Road surface assessment apparatus for vehicle

• US 10,809,058 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2018
• Issued: 10/20/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Subaru Corp.
• Original Assignee: Subaru Corp.
• Inventors: Suzuki, Dan, Kinoshita, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Hoa Q
• Application Number:
  US16/032,201
• Publication Number:
  US 20190078877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 3562371-2375, 356600, 356603, 356614-623, 382149, 382108
• 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 1/0023 the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/50 Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2210/12 Friction
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/00 Arrangements for adjusting wheel-braking force to meet varying vehicular or ground-surface conditions, e.g. limiting or varying distribution of braking force by changing number of effective brake cylinders in power brake systems B60T17/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/17 Using electrical or electronic regulation means to control braking detecting or indicating faulty operation B60T8/885
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/303 using photoelectric detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/306 for measuring evenness

Abstract

A road surface assessment apparatus for a vehicle includes an illumination device, a detector, and an assessment unit. The illumination device is configured to emit pattern light to a road surface on which the vehicle runs, or a surrounding of the vehicle. The detector is configured to detect the emitted pattern light. The assessment unit is configured to assess a condition of the road surface, on the basis of the detected pattern light. The illumination device intermittently emits the pattern light for a short time in such a manner that a period of time for which the pattern light is not emitted is longer than a period of time for which the pattern light is emitted.

Claims

1. A road surface assessment apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

an illumination device configured to project a light pattern configuration to a road surface on which the vehicle runs, or a surrounding of the vehicle;

a detector configured to detect the projected light pattern configuration; and

an assessment unit configured to assess a condition of the road surface, on a basis of the detected light pattern configuration being compared to a preset light pattern configuration,

wherein the illumination device intermittently projects the light pattern configuration to the road surface for a time (Te) that is shorter than a period of time (Tl) for which the light pattern configuration is intermittently not projected (Te<

Tl), and wherein the assessment unit includes a camera and (Ti≤

Te) wherein Ti is an image capture time of the camera.

2. The road surface assessment apparatus for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the illumination device is a vehicle headlight.

3. The road surface assessment apparatus for vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the illumination device intermittently projects the light pattern configuration for a short time for which the light pattern configuration cannot be recognized by a human but can be detected by the detector.

4. The road surface assessment apparatus for vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the illumination device projects the light pattern configuration for a period of time equal to or shorter than 0.013 seconds for which the light pattern configuration cannot be recognized by a human.

5. The road surface assessment apparatus for vehicle according to claim 3, further comprising a vehicle speed sensor configured to detect a running speed of the vehicle,

wherein the illumination device changes one of a pattern, a shape, a size, an emission range, a color, an emission time, an emission cycle of the light pattern configuration, and a lighting state, on a basis of the running speed detected by the vehicle speed detector.

6. The road surface assessment apparatus for vehicle according to claim 3,

wherein the illumination device projects the light pattern configuration so as to show grid lines as shadow within an emission range when being turned on, and projects the light pattern configuration so as to draw the grid lines by light when being turned off.

7. The road surface assessment apparatus for vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the illumination device projects the light pattern configuration for a period of time equal to or shorter than 0.013 seconds for which the light pattern configuration cannot be recognized by a human.

8. The road surface assessment apparatus for vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising a vehicle speed sensor configured to detect a running speed of the vehicle,

wherein the illumination device changes one of a pattern, a shape, a size, an emission range, a color, an emission time, an emission cycle of the light pattern configuration, and a lighting state, on a basis of the running speed detected by the vehicle speed detector.

9. The road surface assessment apparatus for vehicle according to claim 2,

wherein the illumination device projects the light pattern configuration so as to show grid lines as shadow within an emission range when being turned on, and projects the light pattern configuration so as to draw the grid lines by light when being turned off.

10. The road surface assessment apparatus for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the illumination device intermittently projects the light pattern configuration for a short time for which the light pattern configuration cannot be recognized by a human but can be detected by the detector.

11. The road surface assessment apparatus for vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the illumination device projects the light pattern configuration for a period of time equal to or shorter than 0.013 seconds for which the light pattern configuration cannot be recognized by a human.

12. The road surface assessment apparatus for vehicle according to claim 10, further comprising a vehicle speed sensor configured to detect a running speed of the vehicle,

wherein the illumination device changes one of a pattern, a shape, a size, an emission range, a color, an emission time, an emission cycle of the light pattern configuration, and a lighting state, on a basis of the running speed detected by the vehicle speed detector.

13. The road surface assessment apparatus for vehicle according to claim 10,

wherein the illumination device projects the light pattern configuration so as to show grid lines as shadow within an emission range when being turned on, and projects the light pattern configuration so as to draw the grid lines by light when being turned off.

14. The road surface assessment apparatus for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the illumination device projects the light pattern configuration for a period of time equal to or shorter than 0.013 seconds for which the light pattern configuration cannot be recognized by a human.

15. The road surface assessment apparatus for vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a vehicle speed sensor configured to detect a running speed of the vehicle,

wherein the illumination device changes one of a pattern, a shape, a size, an emission range, a color, an emission time, an emission cycle of the light pattern configuration, and a lighting state, on a basis of the running speed detected by the vehicle speed detector.

16. The road surface assessment apparatus for vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the illumination device projects the light pattern configuration so as to show grid lines as shadow within an emission range when being turned on, and projects the light pattern configuration so as to draw the grid lines by light when being turned off.

17. The road surface assessment apparatus for vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the light pattern configuration is a grid pattern, as is the preset light pattern configuration.

18. The road surface assessment apparatus for vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the illumination device is a road surface illuminating vehicle travel light, which, in a night driving mode, is maintained in a constant on state during periods of both on and off projection states of the light pattern configuration.

19. A road surface assessment apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

an illumination device configured to project a light pattern configuration to a road surface on which the vehicle runs, or a surrounding of the vehicle; and

circuitry configured to

detect the projected light pattern configuration, and

assess a condition of the road surface, on a basis of the detected light pattern configuration being compared to a preset light pattern configuration,

wherein the illumination device intermittently projects the light pattern configuration for a time (Te) that is shorter than a period of time (Tl) for which the light pattern configuration is intermittently not projected (Te<

Tl), and wherein the assessment unit includes a camera and (Ti≤

Te) wherein Ti is an image capture time of the camera.