US5387916A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Automotive navigation system and method
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corp
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Filing: 1993-10-08
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Granted: 1995-02-07
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Expires: 2013-10-08
Abstract
Abstract A navigation system for a vehicle travelling along a highway that has an interrogator mounted on the vehicle and, a retrodirective transponder mounted alongside the highway for updating vehicle location. For collision avoidance systems, interrogators transmit and receive fore and aft, and transponders are mounted to respond to signals fore and aft of the vehicle. The transponder modulates information onto the interrogation signal, and retransmits the encoded interrogation signal back in the direction of arrival of the collected interrogation signal. The responder uses a Van Atta array antenna and is capable of responding to an interrogator signal incident over a wide solid angle of arrival while retrodirectively retransmitting without amplification substantially all of the collected signal within a narrow solid angle. The responder may be implemented using monolithic microwave integrated circuit technology (MMIC), thus being suitable for high volume production.
Inventors
- 👤 Marvin Cohn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 08:48
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/74; G01S13/75; G01S13/751; G01S13/76; G01S13/767; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/067; G06K19/07; G06K19/077; G06K19/07749; G06K19/07758; G06K7/00; G06K7/0008; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/20; G07C9/28; H; H01; H01Q; H01Q3/00; H01Q3/26; H01Q3/2605; H01Q3/2647
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A navigation system for a vehicle travelling along a highway, comprising: an interrogator mounted on the vehicle, the interrogator including an antenna means for transmitting an interrogation signal at a predetermined angle relative to the highway; a responder positioned to receive the interrogation signal, the responder including a receiving antenna means for collecting the interrogation signal from the vehicle mounted interrogator at times when the vehicle is travelling along a highway within a prescribed range of distance from the transponder, the responder including encoding means coupled to the receiving antenna means for imposing automotive navigation information on the collected interrogation signal, the responder including retrodirective means connected to the encoding means for retransmitting the encoding collected interrogation signal, the responder including means for retransmitting the encoded collected interrogation signal in the direction of the vehicle mounted interrogator as a responder signal; an interrogator receiving antenna on the vehicle for collecting the responder signal; means for decoding the encoded information to provide automotive navigation information; and indication means mounted to the vehicle for imparting the automotive navigation information to the vehicle operator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
A navigation system for a vehicle travelling along a highway, comprising: an interrogator mounted on the vehicle, the interrogator including an antenna means for transmitting an interrogation signal at a predetermined angle relative to the highway; a responder positioned to receive the interrogation signal, the responder including a receiving antenna means for collecting the interrogation signal from the vehicle mounted interrogator at times when the vehicle is travelling along a highway within a prescribed range of distance from the transponder, the responder including encoding means coupled to the receiving antenna means for imposing automotive navigation information on the collected interrogation signal, the responder including retrodirective means connected to the encoding means for retransmitting the encoding collected interrogation signal, the responder including means for retransmitting the encoded collected interrogation signal in the direction of the vehicle mounted interrogator as a responder signal; an interrogator receiving antenna on the vehicle for collecting the responder signal; means for decoding the encoded information to provide automotive navigation information; and indication means mounted to the vehicle for imparting the automotive navigation information to the vehicle operator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said retrodirective means comprises at least one receiving antenna means and at least one transmitting antenna means configured as a Van Atta array having at least one pair of antenna elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
The system of claim 2 wherein (a) said Van Atta array is comprised of a plurality of paired antenna elements disposed in a two dimensional configuration, said paired antenna elements of said Van Atta array being disposed in diagonal symmetry around the center of said array; and (b) said encoding means is comprised of means for imposing said code signal to said interrogation signal intermediate each of said elements of respective pairs of said paired antenna elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 3 in which said responder is fabricated of monolithic semiconductor material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 3 in which said responder is fabricated of a combination of monolithic semiconductor integrated circuits and discrete components mounted upon dielectric substrates.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said encoding means further comprises an amplifier to amplify said encoded signal prior to transmission to said interrogator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means for decoding said information further comprises a signal receiving means for selectively recognizing said encoded retrodirective signal from said responder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said encoding means further comprises means for transmitting said interrogation signal between each said element of said paired antenna elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said encoding means further comprises a signal absorbing means in which said means for transmitting an interrogation signal between each element of said paired antenna elements absorbs said interrogation signal when said code signal to be imposed upon said interrogation signal passing through said means for transmitting is in "STOP" condition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said encoding means further comprises means for modulating said information on said interrogation signal intermediate said respective elements of said paired antenna elements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 10 wherein said means for modulating said information on said interrogation signal imposes said code signal upon said interrogator signal in either direction of propagation between said respective elements of said paired elements of said Van atta array.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the encoding means further comprises means for imposing on said interrogation signal a code indicating speed of an approaching vehicle carrying the responder.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the encoding means further comprises means for imposing on said interrogation signal a code indicating the geographic location of the responder.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 10 wherein said means for modulating said information on said interrogation signal comprises amplitude modulation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 10 wherein said means for modulating said information on said interrogation signal comprises frequency modulation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 10 wherein said means for modulating said information on said interrogation signal comprises phase modulation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
203 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the said signal absorbing means further comprises: (a) a transmission line connecting each said pair of said antenna elements of said Van Atta array; (b) two capacitors connected to said transmission line and separated by a distance of one-half wavelength; (c) one central branch of three-quarter wavelength connected at the midpoint of said transmission line; (d) one diode interposed between said transmission line and said central branch such that said diode is connected at the cathode-end of said diode to said transmission line to said midpoint and, at the anode end of said diode, to said central branch; (e) at least one input port connected to said central branch at a distance of one half-wavelength from said diode in said central branch; (f) two lateral transmission branches wherein each said lateral branch is interposed between one of said capacitors and said midpoint of said transmission line; (g) each said lateral branch further comprises a transmission line of one half-wavelength in length connected to ground on one end and connected to a resistor on the other end; said resistor connected to the cathode-end of a diode; said diode connected at anode-end of said diode to said transmission line.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
79 words
A responder mounted to an automotive vehicle comprising: (a) at least one receiving antenna means mounted to the automotive vehicle for collecting an interrogation signal from a first direction; (b) encoding means connected to said at least one receiving antenna means for encoding information on said interrogation signal; and (c) at least one transmitting antenna means connected to said encoding means for retrodirectively retransmitting said interrogation signal encoded with said information in said first direction as a responder signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
79 words
A responder mounted to an automotive vehicle comprising: (a) at least one receiving antenna means mounted to the automotive vehicle for collecting an interrogation signal from a first direction; (b) encoding means connected to said at least one receiving antenna means for encoding information on said interrogation signal; and (c) at least one transmitting antenna means connected to said encoding means for retrodirectively retransmitting said interrogation signal encoded with said information in said first direction as a responder signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
107 words
The responder of claim 18 wherein said at least one receiving antenna means and said at least one transmitting antenna means are configured as a Van Atta array having at least one pair of antenna elements. (a) said Van Atta array is comprised of a plurality of paired antenna elements disposed in a two dimensional configuration, said paired antenna elements of said Van Atta array being disposed in diagonal symmetry around the center of said array; and (b) said encoding mens is comprised of means for imposing said code signal to said interrogation signal intermediate each of said elements of respective pairs of said paired antenna elements.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The responder of claim 19 wherein said responder is fabricated of monolithic semiconductor material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The responder of claim 19 wherein said responder is fabricated of a combination of monolithic semiconductor integrated circuits and discrete components mounted upon dielectric substrates.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The responder of claim 18 wherein said encoding means also comprises an amplifier to amplify said encoded signal prior to transmission in said first direction.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The responder of claim 19 wherein said encoding means further comprises means for transmitting said interrogation signal between each said element of said paired antenna elements.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
The responder of claim 19 wherein said encoding means further comprises a signal absorbing means which absorbs said interrogation signal when said code signal to be imposed upon said interrogation signal passing through said means for transmitting is in "STOP" condition.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The responder of claim 19 wherein said encoding means further comprises means for modulating said information on said interrogation signal intermediate said respective elements of said paired antenna elements.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
The responder of claim 25 wherein said modulation of said interrogation signal is performed in either direction of propagation between said elements of said paired elements of said Van Atta array.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
The responder of claim 25 wherein the encoding means further comprises means for imposing on the interrogation signal a code indicating the speed of an approaching vehicle transmitted by the approaching vehicle.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The responder of claim 25 wherein the encoding means further comprises means for imposing a code on the interrogation signal indicating a geographic location of the responder.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
The responder of claim 25 wherein said means for modulating said information on said interrogation signal comprises amplitude modulation.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
The responder of claim 25 wherein said means for modulating said information on said interrogation signal comprises frequency modulation.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
The responder of claim 25 wherein said means for modulating said information on said interrogation signal comprises phase modulation.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
204 words
The responder of claim 24 wherein said signal absorbing means further comprises: (a) a transmission line connecting each said pair of said antenna elements of said Van Atta array; (b) two capacitors connected to said transmission line and separated by a distance of one-half wavelength; (c) one central branch of three-quarter wavelength length connected at the midpoint of said transmission line; (d) one diode interposed between said transmission line and said central branch such that said diode is connected at the cathode-end of said diode to said transmission line at said midpoint and, at the anode end of said diode, to said central branch; (e) at least one input port connected to said central branch at a distance of one half-wavelength from said diode in said central branch; (f) two lateral transmission branches wherein each said lateral branch is interposed between one of said capacitors and said midpoint of said transmission line; (g) each said lateral branch further comprises a transmission line of one half-wavelength in length connected to ground on one end and connected to a resistor on the other end; said resistor connected to the cathode-end of a diode; said diode connected at the anode-end of said diode to said transmission line.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of providing navigation information to a moving vehicle, comprising transmitting an interrogation signal in the direction of a transponder positioned remote from the vehicle; collecting the interrogation signal at the responder, relating to navigation of the vehicle; imposing encoded information relating to navigation of the vehicle on the interrogation signal collected by the responder; retrodirecting the interrogation signal encoded with the information in the direction of the vehicle as a responder signal; collecting the encoded responder signal on the vehicle; decoding the encoded information; and indicating on the vehicle the decoded information.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of providing navigation information to a moving vehicle, comprising transmitting an interrogation signal in the direction of a transponder positioned remote from the vehicle; collecting the interrogation signal at the responder, relating to navigation of the vehicle; imposing encoded information relating to navigation of the vehicle on the interrogation signal collected by the responder; retrodirecting the interrogation signal encoded with the information in the direction of the vehicle as a responder signal; collecting the encoded responder signal on the vehicle; decoding the encoded information; and indicating on the vehicle the decoded information.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 33 wherein the step of collecting the interrogation signal at the responder comprises imposing encoded information indicating the geographic location of the vehicle.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 33 wherein the step of collecting the interrogation signal at the responder comprises imposing encoded information indicating the speed of an approaching vehicle carrying the responder.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 33 wherein the step of transmitting the signal includes transmitting the signal in opposite directions fore and aft of the vehicle.
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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) | 1998-02-06 | 1998-08-08 | 1999-02-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-02-06 | 2002-08-08 | 2003-02-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-02-06 | 2006-08-08 | 2007-02-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |