Abstract: A vehicular safety distance alarm system for monitoring a travelling distance between a source vehicle and a target vehicle and activating an alarm when a predetermined safety distance defined between the two for a given speed is compromised comprising a distance measurement mechanism coupled to a source vehicle for determining and transmitting a distance signal representing a travelling distance between the source vehicle and a remote target vehicle; a selection mechanism coupled to the source vehicle for allowing a driver to select a desired range of safety distances expressed as a function of source vehicle velocity and a set time to reach a target vehicle; an alarm signal generation mechanism coupled to the distance measurement mechanism and selection mechanism for comparing the distance signal to a safety distance at a given source vehicle velocity and transmitting an alarm signal when the safety distance is compromised; and an alarm mechanism coupled to the alarm signal generation mechanism for providin

Abstract: A system for warning a vehicle driver of obstacles to the front, rear and sides of the vehicle. If the vehicle is stopped and a front or rear obstacle is detected, the vehicle is prevented from moving forward or reverse, respectively. The inhibition of movement can be overridden by the driver once he acknowledges the obstacle. Similarly, the driver is warned of front, rear and side obstacles while the vehicle is moving. In the case of side obstacles, only when it appears that the driver will move the vehicle toward the obstacle is he warned.

Abstract: Car collision prevention apparatus and method comprises a slave processor for transmitting and receiving a laser beam or an ultrasonic wave signal to extract distance information between a car and a car in front, and a master processor for comparing the extracted distance information from the slave processor with a safety distance between the car and the front car based on a car speed and performing car accelerating or decelerating and alarm functions in accordance with the compared result. The slave processor comprises a long-distance sensing laser sensor and a short-distance sensing ultrasonic wave sensor disposed in a front side of the car, the long-distance sensing laser sensor consisting of a laser trigger circuit, a laser transmitter and a laser receiver, the short-distance sensing ultrasonic wave sensor consisting of an ultrasonic wave trigger circuit, an ultrasonic wave transmitter and an ultrasonic wave receiver.

Abstract: A low-cost compact radar apparatus measures a distance to a target and the relative speed of the target. The apparatus has a transmitter for transmitting a pulse signal and a receiver for receiving a reflected pulse signal from the target. The received signal is converted into a binary signal, which is sampled by a sampler and is accumulated in a cumulative storage unit. Addresses of the storage unit correspond to an interval between the transmission and reception of the pulse signal. According to the interval, the distance and relative speed of the target are calculated at high speed. The apparatus carries out many accumulation operations, to improve an S/N ratio and speedily detect even a weak reflected signal.

Abstract: In a ranging sensor system for a vehicle for calculating a physical data between a subject vehicle and an object on the basis of the time between the transmission of a signal toward the object and the reception of a signal reflected from the object, a first obtained detection data is set as an offset value in an offset value setting circuit. The offset value is subtracted from the detection data in a subtractor, and an output from the subtractor is filtered in a filter circuit. The offset value is added to an output from the filter circuit in an adder to provide a physical data after the filtering. Thus, it is possible to eliminate an error included in detection data, while insuring a responsiveness and a stability.

Abstract: An automobile collision avoidance system based on laser radars is disclosed for aiding in avoidance of automobile collisions. The very small beam width, very small angular resolution and the highly directional character of laser radars provide a plurality of advantages as compared with microwave radars. With two sets of laser radars this system can detect the location, the direction of movement, the speed and the size of all obstacles specifically and precisely. This system includes laser radars with transmitters and receivers, a computer, a warning device and an optional automatic braking device. A steering wheel rotation sensor or a laser gyroscope is utilized to give information of system-equipped vehicle's directional change. The system will compare the predicted collision time with the minimal allowable time to determine the imminency of a collision, and when determined, provides a warning. An optional automatic braking device is disclosed to be used when the vehicle user fails to respond to a warning.

Abstract: A radar system for sensing the presence of obstacles in a vehicle's "blind spots" and generating a signal to the vehicle operator indicative of the presence of such an obstacle. The system uses a common radar transceiver that transmits a multi-frequency radio signal directed at a blind spot of the vehicle. The signal is reflected off any obstacles that are present in that blind spot region. Doppler shifts in the received reflected multi-frequency signal generally indicates that an obstacle has moved into the blind spot. Doppler frequencies attributable to objects which are of no interest, such as stationary objects, are filtered out. The system has a signal processor which determines if a potentially hazardous object is within a pre-determined range from the vehicle.

Abstract: A continuous wave radar for detecting a relative velocity between a target and a mobile object where the radar is loaded, and for detecting whether the mobile object is relatively approaching to or separating from the target. The radar has a hybrid circuit for branching an oscillation signal of a fixed frequency outputted from an oscillator into two oscillation signals. A transmitting antenna is provided for irradiating one of the oscillation signals branched by the hybrid circuit, and a receiving antenna is provided for receiving radio waves reflected from the target. The continuous wave radar further has an image cancel mixer for detecting, on the basis of the frequency of the other oscillation signal branched by the hybrid circuit, a first signal of an upper sideband frequency and a second signal of a lower sideband frequency of the received signal obtained via the receiving antenna.

Abstract: A cruise control system for a vehicle includes a vehicle borne radar for determining range and closing rate of the vehicle relative to a target, such as another moving vehicle, ahead of the vehicle. The range and closing rate are used to determine a new set speed for the cruise control system which may be less than but is not greater than the speed entered in the cruise control by the driver of the vehicle. The new set speed is selected to prevent the vehicle from overtaking the target, and ideally reduces the closing rate to zero at a predetermined minimum distance from the target. In determining the new set speed, the system also determines incremental movements for the vehicle throttle using a selected gain boost and designed to minimize throttle jerk. If the target moves out of the path of the vehicle or speeds up, the system adjusts accordingly and eventually allows the vehicle to resume the originally entered speed when possible.

Abstract: A plurality of drive control programs are selectively used to automatically control a car according to a driving situation recognized based on circumstances of a path ahead in which the car is traveling.

Abstract: An obstacle sensing apparatus for vehicles which enables efficient obstacle sensing and improves sensing precision. The apparatus comprises a section for predicting a deduced traveling-passage on which the vehicle will travel, based on a steering angle, a yaw rate and a velocity of the vehicle, a section having a CCD camera, for detecting a current traveling-passage on which the vehicle is currently moving, a scanning-type radar unit for sensing obstacles within a predetermined area, and a danger level judging section for judging danger levels of the sensed obstacles, based on the deduced traveling-passage and the current traveling-passage.

Abstract: A low-cost compact radar apparatus measures a distance to a target and the relative speed of the target. The apparatus has a transmitter for transmitting a pulse signal and a receiver for receiving a reflected pulse signal from the target. The received signal is converted into a binary signal, which is sampled by a sampler and is accumulated in a cumulative storage unit. Addresses of the storage unit correspond to an interval between the transmission and reception of the pulse signal. According to the interval, the distance and relative speed of the target are calculated at high speed. The apparatus carries out many accumulation operations, to improve an S/N ratio and speedily detect even a weak reflected signal.

Abstract: A system for identifying momentary location and the momentary velocity of, in particular, a rail-bound vehicle, has a transmission/evaluation unit having an antenna for emitting a high-frequency pulse and for receiving a reflected pulse reply signal. Surface wave identification marks having individual coding are arranged at intervals from one another in an area of and along a prescribed travel path of the vehicle. The mutual phase shift of at least two pulse reply signals can be measured as a Doppler shift and the travel velocity can be calculated therefrom via the relative velocity with pulse interrogations of an identification mark following one another at least twice at a predetermined location before/after traversing a specific identification mark. The point in time change in operational sign of the Doppler shift is acquired for this identification mark, and is the point in time of traversal of the location of the specific identification mark.

Abstract: A Doppler control circuit for a CW or pulse Doppler radar system for monitoring not only the phase shift between echo signals from several targets but also the amplitude difference between the several targets and to further tune the radar to a particular target among one or more targets from which echo signals return. The control circuit can be used in state of the art CW or pulse Doppler type radar systems. In a further system, a special circuit is provided for conditioning selected portions of the Doppler frequency spectrum to attenuate or de-emphasize portions of the echo signal corresponding to selected targets in the radar system environment, such as rain or stationary wayside objects, in order to give such echo signals less weight in determining roadway hazards.

Abstract: A radar system (30) for determining the range at a future time of a target moving relative to the radar system. The system comprises an R.F. source (56) for providing a signal at a frequency which increases over time from a base frequency f (Hz) at a rate r (Hz/s) for a sweep duration d (s). This signal is transmitted and a signal reflected by the target is mixed (38) with a portion of the transmitted signal to give a signal having a frequency proportional to the range of the target. The R.F. source is arranged to have a sweep rate r equal to the base frequency f divided by a time t (s) which time is the delay until the target will be at the measured range. A predicted range may thus be derived without complex compensation for relative velocity. The system may further provide velocity feedback without requiring extra circuitry.

Abstract: Vehicle anti-lock brake control apparatus having wheel speed sensor for detecting actual speed of a vehicle wheel, solenoid-operated valve for regulating the wheel braking pressure, and controller for controlling the valve, on the basis of the detected actual speed, and vehicle ground-speed detected by ground-speed sensor. The controller controls the valve at a controlled duty cycle, which is determined on the basis of at least a wheel speed error and a time derivative of this error. The error is obtained as a deviation of the detected actual wheel speed from a target wheel speed obtained on the basis of the detected vehicle ground-speed.

Abstract: A radar system for sensing the presence of obstacles in a vehicle's "blind spots" and generating a signal to the vehicle operator indicative of the presence of such an obstacle. The system uses a common radar transceiver that transmits a radio frequency signal directed at a blind spot of the vehicle. The signal is reflected off any obstacles that are present in that blind spot region. A Doppler shift in the received reflected frequency generally indicates that an obstacle has moved into the blind spot. Doppler frequencies attributable to objects which are of no interest, such as stationary objects, are filtered out. Only obstacles that are traveling at approximately the same speed and direction as the vehicle are considered to be of interest, and will cause the blind spot sensor to generate an indication that an obstacle is present in the blind spot. The indication is preferably an unobtrusive illuminated indicator which is affixed to one of the vehicle's mirrors.

Abstract: A road vehicle radar system for discriminating between hazard and non-hazard targets within a predetermined zone uses a pair of frequency modulated continuous wave radar cycles (FM-CW) and a single continuous wave cycle (CW) in the generation of radar quantities for measuring target range and apparent target velocity. Measured quantities from the FM-CW and CW cycles are compared with predetermined quantities for discriminating between hazard and non-hazard targets.

Abstract: In estimating the relative speed between a vehicle and an objective obstacle, a plurality of objective obstacle data are labeled, and an objective obstacle data preestimated on the basis of the past objective data is compared with an objective obstacle newly provided, thereby judging whether or not there is the same obstacle for every label. With regard to the objective obstacle data decided as being the same, the amount of variation in distance is determined for every label by comparison of the last data and the now data and divided by a sampling time to provide a relative speed. Thus, noise data can be eliminated to reliably provide a relative speed between a subject vehicle and an existent objective obstacle.

Abstract: An automobile collision avoidance system based on laser radars for aiding in avoidance of automobile collisions. The very small beam width, very small angular resolution and the highly directional character of laser radars provide a plurality of advantages as compared with microwave radars. With two sets of laser radars this system can detect the location, the direction of movement, the speed and the size of all obstacles specifically and precisely. This system includes laser radars with transmitters and receivers, a computer, a warning device and an optional automatic braking device. A steering wheel rotation sensor or a laser gyroscope is utilized to give information of system-equipped vehicle's directional change. The system will compare the predicted collision time with the minimal allowable time to determine the imminency of a collision. When the system determines that a situation likely to result in an accident exists, it provides a warning.

Abstract: A Doppler control circuit for a CW or pulse Doppler radar system for monitoring not only the phase shift between echo signals from several targets but also the amplitude difference between several targets and to further tune the radar to a particular target among one or more targets from which echo signals return. The control circuit can be used in state of the art CW or pulse Doppler type radar systems. In a further system, a continuously generated radar signal is repeatedly transmitted at different frequencies in time division fashion to define a succession of transmit and receive frames. The receive frames are divided into a plurality of time interval windows with selected windows being used to detect received signals at the different frequencies. The remaining windows can be used for subsystems of the radar system.

Abstract: A switching type FM-CW radar, the type of FM-CW radar improved to reduce FM-AM conversion noise, is further improved to reduce interference by radar waves from other vehicles and echo waves returned from them. A switching circuit is provided at the transmitter side, and its switching frequency is set at a different value for each individual vehicle. Furthermore, the switching frequency of an interfering wave is measured, in accordance with which the switching frequency of the switching circuit is changed.

Abstract: A laser-radar type distance measuring equipment for a motor vehicle is shown, which comprises a probe unit including a laser emitting device and a reflected laser receiving device. The probe unit is mounted on the vehicle body. A steering angle sensor is used for producing an information signal representative of the steered angle of the vehicle. A so-called performance changing device is employed for changing the performance of the probe unit. A control unit controls the performance changing device in accordance with the information signal issued from the steering angle sensor.

Abstract: A Doppler-effect vehicle ground-speed detecting apparatus having a transmitter fixed to a vehicle body and transmitting a wave toward a road surface on which the vehicle is running, a receiver fixed to the body and receiving a portion of the wave reflected by the road surface, and a ground-speed determining device for determining a ground-speed of the vehicle relative to the road surface, on the basis of a transmitting frequency of the wave as transmitted by the transmitter and a receiving frequency of the wave as received by the receiver. The ground-speed determining device determines the ground-speed of the vehicle, on the basis of a parameter which changes with an angle of the vehicle body relative to the road surface in a plane parallel to a running direction of the vehicle and perpendicular to the road surface, as well as on the basis of a difference between the transmitting and receiving frequencies.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic safety driving distance control device for vehicle. The device includes a microcomputer which, within the range of 0-120 km/hr, can adjust the safety distance between the vehicle and the front vehicle according to the speed data transmitted from the speedometer and can automatically control the speed of the vehicle to maintain a safety distance from the front vehicle so as to avoid collision. When the vehicle is moving, the microcomputer calculates the safety distance between both vehicles according to the speed of the vehicle and the actual distance from the front vehicle according to the data from the distance detector. If the distance is too short, it will automatically motivate the brake motor to cause the vehicle to decelerate and the brake lights to turn on; if the distance is too great, it will automatically motivate the accelertion/deceleration motor to cause the vehicle to accelerate so that a safety distance is kept between both vehicles.

Abstract: A system for sensing road irregularities from a vehicle modifies an operational system of the vehicle, such as a suspension system, according to the type and severity of the sensed irregularity. The system employs a Doppler Microwave radar sensor arranged to project radiation at a road surface ahead of the vehicle and includes means for detecting radiation reflections of which the carrier frequency is amplitude modulated according to the surface irregularities. An electronic circuit differentiates the modulated signal to produce a control signal representative of said surface condition and a controller receives said signal and modifies the operation of the vehicle system in response thereto.

Abstract: A radar system for monitoring the headway control distance between a vehicle equipped with a radar system of the present invention and a fixed or moving object of immediate concern in front thereof. The system employs an antenna positioned in front of the vehicle, transmitter and receiver circuits and signal processing circuits. A transmitted signal from the transmitter circuit when reflected back from an object of immediate concern is received by the receiver circuit and fed into conditioning circuits which separate the received signal into controlling signals that include the range or distance (R) to a detected object of concern, the closing rate (CR) to that object and the vehicle speed of movement (VS). Driving condition modifiers (.+-.

Abstract: A position control system has a speed control loop for generating a torque command signal for a motor from the speed deviation between a speed command and an actual speed. The position control system includes command subdividing means (2) for subdividing the speed deviation (.epsilon.(i)) into a predetermined minute amount (.epsilon..sub.2 (i)=.alpha.) and a remaining amount (.epsilon..sub.1 (i)=.epsilon.(i)-.alpha.), integrating meand (3) for integrating the remaining amount (.epsilon..sub.1 (i)), and incompletely integrating means (4) for incompletely integrating the minute amount (.epsilon..sub.2 (i)). The output from the integrating means (3) and the output from the incompletely integrating means (4) are added, and the sum is issued as a torque command signal.

Abstract: An automatically guided vehicle (V) having a steering mechanism for enabling the vehicle to follow a guidance wire is disclosed. The vehicle includes a pair of spaced-apart steer drive antennas (S1, S2) and a pair of spaced-apart differential drive antennas (D1, D2). The steer drive antennas and differential drive antennas are in mutual perpendicular relation to each other and are stationarily mounted on the vehicle (V). In a steer drive mode, wheels (12) and (13) are separately controlled by steer drive antennas (S1) and (S2), respectively. The antennas cause the wheels to turn and therefore guides the vehicle (V) so that a wire (W) is followed.In a differential drive mode, wheels (12) and (13) that are positioned in parallel driving relation to each other and are controlled by antennas (D1, D2) respectively by varying the speed of the wheels (12, 13) to cause the vehicle (V) to follow the wire (W).

Abstract: An automatic range finder and remote controlled braking system is provided. When mounted to a vehicle, this system senses the distance between the equipped vehicle and any other vehicle or object in front of it and sets off a warning alarm when the separating distance is less than some preset value. As the distance continues to close, when the distance closes to some preset braking distance, a braking alarm is activated, and controlled breaking, proportional to the rate of change of distance with respect to time commences. The actual distance is always displayed. Additional braking is accomplished by applying increased breaking force to the conventional brake pedal while a panic button can be used to disable the automatic braking entirely. The beamwidth of the corner reflector type antenna is controlled for calibration purposes by adjusting the lateral placement of the radiating dipole using a motor and worm drive system.

Abstract: A Doppler radar system for a vehicle providing driver warning, vehicle brake application and air bag deployment. The system produces voltage level input directed to the distance and approach rate to an object, vehicle speed and driving monitor inputs, such as steering angles, turning rates, braking, and acceleration/deacceleration. These voltages are properly weighted as to their importance. These weighted instantaneous input voltages are summed. The summed voltage is then compared with a predetermined voltage level dividing safe and danger zones. If the summed level falls within the safe zone, the radar system produces no output signals. If the summed voltage level falls within the danger zone, the radar system produces audio warning signals and if impact with an object is eminent vehicles braking signals are then produced. The invention further includes an air bag deployment feature.

Abstract: An inter-vehicle distance control system for a vehicle wherein the distance between the vehicle and a preceding object and a relative velocity therebetween are detected by a detection system such as a radar system, and when this distance has become shorter than a predetermined value, a reaction force is imparted to a throttling operation member such as a throttling pedal. The vehicle operator is effectively advised of this fact.