Method and apparatus for guiding a machine
US5652593A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 29, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jul 29, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 29, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S2015/938
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The disclosure involves a method for guiding a machine within an area. Such method includes the steps of triggering an acoustic locating signal from a stationary "beacon-type" base module to a receiver on the machine. The method is applicable for one-beacon, two-receiver and two-beacon, one-receiver applications. A related apparatus also includes a device for emitting a trigger signal and a device for determining the time elapsed between transmission and reception of the locating signal. An operating principle involves computing the module-to-machine distance by determining the "time of flight" of such signal. The machine is steered along a path, the locus of which is defined by an equation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.