Method and apparatus for self-powered vehicular sensor node using magnetic sensor and radio transceiver

• US 9,767,691 B1
• Filed: 10/29/2009
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensys Networks Inc. (Tagmaster AB)
• Original Assignee: Sensys Networks Inc. (Tagmaster AB)
• Inventors: Kavaler, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): TUN, NAY L
• Application Number:
  US12/608,984
• Time in Patent Office: 2,882 Days
• Field of Search: 340933, 340928, 340936, 340941, 34030916, 3405391, 340907, 340908, 3409322, 368 1, 368 10, 701117-119
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/042 using inductive or magnetic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/141 with means giving the indication of available parking spaces
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/145 where the indication depends on the parking areas

Abstract

The invention includes a vehicular sensor node, circuit apparatus and their operations. Power from power source is controlled for delivery to radio transceiver and magnetic sensor, based upon a task trigger and task identifier. The radio transceiver and the magnetic sensor are operated based upon the task identifier, when the task trigger is active. The power source, radio transceiver, magnetic sensor, and circuit apparatus are enclosed in vehicular sensor node, placed upon pavement and operating for at least five years without replacing the power source components. Magnetic sensor preferably uses the magnetic resistive effect to create magnetic sensor state. Radio transceiver preferably implements version of a wireless communications protocol. The circuit apparatus may further include light emitting structure to visibly communicate during installation and/or testing, and second light emitting structure used to visibly communicate with vehicle operators. Making filled shell and vehicular sensor node from circuit apparatus.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising;

an access point and a sensor node;

said sensor node comprising;

a radio transceiver, a sensor, and an integrated circuit that controls power and operation of said radio transceiver and said sensor;

said integrated circuit configured to generate a report about a detection of a vehicle, present near and separate from said sensor node;

said integrated circuit powers and operates said sensor to detect said vehicle;

said integrated circuit powers and operates said radio transceiver to wirelessly communicate said report to said access point;

said access point configured to wirelessly communicate with said sensor node to receive said report;

said access point configured to respond to said report to present an estimate of parking space availability to a second vehicle trying to park and directed by an automatic driving system; and

said sensor node further comprising a light emitting structure to visibly communicate based on comparison between a node address of said sensor node and a probe node address received from said radio transceiver.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

said access point configured to wirelessly transmit to said sensor node.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said access point is further configured to communicate with a controller in a Nema cabinet.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said Nema cabinet is part of a traffic monitoring network.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

said access point configured to create said estimate of said parking space availability.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

said access point configured to send said estimate to said traffic monitoring network.

7. The apparatus claim 6, wherein said traffic monitoring network is configured to present said estimate of said parking space availability to said second vehicle trying to park.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

said access point configured to send said estimate of said parking space availability through said traffic monitoring system to said Nema cabinet.