Ultrasonic wave reception apparatus and obstacle detection apparatus
First Claim
1. An ultrasonic wave reception apparatus comprising:
- an elastic body interspersed with electroconductive particles, for receiving an ultrasonic wave; and
detecting means, operatively connected to the elastic body, for detecting reception of the ultrasonic wave, including,first means for applying a voltage to said elastic body, andsecond means for detecting an ultrasonic wave reception signal, indicating reception of the ultrasonic wave, produced from a change in electrical resistance of said elastic body.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An obstacle detection apparatus includes a rubber-like elastic body interspersed with electroconductive particles, and means for applying a voltage to the rubber-like elastic body to obtain an ultrasonic wave reception signal from a change in electrical resistance of the elastic body. An ultrasonic wave transmission apparatus is mounted on a support member for transmitting an ultrasonic wave outward. The rubber-like elastic body interspersed with electroconductive particles is provided along an outer periphery of the support member, and a voltage is applied to the rubber-like elastic body to obtain an ultrasonic wave reception signal from a change in electrical resistance of the elastic body as a result of receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected from an obstacle.
58 Citations
40 Claims
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1. An ultrasonic wave reception apparatus comprising:
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an elastic body interspersed with electroconductive particles, for receiving an ultrasonic wave; and detecting means, operatively connected to the elastic body, for detecting reception of the ultrasonic wave, including, first means for applying a voltage to said elastic body, and second means for detecting an ultrasonic wave reception signal, indicating reception of the ultrasonic wave, produced from a change in electrical resistance of said elastic body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An obstacle detection apparatus comprising:
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a support member; an ultrasonic wave transmission apparatus mounted on said support member for transmitting an ultrasonic wave; an elastic body interspersed with electroconductive particles provided along an outer surface of said support member, for receiving an ultrasonic wave which is transmitted from said ultrasonic wave transmission apparatus and reflected by a remote object; a conversion circuit for applying a voltage to said elastic body and for obtaining an ultrasonic wave reception signal, indicating reception of the ultrasonic wave, from a change in electrical resistance of said elastic body; and distance calculation means, connected to said ultrasonic wave transmission apparatus and said conversion circuit, for calculating a distance between said support member and said remote object off which the transmitted ultrasonic wave is reflected, from a difference between a time at which the ultrasonic wave is transmitted from said ultrasonic wave transmission apparatus and a time at which the ultrasonic wave reflected by the remote object is received by said elastic body. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. An obstacle detection apparatus comprising:
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an ultrasonic wave transmission apparatus mounted on a vehicle for transmitting an ultrasonic wave outward; an elastic body interspersed with electroconductive particles provided on an outer surface of the vehicle, for receiving an ultrasonic wave which is transmitted from said ultrasonic wave transmission apparatus and reflected by a remote object; a conversion circuit for applying a voltage to said elastic body and for obtaining an ultrasonic wave reception signal, indicating reception of the ultrasonic wave, from a change in electrical resistance of said elastic body; and distance calculation means, connected to said ultrasonic wave transmission apparatus and said conversion circuit, for calculating a distance between said vehicle and said remote object off which the transmitted ultrasonic wave is reflected, from a difference between a time at which the ultrasonic wave is transmitted from said ultrasonic wave transmission apparatus and a time at which the ultrasonic wave reflected by the remote object is received by said elastic body. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25)
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22. An obstacle detection apparatus comprising:
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an ultrasonic wave transmission apparatus mounted on a vehicle for transmitting an ultrasonic wave outward; a molding formed of an elastic body interspersed with electroconductive particles, attached to the vehicle, for receiving the transmitted ultrasonic wave; and a conversion circuit for applying a voltage to said elastic body of the molding and for obtaining an ultrasonic wave reception signal, indicating reception of the transmitted wave, from a change in electrical resistance of said elastic body. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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26. An obstacle detection apparatus, comprising:
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an ultrasonic wave transmitter, mounted on a vehicle, for transmitting ultrasonic wave signals outward; an elastic member, provided on an outer surface of the vehicle, interspersed with electroconductive particles, for receiving the transmitted ultrasonic wave signals; and a conversion circuit, operatively connected to the elastic member, for applying an electrical signal of a predetermined reference level to the elastic member, and for detecting an electrical signal varying from the predetermined reference level corresponding to the received ultrasonic wave signals. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. An ultrasonic wave reception apparatus, comprising:
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an elastic member, interspersed with electroconductive particles, receiving ultrasonic wave signals, the received ultrasonic wave signals changing electrical resistance characteristics of the elastic member; voltage source, operatively connected to the elastic member, supplying a reference voltage to the elastic member; and detector, operatively connected to the elastic member, for detecting the received ultrasonic wave signals from variations in voltage from the reference voltage, the variations being caused by changes in the electrical resistance characteristics of the elastic member.
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37. An ultrasonic wave reception apparatus, comprising:
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an elastic member, interspersed with electroconductive particles, for receiving ultrasonic wave signals; and a conversion circuit, operatively connected to the elastic member, for applying an electrical signal of a predetermined reference level to the elastic member, and for detecting the received ultrasonic wave signals from a detected electrical signal varying from the predetermined reference level. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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Specification