PASSIVE RFID TRANSPONDER/READER SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HIDDEN OBSTACLE DETECTION AND AVOIDANCE

• US 20030151511A1
• Filed: 08/09/2001
• Published: 08/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edgar Alan Duncan, Reed Roberts May
• Original Assignee: Edgar Alan Duncan, Reed Roberts May
• Inventors: Duncan, Edgar Alan, May, Reed Roberts
• Granted Patent: US 6,621,417 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/758 using a signal generator powered by the interrogation signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile

Abstract

A system designed to detect and identify fixed utility objects, such as telephone pedestals, power transformers, man-holes, anchor cables, and the like, that are hidden by heavy overgrowth of vegetation. The system provides for automatic look-ahead detection of such objects during mowing and clearing operations with heavy machinery using passive radio frequency transponder technology to both detect the immediate presence of a tagged object as well as basic identification of the type of object replying to the interrogation. The operator can be signaled audibly and/or visually when a tagged object is detected. The transmitter and antennae are mounted in the cab of a mobile machine for protection from physical damage. An integrated microprocessor performs the requisite algorithms needed to process the reply form one or more RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags and generate the alert signals for the operator alerts. Once the object has been located it can be marked and cleared safely by hand thereby preventing severe damage to the tagged equipment. Handheld RIFD programmers are used to load or record important identification and maintenance data in the attached tag for maintenance tracking, latitude-longitude location, asset management, placement of other related underground devices or cables, etc. The transmitter unit and display devices can be powered directly from the machine'"'"'s system power.

Claims

1. A system for the detection of hidden fixed utility objects, comprising:

at least one transponder, which is capable of being tagged to at least one utility object, for radio frequency communication with

an radio frequency (RF) scanner/receiver, for communication with a

a control head;

the RF scanner/receiver and control head being powered directly by a power source;

wherein,

the at least one transponder includes a radio frequency identification transponder that transmits information relating to the location of the hidden object;

the RF scanner/receiver includes at least one antenna and an RF interrogator; and

the control head includes at least one microprocessor and a user interface; and

the RF scanner/receiver and the control head are removably mounted on a mobile machine;

thereby providing the operator of the machine an adequate alert when the machine comes in proximity of one of the at least one transponder and allowing the operator of the machine to avoid the at least one object tagged by the respective transponder.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system provides to the user approximately two seconds response time prior to physically contacting the utility object.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID operates at a frequency range of between about 13.5 MHz and 2.45 GHz.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the RFID operates at a frequency band of about 915 MHz.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID outputs the GPS location of the tagged object.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one antenna is a directional antenna.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the directional antenna is a dipole antenna.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the directional antenna is a yagi antenna.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the antenna is a unidirectional antenna.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one antenna includes a multiplicity of antennae.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the antennae comprise a phased array.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the antennae comprise directional antennae.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the antennae comprise ranging antennae.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the RF interrogator operates at a frequency range of between about 13.5 MHz and 2.45 GHz.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the RF interrogator operates at a frequency band of about 915 MHz.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface indicates the presence of an RFID.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the user interface further indicates the distance of the RFID.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the user interface further indicates the direction of the RFID.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface indicates RFID selected from the group consisting of Object Types, Telephone Pedestal, Fiber Optic Junction, Water Hydrant, Gas Valve, Power Transformer, Guy Wire, Cable anchors, Power Pole, Telephone Pole, Boundary Marker, Survey Control Point, Fence, River/Stream, Metal Tower, Road/Highway, Owner, Utility Name, Emergency Phone Number, TEFIS Number, Location, Latitude, Longitude, Install Date, Absolute days since Jan. 1, 1900, Last Service Date, Absolute days since Jan. 1, 1900, Local References Count, Nearby reference points, Local Reference, Distance to object, Direction to object degrees, Object type code, and combinations thereof.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface provides at least one sensory alarm to alert the user when an RFID is detected.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the at least one sensory alarm is a visual alarm.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the at least one sensory alarm is an audible alarm.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface provides a test function.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface provides a reset control.

25. The system of claim 1, further including a GPS locator for providing the location of the machine.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the microprocessor use the data from the GPS locator and the RFID to compute the distance and direction of the RFID from the machine.

27. The system of claim 1, further including a wireless communicator for allowing wireless communication between the system and at least one distant database.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein the control head is removably mounted on a mobile machine.

29. A method for for detecting and avoiding hidden utility objects, including:

tagging utility objects with preprogrammed passive RFID transponders;

operating a vehicle fitted with an RF transponder detection system;

decreasing the forward progress of the machine when an alert is observed;

locating the tagged utility object;

avoiding the tagged utility object; and

resetting the alert signal.

30. The method according to claim 29, further including the step of programming the RFID transponders at installation.