Closed loop tunnel diode receiver for operation with a base band semiconductor transmitter
First Claim
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1. In a base band radio object detection system:
- transmitter means for transmitting base band pulse signals toward an object,wide band transmission line receiver means for receiving said base band pulse signals after reflection from said object and for propagating received base band pulses substantially without distortion thereof,tunnel diode means having first and second terminal means coupled across said wide band transmission line receiver means and having first and second conductivity states, said tunnel diode means being characterized by shifting from said first to said second conductivity state in response to the presence of one of said propagating base band pulse signals at said first terminal means,pulse shaping means having an input coupled to said first terminal means,pulse phase detector means responsive to said pulse shaping means and to master synchronizer means for providing a control signal,constant current circuit means responsive to said control signal for periodically charging capacitor means,discharge circuit means responsive to said pulse shaping means for periodically discharging said capacitor means,circuit means for coupling said capacitor means to said first terminal means for supplying a saw tooth wave form signal thereto,range gate signal generator means responsive to said transmitter means for generating range gate signals,detector means responsive to said pulse shaping means and to said range gate signal generator means for producing an actuating output when said one of said propagating base band pulses at said first terminal falls in time within one of said range gate signals, andactuator means responsive to said actuating output.
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Abstract
A vehicle safety apparatus includes a base band pulse transmitter-receiver system for the detection of an impending collision immediately prior to the contact of the vehicle with another object for the actuation of restraining or other safety devices to protect the occupants of the vehicle when the crash event actually occurs. A semiconductor base band transmitter and receiver system is synchronously operated by a master clock, providing precise operation of the receiver gain control, sensitivity time control, and other receiver functions, in a low-cost, rugged, long-lived object detection system.
40 Citations
7 Claims
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1. In a base band radio object detection system:
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transmitter means for transmitting base band pulse signals toward an object, wide band transmission line receiver means for receiving said base band pulse signals after reflection from said object and for propagating received base band pulses substantially without distortion thereof, tunnel diode means having first and second terminal means coupled across said wide band transmission line receiver means and having first and second conductivity states, said tunnel diode means being characterized by shifting from said first to said second conductivity state in response to the presence of one of said propagating base band pulse signals at said first terminal means, pulse shaping means having an input coupled to said first terminal means, pulse phase detector means responsive to said pulse shaping means and to master synchronizer means for providing a control signal, constant current circuit means responsive to said control signal for periodically charging capacitor means, discharge circuit means responsive to said pulse shaping means for periodically discharging said capacitor means, circuit means for coupling said capacitor means to said first terminal means for supplying a saw tooth wave form signal thereto, range gate signal generator means responsive to said transmitter means for generating range gate signals, detector means responsive to said pulse shaping means and to said range gate signal generator means for producing an actuating output when said one of said propagating base band pulses at said first terminal falls in time within one of said range gate signals, and actuator means responsive to said actuating output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification