VEHICLE SYSTEM
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle system includes multiple vehicles which shuttle on linear paths; a reflecting member provided on one end-side of each path; a range finding device measuring, using a laser beam, a distance between a vehicle and the reflecting member; and a communications system including a stationary communications device provided on an other end-side of the traveling path for the traveling vehicle, and performing optical wireless communication; and a mobile communications device attached to the traveling vehicle performing wireless communication with the stationary communications device.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1-8. -8. (canceled)
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9. A vehicle system comprising:
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a first vehicle that shuttles on a first path which is linear; a second vehicle which shuttles on a second path that is parallel or substantially parallel and vertically spaced relative to the first path; a first reflecting member located on one end-side of the first path; a first range finding device which measures, using a laser beam, a distance between one end of the first vehicle defined in a direction of a first width perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first path and the first reflecting member; a first communications system including; a first stationary communications device which is provided on another end-side of the first path, and performs optical wireless communication; and a first mobile communications device which is attached to another end of the first vehicle defined in the direction of the first width and performs wireless communication with the first stationary communications device; a second reflecting member which is provided on one end-side of the second path; a second range finding device which measures, using a laser beam, a distance between one end of the second vehicle defined in a direction of a second width that is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the second path and the second reflecting member; and a second communications system including; a second stationary communications device which is provided on another end-side of the second path, and performs optical wireless communication; a second mobile communications device which is attached to another end of the second vehicle defined in the direction of the second width and performs wireless communication with the second stationary communications device;
whereinthe first vehicle and the second vehicle are disposed so that the direction of the first width and the direction of the second width are parallel or substantially parallel to each other; and the first mobile communications device and the second mobile communications are disposed on opposite sides of a virtual plane which joins a center of the first width and a center of the second width, and extends along the first path and the second path. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A range finding method for a vehicle system which includes a first vehicle that shuttles on a first path which is linear and a second vehicle which shuttles on a second path that is parallel or substantially parallel and vertically spaced relative to the first path, the range finding method comprising the steps of:
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measuring, via a first range finding device using a laser beam, a distance between a first reflecting member which is provided on one end-side of the first path and one end of the first vehicle defined in a direction of a first width that is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first path; performing optical wireless communication between a first stationary communications device which is provided on another end-side of the first path and a first mobile communications device which is attached to another end of the first vehicle defined in the direction of the first width; measuring, via a second range finding device using a laser beam, a distance between a second reflecting member which is provided on one end-side of the second path and one end of the second vehicle defined in a direction of a second width that is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the second path; and performing optical wireless communication between a second stationary communications device which is provided on another end-side of the second path and a second mobile communications device which is attached to another end of the second vehicle defined in the direction of the second width and opposite to the first mobile communications device in a direction of a width.
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Specification