GPS-based anti-blinding system for active night vision

• US 20030155514A1
• Filed: 02/21/2002
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Weber, Willes H., Remillard, Jeffrey Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 6,690,017 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/341.8
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/12 with means for image conversion or intensification

Abstract

A night vision system for a vehicle is provided. The system includes an illumination subsystem for illuminating a region proximate the vehicle, a receiver for receiving light reflected off objects in the illuminated region and generating a signal responsive to the received light. A GPS unit is included in operative communication with a GPS network for generating a time signal and vehicle directional data. A controller is programmed to periodically pulse on the illuminating device and the receiver substantially simultaneously as a function of the time signal and the vehicle directional data. In particular, vehicles traveling in opposite directions will have their night vision system activated out-of-phase with each other so that neither night vision system is “blinded” by illumination emitting from the other.

Claims

1. A night vision system for a vehicle comprising:

an illumination subsystem for illuminating a region proximate the vehicle;

a receiver for receiving light reflected off objects illuminated in said region by said illumination subsystem and generating a signal responsive to said received light;

a GPS unit in operative communication with a GPS network for generating a time signal and vehicle directional data; and

a controller programmed to periodically activate said illumination subsystem and said receiver substantially simultaneously as a function of said time signal and said vehicle directional data.

2. A night vision system according to claim 1 wherein said illumination subsystem comprises an infrared light source and beam forming optics receiving light from said light source and reflecting said light generally in a first direction.

3. A night vision system according to claim 2 wherein said infrared light source is a NIR diode laser.

4. A night vision system according to claim 3 further comprising a light coupler for transmitting said light from said infrared light source to said beam forming optics.

5. A night vision system according to claim 1 wherein said receiver comprises a NIR-sensitive camera and said signal is a video signal.

6. A night vision system according to claim 5 wherein said receiver further comprises an optical bandpass filter for filtering said light entering said NIR-sensitive camera.

7. A night vision system according to claim 4 wherein said beam forming optics comprises a thin-sheet optical element and a holographic diffuser disposed proximate said thin-sheet optical element to diffuse said light being emitted from said thin-sheet optical element.

8. A night vision system according to claim 1 further comprising a display adapted to receive said signal and display objects illuminated in said region by said illumination device.

9. A night vision system according to claim 8 wherein said display comprises at least one of a CRT, LCD, or heads-up display.

10. A night vision system for a vehicle comprising:

a NIR light source;

a thin-sheet optical element receiving light from said light source and reflecting said light generally in a first direction;

a NIR-sensitive camera for receiving said light reflected off an object and generating a video signal responsive to said received light;

a GPS unit in operative communication with a GPS network for generating a time signal and vehicle directional data; and

a controller programmed to periodically activate said infrared light source and said NIR-sensitive camera substantially simultaneously as a function of said time signal and said vehicle directional data.

11. A night vision system according to claim 10 wherein said infrared light source is a NIR diode laser.

12. A night vision system according to claim 10 further comprising an optical bandpass filter for filtering said light entering said NIR-sensitive camera.

13. A night vision system according to claim 10 further comprising a display adapted to receive said video signal and display an object illuminated by said infrared light source.

14. A night vision system according to claim 13 wherein said display comprises at least one of a CRT, LCD, or heads-up display.

15. A method of detecting objects with a night vision system for a vehicle comprising:

determining a vehicle directional heading;

receiving a timing signal from a GPS network;

periodically transmitting infrared light by activating an infrared light source and a NIR-sensitive camera substantially simultaneously as a function of said vehicle directional heading and said timing signal.

16. A method according to claim 15 further comprising receiving said light reflected off an object and generating a video signal responsive to said received light.

17. A method according to claim 16 further comprising displaying said video signal on a vehicle display.

18. A method according to claim 15 wherein said periodically transmitting comprises operating said infrared light source and said NIR-sensitive camera at a duty cycle of 50% or less and at a phase angle 180°

out-of-phase with respect to a duty cycle transmission corresponding to an opposite vehicle directional heading.

19. A method according to claim 15 wherein said periodically transmitting comprises operating said infrared light source and said NIR-sensitive camera at a duty cycle of 50% or less and wherein each vehicle directional heading is associated with operating said duty cycle at a unique phase angle with respect to said timing signal such that opposite vehicle directional headings are 180°

out-of-phase with each other.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein said vehicle directional heading is received from a GPS network.