SMALL VEHICLE DETECTION SYSTEM

• US 20100123601A1
• Filed: 11/19/2008
• Published: 05/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pro Park LLC
• Original Assignee: John Schmidt
• Inventors: SCHMID, JOHN
• Granted Patent: US 8,063,796 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/932.200
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/02 taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24; car rental systems per se G07B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/015 with provision for distinguishing between two or more types of vehicles, e.g. between motor-cars and cycles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/042 using inductive or magnetic detectors

Abstract

A small vehicle detector for determining a size of a vehicle entering a particular area and assigning a rate of charge based on the determined size of vehicle including an entrance for a vehicle to enter the area. The small vehicle detector further includes a vehicle size detector system for determining size of the vehicle. The small vehicle detector also includes a ticket dispenser for dispensing a ticket with the assigned rate of charge based on the size determined by the vehicle size detector.

Claims

1. A method for determining the size of a vehicle entering into a particular area, said area having an entrance, comprising the steps of:

detecting that said vehicle has entered said entrance to said area;

generating a signal instructing a driver of said vehicle to drive the vehicle forward;

sensing when said vehicle has pulled forward into a predetermined position;

generating a signal instructing said driver of said vehicle to stop the vehicle when the vehicle is sensed to be in the predetermined position;

determining the size of said vehicle;

associating determined vehicle size with a rate of charge based on said determined vehicle size; and

dispensing a ticket containing said determined vehicle size and associated rate of charge information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of detecting said vehicle entering said entrance is sensed by an inductance loop.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of detecting said vehicle entering said entrance is sensed by a sensor located at the rear of said entrance.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the sensor located at rear of said entrance is an ultrasonic sensor.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

lifting a barrier gate once driver of said vehicle has removed said dispensed ticket from said ticket dispenser; and

allowing said driver to drive said vehicle into said particular area.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of sensing when said vehicle has reached said measurement position is sensed by an inductance loop.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of sensing when said vehicle has reached said measurement position is sensed by a front ultrasonic sensor.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of generating a signal instructing said driver of said vehicle to stop when it is sensed that said vehicle has reached said measurement position is done by a driver indicator.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of determining said size of said vehicle is performed by a video grid system.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of determining said size of said vehicle is performed by a front sensor and a rear sensor.

11. The method of claim 12 wherein the front and rear sensors are ultrasonic sensors.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein associating said determined vehicle size with a rate of charge based on said determined vehicle size is done with a microprocessor.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein generating a signal instructing said driver of said vehicle to push said button on said ticket dispenser is done using a driver indicator.

14. A small vehicle detector system for determining a size of a vehicle entering a particular area, said area having an entrance for a vehicle to enter said area, and assigning a rate of charge based on said determined size of vehicle comprising:

a vehicle size detector for determining size of said vehicle in said entrance;

a ticket dispenser for dispensing a ticket with said assigned rate of charge based on size determined by said vehicle size detector.

15. The small vehicle detector system of claim 14 wherein said small vehicle detector system further comprises:

a barrier gate for preventing said vehicle from entering said area without having a ticket with assigned rate of charge based on size determined by said vehicle size detector;

an inductance loop for detecting the presence of a vehicle entering said entry lane;

a driver indicator to instruct a driver of said vehicle to drive the vehicle forward; and

a front sensor located before said barrier gate to sense when vehicle is in a measurement position.

16. The small vehicle detector system of claim 15 wherein said driver indicator will alert/instruct said driver of said vehicle to stop the vehicle when said vehicle is in said measurement position and will alert/instruct said driver that the vehicle size has been determined and to press a ticket button on said ticket dispenser.

17. The small vehicle detector system of claim 16 wherein said barrier gate will open allowing said driver to drive said vehicle into said area once said ticket has been taken by said driver from said ticket dispenser.

18. The small vehicle detector system of claim 14 wherein said vehicle size detector consists of said front sensor and a rear sensor are at a predetermined distance from each other to determine the size of said vehicle.

19. The small vehicle detector system of claim 18 wherein said vehicle size detector is a video grid system for determining the size of said vehicle.

20. The small vehicle detector system of claim 18 wherein said vehicle size detector is comprised of the combination of a video grid system and front and rear sensors for determining size of said vehicle.