HYBRID MAGNETIC-RADAR DETECTOR FOR SPACE MANAGEMENT

• US 20170168155A1
• Filed: 02/05/2015
• Published: 06/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Circet Co.
• Original Assignee: Park24 Company Limited
• Inventors: RICHARD, Xavier
• Granted Patent: US 10,551,489 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/04 Systems determining presence of a target based on relative movement of target G01S13/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/26 wherein the transmitted pulses use a frequency- or phase-modulated carrier wave
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/325 using transmission of coded signals, e.g. P.S.K. signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/36 with phase comparison between the received signal and the contemporaneously transmitted signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/86 Combinations of radar systems with non-radar systems, e.g. sonar, direction finder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/88 Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/2922 by using a controlled threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2240/00 Transportation facility access, e.g. fares, tolls or parking
• 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 1/042 using inductive or magnetic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70

Abstract

Methods and systems for detection of an occupancy status of a space monitored by a system (100) are described herein. The method comprises detecting a magnetic field value at the space by a magnetic field sensor (210) of a sensing device (104). The detected magnetic field value with a reference magnetic field value, to determine a magnetic occupancy status (MOS) of the space. The MOS is indicative of the change in the occupancy status of the space. The change in the occupancy status is indicative of one of a change from empty to occupied occupancy status, and a change from occupied to empty occupancy status. Further, when the MOS indicates the change in the occupancy status of the space, a radar sensor (212) of the sensing device (104) is activated to determine a radar occupancy status (ROS) by generating at least one radar reading from the radar sensor (212). The ROS is indicative of the change in the occupancy status of the space. Thereafter, the change in the occupancy status of the space is established when the ROS indicating the change in the occupancy status of the space is in agreement with the MOS. Further, the established change of the occupancy status in the space is communicated to a central unit (102) of the system (100).

Claims

1. A method for detection of an occupancy status of a space monitored by a system (100), the method comprising:

detecting a magnetic field value at the space by a magnetic field sensor (210) of a sensing device (104);

comparing the detected magnetic field value with a reference magnetic field value using a magnetic field detection module (110) of the sensing device (104), the magnetic field detection module (110) being coupled to a processor (202) of the sensing device (104);

determining, using the magnetic field detection module (110), a magnetic occupancy status (MOS) of the space based on the comparison, wherein the MOS is indicative of the change in the occupancy status of the space, and wherein the change in the occupancy status is indicative of one of;

a change from empty to occupied occupancy status, and

a change from occupied to empty occupancy status;

when the MOS indicates the change in the occupancy status of the space, activating a radar sensor (212) of the sensing device (104);

determining, using a radar detection module (112) of the sensing device (104), a radar occupancy status (ROS) by generating at least one radar reading from the radar sensor (212), wherein the radar detection module (112) being coupled to the processor (202) of the sensing device (104), and wherein the ROS is indicative of the change in the occupancy status of the space;

establishing the change in the occupancy status of the space when the ROS indicates the change in the occupancy status of the space and the ROS is in agreement with the MOS; and

communicating the change of the occupancy status in the space to a central unit (102) of the system (100).

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detecting of the magnetic field value at the space by the magnetic field sensor (210) is carried out at a frequency of about 1 hertz.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detecting of the magnetic field value at the space and the at least one radar reading are carried out at 250 μ

A/3V.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the determining of the ROS comprises:

modulating a signal with a pseudo random code sequence using a switch modulator of the radar sensor (212);

transmitting the modulated signal towards the space from a transmitter of the radar sensor (212);

receiving a reflected signal from the space at the radar sensor at a receiver of the radar sensor (212); and

demodulating the reflected signal to obtain a bit sequence of same length as that of the transmitted modulated signal.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprises operating the radar sensor (212) at a frequency of 2.4 Giga Hertz (GHz).

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises deactivating the radar sensor (212) after establishing the change in the occupancy status of the space.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when the MOS is in disagreement with the ROS, the method comprises:

for the predetermined number of times;

re-determining the MOS by the magnetic field sensor (210);

re-determining the ROS by the radar sensor (212); and

comparing the MOS with the ROS.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the method further comprises:

establishing no change in the occupancy status of the space based on the comparison, when the MOS is in disagreement with the ROS after the predetermined number of times.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the method further comprises desensitizing the magnetic field sensor (210).

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein when the magnetic field sensor (210) is desensitized, the method comprises:

recalibrating the magnetic field sensor (210); and

during a period of recalibration of the magnetic field sensor (210), periodically determining the radar occupancy status (ROS) by the radar sensor (212).

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the method further comprises reactivating the magnetic field sensor (210) and deactivating the radar sensor (212) after the recalibration of the magnetic field sensor (210).

12. A system (100) for detection of a change in occupancy status of a space, the system (100) comprises:

a central unit (102) monitoring the change in the occupancy status of the space; and

a sensing device (104) communicatively coupled to the central unit (102), wherein the sensing device (104) comprises;

a processor (202);

a magnetic detection module (110), coupled to the processor (202), to;

compare a detected magnetic field value at the space by a magnetic field sensor (210) with a reference magnetic field value of the space, and

determine a magnetic occupancy status (MOS) of the space based on the comparison, wherein the MOS is indicative of the change in the occupancy status of the space, and wherein the change in the occupancy status is indicative of one of;

a change from empty to occupied occupancy status, and

a change from occupied to empty occupancy status; and

a radar detection module (112), coupled to the processor (202), to;

activate a radar sensor (212) when the MOS indicates the change in the occupancy status of the space,

determine a radar occupancy status (ROS) by generating at least one radar reading, wherein the ROS is indicative of change in the occupancy status of the space;

establish the change in the occupancy status of the space when the MOS is in agreement with the ROS; and

communicate the change in the occupancy status of the space to the central unit (102).

13. The system (100) as claimed in claim 12, wherein the radar sensor (212) perform determination of ROS by:

modulating a signal with a pseudo random code sequence using a switch modulator of the radar sensor (212);

transmitting the modulated signal towards the space from a transmitter of the radar sensor (212);

receiving a reflected signal from the space at the radar sensor (212) at a receiver of the radar sensor (212); and

demodulating the reflected signal to obtain a bit sequence of same length as that of the transmitted modulated signal.

14. The system (100) as claimed in claim 12, wherein the radar sensor (212) is operated at a frequency of 2.4 Giga Hertz (GHz).

15. The system (100) as claimed in claim 12, wherein the radar sensor (212) is deactivated after establishing the change in the occupancy status of the space.