EP0362992A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Distance measuring method and apparatus therefor
Assignee: JFE Engineering Corp
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Filing: 1989-08-07
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-08-07
Abstract
Abstract A distance measuring method and apparatus in which first and second pseudo random signals which are the same in pattern but slightly different in period are generated to obtain a correlation output of the first and second pseudo random signals before transmission thereof as a reference correlation output, and the first pseudo random signal is directly transmitted toward a target or alternatively a carrier wave is modulated by the first pseudo random signal and transmitted toward the target. A correlation output of the signal reflected and received from the target and the second pseudo random signal is detected and the distance to the target is measured from the time interval between the reference correlation output and the received correlation output. Alternatively, the modulated carrier wave reflected and received from the target and the second pseudo random signal are subjected to correlation processing to detect a correlative modulated carrier wave and the correlative modulated carrier wave is subjected to orthogonal detection by a reference carrier wave thereby obtaining a target detection output. Then, the distance to the target is measured from the time interval between the reference correlation output and the target detection output.
Inventors
- 👤 Akio Nagamune
- 👤 Koichi Tezuka
- 👤 Yoshiyuki Kanao
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 13:47
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C22/00; G01C22/02; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/02; G01S13/06; G01S13/08; G01S13/32; G01S13/325; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/22; G01F23/28; G01F23/284; G01S13/10; G01S13/26; G01S13/28; G01S13/284; G01S13/288
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A distance measuring method comprising the steps of: transmitting a first pseudo random signal toward a target; calculating a product (first product) of said first pseudo random signal and a second pseudo random signal which is the same in pattern but slightly different in frequency from said first pseudo random signal; calculating a product (second product) of a received signal obtained by receiving a reflected signal from said target and said second pseudo random signal; and measuring a time difference between a time sequence pattern of said first product and a time sequence pattern of said second product to thereby measure a distance to said target.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A distance measuring method comprising the steps of: transmitting a first pseudo random signal toward a target; calculating a product (first product) of said first pseudo random signal and a second pseudo random signal which is the same in pattern but slightly different in frequency from said first pseudo random signal; calculating a product (second product) of a received signal obtained by receiving a reflected signal from said target and said second pseudo random signal; and measuring a time difference between a time sequence pattern of said first product and a time sequence pattern of said second product to thereby measure a distance to said target.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
152 words
A distance measuring apparatus comprising: means for generating a first pseudo random signal; means for transmitting an output of said first pseudo random signal generating means as a transmitting signal to a target; receiving means for receiving a reflected signal from said target to obtain a receiving signal; means for generating a second pseudo random signal which is the same in pattern but slightly different in frequency from said first pseudo random signal; a first multiplier for multiplying the output of said first pseudo random signal generating means and an output of said second pseudo random signal generating means; a second multiplier for multiplying an output of said receiving means and the output of said second pseudo random signal generating means; and means for measuring a time interval between a time sequence pattern of an output from said first multiplier and a time sequence pattern of an output from said second multiplier.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
152 words
A distance measuring apparatus comprising: means for generating a first pseudo random signal; means for transmitting an output of said first pseudo random signal generating means as a transmitting signal to a target; receiving means for receiving a reflected signal from said target to obtain a receiving signal; means for generating a second pseudo random signal which is the same in pattern but slightly different in frequency from said first pseudo random signal; a first multiplier for multiplying the output of said first pseudo random signal generating means and an output of said second pseudo random signal generating means; a second multiplier for multiplying an output of said receiving means and the output of said second pseudo random signal generating means; and means for measuring a time interval between a time sequence pattern of an output from said first multiplier and a time sequence pattern of an output from said second multiplier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
86 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said means for detecting a time interval between time sequence patterns comprises: first pulse generating means for generating a pulse when the smoothed output of said first multiplier reaches a maximum; second pulse generating means for generating a pulse when the smoothed output of said second multiplier reaches a maximum; and means for measuring a time interval between the output pulse of said first pulse generating means and the output pulse of said second pulse generating means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
106 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first pseudo random signal generating means comprises a first clock generator and first clock synchronization-type pseudo random signal generating means driven by an output of said first clock generator, wherein said second pseudo random signal generating means comprises a second clock generator and second clock synchronization-type pseudo random signal generating means driven by an output of said second clock generator, and wherein said first and second clock synchronization-type pseudo random signal generating means are the same in construction with each other, and said first and second clock generators are slightly different in frequency from each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
106 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first pseudo random signal generating means comprises a first clock generator and first clock synchronization-type pseudo random signal generating means driven by an output of said first clock generator, wherein said second pseudo random signal generating means comprises a second clock generator and second clock synchronization-type pseudo random signal generating means driven by an output of said second clock generator, and wherein said first and second clock synchronization-type pseudo random signal generating means are the same in construction with each other, and said first and second clock generators are slightly different in frequency from each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
142 words
A distance measuring method comprising the steps of: generating a first pseudo random signal and a second pseudo random signal which is the same in pattern but slightly different in frequency from said first pseudo random signal; multiplying said first and second pseudo random signals so as to generate a time sequence pattern of the resulting product; modulating a carrier wave by said first pseudo random signal to transmit the same toward a target; multiplying a received signal obtained by receiving a reflected signal from said target and said second pseudo random signal to obtain a correlative modulated carrier wave; detecting said correlative modulated carrier wave to generate a time sequence pattern of the resulting detected signal; and measuring a time interval between said product time sequence pattern and said detected signal time sequence pattern thereby measuring a distance to said target.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
142 words
A distance measuring method comprising the steps of: generating a first pseudo random signal and a second pseudo random signal which is the same in pattern but slightly different in frequency from said first pseudo random signal; multiplying said first and second pseudo random signals so as to generate a time sequence pattern of the resulting product; modulating a carrier wave by said first pseudo random signal to transmit the same toward a target; multiplying a received signal obtained by receiving a reflected signal from said target and said second pseudo random signal to obtain a correlative modulated carrier wave; detecting said correlative modulated carrier wave to generate a time sequence pattern of the resulting detected signal; and measuring a time interval between said product time sequence pattern and said detected signal time sequence pattern thereby measuring a distance to said target.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
195 words
A distance measuring apparatus comprising: first pseudo random signal generating means; second pseudo random signal generating means for generating an output signal which is the same in pattern but slightly different in frequency from an output signal of said first pseudo random signal generating means; first multiplier for multiplying the outputs of said first and second pseudo random signal generating means; carrier wave generating means; transmitting means whereby a modulated signal produced by modulating an output signal of said carrier wave generating means by the output of said first pseudo random signal generating means is transmitted as a transmitting signal toward a target; receiving means for receiving a reflected wave from said target to obtain a receiving signal; a second multiplier for multiplying an output of said receiving means and the output of said second pseudo random signal generating means to obtain a correlative modulated carrier wave; detecting means for detecting said correlative modulated carrier wave outputted from said second multiplier; and means for measuring a time interval between a time sequence pattern of a detected signal generated from said detecting means and a time sequence pattern of a product generated from said first multiplier.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
195 words
A distance measuring apparatus comprising: first pseudo random signal generating means; second pseudo random signal generating means for generating an output signal which is the same in pattern but slightly different in frequency from an output signal of said first pseudo random signal generating means; first multiplier for multiplying the outputs of said first and second pseudo random signal generating means; carrier wave generating means; transmitting means whereby a modulated signal produced by modulating an output signal of said carrier wave generating means by the output of said first pseudo random signal generating means is transmitted as a transmitting signal toward a target; receiving means for receiving a reflected wave from said target to obtain a receiving signal; a second multiplier for multiplying an output of said receiving means and the output of said second pseudo random signal generating means to obtain a correlative modulated carrier wave; detecting means for detecting said correlative modulated carrier wave outputted from said second multiplier; and means for measuring a time interval between a time sequence pattern of a detected signal generated from said detecting means and a time sequence pattern of a product generated from said first multiplier.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
140 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said detecting means for detecting said correlative modulated carrier wave generated from said second multiplier comprises: a first distributor for extracting a part of the output of said carrier wave generating means; a hybrid coupler for receiving an output of said distributor to convert the same to generate an in-phase component (I signal) and a quadrature component (Q signal) which are in phase quadrature with each other; a second distributor for dividing the output of said second multiplier into an R₁ signal and an R₂ signal; a third multiplier for multiplying the output I signal of said hybrid coupler and the output R₁ signal of said second distributor; and a fourth multiplier for multiplying the output Q signal of said hybrid coupler and the output R₂ signal of said second distributor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
147 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said means for measuring a time interval between said product time sequence pattern and said detected signal time sequence pattern comprises: a first low-pass filter for receiving the output of said first multiplier to subject the same to band limitation; second and third low-pass filters for respectively receiving the outputs of said third and fourth multipliers to separately subject the same to band limitation; first and second squaring devices for respectively receiving outputs of said second and third low-pass filters to separately perform a squaring operation thereon; an adder for adding outputs of said first and second squaring devices; and a time-interval meter for measuring a time interval between a time that the output signal of said first low-pass filter reaches a maximum value and a time that an output signal of said adder reaches a maximum value.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
147 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said means for measuring a time interval between said product time sequence pattern and said detected signal time sequence pattern comprises: a first low-pass filter for receiving the output of said first multiplier to subject the same to band limitation; second and third low-pass filters for respectively receiving the outputs of said third and fourth multipliers to separately subject the same to band limitation; first and second squaring devices for respectively receiving outputs of said second and third low-pass filters to separately perform a squaring operation thereon; an adder for adding outputs of said first and second squaring devices; and a time-interval meter for measuring a time interval between a time that the output signal of said first low-pass filter reaches a maximum value and a time that an output signal of said adder reaches a maximum value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said distance measuring apparatus is arranged on an upper part of any of a melting reduction furnace, converter and blast furnace to measure any one of a slag level molten steel level and charged raw material level.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said distance measuring apparatus is arranged on an upper part of any of a melting reductign furnace, converter and blast furnace to measure any one of a slag level, molten steel level and charged raw material level.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said distance measuring apparatus is arranged on an upper part of any of a melting reduction furnace, converter and blast furnace to measure any one of a slag level molten steel level and charged raw material level.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said distance measuring apparatus is arranged on an upper part of any of a melting reduction furnace, converter and blast furnace to measure any one of a slag level molten steel level and charged raw material level.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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