Vehicle zone detection system and method

摘要

An object detection system (60) is provided for detecting a thermal emitting object in a blind zone proximate to a host vehicle (10). The system (60) includes a thermal radiation detector (20) located on a host vehicle (10) and configured to sense temperature of multiple coverage zones (22A-22C) proximate to the host vehicle (10). A processor (32) processes temperature sensed by an infrared detector (25A). The processor (32) determines a change in thermal temperature sensed by the infrared detector (25A) and determines the presence of an object (70) in the coverage zone based on the change in the sensed temperature. An output (40) provides a signal indicative of an object (70) sensed in the coverage zone (22A) based on the determined change in temperature. The thermal radiation detector (20) may include a first infrared detector configured to measure temperature of a first coverage zone (22A) by receiving infrared radiation from the first coverage zone (22A), and a second infrared detector (25B) configured to measure temperature of second and third coverage zones (22B and 22C) by receiving infrared radiation from the second and third coverage zones (20B and 22C).