Vehicle with position detector

• US 6,690,301 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2001
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ichino, Kanji, Urushidani, Shinzo, Yano, Shunji
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US10/002,120
• Publication Number:
  US 20020067293A1
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 340/988, 340/989, 340/990, 340/991, 340/992, 340/995.1, 340/995.17, 340/433, 340/693.1, 340/693.2, 340/693.4, 701/1, 701/32, 701/207, 701/213, 455/572, 455/573, 455/574
• US Class Current: 340/988
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/74 Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

The position of a vehicle is to be detected accurately while suppressing the consumption of a battery. In accordance with instructions given from a position detection service center a base station issues requests at certain intervals. A vehicle V, upon receipt of a request, issues an answer signal containing ID information. On the basis of the answer signal the position detection service center decides the position of the vehicle V and offers the position information to a control center on demand. Electric power is supplied from a vehicular battery to an answer signal issuing member installed in the vehicle V. Even after a main power supply switch is turned OFF, the supply of electric power from the battery is continued, thus permitting an answer to a request from the base station. Consequently, the control center can determine a vehicular stop position accurately.

Claims

1. A vehicle with a position detector comprising:

a communication means for issuing information to be used for deciding the position of the vehicle;

a main power supply means installed in the vehicle for supplying electric power for said communication means; and

a control means for maintaining the supply of electric power to said communication means for a predetermined time after turning OFF said main power supply means, wherein the time for maintaining the supply of electric power to said communication means is set to be longer than an issuing interval of information to be used for deciding the position of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle with a position detector according to claim 1, wherein said communication means includes a receiver means for detecting a request signal outputted at a predetermined interval from a vehicular position detecting system and a transmitter means which upon receipt of said request signal transmits said information to be used for deciding the position of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle with a position detector according to claim 2, wherein said information to be used for deciding the position of the vehicle permits the position to be displayed on a map by said position detecting system.

4. The vehicle with a position detector according to claim 1, having a housing for removably receiving therein said communication means, said housing being provided with a contact means which fits a terminal provided on said communication means side and which is connected to said main power supply means.

5. The vehicle with a position detector according to claim 4, having an assist motor means for generating an assisting force to be added to a peddling force and a basket disposed in a front portion of a vehicle body, and wherein said housing is fixed within said basket, and said main power supply means is a battery used for said assist motor means.

6. The vehicle with a position detector according to claim 4, wherein said control means is disposed on a bottom of said housing, said communication means is disposed on said control means, and said housing is hermetically sealed with an upper lid.

7. A position detector for a vehicle comprising:

a communication means for issuing a signal to be used for detecting a position of a vehicle;

a main power supply means for supplying electric power to said communication means; and

a control means operatively connected to said main power supply means for maintaining the supply of electric power to said communication means for a predetermined time after turning OFF said main power supply means, wherein the time for maintaining the supply of electric power to said communication means is set to be longer than an issuing interval of information to be used for determining the position of the vehicle.

8. The vehicle with a position detector according to claim 7, wherein said communication means includes a receiver means for detecting a request signal outputted at a predetermined interval from a vehicular position detecting system and a transmitter means which upon receipt of said request signal transmits said information to be used for determining the position of the vehicle.

9. The vehicle with a position detector according to claim 8, wherein said information to be used for detecting the position of the vehicle permits the position to be displayed on a map by said position detecting system.

10. The vehicle with a position detector according to claim 7, having a housing for removably receiving therein said communication means, said housing being provided with a contact means which fits a terminal provided on said communication means side and which is connected to said main power supply means.

11. The vehicle with a position detector according to claim 10, having an assist motor means for generating an assisting force to be added to a peddling force and a basket disposed in a front portion of a vehicle body, and wherein said housing is fixed within said basket, and said main power supply means is a battery used for said assist motor means.

12. The vehicle with a position detector according to claim 10, wherein said control means is disposed on a bottom of said housing, said communication means is disposed on said control means, and said housing is hermetically sealed with an upper lid.