Ultrasonic ranging device

• US 4,803,670 A
• Filed: 07/07/1987
• Issued: 02/07/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Li-Ling Lin
• Original Assignee: Li-Ling Lin
• Inventors: Chen, Ming-Hui
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lobo, Ian J.
• Application Number:
  US07/070,564
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 367/99, 367/107, 367/118, 367/91, 367/96, 367/909, 367/910, 367/104, 367/140, 340/904
• US Class Current: 367/99
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2015/938 in the bumper area radar in bumper area G01S2013/93275; bumper with obstacle sensor of electric or electronic type B60R19/483
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/521 Constructional features
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/909 Collision avoidance

Abstract

An improved ultrasonic ranging device having a ultrasonic sensor unit provided for detecting the distance between a ground object and a rear end of a vehicle includes: a casing body composed of a front casing and a rear casing with a round opening formed in the opposing ends; a control unit with a plurality of microswitches and a control circuit installed at one end of the casing body and electrically connected to the ultrasonic sensor unit; a gear system with a motor and a reduction gear member disposed at another end of the casing body and electrically connected to the control circuit; and a protective cover with a transmission arrangement movably connected to the casing body with the transmission arrangement meshed with the reduction gear and the control unit; thereby, the protective cover can be automatically raised up and lowered down along with the backward and forward movements of a vehicle for protecting the ultrasonic ranging device against water, dust and mud.

Claims

1. In an improved ultrasonic ranging device having an ultrasonic sensor unit with a protective cover fixedly provided therein for detecting the distance between a ground object and the rear end of a vehicle during reverse movement, a control circuit electrically connected to the ultrasonic sensor unit for effecting electrical control operations, and a motor mechanism connected to the control circuit for providing forward and reverse rotations, the improvement which comprises:

a body structure composed of a front casing and a rear casing with a round opening formed in each end thereof and an auxiliary illuminating light provided on one side of the front casing and electrically connected to the control circuit for illuminating the rear path and providing a warning signal when the reverse gear of a vehicle is set to make a backward movement;

a plurality of switches respectively coupled with the ultrasonic sensor unit and the control circuit for being automatically operated to effect distance detecting and rotation control operations; and

transmission means furnished at each end of said body structure and rotatably coupled with the motor mechanism as well as movably kept in contact with said switches for being driven to open and close said body structure as well as to turn on and off said switches in performing detecting operations;

whereby, distance detecting operations can be effectively started and stopped along with the backward and forward movements of the vehicle;

said transmission means comprising a triangular shaped cover having a pair of annular side lugs integrally formed at each end for being movably connected to said body structure at each end thereof through said round openings;

a pair of wheels each having a gear disk provided in a center area thereof and separately fixed within each end of said triangular shaped cover through an axle with one gear disk of said gear disks at one side being rotatably engaged with a reduction gear of the motor mechanisms, and another gear disk at another side being provided with a sector rail on a top surface for being rotated to make contact with respective switches in connection with a positive rotation and a reverse rotation of the motor mechanism;

so that when the reverse gear is set to move the vehicle backward, said transmission means will drive said triangular shaped cover to raise up from said body structure for range detection operation, while, as the gear is shifted to move the vehicle forward, said transmission means will drive said triangular shaped cover to lower down from said body structure for protecting the ultrasonic sensor unit from water, dust and mud.