Vehicle tracking system for vehicle washing

• US 8,049,643 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2009
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DRB Systems LLC (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Pete Ness
• Inventors: Ness, Pete
• Primary Examiner(s): CROSLAND, DONNIE L
• Application Number:
  US12/365,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20100194597A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 340/937
• US Class Current: 340/937
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0175 by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules

Abstract

The invention is directed towards an automated system for tracking a vehicle, associating that vehicle with a vehicle washing selection, and tracking the vehicle until it enters the vehicle washing station for subsequent presentation of the vehicle washing selection to the control computer of the vehicle washing system for subsequent washing.

Claims

1. A vehicle tracking and service selection input system configured for interface with a vehicle service system, wherein said vehicle service system has at least one control computer and at least one vehicle servicing tunnel, wherein said vehicle tracking and service selection input system comprises:

a plurality of input stations configured for a inputtee to input a vehicle servicing selection, at least one of said selections comprising a vehicle washing service selection;

a means configured for tracking a vehicle for servicing and associating said vehicle with said inputtee'"'"'s vehicle servicing selection;

wherein said plurality of input stations have an interface between at least one of said control computers of said vehicle servicing system;

wherein said system is configured such that each of said inputtees inputs a selection into one of said input stations, said vehicle moves and is tracked by said means for tracking a vehicle and associating said inputtee'"'"'s vehicle servicing selection from said input station to a queue point, wherein said vehicle is queued until at least one of said vehicle servicing tunnels has an available washing tunnel entry point, wherein said vehicle enters said tunnel for servicing; and

wherein said vehicle tracking means is configured to convey via said interface when said vehicle reaches a point where said vehicle must enter a certain tunnel said vehicle servicing selection to said vehicle servicing station control computer in order for said vehicle servicing station tunnel to direct said vehicle servicing station to perform said service said inputtee selected.

3. The vehicle tracking system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle tracking system further comprises a camera tracking system configured to track said vehicle from said input station, associate said vehicle servicing selection with said vehicle being tracked, track said vehicle from said input station to one of said tunnels of said vehicle servicing system, and deliver said vehicle servicing selection to one of said central computers of said vehicle servicing station generally when said vehicle reaches a point where said vehicle can only enter one tunnel for said vehicle servicing system central computer to direct said vehicle servicing tunnel to perform said vehicle service selection.

4. The vehicle tracking and service selection input system of claim 3, wherein said camera tracking system for tracking a vehicle and associating said tracking with said inputtee'"'"'s selection further comprises:

a camera, said camera positioned and configured to track a vehicle after said vehicle enters said vehicle tracking and service selection input system;

a processing area interfaced with said camera and said vehicle service selection input station, wherein said processing area is configured to associate said vehicle being tracking with said vehicle servicing selection; and

wherein said system is configured such that camera tracks said vehicle, said processing area tracks and associates said vehicle with said inputtee'"'"'s vehicle servicing selection, and said interface connects said camera, said processing area, and said central computer of said vehicle servicing system such that said central computer of said vehicle servicing system is presented said vehicle servicing selection for said vehicle for appropriate servicing of said vehicle after said vehicle reaches said point where said vehicle is only able to enter one of said tunnels.

2. The vehicle tracking and service selection input system of claim one wherein at least one of said vehicle servicing selections comprises at least one vehicle washing selection.

5. A vehicle tracking and service selection input system configured for interface with a vehicle washing system, said washing system comprising at least one control computer and at least one vehicle washing tunnel or area, wherein said vehicle tracking and service selection input system comprises:

a plurality of input stations configured for an inputtee to input at least one vehicle servicing selection, at least one of said selections comprising a vehicle washing selection;

a means configured for tracking a vehicle and associating said vehicle with said inputtee'"'"'s vehicle servicing selection;

wherein said plurality of input stations have an interface between at least one of said control computers of said servicing station;

wherein said system is configured such that each of said inputtees inputs at least one vehicle servicing selection into at least one of said input stations, said vehicle moves from said input station to a queue point, said vehicle is queued until a vehicle washing tunnel is available for the vehicle to enter, wherein said vehicle enters said tunnel for servicing when said vehicle servicing tunnel is available to enter; and

wherein said vehicle tracking means is configured to convey via said interface said vehicle servicing selection to said vehicle servicing station control computer in order for said vehicle servicing station control computer to direct said vehicle servicing station to perform said service said inputtee selected after said vehicle reaches a point generally located wherein said vehicle can enter only one tunnel.

6. The vehicle tracking system as in claim 5, wherein said inputtee is a passenger or driver of said vehicle, wherein each of said vehicle tracking systems tracks said vehicle for servicing by tracking at least one of said inputtee'"'"'s physical traits.

7. The vehicle tracking system of claim 5, wherein said vehicle tracking system tracks a series of points on said vehicle.

8. The vehicle tracking system of claim 5, wherein said means configured for tracking a vehicle and associating said vehicle with said inputtee'"'"'s vehicle servicing selection further comprises a camera tracking system configured to track said vehicle from said input station to one of said tunnels of said vehicle servicing system, associate said vehicle servicing selection with said vehicle being tracked, and deliver said vehicle washing selection to at least one of said central computers of said vehicle washing station in order for at least one of said vehicle servicing system central computers to direct at least one of said vehicle washing tunnels to perform said vehicle service selection.

9. The vehicle tracking system of claim 8, wherein said camera tracking system further comprises:

a camera, said camera positioned and configured to track a vehicle after said vehicle enters said vehicle tracking and service selection input station system;

a processing area interfaced with said camera, said vehicle service selection input station, wherein said processing area is configured to associate said vehicle being tracked with said vehicle servicing selection; and

an interface connecting said processing area with said input stations and at least one of said control computers of said servicing station, wherein said camera is configured to track said vehicle, said processing area is configured to associate said vehicle tracking with said inputtee'"'"'s vehicle servicing selection, and said interface is configured to connect said camera and processing area with at least one of said vehicle servicing station control computer such that said interface is configured to transfer said vehicle washing selection from said camera and processing area and an identification of one of said plurality of tunnels said vehicle will enter to said control computer of said vehicle servicing system for said vehicle servicing system to perform said vehicle servicing selection.

10. The vehicle tracking system of claim 5 wherein said interface further comprises a wireless interface system.

11. The vehicle tracking system of claim 5 wherein said vehicle tracking system further comprises:

a queue located between said plurality of input stations and said vehicle servicing system,

wherein said vehicle tracking and service selection input system is configured such that vehicles from each of said plurality of input stations travels to said queue after inputting said vehicle servicing selection, wherein said vehicles wait for an opening in a vehicle washing tunnel at said queue; and

wherein said vehicle tracking system is configured to track each of said vehicles, wherein when one of said vehicle servicing tunnels is available for a vehicle to enter said tracking system displays said vehicle service selection to said control computer for managing said vehicle servicing station.

12. The vehicle tracking system of claim 11, wherein said means configured for tracking a vehicle and associating said vehicle with said inputtee'"'"'s vehicle servicing selection further comprises a camera tracking system configured to track said vehicle from said input station to one of said tunnels of said vehicle servicing system, associate said vehicle servicing selection with said vehicle being tracked, and deliver said vehicle washing selection to at least one of said central computers of said vehicle washing station in order for at least one of said vehicle servicing system central computers to direct at least one of said vehicle washing tunnels to perform said vehicle service selection.

13. The vehicle tracking system of claim 12, wherein said system is configured to track said vehicle by tracking a plurality of points on said vehicle.

14. A vehicle tracking and service selection input system, wherein said system is configured for application with a vehicle washing service station, wherein said vehicle washing service station comprises at least one control computer configured for controlling vehicle washing equipment of at least one vehicle washing tunnel, wherein a customer selects a vehicle washing service, said vehicle washing selection is delivered to said control computer of said vehicle washing station, said system comprising:

a plurality of input stations, wherein each of said stations is configured for an inputtee to input at least one vehicle washing selection;

a queue located between said plurality of said first stations and said vehicle washing service station, said queue located such that said customer in said vehicle inputs a vehicle washing selection, pays for said vehicle washing selection, and drives said vehicle to said queue wherein a plurality of vehicles travel after inputting selections for vehicle washing into said plurality of input stations; and

a vehicle tracking system comprised of a sensor and an interfaced computer positioned and configured to track each of said vehicles, wherein said vehicle tracking system is configured to be operatively interfaced between said plurality of input stations, said queue, and said control computer of said vehicle service station such that said vehicles wait in said queue for a vacancy in said vehicle service station, said vehicle tracking system receives said vehicle washing selection from each of said input stations, said vehicle tracking system transmits said vehicle service selection to said control computer of said vehicle servicing station for performing said vehicle washing service selection when said vehicle travels to a vacancy in said vehicle service station.

15. The vehicle tracking and washing system of claim 14 wherein said vehicle tracking system further comprises at least one sensor located between said queue and said input station for tracking said vehicles from said plurality of input stations to said queue and to said vehicle service station.

16. The vehicle tracking system of claim 14, wherein said vehicle tracking system further comprises a camera tracking system comprising a camera, a processing area, and an output configured to connect to said interface between said input stations and said control computer of said servicing station, wherein said camera is configured to track a series of points on said vehicle, said processing area processes said points and tracks said points to said vehicle washing tunnel and presents said vehicle servicing selection to said control computer of said vehicle servicing station for said control computer to direct said vehicle washing tunnel equipment to perform said selected service.

17. The vehicle tracking and washing system of claim 15, wherein said system further comprises an exit lane between said plurality of input stations and said vehicle washing station for a vehicle to exit said vehicle tracking and washing system, wherein said vehicle tracking and washing system is configured to expunge a vehicle'"'"'s washing service if said vehicle exits the system.

18. The vehicle tracking system as in claim 16, wherein said vehicle tracking system further comprises:

a camera tracking system comprising a camera;

a processing area;

an output connecting to said interface between said input stations and said control computer of said servicing station;

wherein said camera is configured to track said vehicle, said processing area is configured to process said tracking and associate said tracking with said vehicle washing service selection, wherein said system is configured to present to at least one of said control computers of said vehicle servicing station said vehicle washing service selection generally when said vehicle reaches a point wherein said vehicle can only enter one of said vehicle washing tunnels for said control computer to direct said vehicle washing equipment of said vehicle washing tunnel to perform said vehicle washing service.