US6771208B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-sensor system
Assignee: Autobrilliance LLC
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Filing: 2002-04-24
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Granted: 2004-08-03
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Expires: 2022-04-24
Abstract
Abstract A multi-sensor system includes multiple sensors that are integrated onto the same substrate forming a unitary multi-sensor platform that provides a known consistent physical relationship between the multiple sensors. A processor can also be integrated onto the substrate so that data from the multiple sensors can be processed locally by the multi-sensor system.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Pierce Lutter
- 👤 Tracey Olson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 09:12
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/02; G01S7/03; G01S7/032; G01S11/00; G01S11/12; G01S13/00; G01S13/86; G01S13/867; G01S13/88; G01S13/93; G01S13/931; G01S17/00; G01S17/88; G01S17/93; G01S17/931; G01S13/66; G01S13/72; G01S13/723; G01S13/726; G01S17/86; G01S2013/9323; G01S7/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A multi-sensor system, comprising: multiple sensors used in multi-sensor units for detecting objects or impact conditions around a vehicle; and substrates providing common mounting bases for the multiple sensor units; and processors mounted to the substrates and electrically coupled to the multiple sensors in the multi-sensor units wherein the processors transfer the track files to another multi-sensor unit that has an adjacent sensed region when detected objects move into the adjacent sensed region for the other multi-sensor unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
78 words
A multi-sensor system, comprising: multiple sensors used in multi-sensor units for detecting objects or impact conditions around a vehicle; and substrates providing common mounting bases for the multiple sensor units; and processors mounted to the substrates and electrically coupled to the multiple sensors in the multi-sensor units wherein the processors transfer the track files to another multi-sensor unit that has an adjacent sensed region when detected objects move into the adjacent sensed region for the other multi-sensor unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A multi-sensor system according to claim 1 wherein the substrates are made from a material resistant to dimensional changes due to temperature.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A multi-sensor system according to claim 1 wherein the substrates are is made from invar or a steel material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A multi-sensor system according to claim 1 wherein the multiple sensors are rigidly mounted to the substrates prior to the substrate being installed in the vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A multi-sensor system according to claim 1 wherein the processors correlate data from the multiple sensors and converts the correlated data for detected objects into track files.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A multi-sensor system according to claim 5 including a CAN bus or a wireless connection coupled between the multi-sensor units to transfer the track files to another multi-sensor unit that has an adjacent sensed region when detected objects move into the adjacent sensed region.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A multi-sensor system according to claim 1 wherein a first one of the sensors in the multi-sensor units is a video camera and a second one of the sensors in the multi-sensor units is a radar or lidar module.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A multi-sensor system according to claim 1 wherein the multiple sensors in the multi-sensor units have coincident scan paths so that correlation of measurements for the multiple sensors do not have to be transformed into common coordinates.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for sensing events on a vehicle, comprising: installing a first sensor on a platform; installing a second sensor on the same platform; installing the platform on the vehicle; locating a processor on the platform and using the processor to generate track files from the first sensor and the second sensor; exchanging the track files with other platforms on the vehicle that contain multiple sensors, each platform generating its own track files for objects detected around the vehicle.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for sensing events on a vehicle, comprising: installing a first sensor on a platform; installing a second sensor on the same platform; installing the platform on the vehicle; locating a processor on the platform and using the processor to generate track files from the first sensor and the second sensor; exchanging the track files with other platforms on the vehicle that contain multiple sensors, each platform generating its own track files for objects detected around the vehicle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 9 including correlating data from the first sensor and second sensor to identify and track objects around the vehicle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 10 including locating a processor on the platform and using the processor to correlate the track files from the first sensor and the second sensor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 11 including using the processor to generate track files that include position, speed, acceleration, range, angle, and heading of the identified objects.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 12 including notifying a central controller when the track files identify an object within a selected range of the vehicle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein the platform is a substrate and including integrally fabricating the first and second sensor onto the substrate so that the first and second sensors and the substrate coexist in a same integrated circuit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
64 words
A multi sensor system comprising: plural multi sensor units, each multi sensor unit including; multiple sensors for detecting objects or impact conditions around a vehicle; a processor for processing data generated by the integrated sensors into track files; and a wireless or wired communication link between the multi sensor units with overlapping or non-overlapping fields of view for sharing information in the track files.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
64 words
A multi sensor system comprising: plural multi sensor units, each multi sensor unit including; multiple sensors for detecting objects or impact conditions around a vehicle; a processor for processing data generated by the integrated sensors into track files; and a wireless or wired communication link between the multi sensor units with overlapping or non-overlapping fields of view for sharing information in the track files.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
A multi sensor system according to claim 15 wherein the communications link is wireless 802.11.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
A multi sensor system according to wherein the communications link is a wired connection the automotive CAN bus.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
A multi sensor system according to wherein the communications link is a wired connection the automotive CAN bus.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
A multi sensor system according to claim 15 wherein the processor exchanges the track files with other multi-sensor systems that have adjacent sensed regions when objects or targets move into the adjacent sensed regions.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-08-03 | 2008-02-02 | 2008-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-08-03 | 2012-02-02 | 2012-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-08-03 | 2016-02-02 | 2016-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |