Linear energy communicator

Claim 1

A guidance system for a motorized vehicle to be driven on a floor or the like comprising: transmitter means including means for generating an omnidirectional energy signal having a selected frequency, means for intercepting the energy signal dispersing from said generating means and for dispersing said intercepted omnidirectional energy signal in a plane of energy with the energy continuously present at all positions and times throughout the plane and with the plane of energy floor, said extended line defining the desired path of movement of the motorized vehicle, control means carried by the motorized vehicle including receiver means adapted to intersect the plane of energy at any location along the line as the motorized vehicle travels along the linear path, means for determining the direction of separation between the actual location where the plane of energy intersects said receiver means and the desired location thereof, and means for continuously correcting the location of the motor vehicle as the motor vehicle moves along the path to maintain the actual plane of energy coincident with the desired location thereof.