Patent ID: 8108147
Filing Date: 2012-01-31
Classification: G08G

Abstract:
1. A method of identifying and imaging a high risk collision object relative to a host vehicle comprising the steps of: A) using N passive sensors to image a three-hundred and sixty degree view from said host vehicle, each of said N passive sensors having a corresponding horizontal field of view (hFOV), each said hFOV from one of said N passive sensors overlapping at least one of said hFOVs from another of said N passive sensors; B) comparing contrast differences in the hFOVs to identify a unique source of motion (hotspot) that is indicative of said object; C) correlating a first hot spot in said hFOV of one of said N passive sensors to a second hot spot in all other said N passive sensors that have overlapping said hFOVs with said one of said N passive sensors to yield a range, azimuth and trajectory data for said object; D) sequentially repeating said steps B) and C) at predetermined time intervals to yield changes in said range and azimuth data of the detected hot spot; and, E) assessing collision risk of said host vehicle with said object according to said changes in said range and azimuth data from said step D).