Vehicle with optical scanning device for a lateral road area

US6038496A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Daimlerchrysler AG · US

Inventors

• Günter Dobler · Altbach, DE
• Siegfried Rothe · Köngen, DE
• Peter Betzitza · Sindelfingen, DE
• Markus Hartlieb · Neckartenzlingen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 6, 1996
• Grant date: Mar 14, 2000
• Expiry date: Mar 6, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05D1/0255
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The invention provides a vehicle with a laterally mounted optical scanning device for zero-contact scanning of a lateral highway area and an evaluation unit connected thereto. The optical scanning device comprises a linear array of infrared transmitting devices located side by side and a corresponding CCD array, and the connected evaluation unit is programmed to perform time measurement, contrast measurement, and contour recognition. With this optical scanning system, a function to warn against falling asleep, an automatic lane maintenance function, a rear-area monitoring or environment monitoring function for the vehicle can be provided, with reaction to various types of lane boundaries being possible depending on the situation.