Distance measurement apparatus for vehicle
First Claim
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1. A distance measurement apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:
- an image capturing apparatus for capturing an image of an area around a driving vehicle;
a signal processing unit for designating in said image a target vehicle to which a distance is to be measured;
a light emission unit for projecting a collimated laser beam onto said target vehicle; and
a distance unit for evaluating a distance by detecting a reflected laser beam from said target vehicle.
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Abstract
The distance to a target object is measured by capturing the image in front of the driving vehicle using an image sensor, identifying a target object such as a vehicle ahead to which the distance is to be measured, and projecting a laser beam onto the target object. The distance to the target object is measured by angular surveying, using an image sensor for capturing an image as a laser light detection unit.
94 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A distance measurement apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:
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an image capturing apparatus for capturing an image of an area around a driving vehicle; a signal processing unit for designating in said image a target vehicle to which a distance is to be measured; a light emission unit for projecting a collimated laser beam onto said target vehicle; and a distance unit for evaluating a distance by detecting a reflected laser beam from said target vehicle.
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2. A method for measuring the distance of a target object from a vehicle, comprising:
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a first step for selecting a target vehicle; a second step for projecting a collimated laser beam onto a target vehicle; and a third step for measuring the distance to said target vehicle by detecting a reflected laser beam from said target vehicle and evaluating the validity of a measured value of said distance;
whereinif said measured value is valid, said second and third steps are repeated; and otherwise, the first through the third steps are repeated.
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3. A distance measuring apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:
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an image capturing apparatus for capturing an image of an area around a driving vehicle; a signal processing unit for designating in said image a target vehicle to which a distance is to be measured; a light emission apparatus for projecting a collimated laser beam onto said target vehicle; an image detecting apparatus having a light detection system for capturing light reflected from said target object and forming a target image thereof on said image detecting apparatus; means for measuring the distance of said target image from a substantial center of said light detection system; and means for measuring the distance to said target vehicle by using information concerning the position of said light emission apparatus, position of said light detection system, and said distance of said target image from said substantial center of said light detector system. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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6. A distance measurement apparatus for a vehicle comprising:
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a light emission apparatus for emitting a laser beam with a variable emission range; means for emitting a laser beam from said light emission apparatus in a wide range; a signal processing part for detecting a reflected laser beam and for designating a target vehicle; and a measurement apparatus for measuring the distance to said target vehicle by projecting a collimated laser beam onto said target vehicle from said light emission apparatus and detecting a reflected laser beam from said target vehicle.
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12. A distance measurement apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:
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a display unit for an image captured by a camera and presented to a vehicle driver; and an input means on said display unit, allowing said vehicle driver to select a target vehicle to which a distance is measured by means of said image captured said camera;
whereinsaid distance to said target vehicle is measured by projecting a collimated laser beam onto said target vehicle selected by said vehicle driver and detecting a reflected light from said target vehicle.
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Specification