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Patent US4027303A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4027303A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for detecting the presence of objects by sensing reflected energy
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1975-05-22
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Granted: 1977-05-31
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Expires: 1995-05-22
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for detecting the presence of an object by propagating an electromagnetic field, preferably in the microwave range. An object entering the path of the electromagnetic field reflects, disturbs or interrupts electromagnetic energy. The level of the electromagnetic energy reflected, disturbed, or interrupted depends on the size of the object and the distance of the object from the apparatus. A receiver detects the level of the electro-magnetic energy reflected, disturbed or interrupted from the object. An alarm is set to be activated when the energy level of the reflected, disturbed or interrupted energy detected by the receiver reaches a predetermined level.
Inventors
- 👤 Karl R. Neuwirth
- 👤 Malcolm E. Milligan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 15:12
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/02; G01S13/04; G01S13/06; G01S13/08; G01S13/10; G01V; G01V3/00; G01V3/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
281 words
Apparatus for detecting an object comprising: (A) a transmitter propagating a field of electromagnetic energy emitted in the form of pulses, said transmitter comprising: (a) means for applying a supply voltage, (b) an oscillator for generating electromagnetic energy in response to said means applying supply voltage to said oscillator, (c) an antenna connected to said oscillator for propagating a field of electromagnetic energy, and (d) a pulse generator connected to said means for applying supply voltage to said oscillator at a pulse rate for the emission of the field of electromagnetic energy in the form of pulses, said pulse generator including a piezoelectric resonator for selecting the pulse rate at which said transmitter emits the field of electromagnetic energy; (B) a receiver detecting the level of electromagnetic energy influenced by an object in the path of said field of electromagnetic energy for providing a level of pulse energy, said receiver comprising: (a) a detector for removing pulse energy from the electromagnetic energy influenced by the object in said field, (b) a filter for passing only the pulse energy of a predetermined frequency, said filter including a piezoelectric resonator for selecting said predetermined frequency, said predetermined frequency passed by said filter being the same as said pulse rate at which said transmitter emits the field of electromagnetic energy, and (c) an amplifier connected to said filter for providing a voltage representative of said level of pulse energy; (C) a control circuit connected to said amplifier of said receiver for producing an alarm-activating signal in response to said voltage reaching a predetermined magnitude; and (D) an alarm circuit connected to said control circuit and activated by said control circuit producing the alarm-activating signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
281 words
Apparatus for detecting an object comprising: (A) a transmitter propagating a field of electromagnetic energy emitted in the form of pulses, said transmitter comprising: (a) means for applying a supply voltage, (b) an oscillator for generating electromagnetic energy in response to said means applying supply voltage to said oscillator, (c) an antenna connected to said oscillator for propagating a field of electromagnetic energy, and (d) a pulse generator connected to said means for applying supply voltage to said oscillator at a pulse rate for the emission of the field of electromagnetic energy in the form of pulses, said pulse generator including a piezoelectric resonator for selecting the pulse rate at which said transmitter emits the field of electromagnetic energy; (B) a receiver detecting the level of electromagnetic energy influenced by an object in the path of said field of electromagnetic energy for providing a level of pulse energy, said receiver comprising: (a) a detector for removing pulse energy from the electromagnetic energy influenced by the object in said field, (b) a filter for passing only the pulse energy of a predetermined frequency, said filter including a piezoelectric resonator for selecting said predetermined frequency, said predetermined frequency passed by said filter being the same as said pulse rate at which said transmitter emits the field of electromagnetic energy, and (c) an amplifier connected to said filter for providing a voltage representative of said level of pulse energy; (C) a control circuit connected to said amplifier of said receiver for producing an alarm-activating signal in response to said voltage reaching a predetermined magnitude; and (D) an alarm circuit connected to said control circuit and activated by said control circuit producing the alarm-activating signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
145 words
Apparatus for spatial detection comprising: (a) a plurality of transmitters propagating fields of electromagnetic energy at different modulating frequencies and at different locations; (b) a plurality of receivers detecting respectively the level of electromagnetic energy influenced by at least one object in the path of said fields of electromagnetic energy, said receivers being located at different locations; (c) a plurality of control circuits, each of said control circuits being connected to selected ones of said receivers for producing an alarm-activating signal in response to the energy detected by one or more of its associated receivers reaching a predetermined level; and (d) an alarm circuit for each of said control circuits, said alarm circuits being connected to said control circuits respectively and activated by its associated control circuit producing an alarm-activating signal in response to the energy detected by an associated receiver reaching the predetermined level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
145 words
Apparatus for spatial detection comprising: (a) a plurality of transmitters propagating fields of electromagnetic energy at different modulating frequencies and at different locations; (b) a plurality of receivers detecting respectively the level of electromagnetic energy influenced by at least one object in the path of said fields of electromagnetic energy, said receivers being located at different locations; (c) a plurality of control circuits, each of said control circuits being connected to selected ones of said receivers for producing an alarm-activating signal in response to the energy detected by one or more of its associated receivers reaching a predetermined level; and (d) an alarm circuit for each of said control circuits, said alarm circuits being connected to said control circuits respectively and activated by its associated control circuit producing an alarm-activating signal in response to the energy detected by an associated receiver reaching the predetermined level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus for spacial detection as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of said control circuits includes means for operating its associated alarm circuit in response to at least one of its associated receivers detecting electromagnetic energy at a selected demodulated frequency above the predetermined level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus for spatial detection as claimed claim 3 in which the respective selected demodulated frequencies correspond to the modulating frequencies of said transmitters, respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus for spatial detection as claimed in claim 4 in which each of said transmitters includes an antenna.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus for spatial detection as claimed in claim 4 in which each of said receivers includes an antenna.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus for spatial detection as claimed in claim 5 in which each of said receivers includes an antenna.
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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) | 1980-05-30 | 1980-11-29 | 1981-05-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-30 | 1984-11-29 | 1985-05-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-30 | 1988-11-29 | 1989-05-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |