Patent US4588041A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4588041A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle for driving along a lead line
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1984-03-22
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Granted: 1986-05-13
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Expires: 2004-03-22
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle having front and rear wheels which may be freely steered, and driving along a lead line. The vehicle has position detectors for detecting deviations of the front and rear end of the vehicle from the lead line and is driven such that the front wheels and the rear wheels are individually steered in response to outputs from the position detectors.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshio Tsuchihashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 21:30
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D1/00; G05D1/02; G05D1/021; G05D1/0259; G05D1/0265
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A vehicle which is driven along a lead line, comprising: a main body having a front and rear wheels which are independently steered; first and second position detecting means which are mounted to front and rear portions of said main body and include means for respectively detecting deviations from the same lead line; and steering means for individually steering said front and rear wheels in accordance with outputs from said first and second position detecting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
A vehicle which is driven along a lead line, comprising: a main body having a front and rear wheels which are independently steered; first and second position detecting means which are mounted to front and rear portions of said main body and include means for respectively detecting deviations from the same lead line; and steering means for individually steering said front and rear wheels in accordance with outputs from said first and second position detecting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A vehicle according to claim 1, in which said lead line comprises a wire through which an AC current flows, and said first and second position detecting means comprise coils for respectively detecting a magnetic field intensity from said lead line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
76 words
A vehicle according to claim 1, in which said steering means include means to steer said front and rear wheels to the left when said first or second position detecting means detects a deviation thereof to a right side of said lead line, and includes means to steer said front and rear wheels to the right when said first or second position detecting means detects a deviation thereof to a left side of said lead line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The vehicle of claim 3 wherein said steering means includes separate steering motors and steering angle detector means for said front and rear wheels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The vehicle of claim 4 including programmed steering control circuit means operatively connected to said steering motors for controlling said steering motors and operatively connected to said position detecting means and said steering detector means for receiving position and steering angle signals therefrom.
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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) | 1989-05-12 | 1989-11-11 | 1990-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-05-12 | 1993-11-11 | 1994-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-05-12 | 1997-11-11 | 1998-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |