×

Travel information sensing and communication system

  • US 8,989,920 B2
  • Filed: 05/12/2014
  • Issued: 03/24/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A driving condition monitoring system for vehicles on a travel surface, comprising:

  • a plurality of detecting sensors that each detect the presence of a vehicle within a set distance from said detecting sensor, each of said detecting sensors being embedded in the travel surface or located in a stationary mounting structure in a vicinity of the travel surface and apart from the travel surface,a respective measuring or detecting component coupled to each of said detecting sensors, each of said measuring or detecting components being activated to measure or detect a property or condition of the travel surface or the environment around the travel surface that affects interaction between tires of the vehicle and the travel surface only when said detecting sensor coupled to said measuring or detecting component detects the presence of a vehicle within the set distance from said detecting sensor;

    a respective energy harvesting system coupled to each of said detecting sensors and said measuring or detecting component coupled to said detecting sensor, each of said energy harvesting systems generating energy and providing the generated energy to said respective measuring or detecting component to enable it to measure or detect the property or condition of the travel surface or environment around the travel surface and said respective detecting sensor to enable it to detect the presence of a vehicle within a set distance from said detecting sensor; and

    a respective communication system coupled to each of said measuring or detecting components and that communicates directly to the vehicle or occupant thereof, the property or condition measured or detected by said measuring or detecting components when said detecting sensor coupled to said measuring or detecting component detects the presence of a vehicle within the set distance from said detecting sensor,whereby for each of said measuring or detecting components, the property or condition measured or detected by said measuring or detecting component is not communicated from said measuring or detecting component by said respective communication system until said measuring or detecting component is activated.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×