Container chassis positioning system
First Claim
1. An automatic, computer controlled signalling system to assist a driver in accurately positioning a truck chassis at a preprogrammed specific stop point in a loading/unloading lane adjacent to a dock side container crane to facilitate loading/unloading of containerized cargo comprising, in combination:
- a dock side crane for loading/unloading containerized cargo between a ship and container transport trucks;
at least one loading/unloading lane extending beneath at least portions of said crane for passage of container transport truck vehicles thereon;
signal means adjacent to and visible to a driver of a truck moving along said at least one loading/unloading lane;
means for capturing an image of specific parts of a truck moving along said at least one loading/unloading lane;
computer vision means for receiving and comparing the captured image to a series of sample images to identify and match the captured image with one of said series of sample images;
said signal means being in connection with and being responsive to said means for receiving and comparing the captured image, wherebywhen said means for capturing an image of a specific part of a moving truck matches the captured image with one of said series of sample images, said signal means will visually indicate to the driver of the truck that he is approaching the desired loading/unloading stop point and indicate the relative distance his vehicle is from the desired loading/unloading stop point, and when his vehicle reaches the desired loading/unloading stop point the signal means will indicate that he is to stop his truck for the loading/unloading thereof by said crane.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer controlled signalling system to assist a driver in accurately positioning a truck chassis at a preprogrammed specific stop point in a loading/unloading lane adjacent to a dockside container crane to facilitate loading/unloading of containerized cargo by the crane and employing a light signal panel visible to the truck driver and having a series of vertically disposed lights thereon sequentially actuated by a computer. The vertical lights indicate to the driver the exact distance he is from, and when he reaches, the desired stop point. The computer is responsive to a video image received from a video camera disposed over the traffic lane and matches the image(s) received with a programmed image for locating, identifying and signalling the position of the truck.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. An automatic, computer controlled signalling system to assist a driver in accurately positioning a truck chassis at a preprogrammed specific stop point in a loading/unloading lane adjacent to a dock side container crane to facilitate loading/unloading of containerized cargo comprising, in combination:
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a dock side crane for loading/unloading containerized cargo between a ship and container transport trucks; at least one loading/unloading lane extending beneath at least portions of said crane for passage of container transport truck vehicles thereon; signal means adjacent to and visible to a driver of a truck moving along said at least one loading/unloading lane; means for capturing an image of specific parts of a truck moving along said at least one loading/unloading lane; computer vision means for receiving and comparing the captured image to a series of sample images to identify and match the captured image with one of said series of sample images; said signal means being in connection with and being responsive to said means for receiving and comparing the captured image, whereby when said means for capturing an image of a specific part of a moving truck matches the captured image with one of said series of sample images, said signal means will visually indicate to the driver of the truck that he is approaching the desired loading/unloading stop point and indicate the relative distance his vehicle is from the desired loading/unloading stop point, and when his vehicle reaches the desired loading/unloading stop point the signal means will indicate that he is to stop his truck for the loading/unloading thereof by said crane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of assisting a driver in accurately positioning a container transport vehicle at a preprogrammed specific stop point in a loading/unloading lane adjacent to a dock side container crane to facilitate loading/unloading of containerized cargo, comprising the steps of:
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providing a dock side crane for loading/unloading containerized cargo between a ship and a container transport vehicle; providing a loading/unloading traffic lane extending beneath at least portions of the crane for passage of container transport vehicles thereon; providing signal means adjacent to and visible to a driver of a container transport vehicle moving along the loading/unloading lane; providing a video camera directed toward the loading/unloading traffic lane to capture an image of any vehicle within the camera range moving along the traffic lane; providing computer vision means for receiving and comparing the captured image to a series of sample images to identify and match the captured image with one of the series of sample images; and
,when a match image is received, converting this information to a digital signal and transferring this information to the signal means to illuminate a light thereon that indicates to the driver of the container transport vehicle the relative position he is from the desired loading/unloading stop point.
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Specification