Patent US3044836A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3781879A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Harmonic radar detecting and ranging system for automotive vehicles
Assignee: RCA Corp
•
Filing: 1972-06-30
•
Granted: 1973-12-25
•
Expires: 1992-06-30
Abstract
Abstract In a vehicular harmonic radar detecting and ranging system, a transmitter transmits a highly directional and polarized beam of electromagnetic energy, preferably in the microwave spectrum, toward a passive target. The passive target reradiates a beam of energy, which is harmonically related to and polarized orthogonal to the transmitted beam, directionally back toward the transmitter. A receiver by being selectively responsive the the harmonically related and orthogonally polarized reradiated beam, is immune to blinding which would otherwise be caused by the transmitted signals of other radar equipped vehicles and to the clutter caused by extraneous targets.
Inventors
- 👤 H Staras
- 👤 J Shefer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 15:57
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/88; G01S13/93; G01S13/931; G01S13/74; G01S13/76; G01S13/767; G01S2013/932; G01S2013/9325; G01S2013/9327; G01S2013/93271; G01S2013/9329
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A detecting and ranging system for use with an automotive vehicle, comprising a transmitter, a receiver, an output means and a directional antenna network coupled to said transmitter and said receiver; said transmitter comprising means for generating electromagnetic energy signals of a predetermined frequency; said receiver comprising means adapted to detect electromagnetic energy signals which are derived from and harmonically related to said signals of said predetermined frequency; said output means being coupled to said receiver and cooperating with said receiver for producing an output signal in response to said detected signals; and said antenna network including means for selectively transmitting said signals of said predetermined frequency into a given transmission direction while polarizing said transmitted signals into a given polarization direction, said antenna network further including means selectively responsive only to electromagnetic signals originating from said given transmission direction, which signals have been derived from and are harmonically related to said transmitted signals and which have a polarization direction substantially orthogonal to said given polarization direction, for applying said selectively derived signals to said receiver.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
A detecting and ranging system for use with an automotive vehicle, comprising a transmitter, a receiver, an output means and a directional antenna network coupled to said transmitter and said receiver; said transmitter comprising means for generating electromagnetic energy signals of a predetermined frequency; said receiver comprising means adapted to detect electromagnetic energy signals which are derived from and harmonically related to said signals of said predetermined frequency; said output means being coupled to said receiver and cooperating with said receiver for producing an output signal in response to said detected signals; and said antenna network including means for selectively transmitting said signals of said predetermined frequency into a given transmission direction while polarizing said transmitted signals into a given polarization direction, said antenna network further including means selectively responsive only to electromagnetic signals originating from said given transmission direction, which signals have been derived from and are harmonically related to said transmitted signals and which have a polarization direction substantially orthogonal to said given polarization direction, for applying said selectively derived signals to said receiver.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said receiver includes means coupled to said transmitter wherein said output signal is proportional to the difference in frequency between a preselected harmonic of said predetermined frequency and said selectively derived signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system according to claim 1, wherein said output means includes means coupled to said transmitter wherein said output signal is derived by comparing said predetermined frequency signal and said selectively derived signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system according to claim 2, including frequency modulation means coupled to said transmitter to vary the frequency of the signals generated by said transmitter about said predetermined frequency.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system according to claim 1, wherein the frequency of said selectively derived signals is the second harmonic of said predetermined frequency
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
92 words
The system according to claim 5, wherein said antenna network comprises a unitary antenna structure and wherein said means for selectively transmitting said signals of said predetermined frequency includes a first array of dipole elements having a resonant frequency substantially equal to said predetermined frequency and a polarization direction determinative of said given polarization direction, and wherein the selectively responsive means includes a second array of dipole elements having a resonant frequency substantially equal to the second harmonic of said predetermined frequency and a polarization direction orthogonal to said given polarization direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
191 words
A detecting and ranging system for use with an automotive vehicle, comprising a transmitter, a receiver, an output means and a directional antenna network coupled to said transmitter and said receiver; said transmitter comprising means for generating electromagnetic energy signals of a predetermined frequency; said receiver comprising means adapted to detect electromagnetic energy signals which are derived from and harmonically related to said signals of said predetermined frequency; said output means being coupled to said receiver and cooperating with said receiver for producing an output signal in response to said detected signals; and said antenna network including means for selectively transmitting said signals of said predetermined frequency in the direction of forward movement of the vehicle and onto a target comprised of a retrodirective harmonic reflector mounted on the rearward portion of a preceding vehicle, while polarizing said transmitted signals into a given polarization direction, said antenna network further including means selectively responsive only to the reflected electromagnetic energy signals which are harmonically related to said transmitted signals and have a polarization direction substantially orthogonal to said given polarization direction for applying said harmonically related and orthogonal signals to said receiver.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
191 words
A detecting and ranging system for use with an automotive vehicle, comprising a transmitter, a receiver, an output means and a directional antenna network coupled to said transmitter and said receiver; said transmitter comprising means for generating electromagnetic energy signals of a predetermined frequency; said receiver comprising means adapted to detect electromagnetic energy signals which are derived from and harmonically related to said signals of said predetermined frequency; said output means being coupled to said receiver and cooperating with said receiver for producing an output signal in response to said detected signals; and said antenna network including means for selectively transmitting said signals of said predetermined frequency in the direction of forward movement of the vehicle and onto a target comprised of a retrodirective harmonic reflector mounted on the rearward portion of a preceding vehicle, while polarizing said transmitted signals into a given polarization direction, said antenna network further including means selectively responsive only to the reflected electromagnetic energy signals which are harmonically related to said transmitted signals and have a polarization direction substantially orthogonal to said given polarization direction for applying said harmonically related and orthogonal signals to said receiver.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
80 words
The system according to claim 7, wherein said retrodirective harmonic reflector includes a harmonic generating means coupled between a first and second directive antenna, said first antenna having a polarization direction corresponding to said given direction and a resonant frequency substantially equal to said predetermined frequency, said second antenna having a polarization direction which is substantially orthogonal to the polarization direction of said first antenna and a resonant frequency substantially equal to a preselected harmonic frequency of said predetermined frequency.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system according to claim 8, wherein said preselected harmonic frequency is the second harmonic of said predetermined frequency.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system according to claim 8 wherein said harmonic generating means comprises a diode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
66 words
The system according to claim 7, including frequency modulation means coupled to said transmitter to vary the frequency of the signals generated by said transmitter about said predetermined frequency; and wherein said receiver includes means coupled to said transmitter to provide an output signAl which is proportional to the difference in frequency between a preselected harmonic frequency of said predetermined frequency and said selectively derived signals.
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) | 1976-12-24 | 1977-06-25 | 1977-12-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-24 | 1981-06-25 | 1981-12-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-24 | 1985-06-25 | 1985-12-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |