Patent US6025799A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6025799A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Short range position locating system for transponder
Assignee: Kapsch TrafficCom IVHS Corp
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Filing: 1998-03-06
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Granted: 2000-02-15
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Expires: 2018-03-06
Abstract
Abstract In order to locate a transponder in a roadway there are first and second antenna arrays at spaced locations. Each array is associated with a switching control which causes the array beam to step through a series of beams. The signal developed in each beam is converted to a digital result. The strongest beam from each array may be determined and the location of the transponder at the intersection of the two strongest beams.
Inventors
- 👤 Thua Van Ho
- 👤 Robert Walter Tiernay
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 08:52
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/87; G01S13/878; H; H01; H01Q; H01Q25/00; H01Q3/00; H01Q3/24; H01Q3/26; H01Q3/30; H01Q3/34; H01Q3/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
Means for locating the position of a transponder on a roadway, comprising: a first array of antenna elements at a first location adjacent the roadway, first beam switching control for causing said first array to continually and repetitively step through a first sequence of first beams collectively covering an area of said roadway, means for detecting the respective amplitudes of received first signals corresponding to said first beams, means for converting such amplitudes to first digital values, means for determining from said first digital values a first azimuthal range of directions of said transponder from said first location, a second array at a second location adjacent said area and spaced from said first location, second beam switching control for causing said second array to continually and repetitively step through a second sequence of second beams over a common part of said area where they respectively intersect with said first beams, means for detecting the respective amplitudes corresponding to said second beams, means for repetitively converting said amplitudes to second digital values, means for repetitively determining from said second digital values a second range of directions of said transponder from said second location, thereby repetitively calculating intersections between said first and second range of directions indicative of the then location of said transponder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
Means for locating the position of a transponder on a roadway, comprising: a first array of antenna elements at a first location adjacent the roadway, first beam switching control for causing said first array to continually and repetitively step through a first sequence of first beams collectively covering an area of said roadway, means for detecting the respective amplitudes of received first signals corresponding to said first beams, means for converting such amplitudes to first digital values, means for determining from said first digital values a first azimuthal range of directions of said transponder from said first location, a second array at a second location adjacent said area and spaced from said first location, second beam switching control for causing said second array to continually and repetitively step through a second sequence of second beams over a common part of said area where they respectively intersect with said first beams, means for detecting the respective amplitudes corresponding to said second beams, means for repetitively converting said amplitudes to second digital values, means for repetitively determining from said second digital values a second range of directions of said transponder from said second location, thereby repetitively calculating intersections between said first and second range of directions indicative of the then location of said transponder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The means as claimed in claim 1 wherein said transponder emits a pulse of predetermined duration, wherein each said beam switching control creates said sequence of beams during said duration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
Means for location of a transponder, including first and second arrays of antenna elements at spaced locations, means for causing each of said arrays to sequentially switch through a sequence of beams to sweep a common area, to intersect beams from the other array, means for converting the amplitudes signals respectively received during said respective beams to digital values, means for determining from said digital values the location of a transponder in said common area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
Means for location of a transponder, including first and second arrays of antenna elements at spaced locations, means for causing each of said arrays to sequentially switch through a sequence of beams to sweep a common area, to intersect beams from the other array, means for converting the amplitudes signals respectively received during said respective beams to digital values, means for determining from said digital values the location of a transponder in said common area.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
Means as claimed in claim 1 where said beam switching controls each include a Butler matrix.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
Means as claimed in claim 2 where said beam switching controls each include a Butler matrix.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
Means as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means for causing uses a Butler matrix for each of said arrays.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
Means as claimed in claim 1 including a first threshold device for determining the relation of said first digital values to a first threshold and including a second threshold device for determining the relation of said second digital values to a second threshold, said threshold values respectively determining whether there is a transponder in said common part of said area which caused the digital values.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
Means as claimed in claim 2 including a first threshold device for determining the relation of said first digital values to first threshold and including a second threshold device for determining the relation of said second digital values to a second threshold.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
Means as claimed in claim 2, including a threshold device for determining from respectively each of the first and second digital values, those indicative of the direction of a transponder, and determining therefrom the location of the last mentioned transponder.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
Means as claimed in claim 3, including a threshold device for determining from respectively each of the first and second digital values, those indicative of the direction of a transponder, and determining therefrom the location of the last mentioned transponder.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
Means as claimed in claim 4, including a threshold device for determining from respectively each of the first and second digital values, those indicative of the direction of a transponder.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
Means as claimed in claim 5, including a threshold device for determining from respectively each of the first and second digital values, those indicative of the direction of a transponder.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
Means as claimed in claim 6, including a threshold device for determining from respectively each of the first and second digital values, those indicative of the direction of a transponder.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
113 words
Method of locating a transponder in a common area of a roadway comprising: continually sweeping such common area with a first sequence of separate beams from a first array, continually sweeping such common area with a second sequence of separate beams from a second array, converting signals corresponding to said first sequence into first digital values, converting signals corresponding to said second sequence into second digital values, determining any first digital value indicative of a transponder in a beam, determining any second digital value indicative of a transponder in a beam, responsive to finding a first and second digital value indicative of a transponder, giving the approximate location of said last mentioned transponder.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
113 words
Method of locating a transponder in a common area of a roadway comprising: continually sweeping such common area with a first sequence of separate beams from a first array, continually sweeping such common area with a second sequence of separate beams from a second array, converting signals corresponding to said first sequence into first digital values, converting signals corresponding to said second sequence into second digital values, determining any first digital value indicative of a transponder in a beam, determining any second digital value indicative of a transponder in a beam, responsive to finding a first and second digital value indicative of a transponder, giving the approximate location of said last mentioned transponder.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
Method as claimed in claim 14 including determining from said first digital values a first corresponding direction and from said second digital value a second corresponding direction and from said directions said transponder location.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
Method as claimed in claim 14 for use with a transponder emitting a pulse train over a predetermined interval, and completing each of said sweeping steps during said intervals.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
Method as claimed in claim 15 for use with a transponder emitting a pulse train over a predetermined interval.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
Means as claimed in claim 1 wherein said transponder will emit a pulse train of predetermined duration, and said first and second arrays are stepped through at least one first sequence and at least one second sequence, during said duration.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
Means as claimed in claim 2 wherein such transponder will emit a pulse train of predetermined duration, and said first and second arrays are stepped through at least one first sequence and at least one said second sequence, during said duration.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
Means as claimed in claim 3 wherein such transponder will emit a pulse train of predetermined duration, and said first and second arrays are stepped through at least one first sequence and at least one second sequence, during said duration.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
Means as claimed in claim 4 wherein such transponder will emit a pulse train of predetermined duration, and said first and second arrays are stepped during said duration.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
Means as claimed in claim 5 wherein such transponder will emit a pulse train of predetermined duration, and said first and second arrays are stepped during said duration.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
Means as claimed in claim 6 wherein such transponder will emit a pulse train of predetermined duration, and said first and second arrays are stepped during said duration.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
Means as claimed in claim 7 wherein such transponder will emit a pulse train of predetermined duration, and said first and second arrays are stepped during said duration.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
Means as claimed in claim 8 wherein such transponder will emit a pulse train of predetermined duration, and said first and second arrays are stepped during said duration.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
Means as claimed in claim 9 wherein such transponder will emit a pulse train of predetermined duration, and said first and second arrays are stepped during said duration.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
Means as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means for causing, means for converting and means for determining operate continually and repetitively.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
45 words
Means as claimed in claim 3 for determining which of said first and which of said second digital values are above a predetermined threshold and in each case using the values above said threshold for determining most probable direction from said first and second arrays.
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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) | 2003-02-14 | 2003-08-16 | 2004-02-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-02-14 | 2007-08-16 | 2008-02-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-02-14 | 2011-08-16 | 2012-02-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |