Adjustable, ultrasonic collision warning system

• US 5,347,273 A
• Filed: 01/14/1993
• Issued: 09/13/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kamyar Katiraie
• Original Assignee: Kamyar Katiraie
• Inventors: Katiraie, Kamyar
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C.
• Application Number:
  US08/004,299
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 367/93, 367/94, 367/13, 340/901, 340/903, 340/692
• US Class Current: 340/903
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/061 with electronic detecting or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/04 Systems determining presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/521 Constructional features
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/64 Luminous indications G01S7/62 takes precedence ; short-range imaging G01S7/52076
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/006 using audible presentation of the information

Abstract

An ultrasonic detection system for signaling the presence of an object in one of n linear fields in the path of motion of a person or vehicle. Ultrasonic signals are transmitted by transducers. The linear distance in the path of motion is divided into n linear fields. A unique warning signal such as a voice message, informs the operator of the system of the field in which the object is positioned. The operator of the system may select one or any combination of the fields and may alter the length of any or all fields.

Claims

1. A collision warning system for signaling proximity to an object in the path of travel of a vehicle comprising:

means affixed to said vehicle for generating and transmitting ultrasonic signals in the direction of forward or reverse motion of said vehicle,

means affixed to said vehicle for receiving said transmitted ultrasonic single reflected back to said vehicle from said object,

signal detection means responsive to said means for receiving said transmitted ultrasonic signals reflected back to said vehicle from said object for signaling the presence of said object in at least one of n adjacent fields, each of said n fields representing a predetermined linear distance from said vehicle,

wherein said detection means further comprises means for generating n audible recorded messages each of said messages being different for each of said n fields.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said signal detection means further comprises means for changing the length 1 of each of said n fields.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising means for selectively deactivating any of said n audible recorded messages.

4. A system for alerting an individual of objects in the individual'"'"'s path of travel comprising

an ultrasonic wave generator for transmitting ultrasonic signals in the direction of forward motion of said individual,

an ultrasonic wave detector for generating signals indicative of the distance traveled by said ultrasonic signals reflected by said objects.

control means responsive to said ultrasonic wave detector for generating a unique address signals for each of n segments of distance in the path of motion of said individual, and

voice synthesizer means responsive to said control means for producing and playing one of n selected Spoken messages unique to the one of said n segments of distance from which said ultrasonic wave was reflected,

wherein said system further comprises n switches, each having an on position and an off position, and each of which activates one of said n selected spoken messages in its on position and deactivates the same one of said n selected spoken messages in its off position.