Patent · US Expired

Driver road hazard warning and illumination system

US6281806A · kind A · utility

68Cited by
10References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 12, 2000
Grant dateAug 28, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 12, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60Q2300/45
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A vision enhancement system 10 which aids the driver in visually identifying a sensed object 16 without diverting his/her attention from the road ahead. One or more sensors 20 used to collect information about the vehicle's environment are operatively coupled with a controlled source of illumination 38. A processor 24 receives input from the sensors and intelligently determines whether a particular object sensed in or near the current path of the vehicle requires alerting the driver. If so, the processor outputs a control signal 30 to effect illumination of the sensed object. The source of illumination is controlled so as to continuously direct light onto the identified object, even as the vehicle and/or object move simultaneously with respect to one another.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.