Ultrasonic vehicle rangefinder

• US 4,677,595 A
• Filed: 10/03/1984
• Issued: 06/30/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Takeuchi, Kiyoshi, Kobayashi, Hiroshi, Obayashi, Hiroaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pihulic, Daniel T.
• Application Number:
  US06/657,296
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 367/13, 367/99, 367/107, 367/112, 367/87, 73/1 DV
• US Class Current: 367/13
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2007/52009 of sensor obstruction, e.g. dirt- or ice-coating
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2007/52012 involving a reference ground return
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52004 Means for monitoring or calibrating short-range imaging G01S7/5205

Abstract

An ultrasonic vehicle rangefinder having a detecting system for discriminating whether trouble is in transmission or reception side is shown. The discrimination is established by detection of an attenuation vibration at a transmission microphone.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic rangefinder comprising:

an oscillator for intermittently generating high frequency signals;

a transmitter microphone for emitting an ultrasonic pulse toward a target object when said high frequency signals are received from said oscillator;

a receiver microphone for receiving an ultrasonic pulse reflected from said target object;

means for measuring the time difference between transmitted and received pulses;

means for detecting attenuation vibrations generated in said transmitter microphone after said high frequency signals have been input into said transmitter microphone;

means for distinguishing between a malfunction in the rangefinder on a transmission side or a reception side based on the output from the detecting means;

said detecting means comprising a switching means for disconnecting said oscillator from said distinguishing means when high frequency signals from said oscillator are input into transmitter microphone.

2. An ultrasonic rangefinder comprising:

a first oscillator for generating a pulse signal;

a second oscillator for generating high frequency signals;

circuit means connected to said first and second oscillators for receiving the signals from the first and second oscillators and outputting the high frequency signals while said pulse signal is received;

a transmitter microphone connected to said circuit means for emitting an ultrasonic pulse toward a target object when said high frequency signals are output from said circuit means;

a receiver microphone for receiving an ultrasonic pulse reflected from said target object;

means connected to said receiver microphone for measuring the time difference between transmitted and received pulses;

means connected to said transmitter microphone for detecting attenuation vibrations generated in said transmitter microphone after the high frequency signals have been input into said transmitter microphone;

means connected to said detecting means for distinguishing between a malfunction in the rangefinder on a transmission side or a reception side based on the output from the detecting means; and

said detecting means further including a switching means for disconnecting said circuit means from said distinguishing means during a time that the pulse signal from said first oscillator is received by said detecting means.

3. An ultrasonic rangefinder of claim 2 further comprising:

a means for detecting a first detour signal mechanically transmitted from said transmitter microphone to said receiver microphone, and

a means for determining a malfunction in said receiver microphone connected to said means for detecting said first detour signal.

4. An ultrasonic rangefinder of claim 3 further comprising:

a means for detecting a second signal on the basis of a detour ultrasonic wave transmitted from said transmitter microphone to said receiver microphone, and

a means, connected to said means for detecting a second detour signal, for discriminating between a malfunction in said receiver microphone and dirt on a transmitting surface of said transmitter microphone or a receiving surface of said receiver microphone. PG,18

5. An ultrasonic rangefinder of claim 2, wherein, said attenuation vibration detecting means further comprises an one-shot multivibrator connected to said first oscillator.

6. A ultrasonic rangefinder of claim 5, wherein, said attenuation vibration detecting means further comprises a smoothing circuit at the output terminal of said attenuation vibration detecting means.

7. An ultrasonic vehicle rangefinder comprising:

a blocking oscillator,

a transmitter microphone which emits ultrasonic pulses toward a target object on the basis of the pulse signals transmitted from said oscillator,

a receiver microphone which receives ultrasonic pulse reflected from said target object,

a means for measuring a time difference between transmitting and receiving pulse,

a means for detecting a first detour signal mechanically transmitted from said transmitter microphone to said receiver microphone and

a means for determining a malfunction in said receiver microphone connected to said means for detecting said first detour signal.

8. An ultrasonic rangefinder of claim 7 further comprising:

a means for detecting a second detour signal on the basis of a detour ultrasonic wave transmitted from said transmitter microphone to said receiver microphone,

a means, connected to said means for detecting a second detour signal, for discriminating between a malfunction in said receiver microphone and dirt on a transmitting surface of said transmitter microphone or a receiving surface of said receiver microphone.

9. An ultrasonic rangefinder of claim 8, wherein, said transmitter and receiver microphones are constructed as a single unit to form a transmitter-receiver.

10. An ultrasonic rangefinder of claim 8, wherein, said means for detecting said first detour signal detects said first detour signal on the basis of the differential time between said first detour signal and the pulse signal generated in said blocking oscillator and said mans for detecting said second detour signal detects said second detour signal on the basis of the differential time between said second detour signal and the pulse signal generated in said blocking oscillator.