Ferromagnetic loop

• US 7,071,840 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• 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:
  US10/953,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20050134481A1
• Time in Patent Office: 642 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 system for detection of moving vehicles, comprising:

a first wheel detection device configured to detect one or more wheels of a vehicle moving in a direction; and

a second wheel detection device configured to detect one or more wheels of the vehicle moving in the direction, the second wheel detection device is separated from the first wheel detection device along the direction by a spacing between the first wheel detection device and the second wheel detection device, wherein the first wheel detection device detects one or more front wheels of the vehicle at substantially the same time the second wheel detection device detects one or more rear wheels of the vehicle, wherein the spacing ranges between about five feet and about 15 feet.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a vehicle presence detection device located between the first wheel detection device and the second wheel detection device, wherein the vehicle presence detection device is configured to supply additional vehicle processing information associated with the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first wheel detection device, the second wheel detection device, and the vehicle presence detection device is a ferromagnetic loop.

4. A system for detection of moving vehicles, comprising:

a first wheel detection device configured to detect one or more wheels of a vehicle moving in a direction; and

a second wheel detection device configured to detect one or more wheels of the vehicle moving in the direction, the second wheel detection device is separated from the first wheel detection device along the direction by a spacing between the first wheel detection device and the second wheel detection device, wherein the first wheel detection device detects one or more front wheels of the vehicle at substantially the same time the second wheel detection device detects one or more rear wheels of the vehicle, wherein the spacing ranges between about five feet and about eight feet.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a vehicle presence detection device located between the first wheel detection device and the second wheel detection device, wherein the vehicle presence detection device is configured to supply additional vehicle processing information associated with the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein at least one of the first wheel detection device, the second wheel detection device, and the vehicle presence detection device is a ferromagnetic loop.

7. A system for detection of moving vehicles, comprising:

a first wheel detection device configured to detect one or more wheels of a vehicle moving in a direction; and

a second wheel detection device configured to detect one or more wheels of the vehicle moving in the direction, the second wheel detection device is separated from the first wheel detection device along the direction by a spacing between the first wheel detection device and the second wheel detection device, wherein the first wheel detection device detects one or more front wheels of the vehicle at substantially the same time the second wheel detection device detects one or more rear wheels of the vehicle, wherein the spacing is about seven feet.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a vehicle presence detection device located between the first wheel detection device and the second wheel detection device, wherein the vehicle presence detection device is configured to supply additional vehicle processing information associated with the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first wheel detection device, the second wheel detection device, and the vehicle presence detection device is a ferromagnetic loop.

10. A system for detection of moving vehicles, comprising:

a first wheel detection device configured to detect one or more wheels of a vehicle moving in a direction; and

a second wheel detection device configured to detect one or more wheels of the vehicle moving in the direction, the second wheel detection device is separated from the first wheel detection device along the direction by a spacing between the first wheel detection device and the second wheel detection device, wherein the first wheel detection device detects one or more front wheels of the vehicle at substantially the same time the second wheel detection device detects one or more rear wheels of the vehicle, wherein at least one of the first wheel detection device and the second wheel detection device is a ferromagnetic loop.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the spacing ranges between about five feet and about 15 feet.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the spacing ranges between about five feet and about eight feet.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the spacing is about seven feet.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the wheel detection devices are positioned so that they are separated by an inner spacing and an outer spacing.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the inner spacing ranges between about five feet and about eight feet.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the inner spacing is about seven feet.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the outer spacing ranges between about nine feet and about 27 feet.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the outer spacing is about 12 feet.

19. The system of claim 10, further comprising a vehicle presence detection device located between the first wheel detection device and the second wheel detection device, wherein the vehicle presence detection device is configured to supply additional vehicle processing information associated with the vehicle.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the vehicle presence detection device is a ferromagnetic loop.

21. A system for detection of moving vehicles, comprising:

a first wheel detection device configured to detect one or more wheels of a vehicle moving in a direction; and

a second wheel detection device configured to detect one or more wheels of the vehicle moving in the direction, the second wheel detection device is separated from the first wheel detection device along the direction by a spacing between the first wheel detection device and the second wheel detection device, wherein the first wheel detection device detects one or more front wheels of the vehicle at substantially the same time the second wheel detection device detects one or more rear wheels of the vehicle,

wherein each of the first wheel detection device and the second wheel detection device is a ferromagnetic loop, the wheel detection devices are positioned so that they are separated by an inner spacing and an outer spacing.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the inner spacing ranges between about five feet and about eight feet.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the inner spacing is about seven feet.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the outer spacing ranges between about nine feet and about 27 feet.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the outer spacing is about 12 feet.

26. A system for detection of moving vehicles, comprising:

a first wheel detection device configured to detect one or more wheels of a vehicle moving in a direction;

a second wheel detection device configured to detect one or more wheels of the vehicle moving in the direction, the second wheel detection device is separated from the first wheel detection device along the direction by a spacing between the first wheel detection device and the second wheel detection device, wherein the first wheel detection device detects one or more front wheels of the vehicle at substantially the same time the second wheel detection device detects one or more rear wheels of the vehicle; and

a vehicle presence detection device located between the first wheel detection device and the second wheel detection device, wherein the vehicle presence detection device is configured to supply additional vehicle processing information associated with the vehicle.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein at least one of the first wheel detection device, the second wheel detection device, and the vehicle presence detection device is a ferromagnetic loop.

28. A system for detection of moving vehicles, comprising:

a first wheel detection device configured to detect a first subset of wheels of a vehicle moving in a direction; and

a second wheel detection device configured to detect a second subset of wheels of the vehicle moving in the direction, the second wheel detection device is separated from the first wheel detection device along the direction by a spacing between the first wheel detection device and the second wheel detection device, wherein the first wheel detection device detects the first subset of wheels of the vehicle at substantially the same time the second wheel detection device detects the second subset of wheels of the vehicle, wherein at least one of the first wheel detection device and the second wheel detection device is a ferromagnetic loop.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the first subset of wheels comprises one or more wheels.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the second subset of wheels comprises one or more wheels.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the first subset of wheels comprises one or more front wheels of the vehicle and the second subset of wheels comprises one or more rear wheels of the vehicle.

32. The system of claim 28, wherein the spacing ranges between about five feet and about 15 feet.

33. The system of claim 28, wherein the spacing ranges between about five feet and about eight feet.

34. The system of claim 28, wherein the inner spacing is about seven feet.

35. The system of claim 28, wherein the wheel detection devices are positioned so that they are separated by an inner spacing and an outer spacing.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the inner spacing ranges between about five feet and about eight feet.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein the inner spacing is about seven feet.

38. The system of claim 35, wherein the outer spacing ranges between about nine feet and about 27 feet.

39. The system of claim 35, wherein the outer spacing is about 12 feet.

40. The system of claim 28, further comprising a vehicle presence detection device located between the first wheel detection device and the second wheel detection device, wherein the vehicle presence detection device is configured to supply additional vehicle processing information associated with the vehicle.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the vehicle presence detection device is a ferromagnetic loop.

42. A system for detection of moving vehicles, comprising:

a first wheel detection device configured to detect a first subset of wheels of a vehicle moving in a direction;

a second wheel detection device configured to detect a second subset of wheels of the vehicle moving in the direction, the second wheel detection device is separated from the first wheel detection device along the direction by a spacing between the first wheel detection device and the second wheel detection device; and

a vehicle presence detection device located between the first wheel detection device and the second wheel detection device, wherein the vehicle presence detection device is configured to supply additional vehicle processing information associated with the vehicle,

wherein the first wheel detection device detects the first subset of wheels at substantially the same time the second wheel detection device detects the second subset of wheels.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the spacing ranges between about five feet and about 15 feet.

44. The system of claim 42, wherein the spacing ranges between about five feet and about eight feet.

45. The system of claim 42, wherein the spacing is about seven feet.

46. The system of claim 42, wherein at least one of the first wheel detection device and the second wheel detection device is a ferromagnetic loop.

47. The system of claim 42, wherein the vehicle presence detection device is a ferromagnetic loop.

48. The system of claim 42, wherein each of the first wheel detection device and the second wheel detection device is a ferromagnetic loop, the wheel detection devices are positioned so that they are separated by an inner spacing and an outer spacing.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the inner spacing ranges between about five feet and about eight feet.

50. The system of claim 48, wherein the inner spacing is about seven feet.

51. The system of claim 48, wherein the outer spacing ranges between about nine feet and about 27 feet.

52. The system of claim 48, wherein the outer spacing is about 12 feet.