System for detecting surrounding conditions of moving body

• US 10,625,666 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2018
• Issued: 04/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Kato, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Houston, Adam D
• Application Number:
  US16/034,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20180334093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 315 77, 362459, 362460, 362465-467
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/00 Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor for lighting vehicle interior B60Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/02 the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/26 the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/34 for indicating change of drive direction B60Q1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/46 for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights or hazard lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2500/30 Arrangements for illuminating different zones in the vehicle, e.g. front/rear, different seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/16 Circuits; Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/283 Steering wheels; Gear levers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/745 using lighting panels or mats, e.g. electro-luminescent panels, LED mats
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/82 Switches specially adapted for vehicle interior lighting, e.g. switching by tilting the lens
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes

Abstract

This system for detecting the surrounding conditions of a moving body forcibly changes the state of at least one of a plurality of lighting devices (change from an unlit state to a lighting state or a blinking state, change in the emission color, or change in the luminance) installed inside the moving body, if an object to which attention must be paid during traveling of the moving body is detected in the surroundings of the moving body.

Claims

1. A detector attachable to a body, the detector comprising:

a camera positioned on the body for obtaining an image around the body,

wherein the camera is configured to apply an image recognition process,

wherein the image recognition process is configured to detect a presence of an object around the body when the body is moving in a forward direction to control a state of an illumination device disposed on an inside surface part of a door positioned next to a driver'"'"'s seat located within the moving body or a seat next to the driver'"'"'s seat located within the moving body, towards a front direction of the body,

wherein when the presence of the object is detected, the illumination device on the door is illuminated, and when the presence of the object is not detected, the illumination device on the door is not illuminated.

2. The detector of claim 1, wherein the camera is positioned at a rear portion of an outer surface of the body.

3. The detector of claim 1, wherein the camera obtains an image signal by video recording an environment in a direction opposite the moving body.

4. The detector of claim 1, wherein the image recognition process is performed by an image recognition processor that is communicatively coupled to the camera, and wherein an output of the image recognition processor is provided to a controller that generates a command signal to generate the illumination by illumination device.

5. The detector of claim 1, wherein an image signal is used to generate detection data indicative of one or more parameters associated with the object to which the attention must be paid around the body, wherein the detection data is provided to a controller that generates a command signal to generate the illumination by the illumination device.

6. The detector of claim 5, wherein the one or more parameters of the detection data comprises at least one of a direction of, distance to, emission color of, relative speed of, emergency vehicle status of, and size of the object.

7. The detector of claim 5, wherein the controller causes the illumination device, disposed at positions corresponding to a direction of the object, to change a state of the illumination devices.

8. A detector attachable to a body, the detector comprising:

a camera positioned on the body for obtaining an image around the body,

wherein the camera is configured to apply the image to an image recognition process,

wherein the image recognition process is for detecting a presence of an object on a right rear of the body when the body is moving in a forward direction to control a state of an illumination device disposed on an inside surface part of a right door towards a front direction of the body, wherein the right door is positioned next to a driver'"'"'s seat located within the moving body or a seat next to the driver'"'"'s seat located within the moving body,

wherein when the presence of the object is detected, the illumination device on the door is illuminated, and when the presence of the object is not detected, the illumination device on the door is not illuminated.

9. A detector attachable to a body, the detector comprising:

a camera positioned on the body for obtaining an image around the body,

wherein the camera is configured to apply the image to an image recognition process,

wherein the image recognition process is for detecting a presence of an object on a left rear of the body when the body is moving in a forward direction to control a state of an illumination device disposed on an inside surface part of a left door towards a front direction of the body, wherein the left door is positioned next to a driver'"'"'s seat located within the moving body or a seat next to the driver'"'"'s seat located within the moving body,

wherein when the presence of the object is detected, the illumination device on the door is illuminated, and when the presence of the object is not detected, the illumination device on the door is not illuminated.

10. A detector attachable to a body, the detector comprising:

a sensor positioned on the body for obtaining information around the body,

wherein the sensor is configured to apply the information to an object recognition process,

wherein the object recognition process is for detecting a presence of an object around the body when the body is moving in a forward direction to control a state of an illumination device disposed on an inside surface part of door and a right door positioned next to a driver'"'"'s seat located within the moving body or a seat next to the driver'"'"'s seat located within the moving body towards a front direction of the body,

wherein when the presence of the object is detected, the illumination device on the door is illuminated, and when the presence of the object is not detected, the illumination device on the door is not illuminated.