SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION OF USE OF STUDDED TIRES

• US 20150025945A1
• Filed: 01/23/2013
• Published: 01/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ares Detection AS
• Original Assignee: Ares Turbine AS
• Inventors: Kleven, Ole Bjorn, Kleven, Fredrik Nerol
• Granted Patent: US 10,013,813 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/13
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 11/00 Road engineering aspects of Embedding pads or other sensitive devices in paving or other road surfaces , e.g. traffic detectors, vehicle-operated pressure-sensitive actuators, devices for monitoring atmospheric or road conditionspressure-sensitive elements G01L; traffic control systems G08G
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/024 using electrical weight-sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 3/16 measuring variations of frequency of oscillations of the body
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/02 Tyres
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors

Abstract

This publication describes a method and a system for registering use of studded decks (6) and for collecting due toll for use of studded decks on a vehicle (19) having at least one studded deck (6). This is done when a vehicle (19) passes over a detection device (1) on a road surface (18) of a road, the detection device (1) being associated with one or more sensors (2) that is able to detect impulses created by the decks (6) on the vehicle (19) that passes over the detection device (1). The impulses are registered and compared with a pre-determined value that enables a processing device (3) to determine whether one or more of the decks (6) are provided with studs or not. The system is configured in such way that the processed signal provides basis for collecting toll or at least bringing this fact to the attention of the driver and that toll is due.

Claims

1. Method for registering the velocity and/or weight and/or the deck status of a vehicle, where one or more detection devices are arranged on the road surface, the one or more detection devices comprise one or more sensors that preferably are associated with a plate arranged on the road surface in order to register the velocity and/or weight and/or the deck status of a vehicle, the detection device is configured to register high frequency and/or ultrasonic waves in real time, said waves establishes the basis for signals to be processed in a processor, where the velocity and weight of the vehicle may be established and where the condition and status of the decks is established, based on the use of the high frequency or ultrasonic waves caused by the passage of the decks over the detection device(s).

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein said one or more sensors is configured to operate in the frequency band of 20 kHz±

5 kHz.

3. Method for registering use or studded tires and for collecting the toll for use of studded tires on a vehicle equipped with at least one studded tire, characterized in that a vehicle passes over a detection device on a road surface, that the detection device is associated with one or more sensors which are able to detect impulses produced by deck on the vehicle when passing over the detection device;

that the signals are registered and compared with predefined values, enabling a processing device to determine whether one or more of the decks are equipped with studded tires, whereupon the processing unit produces a signal if one or more of the decks are equipped with studded tires; and

that the system is configured in such way that the processed signal gives basis for collecting due toll.

4. Method according to claim 3, wherein in connection with the detection of studded tires, also information related to the vehicle, enabling identification of the owner of the vehicle by means of video filming, electronic radio tag and/or by photo of the number plate of the vehicle and comparing such information with a central vehicle register.

5. Method according to claim 3, wherein the processed information is used for issuing invoices to the owner of the vehicle for use of studded decks.

6. Method according to claim 3, wherein the processed information is sent in real time to a device which visually informs the driver of the vehicle about the necessity of paying toll or the fee due.

7. Method according to claim 3, wherein the detection device is configured such that it will be possible to identify which of the decks being equipped with studs.

8. Method according to claim 3, wherein the high frequency acoustic impulses created by one or more decks that are passing over a metal plate which is integrated in the road surface, is used for detecting use of studded tires and that these impulses are registered by sensors that are configured for collecting such impulses and producing real time signals for further processing.

9. System for registering the velocity, weight and/or the deck conditions and status, for possibly of collecting toll for the vehicle and/or to send signal that the vehicle must halt from further passage, characterized in that one or more detection devices are arranged in association with a road surface, one or more sensors are arranged in association with each of the one or more detector devices for detecting impulses created by one or more decks on a vehicle passing over the detection device, a processing unit that produces one or more pictures of the weight, velocity and/or condition and status of said deck(s) in real time, and that said one or more pictures are communicated to a processing unit for further processing.

10. System according to claim 9, wherein said one or more sensors are configured to operate in the frequency band of 20 kHz±

5 kHz.

11. System for registering use of studded tires and for collecting toll for use of studded tires on a vehicle, equipped with at least one studded tire, characterized in a detection device is arranged in association with a road, one or more sensors are arranged in association with the detection device for detecting impulses created by one or more decks on a vehicle that passes over the detection device, a processing device that compares the impulses with a predefined profile for impulses from studded deck(s) and one or more devices for visualizing whether studded decks are present or not.

12. System according to claim 11, wherein the detection device comprises a body, where the body is configured such that it produces high frequency waves propagating through the material created by the studs on a vehicle, and where the high frequency waves is registered by said one or more sensors.

13. System according to claim 11, wherein the detection device forms an integrated unit with the material forming the road surface, said integrated unit preferably being made of at least one plate made of a durable metal, such as steel, and having good properties for propagating said impulses.

14. System according to claim 13, wherein said detection device extends across the road surface of a road, preferably across the total width of the road surface of the road.

15. System according to claim 14, wherein said detection device forms an angle with the longitudinal direction of the road surface of the road, which is different from 90 degrees.

16. System according to claim 11, wherein the system comprises one or more depicting devices for depicting the vehicle when passing over the detection device.

17. System according to claim 11, wherein the system also comprises a device that identifies the number plate of the vehicle via a reading unit and/or a camera that receives information from the processing device when the vehicle that is equipped with studded decks is passing over the detection device, and a device that issues invoices to the owner of the vehicle when the criteria for studded tires are satisfied.

18. System according to claim 11, wherein the system comprises a device that shows the driver of a vehicle that the toll for use of studded tires must be paid.