Patent US3718896A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3718896A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Guiding devices
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-03-27
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Granted: 1973-02-27
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Expires: 1990-03-27
Abstract
Abstract A blindman''s cane has contained within it a transmitter that transmits pulses of energy in a directional manner and also a receiver which accepts the first returned pulse of those transmitted and rejects all others for a predetermined period. The first returned pulse activates a device such as a vibrator to give the user an indication of an approaching object. The rate of vibration of the vibrator alters to give an indication of the closeness of the object.
Inventors
- 👤 G Mowat
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:58
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/02; G01S15/06; G01S15/08; G01S15/10; G01S15/12; G01S13/00; G01S13/88; G01S13/93; G01S13/931; G01S15/04; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/523; G01S7/526; G01S7/527; G09; G09B; G09B21/00; G09B21/001; G09B21/003; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S367/00; Y10S367/91
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
A guiding or distance measuring device comprising a transmitting means adapted to transmit pulses of energy in a directional manner, a receiving means adapted to receive reflected pulses of energy passing back to the device from objects which have reflected the transmitted pulses, selecting means including an astable multivibrator, said selecting means being adapted to select the first reflected pulse received by said receiving means after a transmitted pulse has been sent out from said transmitting means, selection of said first reflected pulse causing the operating state of said multivibrator to reverse from a first state to a second state for a selected predetermined period of time so that reflected pulses arriving from objects further afield do not affect said multivibrator, indicating means actuated by said multivibrator and adapted to indicate to a user the distance from the user of the object which returns said first reflected pulse, and automatic recycling means wherein said multivibrator after said selected predetermined period of time, reverts to its first state, from its second state, at the same time pulsing the transmitter into operation thus re-commencing the cycle of events.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
A guiding or distance measuring device comprising a transmitting means adapted to transmit pulses of energy in a directional manner, a receiving means adapted to receive reflected pulses of energy passing back to the device from objects which have reflected the transmitted pulses, selecting means including an astable multivibrator, said selecting means being adapted to select the first reflected pulse received by said receiving means after a transmitted pulse has been sent out from said transmitting means, selection of said first reflected pulse causing the operating state of said multivibrator to reverse from a first state to a second state for a selected predetermined period of time so that reflected pulses arriving from objects further afield do not affect said multivibrator, indicating means actuated by said multivibrator and adapted to indicate to a user the distance from the user of the object which returns said first reflected pulse, and automatic recycling means wherein said multivibrator after said selected predetermined period of time, reverts to its first state, from its second state, at the same time pulsing the transmitter into operation thus re-commencing the cycle of events.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A guiding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating cycle of said cycle of events is in an inverse relationship to the range of said first reflected pulse.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
A guiding device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the parameters of said multi-vibrator circuit are such that said selected predetermined period of time becomes shorter as the path travelled by said first reflected pulse becomes shorter, said shortening of said selected predetermined period of time being in addition to the reduction of time said multivibrator is in said first state because of the reduced path travelled by said first reflected pulse.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A guiding device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said indicating means comprises an electro-magnetically operable vibrating means on which the user can place a finger or other part of his body, the frequency of the vibration indicating the distance of the object from the user.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
A guiding device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said transmitting means includes a transducer which sends out energy in the form of sound waves of ultra-sonic frequency, and said receiving means comprises a transducer which converts received energy in the form of sound waves of ultra sonic frequency into pulses of electrical energy, and a series of amplifiers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-27 | 1976-08-28 | 1977-02-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-27 | 1980-08-28 | 1981-02-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-27 | 1984-08-28 | 1985-02-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |