BASE BAND VEHICLE SAFETY APPARATUS

• US 3,760,414 A
• Filed: 10/22/1971
• Issued: 09/18/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alexander M. Nicolson
• Original Assignee: Alexander M. Nicolson
• Inventors: Nicolson, Alexander M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hubler, Malcolm F.
• Application Number:
  US05/191,675
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 343/7ED,7A,6.5R,6.5LC,112LA,6.8LC
• US Class Current: 342/21
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0008 including means for detecting potential obstacles in vehicle path
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/18 including a device to audibly, visibly, or otherwise signal the existence of unusual or unintended speed to the driver of the vehicle devices primarily intended for indicating speed to other traffic B60Q1/54
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/0209 Systems with very large relative bandwidth, i.e. larger than 10 %, e.g. baseband, pulse, carrier-free, ultrawideband
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93185 Controlling the brakes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9323 Alternative operation using light waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9325 for inter-vehicle distance regulation, e.g. navigating in platoons
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9329 cooperating with reflectors or transponders

Abstract

A vehicle safety apparatus includes directive radio means for the detection of an impending collision with another vehicle and for actuation of restraining or other safety devices for protecting occupants of both vehicles if a crash event actually occurs. Base-band radio pulse transmission and reception devices provide forward and rearward sensing of the relative locations of cooperating vehicles, each vehicle being equipped with a pair of similar and cooperating radio detector systems. In addition to the cooperative mode of operation, the forward viewing sensors provide fail-safe operation where an interrogated rearward viewing system does not respond, and otherwise provide operation with passively reflecting objects of various kinds which represent hazards to the vehicle or its passengers.

Claims

1. Means for sensing distance to an energy reflecting object comprising:

radiator transmission line means, receiver transmission line means, transistor means having collector, emitter, and base electrode means, said transistor means having a finite capacitance to ground associated with said collector electrode means, sAid collector electrode means being adapted for coupling to electrical power source means, impedance means coupled between said base electrode means and ground, and impedance means coupled between said emitter electrode means and ground, said radiator transmission line means being coupled to said emitter electrode means for launching a train of short-duration electromagnetic pulses into space toward said object, and said receiver transmission line means being coupled to said base electrode means for supplying thereto received short-duration electromagnetic pulses reflected by said object.

2. Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said finite capacitance to ground is charged by said power source means.

3. Apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said finite capacitance to ground is periodically discharged through said transistor means for generating said short-duration electromagnetic pulses for launching into space by said radiator transmission line means.

4. Apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein said received short-duration electromagnetic pulses cause said transistor means to avalanche for producing said short-duration electromagnetic pulses for launching into space.

5. Apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein said means for sensing distance has stand-by and second modes of operation:

said stand-by mode of operation being adapted for generating short-duration electromagnetic pulses at a stand-by repetition rate, and said second mode of operation being adapted for generating short duration electromagnetic pulses at a second repetition rate greater than the said stand-by repetition rate.

6. Apparatus as described in claim 1 further including actuator circuit means coupled to said emitter electrode means responsive to the repetition frequency of said train of pulses.

7. Apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein said actuator circuit means comprises in series relation:

integrating amplifier means, and electrical current indicator means responsive to said amplifier means.

8. Apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein said actuator circuit means comprises in said series relation:

tuned circuit means, and safety means responsive to said tuned circuit means.

9. Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said radiator and receiver transmission line means respectively comprise:

substantially non-dispersive directive transmission line transmitter antenna means for propagating and radiating a train of electromagnetic pulses in the TEM transmission line mode, and substantially non-dispersive directive transmission line receiver antenna means for receiving and propagating a reflected electromagnetic pulse train in the TEM transmission line mode.

10. Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said sensing means further comprises:

means for deriving a substantial measure of the absolute forward speed of said sensor, means for converting said measure into a substantially constant finite signal only above a predetermined value of speed, and means for actuating said sensor above said predetermined value of said speed.

11. Apparatus as described in claim 1 including means coupled to said emitter electrode means for affording warning of an impending collision event.

12. Apparatus as described in claim 1 including means responsive to said transistor means for restraining vehicle occupants from impacting interior parts of said vehicle.

13. Means for sensing distance between first and second vehicles comprising:

normally active first transmitter-receiver means mounted on said first vehicle for transmitting first short-duration electromagnetic pulses toward said second vehicle, normally dormant second transmitter-receiver means mounted on said second vehicle responsive to said first short-duration electromagnetic pulses for transmitting corresponding second short-duration electromagnetic pulses toward said first vehicle, said normally active first transmittEr-receiver means being responsive to said second short-duration electromagnetic pulses by transmission of said first short-duration electromagnetic pulses at an increased repetition rate inversely as a function of the distance between said first and second transmitter-receiver means, and said first and second transmitter-receiver means being adapted to supply said increased repetition rate short-duration electromagnetic pulses to actuator means mounted on both vehicles for utilization thereby.

14. Apparatus as described in claim 13 additionally including:

integrating amplifier means directly responsive to said normally active first transmitter-receiver means, and electrical current indicator means responsive to said amplifier means.

15. Apparatus as described in claim 13 wherein said actuator circuit means comprises in series relation:

tuned circuit means, and safety means responsive to said tuned circuit means.

16. Apparatus as described in claim 15 wherein said safety means comprises warning means.

17. Apparatus as described in claim 15 wherein said safety means comprises means for restraining vehicle occupants from impacting said vehicle.

18. Apparatus as described in claim 13 wherein said normally active first transmitter-receiver means comprises:

first and second transmission line antenna means, first transistor means having first, second, and third electrode means, said first transistor means having finite capacitance associated with said first electrode means, first and second impedance means coupled between said second and third electrode means, said first antenna means being coupled to said third electrode means, said second antenna means being coupled to said second electrode means, and means for supplying electrical power to said first electrode means and for thereby charging said capacitance for enabling discharge of said capacitance through said transistor means.

19. Apparatus as described in claim 18 wherein said second antenna means is adapted to couple received pulses to said second electrode means for causing said transistor to avalanche.

20. Apparatus as described in claim 18 wherein said normally dormant second transmitter-receiver means comprises:

third and fourth transmission line antenna means, second transistor means having fourth, fifth, and sixth electrode means, said second transistor means having finite capacitance associated with said fourth electrode means, third and fourth impedance means coupled between said fifth and sixth electrode means, said third antenna means being coupled to said sixth electrode means, said fourth antenna means being coupled to said fifth electrode means, and means for supplying power to said fourth electrode means and for thereby charging said fourth electrode means capacitance enabling discharge of said capacitance through said transistor means.