Patent US4701163A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3824592A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3824592A
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US
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Method and apparatus for measuring and indicating the distance, distance variation, or both between an automotive vehicle and an obstacle
Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
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Filing: 1972-10-10
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Granted: 1974-07-16
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Expires: 1992-10-10
Abstract
Abstract A modulated interrogation signal is transmitted from the vehicle, received at the vehicle after reflection from an obstacle, and compared with a reference signal for determination of the distance, distance variation or both. The transmission of the interrogation signal is stochastically controlled, and the received signals are utilized, to indicate the desired distance information, only after repeated comparison correlation thereof with the reference signal. The apparatus includes a transmitter controlled by a function generator to emit a modulated interrogation signal, a receiver for the reflected interrogation signal, an evaluating circuit for comparing the reflected signal with the reference signal, and an indicating instrument influenced by the evaluation circuit. The generator stochastically controls either the frequency or the amplitude of the function generator within certain limits, and a plurality of distance gates in the evaluation circuit, corresponding to respective successive distance ranges, have the reference signal applied to a first input and the received signals applied to a second input. Each gate has a correlator connected to its output and which is operable, only after repeated gating through of the associated distance gate, to deliver a signal to the indicating instrument connected with the respective distance gate.
Inventors
- 👤 L Mehltretter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:50
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/88; G01S13/93; G01S13/931; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/16; G08G1/165; G08G1/166; G01S2013/932
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
In apparatus for measuring and indicating the distance, distance variation, or both between an automotive vehicle and an obstacle, of the type having a transmitter emitting a modulated interrogation signal, a receiver for the interrogation signal reflected from the obstacLe, an evaluating circuit for comparing the received interrogation signal with a reference signal, and an indicating instrument influenced by the evaluating circuit and indicating the desired distance information: the improvement comprising, in combination, a transmitting oscillator included in said transmitter; a generator connected to said oscillator and stochastically controlling a parameter of said oscillator within predetermined limits; a plurality of distance gates, corresponding to respective successive distance areas, in said evaluating circuit; means connecting said evaluating circuit to said receiver; means applying a reference signal to a first input of each distance gate; means applying the received signals to second inputs of the distance gates; and respective correlating means connected to the output of each distance gate and to said indicating instrument and transmitting output signals of the associated distance gate to said indicating instrument only after repeated reception of output signals from the associated distance gates.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
In apparatus for measuring and indicating the distance, distance variation, or both between an automotive vehicle and an obstacle, of the type having a transmitter emitting a modulated interrogation signal, a receiver for the interrogation signal reflected from the obstacLe, an evaluating circuit for comparing the received interrogation signal with a reference signal, and an indicating instrument influenced by the evaluating circuit and indicating the desired distance information: the improvement comprising, in combination, a transmitting oscillator included in said transmitter; a generator connected to said oscillator and stochastically controlling a parameter of said oscillator within predetermined limits; a plurality of distance gates, corresponding to respective successive distance areas, in said evaluating circuit; means connecting said evaluating circuit to said receiver; means applying a reference signal to a first input of each distance gate; means applying the received signals to second inputs of the distance gates; and respective correlating means connected to the output of each distance gate and to said indicating instrument and transmitting output signals of the associated distance gate to said indicating instrument only after repeated reception of output signals from the associated distance gates.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The improved apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, in which said generator stochastically controls the frequency of said oscillator. 3 The improved apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, in which said generator stochastically controls the amplitude of said oscillator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The improved apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, including a function generator connected to said first-mentioned generator and to said oscillator; said first-mentioned generator stochastically controlling a parameter of said function generator, within predetermined limits, and said function generator controlling a parameter of said oscillator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
139 words
The improved apparatus, as claimed in claim 4, in which said first-mentioned generator is a pulse generator; said function generator being an electronic switch connected to said pulse generator and to said oscillator, and controlled by said pulse generator to provide a pulse frequency varying stochastically within predetermined limits; said electronic switch pulse-modulating said transmitter oscillator; a counter connected to said first inputs of said distance gates and to said pulse generator, said counter being clock controlled at a constant frequency; said pulse generator starting, with each pulse, said counter and said counter supplying clock pulses successively to the first inputs of said distance gates; said correlating means comprising respective integrator members each connected to the output of a respective distance gate and each having a respective time constant corresponding to a time span between several emitted interrogation signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improved apparatus, as claimed in claim 5, including means controlling the frequency of said counter as a function of the speed of the automotive vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
172 words
The improved apparatus, as claimed in claim 4, in which said function generator controls the frequency of said transmitter oscillator to modulate the frequency as a function which steadily changes in amplitude with a frequency variation which is high relative to the Doppler frequency shift; said first-mentioned generator stochastically controlling the reversal points of said function; a mixer in said receiver determining the difference frequency between emitted and received signals; a digital counter connected to said mixer and clocked by said mixer; means connecting respective outputs of said counter to the first inputs of respective AND gates constituting said distance gates; a pulse generator having a constant time base connected to said counter and clearing said counter at predetermined intervals, said pulse generator, after the expiration of each interval, supplying reference signals to all further inputs of said AND gates; said correlator means comprising respective integrating members each connected to the output of a respective AND gate and having time constants comprising several times the constant time base of said pulse generator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improved apparatus, as claimed in claim 7, incLuding means controlling the time base of said pulse generator as a function of the speed of the automotive vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improved apparatus, as claimed in claim 7, in which said function is in the form of triangular pulses.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improved apparatus, as claimed in claim 7, in which said function is in the form of trapezoidal pulses.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improved apparatus, as claimed in claim 7, in which said function is in the form of sawtooth pulses.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
217 words
In apparatus for measuring and indicating the distance, distance variation or both between an automotive vehicle and an obstacle, of the type having a transmitter whose frequency is controlled by a function generator modulating the frequency of the transmitter with a function which steadily varies in amplitude, such as a sawtooth, triangular, or trapezoidal function, and having a high frequency change with respect to the Doppler frequency drift, the period of the chosen modulation being controlled by a stochastical generator, and of the type having an antenna over which the high frequency signals of the transmitter are radiated and are received, after reflection by an obstacle, by an antenna, and of the type further including a mixer determinng the difference frequency between the transmitted and the received signals, an amplifier for amplifying the difference signal and a plurality of filters, of different respective frequency ranges, connected in parallel to the output of the amplifier and connected with respective different indicating lamps for different distance ranges: the improvement comprising said amplifier having an automatic gain control operable to amplify all the signals to the same amplitude; those filters associated with a small distance between the vehicle and the obstacle having a narrower frequency range than those filters associated with a large distance between the vehicle and the obstacle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
217 words
In apparatus for measuring and indicating the distance, distance variation or both between an automotive vehicle and an obstacle, of the type having a transmitter whose frequency is controlled by a function generator modulating the frequency of the transmitter with a function which steadily varies in amplitude, such as a sawtooth, triangular, or trapezoidal function, and having a high frequency change with respect to the Doppler frequency drift, the period of the chosen modulation being controlled by a stochastical generator, and of the type having an antenna over which the high frequency signals of the transmitter are radiated and are received, after reflection by an obstacle, by an antenna, and of the type further including a mixer determinng the difference frequency between the transmitted and the received signals, an amplifier for amplifying the difference signal and a plurality of filters, of different respective frequency ranges, connected in parallel to the output of the amplifier and connected with respective different indicating lamps for different distance ranges: the improvement comprising said amplifier having an automatic gain control operable to amplify all the signals to the same amplitude; those filters associated with a small distance between the vehicle and the obstacle having a narrower frequency range than those filters associated with a large distance between the vehicle and the obstacle.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-15 | 1978-01-14 | 1978-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-15 | 1982-01-14 | 1982-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-15 | 1986-01-14 | 1986-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |