Distance detecting apparatus, air bag system controlling apparatus, and method of detecting distance

• US 7,311,326 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2004
• Issued: 12/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Matsuda, Mieko, Maeda, Kenichi, Maki, Atsuto
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOODEN JR, BARRY J
• Application Number:
  US10/821,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20050040632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,352 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 382/103, 382/106, 356/4.01, 356/4.02, 356/4.03, 356/4.04, 356/4.05, 356/4.06, 356/4.07
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01538 for image processing, e.g. cameras or sensor arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/46 Indirect determination of position data
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30268 Vehicle interior
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/60 Analysis of geometric attributes

Abstract

A light emitting unit emits a light in a light emitting direction, which is the direction to an object, the light having a distributed pattern in a predetermined direction. A photographing device obtains an image of the object along a photographing direction. A holding mechanism holds the light emitting unit and the photographing apparatus in such a relation that (a) the photographing direction is not in a plane that includes both the light emitting direction and the predetermined direction of the distributed pattern, and (b) the photographing direction is not parallel to the light emitting direction. A distance deriving unit derives a distance between the object and a predetermined position based on the image obtained by the photographing device.

Claims

1. A distance detecting apparatus comprising:

a light emitting unit that emits a light in a light emitting direction which is the direction to an object, the light having a plurality of pattern lights which are in the form of a line;

a photographing device that obtains an image of the object along a photographing direction; and

a distance deriving unit that derives a distance between the object and a predetermined position based on an interval between the pattern lights in the image.

2. An airbag system controlling apparatus comprising:

a light emitting unit that emits a light in a light emitting direction which is the direction to an object seated in a seat of a vehicle, the light having a plurality of pattern lights which are in the form of a line;

a photographing device that obtains an image of the object along a photographing direction;

a distance deriving unit that derives a distance between the object and a predetermined position based on an interval between at least two of the pattern lights in the image; and

an air bag system controlling unit that controls an operation of an air bag based on the distance derived.

3. The air bag system controlling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the distance deriving unit stores a relation between intervals between the distributed pattern of the light in the image and distances, and derives the distance by referring to the relation stored.

4. The air bag system controlling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the light emitting unit emits a infrared light, and

the photographing device obtains an infrared image.

5. The air bag system controlling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the light emitting unit emits the light when an operation of the air bag system controlling unit is required, and

the distance deriving unit derives the distance based on the image when the light emitting unit emits the light.

6. An airbag system controlling apparatus comprising:

a light emitting unit that emits a light in a light emitting direction which is the direction to an object seated in a seat of a vehicle, the light having a plurality of pattern lights which are in the form of a line;

a photographing device that obtains an image of the object along a photographing direction;

a memory that stores a computer program that makes it possible to execute a function of deriving a distance between the object and a predetermined position based on an interval between at least two of the pattern lights in the image obtained by the photographing device, and a function of controlling an operation of an air bag based on the distance derived; and

a processor that can access the memory unit and execute the computer program.

7. The air bag system controlling apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the light emitting unit emits a infrared light, and

the photographing device obtains an infrared image.

8. The air bag system controlling apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the light emitting unit emits the light when an operation of the air bag system controlling unit is required, and

the distance deriving unit derives the distance based on the image when the light emitting unit emits the light.

9. A method of detecting a distance, comprising:

emitting light in a light emitting direction to thereby irradiate an object, the light having a plurality of pattern lights which are in the form of a line;

obtaining an image of the object along a photographing direction; and

deriving a distance between the object and a predetermined position based on an interval between the pattern lights in the image.