System for improving the visibility in vehicles

• US 6,552,342 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2001
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Holz, Michael, Weidel, Edgar
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannaher, Constantine
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORAN, TIMOTHY J
• Application Number:
  US09/765,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20010050340A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 250/330, 250/334, 250/341.8, 340/436, 362/464, 362/465, 362/466
• US Class Current: 250/330
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/484 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/495 Counter-measures or counter-counter-measures using electronic or electro-optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/497 Means for monitoring or calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4972 Alignment of sensor

Abstract

A system for improving the visibility in vehicles, including the following: an illumination optical system (2) for continuous radiation of infrared pulsed light; an associated receiver optical system (3) for receiving reflected components of the radiated light; a display (4) for representing information obtained by the receiver optical system (3), and a device (5, 6) for determining the presence of glare in the receiver optical system (3) from a foreign vehicle illumination optical system and for changing the keying interval or duty cycle of the infrared pulsed light of the illumination optical system (2) driven with fixed keying interval in dependence upon the vehicle direction of travel in such a manner that the glare is eliminated. Therein the illumination optical system is driven is driven with a fixed keying interval depending upon the vehicle direction of travel or, in certain cases, the direction of illumination. In an alternative embodiment, the illumination optical system (2) is operated at a wavelength which depends upon the vehicle direction of travel or, in certain cases, the direction of illumination.

Claims

1. A system for improving the visibility of the environment of a vehicle to a vehicle operator, the system comprising

at least one illumination optical system (2) for radiation of infrared pulsed light from the vehicle to the environment of the vehicle, and

at least one associated receiver optical system (3) for receiving reflected components of the radiated light and generating a display to the vehicle operator, wherein

the illumination optical system (2) includes means for operation which is dependent upon the direction of illumination, and wherein a compass system is provided for determination of the compass direction of illumination.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the compass system is an electronic compass system.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the electronic compass is based on a position determining system or a navigation device.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the illumination optical system (2) is a part of a laser headlight, which includes a laser diode (D) which emits in the range of 800 to 2000 nm, preferably 810 nm, with an output of approximately 4 watt, emitting an infrared light with a keying interval or duty cycle of between 1:

3 and 1;

100.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the illumination optical system (2) includes a means for operation at a fixed keying interval which is dependent upon the direction of illumination of the vehicle.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the system includes a radio device (7) for receiving a fixed timing or clock pulse, wherein a means is provided for selection of the timing or clock pulse depending upon the direction of travel.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the radio device (7) comprises a radio clock or a radio telephone or a global positioning system.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the illumination optical system (2) includes a means of operation dependent upon the vehicle direction of illumination and at a wavelength dependent upon the vehicle direction of illumination.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the receiver optical system (3) includes a bandpass filter corresponding to each of the wavelengths of the illumination optical system (2) and wherein a means is provided for selecting the wavelengths of the illumination optical system and the bandpass filter depending upon the vehicle direction of illumination.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the bandpass filter of the receiver optical system (3) is provided on a filter wheel.

11. A system according to claim 8, wherein the system includes a means for selecting the wavelength of the pulsed light emitted by the illumination optical system (2) in the range of about 800 nm.

12. A system according to claim 8, wherein the system includes a means for selecting a wavelength of the pulsed light emitted by the illumination optical system (2) in the range of about 800-880 nm.

13. A system according to claim 8, wherein the system includes three or more laser headlights, each headlight operating at a different wavelength.

14. A system as in claim 13, wherein a first laser headlight operates at about 800 nm, a second laser headlight operates at about 820 nm, and a third laser headlight operates at about 840 nm.

15. A system according to claim 1, wherein the information by the receiver optical system (3) is reproduced in a manner recognizable by humans.

16. A system according to claim 1, wherein the information received by the receiver optical system (3) is reproduced in a display visible to the vehicle operator.

17. A system according to claim 1, wherein the illumination optical system (2) is a part of a laser headlight, which includes a laser diode (D) which emits with a wavelength of 810 nm, with an output of approximately 4 watt, emitting an infrared light with a keying interval or duty cycle of between 1:

3 and 1;

100.

18. A system for preventing optoelectronic headlight interference between first and second vehicles equipped with optoelectronic headlights, said system comprising

at least one illumination optical system (2) for radiation of infrared pulsed light from each vehicle to at least one direction in the environment of the vehicle,

at least one associated receiver optical system (3) in each vehicle for receiving reflected components of the radiated light and generating a display to a vehicle operator, and

a compass system for determination of the compass direction of illumination of said infrared pulsed light from the vehicle, wherein

each illumination optical system (2) includes means for operation of the infrared pulsed light which is dependent upon the direction of illumination, such that the operation of said infrared pulsed lights from each of said vehicles is coordinated so that interfereence with the optoelectronic system of the other vehicle is minimized.