Vehicle identification method and apparatus

• US 3,872,283 A
• Filed: 07/13/1973
• Issued: 03/18/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gerald R. Smith, Oscar Jerome Iii Brittingham
• Original Assignee: Gerald R. Smith, Oscar Jerome Iii Brittingham
• Inventors: Smith, Gerald R., Brittingham, Oscar Jerome III
• Primary Examiner(s): Ruggiero, Joseph F.
• Application Number:
  US05/378,988
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 235/150.22,150.2,150.23,150.24,150.27 340/22,23,24,25,26,27NA,27R,27SS,31R,38R 343/5LS,5GC
• US Class Current: 701/408
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/015 with provision for distinguishing between two or more types of vehicles, e.g. between motor-cars and cycles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/065 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. for taxiing or rolling

Abstract

Identification of vehicle types, such as types of aircraft, by identifying unique characteristics of the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'footprint'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' presented by the configuration of wheels unique to a particular type of vehicle. Movement of the vehicle through a gate produces timerelated signals which are a function of the vehicle velocity and of the configuration of wheels on the vehicle. Velocity of the vehicle is determined, and the velocity is used along with the time information to compute the relative position of each vehicle wheel, and also to provide footprint dimension data which can be compared with the dimension data of known types of vehicles for identification purposes.

Claims

1. Apparatus for determining the position of a vehicle as the vehicle moves along a path, comprising:

first means positioned with respect to the path for providing a first signal corresponding to the time required for the vehicle to move a predetermined distance along the path;

second means positioned with respect to the path to provide a second signal corresponding to the time required to travel between a first location normal to the direction of travel on the path and an intersection of a second location diagonal to the path; and

computing means connected to receive said first signal and said second signal and operative to provide a third signal as a function of the ratio which the second signal bears to the first signal, and which is thus a function of the lateral position of the intersection of the second location.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said second means comprises a first control device positioned normal to the direction of movement along the path to provide a first control signal in response to the passage of a vehicle, and a second control device positioned across and at a certain angle diagonal to said direction of movement to provide a second control signal in response to the passage of a vehicle.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said computing means includes clock means, and circuit means responsive to said first and second control signals to provide said second signal as the amount of clock time occurring between the occurrence of said first and second control signals.

4. Apparatus for obtaining data indicating the identity of a vehicle traveling along a path by detecting the passage of vehicle wheels, comprising:

first sensing means positioned across the path and substantially perpendicular to the nominal length of the travel path to provide a first signal in response to the passage of a vehicle wheel along the path;

second sensing means positioned across the path a spaced distance apart from said first sensing means as measured along the nominal length of the path and operative to provide a second signal in response to the passage of a vehicle wheel along the path;

said second sensing means positioned across the path at an oblique angle with respect to the nominal length to cause all vehicle wheels of a first wheel set to pass the second vehicle means before any wheel of a second wheel set crosses the second sensing means.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said second sensing means Is positioned at an oblique angle at least large enough to permit all wheels at a particular location on one side of the vehicle to pass the second sensing means before any wheel at the same particular location on the opposite side of the vehicle passes the second sensing means.

6. The method of evaluating the wheel pattern of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

generating a first signal which is a function of the time required for the vehicle to move along a path of known distance;

generating a second signal which is a function of the time required for a vehicle support member to move between a location substantially normal to the path and a location determined by the lateral position of the support member on the path; and

generating a third signal which is a function of said first and second signals and which is proportional to said lateral position of the support member.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

generating a fourth signal which is a function of the time required for a second support member of the vehicle to move between said substantially normal location and a location determined by the lateral position of the second support member on the path; and

generating a fifth signal which is a function of said first and fourth signals and which is proportional to said lateral position of the second support member.

8. The method of claim 7, comprising the additional step of generating a sixth signal which is a function of the difference between said fifth signal and said third signal, and which accordingly is a function of the lateral distance between said two support members.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein each of said third and fifth signals is generated as a function of the equation:

L (V) (TL)/tan a where L is the lateral position of the support member, V is the velocity of the vehicle, TL is the determined time for the support member to travel between said substantially normal location and the lateral position of the support member, and a is the included angle between the substantially normal location and a line which intersects the said lateral positions.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising comparing said sixth signal with a plurality of reference signals corresponding to known lateral distances between support members of certain known vehicles;

and generating an output signal indicating the reference signal which most closely is identical with said sixth signal.

11. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein:

said second means is responsive to the time required for a certain support member of the vehicle to travel between said first location and said diagonal intersection.

12. Apparatus as in claim 11, wherein:

said first means is responsive to the time required for a vehicle support member to move said predetermined distance.

13. Apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising:

signal storage means operative to receive and store a predetermined third signal condition corresponding to the movement of at least one known type of vehicle along said path; and

signal comparison means operative to compare said third signal generated by said computing means with said predetermined third signal conditions stored in said storage means and operative to provide a vehicle type output signal indicative of a said known vehicle type in response to said generated third signal having a predetermined comparison correspondence with a said predetermined signal condition.

14. Apparatus as in claim 4, further comprising:

signal storage means operative to receive and store predetermined signal conditions which are a function of the passage of said vehicle wheels of certain known types of vehicles along said path; and

signal comparison means operative to compare the same function of said second signals provided by said second sensing means with said predetermined signal conditions stored in said stOrage means and operative to provide a vehicle type output indicative of a said known vehicle type in response to said function of said second signal having a predetermined comparison correspondence with a said predetermined signal condition.