Vehicle presence detection system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle presence detection system, comprising:
- a plurality of transmitters, wherein each of said plurality of transmitters is associated with a parking space in a group of parking spaces to monitor, wherein said plurality of transmitters are each attached to a parking space in said group of parking spaces so that when a vehicle is parked in said parking space said vehicle substantially covers a transmitter for said parking space;
a main receiver adapted for receiving a radio wave signal from each of said plurality of transmitters, wherein said main receiver is attached to a ceiling within a building structure above said plurality of transmitters, wherein said main receiver is positioned in a central portion of said plurality of transmitters; and
a control unit in communication with said main receiver, wherein said control unit determines a signal strength of said radio wave signal received by said main receiver, wherein said control unit determines that a vehicle is near a selected transmitter of said plurality of transmitters when said signal strength of said radio wave signal for said selected transmitter is reduced by a threshold loss.
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Abstract
A vehicle presence detection system for effectively detecting the presence of a vehicle in a location based upon a measured radio wave signal strength by a receiver. The vehicle presence detection system generally includes a main receiver adapted for receiving a radio wave signal from a transmitter and a control unit in communication with the main receiver that determines a signal strength of the radio wave signal received by the main receiver. The control unit determines that a vehicle is near the transmitter or the main receiver when the signal strength of the radio wave signal is reduced by a threshold loss.
22 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle presence detection system, comprising:
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a plurality of transmitters, wherein each of said plurality of transmitters is associated with a parking space in a group of parking spaces to monitor, wherein said plurality of transmitters are each attached to a parking space in said group of parking spaces so that when a vehicle is parked in said parking space said vehicle substantially covers a transmitter for said parking space; a main receiver adapted for receiving a radio wave signal from each of said plurality of transmitters, wherein said main receiver is attached to a ceiling within a building structure above said plurality of transmitters, wherein said main receiver is positioned in a central portion of said plurality of transmitters; and a control unit in communication with said main receiver, wherein said control unit determines a signal strength of said radio wave signal received by said main receiver, wherein said control unit determines that a vehicle is near a selected transmitter of said plurality of transmitters when said signal strength of said radio wave signal for said selected transmitter is reduced by a threshold loss. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A vehicle presence detection system, comprising:
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a plurality of transmitters, wherein each of said plurality of transmitters is associated with a parking space in a group of parking spaces to monitor, wherein said plurality of transmitters are each attached to a parking space in said group of parking spaces so that when a vehicle is parked in said parking space said vehicle substantially covers a transmitter for said parking space; a main receiver adapted for receiving a radio wave signal from each of said plurality of transmitters wherein said main receiver is attached to a ceiling within a building structure above said plurality of transmitters, wherein said main receiver is positioned in a central portion of said plurality of transmitters; a control unit in communication with said main receiver, wherein said control unit determines a signal strength of said radio wave signal received by said main receiver, wherein said control unit determines that a vehicle is near a selected transmitter of said plurality of transmitters when said signal strength of said radio wave signal for said selected transmitter is reduced by a threshold loss; and a visual indicator in communication with said control unit to visually indicate to drives the availability of parking space within said group of parking spaces. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A vehicle presence detection system, comprising:
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a plurality of transmitters, wherein each of said plurality of transmitters is associated with a parking space in a group of parking spaces to monitor; a main receiver adapted for receiving a radio wave signal from each of said plurality of transmitters, wherein said main receiver is positioned in a central portion of said plurality of transmitters; a control unit in communication with said main receiver, wherein said control unit determines a signal strength of said radio wave signal received by said main receiver, wherein said control unit determines that a vehicle is near a selected transmitter of said plurality of transmitters when said signal strength of said radio wave signal for said selected transmitter is reduced by a threshold loss, wherein said control unit determines that said vehicle is present when said vehicle is positioned between one of said plurality of transmitters and said main receiver; and a visual indicator in communication with said control unit to visually indicate to drives the availability of parking space within said group of parking spaces; wherein said main receiver, said control unit and said guidance light are comprised of a single device; wherein said main receiver is attached to ceiling above said group of parking spaces; wherein said plurality of transmitters are each attached to an upper surface of a parking space in said group of parking spaces so that when a vehicle is parked in said parking space said vehicle substantially covers a transmitter for said parking space; wherein said plurality of transmitters are each comprised of a Bluetooth device; wherein said control unit calculates changes in said signal strength of said radio wave signal over a period of time and averages said changes to provide an average change in said signal strength of said radio wave signal; wherein said control unit determines that said vehicle is present if a change in said signal strength of said radio wave signal is greater than a multiple of said average change.
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Specification