Holographic parking assistance device

• US 5,406,395 A
• Filed: 11/01/1993
• Issued: 04/11/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Arns, James A., Gunther, John E., Wilson, David T., Wreede, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Turner, Samuel A.
• Application Number:
  US08/143,958
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 359/15, 359/22, 359/25, 359/29, 356/153, 356/399
• US Class Current: 359/15
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/48 for parking purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/32 Holograms used as optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/22 Processes or apparatus for obtaining an optical image from holograms G03H1/26 - G03H1/34 take precedence

Abstract

An optical parking alignment system that includes at least one projector located on a vehicle for projecting a respective image forwardly of the vehicle, whereby alignment of the vehicle is indicated when each respective image is in focus on a screen disposed in front of the vehicle. The projector cam comprise a transparency and an imaging lens, or a hologram and a narrowband light source.

Claims

1. A vehicle parking alignment system for use with a vehicle having a longitudinal axis and a front end, comprising:

a screen located so as to be in front of a vehicle that is in a desired parked position, said screen having a predetermined position and orientation relative to the vehicle in the desired parked position; and

image projecting means located on the vehicle for directing an imaging beam toward the screen wherein said imaging beam produces a predetermined image at a predetermined image plane;

whereby alignment of the vehicle relative to the desired parked position is indicated by the position of the predetermined image on said screen and the state of focus of the image on the screen.

2. The vehicle parking alignment system of claim 1 wherein imaging is tilted upwardly relative to horizontal.

3. The vehicle parking alignment system of claim 1 wherein said image projecting means comprises:

a broadband light source;

a transparency containing a pattern of the predetermined image; and

a projection lens.

4. The vehicle parking alignment system of claim 1 wherein said image projecting means comprises:

a narrow band light source;

a hologram responsive to said narrow band light source for producing said imaging beam.

5. The vehicle parking alignment system of claim 1 wherein said image projecting means comprises:

a light source;

a dispersion compensating hologram responsive to said light source for providing a first hologram output;

an imaging hologram responsive to said first hologram output for producing said imaging beam.

6. A vehicle parking alignment system for use with a vehicle having a longitudinal axis and a front end, comprising:

a screen located so as to be in front of a vehicle that is in a desired parked position, said screen having a predetermined position and orientation relative to the vehicle in the desired parked position; and

a first image projecting means located on the vehicle laterally spaced from the longitudinal axis and on a first side of the longitudinal axis, said first image projecting means directing a first imaging beam toward the screen wherein said first imaging illumination produces a first predetermined image at a predetermined image plane;

a second image projecting means located on the vehicle laterally spaced from the longitudinal axis and on a second side of the longitudinal axis, said second image projecting means directing a second imaging beam toward the screen wherein said second imaging beam produces a second predetermined image at the predetermined image plane;

whereby alignment of the vehicle relative to the desired parked position is indicated by the positions of the first and second predetermined images on said screen and the respective states of focus of the images on the screen.

7. The vehicle parking alignment system of claim 6 wherein said first and second imaging beams are tilted upwardly relative to horizontal.

8. The vehicle parking alignment system of claim 6 wherein each of said first and second imaging projecting means comprises:

a broadband light source;

a transparency containing an image of the respective predetermined image; and

a projection lens.

9. The vehicle parking alignment system of claim 6 wherein each of said first and second image projecting means comprises:

a narrow band light source;

a hologram responsive to said narrow band light source for producing said respective imaging illumination.

10. The vehicle parking alignment system of claim 6 wherein each of said first and second image projecting means comprises:

a light source;

a dispersion compensating hologram responsive to said light source for providing a dispersion compensating output;

an imaging hologram responsive to said dispersion compensating output for producing said respective imaging beam.