ELECTRONIC TOLL COLLECTION TRANSPONDER ORIENTATION DEVICE AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A vehicular electronic toll collection transponder, comprising:
- an antenna;
a controller, including a transceiver connected to the antenna for receiving and sending RF signals;
an orientation sensor configured to output an orientation signal regarding an orientation of the transponder; and
a memory storing transponder information,wherein the controller is configured to receive the orientation signal from the orientation sensor and, in response thereto, to store orientation data in the memory,and wherein the controller is configured to transmit an RF response signal via the antenna in reply to receipt of a polling signal from an ETC roadside reader, and wherein the RF response signal includes the transponder information and the orientation data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic toll collection transponder containing an orientation sensor for measuring the orientation of the transponder is described. The transponder measures its orientation and stores orientation data in memory. The transponder may report the stored orientation data as part of a response signal sent to the ETC system in reply to a trigger or polling signal. The transponder may assess whether it is correctly oriented based on a comparison of the orientation data to ranges or thresholds and may output an indicator of incorrect orientation or may disable communications with the ETC system during incorrect orientation.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A vehicular electronic toll collection transponder, comprising:
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an antenna; a controller, including a transceiver connected to the antenna for receiving and sending RF signals; an orientation sensor configured to output an orientation signal regarding an orientation of the transponder; and a memory storing transponder information, wherein the controller is configured to receive the orientation signal from the orientation sensor and, in response thereto, to store orientation data in the memory, and wherein the controller is configured to transmit an RF response signal via the antenna in reply to receipt of a polling signal from an ETC roadside reader, and wherein the RF response signal includes the transponder information and the orientation data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of determining orientation of an electronic toll collection (ETC) transponder, the ETC transponder including an orientation sensor, an antenna, memory storing transponder information, and a controller connected to the antenna for receiving and sending RF signals with a roadside reader in an ETC system, the method including:
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receiving an orientation signal from an orientation sensor mounted within the transponder, wherein the orientation signal contains information indicating an orientation of the transponder; storing orientation data within the memory based on the orientation signal; and in response to receipt of a trigger signal from the roadside reader, generating and transmitting an RF response signal, wherein the RF response signal contains includes transponder information and the orientation data. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification