Combined loop type auto-mobile sensor using loop coil and parking information system the same

• US 8,836,539 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2008
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Moru Inven Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Moru Inven Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Jeong Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tang, Son M
• Application Number:
  US12/994,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20110074605A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,252 Days
• Field of Search: 3409322-933, 340/941, 324/239, 324/207.17, 324/225, 324/228
• US Class Current: 340/941
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/042 using inductive or magnetic detectors

Abstract

Provided are a loop type automobile sensing device formed integrally with a small loop coil, which has the automobile sensing sensitivity of a related art loop type automobile sensing device using a large loop coil, so as to greatly facilitate installing and maintaining of the loop type automobile sensing device and to expand the application scope of the loop type automobile sensing device, and a parking information system using the loop type automobile sensing device. In addition, the loop type automobile sensing device integrally formed with the loop coil is provided in plurality as automobile sensors to detect the presence and moving state of an automobile according to a signal from the automobile sensors, to control operations of a plurality of cameras, warning lamps, and display devices installed to a parking lot, and to notify parking information and automobile movement information.

Claims

1. An integral loop type automobile sensing device comprising:

a body providing an appearance;

two or more differential loop coils having closed curves in the body and arranged in an up-and-down direction to have different distances from a lower structure of a target automobile;

an inductance evaluation unit configured to receive, from the loop coil, electrical variation induced by the automobile to increase automobile sensing sensitivity; and

a communication unit configured to receive an automobile sensing result from the inductance evaluation unit and to transmit the result.

2. The integral loop type automobile sensing device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the loop coils is disposed along a periphery surface in the body to have a maximum closed curve.

3. The integral loop type automobile sensing device of claim 1, wherein the inductance evaluation unit is configured to increase the automobile sensing sensitivity using a variation difference between the loop coils arrayed in the up-and-down direction to have different distances from a lower structure of a target automobile.

4. The integral loop type automobile sensing device of claim 1, wherein the loop coil has a size of 900 mm or less, and wherein the size indicates a diameter of the loop coil or a length of a smallest side of the loop coil when the loop coil is substantially circular or polygonal, respectively.

5. The integral loop type automobile sensing device of claim 1, further comprising a battery power unit to supply power for operating the integral loop type automobile sensing device.

6. The integral loop type automobile sensing device of claim 1, wherein the communication unit performs one-to-one communication or one-to-many communication through wired communication or wireless communication.

7. The integral loop type automobile sensing device of claim 1, wherein the body is formed in a single piece.

8. The integral loop type automobile sensing device of claim 7, wherein the body is fixed to a road surface through a screw member or a nail member.

9. The integral loop type automobile sensing device of claim 7, wherein the body is embedded in a road such that an upper surface of the body is flush with a road surface, and then the body is fixed to the road through a screw member or a nail member.

10. The integral loop type automobile sensing device of claim 1, wherein the body comprises two pieces that are removable from each other.

11. The integral loop type automobile sensing device of claim 10, wherein the body is fixed to a road surface through a screw member or a nail member.

12. The integral loop type automobile sensing device of claim 10, wherein the body is embedded in a road such that an upper surface of the body is flush with a road surface, and then the body is fixed to the road through a screw member or a nail member.

13. The integral loop type automobile sensing device of claim 1, wherein the integral loop type automobile sensing device receives power through a power connection wire from a photovoltaic device that includes a solar panel installed at a dividing line of a road or at a safety zone.

14. The integral loop type automobile sensing device of claim 1, further comprising a photovoltaic device that converts photo energy, supplied through a solar panel installed to an upper part of the body, into electrical energy to supply power.

15. A parking information system using a plurality of integral loop type automobile sensing devices as automobile sensors disposed at a parking lot floor, each including:

a body providing an appearance;

two or more differential loop coils having closed curves in the body and arranged in an up-and-down direction to have different distances from a lower structure of a target automobile;

an inductance evaluation unit configured to receive, from the loop coil, electrical variation induced by the automobile to increase automobile sensing sensitivity; and

a communication unit configured to receive an automobile sensing result from the inductance evaluation unit to transmit the result,

the parking information system comprising a control unit configured to detect parking and moving state of an automobile according to a signal transmitted from the automobile sensors, to control operations of a plurality of cameras, warning lamps, and display devices installed to a parking lot, and to notify parking information and automobile movement information.

16. The parking information system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the loop coils is disposed along a periphery surface in the body to have a maximum closed curve.

17. The parking information system of claim 15, wherein the inductance evaluation unit is configured to increase the automobile sensing sensitivity using a variation difference between the loop coils arrayed in the up-and-down direction to have different distances from a lower structure of a target automobile.

18. The parking information system of claim 15, further comprising a battery power unit to supply power for operating the integral loop type automobile sensing device.

19. The parking information system of claim 15, wherein the communication unit performs one-to-one communication or one-to-many communication through wired communication or wireless communication.

20. The parking information system of claim 15, wherein the integral loop type automobile sensing device receives power through a power connection wire from a photovoltaic device that includes a solar panel installed at a dividing line of a road or at a safety zone.

21. The parking information system of claim 15, wherein the integral loop type automobile sensing device comprises a display unit installed at a side of the body to display presence of an available parking space.

22. The parking information system of claim 15, wherein the integral loop type automobile sensing device comprises a photovoltaic device that converts photo energy, supplied through a solar panel installed to an upper part of the body, into electrical energy to supply power.

23. The parking information system of claim 15, wherein the integral loop type automobile sensing device comprises:

a display unit installed at a side of the body to display presence of an available parking space; and

a photovoltaic device that converts photo energy, supplied through a solar panel installed to an upper part of the body, into electrical energy to supply power.