Illumination apparatus for vehicle

US2017144584A1 · US · A1

Patent metadata
FieldValue
Publication numberUS-2017144584-A1
Application numberUS-201515316629-A
CountryUS
Kind codeA1
Filing dateMay 28, 2015
Priority dateJun 13, 2014
Publication dateMay 25, 2017
Grant date

How to read this patent

A practical reading order for non-experts. Skip the full description unless you need deep technical detail.

  1. Title

    What the patent document calls the invention.

  2. Abstract

    A short plain-language summary of the technical disclosure.

  3. Assignees and inventors

    Who owns or filed the patent and who is credited as inventor.

  4. Key dates

    Filing, priority, publication, and grant dates set the timeline.

  5. First independent claim

    The legal scope of protection — read this for what is actually claimed.

  6. CPC / IPC classifications

    Technology tags used to group this patent with similar filings.

  7. Citations and related patents

    Prior art links and similar publications in this corpus.

Abstract

Official abstract text for this publication.

An illumination apparatus for a vehicle includes a projector configured to project an image of visible light; an obstacle detection apparatus configured to detect an obstacle; and a processing apparatus configured to predict a travel area of the vehicle after a predetermined time or a predetermined distance of travel, project a first image with the projector in the predicted travel area upon no obstacle in the predicted travel area being detected by the obstacle detection apparatus, and project a second image, which is different from the first image, with the projector in the predicted travel area upon the obstacle in the predicted travel area being detected by the obstacle detection apparatus.

First claim

Opening claim text (preview).

1 . An illumination apparatus for a vehicle, the illumination apparatus comprising: a projector configured to project an image of visible light; an obstacle detection apparatus configured to detect an obstacle; and a processing apparatus configured to predict a travel area of the vehicle after a predetermined time or a predetermined distance of travel, project a first image with the projector in the predicted travel area upon no obstacle in the predicted travel area being detected by the obstacle detection apparatus, and project a second image, which is different from the first image, with the projector in the predicted travel area upon the obstacle in the predicted travel area being detected by the obstacle detection apparatus. 2 . The illumination apparatus for a vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the second image includes a first image portion and a second image portion, the first image portion being projected on an area related to the obstacle as a whole in the travel area, the second image portion being projected on another area in the travel area. 3 . The illumination apparatus for a vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the second image includes the first image portion that flashes and the second image portion that does not flash. 4 . The illumination apparatus for a vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the first image portion is brighter than the second image portion.

Assignees

Inventors

Classifications

  • virtually distinguishing relevant parts of a scene from the background of the scene · CPC title

  • using stereoscopic cameras · CPC title

  • Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle · CPC title

  • for lane monitoring · CPC title

  • for pedestrian protection · CPC title

Patent family

Related publications grouped by family.

External sources

Frequently asked questions

Answers are generated from the same data shown on this page.

What does patent US2017144584A1 cover?
An illumination apparatus for a vehicle includes a projector configured to project an image of visible light; an obstacle detection apparatus configured to detect an obstacle; and a processing apparatus configured to predict a travel area of the vehicle after a predetermined time or a predetermined distance of travel, project a first image with the projector in the predicted travel area upon no…
Who is the assignee on this patent?
Toyota Motor Co Ltd
What technology area does this patent fall under?
Primary CPC classification B60Q1/0023. Mapped technology areas include Operations & Transport.
When was this patent published?
Publication date Thu May 25 2017 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) (A1). Legal status and post-grant events are not shown on this page.
What related patents are in patentsdb?
We list 8 related publications on this page (citations in our corpus or others sharing the same primary CPC).