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:
Jan. 05, 2016
Filed:
Jun. 02, 2011
Kunihiko Toyofuku, Toyota, JP;
Kunihiko Toyofuku, Toyota, JP;
TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Aichi, JP;
Abstract
A vision support apparatus of the invention includes a first obstacle detecting part configured to detect an obstacle near a vehicle with a visible light image; a second obstacle detecting part configured to detect the obstacle using an infrared light image, a detection status determining part configured to determine whether it is difficult or impossible for the first obstacle detecting part to detect the obstacle; and an obstacle information providing part configured to provide a driver of the vehicle with information about the obstacle detected by the second obstacle detecting part, if it is determined by the detection status determining part that it is difficult or impossible for the first obstacle detecting part to detect the obstacle, thereby informing the driver of the existence of the obstacle when it is difficult for the driver to visually perceive the obstacle because of insufficient reflection of the visible light from the obstacle.