The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 31, 1989
Filed:
May. 14, 1987
Applicant:
Inventors:
Thomas E Hainsworth, Holland, MI (US);
William L King, Jr, Holland, MI (US);
Assignee:
Bell & Howell Company, Skokie, IL (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G08G / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
364461 ; 318587 ; 367909 ;
Abstract
A non-contact collision avoidance system for an automatically guided vehicle is disclosed for preventing collisions between the vehicle and obstacles in the path of the vehicle during vehicle maneuvers, including relatively sharp turns. A sensor device mounted on the vehicle provides panoramic sensing of obstacles in the path of the vehicle. The field of view of the sensor device is altered as a function of the vehicle steering angle. Also disclosed is a steering angle sensor comprising an optical shutter system for providing a signal representing the steering angle of the vehicle.