Object detection apparatus

An object detection apparatus for an overland vehicle, comprising:

• an electromagnetic radiation emitter borne by the overland vehicle and which emits electromagnetic radiation which is directed towards and reflected from an object which is located within an area of interest which is located at a distance from the overland vehicle, and wherein the reflected electromagnetic radiation is reflected back generally in the direction of the overland vehicle;
• an electromagnetic radiation receiver borne by the overland vehicle and which selectively collects both the reflected electromagnetic radiation which originated from the electromagnetic radiation emitter, and other electromagnetic radiation which originates from another source, and wherein both sources of electromagnetic radiation are generally directed towards the overland vehicle, and wherein the electromagnetic radiation receiver provides an output signal from which information regarding the object in the area of interest may be derived;
• an operator display coupled in output signal receiving relation relative to the electromagnetic radiation receiver and which provides a visibly discernible image of the object within the area interest which is located at a distance from the overland vehicle;
• and
• a controller operably coupled with both the electromagnetic radiation emitter and receiver, and which controls the processing of the electromagnetic radiation by the electromagnetic radiation receiver and which is reflected from the object which is located within the area of interest, or which originates from another source of electromagnetic radiation within the area of interest, and which further minimizes the processing of electromagnetic radiation coming from locations other than the area of interest.

An object detection apparatus for an overland vehicle, comprising:

• an electromagnetic radiation emitter borne by the overland vehicle and which emits eye safe electromagnetic radiation having predetermined wavelengths in a given direction toward an area of interest which is spaced a predetermined distance from the overland vehicle and along a possible path of movement of the overland vehicle, and wherein the electromagnetic radiation emitted strikes an object located within the area of interest and is reflected back in the direction of the overland vehicle;
• a light intensifier tube borne by the overland vehicle and which is operable to selectively receive and amplify the reflected electromagnetic radiation emitted by the electromagnetic radiation emitter, and other electromagnetic radiation originating from other sources within the area of interest, and wherein the light intensifier tube has a first end and an opposite second end, and wherein an adjustable shutter electrode is made integral with the light intensifier tube, and further has a first operational condition which permits electromagnetic radiation to be amplified by the light intensifier tube, and a second operational condition which substantially prohibits the amplification of the electromagnetic radiation entering into the light intensifier tube, and wherein electromagnetic radiation entering into the light intensifier tube is amplified to provide a visibly discernible light output which is provided at the second end thereof;
• an optical filter disposed in optical filtering relation relative to the first end of the light intensifier tube and which passes the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the electromagnetic radiation emitter and which has the predetermined wavelengths and which are reflected from the object of interest which is located within the area of interest;
• a charge couple device coupled in optical receiving relation relative to the second end of the light intensifier tube and which produces an electrical output representative of the visibly discernible light output provided at the second end of the light intensifier tube;
• an operator display borne by the overland vehicle and which is coupled in receiving relation relative to the electrical output provided by the charge couple device, and which produces a visibly discernible image of the object located within the area of interest;
• a controller borne by the overland vehicle and which simultaneously, and selectively energizes the electromagnetic radiation emitter to produce discrete pulses of electromagnetic radiation, and further causes the shutter electrode to selectively assume the first and second operational conditions to facilitate the amplification of the reflected electromagnetic radiation originating from objects of interest located within the area of interest, or from other sources of electromagnetic radiation located within the area of interest, and to simultaneously minimize the amplification of electromagnetic radiation originating from locations outside of the area of interest;
• and
• a control circuit electrically coupled with the controller and which causes the controller to adjust the distance that the area of interest is from the overland vehicle.