Detection apparatus and vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9476706-B2
Application number	US-201414329231-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 11, 2014
Priority date	Jul 29, 2013
Publication date	Oct 25, 2016
Grant date	Oct 25, 2016

Abstract

A detection apparatus attachable to a structure includes a transmission unit to transmit a transmission signal; a receiving unit to receive a reflection signal of the transmission signal reflected from a detection target; and a detection processing unit to detect the detection target based on the reflection signal. The structure includes a transmission translucent portion and a receiving translucent portion. The transmission signal having a given wavelength range passes through the transmission translucent portion, and the reflection signal having a given wavelength range passes through the receiving translucent portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A detection apparatus for use with a vehicle, comprising:
a structure including a bumper or a lamp and including a transmission translucent portion and a receiving translucent portion; and
a detection device, the detection device comprising:
a transmitter to transmit a transmission signal having a wavelength range corresponding to non-visible light that passes through the transmission translucent portion of the structure;
a receiver to receive a reflection signal of the transmission signal reflected from a detection target, the reflection signal having a wavelength range corresponding to non-visible light that passes through the receiving translucent portion of the structure; and
a processor to detect the detection target based on the reflection signal,

wherein a surface of the transmission translucent portion and a surface of the receiving translucent portion of the structure are disposed with a reflection film that can reflect visible light,
wherein the transmission translucent portion and the receiving translucent portion of the structure both have a same appearance color as an appearance color of the bumper or the lamp, and
wherein the detection device is disposed between a portion of a main body of the vehicle and an outer portion of the bumper or the lamp behind a location of the transmission translucent portion and the receiving translucent portion of the structure.

2. The detection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transmission translucent portion passes the transmission signal having the wavelength range corresponding to non-visible light.

3. The detection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the receiving translucent portion passes the reflection signal having the wavelength range corresponding to non-visible light.

4. The detection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of a surface of the transmission translucent portion and a surface of the receiving translucent portion is processed with anti-contamination.

5. The detection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter emits laser light as the transmission signal.

6. The detection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the bumper or the lamp comprises a bumper.

7. A vehicle comprising:
the detection apparatus of claim 1 to detect a detection target outside the vehicle.

8. The detection apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a wavelength limiting member that covers the transmission translucent portion and the receiving translucent portion.

9. The detection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the bumper or the lamp comprises a lamp.

10. The detection apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the structure is a head lamp.

11. The detection apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the structure is a lamp including a function to indicate a turn.

12. The detection apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the structure is a side turn lamp.

13. The detection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the transmission translucent portion and the receiving translucent portion are a same translucent portion.

Assignees

• Nakajima Mitsuru
• Suzuki Shuichi
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Nakajima Mitsuru
• Suzuki Shuichi

Classifications

• B60W2554/00

  Input parameters relating to objects · CPC title

• G01S17/931

  of land vehicles · CPC title

• G01S2013/93275

  in the bumper area · CPC title

• G08G1/16

  Anti-collision systems (road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08) · CPC title

• B60W2520/10

  Longitudinal speed · CPC title