Wheel skid detection during mechanized cart retrieval

• US 9,322,658 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2015
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gatekeeper Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gatekeeper Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Hannah, Stephen E., Carter, Scott J., James, Jesse M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): EVANS, GARRETT F
• Application Number:
  US14/821,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20150344055A1
• Time in Patent Office: 263 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 10/04 for storing or handling self-service hand-carts or baskets
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 25/08 from a ground wheel, e.g. engaging the wheel tread or rim
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/16 operated by remote control, i.e. initiating means not mounted on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/18 operated by wayside apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/14 characterised by provisions for nesting or stacking, e.g. shopping trolleys collapsible shopping trolleys B62B3/027
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1404 Means for facilitating stowing or transporting of the trolleys; Antitheft arrangements B62B5/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1412 mounted on the frame
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1424 Electronic display devices
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1492 Wheel arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0003 Adaptations for loading in or on a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0423 braking or blocking when leaving a particular area
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0438 hand operated
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/048 Hub brakes; drum brakes
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/12 executed aboard the object being navigated; Dead reckoning
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2448 Tag with at least dual detection means, e.g. combined inductive and ferromagnetic tags, dual frequencies within a single technology, tampering detection or signalling means on the tag
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/246 Check out systems combined with EAS, e.g. price information stored on EAS tag anti-theft systems in point of sale systems G07G3/003
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 : Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2474 : Antenna or antenna activator geometry, arrangement or layout loop antennae H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2477 : Antenna or antenna activator circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2482 : EAS methods, e.g. description of flow chart of the detection procedure
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 : Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1846 : structurally associated with wheels or associated parts dynamos arranged in the wheel hub of cycles B62J6/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 : Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

A vehicle tracking system includes a wheel containing sensor circuitry capable of sensing various types of conditions, such as wheel rotation, wheel vibration caused by skidding, and specific electromagnetic and/or magnetic signals indicative of particular wheel locations. The sensor circuitry is coupled to an RF transceiver, which may but need not be included within the wheel. The wheel may also include a brake mechanism. In one embodiment, the wheels are placed on shopping carts and are used to collect and monitor shopping cart status and location data via a wireless network. The collected data may be used for various purposes, such as locking the wheel of an exiting cart if the customer has not paid, estimating numbers of queued carts, stopping wheel skid events that occur during mechanized cart retrieval, store planning, and providing location-based messaging to customers.

Claims

1. A method of reducing wheel damage to carts retrieved by a mechanized cart retrieval unit, the method comprising:

detecting a wheel skid event via a vibration sensor included in a wheel assembly of a cart being retrieved by the mechanized cart retrieval unit, wherein detecting the wheel skid event comprises, by a controller in the wheel assembly, determining whether a vibration signal generated by the vibration sensor corresponds to a skid profile of a wheel; and

in response to detecting the wheel skid event, transmitting a message to the mechanized cart retrieval unit over a wireless communication link to cause the mechanized cart retrieval unit to take a corrective action.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the corrective action is the disablement of the mechanized cart retrieval unit.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the corrective action comprises activation of an alarm.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the cart is a shopping cart, and the method comprises sensing wheel vibration via a vibration sensor included in the wheel of the shopping cart.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the cart lacks a motor for cart propulsion.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises receiving said message via a directional antenna of the mechanized cart retrieval unit.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a command from the mechanized cart retrieval unit during cart retrieval to cause wheel locking mechanisms of carts being retrieved to remain unlocked.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the command is transmitted via a directional antenna on the mechanized cart retrieval unit, said directional antenna positioned so as to focus transmissions on a cart retrieval area.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the method, including detecting the wheel skid event and transmitting the message, is performed automatically by circuitry of said wheel assembly.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the vibration sensor comprises a piezoelectric crystal that generates a voltage.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the vibration sensor comprises a disturbance switch.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the vibration signal corresponds to the skid profile of a wheel comprises counting a number of pulses generated by the vibration sensor per unit time.

10. A system for reducing wheel damage, comprising:

a wheel configured for use on a shopping cart;

a vibration sensor included in the wheel and capable of detecting vibration caused by skidding of the wheel during mechanized cart retrieval; and

a communication circuit connected to the vibration sensor, the communication circuit comprising a controller programmed to analyze a signal generated by the vibration sensor and to determine whether the signal corresponds to a wheel skid profile, whereby the controller is capable of detecting a wheel skid event;

wherein the communication circuit is responsive to detection by the controller of a wheel skid event by transmitting an alert message via a radio frequency (RF) communication link.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a mechanized cart retrieval unit that is responsive to the alert message by taking a corrective action.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the vibration sensor is a piezoelectric vibration sensor.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the communication circuit is included in the wheel.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the communication circuit is configured to communicate bi-directionally with nodes that are physically separate from the shopping cart.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the vibration sensor comprises a disturbance switch.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the controller is programmed to count a number of pulses generated by the vibration sensor per unit time and to use a resulting count value to evaluate whether the signal represents a wheel skid event.

20. A wheel assembly configured for attachment to a shopping cart, the wheel assembly comprising:

a wheel;

a vibration sensor positioned to sense vibration of the wheel; and

a controller coupled to the vibration sensor, the controller configured to determine whether a signal generated by the vibration sensor corresponds to a wheel skid profile, the controller thereby capable of determining whether vibration of the wheel is a result of a wheel skid event.

21. The wheel assembly of claim 20, wherein the vibration sensor is in the wheel.

22. The wheel assembly of claim 20, wherein the controller is configured to count a number of pulses generated by the vibration sensor per unit time and to use a resulting count value to evaluate whether the signal represents a wheel skid event.

23. The wheel assembly of claim 20, wherein the controller is configured to output a signal in response to detecting a wheel skid event.

24. The wheel assembly of claim 20, further comprising a transmitter, wherein the controller is configured to use the transmitter to transmit a wireless alert message in response to detection of a wheel skid event.

25. The wheel assembly of claim 24, in combination with a mechanized cart retrieval unit that is responsive to the wireless alert message by performing a corrective action to protect the wheel from damage.