Communications – electrical: acoustic wave systems and devices – Signal transducers – Receivers
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-15
2001-01-30
Lobo, Ian J. (Department: 3662)
Communications, electrical: acoustic wave systems and devices
Signal transducers
Receivers
C367S140000, C310S334000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06181645
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ultrasound sensor used to measure distance, and more particularly to a sensor for determining and indicating distances between vehicles and obstacles at close range with ultrasound techniques. The sensor has a unique shape that covers the entire width of the vehicle without being falsely activated by the reflected ground signal.
2. Description of Related Art
Distance measurement by ultrasound is very helpful for metropolitan drivers. Confined by limited parking spaces, most drivers have to depend on their skills to squeeze into a parking space. However, when backing or parking vehicles, drivers normally have blind spots, which can cause serious consequences. Therefore, an ultrasound sensor for detecting the distance to an object was introduced to the market for drivers to eliminat the dangers of the existence of blind spots. Related information about the ultrasound sensor can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,977, issued to Gelhard on Feb. 19, 1985 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,437,032 also issued to Gelhard on Mar. 13, 1984. A conventional ultrasound sensor (
80
) used in vehicles for sounding an alarm when approaching obstacles usually is mounted at the center of a vehicle (
90
), as shown in FIG.
9
. It is well known in the art that the sensitivity of the sensor (
80
) is adjustable and the shape of the emitted signal by the sensor (
80
) is circular. Therefore, for the purpose of covering the entire cross sectional area of the vehicle (
80
), the diameter of the emitted beam by the sensor (
80
) is adjusted to be b
1
, as shown in
FIG. 10-A
. However, when the ultrasound sensor (
80
) mounted on the vehicle (
90
) is activated, a portion of the signal will be reflected by the ground, which will initiate a false alarm informing the driver that the vehicle (
90
) is approaching a potential obstacle, as shown in
FIG. 8-B
. To eliminate the possibility of the activation of a false alarm, the sensitivity of the sensor (
80
) is adjusted to have a diameter b
2
which is smaller than b
1
, as shown in
FIG. 11-A
. With such a beam diameter, the vehicle (
90
) is able to detect the distance from an obstacle effectively. However, both sides of the vehicle (
90
) become blind spots for the driver, due to the reduced diameter of the emitted beam by the sensor (
80
), as shown in
FIG. 11-B
.
It is notable from the above description that the conventional ultrasound sensor is not appropriate and thus an improvement to the ultrasound sensor is necessary.
To overcome the aforementioned problems, the invention provides an improved ultrasound sensor having a unique shape that is able to emit signal covering the entire cross sectional area of the vehicle without initiating a false alarm.
The present invention tends to provide an improved ultrasound sensor to obviate and/or mitigate the aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an ultrasound sensor having a unique shape to eliminate the possibility of activating a false alarm and to effectively alert the driver that the vehicle is approaching an obstacle.
According to one aspect of the invention, the ultrasound sensor of the invention has an aluminum housing defining therein a elliptical compartment and a circular compartment communicating with the elliptical compartment, a ceramic buzzer received in the elliptical compartment, a plurality of isolators received in the elliptical compartment on top of the ceramic buzzer and a layer of silicone rubber received in the circular compartment on top of the plurality of isolators, wherein the elliptical compartment is elliptical so that the shape of the emitted signal beam is limited by the elliptical configuration of the elliptical compartment, whereby allowing the emitted signal beam to have a width covering the entire width of the vehicle and a height covering the vertical excursion of the vehicle.
Another objective of the invention is to provide a housing having a sectoral configuration which is able to accomplish the aforementioned purpose.
Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinafter, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4437032 (1984-03-01), Gelhard
patent: 4500977 (1985-02-01), Gelhard
patent: 5446332 (1995-08-01), Rapps et al.
patent: 5600610 (1997-02-01), Hill et al.
Dellett and Walters
Lobo Ian J.
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