Guidance conductor for driverless vehicle

• US 4,520,889 A
• Filed: 06/27/1983
• Issued: 06/04/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shinko Electric Industries Company Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: Shinko Electric Industries Company Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Kanazawa, Junpei, Abe, Eiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Reeves, Robert B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/508,418
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 104/88, 104/298, 104/299, 104/301, 180/131, 180/167, 180/168, 180/169, 191/10, 246/187 B, 318/580, 318/587
• US Class Current: 180/168
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/28 non-mechanical , e.g. following a line or other known markers
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0265 using buried wires

Abstract

A guidance conductor for a driverless vehicle which is controlled to move along a track way by detecting an induction field. The guidance conductor is a continuous conductor having portions laid parallel in a predetermined spaced relation to each within the track way so as to form substantially a closed circuit, and is energized by a high frequency source. The guidance conductor also has loop portions in which only one portion of the conductor is laid. The driverless vehicle is adapted to detect the induction field generated by the guidance conductor.

Claims

1. A control system for a driverless vehicle which is guided along a track way by detecting an induction field comprising:

a guidance conductor arranged substantially throughout and within said track way to form a closed circuit, said track way including a main portion wherein portions of said guidance conductor are arranged in parallel with each other in a predetermined spaced relationship and a loop portion wherein only one portion of said conductor is laid;

energizing means connected to said guidance conductor for feeding a high frequency current to generate said induction field around said guidance conductor;

a pair of detectors, each said detector being disposed respectively on a side of said driverless vehicle corresponding to a respective edge of said track way, said detectors being arranged to have said predetermined space therebetween for selectively detecting the induction field generated by the conductor portion, if any, laid along the corresponding edge of the track way; and

selection circuit means for selecting one of said conductor portions in accordance with a selected route of said track way along which said vehicle is guided;

wherein each said detector comprises a first detection coil disposed parallel to the plane of said track way and perpendicular to said guidance conductor; and

a second detection coil disposed substantially in a vertical plane including said guidance conductor and inclined to the horizontal plane of said track way.