WIRELESS WHEEL-SENSOR SYSTEM FOR DEAD RECKONING NAVIGATION APPLICATIONS

• US 20090109066A1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Fang, Ron
• Granted Patent: US 7,714,745 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/988
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/28 with correlation of data from several navigational instruments
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A dead-reckoning sensory system includes a receiver unit and a transmitter unit in wireless communication with the receiver unit. The transmitter unit is operable to be mounted to a wheel of a vehicle, determine information characterizing the heading and distance traveled by the vehicle, and transmit the information to the receiver unit.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a transmitter unit operable to be mounted to a wheel of a vehicle and comprising a gyroscope, a processor, a wireless transmitter and a power source; and

a receiver unit in wireless communication with the transmitter unit.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the receiver unit is configured to be located in the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter unit further comprises an accelerometer.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter unit is disposed in the center of the wheel.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is operable to calculate the rotational position of the wheel.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the transmitter unit is configured to transmit to the receiver unit information characterizing the position.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the transmitter unit is configured to transmit the information when the wheel is moving.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the information is transmitted via radio frequency.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is operable to calculate the rotational speed of the wheel.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is operable to calculate the distance traveled by the wheel.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is operable to calculate the sense of the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is operable to shut down power to the transmitter unit upon determining that the wheel has discontinued movement for a predetermined period of time.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a charging component operable to charge the power source using rotational energy associated with the wheel.

14. The system of claim 3 wherein the accelerometer comprises a dual-axis accelerometer.

15. A system, comprising:

a receiver unit; and

a transmitter unit in wireless communication with the receiver unit, the transmitter unit operable to be mounted to a wheel of a vehicle, the transmitter unit further operable to determine information characterizing the heading and distance traveled by the vehicle, the transmitter unit further operable to transmit the information to the receiver unit.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the transmitter unit comprises a gyroscope, a microprocessor, a wireless transmitter and a power source.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the transmitter unit further comprises an accelerometer.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the microprocessor is operable to calculate the rotational position of the wheel.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the receiver unit is configured to be located in the vehicle.

20. A vehicle, comprising:

a wheel;

a receiver unit; and

a transmitter unit in wireless communication with the receiver unit, the transmitter unit operable to be mounted to the wheel, the transmitter unit further operable to determine information characterizing the heading and distance traveled by the vehicle, the transmitter unit further operable to transmit the information to the receiver unit.