EP0353200A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and device for instrument-assisted vision in poor visibility, particularly for driving in fog
Assignee: Fiat Auto SpA
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Filing: 1989-06-13
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-06-13
Abstract
Abstract The method comprises the steps of: - illuminating a portion of space situated in the region through which the vehicle is about to travel (1) by means of a plurality of pulses (5, 6) emitted at predetermined time intervals; - monitoring the scene in front of the vehicle (1), including the light which is reflected back by the obstacle (3) in respective time windows; - reconstructing the image graphically, and - displaying the reconstructed and processed image on the windscreen.
Inventors
- 👤 Giorgio Venturello
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 04:46
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S17/00; G01S17/02; G01S17/06; G01S17/08; G01S17/10; G01S17/18; G01S17/88; G01S17/93; G01S17/931
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for detecting images of an object (3) in conditions of poor visibility, characterised in that it comprises the steps of: - sending (4) a train of light pulses (5, 6) towards the object (3); - observing (2) the object (3) illuminated by the pulses (5, 6) in respective time windows (10); - reconstructing (12 to 14) images of the object (3) from the observations in the respective time windows (5, 6) and - displaying (15) the images thus reconstructed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for detecting images of an object (3) in conditions of poor visibility, characterised in that it comprises the steps of: - sending (4) a train of light pulses (5, 6) towards the object (3); - observing (2) the object (3) illuminated by the pulses (5, 6) in respective time windows (10); - reconstructing (12 to 14) images of the object (3) from the observations in the respective time windows (5, 6) and - displaying (15) the images thus reconstructed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to Claim 1, characterised in that the pulses (5, 6) are monochromatic light pulses (4), preferably with a wavelength λ substantially equal to 900 nm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that the object (3) is observed in substantially monochromatic conditions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to Claim 2 and Claim 3, characterised in that the object (3) is observed by means of filtering at a wavelength which corresponds substantially to the wavelength of the monochromatic light (14) of the pulses (5, 6).
Claim 6
Independent Claim
37 words
A method according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 characterised in that the duration of each observation time window is of the same order of magnitude as the duration of each light pulse (5, 6).
Claim 7
Independent Claim
31 words
A method according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that each observation time window has a duration equal to a plurality (Nq) of light pulses (5, 6).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to Claim 1 or Claim 6, characterised in that each observation time window has a duration T with T = 2D c where c is the speed of light in the observation medium and D is the maximum permitted distance of the object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
117 words
A device for detecting images of an object (3) in conditions of poor visibility, particularly by the method according to Claim 1, characterised in that it comprises: - illumination means (14) for sending a train of light pulses (5, 6) towards the object (3); - televisual means (10 to 12) for observing the object (3) illuminated by the pulses and for generating corresponding television signals, the televisual means including a shutter (10) which is operable selectively (14, 16) so as to make the televisual means sensitive only in respective time windows, - processor means (13) for reconstructing images of the object (3) from the television signals obtained, and - display means (15) for presenting the reconstructed images.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to Claim 8, characterised in that the illumination means (4) generate monochromatic light, preferably with a wavelength λ substantially equal to 900 nm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device according to Claim 8 or Claim 9, characterised in that the televisual means (10 to 12) have a substantially monochromatic sensitivity due to optical filtering.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device according to Claim 9 and Claims 10, characterised in that the televisual means (10 to 12) have a monochromatic sensitivity which substantially corresponds to the monochromatic light generated by the illumination means (4).
Claim 13
Independent Claim
25 words
A device according to any one of Claims 8 to 10, characterised in that the televisual means (10 to 12) include an image-intensifier element (10).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device according to Claim 11, characterised in that the image-intensifier element (10) can be activated selectively so that the intensifier element (10) also acts as a shutter (10) for defining the observation time windows.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
23 words
A device according to any one of Claims 8 to 13, characterised in that the display means comprise a head-up display unit (15).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A motor vehicle (1) provided with a device (2, 4) according to any one of Claims 8 to 14, for driving in conditions of poor visibility.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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