Patent · US Expired

Method and system for obstacle detection

US7164118B2 · kind B2 · utility

37Cited by
6References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 29, 2004
Grant dateJan 16, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 29, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01S11/12
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and system for detecting the presence of an object or the distance between the system and an object supports the provision of rapid and reliable obstacle detection. A transmitter emits generally linear beams of electromagnetic radiation with a transmitted radiation pattern within a defined spatial zone. A camera collects an image of the defined spatial zone. A data processor detects a presence of an object in the collected image based on an observed illumination radiation pattern on an object formed by at least one of the generally linear beams. A distance estimator estimates a distance between the object and the optical device based on a change (e.g., an observed shift in one or more positions of generally linear beams) from the transmitted radiation pattern to the observed illumination radiation pattern.

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