Automatic control systems for vehicles
View Patent ↗An apparatus for use with a car includes: an input configured to receive data from a laser device; a processing unit configured to process the data from the laser device, and to determine a control signal for controlling a component of the car; and an output for providing the control signal for controlling the component of the car.
1. An apparatus for use with a car, comprising:
an input configured to receive data from a laser device;
a processing unit configured to process the data from the laser device, and to determine a control signal for controlling a component of the car; and
an output for providing the control signal for controlling the component of the car;
wherein the processing unit is also configured to receive information from a wireless network.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is configured to process the data from the laser device to determine a spatial relationship between the car and an environment in which the car is traveling.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control signal is for controlling a signaling system of the car.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is configured to process the data from the laser device to identify an intersection.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is configured to process the data from the laser device to identify a traffic light.
6. An apparatus for use with a car, comprising:
an input configured to receive data from a laser device;
a processing unit configured to process the data from the laser device, and to determine a control signal for controlling a component of the car; and
an output for providing the control signal for controlling the component of the car;
wherein the processing unit is configured to process the data from the laser device to identify a vehicle.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the processing unit is configured to process the data from the laser device to also identify a road sign.
8. An apparatus for use with a car, comprising:
an input configured to receive data from a laser device;
a processing unit configured to process the data from the laser device, and to determine a control signal for controlling a component of the car; and
an output for providing the control signal for controlling the component of the car;
wherein the processing unit is configured to process the data from the laser device to identify a pedestrian curb.
9. An apparatus for use with a car, comprising:
an input configured to receive data from a laser device;
a processing unit configured to process the data from the laser device, and to determine a control signal for controlling a component of the car; and
an output for providing the control signal for controlling the component of the car;
wherein the processing unit is configured to process the data from the laser device to identify a pedestrian.
10. An apparatus for use with a car, comprising:
a processing unit configured to receive data from a laser device, the processing unit configured to automatically activate a turn signal light of the car based on the received data to thereby obviate a need for manual activation of the turn signal light.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the processing unit is configured to operate independent of a turning angle of a wheel of the car.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising the laser device.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the processing unit is configured to identify a portion of a lane in which the car is traveling.
14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the processing unit is configured to automatically activate the turn signal light of the car that corresponds with a lane change direction.
15. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the processing unit is configured to identify an intersection, a road sign, a traffic light, a pedestrian curb, or any combination of the foregoing, based on the data from the laser device.
16. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the processing unit is configured to process the data from the laser device to identify a pedestrian.
17. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the processing unit is configured to process the data from the laser device to identify a vehicle.