US5852243A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for detecting a road pavement surface condition
Assignee: J-SQUARED LLC
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Filing: 1997-07-21
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Granted: 1998-12-22
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Expires: 2017-07-21
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for determining a road pavement surface condition over a wide area has a road noise sensor (12). A temporal frequency analyzer (18) converts a road noise signal from the road noise sensor (12) to a temporal frequency signal. A processing circuit (20) receives the temporal frequency signal from the temporal frequency analyzer (18) and analyzes the temporal frequency signal to determine the road pavement surface condition.
Inventors
- 👤 James Shih-Tsih Chang
- 👤 James Jay Fanning
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 16:23
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R16/00; B60R16/02; B60R16/023; B60R16/0237; B60T; B60T8/00; B60T8/17; B60T8/172; G; G01; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/14; G01N29/22; G01N29/32; G01N29/326; G01N29/44; G01N29/46; G08; G08B; G08B19/00; G08B19/02; B60W; B60W2555/00; B60W2555/60; G01N2291/00; G01N2291/01; G01N2291/014
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
50 words
A method of detecting a road pavement surface condition comprising the steps of: (a) detecting a road noise created by a vehicle traveling along a road; (b) determining a temporal frequency content of the road noise; and (c) analyzing the temporal frequency content to determine the road pavement surface condition.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
50 words
A method of detecting a road pavement surface condition comprising the steps of: (a) detecting a road noise created by a vehicle traveling along a road; (b) determining a temporal frequency content of the road noise; and (c) analyzing the temporal frequency content to determine the road pavement surface condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further includes the steps of: (a1) receiving the road noise at a sound energy detection sensor; (a2) digitizing the road noise.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further includes the step of performing a temporal frequency transform of the road noise.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further includes the steps of: (b1) filtering the road noise into at least two frequency bands; (b2) detecting an energy for the at least two frequency bands.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 4, wherein step (c) further includes the steps of: (c1) comparing an energy content of the at least frequency bands; (c2) when a ratio of the energy content of the at least two frequency bands is within a predetermined range, determining that a road condition exists.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) further includes the steps of: (c1) storing a dry road pavement surface condition temporal frequency data; (c2) comparing the temporal frequency content to the dry road pavement surface condition temporal frequency data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 6, further including the steps of: (c3) when the temporal frequency content deviates from the dry road pavement surface condition temporal frequency data in a predetermined manner, determining that a condition exists other than a dry road pavement surface condition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, further including the step of: (d) sensing a temperature near the road.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 8, further including the step of: (e) determining a temperature trend; (f) analyzing the temperature trend and the road noise to predict if the road pavement surface condition is about to change.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
60 words
An apparatus of determining a road pavement surface condition, comprising: a road noise sensor; a temporal frequency analyzer converting a road noise signal from the road noise sensor to a temporal frequency signal; and a processing circuit receiving the temporal frequency signal from the temporal frequency analyzer and analyzing the temporal frequency signal to determine the road pavement surface condition.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
60 words
An apparatus of determining a road pavement surface condition, comprising: a road noise sensor; a temporal frequency analyzer converting a road noise signal from the road noise sensor to a temporal frequency signal; and a processing circuit receiving the temporal frequency signal from the temporal frequency analyzer and analyzing the temporal frequency signal to determine the road pavement surface condition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 10, further including a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor sending a temperature signal to the processing circuit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processing circuit determines a temperature trend from the temperature signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the temporal frequency analyzer includes at least one frequency filter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processing circuit is a microprocessor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 10, further including a communication output coupled to the processing circuit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the road noise sensor is located at a fixed point relative to a road structure.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for determining a state of a road pavement, comprising the steps of: (a) detecting, with a road noise sensor mounted on a moving vehicle, an energy emission from a tire impacting the road to form a detected signal; (b) converting the detected signal into a temporal spectral content; and (c) analyzing the temporal spectral content to determine the state of the road pavement.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for determining a state of a road pavement, comprising the steps of: (a) detecting, with a road noise sensor mounted on a moving vehicle, an energy emission from a tire impacting the road to form a detected signal; (b) converting the detected signal into a temporal spectral content; and (c) analyzing the temporal spectral content to determine the state of the road pavement.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 17, wherein step (a) further includes the step of: (a1) detecting, with a temperature sensor on the moving vehicle, a temperature near the road pavement; (a2) determining a temperature trend.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 18, wherein step (c) further includes the step of: (c1) analyzing the temperature trend and the temporal spectral content to determine the state of the road pavement.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 19, wherein step (c1) further includes the step of: (i) storing a dry state road noise temporal spectral content; (ii) monitoring the temperature trend; (iii) when the temporal spectral content deviates from the dry state road noise temporal spectral content in a predetermined manner and when the temperature trend is falling, determining that an ice forming state exists.
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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) | 2001-12-21 | 2002-06-22 | 2002-12-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-12-21 | 2006-06-22 | 2006-12-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-12-21 | 2010-06-22 | 2010-12-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |