US3757325A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety device for vehicle passengers
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
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Filing: 1971-05-03
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Granted: 1973-09-04
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Expires: 1991-05-03
Abstract
Abstract The potential collision detecting system for vehicles disclosed includes two transmitter-receivers provided at both lateral sides of a vehicle. One transmitter-receiver radiates an electromagnetic wave having the same plane of polarization as that of the wave generated by a generator and another transmitter-receiver radiates an electromagentic wave having a plane of polarization is turned 90 degrees from the first plane by means of a twist waveguide. When said electromagnetic waves are reflected from an obstacle, the reflected electromagnetic waves are returned along the same path as the radiated electromagnetic waves are picked up by both transmitterreceivers. Two separate Doppler signals are obtained through homodyne detection. An impending crash of a vehicle with another vehicle in its path is determined by calculating the ratio of electrical quantities proportional to the Doppler signals. Whether the relative speed between vehicles is within the range of critical speed or not is determined by obtaining the sum of voltages of the electrical quantities. Whether the relative distance between vehicles has come within the critical range or not is determined by obtaining the sum of the voltages proportional to the levels of the Doppler signals. When the results of said determination are all satisfied, a safety device for vehicle passengers is actuated.
Inventors
- 👤 K Sato
- 👤 M Izawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 03:44
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/02; G01S7/024; G01S7/025; G01S13/00; G01S13/87; G01S13/88; G01S13/93; G01S13/931; G01S7/023; G01S7/0231; G01S2013/9327; G01S2013/93271; G01S2013/93272; G01S2013/93274
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
An apparatus for detecting an impending collision between a vehicle and an object, comprising energy source means, first and second transmitter-receiver means coupled to said source means and separately located on the vehicle for radiating electromagnetic energy toward an object and for receiving electromagnetic energy reflected from the object, first Doppler detecting means coupled to said first transmitter-receiver means for producing a Doppler signal on the basis of the energy received by said first transmitter-receiver means, second Doppler detecting means coupled to said second transmitter-receiver means for producing a Doppler signal on the basis of the energy received by said second transmitter receiver means, and electrical means coupled to said first and second Doppler detecting means and responsive to said Doppler signals for producing a safety signal when the relationship between the Doppler signals falls within a predetermined range, said transmitter-receiver means each including polarizing means for polarizing the energy radiated by said first and second transmitter-receiver means so that the plane of polarization of the energy radiated by the first transmitter-receiver means has a component transverse to the plane of polarization of the energy radiated by the second transmitter-receiver means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
191 words
An apparatus for detecting an impending collision between a vehicle and an object, comprising energy source means, first and second transmitter-receiver means coupled to said source means and separately located on the vehicle for radiating electromagnetic energy toward an object and for receiving electromagnetic energy reflected from the object, first Doppler detecting means coupled to said first transmitter-receiver means for producing a Doppler signal on the basis of the energy received by said first transmitter-receiver means, second Doppler detecting means coupled to said second transmitter-receiver means for producing a Doppler signal on the basis of the energy received by said second transmitter receiver means, and electrical means coupled to said first and second Doppler detecting means and responsive to said Doppler signals for producing a safety signal when the relationship between the Doppler signals falls within a predetermined range, said transmitter-receiver means each including polarizing means for polarizing the energy radiated by said first and second transmitter-receiver means so that the plane of polarization of the energy radiated by the first transmitter-receiver means has a component transverse to the plane of polarization of the energy radiated by the second transmitter-receiver means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said polarizing means each includes a wave guide, one of said wave guides being twisted relative to the other to produce the polarization.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said polarizing means each includes a rectangular wave guide, one of said wave guides being twisted 90* relative to the other for producing the polarization.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said transmitter-receiver means are each located to radiate and receive energy from and at locations sufficiently far apart so that the relative amplitude of simultaneous Doppler signals vary with the position of the object relative to the location.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said transmitter-receiver means each includes a transmitter-receiver antenna, said antennas being horizontally spaced relative to each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said polarizing means each includes a wave guide, one of said wave guides being twisted relative to the other to produce the polarization.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said polarizing means each includes a rectangular wave guide, one of said wave guides being twisted 90* relative to the other for producing the polarization.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said electrical means includes first and second converter means coupled respectively to said first and second Doppler detecting means for producing voltages corresponding to the respective Doppler signals, divider means coupled to said first and second converter means for producing a ratio signal representing the ratio of the voltages, and comparator means coupled to said divider means for producing a comparison signal when the ratio lies within a given range, and output means coupled to said comparator means for producing the safety signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
89 words
An apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said electrical means includes adder means coupled to said Doppler detecting means for adding the level of the Doppler signals and producing an add signal, zone means for producing a zone signal when the add signal lies within a given range, said output means including gate means responsive to the comparison signal, said zone means being connected to said gate means, said gate means producing the safety signal only in response to the presence of a comparison signal and a zone signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said polarizing means each includes a wave guide, one of said wave guides being twisted relative to the other to produce the polarization.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said plarizing means each includes a rectangular wave guide, one of said wave guides being twisted 90* relative to the other for producing the polarization.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
90 words
An apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said electrical means includes adder means coupled to said first and second converter means for adding the level of the voltages and producing an add signal, zone means for producing a zone signal when the add signal lies within a given range, said output means including gate means responsive to the comparison signal, said zone means being connected to said gate means, said gate means producing a safety signal only in response to the presence of a comparison signal and a zone signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
98 words
An apparatus as in claim 12, wherein said electrical means includes second adder means coupled to said Doppler detecting means for adding the level of the Doppler signals and producing a second add signal, second zone means for producing a second zone signal when the add signal lies within the given range, said output means including gate means responsive to the comparison signal, said first and second zone means being connected to said gate means, said gate means producing the safety signal only in response to the presence of a comparison signal and both of said zone signals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as in claim 12, wherein said polarizing means each includes a wave guide, one of said wave guides being twisted relative to the other to produce the polarization.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as in claim 13, wherein said polarizing means each includes a rectangular wave guide, one of said wave guides being twisted 90* relative to the other for producing the polarization.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein one of said transmitter-receiver means is sensitive only to radiation having a polarization component along one of the planes and the other of said transmitter-receiver means is sensitive to radiation having a polarization component along the other of the planes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as in claim 16, wherein the plane of polarization of the energy radiated by the first transmitter-receiver means is closer to being transverse than to being parallel to the plane of polarization of the radiated energy by the second transmitter-receiver means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as in claim 17, wherein the plane of polarization of the energy radiated by the first transmitter-receiver means is substantially transverse to the plane of polarization of the energy radiated by the second transmitter-receiver means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as in claim 17, wherein the plane of polarization of the energy radiated by the first transmitter-receiver means is transverse to the plane of polarization of the energy radiated by the second transmitter-receiver means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the plane of polarization of the energy radiated by the first transmitter-receiver means is closer to being transverse than to being parallel to the plane of polarization of the radiated energy by the second transmitter-receiver means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as in claim 20, wherein the plane of polarization of the energy radiated by the first transmitter-receiver means is substantially transverse to the plane of polarization of the energy radiated by the second transmitter-receiver means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as in claim 20, wherein the plane of polarization of the energy radiated by the first transmitter-receiver means is transverse to the plane of polarization of the energy radiated by the second transmitter-receiver means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
65 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said transmitter-receiver means each includes polarizing means for polarizing the energy radiated and received by the first and second transmitter-receiver means so that the plane of polarization of the energy radiated and received by the first transmitter-receiver means has a component transverse to the plane of polarization of the energy radiated and received by the second transmitter-receiver means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as in claim 23, wherein one plane of polarization is more transverse than parallel to the other plane of polarization.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as in claim 23, wherein the planes of polarization are substantially transverse to each other.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as in claim 23, wherein the planes of polarization are transverse to each other.
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) | 1976-09-03 | 1977-03-05 | 1977-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-03 | 1981-03-05 | 1981-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-03 | 1985-03-05 | 1985-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |