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Zone-based control of cart usage using RF transmission for brake activation

  • US 8,558,698 B1
  • Filed: 05/28/2013
  • Issued: 10/15/2013
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2005
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A system for controlling usage of carts, comprising:

  • a plurality of wheel assemblies that attach to respective human propelled carts, each of the wheel assemblies comprising a wheel, a brake unit for inhibiting cart movement, and communication/control circuitry;

    a first antenna that repetitively emits a transmission of a first command that instructs the wheel assemblies to activate their brake units, said first antenna positioned to create a first zone in which cart movement is inhibited; and

    a second antenna that repetitively emits a transmission of a second command that instructs the wheel assemblies to deactivate their brake units, said second antenna positioned to create a second zone in which cart movement is not inhibited, said second zone located adjacent to the first zone such that a cart with an activated brake unit can be moved from the first zone to the second zone to cause its brake unit to become deactivated;

    wherein at least one of said antennas is a directional antenna that is mounted above ground and positioned to radiate downward toward a ground surface on which the carts move.

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