| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080309914 | METHOD FOR DETECTING OBJECTS WITH VISIBLE LIGHT - A method for detecting an object using visible light comprises providing a visible-light source having a function of illuminating an environment. The visible-light source is driven to emit visible light in a predetermined mode, with visible light in the predetermined mode being emitted such that the light source maintains said function of illuminating an environment. A reflection/backscatter of the emitted visible light is received from an object. The reflection/backscatter is filtered over a selected wavelength range as a function of a desired range of detection from the light source to obtain a light input. The presence or position of the object is identified with the desired range of detection as a function of the light input and of the predetermined mode. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20090119044 | DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING IN OPTICAL SYSTEMS USED FOR RANGING APPLICATIONS - Methods and apparatuses for reducing the response time along with increasing the probability of ranging of optical rangefinders that digitize the signal waveforms obtained from the pulse echoes returned from various types of objects to be ranged, the pulse echoes being too weak to allow successful ranging from a single waveform or the objects being possibly in motion during the capture of the pulse echoes. In a first embodiment of the invention, the response time at close range of a digital optical rangefinder is reduced by using a signal averaging process wherein the number of data to be averaged varies with the distance according to a predetermined function. In a second embodiment of the invention, the probability of ranging objects in motion along the line of sight of a digital optical rangefinder is increased and the object velocity measured by performing a range shift of each acquired signal waveform prior to averaging. In a third embodiment of the invention, the signal waveforms acquired in the line of sight of a digital optical rangefinder are scanned over a predetermined zone and range shifted and averaged to allow for early detection and ranging of objects that enter in the zone. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20100039637 | DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING IN OPTICAL SYSTEMS USED FOR RANGING APPLICATIONS - Methods and apparatuses for reducing the response time along with increasing the probability of ranging of optical rangefinders that digitize the signal waveforms obtained from the pulse echoes returned from various types of objects to be ranged, the pulse echoes being too weak to allow successful ranging from a single waveform or the objects being possibly in motion during the capture of the pulse echoes. In a first embodiment of the invention, the response time at close range of a digital optical rangefinder is reduced by using a signal averaging process wherein the number of data to be averaged varies with the distance according to a predetermined function. In a second embodiment of the invention, the probability of ranging objects in motion along the line of sight of a digital optical rangefinder is increased and the object velocity measured by performing a range shift of each acquired signal waveform prior to averaging. In a third embodiment of the invention, the signal waveforms acquired in the line of sight of a digital optical rangefinder are scanned over a predetermined zone and range shifted and averaged to allow for early detection and ranging of objects that enter in the zone. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100042362 | DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING IN OPTICAL SYSTEMS USED FOR RANGING APPLICATIONS - Methods and apparatuses for reducing the response time along with increasing the probability of ranging of optical rangefinders that digitize the signal waveforms obtained from the pulse echoes returned from various types of objects to be ranged, the pulse echoes being too weak to allow successful ranging from a single waveform or the objects being possibly in motion during the capture of the pulse echoes. In a first embodiment of the invention, the response time at close range of a digital optical rangefinder is reduced by using a signal averaging process wherein the number of data to be averaged varies with the distance according to a predetermined function. In a second embodiment of the invention, the probability of ranging objects in motion along the line of sight of a digital optical rangefinder is increased and the object velocity measured by performing a range shift of each acquired signal waveform prior to averaging. In a third embodiment of the invention, the signal waveforms acquired in the line of sight of a digital optical rangefinder are scanned over a predetermined zone and range shifted and averaged to allow for early detection and ranging of objects that enter in the zone. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100191418 | LIGHTING SYSTEM WITH DRIVER ASSISTANCE CAPABILITIES - The present application adds detection capabilities to perceive the presence and/or measure the velocity of obstacles such as automobiles, trucks, pedestrian and other users, to vehicle lighting modules as headlamp, tail lamps, centre high mount stop lamp (CHMSL) and interior lighting to name a few, for driver assistance applications like adaptive cruise control, blind spot and pre-crash assist. For example, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) has the capability to be used as lighting source for illumination as a first function and also be pulsed or modulated as a source for the detection sub-system as a second function. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100194595 | LIGHTING SYSTEM WITH TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT CAPABILITIES - The present lighting system adds detection capabilities to perceive the presence and measure the velocity of objects such as automobiles, trucks, pedestrian and other users, to lighting modules for transportation applications like traffic signal, pedestrian control, rails signal, street light, message board and speed monitoring board. For example, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) has the capability to be used as lighting source for illumination as a first function and also be pulsed or modulated as a source for the detection sub-system as a second function. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20110205521 | MULTI-CHANNEL LED OBJECT DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method for detecting an object located in an environment and a multi-channel LED object detection system for detecting an object located in an environment are provided. The method includes providing a Light-Emitting-Diode (LED) light source having a wide field-of-illumination and orienting the LED light source for the wide field-of-illumination to encompass the width of the environment; providing an optical detector having a wide field-of-view and orienting the optical detector for the wide field-of-view to encompass the width of the environment, the optical detector having a plurality of sub-detectors, each having an individual narrow field-of-view, each individual narrow field-of-view creating a channel in the wide field-of-view; driving the LED light source into emitting light toward the environment, the width of the environment being illuminated by the light, the light having an emitted light waveform; receiving and acquiring an individual complete trace of a reflection/backscatter of the emitted light on the object in the environment at each sub-detector of the plurality, thereby combining the individual narrow field-of-view to create the wide field-of-view encompassing the width of the environment and thereby receiving and acquiring an individual complete trace for each channel; converting the acquired individual complete trace of the reflection/backscatter into an individual digital signal; and detecting and identifying at least one of a presence of an object in the environment, a position of the object in the environment, a distance between the object and the LED light source and a visibility in the environment, using the emitted light waveform and at least one of the individual digital signal. | 08-25-2011 |
