Tracking unit signal filter

• US 20030187551A1
• Filed: 04/09/2003
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MTP Consultancy Limited
• Original Assignee: TMC Consultants Limited
• Inventors: Hutchings, Philip, Bure, Rudolf A
• Granted Patent: US 6,882,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/002 for traffic control, mobile tracking, guidance, surveillance or anti-collision
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236

Abstract

A tracking unit signal filter 10 for a vehicle, typically tractor/trailer combinations, having at least one signal input 15-17 for receiving a respective signal A, B or C indicative of a respective vehicle parameter eg. signal C for sensing tractor/trailer coupling, and processor means 28 operable to pass the signal C after a predetermined time delay TC, if said signal is stable, and which is also operable to maintain said stable signal C if the signal is interrupted for less than a predetermined time interval tc.

Claims

1. A tracking unit signal filter for a vehicle having at least one signal input for receiving a respective signal indicative of a respective vehicle parameter and processor means operable to pass a parameter signal after a predetermined time delay if said signal is stable, and which is also operable to maintain said stable signal if the signal is interrupted for less than a predetermined time interval.

2. A filter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said input comprises a first voltage signal from the vehicle power supply.

3. A filter as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the filter receives signals from vehicle mounted sensors which each detect the status of particular vehicle conditions.

4. A filter as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when both the filter and tracking unit are powered by a dedicated battery which is recharged from the vehicle power supply by a DC-DC converter.

5. A filter as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said predetermined time delay(s) may be varied as required.

6. A filter as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said predetermined time interval(s) may be altered as is required.

7. A filter as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, and further including at least one pulse generator for modifying a stable signal into a pulse.

8. A filter as claimed in claim 7, and further including a sequencer to arrange pulsed signals in to sequential order according to a predetermined order of priority.

9. A filter as claimed in claim 4 wherein the DC-DC converter is integral with the filter.

10. A vehicle tracking and tracing unit including a signal filter as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 formed integrally therewith.