Near range obstacle detection and ranging aid

Claim 1

Range detection apparatus comprising: (a) means for generating high frequency energy over a finite frequency range and for frequency modulating over a limited range of bandwidth said high frequency energy and for supplying said frequency-modulated high frequency energy to a first electrical path providing a phase reference, (b) a second electrical path for transmission and receiving and including means for radiating said frequency modulated high frequency energy into space in the form of propagating waves and for receiving a portion of said radiated energy after reflection from a remote object, said energy portion acquiring a phase shift related to the distance traveled by said radiated energy and to the frequency of said radiated energy, (c) means for phase shifting said frequency-modulated high frequency energy at a plurality of predetermined frequency values over a finite frequency range of said bandwidth and at a predetermined plurality of phase-shifting values having a certain quantity greater than two, and at combinations of said phase-shifting and said frequency values to improve by a factor of said certain quantity the relative range resolution attainable with said limited range bandwidth, (d) means for comparing the phase of said frequency-modulation energy in one of said paths with the phase of said reflected and received radiated energy in the other paths to produce range measurement signals related to the combined phase shifts of said two paths and in accordance with said signals produced by said phase comparing means, and with the combinations of phase states of said phase shifter and the frequencies of said energy generating means, (e) means for deriving range measurement information from all of said phase-shifting and said frequency values; and (f) said phase shifting means is in said second path.

Claim 3

A method for detecting range comprising: generating high frequency energy over a finite frequency range; frequency modulating said high frequency energy over a selected frequency range to generate a plurality of predetermined frequencies; supplying said frequency-modulated high frequency energy to a first electrical path providing a phase reference signal; radiating said frequency-modulated high-frequency energy into space in the form of propagating waves from a second electrical path and receiving a portion of said radiated energy after reflection from a remote object as a reflected received signal, said reflected received signal acquiring a phase shift related to the distance traveled by said radiated energy and to the frequency of said radiated energy, phase shifting said frequency-modulated high frequency energy in one of said paths at a predetermined plurality of phase-shifting values for each predetermined frequency, comparing the phase of said phase reference signal with the phase of said reflected received signal to produce range measurement information related to the phase and frequency of said signals.

Claim 4

A method for detecting range comprising: generating high frequency energy over a finite frequency range; frequency modulating said high frequency energy over a selected frequency range to generate a plurality of predetermined frequencies; supplying said frequency-modulated high frequency energy to a first electrical path providing a phase reference signal; radiating said frequency-modulated high-frequency energy into space in the form of propagating waves from a second electrical path and receiving a portion of said radiated energy after reflection from a remote object as a reflected received signal, said reflected received signal acquiring a phase shift related to the distance traveled by said radiated energy and to the frequency of said radiated energy, phase shifting said frequency-modulated high frequency energy in one of said paths at a predetermined plurality of phase-shifting values for each predetermined frequency, comparing the phase of said phase reference signal with the phase of said reflected received signal to produce range measurement information related to the phase and frequency of said signals.