Automotive drive assistance system and method
View Patent ↗An automotive drive assistance system ( 100, 200 ) includes a substrate ( 215, 221 ) having a radius of curvature ( 227, 229 ), wherein the radius of curvature corresponds to a field of view ( 226, 228 ). At least two radiation elements ( 219, 225 ) coupled to the substrate, where the at least two radiation elements are coupled to directionally transmit and receive electromagnetic radiation ( 140, 240 ) over the field of view. A lens ( 217, 223 ) is coupled to focus the electromagnetic radiation transmitted and received from the at least two radiation elements.
1. In an automobile, a method of detecting an object, comprising:
providing a substrate having a radius of curvature, wherein the radius of curvature corresponds to a field of view;
at least two radiation elements coupled to the substrate emitting electromagnetic radiation directionally over the field of view, wherein each of the at least two radiation elements corresponds to substantially 1 degree of the field of view;
a lens focusing the electromagnetic radiation emitted from the at least two radiation elements over the field of view;
the electromagnetic radiation reflected from an object;
the lens focusing the electromagnetic radiation reflected from the object back to the at least two radiation elements; and
computing a positional element of the object.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the positional element of the object comprises at least one of position data, speed data and directional data relative to the automobile.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising notifying a user of the automobile of the positional element of the object.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising based on the positional element of the object, the automobile altering at least one of direction and velocity.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lens is multi-lobed so as to create a desired radiation pattern for transmitting and receiving the electromagnetic radiation.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the lens comprises a plurality of lenses, wherein each of the plurality of lenses corresponds to each of the at least two radiation elements.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation is optical electromagnetic radiation.
8. A method of adaptive cruise control in an automobile, comprising:
providing a substrate having a radius of curvature, wherein the radius of curvature corresponds to a field of view;
at least two radiation elements coupled to the substrate emitting electromagnetic radiation directionally over the field of view, wherein each of the at least two radiation elements corresponds to substantially 1 degree of the field of view;
a lens focusing the electromagnetic radiation emitted from the at least two radiation elements over the field of view;
the electromagnetic radiation reflected from an object;
the lens focusing the electromagnetic radiation reflected from the object back to the at least two radiation elements; and
computing a positional element of the object.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the positional element of the object comprises at least one of position data, speed data and directional data relative to the automobile.
10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising notifying a user of the automobile of the positional element of the object.
11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising based on the positional element of the object, the automobile altering at least one of direction and velocity.
12. A method of collision avoidance in an automobile, comprising:
providing a substrate having a radius of curvature, wherein the radius of curvature corresponds to a field of view;
at least two radiation elements coupled to the substrate emitting electromagnetic radiation directionally over the field of view, wherein each of the at least two radiation elements corresponds to substantially 1 degree of the field of view;
a lens focusing the electromagnetic radiation emitted from the at least two radiation elements over the field of view;
the electromagnetic radiation reflected from an object;
the lens focusing the electromagnetic radiation reflected from the object back to the at least two radiation elements, wherein the lens is multi-lobed so as to create a desired radiation pattern for transmitting and receiving the electromagnetic radiation; and
computing a positional element of the object.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the positional element of the object comprises at least one of position data, speed data and directional data relative to the automobile.
14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising notifying a user of the automobile of the positional element of the object.
15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising based on the positional element of the object, the automobile altering at least one of direction and velocity.