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:
Oct. 01, 2002
Filed:
Mar. 01, 2001
Kenichi Nishimura, Gifu, JP;
Denso Corporation, Kariya, JP;
Abstract
A forward condition detecting apparatus for vehicles has a laser radar device mounted on a vehicle. A front height sensor and a rear height sensor detect a front height and a rear height of the vehicle, respectively. An electronic control unit calculates an angle of inclination of the vehicle relative to a reference plane based, on a difference between the detected front height and rear height. The electronic control unit then calculates a laser beam radiation angle based on the calculated angle of inclination. The electronic control unit controls an angular position of the laser radar device based on the calculated radiation angle so that the laser beam may be maintained leveled generally in parallel with the reference plane irrespective of the inclination of the vehicle. The laser radar device is preferably mounted in a vehicle front headlight unit to be driven together with a headlight lamp.