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:
Aug. 28, 2001
Filed:
Apr. 19, 1999
Kenichi Adachi, Hikone, JP;
Naoya Azuma, Otsu, JP;
Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
An obstacle detection system for a vehicle which is capable of detecting nearby and remote objects successfully by use of a combination of an electromagnetic wave sensors and ultrasonic wave sensors. The system of the present invention includes a plurality of ultrasonic wave sensors each transmitting an ultrasonic wave around the vehicle and receives a reflected wave thereof for detection of nearby obstacles around the vehicle, and an electromagnetic waver sensor which transmits an electromagnetic wave in a forward direction of the vehicle and receives a reflected electromagnetic wave thereof for detection of a remote obstacle. The system includes a vehicle speed sensor is provided for sensing a speed of the vehicle. A detection unit detects a presence of the nearby obstacle based upon the reflected ultrasonic wave when the vehicle speed equals to a predetermined reference speed or less, and detects a position of the remote obstacle relative to the vehicle only based upon the reflected electromagnetic wave when the vehicle speed exceeds the reference speed. The detection unit issues a nearby signal upon detection of the nearby obstacle and issues a remote signal when the position of the remote obstacle is within a predetermined long distance from the vehicle. A warning unit gives warnings respectively in response to the nearby and remote signals.