Passenger detection system for vehicles

• US 6,919,804 B1
• Filed: 10/04/2002
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vultron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vultron, Inc.
• Inventors: Swinea, Jessie D. Jr., Cook, Kenneth J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US10/265,020
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 340/541, 340/545.3, 340/551, 340552-556, 340/565
• US Class Current: 340/541
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00 Individual registration on entry or exit
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/123 indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, tramstransmission of navigation instructions to vehicles G08G1/0968

Abstract

A passenger detection system is provided for a vehicle having at least one opening to allow passengers to enter and exit the vehicle. The passenger detection system includes a plurality of passenger detection devices placed on opposed sides of the at least one opening to detect passengers entering and exiting the vehicle through the at least one opening. The passenger detection system also includes a plurality of passenger number devices placed on at least one side of the at least one opening to detect the number of the passengers entering or exiting the vehicle through the at least one opening.

Claims

1. A passenger detection system for a vehicle having at least one opening to allow passengers to enter and exit the vehicle, said passenger detection system comprising:

a plurality of passenger detection devices adapted to be placed on opposed sides of the at least one opening to detect passengers entering and exiting the vehicle through the at least one opening;

a plurality of passenger number devices adapted to be placed on at least one side of the at least one opening to detect the number of the passengers entering or exiting the vehicle through the at least one opening; and

a microprocessor computer control system including a microprocessor computer unit adapted to be disposed within the vehicle in electrical connection with said passenger detection devices and said passenger number devices to receive inputs from said passenger detection devices and said passenger number devices and to process the inputs to determine passenger count and transmit resultant data to a remote location and a systems interconnection adapted to be disposed within the vehicle and electrically connected to said microprocessor computer unit to provide an electrical connection of at least one external component to said microprocessor computer unit.

2. A passenger detection system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said passenger detection devices are of an infrared type.

3. A passenger detection system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said passenger detection devices emit and receive an array of infrared light beams.

4. A passenger detection system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said passenger detection devices are of an ultrasonic type.

5. A passenger detection system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said passenger number devices are of an ultrasonic type.

6. A passenger detection system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said passenger number devices are offset from each other.

7. A passenger detection system as set forth in claim 1 including at least one external component adapted to be mounted to the vehicle and chosen from a group comprising at least one video camera, an audio interface device, at least one advertisement sign, at least one passenger information sign, and an operator interface.

8. A passenger detection system as set forth in claim 7 including an interface electrically interconnecting said computer system and said passenger number devices for capturing signals from said passenger number devices.

9. A passenger detection system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said at least one external component includes a display for displaying the number of passengers entering and exiting.

10. A vehicle comprising:

a bus having a body with at least one opening to allow passengers to enter and exit said bus; and

a passenger detection system including a microprocessor computer control system disposed within said body for detecting passengers entering and exiting said bus through said at least one opening and for detecting the number of the passengers entering or exiting said bus through said at least one opening.

11. A vehicle as set forth in claim 10 wherein said passenger detection system includes a plurality of passenger detection devices placed on opposed sides of said at least one opening to detect passengers entering and exiting said bode through said at least one opening.

12. A vehicle as set forth in claim 11 wherein said passenger detection system includes a plurality of passenger number devices placed on at least one side of said at least one opening to detect the number of the passengers entering or exiting said body through said at least one opening.

13. A vehicle as set forth in claim 12 wherein said passenger number devices are of an ultrasonic type.

14. A vehicle as set forth in claim 12 wherein said passenger number devices are disposed on opposed sides of said at least one opening and spaced longitudinally from each other.

15. A vehicle as set forth in claim 12 wherein said computer control system is electrically connected to said passenger detection devices and said passenger number devices.

16. A vehicle as set forth in claim 15 including an interface electrically interconnecting said computer control system and said passenger numbering devices for capturing signals from said passenger numbering devices.

17. A vehicle as set forth in claim 11 wherein said passenger detection devices are of an infrared type.

18. A vehicle as set forth in claim 11 wherein said passenger detection devices emit and receive an array of infrared light beams.

19. A vehicle as set forth in claim 11 wherein said passenger detection devices are of an ultrasonic type.

20. A motor vehicle comprising:

a body having at least one opening to allow passengers to enter and exit;

at least one passenger detection device disposed within said body to detect passengers entering and exiting said at least one opening; and

a passenger detection system including a microprocessor computer unit disposed within said body for detecting passengers entering and exiting said body through said at least one opening and for detecting the number of the passengers entering or exiting said body through said at least one opening and a systems interconnection disposed within said body and electrically connected to said microprocessor computer unit to provide an electrical connection of at least one external component to said microprocessor computer unit.