Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
A method of continuously detecting the position of a vehicle wherein the vehicle includes means for transmitting a magnetic field of a predetermining frequency and amplitude; and the vehicle travels parallel to a plurality of induction lines, wherein the number of induction lines equals n, each induction line having a plurality of nodal points of transposition, the inter-nodal distance being the same between all the nodal points on all of the induction lines, wherein the nodal points in each induction line are staggered with respect to the nodal points on adjacent induction lines by a distance of (n-l)/n (the distance between nodes), said method comprising the steps of transmitting a signal from the vehicle to the induction lines and thereby inducing a sine wave voltage in each of the induction lines; successively phase shifting said induced signal in each of the induction lines except one by an amount equal to 180* (n-1)/n in both the positive and negative direction; adding all of said positively shifted signals and said non-shifted signal; adding all of said negatively shifted signals and said non-shifted signals; comparing the phase difference of said added signals, the phase difference being indicative of the position of the vehicle.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
200 words
A method of continuously detecting the position of a vehicle wherein the vehicle includes means for transmitting a magnetic field of a predetermining frequency and amplitude; and the vehicle travels parallel to a plurality of induction lines, wherein the number of induction lines equals n, each induction line having a plurality of nodal points of transposition, the inter-nodal distance being the same between all the nodal points on all of the induction lines, wherein the nodal points in each induction line are staggered with respect to the nodal points on adjacent induction lines by a distance of (n-l)/n (the distance between nodes), said method comprising the steps of transmitting a signal from the vehicle to the induction lines and thereby inducing a sine wave voltage in each of the induction lines; successively phase shifting said induced signal in each of the induction lines except one by an amount equal to 180* (n-1)/n in both the positive and negative direction; adding all of said positively shifted signals and said non-shifted signal; adding all of said negatively shifted signals and said non-shifted signals; comparing the phase difference of said added signals, the phase difference being indicative of the position of the vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the wavelength of said transmitted signal is twice the distance between nodes.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
209 words
A method of continuously detecting the position of a vehicle wherein the vehicle includes means for transmitting a magnetic field of a predetermined frequency and amplitude; and the vehicle travels parallel to a plurality of pairs of induction lines, wherein the number of pairs of induction lines equals n, each induction line having a plurality of nodal points of transposition, the inter-nodal distance being the same between all the nodal points on all of the induction lines, wherein the nodal points in each pair of induction lines are staggered with respect to the nodal points on adjacent pairs of induction lines by a distance of (n-1)/n (the distance between nodes), said method comprising the steps of transmitting a signal from the vehicle to the pairs of induction lines and thereby inducing a sine wave voltage in each of the induction lines; rectifying and Adding said induced voltages in each pair of induction lines; generating an ac signal; separately modulating said ac signal with each of said rectified added signals; successively phase-shifting each of said modulated signals except one by 180* (n/n-1); adding said phase shifted and non-shifted signal; comparing the phase of said added signals to said ac signal, the difference being indicative of the position of the vehicle.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
209 words
A method of continuously detecting the position of a vehicle wherein the vehicle includes means for transmitting a magnetic field of a predetermined frequency and amplitude; and the vehicle travels parallel to a plurality of pairs of induction lines, wherein the number of pairs of induction lines equals n, each induction line having a plurality of nodal points of transposition, the inter-nodal distance being the same between all the nodal points on all of the induction lines, wherein the nodal points in each pair of induction lines are staggered with respect to the nodal points on adjacent pairs of induction lines by a distance of (n-1)/n (the distance between nodes), said method comprising the steps of transmitting a signal from the vehicle to the pairs of induction lines and thereby inducing a sine wave voltage in each of the induction lines; rectifying and Adding said induced voltages in each pair of induction lines; generating an ac signal; separately modulating said ac signal with each of said rectified added signals; successively phase-shifting each of said modulated signals except one by 180* (n/n-1); adding said phase shifted and non-shifted signal; comparing the phase of said added signals to said ac signal, the difference being indicative of the position of the vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said modulated signal may be phase shifted in either the positive or negative direction.