Ferromagnetic loop

• US 6,864,804 B1
• Filed: 07/30/2002
• Issued: 03/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Transcore LP (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Jim Allen
• Inventors: Allen, Jim, Allen, David C. Sr., Ippolito, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen, Thomas J
• Application Number:
  US10/206,972
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 340/933, 340/941, 705/13
• US Class Current: 340/933
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/015 with provision for distinguishing between two or more types of vehicles, e.g. between motor-cars and cycles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/042 using inductive or magnetic detectors

Abstract

A ferromagnetic loop having a footprint characterized by a continuous wire shaped in a serpentine manner to form multiple contiguous polygons within the footprint for detection of moving vehicles. The footprint can be one of a triangle, a square, a rectangle, a rhombus, a parallelogram, an ellipse, or a circle. Similarly, each of the multiple contiguous polygons can be one of a triangle, a square, a rectangle, a rhombus, a parallelogram. Different design configurations for the ferromagnetic loop and methods for making and using the same are disclosed.

Claims

1. A ferromagnetic loop comprising:

a continuous wire shaped in a serpentine manner on a plane having a footprint,

wherein the continuous wire forms multiple contiguous polygons within the footprint,

wherein each of the multiple contiguous polygons is associated with a spacing dimension, wherein the spacing dimension ranges from about three inches to about eight inches,

wherein a frequency associated with the ferromagnetic loop is affected when a metallic object comes within a distance perpendicular to the footprint.

2. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 1, wherein all spacing dimensions of the multiple contiguous polygons are equal.

3. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 1, wherein a first spacing dimension associated with a first polygon of the multiple contiguous polygons equals to at least one other spacing dimension of the remaining multiple contiguous polygons.

4. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 1, wherein a first spacing dimension associated with a first polygon of the multiple contiguous polygons is longer than at least one other spacing dimension of the remaining multiple contiguous polygons.

5. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 1, wherein none of the spacing dimensions of the multiple contiguous polygons equals to any other spacing dimensions of the other multiple contiguous polygons within the footprint.

6. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 1, wherein the spacing dimensions of the multiple contiguous polygons exhibit a gradient characteristic.

7. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 1, wherein there are at least three contiguous polygons within the footprint.

8. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 1, wherein the footprint is one of a triangle, a rectangle, a square, a circle, an ellipse, a rhombus, and a parallelogram.

9. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 1, wherein each of the multiple contiguous polygons is one of a rectangle, a square, a rhombus, and a parallelogram.

10. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 1, further comprising at least one fastener, wherein the at least one fastener is adapted to maintain the multiple contiguous polygons within the footprint.

11. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 1, further comprising at least one anchor.

12. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 11, wherein the anchor is adapted to be secured by a bonding agent.

13. A ferromagnetic loop for detection of vehicles moving in a direction of a traveling path comprising:

a continuous wire shaped in a serpentine manner within a footprint, wherein the footprint is characterized by a footprint length dimension parallel to the direction and a footprint width dimension perpendicular to the direction,

wherein the continuous wire forms multiple contiguous polygons within the footprint,

wherein each of the multiple contiguous polygons is characterized by a polygon length dimension parallel to the direction and a polygon width dimension perpendicular to the direction, wherein the polygon length dimension ranges from about three inches to about eight inches, and

wherein a frequency associated with the ferromagnetic loop is affected when a vehicle moves across the footprint in the direction along the traveling path.

14. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 13, wherein the footprint length dimension ranges from about 10 inches to about 56 inches.

15. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 13, wherein the footprint width dimension ranges from about 24 inches to about 144 inches.

16. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 13, wherein each of the polygon width dimensions ranges from about 24 inches to about 144 inches.

17. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 13, wherein each of the polygon width dimensions is substantially equal to the footprint width dimension.

18. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 13, wherein a sum of all the polygon length dimensions is substantially equal to the footprint length dimension.

19. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 13, wherein all the polygon length dimensions are equally long.

20. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 13, wherein at least one polygon length dimension is longer than at least one other polygon length dimension.

21. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 13, wherein there are two or more values associated with the polygon length dimensions.

22. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 21, wherein the multiple contiguous polygons exhibit a gradient characteristic.

23. A ferromagnetic loop for detection of vehicles moving in a direction of a traveling path comprising:

a continuous wire shaped in a serpentine manner within a footprint, wherein the footprint is characterized by a footprint length dimension parallel to the direction,

wherein the continuous wire forms multiple contiguous polygons along the direction,

wherein each of the multiple contiguous polygons is characterized by a spacing dimension measured along a polygonal axis, the polygonal axis forms an angle ranging between about 30 degrees and about 45 degrees with the direction, and

wherein a frequency associated with the ferromagnetic loop is affected when a vehicle moves across the footprint in the direction along the traveling path.

24. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 23, wherein the angle is about 45 degrees.

25. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 23, wherein the angle is about 30 degrees.

26. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 23, wherein at least one spacing dimension equals at least one other spacing dimension.

27. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 23, wherein all the spacing dimensions are equally long.

28. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 23, wherein at least one spacing dimension is longer than at least one other spacing dimension.

29. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 23, wherein there are two or more values associated with the spacing dimensions.

30. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 29, wherein the two or more values ranges from about three inches to about eight inches.

31. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 23, wherein the multiple contiguous polygons exhibit a gradient characteristic.

32. A ferromagnetic loop for detection of vehicles moving in a direction comprising:

a left segment having a left footprint with a left length dimension parallel to the direction, a left width dimension perpendicular to the direction, a left leading edge perpendicular to the direction, and a left trailing edge perpendicular to the direction,

a right segment having a right footprint with a right length dimension parallel to the direction, a right width dimension perpendicular to the direction, a right leading edge perpendicular to the direction, and a right trailing edge perpendicular to the direction,

wherein the left segment and the right segment are part of a continuous wire that forms an overall footprint having an overall length dimension parallel to the direction and an overall width dimension perpendicular to the direction, and

wherein when a vehicle moving in the direction over the ferromagnetic loop, a left portion of the vehicle'"'"'s wheel assembly affects a first frequency associated with the left segment and a right portion of the vehicle'"'"'s wheel assembly affects a second frequency associated with the right segment.

33. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 32, wherein a sum of the left length dimension and the right length dimension equals the overall length dimension, and a sum of the left width dimension and the right width dimension equals the overall width dimension.

34. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 32, wherein a sum of the left length dimension and the right length dimension is shorter than the overall length dimension by an offset distance between the left trailing edge and the right leading edge.

35. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 34, wherein the offset distance ranges from between about zero inch and about 46 inches.

36. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 32, wherein at least one of the left segment and the right segment is characterized by one of a rectangle, a square, a rhombus, and a parallelogram.

37. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 32, wherein at least one of the left segment and the right segment comprises multiple contiguous polygons formed by the continuous wire, wherein each of the contiguous polygon is associated with a spacing dimension.

38. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 37, wherein the spacing dimensions are uniform.

39. The ferromagnetic loop of claim 37, wherein the spacing dimensions demonstrate a gradient characteristic.

40. A method for installing a ferromagnetic loop for detection of vehicles, comprising:

preparing a web of grooves on a traveling lane, wherein the web of grooves is confined within a footprint having a footprint length dimension and a footprint width dimension;

laying a continuous wire in a serpentine manner within the web of grooves to form multiple contiguous polygons within the footprint, wherein each of the multiple contiguous polygons is associated with a polygon length dimension and a polygon width dimension, wherein the polygon length dimension ranges from about three inches to about eight inches;

securing the continuous wire within the web of grooves; and

connecting the continuous wire to a loop detector.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising the step of laying at least two turns of the continuous wire in at least one groove of the web of grooves.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the at least two turns of the continuous wire are laid side-by-side within the at least one groove.

43. The method of claim 40, wherein a sum of all polygon length dimensions equals the footprint length dimension.

44. The method of claim 40, wherein all the polygon length dimensions are equally long.

45. The method of claim 40, wherein the polygon length dimensions demonstrate a gradient characteristic.

46. The method of claim 40, wherein the multiple contiguous polygons form an angle with respect to the direction.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the angle ranges from about zero degree to about 90 degrees.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the angle is about 30 degrees.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein the angle is about 45 degrees.

50. A method for preparing a ferromagnetic loop, the method comprising:

shaping a continuous wire in a serpentine manner to form multiple contiguous polygons within a footprint,

wherein the footprint is characterized by a footprint length dimension and a footprint width dimension,

wherein each of the multiple contiguous polygons is characterized by a polygon length dimension and a polygon width dimension, wherein the polygon length dimension ranges from about three inches to about eight inches,

wherein a sum of all polygon length dimensions substantially equals to the footprint length dimension; and

attaching one or more fasteners along the continuous wire to maintain the multiple contiguous polygons.

51. The method of claim 50, further comprising the step of providing at least two turns of the continuous wire in at least one of the multiple contiguous polygons, wherein the at least two turns of the continuous wire are arranged side-by-side.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein at least one of the fasteners comprises an anchor.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the anchor is adapted to be secured by a bonding agent.

54. A method for using the ferromagnetic loop prepared in accordance with the method of claim 50, further comprising:

laying the ferromagnetic loop on a surface of a traveling path of a vehicle, wherein the footprint length dimension is parallel to a direction in which the vehicle travels on the traveling path;

securing the ferromagnetic loop on the surface; and

connecting the continuous wire to a loop detector.

55. The method of claim 54, further comprising the step of securing the ferromagnetic loop on the surface using flexible adhesive sheets.

56. A method for installing a ferromagnetic loop for detection of vehicles comprising:

preparing a web of grooves on a traveling lane, wherein the web of grooves is confined within a footprint having a footprint length dimension and a footprint width dimension;

laying a continuous wire in a serpentine manner within the web of grooves to form multiple contiguous polygons within the footprint, wherein each of the multiple contiguous polygons is associated with a polygon length dimension and a polygon width dimension, wherein the multiple contiguous polygons form an angle ranging between about 30 degrees and about 45 degrees with respect to the direction;

securing the continuous wire within the web of grooves; and

connecting the continuous wire to a loop detector.

57. The method of claim 56, further comprising the step of laying at least two turns of the continuous wire in at least one groove of the web of grooves.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the at least two turns of the continuous wire are laid side-by-side within the at least one groove.

59. The method of claim 56, wherein a sum of all polygon length dimensions equals the footprint length dimension.

60. The method of claim 56, wherein the polygon length dimensions range from about three inches to about eight inches.

61. The method of claim 56, wherein all the polygon length dimensions are equally long.

62. The method of claim 56, wherein the polygon length dimensions demonstrate a gradient characteristic.

63. The method of claim 56, wherein the angle is about 30 degrees.

64. The method of claim 56, wherein the angle is about 45 degrees.