Detection object searching device

• US 5,606,325 A
• Filed: 10/11/1995
• Issued: 02/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Masudaya, Hideki
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US08/540,859
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 342/44, 342/46, 342/56, 342/417, 342/357, 342/457, 342/42
• US Class Current: 342/357.34
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/86 Combinations of radar systems with non-radar systems, e.g. sonar, direction finder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/12 by co-ordinating position lines of different shape, e.g. hyperbolic, circular, elliptical or radial

Abstract

The invention provides a detection object searching device which makes it possible to immediately know the direction of a mobile detection object such as a car by information presented on a display of a portable unit. The detection object searching device includes a portable operation unit and a body unit. The operation unit includes a transmission section for transmitting a search signal upon operation of a transmission button, a receiving section for receiving a direction indication information signal, an absolute direction detecting section for generating an absolute direction signal, a control section for generating direction indication information indicating the direction of the car based on the direction information signal and absolute direction signal, and a display section for displaying the direction indication information. The body unit includes a direction detection receiving section which searches the incoming direction of the search signal and generates an incoming direction signal, an absolute direction detecting section for generating an absolute direction signal, a control section for generating a direction information signal indicating the direction of the car with respect to the operation unit 1 from the incoming direction signal and absolute direction signal, and transmission section for transmitting a direction information signal.

Claims

1. A detection object searching device including a portable operation unit and a body unit installed in a detection object, wherein said operation unit includes:

a first transmission section for transmitting a search signal upon operation of a transmission button;

a receiving section for receiving a direction information signal transmitted from said body unit;

a first absolute direction detecting section for generating a first absolute direction signal indicating an absolute direction;

a first control section for generating direction indication information indicating the direction of the current location of said detection object, based on said direction information signal and said first absolute direction signal; and

a display section for displaying the direction indication information;

and wherein said body unit includes;

a direction detection receiving section which searches the incoming direction of the received search signal and generates an incoming direction signal;

a second absolute direction detecting section for generating a second absolute direction signal that indicates an absolute direction;

a second control section which generates said direction information signal indicating the direction of said detection object with respect to said operation unit, based on said incoming direction signal and said second absolute direction signal; and

a second transmission section for transmitting said direction information signal.

2. A detection object searching device according to claim 1, wherein Global Pointing System (GPS) is used for said first absolute detection section in said operation unit and for said second absolute direction detection section in said body unit.

3. A detection object searching device according to claim 1, wherein said direction detection receiving section is composed of a coiled antenna and two coiled auxiliary elements provided on both sides thereof, said two auxiliary elements provided with a controllable antenna which is selectively connected to said coiled antenna by control of said second control section.

4. A detection object searching device including a portable operation unit and a body unit installed in a detection object, wherein said operation unit includes:

a first transmission section for transmitting a transmission request signal that requests transmission of a detection signal upon operation of a transmission button;

a second direction detection receiving section which searches the incoming direction of said detection signal transmitted from said body unit and generates a second incoming direction signal;

a first absolute direction detecting section for generating a first absolute direction signal indicating an absolute direction;

a first control section for generating direction indication information indicating the direction of said detection object, based on said second incoming direction signal and said first absolute direction signal; and

a display section for displaying the direction indication information;

and wherein said body unit includes;

a second receiving section for receiving said transmission request signal;

a second control section which responds to said transmission request signal and generates said detection signal; and

a second transmission section for transmitting said detection signal.

5. A detection object searching device according to claim 4, wherein Global Pointing System (GPS) is used for said first absolute direction detection section in said operation unit.

6. A detection object searching device according to claim 4, wherein said second direction detection receiving section is composed of a coiled antenna and two coiled auxiliary elements provided at both sides thereof, said two auxiliary elements provided with a second controllable antenna selectively connected to said coiled antenna by control of said first control section.