Patent Application
20080013080
Referring initially to
The platform 12 can have a position receiver 16 such as a global position system (GPS) receiver to obtain the position of the platform 12. The position receiver 16 sends position signals to a processor 18 of the platform 12, which may access a database 20 containing computerized maps. If the platform is a vehicle the processor may be the engine control module (ECM). In some embodiments a receiver 22 of target position information sends target position information (and if desired target elevation) to the processor. The receiver 22 may be any suitable receiver, e.g., another GPS receiver, a cell phone receiving position information, a wireless computer receiving target position information, etc. The target position information may be received from the target itself, which can cooperatively transmit it to the platform 12, or it can be received from an external source, e.g., a radar sensing station or other source. When the target 14 is stationary no target position receiver 22 need be provided. Instead, target 14 position may be accessed from the maps in the database 20. For instance, an occupant of the vehicle can touch the indicated location of a restaurant on a map display 23 that can be a touch screen showing the location of a restaurant to cause the position of the restaurant to be input to the processor 18 as target position.
The processor 18 executes the logic discussed below to activate a visible light beam emitter assembly 24 to transmit a visual light beam 26 toward the target 14. The emitter assembly 24 may include a laser that is mounted on a movable base 24a controlled by a servo-controller or other controller 24b on, e.g., the roof or front hood or bumper of a vehicle, so that it can rotate through many (preferably 360) degrees of bearing and if desired through many degrees of elevation. The processor 18 controls the controller 24b. Alternatively, since a driver a vehicle typically (at least, hopefully) gazes ahead, not behind, and since other cars might be following, the base 24a may only rotate through the forward 180 degrees relative to the heading of the vehicle. The emitter may be as simple as that in a hand-held pointer device which can send a light beam 26 along the bearing to the target without unduly interfering with other platforms/people.
In an alternate embodiment the emitter assembly 24 may be a non-moving array of emitters, with only the emitter oriented along the bearing determined below being energized in accordance with the logic herein. Combinations of the above may be used. In any case, the light beam 26 may be a beam of light per se or it may be a holographic image that is superimposed on the target 14. The light beam 26 may be elevated slightly, e.g., if zero degrees elevation represents the ground plane on which a vehicle is moving, then the light beam 26 may be transmitted slightly upward a few degrees to avoid impinging on nearby objects that are in the same plane as the platform 12.
Block 28 in
At block 32, the emitter assembly 24 is caused to produce the light beam 26 to the target 14 by moving the base 24a as appropriate or by energizing the proper one of plural emitters in an array. In one implementation, when the processor 18 has calculated the bearing, it may display, on for instance the map display 23, a message “visualization ready”, and then an occupant of the platform might manipulate an input device (such as a steering wheel button or a touch screen button on the map display 23) to energize the emitter assembly 24 for as long as the occupant depresses the input device or for some predetermined time period, e.g., a few seconds.
The beam 26 may be a holographic image that is created by the emitter assembly 24 and superimposed onto the target 14 using the optional range determination discussed above, or both a beam per se terminating in a holographic image may be generated. It will be appreciated that what is produced is a visual display outside of and beyond the platform 12 that an occupant of the platform 12 can see, which extends toward and may even intersect the target 14 in 3D space.
The light beam 26 may be pulsed on and off if desired for a short time, e.g., a few seconds, and then terminated.
While the particular TARGET VISUALIZATION SYSTEM is herein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that the subject matter which is encompassed by the present invention is limited only by the claims.
