1. A device for positioning and immobilizing the head of patient on a treatment table for some type of therapy, said device comprising a bridge member, a first arm, and at least a second arm, said bridge member being arranged to be mounted on the treatment table and having an upper portion extending transversely across the head of the patient, said first arm being an elongated member pivotably coupled to said upper portion of said bridge member and which projects longitudinally and above the patient’s head, said first arm being arranged to be pivoted from one side of said upper portion of said bridge member to the other side of said upper portion of said bridge member, and vice versa, whereupon said first arm can be located longitudinally above either side of the patient’s head, said second arm being an elongated member releasably secured to said first arm to extend transversely thereto, said second arm being positionable along a portion of the length of said first arm and arranged to mount an anatomy engagement component for engaging a portion of the anatomy of the patient’s head.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein said first arm has a first longitudinal axis and said second arm is rotatable about a second axis extending perpendicular to said first axis of said first arm.
3. The device of claim 1 additionally comprising a knob arranged to be tightened or loosened, which when loosened enables said second arm to be slid to a desired position along a portion of the length of said first arm and which when tightened enables said second arm to be secured in said desired position.
4. The device of claim 1 additionally comprising an interface member interposed between said second arm and said first arm, said interface member having a series of small undulations extending across a portion of said interface member, said first arm having a series of small undulations extending along a major portion thereof, said series of small undulations of said interface member being arranged to engage portion of said series of small undulations of said first arm to establish discrete positions of said second arm along the length of said first arm, said undulations being arranged to be brought into releasable securement by the tightening of said knob to thereby releasably lock said second arm in said desired position.
5. The device of claim 2 additionally comprising a spring-loaded detent mechanism for enabling said second arm to be manually rotated about said second axis to a desired angular orientation with respect thereto and to hold said second arm in said desired orientation.
6. The device of claim 5 additionally comprising a knob arranged to be tightened or loosened, which when loosened enables said second arm to be rotated about said second axis to said desired orientation and which when tightened enables said second arm to be secured in said desired orientation.
7. The device of claim 6 wherein said spring loaded detent mechanism comprises a portion of an interface member, said interface member being interposed between said first arm and said second arm, said interface member having a series of small recesses extending in an arc across a portion of said interface member, said second arm having an inner end portion having a series of small projections extending in an arc across said inner end portion, said series of small projections of said second arm being arranged to engage portion of said series of small recesses of said interface member by the tightening of said knob to thereby releasably lock said second arm in said orientation.
8. The device of claim 2 wherein said second arm comprises a superior surface and an inferior surface and wherein said device additionally comprises a subassembly for mounting an anatomy engaging component at any of a series of discrete positions on either said superior surface or inferior surface of said second arm, said device additionally comprising indicia on said second arm indicating the discrete position of said subassembly on said second arm and whether the subassembly is on said superior surface or said inferior surface.
9. The device of claim 8 wherein said subassembly includes a cover member having a window therein arranged to expose one of said indicia indicative of the discrete position of said subassembly on said second arm and whether the subassembly is on said superior surface or said inferior surface.
10. The device of claim 2 wherein said second arm comprises a superior surface and an inferior surface and wherein said device additionally comprises a subassembly for mounting an anatomy engaging component on either said superior surface or inferior surface of said second arm, said superior surface of said arm and said inferior surface of said arm each including a series of small undulations extending across a major portion thereof, said subassembly including a portion having a series of small undulations extending thereacross, said series of small undulations of said second arm being arranged to engage portion of said series of small undulations of said portion of said subassembly establish discrete positions of said subassembly along the length of said second arm.
11. The device of claim 1 additionally comprising a third arm, said third arm being an elongated member releasably secured to said first arm to extend transversely thereto, said third arm being positionable along a portion of the length of said first arm and arranged to mount another component for engaging a portion of the anatomy of the patient’s head.
12. The device of claim 11 wherein said first arm has a first longitudinal axis and said third arm is rotatable about a third axis extending perpendicular to said first axis of said first arm.
13. The device of claim 12 additionally comprising a first knob and a second knob, each of said knobs being arranged to be tightened or loosened, said first knob when loosened enables said second arm to be slid to a desired position along a portion of the length of said first arm and when tightened enables said second arm to be secured in said desired position, said first knob when loosened enables said second arm to be rotated about said second axis to a desired orientation and when tightened enables said second arm to be secured in said desired orientation, said second knob when loosened enables said third arm to be slid to a desired position along a portion of the length of said first arm and which when tightened enables said third arm to be secured in said desired position, said second knob when loosened enables said third arm to be rotated about said third axis to a desired orientation and which when tightened enables said third arm to be secured in said desired orientation.
14. The device of claim 13 additionally comprising a first spring-loaded detent mechanism for enabling said second arm to be manually rotated about said second axis to a desired angular orientation with respect thereto and to hold said second arm in said desired orientation and a second spring-loaded detent mechanism for enabling said third arm to be manually rotated about said third axis to a desired angular orientation with respect thereto and to hold said third arm in said desired orientation.
15. The device of claim 2 wherein said second arm has a superior surface and an inferior surface and wherein said second arm includes a forked distal end enabling the mounting of said anatomy engagement component on either said superior surface or inferior surface of said second arm.
16. The device of claim 15 wherein said device additionally comprises a subassembly for mounting said anatomy engaging component on either said superior surface or inferior surface of said second arm, said subassembly being arranged to adjust the position of said anatomy engaging component toward or away from the treatment table.
17. The device of claim 12 wherein said second arm has a superior surface and an inferior surface and wherein said second arm includes a forked distal end enabling the mounting of an anatomy engagement component on either said superior surface or inferior surface of said second arm and wherein said third arm has a superior surface and an inferior surface and wherein said third arm includes a forked distal end enabling the mounting of another anatomy engagement component on either said superior surface or inferior surface of said third arm.
18. The device of claim 17 wherein said device additionally comprises a first subassembly and a second subassembly, said first subassembly being arranged for mounting said anatomy engaging component on either said superior surface or inferior surface of said second arm, said first subassembly being arranged to adjust the position of said anatomy engaging component toward or away from the treatment table, said second subassembly being arranged for mounting said another anatomy engaging component on either said superior surface or inferior surface of said third arm, said second subassembly being arranged to adjust the position of said another anatomy engaging component toward or away from the treatment table.
19. The device of claim 21 wherein said subassembly comprises a first member having an undulating surface, a second member having a mating undulating surface, and a latching mechanism, said first and second members being movable with respect to each other by said latching mechanism to cause said undulating surfaces to releasably engage each other, said first undulating surface being arranged to be moved along said second undulating surface to adjust the position of said anatomy engaging component toward or away from the treatment table.
20. The device of claim 19 wherein said latching mechanism releasably secures said first and second members of said subassembly in two perpendicular directions lying in plane generally parallel to the treatment table and wherein the release of said latching mechanism causes the immediate release of said first and second members of said subassembly from both perpendicular directions.
21. The device of claim 1 wherein said upper portion of said bridge member includes a pair of slots, one of said slots being located adjacent one side of said upper portion of said bridge member, the other of said slots being located adjacent the opposite side of said upper portion of said bridge member, said device additionally comprising a member coupled to said first arm, said member including a portion adapted for disposition within either of said slots to precisely locate said first arm in a desired orientation with respect to the treatment table.
22. The device of claim 1 wherein the treatment table includes an undersurface and wherein said device additionally comprises an over-center latch mechanism arranged to releasably mount said device on the treatment table by causing a latch of said latch mechanism to engage and bear upon said undersurface.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A vehicular system for preemptively sensing an object in the potential drive path of an automotive vehicle and selectively operating both a collision countermeasure system and a parking assistance system aboard said automotive vehicle, said vehicular system comprising:
a radar sensor for being mounted aboard said automotive vehicle;
two ultrasonic sensors for being mounted aboard said automotive vehicle; and
a data processing system for being mounted aboard said automotive vehicle, electrically connected to said radar sensor and said two ultrasonic sensors, and electrically connected to said collision countermeasure system and said parking assistance system;
wherein said radar sensor and said two ultrasonic sensors are operable to cooperatively sense the position of said object in said potential drive path of said automotive vehicle and accordingly transmit radar sensor data and ultrasonic sensor data to said data processing system; and
wherein said data processing system is operable to receive said radar sensor data and said ultrasonic sensor data, selectively process said radar sensor data and said ultrasonic sensor data, and accordingly transmit operating instructions to said collision countermeasure system and said parking assistance system so as to operate said collision countermeasure system and said parking assistance system in a selective manner.
2. A vehicular system according to claim 1, wherein said radar sensor is operable to produce a beam having an angular field of view of at least 60 degrees.
3. A vehicular system according to claim 1, wherein said radar sensor is mounted at the center of the frontal periphery of said automotive vehicle.
4. A vehicular system according to claim 1, wherein said two ultrasonic sensors are spaced apart and mounted at opposite sides of the frontal periphery of said automotive vehicle.
5. A vehicular system according to claim 1, wherein said radar sensor and said two ultrasonic sensors are mounted at the frontal periphery of said automotive vehicle.
6. A vehicular system according to claim 1, wherein said radar sensor is mounted at the center of the frontal periphery of said automotive vehicle, and said two ultrasonic sensors are spaced apart and mounted at opposite sides of said frontal periphery of said automotive vehicle.
7. A vehicular system according to claim 1, wherein said data processing system comprises at least one microprocessor.
8. A vehicular system according to claim 1, wherein said data processing system has means for executing a data fusion algorithm to selectively aggregate and sort said radar sensor data and said ultrasonic sensor data.
9. A vehicular system according to claim 1, wherein said data processing system has means for executing decision-making algorithms to determine said operating instructions for said collision countermeasure system and said parking assistance system in accordance with said radar sensor data and said ultrasonic sensor data.
10. A vehicular system according to claim 1, said vehicular system further comprising:
a backup assistance system including at least one backward-facing sensor mounted on the back of said automotive vehicle, electrically connected to said data processing system, and selected from the group consisting of a radar sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, and a vision sensor;
wherein said at least one backward-facing sensor is operable, when the reverse gear of said automotive vehicle is engaged, to sense the position of said object in said potential drive path of said automotive vehicle and accordingly transmit sensor data to said data processing system; and
wherein said data processing system is operable to receive said sensor data, selectively process said sensor data, and accordingly transmit operating instructions to said parking assistance system so as to operate said parking assistance system in a selective manner.
11. A method for preemptively sensing an object in the potential drive path of an automotive vehicle and selectively operating both a collision countermeasure system and a parking assistance system aboard said automotive vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) operating a radar sensor aboard said automotive vehicle to sense the position of said object in said potential drive path of said automotive vehicle and accordingly transmit radar sensor data to a data processing system aboard said automotive vehicle;
(b) operating two ultrasonic sensors aboard said automotive vehicle to sense said position of said object in said potential drive path of said automotive vehicle and accordingly transmit ultrasonic sensor data to said data processing system aboard said automotive vehicle; and
(c) operating said data processing system to receive said radar sensor data and said ultrasonic sensor data, selectively process said radar sensor data and said ultrasonic sensor data, and accordingly transmit operating instructions to said collision countermeasure system and said parking assistance system so as to operate said collision countermeasure system and said parking assistance system in a selective manner.
12. A method according to claim 11, said method further comprising the step of:
mounting said radar sensor at the center of the frontal periphery of said automotive vehicle.
13. A method according to claim 11, said method further comprising the step of:
spacing said two ultrasonic sensors apart and mounting said two ultrasonic sensors at opposite sides of the frontal periphery of said automotive vehicle.
14. A method according to claim 11, said method further comprising the step of:
mounting said radar sensor and said two ultrasonic sensors at the frontal periphery of said automotive vehicle.
15. A method according to claim 11, said method further comprising the steps of:
mounting said radar sensor at the center of the frontal periphery of said automotive vehicle; and
spacing said two ultrasonic sensors apart and mounting said two ultrasonic sensors at opposite sides of said frontal periphery of said automotive vehicle.
16. A method according to claim 11, wherein step (c) comprises the sub-step of:
operating said data processing system to execute a data fusion algorithm so as to selectively aggregate and sort said radar sensor data and said ultrasonic sensor data.
17. A method according to claim 11, wherein step (c) comprises the sub-step of:
operating said data processing system to execute a data fusion algorithm so as to selectively aggregate and sort said radar sensor data and said ultrasonic sensor data into at least one of two data categories, said two data categories being predefined as data utile for collision prediction and data utile for parking assistance.
18. A method according to claim 11, wherein step (c) comprises the sub-steps of:
operating said data processing system to receive dynamics data of said automotive vehicle and therefrom determine the average speed of said automotive vehicle;
operating said data processing system to determine whether said average speed of said automotive vehicle is greater than a predetermined parking assistance speed limit;
operating said data processing system, when said average speed of said automotive vehicle is determined to be greater than said predetermined parking assistance speed limit, to selectively process said radar sensor data and accordingly transmit operating instructions to said collision countermeasure system so as to operate said collision countermeasure system in a selective manner; and
operating said data processing system, when said average speed of said automotive vehicle is determined to be less than said predetermined parking assistance speed limit, to selectively process said radar sensor data and said ultrasonic sensor data and accordingly transmit operating instructions to said parking assistance system so as to operate said parking assistance system in a selective manner.
19. A method according to claim 11, wherein step (c) comprises the sub-step of:
operating said data processing system to execute decision-making algorithms so as to determine said operating instructions for said collision countermeasure system and said parking assistance system in accordance with said radar sensor data and said ultrasonic sensor data.
20. A method for preemptively sensing an object in the potential drive path of an automotive vehicle and selectively operating both a collision countermeasure system and a parking assistance system aboard said automotive vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) operating a radar sensor aboard said automotive vehicle to sense the position of said object in said potential drive path of said automotive vehicle and accordingly transmit radar sensor data to a data processing system aboard said automotive vehicle;
(b) operating two ultrasonic sensors aboard said automotive vehicle to sense said position of said object in said potential drive path of said automotive vehicle and accordingly transmit ultrasonic sensor data to said data processing system aboard said automotive vehicle;
(c) operating said data processing system to receive said radar sensor data and said ultrasonic sensor data;
(d) operating said data processing system to receive dynamics data of said automotive vehicle and therefrom determine the average speed of said automotive vehicle;
(e) operating said data processing system to determine whether said average speed of said automotive vehicle is greater than a predetermined parking assistance speed limit;
(f) operating said data processing system, when said average speed of said automotive vehicle is determined to be greater than said predetermined parking assistance speed limit, to selectively process said radar sensor data and accordingly transmit operating instructions to said collision countermeasure system so as to operate said collision countermeasure system in a selective manner; and
(g) operating said data processing system, when said average speed of said automotive vehicle is determined to be less than said predetermined parking assistance speed limit, to selectively process said radar sensor data and said ultrasonic sensor data and accordingly transmit operating instructions to said parking assistance system so as to operate said parking assistance system in a selective manner.