EP0096252A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle location system
Assignee: Flintab AB
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Filing: 1983-05-18
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-05-18
Abstract
Abstract Location-representative signals are communicated to vehicles (12, 14, 16) by modifying existing traffic detector stations of the type utilizing an inductive coil (20) embedded in the roadway (22). Circuitry (44-52) is provided for generating a carrier signal modulated in accordance with a modulating signal representative of the location of an associated traffic detector station. A transformer (56) couples the modulated carrier signal into the existing inductive coil such that the coil establishes a magnetic field above the roadway which is modulated by the location representative signals The vehicles have inductive coils (70) mounted thereon for sensing the modulated magnetic fields. and circuitry (72, 74, 76) for extracting the location-representative signals therefrom. The location-representative signals may then be, e.g.. automatically transmitted to a central dispatching station (18).
Inventors
- 👤 Krister Karlstrom
- 👤 Rolf Fabricius-Hansen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 16:27
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/123
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
51 words
Apparatus for providing a location-identifying signal to a vehicle, comprising: means for generating a carrier signal modulated in accordance with said location-identifying signal; and means adapted to add said modulated carrier signal to the signal normally being applied to an existing inductive coil embedded in a roadway for traffic detection purposes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus for providing a location-identifying signal to a vehicle, comprising: means for generating a carrier signal modulated in accordance with said location-identifying signal; and means adapted to add said modulated carrier signal to the signal normally being applied to an existing inductive coil embedded in a roadway for traffic detection purposes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for generating a modulated carrier signal comprises first means for generating a frequency-shift-keyed signal modulated in accordance with said location-identifying signal, second means for providing a carrier signal, and third means for amplitude modulating said carrier signal in accordance with said frequency-shift-keyed signal so as to thereby provide said carrier signal modulated in accordance with said location-identifying signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said means adapted to add said modulated carrier signal to said signal normally being applied to an existing inductive coil comprises a transformer having first and second windings, said first winding being coupled to the output of said third means and said second winding being adapted to be connected in series with said existing inductive coil.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein modulated carrier signal adder means comprises a transformer having a first winding coupled to the output of said modulated carrier signal generating means and a second winding adapted to be connected in series with said existing inductive coil.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of providing a location-identifying signal to a vehicle, comprising the steps of: generating a carrier signal modulated with said location-identifying signal; and applying said modulated carrier signal to an inductive coil embedded in a roadway, whereby said inductive coil creates a magnetic field modulated with said location-identifying signal above said roadway for interception by said vehicle.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of providing a location-identifying signal to a vehicle, comprising the steps of: generating a carrier signal modulated with said location-identifying signal; and applying said modulated carrier signal to an inductive coil embedded in a roadway, whereby said inductive coil creates a magnetic field modulated with said location-identifying signal above said roadway for interception by said vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method as set forth in claim 5, wherein said step of applying said modulated carrier signal to said' inductive loop comprises the step of transformer-coupling said modulated carrier signal into one of the leads to said inductive loop, whereby said modulated carrier signal is effectively added to any signal already being applied across said inductive loop.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
86 words
Apparatus for use in connection with an existing inductive coil originally embedded in the roadway for use in the detection of motor vehicles, comprising: means for generating a carrier signal modulated in accordance with a signal uniquely representative of the location of an associated said inductive coil, and means adapted to be connected to said inductive coil for effectively applying said modulated carrier signal thereacross, whereby said inductive coil then creates a magnetic field above said roadway which is modulated in accordance with said location-representative signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
86 words
Apparatus for use in connection with an existing inductive coil originally embedded in the roadway for use in the detection of motor vehicles, comprising: means for generating a carrier signal modulated in accordance with a signal uniquely representative of the location of an associated said inductive coil, and means adapted to be connected to said inductive coil for effectively applying said modulated carrier signal thereacross, whereby said inductive coil then creates a magnetic field above said roadway which is modulated in accordance with said location-representative signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus for use in connection with a motor vehicle, comprising' magnetic field sensitive means adapted to be mounted on said vehicle for sensing magnetic fields modulated in accordance with location-identifying signals and for providing output signals corresponding to said location-identifying signals; and, means for utilizing said location-identifying signals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus for use in connection with a motor vehicle, comprising' magnetic field sensitive means adapted to be mounted on said vehicle for sensing magnetic fields modulated in accordance with location-identifying signals and for providing output signals corresponding to said location-identifying signals; and, means for utilizing said location-identifying signals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said magnetic field sensitive means comprises an inductive coil.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said inductive coil is adapted to be mounted on said vehicle so as to be responsive to magnetic fields having flux lines generally normal to the roadway over which said vehicle travels.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
ll. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said utilizing means comprises means for communicating said location-identifying signals to a remote station, whereby said remote station can determine the location of said vehicle therefrom.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
82 words
Apparatus for use in connection with a motor vehicle, comprising an inductive coil adapted to be mounted on said vehicle for sensing magnetic fields modulated in accordance with signals representative of the location of said magnetic field, said inductive coil providing an output signal related to variations in said magnetic field; processing means responsive to said output signal provided by said inductive coil for processing said signal so as to derive said location-representative signal therefrom; and means for utilizing said location-identifying signals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
82 words
Apparatus for use in connection with a motor vehicle, comprising an inductive coil adapted to be mounted on said vehicle for sensing magnetic fields modulated in accordance with signals representative of the location of said magnetic field, said inductive coil providing an output signal related to variations in said magnetic field; processing means responsive to said output signal provided by said inductive coil for processing said signal so as to derive said location-representative signal therefrom; and means for utilizing said location-identifying signals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein said utilizing means comprises radio transmitter means for transmitting said location-representative signals to a remote station by modulated radio waves.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of communicating location information to a vehicle, comprising the steps of generating a signal representative of a location at which an inductive coil is embedded in a roadway as part of a traffic detection system; applying said signal to the inductive coil embedded in the roadway at said location whereby a modulated magnetic field is established above said roadway at said location; sensing magnetic fields from said vehicle whereby said magnetic field established at said location is sensed when said vehicle is at said location; and deriving said location information from said sensed magnetic field.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of communicating location information to a vehicle, comprising the steps of generating a signal representative of a location at which an inductive coil is embedded in a roadway as part of a traffic detection system; applying said signal to the inductive coil embedded in the roadway at said location whereby a modulated magnetic field is established above said roadway at said location; sensing magnetic fields from said vehicle whereby said magnetic field established at said location is sensed when said vehicle is at said location; and deriving said location information from said sensed magnetic field.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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