Apparatus and method for measuring vehicle speed and/or acceleration
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for measuring at least one of a speed and acceleration of a vehicle traveling on a vehicle path, the apparatus comprising;
- a first radiation source that emits radiation arranged at a first side of the vehicle path;
a first reflector arranged on a second, opposite side of the vehicle path from said first radiation source that reflects radiation emitted from said first radiation source back towards the first side of the vehicle path;
a first detector arranged at the first side of the vehicle path that receives the reflected radiation from said first reflector and detects a presence and absence of the reflected radiation;
a second radiation source that emits radiation arranged at the first side of the vehicle path;
a second reflector arranged on the second, opposite side of the vehicle path from said second radiation source that reflects radiation emitted from said second radiation source back towards the first side of the vehicle path. a second detector arranged at the first side of the vehicle path that receives the reflected radiation from said second reflector and detects a presence and absence of the reflected radiation;
a controller operatively connected to said first and second detectors that calculates at least one of the speed and acceleration of the vehicle in response to said first and second detectors; and
a tilt sensor that measures a tilt of the vehicle path relative to a level path, wherein said controller determines Vehicle Specific Power of the vehicle due to calculated acceleration and measured tilt;
wherein each said radiation source is a modulated laser beam source.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for measuring the speed and/or acceleration of a vehicle traveling on a vehicle path includes sender/detector units on one side of the vehicle path and corresponding retro-reflector matrix units on the other side of the vehicle path. A controller calculates speed and/or acceleration of the vehicle in response to interruption of the beam by a passing vehicle.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring at least one of a speed and acceleration of a vehicle traveling on a vehicle path, the apparatus comprising;
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a first radiation source that emits radiation arranged at a first side of the vehicle path;
a first reflector arranged on a second, opposite side of the vehicle path from said first radiation source that reflects radiation emitted from said first radiation source back towards the first side of the vehicle path;
a first detector arranged at the first side of the vehicle path that receives the reflected radiation from said first reflector and detects a presence and absence of the reflected radiation;
a second radiation source that emits radiation arranged at the first side of the vehicle path;
a second reflector arranged on the second, opposite side of the vehicle path from said second radiation source that reflects radiation emitted from said second radiation source back towards the first side of the vehicle path. a second detector arranged at the first side of the vehicle path that receives the reflected radiation from said second reflector and detects a presence and absence of the reflected radiation;
a controller operatively connected to said first and second detectors that calculates at least one of the speed and acceleration of the vehicle in response to said first and second detectors; and
a tilt sensor that measures a tilt of the vehicle path relative to a level path, wherein said controller determines Vehicle Specific Power of the vehicle due to calculated acceleration and measured tilt;
wherein each said radiation source is a modulated laser beam source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for measuring at least one of a speed and acceleration of a vehicle traveling on a vehicle path, the apparatus comprising:
- first radiation means for emitting radiation arranged at a first side of the vehicle path;
first reflector means arranged on a second, opposite side of the vehicle path from said first radiation means for reflecting radiation emitted from said first radiation means back towards the first side of the vehicle path;
first detector means arranged at the first side of the vehicle path that receives the reflected radiation from said first reflector means for detecting a presence or absence of the reflected radiation;
second radiation means for emitting radiation arranged at the first side of the vehicle path;
second reflector means arranged on the second, opposite side of the vehicle path from said second radiation means for reflecting radiation emitted from said second radiation means back towards the first side of the vehicle path;
second detector means arranged at the first side of the vehicle path that receives the reflected radiation from said second reflector means for detecting a presence or absence of the reflected radiation;
calculating means operatively connected to said first and second detectors, for calculating at least one of the speed and acceleration of the vehicle in response to said first and second detectors; and
measuring means for measuring a tilt of the vehicle path relative to a level path; and
determining means for determining a Vehicle Specific Power of the vehicle due to the calculated acceleration based in part on the measured tilt;
wherein each of said radiation means comprises means for modulating radiation to emit a modulated beam. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
- first radiation means for emitting radiation arranged at a first side of the vehicle path;
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15. A method for measuring at least one of a speed and acceleration of a vehicle traveling on a vehicle path, the method comprising the steps of;
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emitting radiation from a first side of the vehicle path;
reflecting radiation emitted from said radiation emitting step at a second, opposite side of the vehicle path back towards the first side of the vehicle path;
receiving at the first side of the vehicle path the reflected radiation from the reflecting step;
detecting a presence or absence of the reflected radiation;
calculating at least one of the speed and acceleration of the vehicle in response to the detecting step;
measuring a tilt of the vehicle path relative to a level path; and
determining a Vehicle Specific Power of the vehicle due to the calculated acceleration based in part on the measured tilt;
wherein the emitting step comprises the step of modulating radiation to emit a modulated beam. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for measuring at least one of a speed and acceleration of a vehicle traveling on a vehicle path, the apparatus comprising;
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means for emitting radiation from a first side of the vehicle path;
means for reflecting radiation emitted from said radiation emitting step at a second, opposite side of the vehicle path back towards the first side of the vehicle path;
means for receiving at the first side of the vehicle path the reflected radiation from the reflecting step;
means for detecting a presence or absence of the reflected radiation; and
means for calculating at least one of the speed and acceleration of the vehicle in response to the detecting step;
means for measuring a tilt of the vehicle path relative to a level path; and
means for determining a Vehicle Specific Power of the vehicle due to the calculated acceleration based in part on the measured tilt;
wherein each of said emitting means comprises means for modulating radiation to emit a modulated beam.
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Specification