Patent JPS60100956A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3696882A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for guiding vehicles automatically along a predetermined path
Assignee: KM Kabelmetal AG
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Filing: 1971-01-27
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Granted: 1972-10-10
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Expires: 1991-01-27
Abstract
Abstract Low rate propagation of descrete phase points between two oppositely propagation and slightly detuned frequencies is used for motion control of vehicles along a prescribed path.
Inventors
- 👤 Helmut Martin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 11:15
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D1/00; B62D1/24; B62D1/28; G; G05; G05D; G05D1/00; G05D1/02; G05D1/021; G05D1/0259; G05D1/0265
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of controlling the motion of vehicles along a prescribed path comprising the steps of: providing a high frequency cable for developing partial external field along said path to radiate high frequency energy along that path; feeding h.f. energy of a first frequency into the cable, from one end thereof and to propagate therein in a direction away from the feed-in point; feeding h.f. energy of a second frequency into the cable from the opposite end to propagate therein in the opposite direction, the first and second frequencies both being approximately subharmonics of a particular frequency, the total deviation of both of the first and second frequencies from respectively being a true subharmonic of the particular frequency representing a phase point velocity along the cable; detecting, in a vehicle in the vicinity of the cable, signals of the first and second frequencies; detecting, in the vehicle, particular harmonics in each of the detected signals and comparing the phase between the separately detected harmonics; and controlling motion of the vehicle in response to the phase comparison.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of controlling the motion of vehicles along a prescribed path comprising the steps of: providing a high frequency cable for developing partial external field along said path to radiate high frequency energy along that path; feeding h.f. energy of a first frequency into the cable, from one end thereof and to propagate therein in a direction away from the feed-in point; feeding h.f. energy of a second frequency into the cable from the opposite end to propagate therein in the opposite direction, the first and second frequencies both being approximately subharmonics of a particular frequency, the total deviation of both of the first and second frequencies from respectively being a true subharmonic of the particular frequency representing a phase point velocity along the cable; detecting, in a vehicle in the vicinity of the cable, signals of the first and second frequencies; detecting, in the vehicle, particular harmonics in each of the detected signals and comparing the phase between the separately detected harmonics; and controlling motion of the vehicle in response to the phase comparison.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as in claim 1, wherein the motion of the vehicle is controlled to maintain a constant phase between the harmonic as derived from the signal of the first frequency and the harmonic as derived from the signal having the second frequency.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 2, wherein the motion is controlled to maintain a + 90* phase difference.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 2, wherein the motion is controlled to maintain a - 90* phase difference.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method as in claim 1, wherein the first frequency is a true subharmonic of the particular frequency, the second frequency is a composite frequency that includes another true harmonic of the particular frequency and an incremental component representing the phase point velocity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as in claim 5, wherein the incremental component is equal to twice the second frequency multiplied by the ratio of phase point velocity and wave propagation velocity in the cable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method as in claim 5, providing the second frequency by first providing an h.f. rotating field having frequency of the other true harmonic, and providing a rotating coil in the field, to derive therefrom the composite frequency as second frequency to be transmitted through the cable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method as in claim 1, wherein the particular frequency is selected to be equal to the propagation speed of high frequency energy within the cable divided by four times the distance to be maintained between two succeeding vehicles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method as in claim 1, comprising the step of selecting a relatively reduced wave propagation velocity in portions of the high frequency cable as compared with the wave propagation velocity in other portions of the cable, in accordance with a reduced desired phase velocity in the vicinity of the cable.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-10 | 1976-04-10 | 1976-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-10 | 1980-04-10 | 1980-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-10 | 1984-04-10 | 1984-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |