WO2002004981A1 - Infra red vision system - Google Patents

Abstract

The infra red vision system comprises at last one IR light source (1) and at least one IR vision system (2) for the representation of a relief which may be illuminated by the IR light source (1). Additionally, an IR detector (3) for the recognition of an extraneous IR impulse (F) is provided.

Description

description

Infrared vision system

The invention relates to an infrared ("IR") vision system and a method for reducing glare using an infrared vision system.

Passive IR night vision devices are known which use the infrared light which is present even in the dark to display a surrounding image ("reliefs"). They typically operate in a wavelength range of approximately 12 µm. The disadvantages are u. a. a low spatial resolution and, due to the low radiation intensity of the objects in the relief, the use of a comparatively expensive detector system.

Active infrared night vision devices are also known, in which the field of view is illuminated with its own IR light source, typical wavelength approx. 800 nm. The use of an active system compared to a passive system enables a higher spatial resolution, a possible use of a comparatively inexpensive detector system, and the detector system, typically a conventional video camera, can also advantageously be used behind glass, for example a windshield.

An active IR night vision system is known from a press release from the Internet (www. Daimlerchrysler. De / news / top / t00405 e .htm dated April 13, 2000) from DaimlerChrysler AG, in which two laser headlights mounted on a vehicle front face a street with an infrared light beam that is invisible to the human eye. A video camera records the reflected image of the street scene and creates a black and white image from it. This is shown on a screen in the driver's field of vision and in a so-called head-up display Cϋ N) ⁾ l- ¹ μ »

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Vehicles, or in extreme cases two longer vehicle columns completely equipped with this IR vision system, the pulse frequencies f of the two vehicle columns level off in such a way that the pulse frequencies f of the individual columns oscillate synchronously.

In the following embodiment, the IR system is shown schematically in more detail.

FIG. 1 shows a sketch of an IR light source 1, which emits its own IR pulses P, whose direction of propagation is indicated here by arrows. The IR intrinsic pulses P reflected on the relief, here symbolized by objects 0,0 ', reach an IR viewing device 2, which transmits the IR image to a head-up display 5. The head-up display 5 enables the driver to perceive the IR image of the surroundings in the visible area.

The IR light source 1 is in the form of an IR laser with a wavelength of the infrared light of approximately 800 n. The IR viewing device 2 is an infrared-sensitive video camera. In addition, an IR detector 3 is provided, by means of which an external IR pulse F, which is emitted by an external motor vehicle 0 ', is detected. The information from the IR detector 3 about the external radiation source is forwarded to a control unit 4, for example a pulse frequency f _F , a duration or a strength of the external IR pulses F. The direction of propagation of the external IR pulses F is shown schematically here by arrows.

The self-pulse frequency f _{P is} adjusted to the external pulse frequency f _{F by} means of the control unit 4 and is provided with a time offset Δ _t such that the own IR vision system S is active in the dark phase of the external system.

The control unit 4 can be set up or programmed so that the duration of the IR intrinsic pulses P also depends an external radiator is set. For example, in the absence of an external IR radiator, the entire time can be illuminated, and if one or more external radiators are present, the beam time of the own IR system S can be set so that a maximum illumination time remains.

Claims

claims 1. Having infrared vision system (S) - at least one IR light source (1), - At least one IR viewing device (2) for displaying a relief that can be illuminated by the IR light source (1), characterized in that at least one IR detector (3) for detecting an IR Foreign pulse (F) is present. 2. Infrared vision system (S) according to claim 1, in which there is additionally a control unit (4) for controlling the IR intrinsic pulses (P) emitted by the IR light source (1), which pulses with the IR detector (3) connected is. 3. Infrared vision system (S) according to one of claims 1 or 2, in which the IR detector (3) and the IR viewing device (2) form a unit. 4. Infrared vision system (S) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the IR light source (1) is an IR laser. 5. Infrared vision system (S) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the IR vision device (2) contains an IR-sensitive video camera. 6. A method for reducing glare using an infrared vision system (S), in which the IR light source (1) emits IR intrinsic pulses (P) which are received by the IR vision device after reflection on the relief, thereby characterized in that when IR external pulses are received by the IR detector (3), at least one Fre d pulse frequency (f _F ) is determined, and the control unit (4) controls the IR intrinsic pulse (P) so that this falls into a dark phase of the external IR pulses. 7. The method according to claim 6, in which an intrinsic pulse frequency (fP) of the IR intrinsic pulses (P) is adapted to the external pulse frequency, and the IR intrinsic pulses (P) are emitted to the IR external pulses (F) with a time delay.