Distance measuring apparatus of a target tracking type
US5515448A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 26, 1993 |
| Grant date | May 7, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 26, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60G2401/142
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A distance measuring apparatus of the target tracking type which reduces the amount of data to be processed to allow high rate processing on the real time basis so that a distance to a moving object such as an automobile can be measured while tracking the object. The distance measuring apparatus comprises a plurality of frame memories for storing quantized density data of an image for one frame obtained at a fixed interval of time by imaging a travelling road in a matrix of columns and rows. The quantized data is compared at the same coordinate points to produce density difference data. The density difference data is accumulated for the individual columns and rows in the direction of each column and row, respectively. A preceding vehicle is tracked in accordance with the accumulated column data, the distance to the vehicle in front is measured in accordance with the accumulated row data. A rear-end collision preventing alarming apparatus incorporates the distance measuring apparatus and sets off an alarm to warn of a possible collision between the vehicles.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.