US5227803A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Transponder location and tracking system and method
Assignee: The AT&T MVPD Group LLC
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Filing: 1992-07-22
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Granted: 1993-07-13
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Expires: 2012-07-22
Abstract
Abstract A transponder location and tracking system having a phased array antenna mounted at a toll collection station includes a plurality of antenna array elements for receiving a signal from a transponder mounted on a vehicle and for providing a plurality of antenna element electrical signals. A plurality of phase detectors are provided for comparing the phase of the electrical signals to provide a plurality of phase difference signals. A plurality of angle-of-arrival calculation processors is provided for converting the phase difference signals to spatial signals to define the angles-of-arrival of the vehicle transponder signal. A position calculation processor is included for providing an output signal representative of the location of the vehicle in response to the defined angles-of-arrival. In a preferred embodiment, the transponder location and tracking system includes a plurality of receiver processing devices for amplifying and filtering the electrical signals from each antenna element. The phase detectors then compare the phase of the electrical signals to a reference element signal. Each phase detector provides a digital representation of the phase difference signals. The spatial signals represent the angle-of-arrival of the vehicle transponder signal. The position calculation processor operates on the spatial signal to determine the vehicle transponder position. A tracking mechanism is provided to plot the location of a moving vehicle along the roadway.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger J. O'Connor
- 👤 Peter D. Shloss
- 👤 Michael Y. Nishida
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 12:48
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07B; G07B15/00; G07B15/06; G07B15/063; G01; G01S; G01S5/00; G01S5/02; G01S5/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A vehicle location system for toll collection comprising: phased array antenna means mounted at a toll collection station having a plurality of antenna array elements for receiving a signal from a transponder mounted on a vehicle and for providing a plurality of antenna element electrical signals in response thereto; phase detector means for comparing the phase of said electrical signals to provide a plurality of phase difference signals in response thereto; angle-of-arrival calculation means for converting the phase difference signals to spatial signals to define the angles-of-arrival of said vehicle transponder signal; and position calculation means for providing an output signal representative of the location of said vehicle in response to said defined angles-of-arrival.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
A vehicle location system for toll collection comprising: phased array antenna means mounted at a toll collection station having a plurality of antenna array elements for receiving a signal from a transponder mounted on a vehicle and for providing a plurality of antenna element electrical signals in response thereto; phase detector means for comparing the phase of said electrical signals to provide a plurality of phase difference signals in response thereto; angle-of-arrival calculation means for converting the phase difference signals to spatial signals to define the angles-of-arrival of said vehicle transponder signal; and position calculation means for providing an output signal representative of the location of said vehicle in response to said defined angles-of-arrival.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The vehicle location system of claim 1 wherein said phased array antenna means comprises a plurality of antenna arrays.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The vehicle location system of claim 1 wherein said phase detector means comprises a plurality of phase comparators.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The vehicle location system of claim 1 wherein said phase detector means comprises a double balance mixer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The vehicle location system of claim 1 wherein said position calculation means comprises a microprocessor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The vehicle location system of claim 1 further including means for amplifying and filtering said antenna element electrical signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The vehicle location system of claim 6 wherein said amplifying and filtering means comprises a receiver processing device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The vehicle location system of claim 7 wherein said receiver processing device includes a multi-channel superheterodyne receiver.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
143 words
A vehicle location and tracking system for toll collection comprising: phased array antenna means mounted at a toll collection station having a plurality of antenna array elements for receiving a signal from a transponder mounted on a vehicle and for providing a plurality of antenna element electrical signals in response thereto; phase detector means for comparing the phase of said electrical signals to provide a plurality of phase difference signals in response thereto; angle-of-arrival calculation means for converting the phase difference signals to spatial signals to define the angles-of-arrival of said vehicle transponder signal; position calculation means for providing an output signal representative of the location of said vehicle in response to said defined angles-of-arrival; and means for receiving and storing a plurality of said output signals and for providing a plurality of position parameter values to track the location of said vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
143 words
A vehicle location and tracking system for toll collection comprising: phased array antenna means mounted at a toll collection station having a plurality of antenna array elements for receiving a signal from a transponder mounted on a vehicle and for providing a plurality of antenna element electrical signals in response thereto; phase detector means for comparing the phase of said electrical signals to provide a plurality of phase difference signals in response thereto; angle-of-arrival calculation means for converting the phase difference signals to spatial signals to define the angles-of-arrival of said vehicle transponder signal; position calculation means for providing an output signal representative of the location of said vehicle in response to said defined angles-of-arrival; and means for receiving and storing a plurality of said output signals and for providing a plurality of position parameter values to track the location of said vehicle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The vehicle location and tracking system of claim 9 wherein said means for receiving and storing said output signals and for providing said position parameter values includes a microprocessor controlled tracking circuit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The vehicle location and tracking system of claim 9 wherein said position parameter values include the parameters of speed and direction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The vehicle location and tracking system of claim 9 further including a transponder position processing device for utilizing said output signals and said position parameter values to estimate the position of said vehicle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The vehicle location and tracking system of claim 9 further including a sensor device for indicating the present of said vehicle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The vehicle location and tracking system of claim 9 further including an annunciator device.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for locating and tracking a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a signal from a transponder mounted on a vehicle with a plurality of antenna array elements of a phased array antenna mounted at a toll collection station; providing a plurality of antenna element electrical signals with said antenna array elements in response to said vehicle transponder signal; amplifying and filtering said antenna element electrical signals in a receiver processing device; comparing the phase of said amplified and filtered electrical signals to provide a plurality of phase difference signals; converting said phase difference signals to spatial signals to define the angles-of-arrival of said vehicle transponder signal; and providing an output signal representative of the location of said vehicle in response to said defined angles-of-arrival.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for locating and tracking a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a signal from a transponder mounted on a vehicle with a plurality of antenna array elements of a phased array antenna mounted at a toll collection station; providing a plurality of antenna element electrical signals with said antenna array elements in response to said vehicle transponder signal; amplifying and filtering said antenna element electrical signals in a receiver processing device; comparing the phase of said amplified and filtered electrical signals to provide a plurality of phase difference signals; converting said phase difference signals to spatial signals to define the angles-of-arrival of said vehicle transponder signal; and providing an output signal representative of the location of said vehicle in response to said defined angles-of-arrival.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 15 further including the step of receiving and storing a plurality of said output signals and providing a plurality of position parameter values to track the location of said vehicle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 15 further including the step of detecting the presence of said vehicle with a sensor device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 15 further including the step of estimating the position of said vehicle with a transponder position processing device by utilizing said output signals and said position parameter values.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-07-12 | 1997-01-11 | 1997-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-07-12 | 2001-01-11 | 2001-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-07-12 | 2005-01-11 | 2005-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |