Vehicular track measuring apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for measuring a track of a vehicle running on a test course, comprising: means for generating above said course standing radio waves whose direction of wave propagation is parallel to the longitudinal axis of said course; first generating means having a first receiving antenna and mounted on said vehicle for generating a first voltage proportional to a distance from said first receiving antenna to a track measurement starting plane established on said course so as to be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said course, said first generating means including means for counting the number of halfwaves of said standing radio waves crossed by said vehicle after said vehicle crosses said track measurement starting plane and means for converting the count of said number of half-waves into a first analog signal; means for scanning said course with a laser beam, said scanning means including means for moving said scanning laser beam at an angular velocity measured in a horizontal plane with respect to said course; means mounted beside said course including a first laser beam detector for generating and transmitting a signal to said vehicle when said scanning laser beam hits said first laser beam detector; second generating means mounted on said vehicle and including signal receiver means and a second laser beam detector for generating a second voltage proportional to an angle contained by a first vertical plane with respect to said course containing a center of rotation of the horizontal component of said scanning laser beam movement and said first laser beam detector and a second vertical plane with respect to said course containing said rotation center and said second laser beam detector, said second generating means including means for counting the time elapsed after said signal receiver means receives said signal until said scanning laser beam hits said second laser beam detector and means for converting the count of said elapsed time into a second analog signal.

Claim 3

Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said first voltage generating means comprises, in combination: means including said first receiving antenna for generating a first electric pulse for every cyclic change of the absolute value of the electric field intensity of said standing radio waves as said vehicle moves; gate means connected to said first electric pulse generating means for passing said first electric pulse after said vehicle crosses said track measurement starting plane; means connected to said gate means for counting and recording the number of said first electric pulse; and first digital-analog converter means connected to said first electric pulse counting means for producing said first voltage which is a voltage proportional to the counting result of said first electric pulse counting means.

Claim 4

Apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said wave generating means comprises, in combination: a high-frequency oscillator; and a pair of transmitting antennas connected to said high-frequency oscillator and disposed substantially above the longitudinal center line of said course at both ends of said course facing each other.

Claim 5

Apparatus as recited in claim 2, further comprising: a first laser beam oscillator for directing a further laser beam within said track measurement starting plane; and wherein said gate means comprises, in combination: means including a third laser beaM detector for generating a second electric pulse when said further laser beam hits said third laser beam detector; a first flip-flop circuit connected to said second electric pulse generating means and having an output connector, said first flip-flop circuit supplying a continuous output to said first flip-flop circuit output connector after said first flip-flop circuit receives said second electric pulse from said second electric pulse generating means; and a first AND gate having (1) one input connector connected to said first electric pulse generating means to receive said first electric pulse therefrom, (2) a second input connector connected with said first flip-flop circuit output connector to receive said first flip-flop circuit output therefrom, and (3) an output connector connected to said first electric pulse counting means, whereby said first AND gate passes said first electric pulse to said first electric pulse counting means as long as said first AND gate receives said first flip-flop circuit output.

Claim 6

Apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said wave generating means comprises, in combination: a high-frequency oscillator; and a pair of transmitting antennas connected to said high-frequency oscillator and disposed substantially above the longitudinal center line of said course at both ends of said course facing each other.

Claim 7

Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said second voltage generating means comprises, in combination: means for generating clock pulses; means including said signal receiver means and said second laser beam detector and having an input connector connected with said clock pulse generating means and a first and a second output connectors for passing said clock pulses continuously after said signal receiver means receives said signal until said scanning laser beam hits said second laser beam detector and generating a first electric signal after said scanning laser beam hits said second laser beam detector, said clock pulses being passed through said passing means first output connector, said first electric signal being supplied to said passing means second output connector; means having an input connector connected with said passing means first output connector for counting and recording the number of said clock pulses; shift register means having a first input connector connected with an output connector of said clock pulse counting means and a second input connector connected with said passing means second output connector for recording the number recorded in said clock pulse counting means when said first electric signal is supplied to said shift register means second input connector, said shift register means cancelling the number previously recorded therein when said shift register means records a new number; delay circuit means connected with said passing second output connector and with a further input connector of said clock pulse counting means for delaying the delivery of said first electric signal so that said first electric signal reaches said clock pulse counting means after said recording by said shift register means finishes, said clock pulse counting means cancelling the number recorded therein when said first electric signal is supplied to said clock pulse counting means further input connector; said second digital-analog converter means connected to an output connector of said shift register means for producing said second voltage which is a voltage proportional to the number recorded in said shift register means.

Claim 8

Apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said passing means comprises, in combination: said signal receiver means for generating a third electric pulse when said signal receiver means receives said signal; means including said second laser beam detector for generating a fourth electric pulse when said scanning laser beam hits said second laser beam detector; a second flip-flop circuit having (1) a first input connector connected to said signal receiver means to receive Said third electric pulse therefrom, (2) a second input connector connected to said fourth electric pulse generating means to receive said fourth electric pulse therefrom, and (3) a first and a second output connectors, said second flip-flop circuit supplying a continuous second electric signal to said second flip-flop circuit first output connector after said second flip-flop circuit receives said third electric pulse until said second flip-flop circuit receives said fourth electric pulse, said second flip-flop circuit supplying said first electric signal to said second flip-flop circuit second output connector when said second flip-flop circuit receives said fourth electric pulse, said passing means second output connector comprising said second flip-flop circuit second output connector, thereby said first electric signal being supplied from said second flip-flop circuit to said shift register means and said delay circuit means; and a second AND gate having a first and a second input connectors and an output connector, said second AND gate first input connector being connected with said second flip-flop circuit first output connector to receive said second electric signal therefrom, said passing means input connector comprising said second AND gate second input connector to supply said clock pulses to said second AND gate, said passing means first output connector comprising said second AND gate output connector to supply said clock pulses from said second AND gate to said clock pulse counting means.

Claim 9

Apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said first voltage generating means comprises, in combination: means including said first receiving antenna for generating a first electric pulse for every cyclic change of the absolute value of the electric field intensity of said standing radio waves as said vehicle moves; gate means connected to said first electric pulse generating means for passing said first electric pulse after said vehicle crosses said track measurement starting plane; means connected to said gate means for counting and recording the number of said first electric pulse; and first digital-analog converter means connected to said first electric pulse counting means for producing said first voltage which is a voltage proportional to the counting result of said first electric pulse counting means; and said wave generating means comprises, in combination: a high-frequency oscillator; and a pair of transmitting antennas connected to said high-frequency oscillator and disposed substantially above the longitudinal center line of said course at both ends of said course facing each other.

Claim 10

Apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said first voltage generating means comprises, in combination: means including said first receiving antenna for generating a first electric pulse for every cyclic change of the absolute value of the electric field intensity of said standing radio waves as said vehicle moves; gate means connected to said first electric pulse generating means for passing said first electric pulse after said vehicle crosses said track measurement starting plane; means connected to said gate means for counting and recording the number of said first electric pulse; and first digital-analog converter means connected to said first electric pulse counting means for producing said first voltage which is a voltage proportional to the counting result of said first electric pulse counting means; and said wave generating means comprises, in combination: a high-frequency oscillator; and a pair of transmitting antennas connected to said high-frequency oscillator and disposed substantially above the longitudinal center line of said course at both ends of said course facing each other.

Claim 11

Apparatus as recited in claim 9, further comprising: a first laser beam oscillator for directing a further laser beam within said track measurement starting plane; and wherein said gate means comprises, in combination: means including a third laser beam detector foR generating a second electric pulse when said further laser beam hits said third laser beam detector; a first flip-flop circuit connected to said second electric pulse generating means and having an output connector, said first flip-flop circuit supplying a continuous output to said first flip-flop circuit output connector after said first flip-flop circuit receives said second electric pulse from said second electric pulse generating means; and a first AND gate having (1) one input connector connected to said first electric pulse generating means to receive said first electric pulse therefrom, (2) a second input connector connected with said first flip-flop circuit output connector to receive said first flip-flop circuit output therefrom, and (3) an output connector connected to said first electric pulse counting means, whereby said first AND gate passes said first electric pulse to said first electric pulse counting means as long as said first AND gate receives said first flip-flop circuit output.

Claim 12

Apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said scanning means comprises, in combination: a frame; a second laser beam oscillator mounted on said frame; a motor mounted on said frame; and a disc (1) rotatively mounted on said frame, (2) driven by said motor, and (3) having a plurality of plane mirrors; each of said mirrors being disposed on said disc at regular intervals with the reflective surface thereof being parallel to an axis of rotation of said disc and contacting an inscribed circle concentric with said disc rotation axis; said disc rotation axis being vertical with respect to said course; said second laser beam oscillator being so disposed that a center line of a still further laser beam generated by said second laser beam oscillator is perpendicular to said disc rotation axis and is at a distance from said disc rotation axis; said still further laser beam being reflected by one of said mirrors at a time to become said scanning laser beam.

Claim 13

Apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein (1) said signal comprises a third electric signal; and (2) said generating and transmitting means comprises, in combination: means including said first laser beam detector for generating said third electric signal when said scanning laser beam hits said first laser beam detector; and radio transmitter means including a further transmitting antenna and connected to said third electric signal generating means for transmitting said third electric signal; and further (3) said signal receiver means includes a second receiving antenna to receive said third electric signal.

Claim 14

Apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising: means for generating a third voltage which is proportional to a distance from said rotation center to said track measurement starting plane; means connected to said first voltage generating means and to said third voltage generating means for adding said first voltage to said third voltage to produce a fourth voltage which is proportional to a distance from said rotation center to a third vertical plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said course and containing said first receiving antenna; means connected to said adding means and to said second voltage generating means for multiplying said second voltage by said fourth voltage to produce a fifth voltage which is proportional to a distance from said first receiving antenna to a line of intersection of said first vertical plane and said third vertical plane.

Claim 15

Apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein the distance Xo from said rotation center to said track measurement starting plane is determined so as to satisfy the following formula in order to make an error caused by the substitution of an angle for the tangent of the same angle smaller than a given allowable limit of error delta (%): where D (1) a distance which is longer between the following two diStances: one is a distance from a line of intersection of said track measurement starting plane or an extension thereof and said first vertical plane to a fourth vertical plane with respect to said course parallel to the longitudinal axis of said course and containing said rotation center; and the other is a distance from a point of intersection of said track measurement starting plane and a farther distant boundary side line of said course parallel to the longitudinal axis of said course from said laser beam detector than the other boundary side line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said course to said fourth vertical plane, if said fourth vertical plane is outside the area defined by and between said farther distant boundary side line and said other boundary side line or extensions thereof and either on a side where said first laser beam detector is located or on a side which is nearer to said first laser beam detector than the other side, or if said fourth vertical plane is in said defined area; or (2) a distance from a line of intersection of said track measurement starting plane and said first vertical plane to said fourth vertical plane, if said fourth vertical plane is outside said defined area and either on an opposite side to the side where said first laser beam detector is located or on a further distant side from said first laser beam detector than the other side.

Claim 16

Apparatus as recited in claim 10, further comprising: means for generating a third voltage which is proportional to a distance from said rotation center to said track measurement starting plane; means connected to said first voltage generating means and to said third voltage generating means for adding said first voltage to said third voltage to produce a fourth voltage which is proportional to a distance from said rotation center to a third vertical plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said course and containing said first receiving antenna; means connected to said adding means and to said second voltage generating means for multiplying said second voltage by said fourth voltage to produce a fifth voltage which is proportional to a distance from said first receiving antenna to a line of intersection of said first vertical plane and said third vertical plane; and wherein the distance Xo from said rotation center to said track measurement starting plane is determined so as to satisfy the following formula in order to make an error caused by the substitution of an angle for the tangent of the same angle smaller than a given allowable limit of error delta (%): where D (1) a distance which is longer between the following two distances: one is a distance from a line of intersection of said track measurement starting plane or an extension thereof and said first vertical plane to a fourth vertical plane with respect to said course parallel to the longitudinal axis of said course and containing said rotation center; and the other is a distance from a point of intersection of said track measurement starting plane and a farther distant boundary side line of said course parallel to the longitudinal axis of said course from said first laser beam detector than the other boundary side line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said course to said fourth vertical plane, if said fourth vertical plane is outside the area defined by and between said farther distant boundary side line and said other boundary side line or extensions thereof and either on a side where said first laser beam detector is located or on a side which is nearer to said first laser beam detector than the other side, or if said fourth vertical plane is in said defined area; or (2) a distance from a line of intersection of said track measurement starting plane and said first vertical plane to said fourth vertical plane, if said fourth vertical plane is outside said defined area and either on an opposite side to the side where said first laser beam detector is located or on a farther distant side from said first laser beam detector than the other side.

Claim 17

Apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said scanning means comprises, in combination: a frame; a second laser beam oscillator mounted on said frame; a motor mounted on said frame; and a disc (1) rotatively mounted on said frame, (2) driven by said motor, and (3) having a plurality of plane mirrors; each of said mirrors being disposed on said disc at regular intervals with the reflective surface thereof being parallel to an axis of rotation of said disc and containing an inscribed circle concentric with said disc rotation axis; said disc rotation axis being vertical with respect to said course; said second laser beam oscillator being so disposed that a center line of a still further laser beam generated by said second laser beam oscillator is perpendicular to said disc rotation axis and is at a distance from said disc rotation axis; said still further laser beam being reflected by one of said mirrors at a time to become said scanning laser beam.

Claim 18

Apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein (1) said signal comprises a third electric signal; and (2) said generating and transmitting means comprises, in combination: means including said first laser beam detector for generating said third electric signal when said scanning laser beam hits said first laser beam detector; and radio transmitter means including a further transmitting antenna and connected to said third electric signal generating means for transmitting said third electric signal; and further (3) said signal receiver means includes a second receiving antenna to receive said third electric signal.