Distance detection system

• US 20070040545A1
• Filed: 05/19/2004
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Takiguchi, Kiyoaki
• Granted Patent: US 8,314,619 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/76.110
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/06 using intensity measurements

Abstract

There proposed are a distance detection system that can enhance with a simple configuration the accuracy of distance detection, an electric-field forming apparatus, and an electric-field forming method. A quasi-electrostatic field is formed in such a way that a predetermined intensity is obtained at the respective distances corresponding to a plurality of frequencies. Accordingly, quasi-electrostatic fields in which a distance is extremely clearly reflected in intensity are formed in such a way that a predetermined intensity can be obtained at the positions having respective distances corresponding to a plurality of frequencies; therefore, it is possible to enhance, without requiring complicated control and a special apparatus, the accuracy of distance detection based on the intensity, whereby it is possible to enhance with a simple configuration the accuracy of distance detection.

Claims

1. A distance detection system configured of an electric-field forming apparatus and an electric-field receiving apparatus, comprising:

quasi-electrostatic-field forming means included in the electric-field forming apparatus, for forming quasi-electrostatic fields in such a way that a predetermined intensity is obtained at respective distances corresponding to a plurality of frequencies; and

distance detection means included in either one of the electric-field forming apparatus and the electric-field receiving apparatus, for detecting a distance, based on the frequency of the quasi-electrostatic field received by the electric-field receiving apparatus.

2. The distance detection system according to claim 1, wherein the electric-field receiving apparatus comprises speed estimation means provided on a moving subject, for estimating a speed of the moving subject, and notification means for notifying the speed, of the moving subject, that is estimated through the speed estimation means, and wherein the electric-field forming apparatus comprises moving-condition estimation means for estimating a moving condition of the moving subject, based on the distance detected through the distance detection means and on the speed, of the moving subject, that is notified through the notification means.

3. The distance detection system according to claim 2, wherein the electric-field forming apparatus comprises controlling means connected to a predetermined control subject, for switching control items for the control subject, in accordance with the moving condition estimated through the moving-condition estimation means.

4. An electric-field forming apparatus comprising quasi-electrostatic-field forming means for forming quasi-electrostatic fields in such a way that a predetermined intensity is obtained at respective distances corresponding to a plurality of frequencies.

5. The electric-field forming apparatus according to claim 4, comprising output power controlling means for controlling output power in such a way that a space is formed in which the quasi-electrostatic field formed through the quasi-electrostatic-field forming means is dominant.

6. The electric-field forming apparatus according to claim 4, comprising selection means for selecting the frequency to be utilized in the quasi-electrostatic-field forming means, based on the frequency, among the frequencies of the quasi-electrostatic fields formed through the quasi-electrostatic-field forming means, that is received by an electric-field receiving apparatus provided on a moving subject.

7. The electric-field forming apparatus according to claim 4, comprising distance detection means for detecting a distance, based on the frequency, among the frequencies of the quasi-electrostatic fields formed through the quasi-electrostatic-field forming means, that is received by an electric-field receiving apparatus provided on a moving subject.

8. The electric-field forming apparatus according to claim 7, comprising moving-condition estimation means for estimating a moving condition of the moving subject, based on the distance detected through the distance detection means and on the speed, of the moving subject, that is estimated in the electric-field receiving apparatus.

9. The electric-field forming apparatus according to claim 8, comprising controlling means for switching control items for a predetermined control subject, in accordance with a moving condition, of the moving subject, that is estimated through the moving-condition estimation means.

10. An electric-field forming method comprising a quasi-electrostatic-field forming step of forming quasi-electrostatic fields in such a way that a predetermined intensity is obtained at respective distances corresponding to a plurality of frequencies.

11. The electric-field forming method according to claim 10, comprising an output power controlling step of controlling output power, before the quasi-electrostatic fields are formed in the quasi-electrostatic-field forming step, in such a way that a space is formed in which the quasi-electrostatic field is dominant.

12. The electric-field forming method according to claim 10, comprising a selection step of selecting the frequency to be utilized in the quasi-electrostatic-field forming step, based on the frequency, among the frequencies of the quasi-electrostatic fields formed through the quasi-electrostatic-field forming means, that is received by an electric-field receiving apparatus provided on a moving subject.

13. The electric-field forming method according to claim 10, comprising a distance detection step of detecting a distance, based on the frequency, among the frequencies of the quasi-electrostatic fields formed through the quasi-electrostatic-field forming means, that is received by an electric-field receiving apparatus provided on a moving subject.

14. The electric-field forming method according to claim 13, comprising a moving-condition estimation step of estimating moving condition of the moving subject, based on the distance detected through the distance detection step and on the speed, of the moving subject, that is estimated in the electric-field receiving apparatus.

15. The electric-field forming apparatus according to claim 14, comprising a controlling step of switching control items for a predetermined control subject, in accordance with a moving condition, of the moving subject, that is estimated in the moving-condition estimation step.

16. An electric-field receiving apparatus provided on a moving subject, comprising:

receiving means for receiving quasi-electrostatic fields formed in such a way that a predetermined intensity is obtained at respective distances corresponding to a plurality of frequencies; and

distance detection means for detecting a distance, based on the frequency, of the quasi-electrostatic field, that is received by the receiving means.

17. The electric-field receiving apparatus according to claim 16, comprising speed estimation means for estimating a speed of the moving subject and notification means for notifying the speed, of the moving subject, that is estimated through the speed estimation means.

18. An electric-field receiving method for an electric-field receiving apparatus provided on a moving subject, comprising:

a receiving step of receiving quasi-electrostatic fields formed in such a way that a predetermined intensity is obtained at respective distances corresponding to a plurality of frequencies; and

a distance detection step of detecting a distance, based on the frequency, of the quasi-electrostatic field, that is received in the receiving step.

19. The electric-field receiving method according to claim 18, comprising a speed estimation step of estimating a speed of the moving subject and a notification step of notifying the speed, of the moving subject, that is estimated in the speed estimation step.