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US4103278A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Obstacle detecting apparatus using ultrasonic waves
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1976-12-06
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Granted: 1978-07-25
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Expires: 1996-12-06
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to an obstacle detecting apparatus using ultrasonic waves, wherein an ultrasonic transmitter-receiver and an ultrasonic receiver are provided at a desired interval, and thereby the distance and the direction to the obstacle are obtained by the intersecting point between the circular locus of the first reflected wave returning after reflection at the obstacle, and the elliptical locus of the second reflected wave to the ultrasonic receiver. Under this structure, when any person or any obstacle like a building exists within the dead angle of a motor vehicle in case a driver is going to back it, the driver is informed of the distance and the direction to the obstacle by means of the obstacle detecting apparatus using ultrasonic waves.
Inventors
- 👤 Kanje Satake
- 👤 Yasuo Shimazu
- 👤 Masaru Kasahara
- 👤 Seya Adachi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 17:11
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S5/00; G01S5/18; G01S5/22; G01S11/00; G01S11/14; G01S15/00; G01S15/87; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S367/00; Y10S367/90; Y10S367/907; Y10S367/909
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
An obstacle-detecting apparatus using ultrasonic waves comprising, in combination, an ultrasonic transmitter-receiver having a transmit and a receive mode; an ultrasonic receiver spaced a predetermined distance from the transmitter-receiver; control means operative for causing the transmitter-receiver to assume its transmit mode and transmit an ultrasonic wave into space for impingement upon and reflection back from an obstacle to be located and then to assume its receive mode so that both the transmitter-receiver and the receiver will receive an ultrasonic wave reflected from the obstacle; distance-determining means operative for determining the distance to the obstacle and generating a corresponding distance signal at least in dependence upon the travel distance of the wave transmitted by and then received by the transmitter-receiver; and direction-determining means operative for determining the direction in which the obstacle is located relative to the transmitter-receiver and generating a corresponding direction signal by determining a circular distance-locus whose radius is dependent upon at least the travel distance of the wave transmitted by and then received by the transmitter-receiver, by determining an elliptical distance-locus whose focalradii-sum is dependent upon at least the travel distance of the wave transmitted by and then received by the transmitter-receiver and the travel distance of the wave transmitted by the transmitter-receiver and received by the receiver, and by determining the intersection of these two loci.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
220 words
An obstacle-detecting apparatus using ultrasonic waves comprising, in combination, an ultrasonic transmitter-receiver having a transmit and a receive mode; an ultrasonic receiver spaced a predetermined distance from the transmitter-receiver; control means operative for causing the transmitter-receiver to assume its transmit mode and transmit an ultrasonic wave into space for impingement upon and reflection back from an obstacle to be located and then to assume its receive mode so that both the transmitter-receiver and the receiver will receive an ultrasonic wave reflected from the obstacle; distance-determining means operative for determining the distance to the obstacle and generating a corresponding distance signal at least in dependence upon the travel distance of the wave transmitted by and then received by the transmitter-receiver; and direction-determining means operative for determining the direction in which the obstacle is located relative to the transmitter-receiver and generating a corresponding direction signal by determining a circular distance-locus whose radius is dependent upon at least the travel distance of the wave transmitted by and then received by the transmitter-receiver, by determining an elliptical distance-locus whose focalradii-sum is dependent upon at least the travel distance of the wave transmitted by and then received by the transmitter-receiver and the travel distance of the wave transmitted by the transmitter-receiver and received by the receiver, and by determining the intersection of these two loci.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
136 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1; furthermore comprising analog polar-coordinate display means operative for displaying the direction and distance of the obstacle, the display means comprising a pointer; mounting means mounting the pointer for movement in a first direction for varying the direction indicated by the pointer and in a different second direction for varying the distance indicated by the pointer by varying the display length of the pointer measured in the direction of elongation of the pointer; first moving means connected to the direction-determining means for receipt of the direction signal and operative in dependence upon the latter for moving the pointer in said first direction; second moving means connected to the distance-determining means for receipt of the distance signal and operative in dependence upon the latter for moving the pointer in said second direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus defined in claim 2, said mounting means comprising means mounting the pointer for rotation about a rotation axis perpendicular to the pointer, rotation of the pointer about the axis constituting movement in said first direction, and means including a rack and pinion transmission driven by the second moving means mounting the pointer for shifting movement along the direction of elongation of the pointer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
137 words
The apparatus defined in claim 2, said mounting means comprising means mounting the pointer for rotation about a rotation axis perpendicular to the pointer, rotation of the pointer about this axis constituting movement in said first direction, and means coupled to said second moving means mounting the pointer for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the pointer, rotation of the pointer about its own longitudinal axis constituting movement in said second direction, the pointer having two visually distinguishable surface zones extending generally along the length of the pointer and defining between themselves a boundary line which likewise extends generally along the length of the pointer but oblique relative to the longitudinal axis of the pointer, whereby as the pointer is rotated about its longitudinal axis the length of the visible portion of one of said zones changes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3234502A
Cited
US3380028A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-07-24 | 1982-01-23 | 1982-07-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-07-24 | 1986-01-23 | 1986-07-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-07-24 | 1990-01-23 | 1990-07-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |