Systems and methods for locating and controlling powered vehicles
First Claim
1. A system for inhibiting the ability of a motorized cart to exit a retail store environment via a restricted region, the system comprising:
- a detector configured to receive spatially distinct first and second electromagnetic signals transmitted at least near the restricted region where cart movement is to be inhibited, the restricted region located within or adjacent a retail store environment, the detector disposed on a motorized cart that is movable on a plurality of driver-selectable paths near the restricted region located within or adjacent the retail store environment,wherein the first signal is transmitted by a first tower and the second signal is transmitted by a second tower, the first and second towers being part of an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) system for preventing theft of merchandise that can be purchased from the retail store, the first and second towers being located adjacent the restricted region; and
a control unit disposed on the motorized cart and configured to communicate with the detector, determine a Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) value for each of the first and second electromagnetic signals received by the detector, and compare the RSSI values of the first and second electromagnetic signals to determine proximity and direction of travel of the detector relative to the restricted region,wherein the control unit is further configured to provide a command to inhibit movement of the motorized cart to at least one of a motor and a brake system of the motorized cart, the command provided in response to the determined proximity and direction of travel of the detector to the restricted region.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for controlling movement of a personal mobility vehicle near a restricted region is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a detector that is configured to be disposed on the personal mobility vehicle and that is configured to receive an electromagnetic signal transmitted to the restricted region. The system also includes a control unit configured to communicate with the detector. The control unit is further configured to determine proximity of the detector to the restricted region using information related to the signal received by the detector. The control unit is also configured to provide a command to inhibit movement of the personal mobility vehicle in response to the determined proximity of the vehicle to the restricted region.
190 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A system for inhibiting the ability of a motorized cart to exit a retail store environment via a restricted region, the system comprising:
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a detector configured to receive spatially distinct first and second electromagnetic signals transmitted at least near the restricted region where cart movement is to be inhibited, the restricted region located within or adjacent a retail store environment, the detector disposed on a motorized cart that is movable on a plurality of driver-selectable paths near the restricted region located within or adjacent the retail store environment, wherein the first signal is transmitted by a first tower and the second signal is transmitted by a second tower, the first and second towers being part of an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) system for preventing theft of merchandise that can be purchased from the retail store, the first and second towers being located adjacent the restricted region; and a control unit disposed on the motorized cart and configured to communicate with the detector, determine a Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) value for each of the first and second electromagnetic signals received by the detector, and compare the RSSI values of the first and second electromagnetic signals to determine proximity and direction of travel of the detector relative to the restricted region, wherein the control unit is further configured to provide a command to inhibit movement of the motorized cart to at least one of a motor and a brake system of the motorized cart, the command provided in response to the determined proximity and direction of travel of the detector to the restricted region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for localizing and inhibiting a powered cart propelled by a motor from entering a restricted region located within or adjacent a facility, the system comprising:
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a signal source configured to transmit a localization signal, the signal source further configured to be disposed on a powered cart propelled by a motor, the powered cart movable on a plurality of driver-selectable paths near the restricted region where movement of the powered cart is to be inhibited; at least one detector comprising a first antenna, a second antenna, a phase shifter, a phase comparator, and a processor, wherein the detector is mounted on at least one structure located in or near the restricted region within or adjacent the facility and configured such that the first and second antennas receive the localization signal from the signal source disposed on the powered cart, wherein the localization signal received by the first antenna is shifted by the phase shifter and outputs a shifted first antenna localization signal, wherein the phase comparator compares the shifted first antenna localization signal to the localization signal received by the second antenna, and wherein the processor determines a direction and proximity of the signal source relative to the at least one detector based at least in part on said comparison of the shifted first antenna localization signal to the localization signal received by the second antenna; and a control unit configured to communicate with the at least one detector and to determine a localization of the signal source relative to the at least one detector, wherein the control unit is further configured to use the localization of the signal source to determine whether to provide a command to control the motor on the powered cart, wherein the command is to reduce the speed of the motor relative to the speed requested by a driver of the cart through a throttle, and wherein the command is to not increase the speed of the motor or change the direction of travel of the cart. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A processor-implemented method of inhibiting a powered cart propelled by a motor from entering a restricted region located within or adjacent a facility, the method comprising:
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determining a location of the powered cart relative to a restricted region where movement of the powered cart is to be inhibited, the restricted region located within or adjacent a facility, the powered cart movable on a plurality of driver-selectable paths near the restricted region; determining a direction of travel of the powered cart relative to the restricted region; wherein the location and direction of travel of the powered cart relative to the restricted region are determined by a control unit configured to communicate with a detector, wherein the detector is configured to receive spatially distinct first and second electromagnetic signals from an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) system for preventing theft of merchandise that can be purchased from the retail facility, the EAS system comprising a first tower configured to transmit the first signal and a second tower configured to transmit the second signal, the first and second towers being located adjacent the restricted region; wherein the control unit is configured to determine a Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) value for each of the first and second electromagnetic signals received by the detector, and to compare the RSSI values of the first and second electromagnetic signals to determine proximity and direction of travel of the detector relative to the restricted region; making a decision, with a processor, whether to inhibit motion of the powered cart into the restricted region located within or adjacent the facility, wherein the processor is configured to use information related to at least one of the location and the direction of travel of the powered cart; and automatically communicating an inhibition signal to at least one of the motor and a brake mechanism of the powered cart in response to the decision made with the processor. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification