← Back to Patent Explorer
US5159837A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Ultrasonic wave obstacle sensor

Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
•
Filing: 1991-01-24
•
Granted: 1992-11-03
•
Expires: 2011-01-24
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract An ultrasonic wave type obstacle sensor which comprises a first ultrasonic microphone for transmitting intermittently ultrasonic waves to a road surface obliquely and forwardly at predetermined timing, a second ultrasonic microphone for receiving the ultrasonic waves reflected from the road surface side, a comparator for providing an obstacle detecting signal when a signal from the second ultrasonic microphone exceeds a predetermined level of judgement, and an obstacle discriminating device for generating an obstacle discriminating signal when the pulse width of the obstacle discriminating signal is a predetermined width or larger.

Inventors

  • 👤 Shunichi Wada

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 15:40
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/93; G01S15/931; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/523; G01S7/526; B; B60; B60G; B60G2400/00; B60G2400/80; B60G2400/82; B60G2401/00

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 92 words
An ultrasonic wave type obstacle sensor which comprises: ultrasonic wave generating means for transmitting intermittently ultrasonic waves to a road surface obliquely and forwardly at a predetermined timing, ultrasonic wave receiving means for receiving the ultrasonic waves reflected from the road surface, comparing means for outputting an obstacle detecting signal when a signal from the ultrasonic wave receiving means exceeds a predetermined judgment level, and obstacle discriminating means for outputting an obstacle discriminating signal when the pulse width of the obstacle detecting signal is grater than or equal to a predetermined width.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 92 words
An ultrasonic wave type obstacle sensor which comprises: ultrasonic wave generating means for transmitting intermittently ultrasonic waves to a road surface obliquely and forwardly at a predetermined timing, ultrasonic wave receiving means for receiving the ultrasonic waves reflected from the road surface, comparing means for outputting an obstacle detecting signal when a signal from the ultrasonic wave receiving means exceeds a predetermined judgment level, and obstacle discriminating means for outputting an obstacle discriminating signal when the pulse width of the obstacle detecting signal is grater than or equal to a predetermined width.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 37 words
The ultrasonic wave type obstacle sensor according to claim 1, which further comprises timing command means including a computing means, a timer and an oscillator, for providing a timing pulse signal to the ultrasonic wave generating means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 43 words
The ultrasonic wave type obstacle sensor according to claim 1, which further comprises means for providing a timing command operatively coupled to a means for generating a judgement signal which comprises a reference level signal (V4) used for comparison in said comparing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 101 words
The ultrasonic wave type obstacle sensor according to claim 1, which further comprises signal amplification means for amplifying a signal corresponding to said ultrasonic waves reflected form the road surface, wherein the amplification of said signal amplification means is feedback controlled in response to means for changing an amplification factor operatively coupled to means for setting a predetermined value and serially coupled to said signal amplification means through means for calculating an average value, so as to produce an amplified signal (V30) which is compared with a reference level signal (V4) corresponding to said predetermined judgement level in said comparing means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4561064A Cited
US4551722A Cited
US4674073A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-11-03 1996-05-04 1996-11-03 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-11-03 2000-05-04 2000-11-03 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-11-03 2004-05-04 2004-11-03 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag