Guidance system that informs the vehicle operator that the vehicle is safely in the center of the correct road lane, airstrip, boat channel or path by means of passive elements imbedded or submerged in said lanes and that functions day or night in all weather conditions

• US 7,983,838 B1
• Filed: 02/24/2009
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph D. Mislan
• Original Assignee: Joseph D. Mislan
• Inventors: Mislan, Joseph David
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kim T
• Application Number:
  US12/380,046
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 701/19, 701/23, 701/205, 701/211, 340/425.2, 340/426.13
• US Class Current: 701/205
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2035/002 for inland waters, e.g. for use on canals or rivers
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 49/00 Arrangements of nautical instruments or navigational aids nautical measuring instruments G01C; radio navigation, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 5/06 Operating equipment in connection with canals ship-lifting devices E02C
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0083 to help an aircraft pilot in the rolling phase
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0206 specially adapted to water vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0265 using buried wires
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/02 using treadles built into the road pads or other sensitive devices responsive to passage of vehicles E01F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/042 using inductive or magnetic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 3/00 Traffic control systems for marine craft marking of navigational route B63B22/16, B63B51/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/065 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. for taxiing or rolling

Abstract

It is the object of this invention to provide a system that informs a vehicle operator that the vehicle is safely in the center of the proper lane of intended travel. It further informs the operator of specifics about the lane. Presence of the vehicle in an incorrect lane or going in the wrong way sets off an audible alarm. The information is visible on a computer screen in full view of the operator. It is functional regardless of the time, day or night, weather conditions, visibility or electrical interference. A metal detector senses passive elements imbedded in the center of the lane. For a boat the element is submerged in the proper channel and is sensed by a sonar device. Imbedded bar codes are the sources of the information. The general configuration is shown in FIGS. 1a-1c. FIGS. 2-4 show simplified block diagrams for the system.

Claims

1. A vehicular guidance system for providing an operator of a vehicle with guidance information for traveling along a path of travel that is impervious to localized radio frequency disruption and usable under limited visibility conditions for safety comprising:

A. a metal detecting means mounted within a vehicle for sensing any metallic members within the path of travel of the vehicle;

B. a passive guidance element being metallic and positioned along the path of travel of the vehicle which is adapted to be sensed by said metal detecting means for communicating guidance information thereto to facilitate the operator in accurately controlling of movement of the vehicle along the path of travel; and

C. a control means positioned within the vehicle for communicating the guidance information to the vehicle operator,

wherein said passive guidance element includes metal bar code elements containing information identifying the correct direction of movement along the path of travel.

2. A vehicular guidance system for providing an operator of a vehicle with guidance information for enhanced safety as defined in claim 1 wherein said metal detecting means comprises:

A. a signal transmitting coil means mounted within the vehicle for generating a magnetic field signal to be received by said passive guidance element for inducing electrical current flow therewithin; and

B. a signal sensing coil means mounted within the vehicle for sensing the electrical current flow induced within said passive guidance element by the magnetic field generated by said signal transmitting coil means.

3. A vehicular guidance system for providing an operator of a vehicle with guidance information for enhanced safety as defined in claim 1 wherein said passive guidance element is positioned extending generally centrally along the path of travel.

4. A vehicular guidance system for providing an operator of a vehicle with guidance information for enhanced safety as defined in claim 2 wherein said signal sensing coil means comprises a magnetometer.

5. A vehicular guidance system for providing an operator of a vehicle with guidance information for enhanced safety as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means includes a computer means and a display means for processing and communicating guidance information for use by the vehicle operator.

6. A vehicular guidance system for providing an operator of a vehicle with guidance information for enhanced safety as defined in claim 1 wherein said metal detecting means comprises a metal detector device mounted directly to the vehicle therebeneath.

7. A vehicular guidance system for providing an operator of a vehicle with guidance information for enhanced safety as defined in claim 1 wherein said passive guidance element includes a ferrous metal cable.

8. A vehicular guidance system for providing an operator of a vehicle with guidance information for enhanced safety as defined in claim 1 wherein said passive guidance element includes metal bar code elements containing the guidance information specifically relative to the local path of travel.

9. A vehicular guidance system for providing an operator of a vehicle with guidance information for enhanced safety as defined in claim 8 wherein the guidance information contained within said metal bar code elements includes the position of intersections in the path of travel and conventional highway signage information.

10. A vehicular guidance system for providing an operator of a vehicle with guidance information for enhanced safety as defined in claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a land vehicle and said passive guidance element is embedding centrally within the path of travel comprising a conventional vehicle roadway.

11. A vehicular guidance system for providing an operator of a vehicle with guidance information for enhanced safety as defined in claim 1 wherein the vehicle is an aircraft and said passive guidance element is positioned within an airport runway.

12. A vehicular guidance system for providing an operator of a vehicle with guidance information for enhanced safety as defined in claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a watercraft and said passive guidance element is positioned submerged below water level within the path of travel which comprises a navigable waterway.

13. A vehicular guidance system for providing an operator of a vehicle with guidance information for enhanced safety as defined in claim 12 wherein said metal detecting means is operable to generate a single frequency sonar wave signal and is also operable to sense the single frequency sonar wave signal.

14. A vehicular guidance system for providing an operator of a vehicle with guidance information for enhanced safety as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means is operable to generate an alarm signal responsive to sensing of an emergency condition by said metal detecting means.

15. A vehicular guidance system for providing an operator of a vehicle with guidance information for enhanced safety as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means is adapted to be capable of being preprogrammed with the guidance information specifically related to the path of travel to facilitate the operator of the vehicle in guiding movement thereof.

16. A vehicular guidance system for providing an operator of a vehicle with guidance information for enhanced safety as defined in claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a land vehicle and wherein the path of travel is a roadway and wherein said control means is capable of being preprogrammed with guidance information to facilitate the operator of the land vehicle in guiding movement thereof wherein the guidance information includes identifying information related to the roadway, local roadway intersections and conventional roadway signage information.

17. A vehicular guidance system for providing an operator of a vehicle with guidance information for enhanced safety as defined in claim 1 wherein said passive guidance element includes a ferrous metallic ribbon member.

18. A guidance system for providing an user with guidance information for traveling along a path of travel that is impervious to localized radio frequency disruption and usable under limited visibility conditions for safety comprising:

A. a metal detecting means retainable by the user for sensing any metallic members within a path of travel;

B. a passive guidance element being metallic and positioned along the path of travel of the user which is adapted to be sensed by said metal detecting means for communicating guidance information thereto to facilitate the user in accurately moving along the path of travel; and

C. a control means attachable to the user for communicating the guidance information to the user,

wherein said passive guidance element includes metal bar code elements containing information identifying the correct direction of movement along the path of travel.

19. A guidance system for providing an user with guidance information for enhanced safety for traveling along a path of travel as defined in claim 18 wherein said metal detecting means and said control means are detachably and selectively securable with respect to the user.