U.S. patent number RE34,773 [Application Number 07/552,555] was granted by the patent office on 1994-11-01 for driver alerting device.
Invention is credited to Anthony E. Dombrowski.
United States Patent |
RE34,773 |
Dombrowski |
* November 1, 1994 |
Driver alerting device
Abstract
A driver alerting device includes a transceiver adapted for
mounting at the rearward end of a vehicle for directing its wave
output rearwardly of the vehicle. Return wave signals for many
objects within the transceiver range are picked up and supplied to
the transceiver by an antenna. Any resultant doppler shift signal
is amplified for driving an audio alarm adapted for placement
within the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The circuit is
adapted for electrical connection to the back-up light circuit of
the vehicle for activation only when the vehicle transmission is
engaged in reverse gear.
Inventors: |
Dombrowski; Anthony E. (Omaha,
NE) |
[*] Notice: |
The portion of the term of this patent
subsequent to July 2, 2008 has been disclaimed. |
Family
ID: |
27077688 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/552,555 |
Filed: |
July 16, 1990 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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579160 |
Feb 10, 1984 |
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Reissue of: |
895537 |
Aug 13, 1986 |
04803488 |
Feb 7, 1989 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
340/904; 340/903;
340/436; 180/169; 180/167; 340/901 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01S
13/56 (20130101); B60Q 9/008 (20130101); G01S
13/931 (20130101); G01S 2013/932 (20200101); Y10S
367/909 (20130101); G01S 2013/93275 (20200101); G01S
2013/9317 (20130101); G01S 2013/93272 (20200101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60Q
1/50 (20060101); G01S 13/56 (20060101); B60Q
1/52 (20060101); G01S 13/93 (20060101); G01S
13/00 (20060101); G01S 7/02 (20060101); G08G
001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;340/904,903,901,436,435,932.2 ;342/61,41,29,27,70,455
;180/167,271,169 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
Harokopus, W. P., "Application Of Radar To Automobile Control And
Sensing", Second International Technical Conference On Experimental
Safety Vehicles (Jan. 1971), Sindelfingen, Germany, U.S. Dept. of
Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
.
Bureau of Mines Publication published in 1986 titled "Improved
Back-Up Alarm Technology for Mobile Mining Equipment". .
Harokopus, W. P., "Application Of Radar To Automobile Control And
Sensing", Proceedings Of The IEEE-GMTT International Microwave
Symposium Jan. 1971. .
Grimes et al., "Automotive Radar: A Brief Review", Proceedings Of
The IEEE, vol. 62, No. 6, Jun. 1974, pp. 304-322. .
Chapter 3 of Introduction To Radar Systems, "CW and
Frequency-Modulated Radar", McGraw-Hill, Inc. (1962), pp. 68-73 and
79-85. .
U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Mines, Fiscal Year 1980
Fourth Quarter Progress And Annual Summary Report, And Work Plan
Jan. 1981..
|
Primary Examiner: Crosland; Donnie L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Sherman and Shalloway
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 579,160,
filed Feb. 10, 1984, now abandoned.
Claims
I claim:
1. A driver alerting device for a vehicle having a back-up light
circuit reverse switch, comprising
a transceiver comprising a micro-wave radar device using the
doppler shift principle to detect the presence of a target within
the transceiver range,
means for supporting said transceiver at the rearward end of a
vehicle for directing the wave output thereof rearwardly of the
vehicle, .Iadd.said transceiver range being limited to a span
substantially the width of the vehicle and extending a maximum of
approximately 20 feet, .Iaddend.
means for supplying to said transceiver return wave signals from
any target within the transceiver range, .[.an intermediate
frequency amplifier operatively connected to said transceiver, said
amplifier being operative to amplify and shape said return wave
signals,.].
a remote indicator adapted for placement within or adjacent the
passenger compartment of a vehicle,
.[.means for electrically connecting.]. said remote indicator
.Iadd.being coupled .Iaddend.to said transceiver for activation of
said indicator in response to detection by said transceiver of
return wave signals from any target within the transceiver range,
and
means for .[.electrically connecting.]. .Iadd.coupling
.Iaddend.said transceiver to the back-up light circuit reverse
switch of a vehicle for activation of said transceiver in response
to activation of said back-up light circuit reverse switch of a
vehicle, said device being substantially unaffected, in operation,
by varying weather conditions.
2. The driver alerting device of claim 1 wherein said transceiver
includes a wave guide cavity and a gunn diode mounted in said wave
guide cavity for transmitting wave output therefrom.
3. The driver alerting device of claim 2 wherein said transceiver
further includes a schottky barrier mixer diode which is operative
as the receiver thereof.
4. The driver alerting device of claim 1 wherein said means for
supplying return wave signals to said transceiver comprises a high
gain antenna.
5. The driver alerting device of claim 1 wherein said means for
supplying return wave signals to said transceiver comprises a low
gain antenna.
6. The driver alerting device of claim 1 wherein said means for
supplying return wave signals to said transceiver comprises an
antenna mounted directly to the transceiver.
7. The driver alerting device of claim 1 .[.wherein said.].
.Iadd.further comprising an .Iaddend.intermediate frequency
amplifier .[.is a solid state multistage operational amplifier.].
.Iadd.operatively connected to said transceiver, said amplifier
being operative to amplify and shape said return wave
signals.Iaddend..
8. The driver alerting device of claim 1 wherein said remote
indicator comprises a solid state piezoelective alarm.
9. In combination, a vehicle having forward and rearward ends, a
passenger compartment, and a back-up light circuit reverse switch,
a driver alerting device, comprising
a transceiver comprising a micro-wave radar device using the
doppler shift principle to detect the presence of a target within
the transceiver range.Iadd.,
said transceiver range being limited to a span substantially the
width of the vehicle and extending a maximum of approximately 20
feet, .Iaddend.
means for supporting said transceiver on the rearward end of said
vehicle for directing the wave output of the transceiver rearwardly
of the vehicle,
antenna means for supplying to the transceiver return wave signals
from any target within the transceiver range, an indicator,
means for mounting said indicator in the passenger compartment of
the vehicle,
means for electrically connecting said indicator to said
transceiver for activation of said indicator in response to
detection by said transceiver of return wave signals from any
target within the transceiver range, said means for electrically
connecting said indicator to said transceiver including an
intermediate frequency amplifier operative to amplify and shape the
output signal of said transceiver, and,
means for electrically connecting said transceiver to the back-up
light circuit reverse switch of the vehicle for activation of said
transceiver in response to activation of said back-up light circuit
reverse switch of the vehicle, said device being substantially
unaffected, in operation, by varying weather conditions.
10. A driver alerting device for a vehicle having a transmission
with a reverse gear, comprising,
a transceiver comprising a micro-wave radar device using the
Doppler shift principle to detect the presence of a target within
the transceiver range,
means for supporting said transceiver at the rearward end of a
vehicle for directing the wave output thereof rearwardly of the
vehicle,
means for supplying to said transceiver return wave signals from
any target within said transceiver range,
.[.an intermediate frequency amplifier operatively connected to
said transceiver, said amplifier being operative to amplify and
shape said return wave signals,.].
.Iadd.said transceiver range being limited to a span substantially
the width of the vehicle and extending a maximum of approximately
20 feet, .Iaddend.
a remote indicator adapted for placement within or adjacent the
passenger compartment of a vehicle,
.[.means for electrically connecting.]. said remote indicator
.Iadd.being coupled .Iaddend.to said transceiver for activation of
said indicator in response to detection by said transceiver of
return wave signals from any target within the transceiver range,
and
means for activating said transceiver in response to actuation of
said transmission to said reverse gear, said device being
substantially unaffected, in operation, by varying weather
conditions. .Iadd.
11. The driver alerting device of claim 7 wherein said intermediate
frequency amplifier is a solid state multistage operational
amplifier. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
12. A rear collision avoidance system operatively connected to a
rear portion of a motor vehicle to detect the presence of objects
behind said motor vehicle in response to relative motion between
said motor vehicle and said objects, said rear collision avoidance
system including,
micro-wave antenna means disposable at said vehicle rear portion
for radiating micro-wave signals rearwardly of said vehicle in a
wave pattern that spans substantially a rear width of said motor
vehicle so as to have a lateral dimension substantially coextensive
with said rear portion width of said motor vehicle, and for
receiving micro-wave signals reflected from objects which are
disposed behind said vehicle within said micro-wave pattern, said
micro-wave antenna radiating micro-wave signals rearwardly of said
vehicle a maximum of approximately 20 feet; micro-wave transceiver
circuitry coupled to said antenna, said micro-wave transceiver
circuitry having a range, said micro-wave transceiver circuitry
including a source of micro-wave signals having a predetermined
frequency, said micro-wave transceiver circuitry producing a
doppler shift signal whenever an object moving relative to said
vehicle and disposed within said wave pattern and within said range
reflects a micro-wave signals toward said antenna with a frequency
different from said predetermined frequency,
said micro-wave transceiver including an amplifier to amplify and
shape said doppler shift signal to produce an alert signal; and
an indicator operatively connected to said micro-wave transceiver
circuitry, for alerting an operator of said vehicle to the presence
of said object in response to receipt of said alert signal.
.Iaddend. .Iadd.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein said transceiver range extends
rearwardly of said vehicle rear portion approximately 6 to 12 feet.
.Iaddend. .Iadd.14. The system of claim 12 wherein said transceiver
range extends rearwardly of said vehicle rear portion up to a
maximum of approximately 20 feet. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. The system of
claim 12 wherein said amplifier includes an adjustment which
adjusts said transceiver range. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. The system of
claim 15 wherein said source of micro-wave signals has a power
output of about 5 milliwatts. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. The system of
claim 12 wherein said micro-wave transceiver circuitry ceases to
produce said doppler shift signal whenever relative movement
between said object within said wave pattern and within said range
and said vehicle ceases. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. The system of claim 12
wherein said source of micro-wave signals comprises a gunn diode
and said micro-wave transceiver circuitry includes a mixer element
different from said gunn diode which produces said doppler shift
signal. .Iaddend.
.Iadd. 9. In a motor vehicle having a rear portion and capable of
moving over a road surface in a rearward direction, said rear
portion having a lateral extent that establishes a rear width of
said motor vehicle, the improvement comprising
a collision avoidance system operatively associated with said rear
portion of said motor vehicle to detect the presence of an obstacle
behind said motor vehicle in response to relative motion between
said motor vehicle and said obstacle, and to alert the driver of
the presence of said obstacle, said collision avoidance system
including:
transceiver means positioned at said rear portion of said motor
vehicle within said rear width thereof for (i) radiating micro-wave
energy of a predetermined frequency rearwardly of said motor
vehicle, said produced micro-wave energy conforming to a wave
pattern that spans substantially said rear width of said motor
vehicle so as to have a lateral dimension substantially coextensive
with said rear width of said motor vehicle, and extending a maximum
of approximately 20 feet, (ii) receiving micro-wave energy
reflected by said obstacle, and (iii) in response to receiving said
reflected micro-wave energy, generating an alarm signal, indicative
of the presence of said obstacle, when said reflected micro-wave
energy is of a frequency different from said predetermined
frequency and said obstacle is within about 20 feet of said
transceiver means; and
alarm means for alerting the motor vehicle operator to the presence
of said obstacle in response to receipt of said generated alarm
signal. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.20. The motor vehicle of claim 19 wherein said transceiver
means generates said alarm signal when said obstacle is within
about 6 to 12 feet of said transceiver means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21.
The motor vehicle of claim 19 wherein said transceiver means has a
micro-wave power output of about 5 milliwatts. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22.
A process for alerting the drive of a vehicle, having a passenger
compartment, an ignition and a transmission having a reverse gear,
to the presence of any object in close range behind the vehicle,
comprising:
providing a transceiver comprising a micro-wave radar device using
the doppler shift principle at the rear end of said vehicle;
activating said transceiver to transmit micro-wave electromagnetic
radiation in a wave pattern limited to a span the width of the
vehicle and extending rearwardly a maximum of approximately 20 feet
whenever the vehicle ignition is on and the transmission is engaged
in reverse gear;
supplying reflected micro-wave electromagnetic signals, from any
object within said wave pattern and within said transceiver range,
to said transceiver; and
activating an alarm, located in said passenger compartment, when a
doppler
shift is detected by said transceiver. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. A driver
alerting device for a vehicle having a back-up light circuit
reverse switch, comprising
a transceiver comprising a micro-wave radar device using the
Doppler shift principle to detect the presence of a target within
the transceiver range,
means for supporting said transceiver at the rearward end of a
vehicle for directing the wave output thereof rearwardly of the
vehicle, said transceiver range extends rearwardly approximately 6
to 12 feet,
means for supplying to said transceiver return wave signals from
any target within the transceiver range, an intermediate frequency
amplifier operatively connected to said transceiver, said amplifier
being operative to amplify and shape said return wave signals,
a remote indicator adapted for placement within or adjacent the
passenger compartment of a vehicle,
said remote indicator being coupled to said transceiver for
activation of said indicator in response to detection by said
transceiver of return wave signals from any target within the
transceiver range, and
means for coupling said transceiver to the back-up light circuit
reverse switch of a vehicle for activation of said transceiver in
response to activation of said back-up light circuit reverse switch
of a vehicle, said device being substantially unaffected, in
operation, by varying weather
conditions. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. The driver alerting device of claim
23 wherein the transceiver range is about 20 feet. .Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed generally to a device for
alerting the driver of a rearwardly moving vehicle to the presence
of any object in close range behind the vehicle. More particularly,
the present invention is directed to a micro-wave radar device
using the doppler shift principle to detect the presence of a
moving target within the transceiver range.
Drivers of difficulty with backing up their vehicles. Whereas this
is due partly to the different steering response of a rearwardly
moving vehicle, most backing-up accidents are due to the driver's
limited visibility. Many trucks have a considerable blind spot
directly rearwardly of the vehicle which is not visible through
side mounted mirrors. But even in smaller trucks and passenger cars
with rear windows, there may be blind spots at the rearward corners
of the vehicle and below the driver's line of sight.
Devices have previously been known for detecting the presence of
objects behind a vehicle but such devices have not achieved
widespread usage. Devices which provide an audible alarm directed
rearwardly of the vehicle are ineffective if a child, for example,
in the path of the vehicle does not react to the alarm and if the
vehicle driver does not hear the alarm. Certainly an external alarm
will not remove objects from the path of the vehicle.
Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide an improved
device for alerting the driver of a rearwardly moving vehicle to
the presence of a person or object within a short range distance
behind the vehicle.
Another object is to provide such a device with a remote audible
alarm suitable for placement within the passenger compartment of a
vehicle.
Another object is to provide such a device which employs micro-wave
radar technology.
Another object is to provide a driver alerting device which may be
easily electrically and mechanically connected to a vehicle.
Finally, an object is to provide a driver alerting device which is
economically to manufacture, simple and rugged in construction and
efficient in operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The driver alerting device o the present invention includes a
transceiver adapted for mounting at the rearward end of a vehicle
for directing its wave output rearwardly of the vehicle. Return
wave signals from any object within the short transceiver range
behind the vehicle are supplied to the transceiver through an
antenna connection. Any resultant doppler shift signal is amplified
for driving the audio alarm. The circuit of the device is adapted
for electrical connection to the back-up light circuit of a vehicle
for activation only when the vehicle transmission is engaged in
reverse gear.
The driver alerting device thus immediately sounds an alarm when
any moving or stationary object is detected within the short
transceiver range behind a rearwardly moving vehicle on which it is
installed. Even when the vehicle is stationary, but with the
back-up lights activated, the device will signal the presence of
any moving object within the transceiver range. Because the device
operates by micro-wave radar, it is unaffected by noise, light, or
weather-conditions such as snow, rain, heat and cold.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic top plan view of the driver alerting
device installed on a vehicle;
FIG. 2 is an electrical schematic circuit diagram of the driver
alerting device; .[.and.].
.Iadd.FIG. 2A is an electrical schematic circuit diagram of the
driver alerting device; and .Iaddend.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the transceiver housing of the
device.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The driver alerting device of the present invention is indicated
generally at 10 in FIG. 1 installed on the rear bumper 12 of a
truck 14 having a passenger compartment 16 situated forwardly of
box 18. Device 10 operates by micro-wave radar using the doppler
shift principle to detect the presence of a moving target within
the transceiver range.
The operating elements of the device 10 are wholly electronic and
are shown in .[.FIG. 2.]. .Iadd.FIG. 2A .Iaddend.as including a
transceiver 20, an antenna 22, an intermediate frequency amplifier
24 and an audio alarm 26.
The transceiver 20 includes a gun diode 28 mounted in a wave guide
cavity which acts as the transmitter and local oscillator, together
with a schottky barrier mixer diode 30 for the receiver.
Electromagnetic radiation transmitted from the gunn diode 28 is
reflected back at the antenna by any object within the transceiver
range. If that object is moving relative to the vehicle, the
frequency shift of the wave reflected by the moving object is
measured electronically and triggers activation of the alarm
26.
In the preferred embodiment, output frequency of the transceiver 20
is factory preset at 10.525 GIGA HERTZ. Power output is 5
milliwatts minimum. Operating voltage is 8 volts D.C. The resultant
doppler frequency obtained is 31.39 HERTZ for each mile per hour of
radio velocity. The transceiver is unaffected by the presence of
magnetic fields, noise, light and varying weather conditions.
Antenna 22 may be provided as either a high gain antenna or low
gain antenna. The high gain antenna is preferred for application
with 1/4 ton, 1/2 ton and 1 ton vehicles measuring 80 inches
maximum in width. The low gain antenna is preferred on 1 ton and
larger vehicles measuring 80 inches and greater in width. The range
of the antennas is adjustable and my be user set to accommodate
virtually any vehicle. This adjustment is incorporated in the
intermediate frequency amplifier 24 and is accessible from the
outside of the unit. Antenna 22 is preferably constructed of
machined aluminum and is also preferably flange-mounted directly to
the transceiver 20, thus eliminating the effects of noise and
spurious response. Lines 32 in FIG. 1 illustrate an example of a
typically adjusted wave pattern.
The intermediate frequency amplifier 24 is a solid state,
multi-stage operational amplifier designed to amplify and shape the
resultant doppler shift signal. The circuitry is card mounted and
has built-in range and sensitivity controls. The amplifier is
designed to interface with the existing reverse switch 34 (.[.FIG.
2.]. .Iadd.FIG. 2A .Iaddend.) in order to activate the circuit only
during reverse operation of the vehicle. Reverse switch 34 is
typically associated with the vehicle transmission and is
incorporated into the back-up light circuit of the vehicle for
illuminating the back-up lights whenever the vehicle transmission
is engaged in reverse gear.
The audio alarm 26 is mounted interiorly of the passenger
compartment 16 so as to be readily audible to the driver of the
vehicle. Amplifier 24 drives both the audio alarm 26 and a light
emitting diode mounted on the unit. The purpose of the light
emitting diode is to aid in the adjustment of the unit in the event
that the alarm is not audible to the one adjusting the unit at the
rearward end of the vehicle.
The transceiver 20 is shown in FIG. 3 as including a housing 36
which is diagonally sectioned to provide a pivotal top cover 38.
The wave output from the transceiver 20 is transmitted outwardly
through a rearwardly protruding channel section 40 on the rear wall
of housing 36. A mounting flange 42 extends downwardly from the
housing for ready attachment to a vehicle bumper or the like.
The circuitry is card mounted and all components ar treated with a
conformal coating to prevent the effects of moisture and salt.
Electrical hook-up to the vehicle is achieved via a splash-proof
four circuit connector mounted on the side of the unit. One of the
four leads is connected to the vehicle ignition switch, one to the
back-up lights or reverse switch 34 on the transmission, one to
ground 44 and one to the alarm 26.
The audio alarm is preferably a solid state piezoelectric alarm
capable of developing 80 decibels at 12 volts D.C.
In operation, the transceiver 20 is activated to transmit
electromagnetic radiation whenever the vehicle ignition is on and
the transmission is engaged in reverse gear. This closes the
vehicle reverse switch 34 for illuminating the vehicle backup
lights. A reducer may be provided between the transceiver 20 and
reverse switch 34 to adjust the operating voltage to 8 volts D.C.
The transceiver range spans the width of the vehicle 14 and extends
rearwardly approximately 6 to 12 feet. The maximum range would be
approximately 20 feet.
As the vehicle is driven rearwardly, reflected signals from any
object within the transceiver range, such as loading dock 46, are
picked up by antenna 22 and supplied to the mixer diode 30 where
the frequency shift is measured electronically. Amplifier 24 is
designed to amplify and shape the resultant doppler shift signal
and to activate the alarm 26. Note that when the vehicle is backing
up, both stationary and moving objects within the transceiver range
will be detected since there will be relative movement between the
transceiver and these objects. Even when the vehicle is stationary,
a moving object, such as a running child, will be detected by the
transceiver and result in activation of the alarm. A stationary
object will not be detected when the vehicle is stationary since
there is no relative movement to cause a doppler shift signal to be
generated. Thus the alarm will stop once the moving object leaves
the transceiver range. Likewise, when the buzzer is activated by a
stationary object, it will stop once the vehicle is stopped.
Thus there has been shown and described a driver alerting device
for a vehicle which accomplishes at least all of the stated
objects.
* * * * *