Patent ID: 7030775
Filing Date: 2006-04-18
Classification: B60K

Abstract:
1. A vehicle surroundings monitoring apparatus for monitoring surroundings of an own vehicle, comprising: imaging means for taking picture images and for outputting image information; radar means; first solid object detecting means for detecting first solid objects based on said image information; second solid object detecting means for detecting second solid objects based on signals from said radar means; fusion solid object establishing means for establishing fusion solid objects composed of single first solid objects, single second solid objects and a combination of said first solid objects and said second solid objects by fusing said first solid objects and said second solid objects; first reliability judging means for judging a degree of reliability of said fusion solid objects based on a detecting situation of said respective fusion solid objects by said first solid object detecting means; second reliability judging means for judging a degree of reliability of said fusion solid objects based on a detecting situation of said respective fusion solid objects by said second solid object detecting means; and preceding vehicle selecting means for selecting a preceding vehicle from said fusion solid objects when it is judged that said fusion solid objects have a specified level of reliability according to either of said first reliability judging means and said second reliability judging means.