Airborne Object Deflection System
AssigneeInvention Licensing
InventorTimothy Basta
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system includes a deflector and an imaging system configured to be coupled to a vehicle. The deflector may be a windshield wiper with a pad coupled to a side opposite the wiper blade. The imaging system includes an objection detection camera. The deflector is configured to move across a predetermined portion of the windshield of the vehicle. A control system is configured to receive image data from the imaging system while the vehicle is in motion. Further, the control system is configured to identify an airborne object in a field of vision of the imaging system. Based on the receiving image data and identified airborne object, a trajectory of the airborne object is determined, and the deflector is operated to contact the airborne object.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- a deflector configured to be coupled to a vehicle, wherein the deflector is configured to move across a predetermined portion of a windshield coupled to the vehicle;
- an imaging system configured to be coupled to the vehicle;
- and
- a control system configured to:
- while the vehicle is in motion, receive image data from the imaging system;
- identify, based on the received image data, an airborne object in a field of vision of the imaging system;
- determine, based on the received image data and identified airborne object, a trajectory of the airborne object;
- and
- operate the deflector, based on the determined trajectory, to locate the deflector in a position to contact the airborne object.
A method comprising:
- collecting, by an object detection camera coupled to a vehicle, image data;
- identifying, based on the collected image data, an airborne object in a field of vision of the object detection camera;
- determining, based on the collected image data, a trajectory of the airborne object;
- determining, based on the collected image data and the determined trajectory, that the airborne object has potential to damage a windshield coupled to the vehicle if the airborne object were to contact the windshield;
- and
- moving, based on the determination that the airborne object has potential to damage the windshield, a deflector from a first position to an intercept position, wherein when in the intercept position the deflector is positioned to contact the airborne object.
A vehicle comprising:
- a windshield coupled to the vehicle;
- an object detection camera coupled to the vehicle, wherein the object detection camera is configured to identify and track a trajectory of an airborne object;
- and
- a windshield wiper comprising:
- a wiper blade configured to wipe a predetermined section of the windshield;
- and
- a deflection pad on a side opposite the wiper blade;
- wherein the windshield wiper is configured to operate in at least a wiping mode and a deflection mode;
- wherein when in the wiping mode, the windshield wiper rotates about an axis such that the wiper blade moves across the predetermined section of the windshield;
- and
- wherein when in the deflection mode, the windshield wiper rotates about the axis such that the windshield wiper is positioned for the deflection pad to contact the airborne object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.