Mid-infrared vehicle early warning system
A method of warning a driver of a vehicle of an obstacle that is more than one kilometer from the vehicle includes emitting MIR laser energy from the vehicle. The laser energy has a wavelength approximately between 3500 nanometers and 5000 nanometers. A phase conjugate lens is used to orthogonally direct a portion of the laser energy that is reflected by the obstacle to an image-capturing device or sensor within the vehicle. An image of the obstacle is displayed to the driver. The image is based on the laser energy directed to the image-capturing device.
1. A method of warning a driver of a vehicle of an obstacle that is more than one kilometer from the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
emitting MIR laser energy from the vehicle, the laser energy having a wavelength approximately between 3500 nanometers and 5000 nanometers;
using a phase conjugate lens to orthogonally direct a portion of the laser energy that is reflected by the obstacle to an image-capturing device or sensor within the vehicle; and
displaying an image of the obstacle to the driver, the image being based on the laser energy directed to the image-capturing device.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the image-capturing device comprises a MIR charge coupled device.
3. The method of claim 1 comprising the further steps of:
transmitting a signal from the image-capturing device to a processing device;
using the processing device to create image data dependent upon the signal from the image-capturing device; and
sending the image data from the processing device to a display device.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the displaying step includes using the display device to display the image data.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the laser energy has a wavelength approximately between 3700 nanometers and 4500 nanometers.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the laser energy has a wavelength approximately between 3800 nanometers and 4300 nanometers.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the laser energy has a wavelength approximately between 3900 nanometers and 4100 nanometers.
8. An obstacle early warning system for a vehicle, comprising:
a sensor;
a laser configured to emit MIR laser energy from the vehicle, the laser energy having a wavelength approximately between 3500 nanometers and 5000 nanometers;
a phase conjugate lens to configured to:
receive a portion of the laser energy that is reflected by the obstacle; and
orthogonally direct the portion of the laser energy to the sensor; and
a display device configured to display an image of the obstacle to the driver, the image being based on the laser energy directed to the sensor.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the sensor comprises a charge coupled device.
10. The system of claim 8 further comprising a processing device configured to:
receive a signal from the sensor;
create image data dependent upon the signal from the sensor; and
send the image data to the display device.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein the display is configured to display the image data.
12. The system of claim 8 wherein the laser energy has a wavelength approximately between 3700 nanometers and 4500 nanometers.
13. The system of claim 8 wherein the laser energy has a wavelength approximately between 3800 nanometers and 4300 nanometers.
14. The system of claim 8 wherein the laser energy has a wavelength approximately between 3900 nanometers and 4100 nanometers.
15. A method of warning a driver of a vehicle of an obstacle that is more than one kilometer from the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
emitting MIR laser energy from the vehicle, the laser energy having a wavelength approximately between 3500 nanometers and 5000 nanometers;
using a phase conjugate lens to orthogonally direct a portion of the laser energy that is reflected by the obstacle to an image-capturing device or sensor within the vehicle; and
displaying a representation of the obstacle to the driver, the representation being based on the laser energy directed to the image-capturing, device.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the displaying step includes displaying a symbol or icon representing the obstacle on a mapped view of an area less than two kilometers in front of the vehicle.
17. The method of claim 15 comprising the further steps of:
transmitting a signal from the image-capturing device to a processing device;
using the processing device to create image data dependent upon the signal from the image-capturing device; and
sending the image data from the processing device to a display device.
18. The method of claim 15 wherein the laser energy has a wavelength approximately between 3700 nanometers and 4500 nanometers.
19. The method of claim 15 wherein the laser energy has a wavelength approximately between 3800 nanometers and 4300 nanometers.
20. The method of claim 15 wherein the laser energy has a wavelength approximately between 3900 nanometers and 4100 nanometers.