Automated vehicle wash system with vehicle type recognition
First Claim
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1. A method of controlling a dryer in an automated vehicle wash system, comprising the steps of:
- (A) positioning two sensors in succession above a pathway in the car wash;
(B) repeatedly sending signals from the sensors toward the path;
(C) moving a vehicle once in a signal direction along the pathway;
(D) repeatedly receiving reflected signals that reflect from an upper surface of the vehicle passing beneath the sensors, respectively;
(E) determining a value of the received reflected signals at each sensor;
(F) determining a relationship between the values of the received reflected signals at each sensor as the vehicle moves along the pathway beneath the sensors;
(G) determining a type of the vehicle moving along the pathway, using the relationship of step (F); and
(H) controlling a position of the dryer responsive to the type of vehicle determined in step (G).
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Abstract
An automated car wash system includes a device for recognizing the types of vehicles passing through the system. The vehicle type recognition device includes two ultrasonic sensors positioned above the vehicle pathway to determine a vehicle profile. A computer recognizes the vehicle profile and type by monitoring a relationship between signals present at each sensor. The computer communicates the vehicle type information to a dryer controller that controls the position of the dryer relative to the vehicle.
44 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a dryer in an automated vehicle wash system, comprising the steps of:
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(A) positioning two sensors in succession above a pathway in the car wash; (B) repeatedly sending signals from the sensors toward the path; (C) moving a vehicle once in a signal direction along the pathway; (D) repeatedly receiving reflected signals that reflect from an upper surface of the vehicle passing beneath the sensors, respectively; (E) determining a value of the received reflected signals at each sensor; (F) determining a relationship between the values of the received reflected signals at each sensor as the vehicle moves along the pathway beneath the sensors; (G) determining a type of the vehicle moving along the pathway, using the relationship of step (F); and (H) controlling a position of the dryer responsive to the type of vehicle determined in step (G). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A device for controlling the operation of a dryer in an automated car wash system, comprising:
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a dryer supported over a pathway along which a vehicle travels once in a single direction through the car wash; a first sensor supported above the pathway in a position where a vehicle passes beneath said first sensor prior to approaching said dryer, said first sensor repeatedly sending first signals toward the pathway and receiving first reflected signals that reflect from a surface beneath said first sensor; a second sensor supported above the pathway and spaced from the first sensor such that the vehicle passes beneath said second sensor after passing beneath said first sensor, said second sensor repeatedly sending second signals toward the pathway and receiving second reflected signals that reflect from a surface beneath said second sensor; value detecting means for detecting a value of said first reflected signals and said second reflected signals, respectively; vehicle type determining means for determining a relationship between said values of said first and second reflected signals and determining a type of the vehicle moving along the pathway; and a controller that controls a position of said dryer responsive to the vehicle type determined to be moving along the pathway. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of determining a type of vehicle moving along a path through an automated vehicle wash system, comprising the steps of:
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(A) positioning a sensor above the path along which the vehicle moves; (B) repeatedly sending a signal from the sensor toward the path; (C) repeatedly receiving a reflection of the signal from step (B) that reflects from a surface beneath the sensor; (D) moving a vehicle along the path through a position where the signal of step (B) is incident upon an upper surface of the vehicle; (E) determining a first time when the received reflection of the signal first indicates that the vehicle is beneath the sensor; (F) determining a second time when the received reflection of the signal first indicates a maximum height of a hood portion of the vehicle; (G) determining a time difference between the first time of step (E) and the second time of step (F); and (H) determining the type of vehicle beneath the sensors based upon the time difference of step (G). - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification