The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 26, 1995
Filed:
Mar. 08, 1994
Tohru Yoshioka, Hatsukaichi, JP;
Yasunori Yamamoto, Higashi-hiroshima, JP;
Tomohiko Adachi, Hatsukaichi, JP;
Ken-ichi Okuda, Hatsukaichi, JP;
Mazda Motor Corporation, Hiroshima, JP;
Abstract
An obstacle sensing apparatus for vehicles which enables efficient obstacle sensing and improves sensing precision. The apparatus comprises a section for predicting a deduced traveling-passage on which the vehicle will travel, based on a steering angle, a yaw rate and a velocity of the vehicle, a section having a CCD camera, for detecting a current traveling-passage on which the vehicle is currently moving, a scanning-type radar unit for sensing obstacles within a predetermined area, and a danger level judging section for judging danger levels of the sensed obstacles, based on the deduced traveling-passage and the current traveling-passage. The danger level judging section sets the danger level of the obstacle sensed within an area, where the deduced traveling-passage and the current traveling-passage overlap with each other, to the highest danger level; the obstacle sensed in an area within the current traveling-passage and without the deduced traveling-passage, to an intermediate danger level; the obstacle sensed in an area within the deduced traveling-passage and without the current traveling-passage, to a lower danger level; and the obstacle sensed in an area without the current and deduced traveling-passages, to the lowest danger level.