Steered beam ultrasonic sensor for object location and classification
US6549487B2 · kind B2 · utility
20Cited by
15References
7Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 20, 2001 |
| Grant date | Apr 15, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 20, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG10K11/26
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A vehicle occupant sensor which utilizes an acoustic system for determining object range, extent, and direction. The system is composed of an ultrasonic transmitter formed from an array of air chamber resonator elements driven in relative phase to each other to produce a steered acoustic beam. Electrical excitation circuitry converts waveform data stored in memory elements to electrical signals to drive the transmitter. One or more ultrasonic receivers receives the acoustic waves reflected from objects, and a processor determines the range, extent and direction of the objects based on the received acoustic waves.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.