Mechanized area controller
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A traffic control system, the system comprising:
- a first magnetic field generator, for generating a first zone magnetic field defining a first zone, mounted over an aisle, the first magnetic field generator being adapted to generate a plurality of magnetic field pulses, wherein each of the magnetic field pulses are separated by a period of time;
a first magnetic field detector affixed to a vehicle and configured to detect a strength of each of the plurality of magnetic field pulses and to generate a vehicle response signal indicative of the strength of each of the plurality of magnetic field pulses; and
a controller configured to receive the vehicle response signal, the controller further configured to determine a speed of the vehicle based on the period of time and the strength of each of the plurality of magnetic field pulses indicated by the vehicle response signal and to generate a control signal for the vehicle based on the speed of the vehicle determined by the controller.
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Abstract
Traffic control systems and methods to improve safety are disclosed. The systems, in some example aspects, include a first magnetic field generator mounted over an aisle for generating a first zone magnetic field defining a first zone. The methods, in some example aspects, include generating a first zone magnetic field defining a first zone by a first magnetic field generator mounted over an aisle. Other aspects include generating, and/or including a controller to generate, control signals to reduce the speed of a vehicle, and/or reduce the size of a danger zone.
34 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A traffic control system, the system comprising:
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a first magnetic field generator, for generating a first zone magnetic field defining a first zone, mounted over an aisle, the first magnetic field generator being adapted to generate a plurality of magnetic field pulses, wherein each of the magnetic field pulses are separated by a period of time; a first magnetic field detector affixed to a vehicle and configured to detect a strength of each of the plurality of magnetic field pulses and to generate a vehicle response signal indicative of the strength of each of the plurality of magnetic field pulses; and a controller configured to receive the vehicle response signal, the controller further configured to determine a speed of the vehicle based on the period of time and the strength of each of the plurality of magnetic field pulses indicated by the vehicle response signal and to generate a control signal for the vehicle based on the speed of the vehicle determined by the controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A traffic control method, the method comprising:
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generating a first zone magnetic field defining a first zone by a first magnetic field generator mounted over an aisle, the first magnetic field generator being adapted to generate a plurality of magnetic field pulses, wherein each of the magnetic field pulses are separated by a period of time; detecting a strength of each of the plurality of magnetic field pulses by a first magnetic field detector affixed to a vehicle; generating, by the first magnetic field detector, a vehicle response signal indicative of the strength of each of the plurality of magnetic field pulses; receiving the vehicle response signal at a controller; determining, by the controller, a speed of the vehicle based on the period of time and the strength of each of the plurality of magnetic field pulses indicated by the vehicle response signal; and generating, by the controller, a control signal for the vehicle based on the determined speed. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification