Mobile driver license examination workstations and systems and methods including same

• US 10,085,632 B1
• Filed: 10/07/2016
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: North Carolina Department of Transportation (State of North Carolina)
• Original Assignee: North Carolina Department of Transportation (State of North Carolina)
• Inventors: Dishong, Randy, McLawhorn, Timothy Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US15/288,464
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/02 Subjective types, i.e. testing apparatus requiring the active assistance of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3276 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being read by the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products

Abstract

A mobile workstation system includes a transport vehicle, a mobile workstation, and a deployment system. The transport vehicle includes a cargo volume. The mobile workstation includes: a wheeled carrier; a cabinet supported by the carrier, the cabinet defining at least one enclosed compartment and having selectively openable closures to provide access to the at least one compartment; and a plurality of operational components disposed in the at least one compartment. The mobile workstation is positionable in each of: a storage configuration wherein the operational components are contained in the at least one compartment with the closures in a closed position; and an operational configuration wherein the closures are open to provide access to the operational components and the cabinet forms a desk including a work surface. The deployment system is mounted in the transport vehicle and includes a powered engagement mechanism operable to load and unload the mobile workstation into and from the cargo volume of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A mobile workstation system comprising:

a transport vehicle including a cargo volume;

a mobile workstation including;

a wheeled carrier;

a cabinet supported by the carrier, the cabinet defining at least one enclosed compartment and having selectively openable closures to provide access to the at least one compartment; and

a plurality of operational components disposed in the at least one compartment;

wherein the mobile workstation is positionable in each of;

a storage configuration wherein the operational components are contained in the at least one compartment with the closures in a closed position; and

an operational configuration wherein the closures are open to provide access to the operational components and the cabinet forms a desk including a work surface; and

a deployment system mounted in the transport vehicle and including a powered engagement mechanism operable to load and unload the mobile workstation into and from the cargo volume of the vehicle.

2. The mobile workstation system of claim 1 wherein:

the mobile workstation is a motor vehicle operator license examination mobile workstation; and

the operational components include apparatus usable by an examiner to administer motor vehicle operator license examinations.

3. The mobile workstation system of claim 2 wherein:

the workstation, when in the operational configuration, defines a customer zone and an examiner zone on opposed sides of the workstation and the work surface;

the apparatus usable by an examiner to administer motor vehicle operator license examinations are accessible to the examiner sitting in the examiner zone; and

some of the operational components are apparatus usable by a customer taking a motor vehicle operator license examination and are accessible to the customer sitting in the customer zone.

4. The mobile workstation system of claim 2 wherein the apparatus usable and accessible by a customer sitting in the customer zone include a vision testing unit.

5. The mobile workstation system of claim 2 wherein the apparatus usable and accessible by a customer sitting in the customer zone include an electronic payment terminal.

6. The mobile workstation system of claim 2 wherein the operational components include a camera positioned to photograph a customer sitting in the customer zone.

7. The mobile workstation system of claim 1 wherein:

the deployment system includes a guide track affixed to the transport vehicle in the cargo volume;

the deployment system further includes a trolley mounted on the guide track to travel axially along the guide track; and

the powered engagement mechanism includes a cradle arm configured to engage the mobile workstation and a force actuator to drive the cradle arm.

8. The mobile workstation system of claim 1 wherein the carrier includes a powered height adjustment mechanism.

9. The mobile workstation system of claim 1 wherein:

the cabinet includes a plurality of subcabinets; and

each of the subcabinets defines a respective compartment containing one or more of the operational components and has a selectively openable closure.

10. The mobile workstation system of claim 9 wherein each of the subcabinets and the operational component(s) contained therein form a module that is secured to the carrier and removable from the carrier independently of the other subcabinets.

11. The mobile workstation system of claim 1 wherein the mobile workstation includes:

electronic components disposed in a compartment of the cabinet; and

at least one cooling fan operative to generate a flow of ambient air through the compartment to cool the electronic components.

12. The mobile workstation system of claim 1 wherein the mobile workstation includes a power supply connection to provide electrical power to one or more of the operational components.

13. The mobile workstation system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the closures is provided with a lock.

14. The mobile workstation system of claim 1 wherein the carrier includes a powered height adjustment mechanism.

15. A method for providing a workstation, the method comprising:

providing a mobile workstation system comprising;

a transport vehicle including a cargo volume;

a mobile workstation including;

a wheeled carrier;

a cabinet supported by the carrier, the cabinet defining at least one enclosed compartment and having selectively openable closures to provide access to the at least one compartment; and

a plurality of operational components disposed in the at least one compartment;

wherein the mobile workstation is positionable in each of;

a storage configuration wherein the operational components are contained in the at least one compartment with the closures in a closed position; and

an operational configuration wherein the closures are open to provide access to the operational components and the cabinet forms a desk including a work surface; and

a deployment system mounted in the transport vehicle and including a powered engagement mechanism operable to load and unload the mobile workstation into and from the cargo volume of the vehicle;

using the transport vehicle, transporting the mobile workstation in the cargo volume with the mobile workstation in the storage configuration;

thereafter unloading the mobile workstation from the vehicle using the deployment system; and

thereafter converting the mobile workstation to the operational configuration.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein:

the deployment system includes a guide track affixed to the transport vehicle in the cargo volume;

the deployment system further includes a trolley mounted on the guide track to travel axially along the guide track;

the powered engagement mechanism includes a cradle arm configured to engage the mobile workstation and a force actuator to drive the cradle arm; and

the method includes, with the mobile workstation mounted on the trolley and supported by the cradle arm, sliding the trolley on the guide track toward an opening of the transport vehicle until the mobile workstation extends outwardly beyond the opening.

17. The method of claim 16 including, after the step of sliding the trolley on the guide track toward an opening of the transport vehicle until the mobile workstation extends outwardly beyond the opening:

with the mobile workstation supported by the cradle arm, lowering a frame assembly of the wheeled carrier to support the mobile workstation on the ground;

thereafter

lowering the cradle arm; and

thereafter

rolling the mobile workstation away from the transport vehicle.

18. A mobile workstation comprising:

a wheeled carrier;

a cabinet supported by the carrier, the cabinet defining at least one enclosed compartment and having selectively openable closures to provide access to the at least one compartment; and

a plurality of operational components disposed in the at least one compartment;

wherein the mobile workstation is positionable in each of;

a storage configuration wherein the operational components are contained in the at least one compartment with the closures in a closed position; and

an operational configuration wherein the closures are open to provide access to the operational components and the cabinet forms a desk including a work surface; and

wherein;

the mobile workstation is a motor vehicle operator license examination mobile workstation; and

the operational components include apparatus usable by an examiner to administer motor vehicle operator license examinations.

19. The mobile workstation of claim 18 wherein:

the workstation, when in the operational configuration, defines a customer zone and an examiner zone on opposed sides of the works station and the work surface;

the apparatus usable by an examiner to administer motor vehicle operator license examinations are accessible to the examiner sitting in the examiner zone;

some of the operational components are apparatus usable by a customer taking a motor vehicle operator license examination and are accessible to the customer sitting in the customer zone;

the apparatus usable and accessible by a customer sitting in the customer zone include a vision testing unit;

the apparatus usable and accessible by a customer sitting in the customer zone include an electronic payment terminal; and

the operational components include a camera positioned to photograph a customer sitting in the customer zone.

20. The mobile workstation of claim 18 wherein:

the cabinet includes a plurality of subcabinets;

each of the subcabinets defines a respective compartment containing one or more of the operational components and has a selectively openable closure; and

each of the subcabinets and the operational component(s) contained therein form a module that is secured to the carrier and removable from the carrier independently of the other subcabinets.