MOVABLE-OBJECT IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM

• US 3,813,658 A
• Filed: 03/22/1972
• Issued: 05/28/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edward Rich Jr
• Original Assignee: Edward Rich Jr
• Inventors: Rich, Edward Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Henon, Paul J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thesz, Jr., Joseph M.
• Application Number:
  US05/236,924
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 340/146.3K,152T,174.1R,347P 235/61.12M,61.11D 343/6.5SS 179/1.2A
• US Class Current: 235/449
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/043 using inductive tags
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/046 using magnetic tags
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0224 Key guide holders
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224

Abstract

A railroad car identification system is described herein which includes a magnetic identification record mounted on a railroad car and a stationary sensing means for reading information from the identification record as the railroad car passes the stationary sensing means. The system comprises a channeling means and a follower which is guided through the channeling means as the railroad car passes the stationary sensing means. In this manner the identification record is held in close proximity to a sensing element of the stationary sensing means. In one embodiment the channeling means is a part of the identification record and mounted on the railroad car and in another embodiment the follower is a part of the identification record and mounted on the railroad car. In both embodiments provision is made for modifying information on the identification record. Various modifications of both embodiments are described. Also described herein is an electrical circuit for processing information read from the identification record. The circuit includes circuitry for storing such information on a shift register and circuitry for subsequently transferring such information to a computer.

Claims

1. A movable-object identification system for identifying movable objects guided along a path by a track comprising:

an identification record mounted on an individual movable object; and

a stationary sensing means separate from but positioned along said track, said stationary sensing means forming a channel for guiding said identification record and for reading information from said identification record, as said individual movable object is guided past said stationary sensing means by said track;

said identification record comprising;

a flat plate having two sides;

an array of magnetic material elements embedded in said flat plate, said magnetic material elements extending between said two sides; and

a mounting means for mounting said flat plate to said movable object and allowing said flat plate to extend away from said movable object so as to expose said two sides;

whereby, as said individual movable object is guided past said stationary sensing means by said track, said flat plate can enter and be guided along said channel formed by said stationary sensing means.

2. A movable-object identification system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said magnetic material elements are iron slugs.

3. A movable-object identification system of the type comprising an identification record mounted on an individual movable object and a stationary sensing means, for reading information from said identification record as said individual movable object passes said stationary sensing means, said movable-object identification system comprising:

a channeling means comprising two opposing barriers for defining a channel space therebetween;

a follower means for engaging said opposing barriers so as to be guided into said channel space and thereafter to be guided along said channel space as said individual movable object passes said stationary sensing means, said follower means having freedom of lateral movement so as to allow such guidance;

wherein said channeling means is mounted on said movable object and said identification record is mounted on said channeling means, said identification record comprising magnetic material elements arranged in tracks, with each track comprising complementary magnetic-material elements respectively forming parts of opposing barriers of said channeling means; and

, wherein said stationary sensing means comprises said follower means having an electrical conducting element attached thereto;

whereby, as said follower means is guided along said channel space by said opposing barriers said electrical conducting element passes between said complementary magnetic material elements.

4. A movable-object identification system as claimed in claim 3 wherein complementary magnetic-material elements comprise north and south poles of a single magnet.

5. A movable-object identification system as claimed in claim 3 wherein complementary magnetic-mAterial elements comprise separate magnets which are joined by magnetic material.

6. A movable-object identification system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said magnetic-material elements comprise individual magnets which are not interconnected by magnetic material.

7. A movable-object identification system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said magnetic-elements comprise iron slugs.

8. A movable-object identification system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said stationary sensing means comprises a voltage source which is connected in series with said electrical conducting element and a resistor.

9. A movable-object identification system for identifying objects guided along a path by a track, of the type comprising an identification record mounted on an individual movable object and a stationary sensing means positioned along said track, for reading information from said identification record as said individual movable object is guided past said stationary sensing means by said track, said movable-object identification system comprising:

a channel means separate from said track comprising two opposing barriers for defining a channel space therebetween; and

a follower means for engaging said opposing barriers so as to be guided into said channel space and thereafter to be guided along said channel space as said individual movable object passes said stationary sensing means, said follower means having freedom of lateral movement so as to allow such guidance;

wherein said channeling means forms a part of said stationary sensing means and includes a U-shaped magnetic core with arms embedded in opposite walls of said channeling means;

wherein said follower means is mounted on said movable object and comprises at least one track of information elements for forming said identification record; and

whereby, as said follower means is guided along said channel space by said opposing barriers said information elements pass between said opposing barriers and adjacent said sensing device.

10. A movable-object identification system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said stationary sensing means comprise a voltage source which is connected in series with an electrical conducting element and resistor.

11. In a movable-object identification system for identifying objects guided along a path by a track, of the type comprising an identification record mounted on an individual movable object and a stationary sensing means positioned along said track, for reading information from said identification record as said individual movable object is guided past said stationary sensing means by said track, an identification record comprising:

a channel means separate from said track comprising two opposing barriers for defining a channel space therebetween for guiding said stationary sensing means into said channel space and thereafter to guide said stationary sensing means along said channel space;

an array of complementary magnetic material elements embedded opposite one another in said two opposing barriers wherein said array of magnetic material elements is arranged in tracks, with each track comprising complementary magnetic-material elements mounted on opposing sides of said channeling means;

whereby, as said individual movable object is guided past said stationary sensing means by said track, a follower of said stationary sensing means can be guided into, and be guided along, said channel space by said two opposing barriers.

12. A movable-object identification system as claimed in claim 11 wherein said complementary magnetic-material elements comprise north and south poles of a single magnet.

13. A movable-object identification system as claimed in claim 11 wherein complementary magnetic-material elements comprise separete magnets which are jointed by a pole piece.

14. A movable-object identification system as claimed in claim 11 wherein said magnetic-material elements comprise individual magnets which are not interconnected by magnetic materIal.

15. A movable-object identification system as claimed in claim 11 wherein said magnetic-material elements are iron slugs.

16. A movable-object identification system for identifying objects guided along a path by a track, of the type comprising magnetic-array identification records mounted on separate movable objects and an induction-coil type stationary sensing means positioned along said track in which magnetic elements, each having one of two opposite pole orientations, of said magnetic-array identification records induce electrical signals, each having one of two positive/negative waveform orientations induced by said respective pole orientations, as said separate movable objects are guided past said stationary sensing means by said track wherein said movable-object identification system comprises a sensor logic circuit which includes:

a shift register for receiving said induced electrical signals on a single line and at a single shift-register terminal and shifting information contained in said induced electrical signals into said register for storing said information and, a timing means for causing said shift register to shift negative/positive information contained in the same predetermined portion of each of said induced electrical signals to thereby determine the pole orientations of each of said magnetic elements.

17. A movable-object identification system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said timing means includes a counting means for counting negative portions and positive portions of said signal and providing said shift register a shifting pulse in response to said count.

18. A movable-object identification system as claimed in claim 17 wherein said counting means comprises:

a signal separating means for separating first-polarity and second-polarity portions of said induced signal;

an inverting means for inverting second-polarity portions of said induced signals; and

a recombining means for recombing said separated portions.

19. A movable-object identification system as claimed in claim 18 wherein said counting means counts said recombined portions and provides a shifting pulse to said shift register in response to every second portion counted.

20. A movable-object identification system as claimed in claim 18 wherein said first polarity portions provide information that is shifted into said shift register.

21. A movable-object identification system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said logic circuit further includes a clock means for providing shifting pulses to said shift register in response to said shift register being full.

22. A movable-object identification system as claimed in claim 21 wherein said logic circuit further includes a shift counter for counting clock pulses applied to said shift register by said clock and a gate means for blocking clock shifting pulses to said shift register in response to said shift counter reaching a predetermined count.

23. A movable-object identification system as claimed in claim 22 wherein said logic circuit further includes a reset circuit which comprises a reset means for resetting said shift register and said shift counter a predetermined time period after said timing means begins to provide shifting pulses to said shift register and a predetermined time period after said clock begins to provide shifting pulses to said shift register.

24. A movable-object identification system for identifying objects guided along a path by a track, of the type comprising an identification record mounted on an individual movable object and a stationary sensing means positioned along said track for reading information from said identification record as said individual movable object is guided past said stationary sensing means by said track, said movable object identification system comprising:

a channeling means separate from said track comprising two opposing barriers for defining a channel space therebetween;

a follower means for engaging said opposing barriers so as to be guIded along said channel space as said individual movable object passes said stationary sensing means, said follower means having freedom of lateral movement so as to allow such guidance;

wherein;

said channeling means and said follower means are structurally associated with said identification record and said stationary sensing means such that, as said follower means is guided along said channeling means, said sensing means is held is close proximity to said identification record;

said identification record comprises an array of magnetic-material elements, each having one of two opposite pole orientations;

said stationary sensing means comprises an induction coil for having a series of electrical signals induced therein in response to movement of said magnetic-material elements in close proximity to said induction coil, each having one of two positive/negative waveform orientations induced by said respective pole orientations; and

said movable-object identification system further comprises a sensor logic circuit which includes;

a shift register for storing information contained in said series of induced electrical signals; and

timing means for causing said shift register to only shift negative/positive information contained in the same predetermined portions of said induced electrical signals into said shift register.