Open road vehicle emissions inspection
First Claim
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1. A vehicle emissions testing system for collecting emissions data from vehicles travelling in a roadway, the vehicle having a vehicle information system with an access port, the vehicle information system providing access to vehicle data including emissions data, the system comprising:
- a vehicle-mounted transponder having an input port connected to the access port for extracting the emissions data, and having an RF transceiver and antenna for transmitting the emissions data in response to a request signal; and
a reader disposed proximate the roadway, the reader including a plurality of antennas having radiation patterns defining a capture zone within the roadway, wherein the reader is capable of engaging in RF communications with the transponder when the transponder is within the capture zone, and wherein the reader includes a controller for implementing a communications protocol, including transmission of the request signal and reception of the emissions data.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for obtaining vehicle emissions data from on-board vehicle information systems under on-road or open-road conditions. The vehicle may be equipped with a transponder for relaying emissions data to a reader. The reader includes antennas defining a communications zone within a roadway. The transponder and reader are capable of engaging in RF communications as the vehicle-mounted transponder traverses the communications zone.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle emissions testing system for collecting emissions data from vehicles travelling in a roadway, the vehicle having a vehicle information system with an access port, the vehicle information system providing access to vehicle data including emissions data, the system comprising:
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a vehicle-mounted transponder having an input port connected to the access port for extracting the emissions data, and having an RF transceiver and antenna for transmitting the emissions data in response to a request signal; and
a reader disposed proximate the roadway, the reader including a plurality of antennas having radiation patterns defining a capture zone within the roadway, wherein the reader is capable of engaging in RF communications with the transponder when the transponder is within the capture zone, and wherein the reader includes a controller for implementing a communications protocol, including transmission of the request signal and reception of the emissions data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of obtaining emissions data from a vehicle, the vehicle having a transponder, the transponder having an input port connected to an access port of a vehicle information system within the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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configuring a roadside reader to implement an emissions data collection protocol, the roadside reader having an antenna defining a communications zone within a roadway;
sending an RF signal to the transponder in the communications zone instructing the transponder to obtain the emissions data from the vehicle information system; and
receiving an RF response from the transponder containing the emissions data. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A distributed vehicle emissions testing system for collecting emissions data from vehicles travelling in a plurality of roadways, the vehicles each having a vehicle information system with an access port, the vehicle information system providing access to vehicle data including emissions data, and each vehicle having a transponder connected to the access port for extracting emissions data and transmitting the emissions data in an RF signal, the system comprising:
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a plurality of readers, each proximate one of said plurality of roadways, each reader including a plurality of antennas defining a capture zone within the roadway, wherein each reader is capable of engaging in RF communications with the transponder when the transponder is within the capture zone of the reader, and wherein the reader includes a controller for implementing a communications protocol, including transmission of a response signal and reception of the emissions data;
a central database containing a plurality of emissions records; and
a communications network connecting each roadside reader to the central database, wherein each reader is configured to relay the emissions data to the central database, and the central database is configured to update at least one of said records based upon the emissions data.
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Specification