System for data transfer between moving objects and fixed stations

• US 6,583,732 B1
• Filed: 12/17/2001
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AMB i.t. Holding B.V. (Sports Timing Holding BV)
• Original Assignee: AMB i.t. Holding B.V. (Sports Timing Holding BV)
• Inventors: Bervoets, Alfonsus Maria, Hin, Franciscus Robertus Albertus Cornelis
• Primary Examiner(s): Trieu, Van
• Application Number:
  US09/913,191
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 340/928, 340/907, 340/933, 340/937, 340/942, 340/961, 340/906, 340/904, 701/115, 701/117, 701/2, 455/422, 455/456, 455/524, 342/457, 342/417
• US Class Current: 340/933
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/765 with exchange of information between interrogator and responder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/78 discriminating between different kinds of targets, e.g. IFF-radar, i.e. identification of friend or foe G01S13/75, G01S13/79 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G

Abstract

System for data transfer between one or more objects moving along a path and one or more fixed communication stations located along said path, wherein each object is provided with a transmitter/receiver combination, the transmitter of which is coupled to an identity code generator and the receiver of which is coupled to a data processing unit, and wherein each communication station is provided with a transmitter/receiver combination, the transmitter of which is coupled to a message generator and the receiver of which is coupled to an identity code recognition unit, wherein the transmitter/receiver of each object is continually activated, at least in the vicinity of the communication station, such that successively, in an alternating series of first and second periods, the transmitter transmits an identity code, originating from the identity code generator, in a first period and the receiver is ready to receive any responses in a second period, wherein, furthermore, the receiver of each station is continually activated until an identity code has been received, which code is recognized by the recognition unit, after which the message generator and the transmitter are activated in order to transmit any message intended for the object having this code.

Claims

1. System for effecting data transfer between one or more objects moving along a path and one or more fixed communication stations located along said path, characterised in that

each object is provided with a transmitter that is coupled to an identity code generator,

and in that each communication station is provided with a receiver that is coupled to an identity code recognition unit,

wherein the transmitter of each object is continually activated, at least in the vicinity of a communication station, such that, in an alternating series of first and second periods, the transmitter successively transmits an identity code, originating from the identity code generator, in a first period and the transmitter transmits nothing in a second period, and

wherein the receiver of each station is continually activated until an identity code is received, which code is recognised by the recognition unit.

2. System according to claim 1, characterised in that each object is provided with a message generator and in that each station is provided with a message receiver, wherein the message, always in series with the identity code, is transmitted by the transmitter of the object, and in that, in the station, which has first received the identity code, the message which follows it is passed to the message receiver and stored. (FIG. 2).

3. System according to claim 2, characterised in that the message receiver in each object is coupled to indication means and in that a message received via the receiver is processed to give signals for controlling said indication means.

4. System according to claim 1, characterised in that in addition to the transmitter, each object is provided with a receiver that is coupled to a message receiver,

and in that, in addition to the receiver, each communication station is provided with a transmitter that is coupled to a message generator,

wherein, after an identity code has been received in a communication station and has been recognised by the recognition unit, the message generator and the transmitter are activated in order to transmit any message intended for the object concerned and

wherein the receiver of each object is ready in each second period to receive any responses and pass these to the message receiver. (FIG. 3).

5. System according to claim 4, characterised in that each object is provided with a message generator coupled to the transmitter and in that each communication station is provided with a message processing unit coupled to the receiver, wherein, after the message receiver in the object has received, or after a predetermined waiting period following the transmission of the identification code, the transmitter and the message generator in the object are activated in order to transmit any message

and the receiver in the station, after transmitting a message to the object, or after receipt of the identification code, waits for any message from the object. (FIG. 4).

6. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that different transmission media are used for transmission from an object to a station and for transmission from a station to an object.

7. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the receiver in at least one station is coupled to a signal strength meter, a signal rating unit and to a clock and in that the output signal from the signal strength meter is processed in the signal rating unit in order to determine the signal strength with the aim of determining the time at which the maximum would have occurred if the object were to transmit continuously.

8. System according to claim 7, characterised in that the said time is stored in a memory that in any event can contain two times.

9. System according to claim 8, characterised in that means are present for determining the difference between two successive times.

10. System according claim 9, wherein the path is a closed path, characterized in that means are present by means of which the average speed at which the path is covered is determined on the basis of the known length of the closed path and two times determined in succession.

11. System according claim 8, wherein the path is a closed path, characterized in that means are present by means of which the average speed at which the path is covered is determined on the basis of the known length of the closed path and two times determined in succession.