Apparatus for the transfer of information in motor vehicle traffic

• US 5,493,291 A
• Filed: 03/28/1994
• Issued: 02/20/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Preh-Werke GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Preh-Werke GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Bruggemann, Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US08/218,173
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 340/941, 340/902, 340/903, 340/904, 340/991, 340/992, 340/993, 340/996, 340/989, 340/825.54, 340/825.71, 455/41, 455/54, 455/55, 455/99
• US Class Current: 340/905
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0058 responsive to externally generated signalling
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096758 where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element

Abstract

In an apparatus for the transfer of information in motor vehicle traffic between a fixed-position transmitter-building element near a roadway and a receiver arranged in a vehicle, the transmitter-building element emits a coded information signal and the receiver of the vehicle driving past the transmitter-building element displays information from the information signal in the vehicle. In order to make shielding measures unnecessary, with an uncomplicated supply of energy to the transmitter-building element and small construction costs therefor, the transmitter-building element (1) is built into roadway pavement (12). The energy necessary for transmitting the information signal is received by the transmitter-building element (1) from the vehicle (13) which is driving above it. The receiver (4, 15, 16) has an antenna arrangement (14) which is arranged in a floor area of the vehicle (13) to transfer the necessary transmitting energy to the transmitter-building element (1) and receive the emitted information signal from the transmitter-building element (1).

Claims

1. Apparatus for transferring information in motor vehicle traffic between a transmitter-building element of pavement forming a roadway and a receiver arranged in a motor vehicle, whereby the transmitter-building element transmits a coded information signal and said receiver of said vehicle driving over the transmitter-building element receives and analyzes the information signal and the transmitter-building element receives necessary energy to transmit the information signal from the vehicle driving over it;

wherein the transmitter-building element includes a transponder having a means for being activated to emit a digital code signal in response to a changing magnetic field, said transmitter building element being mounted at a traffic-critical location in the roadway pavement at which it can be driven over by said vehicle;

wherein the receiver has a loop antenna arranged in a floor area of the vehicle which transmits to the transponder the energy necessary for the transponder to transmit, and which receives an information signal transmitted by the transponder for guiding the vehicle;

wherein the receiver includes an analyzing circuit coupled to the antenna for analyzing the information signal;

wherein said apparatus further includes an indicating device coupled to the analyzing circuit for indicating information from the analyzed information signal in the vehicle;

wherein the information signal corresponds to a changeable traffic sign which is arranged near the transmitter-building element in the roadway pavement;

wherein the transmitter-building element includes a programmable memory with a means for automatically changing its program in response to changing the corresponding changeable traffic sign.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the programmable memory is programmable by means of an additional transmitter.

3. Apparatus for transferring information in motor vehicle traffic between a transmitter-building element of pavement forming a roadway and a receiver arranged in a motor vehicle, whereby the transmitter-building element transmits a coded information signal and said receiver of said vehicle driving over the transmitter-building element receives and analyzes the information signal and the transmitter-building element receives necessary energy to transmit the information signal from the vehicle driving over it;

wherein the transmitter-building element includes a transponder having a means for being activated to emit a digital code signal in response to a changing magnetic field, said transmitter building element being mounted at a traffic-critical location in the roadway pavement at which it can be driven over by said vehicle;

wherein the receiver has a loop antenna arranged in a floor area of the vehicle which transmits to the transponder the energy necessary for the transponder to transmit, and which receives an information signal transmitted by the transponder for guiding the vehicle;

wherein the receiver includes an analyzing circuit coupled to the antenna for analyzing the information signal;

wherein said apparatus further includes an indicating device coupled to the analyzing circuit for indicating information from the analyzed information signal in the vehicle;

wherein there are at least two transmitter-building elements staggered along the roadway, constructed in the pavement thereof, each providing information regarding a driving direction of a motor vehicle; and

wherein information signals from the at least two transmitter-building elements indicate a proper driving direction of a vehicle and the receiver gives off an alarm signal when the vehicle is driving in an opposite direction to the proper direction.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the at least two transmitter-building elements are arranged in series in a driving direction of said vehicle along the roadway pavement.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein a leading transmitter-building element of the at least two transmitter-building elements in said driving direction erases an indication of driving direction from earlier passed transmitter-building element.

6. Apparatus for transferring information in motor vehicle traffic between a transmitter-building element of pavement forming a roadway and a receiver arranged in a motor vehicle, whereby the transmitter-building element transmits a coded information signal and said receiver of said vehicle driving over the transmitter-building element receives and analyzes the information signal and the transmitter-building element receives necessary energy to transmit the information signal from the vehicle driving over it;

wherein the transmitter-building element includes a transponder having a means for being activated to emit a digital code signal in response to a changing magnetic field, said transmitter building element being mounted at a traffic-critical location in the roadway pavement at which it can be driven over by said vehicle;

wherein the receiver has a loop antenna arranged in a floor area of the vehicle which transmits to the transponder the energy necessary for the transponder to transmit, and which receives an information signal transmitted by the transponder for guiding the vehicle;

wherein the receiver includes an analyzing circuit coupled to the antenna for analyzing the information signal;

wherein said apparatus further includes an indicating device coupled to the analyzing circuit for indicating information from the analyzed information signal in the vehicle;

wherein the transmitter-building element includes a counter which includes means for beginning a count when driven over by a leading vehicle and means for measuring a spacing of a following vehicle from the leading vehicle by means of the counter'"'"'s count.