Communications: electrical – Land vehicle alarms or indicators – Of collision or contact with external object
Patent
1994-08-08
1997-10-28
Hofsass, Jeffery
Communications: electrical
Land vehicle alarms or indicators
Of collision or contact with external object
340435, 340437, 340901, 340903, 340904, B60Q 100
Patent
active
056821360
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a system able to provide an alarm signal indicative of the presence of any kind of obstacles in proximity of the part of the vehicle which has to be protected.
The application of this system becomes very usefull during parking operation and mainly for protecting the back part of the vehicle the most difficult to control from the driver seat.
2. Discussion of the Background
It is known, in the applicable art, to employ different systems for use in vehicles control during parking operation.
These systems include means vhich detect approaching obstacles by monitoring with acoustic or view signals in all the cases in which the direct perception of the driver is difficult or impossible.
It is possible to mention some examples of prior art for use with the same purpose to which the present invention relates.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,278,962, is based on the use of transmitting and receiving means of ultrasonic waves. In this case the electronic system includes one or more transmitting-receiving transducers mounted outside the vehicle bumper and an electronic unit, electricaly connected to them, which decodes the acoustic waves reflected by obstacles in proximity of the vehicle and to signalize approximately the distance by digital or analogic means.
Such a system is nevertheless not always able to recognize the real distance between the ultrasonic transdoucer and the detected obstacle because the ammount of reflected ultrasonic waves (one of the parameters on which is based the distance measuring system) is dependent on the shape, density and reflective property of the obstacle.
Furthermore the ultrasonic system is unable to detect obstacles which are closer than 30-40 centimeters owing to the physical limits of the system which is based on the measurement of the time employed by the acoustic waves to return after reflection.
It is also known that the detection field, when using an ultrasonic system, has a conical shaped configuration and for this reason it is not able to protect, for example, the bumper surface for all its extension but only with an angled limitation departing from the acoustic transdoucer. For this reason, in order to obtain a more complete protection, it is necessary to use more than one acoustic transdoucer.
In addition, the prior art ultrasonic system needs the use of external sensors (acoustic transdoucers) which are visible and susceptible of handling and damagement. Furthermore the ultrasonic system is relatively expensive in its components (electronic unit, ultrasonic transdoucers).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the problems of the prior art and to provide a practical obstacles detection system, mainly for vehicles, of low cost, easy installation, not visible outside the vehicle and able to give an alarm signal when an obstacle is approaching the part of the vehicle which has to be protected, with the following benefits: for all the extension of the part which has to be protected (for example the bumper). shape, dimensions, density and reflective propriety. up to the contact without the blind zone (30-40 centimeters before the contact) which characterizes the prior art systems. which guarantees a more prompt alarm signal for very short approaching movements in the close proximity.
For this purpose, according to the present invention, the electromagnetic detection system is characterized in that it employs, in its preferred embodiment, a transmitting-receiving mean consisting of two wires or strps of electrical conductive material (antennas) coupled together; a means capable of generating an electromagnetic field (near field) of radio frequency all around this transmitting-receiving means; a means capable of detecting (demodulate) the variations of said electromagnetic field caused by an object which is approaching to said transmitting-receiving means; a means giving an acoustic or wiev alarm signal in presence of such electromagnetic field variation.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3717876 (1973-02-01), Volkers
patent: 4803488 (1989-02-01), Dombrowski
patent: 5087918 (1992-02-01), May et al.
Hofsass Jeffery
Pope Daryl C.
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