US3575255A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automobile guidance system
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1968-10-11
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Granted: 1971-04-20
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Expires: 1988-10-11
Abstract
Abstract A method for controlling the speed and direction of an automobile on a highway. The highway is provided with an essentially continuous magnetizable stripe extending in the direction of travel, with the stripe being magnetized with a sequency of magnetic poles alternating in polarity and located along the highway according to a predetermined frequency; preferably the stripe is provided by painting a mixture of organic polymeric binder material and magnetizable particles on the highway. The automobile is provided with two magnetic-fluxsensors arranged to straddle the magnetizable stripe and pass through the fields above the stripe and develop an alternating electric signal having a frequency determined by the spacing between the magnetic poles and by the speed of the automobile. Speed and direction-controlling means in the automobile receive the signal generated in the magnetic-flux-sensors and change the speed and direction of the automobile in proportion, respectively, to the amount that the total flux-sensor-derived signal varies as to frequency from a standard and to any difference in amplitude of the derived signals of the two sensors.
Inventors
- 👤 Svante Theodore Wickstrom
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:58
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G05; G05D; G05D1/00; G05D1/02; G05D1/021; G05D1/0259; G05D1/0263
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
A method for controlling the speed of a vehicle on a roadway comprising: 1. providing an essentially continuous stripe of magnetizable material extending in the direction of travel along the roadway, the stripe comprising an organic polymeric matrix and, in an amount totaling at least 40 volume-percent of the stripe, magnetizable particulate material dispersed in the matrix; 2. magnetizing the stripe with a sequence of magnetic poles located along the roadway according to a predetermined spacing, adjacent poles being of opposite polarity and the magnetic surface induction at each pole having an intensity of at least 2 gauss; 3. incorporating magnetic-flux-sensing means on the vehicle in a position to pass through the magnetic fields above the stripe and develop a pulsating electric signal having a frequency determined by the spacing between the magnetic poles and by the speed of the vehicle; and 4. providing speed-controlling means in the vehicle for (a) receiving the signal generated in the magnetic-flux-sensing means, (b) comparing its frequency with a standard frequency, and (c) changing the speed of the vehicle to make the signal generated in the magnetic-flux-sensing means correspond to the standard frequency.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
189 words
A method for controlling the speed of a vehicle on a roadway comprising: 1. providing an essentially continuous stripe of magnetizable material extending in the direction of travel along the roadway, the stripe comprising an organic polymeric matrix and, in an amount totaling at least 40 volume-percent of the stripe, magnetizable particulate material dispersed in the matrix; 2. magnetizing the stripe with a sequence of magnetic poles located along the roadway according to a predetermined spacing, adjacent poles being of opposite polarity and the magnetic surface induction at each pole having an intensity of at least 2 gauss; 3. incorporating magnetic-flux-sensing means on the vehicle in a position to pass through the magnetic fields above the stripe and develop a pulsating electric signal having a frequency determined by the spacing between the magnetic poles and by the speed of the vehicle; and 4. providing speed-controlling means in the vehicle for (a) receiving the signal generated in the magnetic-flux-sensing means, (b) comparing its frequency with a standard frequency, and (c) changing the speed of the vehicle to make the signal generated in the magnetic-flux-sensing means correspond to the standard frequency.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
magnetizing the stripe with a sequence of magnetic poles located along the roadway according to a predetermined spacing, adjacent poles being of opposite polarity and the magnetic surface induction at each pole having an intensity of at least 2 gauss;
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
magnetizing the stripe with a sequence of magnetic poles located along the roadway according to a predetermined spacing, adjacent poles being of opposite polarity and the magnetic surface induction at each pole having an intensity of at least 2 gauss;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method of claim 1 in which the adjacent poles along the magnetizable stripe are spaced between 3 and 16 inches.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
incorporating magnetic-flux-sensing means on the vehicle in a position to pass through the fields above the magnetic poles and develop a pulsating electric signal having a frequency determined by the spacing between the magnetic poles and by the speed of the vehicle; and
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
incorporating magnetic-flux-sensing means on the vehicle in a position to pass through the fields above the magnetic poles and develop a pulsating electric signal having a frequency determined by the spacing between the magnetic poles and by the speed of the vehicle; and
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
magnetizing the stripe with a sequence of magnetic poles as described, the magnetic surface induction at each magnetic pole having an intensity of at least 2 gauss.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
magnetizing the stripe with a sequence of magnetic poles as described, the magnetic surface induction at each magnetic pole having an intensity of at least 2 gauss.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
magnetizing the applied paint composition with an information-providing pattern of polarity, the magnetic surface induction at each magnetic pole having an intensity of at least 2 gauss.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
magnetizing the applied paint composition with an information-providing pattern of polarity, the magnetic surface induction at each magnetic pole having an intensity of at least 2 gauss.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
magnetizing the stripe with an information-providing pattern of polarity, the magnetic surface induction at each magnetic pole having an intensity of at least 2 gauss;
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
magnetizing the stripe with an information-providing pattern of polarity, the magnetic surface induction at each magnetic pole having an intensity of at least 2 gauss;
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
incorporating magnetic-flux-sensing means on the vehicle in a position to pass through the magnetic fields above the stripe and thereby develop an electric signal dependent on the pattern of polarity of the stripe; and
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
incorporating magnetic-flux-sensing means on the vehicle in a position to pass through the magnetic fields above the stripe and thereby develop an electric signal dependent on the pattern of polarity of the stripe; and
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
114 words
providing speed-controlling means in the vehicle for (a) receiving the signal generated in the magnetic-flux-sensing means, (b) comparing its frequency with a standard frequency, and (c) changing the speed of the vehicle to make the signal generated in the magnetic-flux-sensing means correspond to the standard frequency, the speed-controlling means including memory means for providing an output that is representative of the accumulated difference between the number of pulsations in the signal generated in the magnetic-flux-sensing means and the number of pulsations that would make the signal generated in the magnetic-flux-sensing means correspond to the standard frequency, and the speed-controlling means tending to change the speed of the vehicle until said accumulated difference is canceled.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
114 words
providing speed-controlling means in the vehicle for (a) receiving the signal generated in the magnetic-flux-sensing means, (b) comparing its frequency with a standard frequency, and (c) changing the speed of the vehicle to make the signal generated in the magnetic-flux-sensing means correspond to the standard frequency, the speed-controlling means including memory means for providing an output that is representative of the accumulated difference between the number of pulsations in the signal generated in the magnetic-flux-sensing means and the number of pulsations that would make the signal generated in the magnetic-flux-sensing means correspond to the standard frequency, and the speed-controlling means tending to change the speed of the vehicle until said accumulated difference is canceled.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method of claim 1 in which the continuous magnetizable stripe is provided by painting on the highway a paint composition comprising (a) an organic polymeric binder that forms a durable adherent film, and (b) magnetizable particulate material dispersed in the binder.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
incorporating magnetic-flux-sensing means on the vehicle in a position to pass through the magnetic fields above the stripe and develop a pulsating electric signal having a frequency determined by the spacing between the magnetic poles and by the speed of the vehicle; and
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
incorporating magnetic-flux-sensing means on the vehicle in a position to pass through the magnetic fields above the stripe and develop a pulsating electric signal having a frequency determined by the spacing between the magnetic poles and by the speed of the vehicle; and
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of claim 3 in which the stripe is applied in a channel in the roadway.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
providing speed-controlling means in the vehicle for (a) receiving the signal generated in the magnetic-flux-sensing means, (b) comparing its frequency with a standard frequency, and (c) changing the speed of the vehicle to make the signal generated in the magnetic-flux-sensing means correspond to the standard frequency.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
46 words
providing speed-controlling means in the vehicle for (a) receiving the signal generated in the magnetic-flux-sensing means, (b) comparing its frequency with a standard frequency, and (c) changing the speed of the vehicle to make the signal generated in the magnetic-flux-sensing means correspond to the standard frequency.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
providing mechanism in the vehicle actuated by the electric signal developed in the magnetic-flux-sensing means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
providing mechanism in the vehicle actuated by the electric signal developed in the magnetic-flux-sensing means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method of claim 3 in which the magnetizable stripe formed is between 10 and 150 mils in thickness and comprises at least 40 volume-percent magnetizable particles and in which the adjacent poles along the stripe are spaced between 3 and 20 inches, and the magnetic surface induction at each pole is at least 10 gauss.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
14 words
A method for providing control information to a vehicle traveling on a roadway comprising:
Claim 28
Independent Claim
14 words
A method for providing control information to a vehicle traveling on a roadway comprising:
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method of claim 6 in which the stripe is provided by painting on the roadway a paint composition that comprises: (a) an organic polymeric binder that forms a durable adherent paint film, and (b) magnetizable particulate material dispersed in the binder.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of claim 7 in which the stripe is applied in a channel in the roadway.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of claim 6 in which the stripe is applied in a channel in the roadway.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method of claim 1 in which the speed-controlling means includes memory means for providing an output that is representative of the accumulated difference between the number of pulsations in the signal generatEd in the magnetic-flux-sensing means and the number of pulsations that would make the signal generated in the magnetic-flux-sensing means correspond to the standard frequency, and the speed-controlling means tends to change the speed of the vehicle until said accumulated difference is canceled.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
63 words
A method for providing control information to a vehicle that is traveling on a roadway and carries within it (a) magnetic-flux-sensing means to develop electric signals in accordance with a pattern of magnetic fields above the roadway, and (b) mechanism actuated by the electric signals developed in the magnetic-flux-sensing means, the method comprising providing a pattern of magnetic fields above the roadway by
Claim 34
Independent Claim
63 words
A method for providing control information to a vehicle that is traveling on a roadway and carries within it (a) magnetic-flux-sensing means to develop electric signals in accordance with a pattern of magnetic fields above the roadway, and (b) mechanism actuated by the electric signals developed in the magnetic-flux-sensing means, the method comprising providing a pattern of magnetic fields above the roadway by
Claim 35
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for controlling the speed of a vehicle that is traveling on a roadway and carries within it magnetic-flux-sensing means and speed-controlling means connected to the magnetic-flux-sensing means, whereby when the vehicle passes through a sequence of magnetic fields emanating from magnetic poles located along the roadway according to a predetermined spacing, adjacent poles being of opposite polarity, the magnetic-flux-sensing means develops a pulsating electric signal having a frequency determined by the spacing between the magnetic poles and by the speed of the vehicle, and the developed signal may be compared in the speed-controlling means with a standard frequency and the speed of the vehicle changed to make the signal generated in the magnetic-flux-sensing means agree with the standard frequency, the method comprising:
Claim 36
Independent Claim
124 words
A method for controlling the speed of a vehicle that is traveling on a roadway and carries within it magnetic-flux-sensing means and speed-controlling means connected to the magnetic-flux-sensing means, whereby when the vehicle passes through a sequence of magnetic fields emanating from magnetic poles located along the roadway according to a predetermined spacing, adjacent poles being of opposite polarity, the magnetic-flux-sensing means develops a pulsating electric signal having a frequency determined by the spacing between the magnetic poles and by the speed of the vehicle, and the developed signal may be compared in the speed-controlling means with a standard frequency and the speed of the vehicle changed to make the signal generated in the magnetic-flux-sensing means agree with the standard frequency, the method comprising:
Claim 37
Independent Claim
13 words
A method for controlling the speed of a vehicle on a roadway comprising:
Claim 38
Independent Claim
13 words
A method for controlling the speed of a vehicle on a roadway comprising:
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-19 | 1974-10-19 | 1975-04-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-19 | 1978-10-19 | 1979-04-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-19 | 1982-10-19 | 1983-04-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |