Passive RFID transponder/machine-mounted antenna and reader system and method for hidden obstacle detection and avoidance

• US 7,002,461 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2003
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edgar Alan Duncan, Reed Roberts May
• Original Assignee: Edgar Alan Duncan, Reed Roberts May
• Inventors: Duncan, Edgar Alan, May, Reed Roberts
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US10/616,757
• Publication Number:
  US 20040008120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 340/505, 340/571.1, 340/572.7, 340/568.1, 340/10.1, 340/10.51, 340/572.1, 342/429, 342/445
• US Class Current: 340/505
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/758 using a signal generator powered by the interrogation signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile

Abstract

A system designed to detect and identify fixed utility objects, such as telephone pedestals, power transformers, man-holes, anchor cables, and the like, that are hidden by heavy overgrowth of vegetation. The system provides for automatic look-ahead detection of such objects during mowing and clearing operations with heavy machinery using passive radio frequency transponder technology to both detect the immediate presence of a tagged object as well as basic identification of the type of object replying to the interrogation. The operator can be signaled audibly and/or visually when a tagged object is detected. The transmitter and antennae are mounted in the cab of a mobile machine for protection from physical damage. An integrated microprocessor performs the requisite algorithms needed to process the reply form one or more RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags and generate the alert signals for the operator alerts. Once the object has been located it can be marked and cleared safely by hand thereby preventing severe damage to the tagged equipment. Handheld RIFD programmers are used to load or record important identification and maintenance data in the attached tag for maintenance tracking, latitude-longitude location, asset management, placement of other related underground devices or cables, etc. The transmitter unit and display devices can be powered directly from the machine'"'"'s system power.

Claims

1. A system for the automatic detection and identification of hidden aboveground fixed utility objects, comprising:

a. at least one transponder located above ground, which is capable of being tagged to at least one utility object, for radio frequency communication with an radio frequency (RF) scanner/receiver, for communication with a control head;

b. the RF scanner/receiver and control head being powered directly by a power source;

wherein, the at least one transponder includes a radio frequency identification transponder that transmits information relating to the location of the hidden object;

c. the RF scanner/receiver includes at least one antenna and an RF interrogator; and

d. the control head includes at least one microprocessor and a user interface for automatically communicating the identification of the object; and

e. the RF scanner/receiver and the control head are removably mounted on a mobile machine;

thereby providing the operator of the machine an adequate alert about the identity and location of the object, without requiring operator interpretation when the machine comes in proximity of one of the at least one transponder and allowing an operator of the machine to avoid the at least one object tagged by the respective transponder.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system provides to the operator approximately two seconds response time prior to physically contacting the utility object.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID operates at a frequency band of approximately 915 MHz.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID outputs the location of the tagged object relative to a predetermined positional reference datum.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one antenna is a directional antenna.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the directional antenna is selected from the group consisting of a dipole antenna, a yagi antenna, and a unidirectional antenna.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one antenna includes a multiplicity of antennae.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the antennae comprise a phased array.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the antennae comprise directional antennae.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the antennae comprise ranging antennae.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the RF interrogator operates at a frequency band of approximately 915 MHz.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface indicates the presence of an RFID.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the user interface further indicates the distance of the RFID.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the user interface further indicates the direction of the RFID.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface indicates RFID information selected from the group consisting of Object Types, Telephone Pedestal, Fiber Optic Junction, Water Hydrant, Gas Valve, Power Transformer, Guy Wire, Cable anchors, Power Pole, Telephone Pole, Boundary Marker, Survey Control Point, Fence, River/Stream, Metal Tower, Road/Highway, Owner, Utility Name, Emergency Phone Number, TEFIS Number, Location, Latitude, Longitude, Install Date, Last Service Date, Local References Count, Nearby reference points, Local Reference, Distance to object, Direction to object degrees, Object type code, and combinations thereof.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface provides at least one sensory alarm to alert the user when an RFID is detected.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one sensory alarm is a visual alarm.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one sensory alarm is an audible alarm.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface provides a test function.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface provides a reset control.

21. The system of claim 1, further including a GPS locator for providing the location of the machine.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the microprocessor use the data from the GPS locator and the RFID to compute the distance and direction of the RFID from the machine.

23. The system of claim 1, further including a wireless communicator for allowing wireless communication between the system and at least one distant database.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the control head is removably mounted on a mobile machine.

25. A method for locating, servicing, and/or troubleshooting hidden aboveground utility objects, including:

tagging the hidden utility objects with preprogrammed passive RFID transponders;

operating a vehicle for locating, servicing, and/or troubleshooting the utility object fitted with an RF transponder detection system;

decreasing the forward progress of the vehicle when an alert is observed;

communicating with at least one database and automatically collecting and loading REID information from database;

automatically collecting and loading relative position data from surveying equipment and GPS derived information;

locating the tagged utility object;

avoiding the tagged utility object; and

resetting the alert signal.

26. The method according to claim 25, further including the step of programming the RFID transponders at installation.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein the RFID transponders provide information selected from the group consisting of Object Types, Telephone Pedestal, Fiber Optic Junction, Water Hydrant, Gas Valve, Power Transformer, Guy Wire, Cable anchors, Power Pole, Telephone Pole, Boundary Marker, Survey Control Point, Fence, River/Stream, Metal Tower, Road/Highway, Owner, Utility Name, Emergency Phone Number, TEFIS Number, Location, Latitude, Longitude, Install Date, Last Service Date, Local References Count, Nearby reference points, Local Reference, Distance to object, Direction to object degrees, Object type code, and combinations thereof.

28. A method as claimed in claim 27, comprising detecting and identifying an object fully automatically, autonomously, and positively.

29. A method as claimed in claim 27, wherein the motion or action of a piece of heavy machinery is stopped at detection of an RFID transponder.

30. A method as claimed in claim 27, wherein the identification of an object is aided by position data derived from locally provided data from other RFID transponders.

31. A method as claimed in claim 27, wherein the identification of an RFID transponder is aided by a separate radio navigation signal.

32. The method according to claim 25, further including the step of providing to the user the alert approximately two seconds prior to physically contacting the utility object.

33. The method according to claim 25, wherein the alert is at least one sensory alarm.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the at least one sensory alarm is a visual alarm.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the at least one sensory alarm is an audible alarm.

36. An RFID transponder detection system for the detection of above-ground objects, comprising:

an antenna arranged to broadcast a signal toward locations above the ground and to receive signals from RFID transponders on above-ground objects,

an RF interrogator associated with the antenna to supply signals to the antenna for broadcast and to interpret signals received from RFID transponders;

a microprocessor arranged to receive interpreted signals from the RF interrogator;

microprocessor programming to process interpreted signals, and to identify and locate a RFID transponder;

wherein a database is operatively associated with the microprocessor and stores information about identifying data in RFID transponders that may be attached to aboveground objects to be detected, and the microprocessor programming compares information about detected RFID transponders attached to aboveground objects with information in the database;

a GPS system to determine a geographic location of the REID transponder detection system and operatively associated with the processor; and

a user interface for communicating information to a user about a detected RFID transponder.

37. An RFID transponder detection system as claimed in claim 36 wherein the location of a detected RFID transponder is stored in the database.

38. An RFID transponder detection system as claimed in claim 36 wherein the location of a detected RFID transponder is transmitted by the RFID transponder.

39. The system of claim 36 further comprising a vehicle on which the RFID transponder detection system is mounted, wherein the detection system provides an output signal for automatically stopping the vehicle.