Method and apparatus for detecting objects with modifying gain and sensor means
AssigneeAuto-Sense, Ltd.
InventorsScott Juds, Paul Mathews
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are disclosed which allow for the detection of an object (14) by the generation of a radiated beam (18) and a subsequent reflection by the object (14) of a portion (20) thereof. The detection of particulate object material (16) due to a reflection of a portion (22) of the generated beam (18) is minimized.
Claims14
An object detector for detecting the presence of an object being remotely located at a distance from said object detector and reflecting a beam of radiation therefrom, said object detector comprising:
- (a) sensor means having a modifiable gain defined by said distance of said object from said object detector, for receiving said reflected beam of radiation from said object for producing a signal in response to said received reflected beam of radiation and for amplifying said produced signal according to said modifiable gain thereby producing an amplified signal therefrom;
- (b) gain means coupled to said sensor means for increasing said modifiable gain for a placement of said object at a first distance from said object detection, for decreasing said modifiable gain for a placement of said object at a second distance from said object detector, said second distance being greater than said first distance, and for increasing said modifiable gain for a placement of said object at a third distance from said object detector, said third distance being greater than said second distance.
An object detector having a defined threshold detection distance associated therewith, for use on a motor vehicle for detecting the presence of an object being remotely located at a distance from said object detector, said object detector comprising;
- (a) generation means for generating a beam of radiation therefrom and for directing said beam of radiation to said object so as to be reflected thereby;
- (b) acquisition means optically coupled to said reflected beam of radiation for acquiring the same;
- (c) first detector means coupled to said acquisition means for receiving said reflected beam of radiation and for producing a first signal having a positive polarity in response to said received reflected beam;
- (d) second detector means coupled to said acquisition means for receiving said reflected beam of radiation and for producing a second signal having a negative polarity in response to said received reflected beam and for cooperating with said first detector means to define a modifiable gain defined by said distance of said object from said object detector for increasing said modifiable gain for placement of said object at a first distance from said object detection, for decreasing said modifiable gain for a placement of said object at a second distance from said object detection, said second distance being greater than said first distance, and for increasing said modifiable gain for a placement of said object at a third distance from said object detector, said third distance being greater than said second distance;
- (e) thresholding means coupled to said first and to said second detector means for receiving said first and second signals and for adding the same and for generating a detection signal in response to said addition and for suppressing said detection signal if said object is located within a predetermined distance from said object detector, said predetermined distance being less than said defined threshold detection distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.