Tracking unit signal filter

• US 6,882,907 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2001
• Issued: 04/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MTP Consultancy Limited
• Original Assignee: TMC Consultants Limited
• Inventors: Hutchings, Philip, Bure, Rudolf A
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US10/312,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20030187551A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/22, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.6, 307 44- 46
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/002 for traffic control, mobile tracking, guidance, surveillance or anti-collision
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236

Abstract

A tracking unit signal filter 10 for a vehicle, typically tractor/trailer combinations, having at least one signal input 15-17 for receiving a respective signal A, B or C indicative of a respective vehicle parameter eg. signal C for sensing tractor/trailer coupling, and processor means 28 operable to pass the signal C after a predetermined time delay TC, if said signal is stable, and which is also operable to maintain said stable signal C if the signal is interrupted for less than a predetermined time interval tc.

Claims

1. A signal filter for a global positioned tracking unit which also transmits data relating to at least one vehicle operational parameter, the filter having at least one voltage signal input for receiving a respective signal indicative of a respective vehicle parameter and processor means operable to pass a parameter signal after a predetermined time delay if said signal is stable, and which is also operable to maintain said stable signal if the signal is interrupted for less that a predetermined time interval, thereby blocking erroneous parameter signals from the tracking unit.

2. A filter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said input comprises a first voltage signal from the vehicle power supply.

3. A filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filter receives signals from vehicle mounted sensors which each detect the status of particular vehicle conditions.

4. A filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein when both the filter and tracking unit are powered by a dedicated battery which is recharged from the vehicle power supply by a DC-DC convertor.

5. A filter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said predetermined time delay(s) are varied as required.

6. A filter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said predetermined time interval(s) are altered as is required.

7. A filter as claimed in claim 1, and further including at least one pulse generator for modifying a stable signal into a pulse.

8. A filter as claimed in claim 7, and further including a sequencer to arrange pulsed signals in to sequential order according to a predetermined order of priority.

9. A filter as claimed in claim 4 wherein the DC-DC converter is integral with the filter.

10. A vehicle tracking and tracing unit including a signal filter as claimed in claim 9 formed integrally therewith.

11. A tracking unit signal filter according to claim 2 for use with a tractor/trailer combination wherein the filter unit receives at least one further signal from a trailer door sensor which indicates trailer door status.