US3772694A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of protecting passengers in a moving vehicle upon collision thereof
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
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Filing: 1971-02-09
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Granted: 1973-11-13
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Expires: 1991-02-09
Abstract
Abstract The disclosed apparatus anticipates an impending vehicle collision by detecting the Doppler shift caused by an oncoming object and actuating a passenger protecting device. An antenna radiates a horizontally spread pattern of ultra-short wave signals and senses signals reflected by an oncoming object. A homodyne detector mixes the radiated and reflected signals to produce a Doppler frequency. A converter responds to the amplitude of the Doppler frequency and produces a first safety signal when the converter determines that the object is within a predetermined zone. A frequency-voltage converter converts the Doppler frequency into a voltage. A comparator compares the voltage with a second smaller voltage that is derived from the first voltage but whose rate of change is dampened. The comparator produces a second safety signal when the first voltage exceeds the second after a given time. A gate actuates air bags when both safety signals appear.
Inventors
- 👤 K Sato
- 👤 T Hisatsune
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:00
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/88; G01S13/93; G01S13/931; G01S2013/9327; G01S2013/93271
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A collision sensing apparatus for a vehicle, comprising signal operating means mounted on said vehicle for transmitting an undulatory signal and for sensing reflections of the signal from an object, Doppler means for deriving a first electrical value varying with the difference between the frequency of the transmitted signal and the reflected signal and for deriving a varying electrical level corresponding to the amplitude of the received signal, charge and discharge means responsive to the value for producing a second electrical value having a predetermined relation with the first value and variable at a rate slower than the first value, comparator means for comparing said values and producing a signal when the first value has a given relation with the second value, level responsive means coupled said Doppler means for producing a signal when the level line within a predetermined zone, and gate means responsive to the signals from said level responsive means and said comparator means for producing a safety actuating signal in response to the existence of said signals at said level responsive means and said comparator means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A collision sensing apparatus for a vehicle, comprising signal operating means mounted on said vehicle for transmitting an undulatory signal and for sensing reflections of the signal from an object, Doppler means for deriving a first electrical value varying with the difference between the frequency of the transmitted signal and the reflected signal and for deriving a varying electrical level corresponding to the amplitude of the received signal, charge and discharge means responsive to the value for producing a second electrical value having a predetermined relation with the first value and variable at a rate slower than the first value, comparator means for comparing said values and producing a signal when the first value has a given relation with the second value, level responsive means coupled said Doppler means for producing a signal when the level line within a predetermined zone, and gate means responsive to the signals from said level responsive means and said comparator means for producing a safety actuating signal in response to the existence of said signals at said level responsive means and said comparator means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as in claim 1. wherein said Doppler means includes a Doppler detector for producing the frequency difference and frequency-voltage converter means responsive to said detector for producing the first value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
84 words
An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said charge and discharge means includes voltage divider means responsive to the output of said frequency-voltage converter means for producing a voltage, said charge and discharge means including discharge means coupled to said voltage divider means for limiting the rate of change of the voltage and forming the second value, said comparator means including a comparator circuit coupled to said Doppler means and said discharge means for comparing the first electrical value with the second electrical value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said comparator circuit produces the first signal when The first electrical value exceeds the second electrical value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said level responsive means includes an alternating current to direct current converter and zone selecting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
84 words
An apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said charge and discharge means includes voltage divider means responsive to the output of said frequency-voltage converter means for producing a voltage, said charge and discharge means including discharge means coupled to said voltage divider means for limiting the rate of change of the voltage and forming the second value, said comparator means including a comparator circuit coupled to said Doppler means and said discharge means for comparing the first electrical value with the second electrical value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said comparator circuit produces the first signal when the first electrical value exceeds the second electrical value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
223 words
A safety apparatus for a vehicle, comprising signal operating means mounted on said vehicle for transmitting an undulatory signal and for sensing reflections of the signal from an object, Doppler means for deriving a first electrical value varying with the difference between the freguency of the transmitted signal and the reflected signal and for deriving a varying electrical level corresponding to the amplitude of the received signal, charge and discharge means responsive to the value for producing a second electrical value having a predetermined relation with the first value and variable at a rate slower than the first value, comparator means for comparing said values and producing a signal when the first value has a given relation with the second value, level responsive means coupled to Doppler means for producing a signal when the level lies within a predetermined zone, and gate means responsive to the signals from said level responsive means and said comparator means for producing a safety actuating signal in response to the existence of said signals at said level responsive means said comparator means, and airbag means in said vehicle connected to said gate means and having an initiating circuit responsive to said gate means for blowing up airbags in the paths of passengers in response to the safety actuating signal so as to protect passengers in the vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
223 words
A safety apparatus for a vehicle, comprising signal operating means mounted on said vehicle for transmitting an undulatory signal and for sensing reflections of the signal from an object, Doppler means for deriving a first electrical value varying with the difference between the freguency of the transmitted signal and the reflected signal and for deriving a varying electrical level corresponding to the amplitude of the received signal, charge and discharge means responsive to the value for producing a second electrical value having a predetermined relation with the first value and variable at a rate slower than the first value, comparator means for comparing said values and producing a signal when the first value has a given relation with the second value, level responsive means coupled to Doppler means for producing a signal when the level lies within a predetermined zone, and gate means responsive to the signals from said level responsive means and said comparator means for producing a safety actuating signal in response to the existence of said signals at said level responsive means said comparator means, and airbag means in said vehicle connected to said gate means and having an initiating circuit responsive to said gate means for blowing up airbags in the paths of passengers in response to the safety actuating signal so as to protect passengers in the vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
120 words
An apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said Doppler means includes a Doppler detector and frequency-voltage converter means responsive to the detector for producing the first value, and wherein said comparator means includes voltage divider means responsive to the output of said frequency-voltage converter means for producing a voltage, said charge and discharge means including discharge means coupled to said voltage divider means for limiting the rate of change of the voltage and forming the second value, said comparator means including a comparator circuit coupled to said Doppler means and said discharge means for comparing the first electrical value with the second electrical value, said comparator circuit producing the first signal when the electrical value exceeds the second electrical value.
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) | 1976-11-12 | 1977-05-14 | 1977-11-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-12 | 1981-05-14 | 1981-11-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-12 | 1985-05-14 | 1985-11-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |