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Method of determining the trajectory of a body suitable for moving along a portion of a path, and apparatus for implementing the method

Assignee: ARMINES
•
Filing: 1988-01-14
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Granted: 1989-06-13
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Expires: 2008-01-14
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Abstract

Abstract A method of determining the trajectory of a body (1) such as a vehicle body on a relatively plane path portion (2), the method being characterized in that it consists: in forming a main real image (4) of the path portion in a plane (19) at a non-zero angle (5) with the path portion; in decomposing said main image as formed into a plurality of points (21); in determining the relationship between the size of a unit length (30) taken substantially at the level of the path portion and the size of its image formed in the main image the size being a function of the number of points covered by the image and of the location of the unit length on said path portion; in determining a secondary image (32) in the main image, the secondary image corresponding to a longitudinal reference mark (31) related to the vehicle on the path portion; and in determining the various successive positions (32, 33, 34) of the secondary image by correlation of the number of points covered by the secondary image, given that the secondary image corresponds, according to the relationship, to a length which is constant on the path portion.

Inventors

  • 👤 Serge Beucher
  • 👤 Jean-Marc Blosseville
  • 👤 Francois Lenoir

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 18:21
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/01; G08G1/04

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 179 words
A method of determining the trajectory of a vehicle body on a relatively plane path portion, the method consisting of: forming a main real image of said path portion in a plane at a non-zero angle with said path portion; decomposing said main image as formed into a plurality of points; determining the relationship between the size of a unit length taken substantially at the level of said path portion and the size of its image formed in said main image, said size being a function of the number of points covered by said image and the location of said unit length on said path portion; determining a secondary image in said main image, said secondary image corresponding to a longitudinal reference mark related to a dimension of said vehicle of constant length on said path portion; and determining the various successive positions of said secondary image by correlation of the number of points covered by said secondary image, given that said secondary image corresponds, according to said relationship, to said length which is constant on said path portion.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 179 words
A method of determining the trajectory of a vehicle body on a relatively plane path portion, the method consisting of: forming a main real image of said path portion in a plane at a non-zero angle with said path portion; decomposing said main image as formed into a plurality of points; determining the relationship between the size of a unit length taken substantially at the level of said path portion and the size of its image formed in said main image, said size being a function of the number of points covered by said image and the location of said unit length on said path portion; determining a secondary image in said main image, said secondary image corresponding to a longitudinal reference mark related to a dimension of said vehicle of constant length on said path portion; and determining the various successive positions of said secondary image by correlation of the number of points covered by said secondary image, given that said secondary image corresponds, according to said relationship, to said length which is constant on said path portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the images are formed by focusing using a converging lens optical system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 14 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of points are photosensitive points.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 26 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of points are distributed in the raster of a matrix defined relative to a frame of reference.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 34 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the various successive positions of said secondary image are determined by correlation of the number of points covered by said secondary image being performed by continuous analysis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 32 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said secondary image is determined from at least one reference mark related to the vehicle, said reference mark being optically contrasted relative to said path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 15 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein said reference mark is a dark reference mark.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 21 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein said dark reference mark is a portion of the shadow cast by said vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 15 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein said reference mark is a pale reference mark.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 25 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein said pale reference mark is given by light reflected from a portion of the bodywork of said vehicle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 24 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein said reference mark is constituted both by a dark reference mark and by a pale reference mark.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 61 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the various successive positions of said secondary image are determined by correlation of the number of points covered by said secondary image, said correlation being performed by comparing the number of said points with a range of point numbers determined as a function of the position of said secondary image in said main image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 50 words
Apparatus for implementing the method according to claim 1, said apparatus comprising a video camera whose target is defined by a plurality of pixels, a processor for processing the signals delivered at the output from said camera, and a recorder whose input is connected to the output of said processor.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3685012A Cited
FR2204841A1 Cited
US4214265A Cited
US4258351A Cited
JPS54123900A Cited
US4249207A Cited
US4433325A Cited
JPS6010112A Cited
US4661853A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-06-12 1992-12-12 1993-06-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-06-12 1996-12-12 1997-06-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-06-12 2000-12-12 2001-06-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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