VEHICLE WITH APPARATUS FOR DETECTING POTENTIAL COLLISIONS

• US 3,794,997 A
• Filed: 03/23/1972
• Issued: 02/26/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kazuhito Iwatsuki, Masami Nishibu, Tohru Toshioka
• Original Assignee: Kazuhito Iwatsuki, Masami Nishibu, Tohru Toshioka
• Inventors: Iwatsuki, Kazuhito, Nishibu, Masami, Toshioka, Tohru
• Primary Examiner(s): Borchelt, Benjamin A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Montone, G. E.
• Application Number:
  US05/237,362
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 343/7ED,8,9,711,712,713 180/82
• US Class Current: 342/72
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/483 with obstacle sensors of electric or electronic type
• 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 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93275 in the bumper area
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93277 in the lights
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3233 particular used as part of a sensor or in a security system, e.g. for automotive radar, navigation systems

Abstract

In a vehicle having an apparatus for detecting potential collisions, a chamber is defined by a horizontal C-shaped reinforcing plate inside the vehicle'"'"''"'"'s bumper. A horn-shaped antenna for transmitting and receiving microwaves and forming part of the detecting apparatus is mounted within the chamber, integrally with a lighting fixture. A waveguide connects the antenna to a cabinet incorporating a microwave circuit and mounted in the chamber.

Claims

1. A vehicle,comprising a chassis including a shock-absorbing bumper at the front of the chassis;

collision protecting means mounted on said chassis and including microwave antenna means for radiating microwaves ahead of the chassis and for receiving waves reflected from a vehicle ahead of said chassis, microwave circuit means connected to said antenna means for forming a Doppler signal from parts of the radiated waves and parts of the reflected waves;

a reinforcing member installed at the inside of said shock-absorbing bumper and forming a chamber with said bumper, said microwave circuit means and at least a portion of said antenna means being mounted in said chamber.

2. A vehicle as in claim 1, wherein said antenna means includes an antenna structure and said microwave circuit means includes a cabinet, said antenna structure and said cabinet being mounted in said chamber and secured to one of said bumper and reinforcing member.

3. A vehicle as in claim 2, wherein said antenna means further includes duct means connecting said antenna structure to said microwave circuit means and being mounted in the chamber.

4. A vehicle as in claim 1, wherein said collision protecting means includes operating means mounted on said chassis and connected to said microwave circuit means for responding to the Doppler signal.

5. A vehicle as in claim 1, wherein said antenna means includes a plurality of antenna structures each mounted in said chamber.

6. A vehicle as in claim 5, wherein said antenna means includes duct means connecting said antenna structures to said microwave circuit means.

7. A vehicle as in claim 5, wherein said antenna structures are mounted on opposite sides of said chassis along the bumper in said chamber.

8. A vehicle as in claim 1, wherein said chassis forms a longitudinal center line, said bumper forming an opening, said antenna means including a horn, a lamp having A reflector mounted at the window adjacent said horn, said reflector being directed to radiate light out of the window in a substantially straight direction ahead of the chassis, said horn being positioned to direct the waves through the window toward the center line of the chassis.

9. A vehicle as in claim 8, wherein a lens is mounted across said window.

10. A vehicle as in claim 1, wherein said antenna means includes a pair of horn antennas, said bumper having two windows one on each end of said bumper, a pair of lamps having reflectors, each reflector being mounted adjacent one of said horn antennas at one of said windows, said chassis having a longitudinal center line, said reflectors being positioned so as to radiate light substantially parallel to the center line and ahead of the vehicle, said horn antennas being positioned to radiate microwaves ahead of the chassis and towards the center line.

11. A vehicle, comprising a chassis including a shock-absorbing bumper at the front of the chassis;

collision protecting means mounted on said chassis and including microwave antenna means mounted on the front of said chassis for radiating microwaves ahead of the chassis and for receiving waves reflected from a vehicle ahead of said chassis, microwave circuit means connected to said antenna means for forming a Doppler signal from parts of the radiated waves and parts of the reflected waves;

guard means for limiting the distance said antenna means must extend to said microwave circuit means and for protecting said microwave circuit means, said guard means including mounting means for forming a mounting chamber behind said bumper and for mounting said microwave circuit and at least a portion of said antenna means in said chamber behind said bumper.

12. A vehicle as in claim 11, wherein said antenna means includes an antenna structure and said microwave circuit means includes a cabinet, said antenna structure and said cabinet being mounted in said chamber and secured to one of said bumper and said mounting means.

13. A vehicle as in claim 12, wherein said antenna means further includes duct means connecting said antenna structure to said microwave circuit means and being mounted in the chamber, said guard means limiting the extent of said duct means.

14. A vehicle as in claim 13, wherein said antenna means includes an antenna for receiving and transmitting energy, said energy being mounted in said chamber.

15. A vehicle as in claim 13, wherein said antenna means includes a first antenna for teansmitting energy and a second antenna for receiving energy, at least one of said antennas being mounted in the chamber.