US 7,474,256 B2
Position detecting system, and transmitting and receiving apparatuses for the position detecting system
Yoshiji Ohta, Kashiwara (Japan); Keita Hara, Kashihara (Japan); and Masaki Hamamoto, Sakurai (Japan)
Assigned to Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka (Japan)
Filed on Aug. 12, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/918,018.
Claims priority of application No. 2003-297714 (JP), filed on Aug. 21, 2003.
Prior Publication US 2005/0043039 A1, Feb. 24, 2005
Int. Cl. G01S 13/06 (2006.01); G01C 1/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 342—146  [342/147; 356/5.01; 356/152.2] 50 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A position detecting system, comprising:
a transmitting apparatus;
a receiving apparatus; and
a moving body, wherein a position of the moving body is detected by using the transmitting apparatus and the receiving apparatus; wherein
said moving body is provided with a reflector;
said transmitting apparatus includes transmitting means for transmitting a wave through a space, and means for detecting a direction of transmitting said wave;
said receiving apparatus includes receiving means for receiving a reflected wave, the reflected wave corresponding to said wave reflected by said reflector, and direction detecting means for detecting a direction from which said reflected wave is received;
said transmitting apparatus and said receiving apparatus are provided apart from each other and arranged separately;
said reflector reflects said wave such that an amount of movement of said reflected wave incident on said receiving apparatus in a movement direction of said moving body is greater than an actual amount of movement of said moving body in the movement direction; and
at least one of said transmitting apparatus, said receiving apparatus and said moving body detects the position of said moving body based on the direction of transmitting said wave, the direction of receiving the reflected wave and a distance between said transmitting apparatus and said receiving apparatus.