Method and apparatus for determining the range of vision of a motor vehicle driver upon encountering fog or other obstacle
US5118180A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 22, 1991 |
| Grant date | Jun 2, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 22, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S17/87
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for determining the range of vision of the driver of an motor vehicle upon encountering a fog. A transmitter and receiving member is mounted on the front portion of the motor vehicle. A series of beam are transmitted from the range finder to different measured portions of the roadway. The reflections from the roadway are monitored. When the atmospheric conditions change so that a fog or other obstacle appears in the roadway, the reflected signal will take on different characteristics or will not appear at all. The driver of the motor vehicle can have a visual and/or an acoustic warning indication inside the vehicle to note that some dangerous condition exists.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.