thermal acceptance window correlated to a thermal emission range of a human.
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Specification