Vehicular monitoring systems using image processing

A vehicle including an arrangement for obtaining the position of an object in an environment of or about the vehicle, the arrangement comprising:

• a light source arranged on the vehicle to emit modulated light into the environment;
• at least one light-receiving pixel arranged to receive the modulated light after reflection by any objects in the environment;
• and
• a processor arranged to determine the distance between any objects from which the modulated light is reflected and said light source based on a comparison of the light emitted by said light source and the modulated light received by said at least one pixel such that the position of the objects is obtained based on the determined distance between the objects and said light source.

A vehicle including an arrangement for measuring position of an object in an environment of or about the vehicle, the position-measuring arrangement comprising:

• a light source capable of directing individual pulses of light into the environment;
• at least one array of light-receiving pixels arranged to receive light after reflection by any objects in the environment;
• and
• a processor for determining the distance between any objects from which any pulse of light is reflected and said light source based on a difference in time between the emission of a pulse of light by said light source and the reception of light by said at least one array.

A vehicle including an arrangement for monitoring objects in or about a vehicle, the arrangement comprising:

• generating means generating a first signal having a first frequency in a specific radio range;
• a wave transmitter arranged to receive the signal and transmit waves toward the objects;
• a wave-receiver arranged relative to said wave transmitter for receiving waves transmitted by said wave transmitter after the waves have interacted with an object, said wave receiver being arranged to generate a second signal based on the received waves at the same frequency as said first signal but shifted in phase;
• and
• detecting means for detecting a phase difference between said first and second signals, whereby said phase difference is a measure of a property of the object.

A method for monitoring objects in or about a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• generating a first signal having a first frequency in a specific radio range;
• directing the first signal to a wave transmitter to cause the wave transmitter to transmit waves toward the objects;
• arranging a wave receiver relative to the wave transmitter;
• receiving waves transmitted by the wave transmitter at the wave receiver after the waves have interacted with an object;
• detecting a phase difference between the first and second signals, the phase difference being a measure of a property of the object.