Vehicle detection and collision avoidance apparatus

Claim 1

A vehicle collision avoidance and detection apparatus comprising: a single transmitter/receiver transducer mounted within the trunk of a vehicle for acoustically detecting an object relative said vehicle and generating a first electrical signal; means for positioning said single transmitter/receiver transducer in multiple azimuth directional positions; an angle encoder for generating a second electrical signal at each of said multiple azimuth directional positions; means for processing said first and second electrical signals to determine the distance and direction of said detected object from said vehicle in said multiple azimuth directional positions; means for displaying the determined distance and direction of said detected object in said multiple azimuth directional positions, said positioning means comprising means for sequentially positioning said single transmitter/receiver transducer in a left, center and right azimuth directional position relative said vehicle and means for selectively positioning said single transmitter/receiver transducer in a left, center and right azimuth directional position relative said vehicle; means for switching between said sequentially positioning means and said selectively positioning means; said displaying means comprising a numeric display adapted to visually display the determined distance of said detected object and a first, second and third light source, each adapted to illuminate in response to said single transmitter/receiver transducer being disposed in the left, center and right azimuth directional positions, respectively; and an elongate aperture formed in a portion of the trunk of a vehicle; a cover plate sized to selectively cover and uncover said elongate aperture formed in the portion of the trunk of the vehicle; and means for positioning said single transmitter/receiver transducer within the trunk of the vehicle in registered alignment with said elongate aperture.