Deere + Company

Larry W Ferguson

James Joseph Phelan

Garn Farley Penfold

A vehicle-mounted ultrasonic velocity sensor includes an ultrasonic transmitter and receiver coupled to transmit and receive horns. In one embodiment, a phase-locked-loop signal processing circuit converts the transmitted and reflected frequencies into a signal indicative of the vehicle velocity. In another embodiment, velocity data is obtained by measuring the period of a certain number of cycles of the reflected signal using a pair of counters, one counting at a rate equal to the reflected frequency, the other counting at a fixed rate. In both embodiments, the variable magnitude reflected signal is applied to an input of a drop-out detection circuit whose output is then connected to an input or inputs of the velocity determining circuits to prevent velocity detection during dropout periods. The velocity sensor may be implemented utilizing radar components.

Ground velocity sensor with drop-out detection

An ultrasonic horn assembly includes a horn with a bore tapering from a throat out to a mouth. An ultrasonic transducer is mounted in the throat of the horn. A beam narrowing insert includes a headpiece which tapers smoothly from a larger diameter base to a smaller diameter top. A stem projects from the base so that the base and stem define an annular shoulder which faces the transducer. A blind bore in the stem terminates at a flat bottom surface which faces the transducer. A ring receives the transducer and webs project inwardly therefrom to support the headpiece in spaced relationship to the transducer.

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Bettendorf, IA, United States of America

Larry W Ferguson