US4305077A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for measuring current position and/or moving direction of vehicle
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1979-12-11
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Granted: 1981-12-08
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Expires: 1999-12-11
Abstract
Abstract A reference station is provided at a fixed position. The station is adapted to transmit a scanning signal the transmitting direction of which is scanned in succession in different directions, a positional information signal representative of the position of the reference station and an azimuth information signal representative of a particular azimuth. A vehicle moving with respect to the reference station is provided with receivers at three positions spaced apart from each other by given distances, so that when the vehicle moves in the service area of the reference station the signals transmitted by the reference station are received. The current position of the vehicle and the moving direction of the vehicle are operated based on a time or phase difference from receipt of the particular azimuth signal until receipt of the scanning signal by the three receivers, the position of the reference station and the distances between the three receivers provided in the vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshihiro Tsumura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:19
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S1/00; G01S1/02; G01S1/08; G01S1/44; G01S1/54; G01S3/00; G01S3/02; G01S3/14; G01S3/46; G01S3/58; G01S5/00; G01S5/02; G01S5/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A system for measuring the current position and/or the moving direction of a moving vehicle, comprising: transmitting means installed at a reference location, said transmitting means comprising first transmitting means for transmitting an azimuth scanning signal being scanned in succession in different directions, second transmitting means for transmitting a location information signal representing said reference location of said transmitting means, and third transmitting means for transmitting an azimuth associated information signal containing information concerning a predetermined azimuth, receiving means for receiving said azimuth, scanning signals at three positions spaced apart from each other by predetermined distances and for receiving said location information signal and said azimuth associated information signal at at least one of said three positions, and information processing means borne on said moving vehicle, said information processing means being structured to evaluate at least one of the current position and the moving direction of said moving vehicle based on the information concerning the respective time periods from receipt of said azimuth associated information signal until receipt of said azimuth scanning signal at said three positions, said location information and the information concerning said predetermined distances between said three positions.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
191 words
A system for measuring the current position and/or the moving direction of a moving vehicle, comprising: transmitting means installed at a reference location, said transmitting means comprising first transmitting means for transmitting an azimuth scanning signal being scanned in succession in different directions, second transmitting means for transmitting a location information signal representing said reference location of said transmitting means, and third transmitting means for transmitting an azimuth associated information signal containing information concerning a predetermined azimuth, receiving means for receiving said azimuth, scanning signals at three positions spaced apart from each other by predetermined distances and for receiving said location information signal and said azimuth associated information signal at at least one of said three positions, and information processing means borne on said moving vehicle, said information processing means being structured to evaluate at least one of the current position and the moving direction of said moving vehicle based on the information concerning the respective time periods from receipt of said azimuth associated information signal until receipt of said azimuth scanning signal at said three positions, said location information and the information concerning said predetermined distances between said three positions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said receiving means comprises three receiving portions installed at said three positions spaced apart from each other by said predetermined distances.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said vehicle comprises a single vehicle, and said three receiving portions of said receiving means for receiving the signals from said transmitting means are all installed in said single vehicle, as spaced apart from each other by said predetermined distances.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
A system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said vehicle comprises a single vehicle, and wherein of said three receiving portions of said receiving means for receiving the signals from said transmitting means at least two receiving portions are provided in said single vehicle while the remaining receiving portion is installed at a predetermined fixed location.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said vehicle comprises a single vehicle, and wherein said three positions include successive positions which are changeable in association with the movement of said vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said vehicle comprises two vehicles, and wherein of said three receiving portions of said receiving means one receiving portion is installed on one vehicle, while the remaining two receiving portions are installed on the other vehicle.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
40 words
A system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein said transmitting means is adapted to transmit said signals by way of an electromagnetic wave, and wherein said receiving means is structured to receive said electromagnetic wave signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system in accordance with claim 7, wherein said electromagnetic wave is an electric wave.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
A system in accordance with claim 7, wherein said electromagnetic wave is light.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said light is laser light.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
50 words
A system in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said transmitting means is structured to transmit the respective signals by way of a sound wave or ultrasonic wave, and wherein said receiving means is structured to receive said sound wave signals or the ultrasonic wave signals.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
40 words
A system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, which further comprises display means operatively coupled to said information processing means for displaying at least one of the current position and the moving direction of said moving vehicle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system in accordance with claim 12, wherein said display means comprises digital display means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system in accordance with claim 12, wherein said display means comprises a cathode ray tube.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
56 words
A system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first transmitting means is structured to transmit said azimuth scanning signal in successively different directions in different phases, whereby the information concerning said time periods is determined based on the phase differences of the azimuth scanning signals as received at said three positions.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
63 words
A system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein said third transmitting means is included in said first transmitting means, said first transmitting means is adapted such that said azimuth scanning signal is reversed each time said azimuth scanning signal is directed to said specified azimuth, whereby said information concerning said specified azimuth is contained in said azimuth scanning signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system in accordance with claim 16, wherein said first transmitting means is adapted to intermittently transmit said scanning signal with a predetermined time difference for each cycle, whereby superposition between a preceding one cycle signal and a succeeding one cycle signal of said azimuth scanning signal is eliminated.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
74 words
A system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein said information processing means is adapted to execute the steps of evaluating a first plurality formulas representing a plurality of lines connecting said three positions and said fixed location where said transmitting means is installed, evaluating a second plurality of formulas representing a plurality of lines connecting said respective positions, and evaluating said three positions by solving said first and second formulas.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system in accordance with claim 18, wherein said first plurality of formulas and said second plurality of formulas contain linear equations.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
69 words
A system in accordance with claim 19, wherein said information processing means is adapted to execute the steps of evaluating an angle of said respective positions with respect to said fixed location where said transmitting means is installed, based on said information concerning the time periods and said location information, and evaluating the gradients of said first plurality of formulas in terms of the tangents of said evaluated angles.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system in accordance with claim 18, wherein said information processing means is adapted to evaluate said moving direction based on said respective positions.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
136 words
A system in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein said information processing means is adapted to execute the steps of evaluating the angles of said respective positions with respect to said fixed location where said transmitting means is installed based on said information concerning the time periods and said location information, evaluating the angles of the position of said vehicle with respect to said fixed location based on the maximum and the minimum among said evaluated angles, evaluating a straight line distance from said vehicle to said fixed location based on the position corresponding to said maximum angle and the position corresponding to said minimum angle, and evaluating the current position of said vehicle based on the angle of said vehicle with respect to said fixed location and said straight line distance.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3430243A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-12-07 | 1985-06-08 | 1985-12-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-12-07 | 1989-06-08 | 1989-12-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-12-07 | 1993-06-08 | 1993-12-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |