Method of and apparatus for producing a vehicle movement control signal in response to sensing the direction of travel of a vehicle

Claim 2

In a system for sensing the direction of movement of a vehicle, the combination comprising: a first tachometer means operative with said vehicle for producing a first signal in response to the movement of said vehicle; a second tachometer means operative with said vehicle for producing a second signal in response to the movement of said vehicle, said second signal being in a first predetermined phase relationship relative to said first signal in response to said vehicle moving in a first direction, and with said second signal being in a second predetermined phase relationship relative to said first signal in response to said vehicle moving in the opposite direction; first and second switch means having their conduction paths connected in series, said first switch means closing in response to the production of said first signal, and said second switch means closing in response to the production of said second signal; means for providing a vehicle movement control signal in response to said first switch means initially closing followed by said second switch means closing; and means for inhibiting the provision of said vehicle movement control signal in response to said second switch means initially closing followed by said first switch means closing.

Claim 3

In a system for sensing the forward and reverse movement of a vehicle along a vehicle travel path, the combination comprising: a first tachometer means operative with and aligned with the drive means of said vehicle for producing a first signal having first and second signal states; a second tachometer means operative with and aligned with the drive means of said vehicle for producing a second signal having first and second signal states, said second tachometer being aligned relative to said first tachometer such that the first signal state of said first signal leads the first signal state of said second signal by a first predetermined angle when said vehicle is traveling in the forward direction, and the first signal state of said second signal leads the first signal state of said first signal by a second predetermined angle, which may equal said first predetermined angle when said vehicle is traveling in the reverse direction; first and second transistors each having base, collector and emitter electrodes, the base electrode of said first transistor being connected to said first tachometer means for receiving said first signal, and the base electrode of said second transistor being connected to said second tachometer means for receiving said second signal, each of said first and second transistors being made conductive in response to said first and second signals being in the first signal state, respectively; a signal storage means connected in series with the collector-emitter conduction paths of said first and second transistors for storing a third signal in response to said first and second transistors being made concurrently conductive; and signal output means responsive to the storage of said third signal for providing a vehicle movement control signal.

Claim 4

In a system for sensing the forward and reverse movement of a vehicle along a vehicle travel path, the combination comprising: a first tachometer means operative with and aligned with the drive means of said vehicle for producing a first signal having first and second signal states; a second tachometer means operative with and aligned with the drive means of said vehicle for producing a second signal having first and second signal states, said second tachometer being aligned relative to said first tachometer such that the first signal state of said first signal leads the first signal state of said second signal by a first predetermined angle when said vehicle is traveling in the forward direction, and the first signal state of said second signal leads the first signal state of said first signal by a second predetermined angle, which may equal said first predetermined angle when said vehicle is traveling in the reverse direction; first and second transistors each having base, collector and emitter electrodes, the base electrode of said first transistor being connected to said first tachometer means for receiving said first signal, and the base electrode of said second transistor being connected to said second tachometer means for receiving said second signal, each of said first and second transistors being made conductive in response to said first and second signals being in the first signal state, respectively; a signal storage means connected in series with the collector-emitter conduction paths of said first and second transistors for storing a third signal in response to said first and second transistors being made concurrently conductive; and signal output means responsive to the storage of said third signal for providing a vehicle movement control signal.

Claim 5

The combination claimed in claim 2 wherein said signal output means comprises: an amplifier means for amplifying the stored third signal for producing a fourth signal; a first detector means for producing a first enable signal in response to the provision of said fourth signal; signal means for providing a periodic signal; a first gate means having a signal input, a control input, and an output, the signal input being connected to said signal means for receiving said periodic signal, the control input being connected to said first detector means for receiving said first enable signal, with a first gate output signal being provided at the output of said first gate means in response to the concurrent provision of said periodic signal and said first enable signal to the signal input and the ocntrol input, respectively; and means responsive to the provision of said first gate output signal for providing said vehicle movement control signal.

Claim 6

The combination claimed in claim 3 wherEin said last-named means comprises: a second detector means operative with said second transistor and responsive to said second transistor being conductive for providing a second enable signal; a second gate means having a signal input connected to the output of said first gate means, a control input operative with said second detector means for receiving said second enable signal, and an output where said movement control signal is provided in response to the concurrent provision of said first gate output signal and said second enable signal to the signal input and the control input, respectively, of said second gate means.

Claim 7

In a system for sensing the direction of movement of a vehicle, the combination comprising: means for providing first and second signals displaced relative to one another in a first predetermined phase relationship in response to said vehicle moving in a first direction, with said first and second signals being displaced relative to one another in a second predetermined phase relationship in response to said vehicle moving in the opposite direction; first and second switch means having their conduction paths connected in series, said first switch means closing in response to the production of said first signal, and said second switch means closing in response to the production of said second signal; means for providing a vehicle movement control signal in response to said first switch means initially closing followed by said second switch means closing; and means for inhibiting the provision of said vehicle movement control signal in response to said second switch means initially closing followed by said first switch means closing.

Claim 8

In a system for sensing the direction of movement of a vehicle, the combination comprising: means for providing first and second signals displaced relative to one another in a first predetermined phase relationship in response to said vehicle moving in a first direction, with said first and second signals being displaced relative to one another in a second predetermined phase relationship in response to said vehicle moving in the opposite direction; first and second switch means having their conduction paths connected in series, said first switch means closing in response to the production of said first signal, and said second switch means closing in response to the production of said second signal; means for providing a vehicle movement control signal in response to said first switch means initially closing followed by said second switch means closing; and means for inhibiting the provision of said vehicle movement control signal in response to said second switch means initially closing followed by said first switch means closing.

Claim 9

In a system for sensing the forward and reverse movement of a vehicle along a vehicle travel path, the combination comprising: first means operative with said vehicle for producing a first signal having first and second signal states; second means operative with said vehicle for producing a second signal having first and second signal states, with the first signal state of said first signal leading the first signal state of said second signal by a first phase angle when said vehicle is traveling in the forward direction, and the first signal state of said second signal leads the first signal state of said first signal by a second phase angle when said vehicle is traveling in the reverse direction; first and second transistors each having base, collector and emitter electrodes, the base electrode of said first transistor being operative with said first means for receiving said first signal, and the base electrode of said second transistor being operative with said second means for receiving said second signal, each of said first and second transistors being made conductive in response to said first and second signals being in the first signal state, respectively; a signal storage means connected in series with the collector-emitter conduction path of said first and second transistors for storing a third signal in response to said first and second transistors becoming concurrently conductive; and means responsive to the storage of said third signal for providing a vehicle movement control signal.

Claim 10

In a system for sensing the forward and reverse movement of a vehicle along a vehicle travel path, the combination comprising: first means operative with said vehicle for producing a first signal having first and second signal states; second means operative with said vehicle for producing a second signal having first and second signal states, with the first signal state of said first signal leading the first signal state of said second signal by a first phase angle when said vehicle is traveling in the forward direction, and the first signal state of said second signal leads the first signal state of said first signal by a second phase angle when said vehicle is traveling in the reverse direction; first and second transistors each having base, collector and emitter electrodes, the base electrode of said first transistor being operative with said first means for receiving said first signal, and the base electrode of said second transistor being operative with said second means for receiving said second signal, each of said first and second transistors being made conductive in response to said first and second signals being in the first signal state, respectively; a signal storage means connected in series with the collector-emitter conduction path of said first and second transistors for storing a third signal in response to said first and second transistors becoming concurrently conductive; and means responsive to the storage of said third signal for providing a vehicle movement control signal.

Claim 11

The combination claimed in claim 6, wherein said signal storage means comprises a transformer.

Claim 12

The combination claimed in claim 7, wherein said means responsive to the storage of said third signal includes a detector.