Self-propelled golf cart

Claim 2

In combination with a vehicle having a drive assembly for propelling and steering said vehicle; means for controlling movement of said vehicle relative to a mobile location comprising means for generating an energy field at said mobile location, receiving means mounted on said vehicle for detecting said energy field, signal processing means connecting the receiving means to the drive assembly for propelling the vehicle within a limited zone occupied by said energy field, said signal processing means including energy level responsive means connected to the receiving means for developing driving and turning signals, servo signal control means operatively connecting said energy level responsive means to the drive assembly, said energy level responsive means including a pair of signal comparison devices for developing a stop signal in response to predetermined levels of said detected energy field above or below maximum or minimum reference values respectively, said comparison devices including hysteresis means for varying the maximum and minimum reference values during change in the level of said detected energy field.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 including dynamic braking means connecting the servo signal control means to the drive assembly for decelerating movement of the vehicle in response to approach thereof to said limits of the zone.

Claim 4

The combination set forth in claim 1, together with static brake means connected to said means connecting said signal range control means to said servo signal control means for stopping movement of the vehicle at said limits.

Claim 5

In combination with a vehicle having a drive Assembly for propelling and steering said vehicle; means for controlling movement of said vehicle relative to a mobile location comprising: means for generating an energy field at said mobile location, receiving means mounted on said vehicle for detecting said energy field, signal processing means connecting the receiving means to the drive assembly for propelling the vehicle within a limited zone occupied by said energy field, said signal processing means including energy level responsive means connected to the receiving means for developing driving and turning signals, servo signal control means operatively connecting said energy level responsive means to the drive assembly, signal range control means associated with said energy level responsive means for developing stop signals in response to the presence of said vehicle at predetermined limits of said zone spaced from the mobile location, and means connecting said signal range control means to said servo signal control means for controlling the drive assembly in combination with said driving and turning signals, said signal range control means including a pair of signal comparison devices for developing said stop signals in response to levels of said detected energy field above or below maximum or minimum reference values, respectively.

Claim 6

In combination with a vehicle having a drive Assembly for propelling and steering said vehicle; means for controlling movement of said vehicle relative to a mobile location comprising: means for generating an energy field at said mobile location, receiving means mounted on said vehicle for detecting said energy field, signal processing means connecting the receiving means to the drive assembly for propelling the vehicle within a limited zone occupied by said energy field, said signal processing means including energy level responsive means connected to the receiving means for developing driving and turning signals, servo signal control means operatively connecting said energy level responsive means to the drive assembly, signal range control means associated with said energy level responsive means for developing stop signals in response to the presence of said vehicle at predetermined limits of said zone spaced from the mobile location, and means connecting said signal range control means to said servo signal control means for controlling the drive assembly in combination with said driving and turning signals, said signal range control means including a pair of signal comparison devices for developing said stop signals in response to levels of said detected energy field above or below maximum or minimum reference values, respectively.

Claim 7

The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein said comparison devices include hysteresis means for varying the trip point of said comparison devices during change in the level of the detected energy field near said predetermined limits.

Claim 8

The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein said servo signal control means includes means for sensing the speed of the vehicle for controlling said drive assembly in a dynamic braking mode when the sensed speed exceeds a predetermined maximum speed.

Claim 9

In combination with a wheeled vehicle having a drive assembly for propelling and steering the vehicle, drive control means responsive to control signals generated at a remote location comprising at least two signal pick-up devices mounted in spaced, generally parallel relation on the vehicle for respectively receiving said control signals, means connected to said pick-up devices for sensing the energy levels of said control signals received by each pick-up device, logic means connected to said signal level sensing means for producing driving signals varying in response to changes in the energy levels of the control signals respectively received by the pick-up devices within a signal sensitivity pattern, and a third pick-up device operatively connected to said logic means for modifying the signal sensitivity pattern established by said two pick-up devices to avoid utilization of ambiguous signals, said third pick-up device being orientated with its magnetic sensitivity axis at an angle to those of said two pick-up devices.

Claim 10

In combination with a wheeled vehicle having a drive assembly for propelling and steering the vehicle, drive control means responsive to control signals generated at a remote location comprising at least two signal pick-up devices mounted in spaced, generally parallel relation on the vehicle for respectively receiving said control signals, means connected to said pick-up devices for sensing the energy levels of said control signals received by each pick-up device, logic means connected to said signal level sensing means for producing driving signals varying in response to changes in the energy levels of the control signals respectively received by the pick-up devices within a signal sensitivity pattern, and a third pick-up device operatively connected to said logic means for modifying the signal sensitivity pattern established by said two pick-up devices to avoid utilization of ambiguous signals, said third pick-up device being orientated with its magnetic sensitivity axis at an angle to those of said two pick-up devices.

Claim 11

A remote control system comprising transmitter means for generating a magnetic field alternating at a predetermined frequency, a plurality of pick-up devices adapted to be magnetically coupled to said transmitter means through said magnetic field, means defining signal channels connected to said pick-up devices for sensing the energy level of the magnetic field at the respective locations of the pick-up devices, utilization means connected to the sensing means for performing a plurality of functions dependent upon the magnitudes of and differences between the energy levels at said locations of the pick-up devices, a vehicle on which said pick-up devices are mounted in fixed spaced relation to each other, a drive assembly for propelling and steering said vehicle, said utilization means including logic means for producing at least two driving signals varying in response to changes in the energy levels in said signal channels and servo means connecting the logic means to the drive assembly for causing the vehicle to track the transmitter means, said plurality of pick-up devices including two pick-up devices orientated on the vehicle in directions with their magnetic sensitivity Axes generally parallel to each other, a third pick-up device orientated with its magnetic sensitivity axis at an angle to those of said two pick-up devices, and means connecting the third pick-up device to the logic means for modifying the signal sensitivity pattern established by the two pick-up devices to avoid utilization of ambiguous signals.

Claim 12

A remote control system comprising transmitter means for generating a magnetic field alternating at a predetermined frequency, a plurality of pick-up devices adapted to be magnetically coupled to said transmitter means through said magnetic field, means defining signal channels connected to said pick-up devices for sensing the energy level of the magnetic field at the respective locations of the pick-up devices, utilization means connected to the sensing means for performing a plurality of functions dependent upon the magnitudes of and differences between the energy levels at said locations of the pick-up devices, a vehicle on which said pick-up devices are mounted in fixed spaced relation to each other, a drive assembly for propelling and steering said vehicle, said utilization means including logic means for producing at least two driving signals varying in response to changes in the energy levels in said signal channels and servo means connecting the logic means to the drive assembly for causing the vehicle to track the transmitter means, said plurality of pick-up devices including two pick-up devices orientated on the vehicle in directions with their magnetic sensitivity Axes generally parallel to each other, a third pick-up device orientated with its magnetic sensitivity axis at an angle to those of said two pick-up devices, and means connecting the third pick-up device to the logic means for modifying the signal sensitivity pattern established by the two pick-up devices to avoid utilization of ambiguous signals.

Claim 13

In combination with a wheeled vehicle having a drive assembly for propelling and steering the vehicle, drive control means responsive to control signals generated at a remote location comprising at least two signal pick-up devices mounted in spaced, generally parallel relation on the vehicle for respectively receiving said control signals at energy levels which diminish with an increase in the distance to said remote location, means connected to said pick-up devices for sensing the energy levels of the control signals received by each pick-up device, logic means connected to the signal level sensing means for producing driving signals varying in response to changes in the energy levels of the control signals respectively received by the pick-up devices within a signal sensitivity pattern, servo means connecting the logic means to the drive assembly for propelling and steering the vehicle in accordance with the variations in said driving signals, said two pick-up devices being orientated on the vehicle in directions with their magnetic sensitivity axes generally parallel to each other, a third pick-up device with a magnetic sensitivity axis orientated at an angle to the sensitivity axes of said two pick-up devices, and means connecting the third pick-up device to the logic means for modifying the signal sensitivity pattern established by the two pick-up devices to avoid utilization of ambiguous signals.

Claim 14

In combination with a wheeled vehicle having a drive assembly for propelling and steering the vehicle, drive control means responsive to control signals generated at a remote location comprising at least two signal pick-up devices mounted in spaced, generally parallel relation on the vehicle for respectively receiving said control signals at energy levels which diminish with an increase in the distance to said remote location, means connected to said pick-up devices for sensing the energy levels of the control signals received by each pick-up device, logic means connected to the signal level sensing means for producing driving signals varying in response to changes in the energy levels of the control signals respectively received by the pick-up devices within a signal sensitivity pattern, servo means connecting the logic means to the drive assembly for propelling and steering the vehicle in accordance with the variations in said driving signals, said two pick-up devices being orientated on the vehicle in directions with their magnetic sensitivity axes generally parallel to each other, a third pick-up device with a magnetic sensitivity axis orientated at an angle to the sensitivity axes of said two pick-up devices, and means connecting the third pick-up device to the logic means for modifying the signal sensitivity pattern established by the two pick-up devices to avoid utilization of ambiguous signals.

Claim 15

In combination with a wheeled vehicle having a drive assembly for propelling and steering the vehicle, drive control means responsive to control signals generated at a remote location comprising at least two signal pick-up devices mounted in spaced, generally parallel relation on the vehicle for respectively receiving said control signals at energy levels which diminish with an increase in the distance to said remote location, means connected to said pick-up devices for sensing the energy levels of the control signals received by each pick-up device, logic means connected to the signal level sensing means for producing driving signals varying in response to changes in the energy levels of the control signals respectively received by the pick-up devices within a signal sensitivity pattern, servo means connecting the logic means to the drive assembly for propelling and steering the vehicle in accordance with the variations in said driving signals, a third pick-up device orientated with its magnetic sensitivity axis at an angle to those of said two pick-up devices, and means connecting the third pick-up device to the logic means for modifying the signal sensitivity pattern established by the two pick-up devices to avoid utilization of ambiguous signals.

Claim 16

In combination with a wheeled vehicle having a drive assembly for propelling and steering the vehicle, drive control means responsive to control signals generated at a remote location comprising at least two signal pick-up devices mounted in spaced, generally parallel relation on the vehicle for respectively receiving said control signals at energy levels which diminish with an increase in the distance to said remote location, means connected to said pick-up devices for sensing the energy levels of the control signals received by each pick-up device, logic means connected to the signal level sensing means for producing driving signals varying in response to changes in the energy levels of the control signals respectively received by the pick-up devices within a signal sensitivity pattern, servo means connecting the logic means to the drive assembly for propelling and steering the vehicle in accordance with the variations in said driving signals, a third pick-up device orientated with its magnetic sensitivity axis at an angle to those of said two pick-up devices, and means connecting the third pick-up device to the logic means for modifying the signal sensitivity pattern established by the two pick-up devices to avoid utilization of ambiguous signals.