Patent ID: 6127964
Filing Date: 2000-10-03
Classification: G01S

Abstract:
A monitoring apparatus for an obstacle detecting device mounted on a vehicle, said obstacle detecting device having a transmitter for transmitting a signal in a direction of traveling of said vehicle, a receiver for receiving a signal reflected by an obstacle, a calculating device for calculating, based on said transmitted signal and said received signal, a distance to an obstacle, said monitoring apparatus comprising:a rotating device which supports said transmitter and receiver in a rotatable manner;a rotating angle detecting device for detecting a rotation angle of said rotating device;a reflecting device for reflecting the transmitted signal from the transmitter toward the receiver when said rotating device is rotated to a predetermined angle range; anda judging device connected to at least one of said receiver, said calculating device, and said rotating angle detecting device for comparing a previously stored standard with at least one of said received signal and said distance to an object, and for judging based on said comparison, whether an abnormality exists in at least one of the obstacle detecting apparatus, the rotating device, the reflecting device and the rotating angle detecting device.