Detecting cargo status and load activity

• US 20070040677A1
• Filed: 08/17/2005
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Blair, Herbert
• Application Number:
  US11/205,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20070040677A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/568.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A cargo detection unit that detect the status of cargo and loading activity within a container. The device transmits microwave radio frequency energy pulses and detects reflections from cargo. Similar to the operation of a radar, the reflected pulses are then analyzed to determine (a) the presence of cargo, such as by comparing the reflected pulses against stored empty containers signature signals and/or (b) detecting a Doppler effect, as caused by loading and/or unloading cargo from the container. The device may use standard radar signal processing techniques, i.e., a digital signal processor, to generate and analyze the reflected pulses cargo status. Activity reports can be forwarded to a cargo tracking unit such as one that uses a wireless mobile telephone communication network to report cargo status to a central location.

Claims

1. A method for detecting presence of cargo within a container comprising:

transmitting microwave radio frequency (RF) energy pulses within the container from a defined location;

detecting reflected RF energy pulses at the defined location, to generate a return signal;

comparing the return signal to a reference signal, to determine whether cargo is present within the container.

2. A method as in claim 1 additionally comprising:

detecting a Doppler effect on the reflected RF energy pulses; and

in response to the presence thereof, determining there is movement within the container as caused by cargo loading and/or unloading activity.

3. A method as in claim 1 wherein the RF energy pulses are at a carrier frequency of about 10 GigaHertz (GHz).

4. A method as in claim 1 wherein the RF energy pulses are focused in both an E-plane and H-plane.

5. A method as in claim 1 wherein the RF energy pulses are generated at an output power level that is suitable for covering the length of the cargo container.

6. A method as in claim 5 wherein the output power level is about 12 dBm.

7. A method as in claim 1 wherein the RF energy pulses are transmitted by a horn antenna angled downward to project the RF energy pulses toward a floor area of the container.

8. A method as in claim 1 wherein the reflected RF energy pulses are further subjected to a range determination based on a time of arrival and/or amplitude detection.

9. A method as in claim 2 additionally comprising:

reporting a cargo state from the result of comparing the return signal to a release signal and from the result of detecting a Doppler effect, the reported cargo state being selected from one of

a loaded state, indicating an object is inside the cargo area;

an unloaded state, indicating the absence of objects inside the cargo area; and

activity, indicating that cargo is being added to or removed from the cargo area.

10. A method as in claim 9 additionally comprising:

forwarding the cargo state information to a central location via a wireless data network.