OVERHEAD OBSTACLE AVOIDANCE SYSTEM
First Claim
1. ) A collision avoidance system for use with vehicles, comprising:
- (a) at least one sensor mounted on a vehicle, wherein the sensor is operative to measure the overhead distance between an obstacle above the vehicle and the sensor itself,(b) at least one processor in electrical communication with the sensor, wherein the processor is accessible by an operator of the vehicle;
(c) means for determining a reference height, wherein the reference height is the height above ground level at which the sensor is mounted on the vehicle, and wherein the reference height is entered into the processor;
(d) means for determining the height of the tallest portion of the vehicle above ground level, wherein the height of the tallest portion of the vehicle above ground level is entered into the processor; and
(e) wherein the processor adds the reference height to the overhead distance between the obstacle and the sensor to calculate a measured height of the overhead obstacle, and wherein the processor produces an alarm if the measured height of the overhead obstacle is less than the height of the tallest portion of the vehicle above ground level.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A collision avoidance system for use with vehicles includes a sensor mounted on a moving vehicle, wherein the sensor is operative to measure the distance between an overhead obstacle ahead of the vehicle and the sensor itself; a processor connected to the sensor; means for determining a reference height which is the height above ground level at which the sensor is mounted on the vehicle, and wherein the reference height is entered into the processor; means for determining the height of the tallest portion of the vehicle above ground level, wherein the height of the tallest portion of the vehicle is also entered into the processor; and wherein the processor adds the reference height to the distance between the obstacle and the sensor to determine a measured height of the obstacle, and wherein the processor produces an alarm if the measured height of the obstacle is less than the height of the tallest portion of the vehicle.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. ) A collision avoidance system for use with vehicles, comprising:
-
(a) at least one sensor mounted on a vehicle, wherein the sensor is operative to measure the overhead distance between an obstacle above the vehicle and the sensor itself, (b) at least one processor in electrical communication with the sensor, wherein the processor is accessible by an operator of the vehicle; (c) means for determining a reference height, wherein the reference height is the height above ground level at which the sensor is mounted on the vehicle, and wherein the reference height is entered into the processor; (d) means for determining the height of the tallest portion of the vehicle above ground level, wherein the height of the tallest portion of the vehicle above ground level is entered into the processor; and (e) wherein the processor adds the reference height to the overhead distance between the obstacle and the sensor to calculate a measured height of the overhead obstacle, and wherein the processor produces an alarm if the measured height of the overhead obstacle is less than the height of the tallest portion of the vehicle above ground level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
10. ) A system for preventing the collision of a vehicle with an overhead obstacle, the system comprising:
-
(a) at least one ultrasonic transducer mounted on a vehicle, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is operative to measure the overhead distance between an obstacle above the vehicle and the ultrasonic transducer itself, (b) at least one processor in electrical communication with the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the processor is accessible by an operator of the vehicle; (c) means for determining a reference height, wherein the reference height is the height above ground level at which the sensor is mounted on the vehicle, and wherein the reference height is entered into the processor; (d) means for determining the height of the tallest portion of the vehicle above ground level, wherein the height of the tallest portion of the vehicle above ground level is entered into the processor; and (e) wherein the processor adds the reference height to the overhead distance between the obstacle and the ultrasonic transducer to calculate a measured height of the overhead obstacle, and wherein the processor produces an alarm if the measured height of the overhead obstacle is less than the height of the tallest portion of the vehicle above ground level. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
-
-
17. ) A method for preventing the collision of a vehicle with an overhead obstacle, the method comprising:
-
(a) mounting a sensor unit on a vehicle, wherein the sensor unit is in electrical communication with a processing unit; and
wherein the processing unit is accessible by an operator of the vehicle;(b) determining a reference height, wherein the reference height is the height above ground level at which the sensor unit is mounted on the vehicle; (c) inputting the reference height into the processing unit; (d) determining the height of the tallest portion of the vehicle above ground level; (e) inputting the height of the tallest portion of the vehicle above ground level into the processing unit; (f) using the sensor unit to measure the overhead distance between an obstacle and the sensor unit; (g) using the processing unit to calculate a measured height of the overhead obstacle, wherein the measured height of the overhead obstacle is the reference height added to the distance between the overhead obstacle and the sensor unit; and (h) producing an alarm if the measured height of the overhead obstacle is less than the height of the tallest portion of the vehicle above ground level. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
Specification