Detecting device and method of using same

• US 20040148063A1
• Filed: 12/22/2003
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 11138037 Ontari Limited
• Original Assignee: 11138037 Ontari Limited
• Inventors: Patchell, John W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,634,341 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9315 Monitoring blind spots

Abstract

A detecting device for detecting moving target vehicles from a moving host vehicle, comprising a first detector means mounted to the host vehicle and aligned to a stationary target area for generating at least a first output representative of the stationary target area at least at a time T1, a second detector means mounted to the host vehicle and aligned to the stationary target area for generating at least a second output representative of the stationary target area at least at a time T2, and a control system to receive the first and second outputs and to compare the first output at T1 to the second output at T2 to identify any differences between the outputs, whereby a target vehicle moving in the stationary target area may be detected.

Claims

1. A detecting device for detecting moving target vehicles from a moving host vehicle, said detecting device comprising:

a first detector means mounted to said host vehicle and aligned to a stationary target area for generating at least a first output representative of said stationary target area at least at a time T1;

a second detector means mounted to said host vehicle and aligned to said stationary target area for generating at least a second output representative of said stationary target area at least at a time T2, and

a control system to receive said first and second outputs and to compare said first output at T1 to said second output at T2 to identify any differences between said outputs,

whereby a target vehicle moving in said stationary target area may be detected.

2. A detecting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first detector means and said second detector means detect thermal radiation.

3. A detecting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first detector means and said second detector means comprise thermopile detectors.

4. A detecting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control system calculates a variance of each of said first and second outputs, and in the event that the variance of one of said outputs differs from the variance of the other of said outputs by an amount sufficient to indicate a detection error, said controller provides an alert.

5. A detecting device as claimed in claim 1, further including a driver initiated interrogation means for requesting a detection sequence.

6. A detecting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second detector means is spaced along said host vehicle and apart from said first detector means.

7. A detecting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said controller includes an averaging module for recording said first and second outputs over time, for averaging said recorded outputs and for adjusting said outputs to compensate said outputs for changes in said outputs not arising from a target vehicle.

8. A detecting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first detector means and said second detector means are housed in the same case.

9. A detecting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said first and second detector means includes a temperature reference, to permit a comparison to be made between said temperature reference and thermally emitted radiation from said stationary target area outside said detector.

10. A detecting device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said temperature reference for each detector means is provided in each of said detector means.

11. A detecting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said first and second detector means has a shutter, and wherein said temperature reference for each detector means is the temperature of said shutter.

12. A detecting device as claimed in claim 11, wherein each of said detector means includes a pyro-electric detector.

13. A detecting device as claimed in claim 1, further including a means for measuring speed, wherein said controller can determine a time difference between T1 and T2 to permit said first output to be compared to said second output.

14. A detecting device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said speed measurement means comprises a comparator for comparing identical events in said first and second outputs and a determiner for determining how much time elapsed between such events.

15. A detecting device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said speed measurement is based on a known distance between a first stationary target area of said first detector means and a second stationary target area of said second detector means.

16. A detecting device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said speed measurement means comprises a speedometer operatively connected to said control system.

17. A detecting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first or second detector means further includes a temperature sensor operatively connected to said control system, for generating a temperature output responsive to thermal radiation emitted from within said first or second detector, said temperature output being calibrated to correspond with a device temperature of said first or second detector means.

18. A detecting device as claimed in claim 17, wherein said first or second detector means has a shutter, and said temperature output is responsive to thermal radiation emitted by said shutter.

19. A detecting device as claimed in claim 18, wherein each of said detector means includes a pyro-electric detector.

20. A detecting device as claimed in claim 17, wherein said control system further calculates a road temperature by comparing said temperature output with said thermal radiation received by said first or second detector.

21. A detecting device as claimed in claim 20, wherein said control system determines the road temperature, and issues a black ice alert signal to a driver of said host vehicle if said road temperature is such that black ice conditions may exist.

22. A detecting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first or second detector means further includes a photoelectric sensor operatively connected to said control system, for generating a photoelectric output responsive to ambient lighting conditions.

23. A detecting device as claimed in claim 22, wherein said control system uses said photoelectric output to confirm the presence of a shadow.

24. A detecting device as claimed in claim 22, further including a visual display detectable by a driver of said host vehicle, and said control system uses said photoelectric output to adjust the brightness of said visual display.

25. A detecting device as claimed in claim 1, further including at least two detector means on both sides of said host vehicle.

26. A detecting device as claimed in claim 1, further including at least one additional detector means mounted to said host vehicle for generating at least one additional output responsive to radiation from said stationary target area, said at least one additional output being generated at a different time than said first or second output, wherein said first, second, and at least one additional detector means are used to detect moving target vehicles.

27. A detecting device as claimed in claim 26, wherein a first set of said first, second, and at least one additional detector means are positioned on a passenger'"'"'s side of said host vehicle, for detecting moving target vehicles positioned on the passenger'"'"'s side of said host vehicle.

28. A detecting device as claimed in claim 27, wherein at least one of said detector means is directed to detect objects proximate to a front right corner of said host vehicle.

29. A detecting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first or second detector means includes a multi-element lens for generating a first and second output responsive to radiation from more than one stationary target area.

30. A method for detecting moving target vehicles from a moving host vehicle, said method comprising:

(a) providing a first detector means mounted to said host vehicle and aligned to a stationary target area for generating at least a first output representative of said stationary target area at a time T1, a second detector means mounted to said host vehicle and aligned to said stationary target area for generating at least a second output representative of said stationary target area at a time T2, and a control system to receive said first and second outputs and to compare said first output at T1 to said second output at T2 to identify any differences between said outputs;

(b) generating said first output at time T1, and receiving said first output into said control system;

(c) generating said second output at time T2, and receiving said second output into said control system;

(d) comparing said first and second outputs; and

(e) providing an indication of a target vehicle moving in said stationary target area if said comparison of said first and second outputs identifies any differences between said outputs.

31. A method for detecting moving target vehicles from a moving host vehicle according to claim 30, wherein said comparison in step (d) comprises subtracting said second output from said first output.

32. A method for detecting moving target vehicles from a moving host vehicle according to claim 30, wherein said indication of a target vehicle is an audible sound or a visual display detectable by a driver of said moving host vehicle.

33. A safety system for a moving host vehicle, said safety system comprising:

a detector for detecting an object proximate to said host vehicle; and

a driver initiated interrogation means for initiating a response from

said detector system, in response to an action of said driver,

34. A safety system for a moving host vehicle as claimed in claim 33, wherein said driver initiated interrogation means is operatively connected to a turn indicator of said host vehicle, and upon indicating a turn, an alarm condition can be communicated to said driver if a target vehicle is detected.