Smart license tag system

• US 6,876,296 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2001
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Inc. (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TRW Inc. (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: MacQueen, Katherine E., Talmadge, Samuel, Shreve, Gregory A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dalencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US09/775,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20020101332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,524 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.42, 340/10.1, 340/539.1, 340/10.31, 340/539.11, 340/5.8, 340/902, 342/42, 342/44, 342/51, 342/193, 455/41.2, 701/36
• US Class Current: 340/10.42
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/765 with exchange of information between interrogator and responder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9316 combined with communication equipment with other vehicles or with base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07786 the antenna being of the HF type, such as a dipole
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence

Abstract

A system for providing the identification and tracking of motor vehicles that includes a probe device that transmits a radio frequency modulated signal to a transponder unit that is located within a vehicle registration tag of a vehicle. The transponder unit responds to the probe unit'"'"'s request by transmitting its own radio frequency modulated signal containing any information requested by the probe device.

Claims

1. A communication system, comprising:

a first vehicle;

a first probe located on the first vehicle, the first probe transmitting a first modulated radio frequency request signal and receiving a first modulated radio frequency response signal in response thereto;

a second probe located on the first vehicle, the second probe transmitting a second modulated radio frequency request signal and receiving a second modulated radio frequency response signal in response thereto;

a second vehicle spaced from the first vehicle;

a tag attached to the second vehicle, the tag displaying a registration of the second vehicle, receiving the first modulated radio frequency request signal and the second modulated radio frequency request signal, transmitting the first modulated radio frequency response signal in response to the first modulated radio frequency request signal, and transmitting the second modulated radio frequency response signal in response to the second modulated radio frequency request signal, the first and second modulated radio frequency response signals each having a transmission delay; and

a processor unit connected to the first and the second probe, the processor unit determining a location of the first vehicle relative to the second vehicle using the transmission delay of each of the first and second radio frequency modulated response signals.

2. A communication system, comprising:

a probe for transmitting a modulated radio frequency request signal and for receiving a modulated radio frequency response signal, the request signal including an identification code;

a vehicle spaced from the probe; and

a tag adapted to be attached to the vehicle and including a registration of the vehicle, the tag receiving the request signal transmitted by the probe and including means for analyzing the identification code received in the request signal to determine whether the tag is an intended recipient of the request signal, the tag being effectively non-responsive to the request signal when the means for analyzing determines that the tag is not the intended recipient and transmitting the response signal when the means for analyzing determines that the tag is the intended recipient of the request signal.

3. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the tag includes transceiving circuitry for receiving the request signal and transmitting the response signal corresponding thereto, the tag further comprising a low power battery for powering the transceiving circuitry, and the tag also including means for adhering to a component of the vehicle.

4. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein the vehicle component is a vehicle license plate.

5. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the registration of the vehicle is a renewable state department of motor vehicle registration.

6. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein the transceiving circuitry is a low duty cycle micropower monolithic microwave integrated circuitry (MMIC).

7. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein the low duty cycle micropower monolithic microwave integrated circuitry (MMIC) comprises a microprocessor unit.

8. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein the low duty cycle micropower monolithic microwave integrated circuitry (MMIC) further comprises a real time clock.

9. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein the low duty cycle micropower monolithic microwave integrated circuitry (MMIC) further comprises a memory device.

10. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein the transceiving circuitry is digitally controlled integrated circuitry.

11. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein the transceiving circuitry is surface acoustic wave (SAW) coded delay line filter circuitry.

12. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein the transceiving circuitry is a non-linear element having a resonant antenna for generating and retransmitting harmonic energy.

13. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the tag comprises an omni-directional antenna for receiving the modulated radio frequency request signal and transmitting the modulated radio frequency response signal.

14. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the tag further comprises a sensor for measuring an axial acceleration of the vehicle.

15. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein the sensor is a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) accelerometer.

16. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the probe comprises radio frequency and signal processing circuitry for generating the modulated radio frequency request signal and processing the modulated radio frequency response signal.

17. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the probe comprises an antenna for transmitting the modulated radio frequency request signal and receiving the modulated radio frequency response signal.

18. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the probe is mobile.

19. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the probe is stationary.

20. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the modulated radio frequency response signal is modulated with data containing an identification of the vehicle.

21. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the modulated radio frequency response signal is modulated with data for determining a location, a speed and a direction of the vehicle.