Magnetic checkpoint

• US 6,791,474 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2001
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: French, Howard B., Lenz, James E., Nehls, Erick C. III, Rouse, Gordon F.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/945,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20030210158A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 340/933, 340/941, 340/988, 340/989, 340/990, 340/993
• US Class Current: 340/933
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/042 using inductive or magnetic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0082 for monitoring traffic from a ground station radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/065 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. for taxiing or rolling

Abstract

A vehicle detecting system and method for use on a specific location such as an airport, including a sensor string nominally perpendicular to the direction of vehicle travel at the location. The sensor string includes at least one magnetic field sensor and a transmitter for transmitting signals from the at least one sensor to a monitoring point. A plurality of sensors is preferred. The transmitter includes a control unit for receiving the signals and a sender for sending the signals to the monitoring point. The preferred magnetic field sensor is a magnetoresisteive sensor having a field range of at least ±5 gauss. A preferred location for the sensor string is in a groove in the surface.

Claims

1. A vehicle detecting system for use on a specific location, comprising:

a sensor string positioned at the location to engage a direction of travel on said location, said sensor string including a plurality of three-axis magnetoresistive sensors positioned perpendicular to said direction of travel and having a field range of at least ±

5 gauss for detecting the presence of a vehicle in said location, said plurality of sensors having overlapping areas of detection; and

a transmitter for separate transmitting signals from said plurality of sensors to a monitoring point.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said specific location is an airport.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said transmitter includes a control unit for receiving said signals and a sender for sending said signals to said monitoring point.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor string is operably positioned in a groove in said surface.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor string is operably positioned in a pipe in said surface.

6. A vehicle detecting system for use on a specific location, comprising:

sensor means positioned at the location to engage a direction of travel on said location, said sensor means including a plurality of three-axis magnetoresistive sensors positioned perpendicular to said direction of travel and having a field range of at least ±

5 gauss for detecting the presence of a vehicle in said location, said plurality of sensors having overlapping areas of detection; and

transmitter means for transmitting separate signals from said plurality of sensor means to a monitoring point.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said specific location is an airport.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said transmitter means includes a control unit means for receiving said signals and a sender means for sending said signals to said monitoring point.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein said sensor means is operably positioned in a groove in said surface.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein said sensor string is operably positioned in a pipe in said surface.

11. A method for monitoring the presence or absence of a vehicle at a specific location, comprising the steps of:

positioning a sensor string at the location to engage a direction of travel on said location, said sensor string including a plurality of three-axis magnetoresistive sensors positioned perpendicular to said direction of travel and having a field range of at least ±

5 gauss for detecting the presence of a vehicle in said location, said plurality of sensors having overlapping areas of detection; and

transmitting separate signals from said plurality of sensors to a monitoring point.

12. The method of claim 11, which further includes transmitting said signal to a control unit adapted to receive said signals and send said signals to said monitoring point.

13. The method of claim 11, which includes the step of operably positioning said sensor string in a groove in said surface.

14. The method of claim 11, which includes the step of operably positioning said sensor string in a pipe in said surface.