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Obstacle detection system

  • US 4,658,385 A
  • Filed: 05/10/1985
  • Issued: 04/14/1987
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1984
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In an obstacle detection system including ultrasonic wave radiating means comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, and means for supplying transmitting pulses for driving each transducer, the improvement comprising:

  • said ultrasonic transducers are arranged in a row symmetrically about a central transducer with a rightmost and a leftmost transducer relative to said system, the transducers being arranged to radiate ultrasonic waves in a forward direction in response to transmitting pulses;

    said means for supplying transmitting pulses includes drive control means for cyclically performing first to third radiating operations, wherein during said first operation the number of transmitting pulses supplied to central ultrasonic transducers is set to a maximum and the number of transmitting pulses supplied to each remaining ultrasonic transducer is set to decrease from said maximum number according to the distance of said each transducer from said central transducer;

    wherein during said second operation said drive control means sets the number of transmitting pulses supplied to said rightmost ultrasonic transducer to a maximum and the number of transmitting pulses supplied to each remaining transducer is set to decrease from said maximum number according to the distance of said each transducer from said rightmost transducer; and

    wherein during said third operation said drive control means sets the number of transmitting pulses supplied to said leftmost ultrasonic transducer to a maximum and the number of transmitting pulses supplied to each remaining transducer is set to decrease from said maximum number according to the distance of said each transducer from said leftmost transducers; and

    said drive control means includes means for setting the number of transmitting pulses supplied to each of said ultrasonic transducers during said first to third radiating operations, so that a changing parabolic-like sensing region is produced by ultrasonic waves radiated by said transducers in said forward direction in an obstacle detection region.

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