On-road object detecting system
First Claim
1. An on-road object detecting system comprising:
- propagating means for propagating a signal along a travelling path and having propagation characteristics that change due to the presence of an on-road object;
signal generating means for feeding the signal to the propagating means;
the signal propagated by the propagating means being reflected not from the object but in the propagating means at the occurrence of a change in the propagation characteristics;
signal receiving means for receiving the reflection signal reflected from the change in propagation characteristics of the propagation means caused by the on-road object; and
detecting means for detecting the position of the on-road object based on the timing of the received reflection signal at the signal receiving means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for detecting an object located on a travelling path even in bad weather or during nighttime in which conducting wires having a predetermined impedance value are laid along a travelling path, and a signal is supplied to the conducting wires from a signal source. If a vehicle exists on the path, the impedance of the conducting wires changes at the position where the vehicle is present. A signal reflected from the impedance change position is detected by a detector. The position of the vehicle can be determined from the timing of the received reflection signal. It is also possible to detect a vehicle changing lanes or the like by means of a plurality of conductive wires laid along the travelling path. Instead of a conducting wire, an optical fiber may be provided for determining the position of a vehicle using the refractive index change in the optical fiber due to the weight of the vehicle.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. An on-road object detecting system comprising:
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propagating means for propagating a signal along a travelling path and having propagation characteristics that change due to the presence of an on-road object; signal generating means for feeding the signal to the propagating means; the signal propagated by the propagating means being reflected not from the object but in the propagating means at the occurrence of a change in the propagation characteristics; signal receiving means for receiving the reflection signal reflected from the change in propagation characteristics of the propagation means caused by the on-road object; and detecting means for detecting the position of the on-road object based on the timing of the received reflection signal at the signal receiving means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An on-road object detecting system comprising:
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a cable for propagating a signal along a travelling path and having propagation characteristics that change due to the presence of an on-road object; a signal generator for supplying a signal to the cable; the signal being propagated in the cable being reflected not from the object but in the cable at the occurrence of a change in the propagation characteristics; a signal receiver for receiving the reflection signal reflected from the change in propagation characteristics caused by the on-road object; and a processor for detecting the position of the on-road object based on the timing of the received reflection signal at the signal receiver. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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Specification