Travel information sensing and communication method and system

• US 20140253345A1
• Filed: 05/12/2014
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Technologies International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Technologies International, Inc.
• Inventors: Breed, David S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,989,920 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/905
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096758 where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element

Abstract

Driving condition monitoring system for a vehicle on a travel surface includes stationary mounting structures arranged proximate the travel surface, and sensors located in the mounting structures in a vicinity of the travel surface and apart from the travel surface. The sensors generate information about the travel surface or an environment around the travel surface. An arrangement on the vehicle or associated with the sensors initiates a transmission of the information generated by each sensor to the vehicle when the vehicle is proximate the sensor.

Claims

1. A method for conveying driving conditions, comprising:

obtaining an indication of presence of a vehicle at activatable sensors located in stationary mounting structures in a vicinity of a travel surface and apart from the travel surface, the sensors being configured to generate information about the travel surface or an environment around the travel surface, each of the sensors including a measuring or detecting component that measures or detects a property or condition of the travel surface or the environment around the travel surface, each sensor further including or being connected to an energy harvesting system that generates energy and provides the generated energy to the measuring or detecting component to enable it to measure or detect the property or condition of the travel surface or environment around the travel surface;

when an indication of the presence of a vehicle is obtained by one of the sensors, activating the sensor to enable a communication of the sensor-generated information directly from each of the sensors to the vehicle or occupant thereof when the vehicle is detected proximate the sensor; and

communicating the sensor-generated information directly to a vehicle or occupant thereof when the sensor is activated, the sensor being configured to communicate the generated information directly to the vehicle or occupant thereof, whereby the sensor-generated information is not communicated from the sensors until activated.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of communicating the sensor-generated information directly to a vehicle or occupant thereof when the sensor is activated comprises providing a visual indication from a stationary mounting structure at a location proximate the sensor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of communicating the sensor-generated information directly to a vehicle or occupant thereof when the sensor is activated comprises providing an audio indication from a stationary mounting structure at a location proximate the sensor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining an indication of the presence of a vehicle comprises coupling a proximity sensor to the activatable sensor that determines when a vehicle is within a set distance from the activatable sensor, the proximity sensor being configured to senses thermal emissions from the vehicle or sound of the vehicle, or constituting a camera or other optical sensor that obtains images from which proximity of the vehicle to the activatable sensor is determinable, a radar or laser radar (lidar) sensor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication from each sensor is wireless transmission of a signal, and the sensors are configured to wirelessly transmit the signal directly to the vehicle or occupant thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sensors is a RFID type sensor whereby the at least one sensor is configured to return information directly to the vehicle or occupant thereof in the form of a modulated RF signal such that the communication from each sensor is wireless transmission of the modulated RF signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining an indication of the presence of a vehicle comprises transmitting an activation signal from an interrogator on the vehicle, at least one of the sensors further including a power-receiving system that receives power wirelessly from the interrogator.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sensors is configured to generate information about travel conditions relating to the travel surface or external objects on or in the vicinity of the travel surface that potentially affect travel on the travel surface.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sensors is configured to communicate directly to the vehicle or occupant thereof, an identification code indicative of its position with the information generated by the at least one sensor when activated.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sensors is configured to measure friction of a surface of the travel surface, atmospheric pressure, measure atmospheric temperature, temperature of the travel surface, moisture content of the travel surface or humidity of the atmosphere.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensors each include a SAW device whereby the sensors are configured to communicate the generated information after a delay, the sensors being arranged to use time-multiplexing such that each sensor has a different delay.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sensors is configured to communicate an identification of the sensor directly to the vehicle or occupant thereof when activated.

13. A method for conveying driving conditions, comprising:

obtaining an indication of presence of a vehicle at activatable sensors embedded in a travel surface, the sensors being configured to generate information about the travel surface or an environment around the travel surface, each of the sensors including a measuring or detecting component that measures or detects a property or condition of the travel surface or the environment around the travel surface, each sensor further including or being connected to an energy harvesting system that generates energy and provides the generated energy to the measuring or detecting component to enable it to measure or detect the property or condition of the travel surface or environment around the travel surface;

when an indication of the presence of a vehicle is obtained by one of the sensors, activating the sensor to enable a communication of the sensor-generated information directly from each of the sensors to the vehicle or occupant thereof when the vehicle is detected proximate the sensor; and

communicating the sensor-generated information directly to a vehicle or occupant thereof when the sensor is activated, the sensor being configured to communicate the generated information directly to the vehicle or occupant thereof, whereby the sensor-generated information is not communicated from the sensors until activated.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the communication from each sensor is wireless transmission of a signal, and the sensors are configured to wirelessly transmit the signal directly to the vehicle or occupant thereof.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein at least one of the sensors is a RFID type sensor whereby the at least one sensor is configured to return information directly to the vehicle or occupant thereof in the form of a modulated RF signal such that the communication from each sensor is wireless transmission of the modulated RF signal.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of obtaining an indication of the presence of a vehicle comprises transmitting an activation signal from an interrogator on the vehicle, at least one of the sensors further including a power-receiving system that receives power wirelessly from the interrogator.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the sensors is configured to generate information about travel conditions relating to the travel surface or external objects on or in the vicinity of the travel surface.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the sensors is configured to communicate directly to the vehicle or occupant thereof, an identification code indicative of its position with the information generated by the at least one sensor when activated.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of obtaining an indication of the presence of a vehicle comprises coupling a proximity sensor to the activatable sensor that determines when a vehicle is within a set distance from the activatable sensor, the proximity sensor being configured to senses thermal emissions from the vehicle or sound of the vehicle, or constituting a camera or other optical sensor that obtains images from which proximity of the vehicle to the activatable sensor is determinable, a radar or laser radar (lidar) sensor.

20. A driving condition monitoring system for vehicles on a travel surface, comprising:

a plurality of detecting sensors that each detect the presence of a vehicle within a set distance from said detecting sensor, each of said detecting sensors being embedded in the travel surface or located in a stationary mounting structure in a vicinity of the travel surface and apart from the travel surface,

a respective measuring or detecting component coupled to each of said detecting sensors, each of said measuring or detecting component being activated to measure or detect a property or condition of the travel surface or the environment around the travel surface only when said detecting sensor coupled to said measuring or detecting component detects the presence of a vehicle within the set distance from the detecting sensor;

a respective energy harvesting system coupled to each of said detecting sensors and said measuring or detecting component coupled to said detecting sensor, each of said energy harvesting systems generating energy and providing the generated energy to said respective measuring or detecting component to enable it to measure or detect the property or condition of the travel surface or environment around the travel surface and said respective detecting sensor to enable it to detect the presence of a vehicle within a set distance from the detecting sensor; and

a respective communication system coupled to each of said measuring or detecting components and that communicates directly to the vehicle or occupant thereof, the property or condition measured or detected by said measuring or detecting components when said detecting sensor coupled to said measuring or detecting component detects the presence of a vehicle within the set distance from the detecting sensor,

whereby the property or condition measured or detected by said measuring or detecting components is not communicated from said measuring or detecting components by said communication systems until each of measuring or detecting components is activated.