Ultrasonic obstacle detector
First Claim
1. An ultrasonic detector for detecting an object in a manually operated vehicle having a stern which defines a pathway when the vehicle is traveling in reverse comprising:
- (a) means for generating and transmitting an ultrasonic wave externally sternward from the vehicle;
(b) means to focus the transmitted ultrasonic wave into a defined beam pattern the means comprising;
(1) a primary convex reflector inclined at a defined angle of reflectance disposed in the path of the wave and having a defined radius of convexity;
(2) a hood over the reflector;
(3) a secondary reflector combination consisting of first and second planar baffles disposed upon the convex surface centrally upward which are inclined away from each other vertically at a defined angle and are spaced apart so as to divide the ultrasonic wave into 3 portions;
(c) means for receiving an echo of the ultrasonic wave and converting it into audio-visual signals indicative of the distance of an object from the vehicle'"'"'s stern.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The ultrasonic device which is sensitive to a selectably defined range for giving warning to a vehicle operator while backing which indicates visually an obstruction substantially out of range, close to range and within range coupled with an in range audio alarm giving an intermittent tone at a defined pulse rate which rate approaches non-pulsating as the object approaches within 25% of the selected range. A convex reflector of a defined radius in conjunction with angularly upright baffles disposed on the convexity is coupled to the transmitting/receiving transducer to generate an ultrasonic beam which encompasses objects anywhere in the range area adjacent to the vehicle'"'"'s rear edge.
53 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An ultrasonic detector for detecting an object in a manually operated vehicle having a stern which defines a pathway when the vehicle is traveling in reverse comprising:
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(a) means for generating and transmitting an ultrasonic wave externally sternward from the vehicle; (b) means to focus the transmitted ultrasonic wave into a defined beam pattern the means comprising; (1) a primary convex reflector inclined at a defined angle of reflectance disposed in the path of the wave and having a defined radius of convexity; (2) a hood over the reflector; (3) a secondary reflector combination consisting of first and second planar baffles disposed upon the convex surface centrally upward which are inclined away from each other vertically at a defined angle and are spaced apart so as to divide the ultrasonic wave into 3 portions; (c) means for receiving an echo of the ultrasonic wave and converting it into audio-visual signals indicative of the distance of an object from the vehicle'"'"'s stern. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An ultrasonic detector for detecting an object in a manually operated vehicle having a stern which defines a pathway when the vehicle is traveling in reverse comprising:
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(a) means for generating and transmitting an ultrasonic wave externally sternward from the vehicle; (b) means to focus the transmitted ultrasonic wave into a defined beam pattern the means comprising; (1) a primary convex reflector inclined at a defined angle of reflectance disposed in the path of the wave and having a defined radius of convexity; (2) a hood over the reflector; (3) a second reflector combination consisting of first and second planar baffles disposed upon the convex surface centrally upward which are inclined away from each other vertically at a defined angle and are spaced apart so as to divide the ultrasonic wave into 3 portions;
wherein a first portion of the wave is reflected from the reflector perpendicularly sternward, and second and third portions are reflected from the baffles glancingly to the reflector and then along the vehicle'"'"'s stern;(4) a means for receiving an echo of the ultrasonic wave and converting it into audio-visual signals for determination of the distance of an object from the vehicle'"'"'s stern. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification