US4542489A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Object detecting system of reflection type
Assignee: Aisin Corp
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Filing: 1983-05-18
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Granted: 1985-09-17
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Expires: 2003-05-18
Abstract
Abstract Ultrasonic waves are utilized to detect the presence of obstacles and to measure the distance between the system and the obstacle. Sensitivity for detecting obstacles is made variable in a manner that a range of the obstacle detecting distance is divided into plural distance regions and different detection sensitivities are set for the respective regions. The distance region to be detected is determined by a time period from generation of ultrasonic waves until reference to signal output made on the receiving side. For a predetermined period of time after generation of ultrasonic waves and for a predetermined period of time after completion of the reference timing to the received output, object discrimination is inhibited thereby to eliminate influences due to direct waves, secondary reflected waves, etc. Immediately after emission of ultrasonic waves, the received output is referred to check the state of the system. If direct waves are not detected, this means that the system operates abnormally.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshihiro Naruse
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 03:24
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/93; G01S15/931; G08; G08B; G08B29/00; G08B29/02; G08B29/04; G01S15/003; G01S2015/937; G01S2015/938; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/523; G01S7/526; G01S7/529
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
An object detecting system of reflection type comprising: a ultrasonic wave generating means adapted to generate ultrasonic waves; a driving means adapted to drive said ultrasonic wave generating means; a ultrasonic wave receiving means adapted to receive ultrasonic waves and disposed a predetermined space from said ultrasonic wave generating means; an amplifying means adapted to amplify a signal from said ultrasonic wave receiving means; an object discriminating means adapted to generate a signal indicating the presence or absence of objects in accordance with a level of the signal obtained from said amplifying means; and an electronic control unit which energizes said driving means, which changes at least one of an energized level of said driving means, a gain of said amplifying means and a discrimination level of said object discriminating means, when said object discriminating means judges that there exists no object, and which calculates the distance in accordance with a time period from the energization of said driving means to judgement by said object discriminating means to indicate the presence of objects in response to a signal from said object discrimination means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
An object detecting system of reflection type comprising: a ultrasonic wave generating means adapted to generate ultrasonic waves; a driving means adapted to drive said ultrasonic wave generating means; a ultrasonic wave receiving means adapted to receive ultrasonic waves and disposed a predetermined space from said ultrasonic wave generating means; an amplifying means adapted to amplify a signal from said ultrasonic wave receiving means; an object discriminating means adapted to generate a signal indicating the presence or absence of objects in accordance with a level of the signal obtained from said amplifying means; and an electronic control unit which energizes said driving means, which changes at least one of an energized level of said driving means, a gain of said amplifying means and a discrimination level of said object discriminating means, when said object discriminating means judges that there exists no object, and which calculates the distance in accordance with a time period from the energization of said driving means to judgement by said object discriminating means to indicate the presence of objects in response to a signal from said object discrimination means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
An object detecting system of reflection type according to claim 1, wherein said electronic control unit reads the signal from said object discriminating means during a certain period of time extending from a first predetermined time after energization of said driving means to a second predetermined time thereafter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
An object detecting system of reflection type according to claim 2, wherein said electronic control unit determines said first and second predetermined times in accordance with the setting of the energized level of said driving means
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
An object detecting system of the reflection type according to claim 2 wherein said electronic control unit determines said first and second predetermined times in accordance with the gain of said amplifying means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
An object detecting system of the reflection type according to claim 2 wherein said electronic control unit determines said first and second predetermined times in accordance with the discrimination level of said object discriminating means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
An object detecting system of reflection type according to claim 1, wherein said electronic control unit calculates the distance in accordance with a time period from the energization of said driving means to judgment by said object discriminating means to indicate the presence of objects, and then it displays the calculated distance when said object discriminating means judges that there exists some object.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
An object detecting system of reflection type according to claim 1, wherein said driving means includes an analog multiplexer and a plurality of resistors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
An object detecting system of reflection type according to claim 1, wherein said amplifying means includes an analog muitiplexer and a plurality of resistors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
An object detecting system of reflection type according to claim 1, wherein said object discriminating means includes an analog multiplexer and a plurality of resistors.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
241 words
An object detecting system of reflection type comprising: a ultrasonic wave generating means adapted to generate ultrasonic waves; a driving means adapted to drive said ultrasonic wave generating means; a ultrasonic wave receiving means adapted to receive ultrasonic waves and disposed a predetermined space from said ultrasonic wave generating means; an amplifying means adapted to amplify a signal from said ultrasonic wave receiving means; an object discriminating means adapted to discriminate the presence or absence of objects in accordance with a level of the signal obtained from said amplifying means; and an electronic control unit which energizes said driving means for a certain period of time and then reads a first signal from said object discriminating means at a predetermined timing in accordance with the distance between said ultrasonic wave receiving means, which judges the system to be abnormal when ultrasonic waves are not detected and again energizes said driving means when ultrasonic waves are detected, to change at least one of an energized level of said driving means, a gain of said amplifying means and a discrimination level of said object discriminating means, when said object discriminating means Judges that there exists no object, and which calculates the distance in accordance with a time period from the energization of said driving means to judgement by said object discriminating means to indicate the presence of objects, when said object discriminating means generates a second signal indicating that there exists some object.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
241 words
An object detecting system of reflection type comprising: a ultrasonic wave generating means adapted to generate ultrasonic waves; a driving means adapted to drive said ultrasonic wave generating means; a ultrasonic wave receiving means adapted to receive ultrasonic waves and disposed a predetermined space from said ultrasonic wave generating means; an amplifying means adapted to amplify a signal from said ultrasonic wave receiving means; an object discriminating means adapted to discriminate the presence or absence of objects in accordance with a level of the signal obtained from said amplifying means; and an electronic control unit which energizes said driving means for a certain period of time and then reads a first signal from said object discriminating means at a predetermined timing in accordance with the distance between said ultrasonic wave receiving means, which judges the system to be abnormal when ultrasonic waves are not detected and again energizes said driving means when ultrasonic waves are detected, to change at least one of an energized level of said driving means, a gain of said amplifying means and a discrimination level of said object discriminating means, when said object discriminating means Judges that there exists no object, and which calculates the distance in accordance with a time period from the energization of said driving means to judgement by said object discriminating means to indicate the presence of objects, when said object discriminating means generates a second signal indicating that there exists some object.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
An object detecting system of reflection type according to claim 10, wherein said electronic control unit issues an alarm when it judges the system to be abnormal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
68 words
An object detecting system of reflection type according to claim 10, wherein said electronic control unit sets the object detection sensitivity higher than the minimum level when energizing said driving means for said certain period of time and then referring to output from said object discriminating means at a predetermined timing in accordance with the distance between said ultrasonic wave generating means and said ultrasonic wave receiving means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
An object detecting system of reflection type according to claim 10, wherein said electronic control unit reads a second signal from said object discriminating means during a certain period of time extending from a first predetermined time after energization of said driving means to a second predetermined time thereafter, when there exists no anomaly.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
An object detecting system of reflection type according to claim 13, wherein said electronic control unit determines said first and second predetermined times in accordance with the setting of the energized level of said driving means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
An object detecting system of the reflection type according to claim 13 wherein said electronic control unit determines said first and second predetermined time in accordance with the gain of said amplifying means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
An object detecting system of the reflection type according to claim 13 wherein said electronic control unit determines said first and second predetermined times in accordance with the discrimination level of said object discriminating means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
63 words
An object detecting system of reflection type according to claim 10, wherein said electronic control unit calculates the distance in accordance with a time period from the energization of said driving means to judgment by said object discriminating means to indicate the presence of objects, and then it displays the calculated distance, when said object discriminating means judges that there exists some object.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
An object detecting system of reflection type according to claim 10, wherein said driving means includes an analog multiplexer and a plurality of resistors.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
An object detecting system of reflection type according to claim 10, wherein said amplifying means includes an analog multiplexer and a plurality of resistors.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
An object detecting system of reflection type according to claim 10, wherein said object discriminating means includes an analog multiplexer and a plurality of resistors.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-09-16 | 1989-03-18 | 1989-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-09-16 | 1993-03-18 | 1993-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-09-16 | 1997-03-18 | 1997-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |