US5373482A — Distance measuring system arranged to limit false…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 97 words

A method of determining the status of a distance measuring device having a transducer configuration that generates ringing signals, the method comprising the steps of: (a) generating a probe signal at said transducer configuration; (b) detecting for a ringing signal within a time period of substantially one millisecond from the generation of the probe signal by said transducer configuration; (c) detecting for the end of said ringing signal within a time period of substantially three milliseconds from the generation of the probe signal; and (d) detecting for an echo of said probe signal from an external object.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 97 words

A method of determining the status of a distance measuring device having a transducer configuration that generates ringing signals, the method comprising the steps of: (a) generating a probe signal at said transducer configuration; (b) detecting for a ringing signal within a time period of substantially one millisecond from the generation of the probe signal by said transducer configuration; (c) detecting for the end of said ringing signal within a time period of substantially three milliseconds from the generation of the probe signal; and (d) detecting for an echo of said probe signal from an external object.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) further comprises the sub-step of indicating a system default when a ringing signal is not detected within the one millisecond time period.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) further comprises the sub-step of indicating that an object is detected and located within approximately one foot of said sensor arrangement when said ringing signal is detected to last more than three milliseconds.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 50 words

The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) further comprises the sub-step of indicating that no object is detected within approximately ten feet of said transducer configuration when an echo of said probe signal is not detected within a predetermined time after the end of said three millisecond time period.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 4 wherein echoes of said probe signal are detected for at time intervals corresponding to approximately 0.1 feet after said ringing signal ends.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of mounting a said transducer configuration on a vehicle to detect the presence of an object within ten feet of a portion of said vehicle containing said transducer configuration.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of determining a distance measurement from said transducer configuration to a detected object when an echo of said probe signal is received before said predetermined time period; and displaying said distance measurement.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 136 words

A method for measuring distance between a measuring device and an object external to said measuring device, said measuring device including a transducer configuration for emitting probe signals and sensing echoes of said probe signals, the method comprising the steps of: (a) sending a probe signal from said transducer configuration; (b) receiving an echo of said probe signal at said transducer configuration and de-activating said transducer configuration for purposes of receiving until a subsequent probe signal is transmitted; (c) converting said echo into an electrical signal; (d) deriving a current distance value from said electrical signal; (e) placing said current distance value in a memory containing a plurality of a prior distance values; (f) selecting a greatest distance value from among said stored distance values in said memory; and (h) displaying said selected greatest distance value.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 136 words

A method for measuring distance between a measuring device and an object external to said measuring device, said measuring device including a transducer configuration for emitting probe signals and sensing echoes of said probe signals, the method comprising the steps of: (a) sending a probe signal from said transducer configuration; (b) receiving an echo of said probe signal at said transducer configuration and de-activating said transducer configuration for purposes of receiving until a subsequent probe signal is transmitted; (c) converting said echo into an electrical signal; (d) deriving a current distance value from said electrical signal; (e) placing said current distance value in a memory containing a plurality of a prior distance values; (f) selecting a greatest distance value from among said stored distance values in said memory; and (h) displaying said selected greatest distance value.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 57 words

A distance measuring system arranged to use ringing signals to determine system status, said system comprising: (a) a transducer configuration for emitting a probe signal and generating ringing signals; (b) means for detecting a ringing signal; (c) means for timing a detected ringing signal; and (d) display means responsive to time duration of a detected ringing signal.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 57 words

A distance measuring system arranged to use ringing signals to determine system status, said system comprising: (a) a transducer configuration for emitting a probe signal and generating ringing signals; (b) means for detecting a ringing signal; (c) means for timing a detected ringing signal; and (d) display means responsive to time duration of a detected ringing signal.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 8, further comprising the sub-step of detecting for a ringing signal generated by said transducer configuration.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 8, wherein step (d) further comprises the sub-step of amplifying said electric signal in accordance with previously stored distance values.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 11, wherein amplification of said electric signal is proportionate to detected distance between a distance of zero and a predetermined distance.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 12, wherein said predetermined distance is approximately four feet, and said gain remains constant for detected distances between substantially four and ten feet.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of testing a display associated with said transducer configuration before the step of sending said probe signal from said transducer configuration.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of mounting said transducer configuration on a vehicle.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 116 words

A distance measuring system, comprising: (a) a first transducer for emitting a probe signal; (b) a second transducer, associated with said first transducer, for receiving an echo of said probe signal and converting said echo into an electrical signal; (c) processing means responsive to said electrical signal for determining a distance value between said second transducer and an object reflecting said probe signal from said first transducer; (d) memory means for storing a plurality of the four most recent distance values determined by said processing means; (e) selection means for selecting a greatest one of said plurality of most recent distance values in said memory means; and (f) display means for displaying said selected distance value.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 116 words

A distance measuring system, comprising: (a) a first transducer for emitting a probe signal; (b) a second transducer, associated with said first transducer, for receiving an echo of said probe signal and converting said echo into an electrical signal; (c) processing means responsive to said electrical signal for determining a distance value between said second transducer and an object reflecting said probe signal from said first transducer; (d) memory means for storing a plurality of the four most recent distance values determined by said processing means; (e) selection means for selecting a greatest one of said plurality of most recent distance values in said memory means; and (f) display means for displaying said selected distance value.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 15 words

The system of claim 16 further comprising means for mounting said system on a vehicle.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 36 words

The system of claim 16 further comprising means for generating a 47 KHz signal; driver means for said first transducer; and buffering means for applying sixteen cycles of said 47 KHz signal to said transducer drivers.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 22 words

The system of claim 18, further comprising a piezoelectric crystal resonator arranged as a standard for both said first and second transducers.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system of claim 16, an amplifier for amplifying said electrical signal based upon prior distance values so that amplifier gain is directly proportional to detected distance up to a predetermined distance value.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 29 words

The system of claim 20 wherein said predetermined distance value is approximately four feet, and said gain for a distance between substantially four feet and ten feet remains constant.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 32 words

The system of claim 16 wherein said processing means comprises a receiver section and a transmitter section, wherein said receiver section and said transmitter section each has a separate isolated power supply.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 31 words

The system of claim 16 wherein said processing means further comprise timing means arranged to control said second transducer to detect for an echo signal at intervals of approximately one millisecond.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 13 words

The system of claim 16, further comprises means for testing said display means.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 13 words

The system of claim 16, wherein said probe signal is an ultrasonic signal.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 8, wherein said probe signal is an ultrasonic signal.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1997-12-12	1998-06-13	1998-12-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2001-12-12	2002-06-13	2002-12-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2005-12-12	2006-06-13	2006-12-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Distance measuring system arranged to limit false indications of distance measurements

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