Surface material and condition sensing system
First Claim
1. A system carried by a vehicle for sensing and displaying at least one characteristic of a material deposited on a vehicle travel surface comprising:
- a platform on said vehicle for collecting and temporarily holding a portion of a material obtained from said vehicle travel surface;
a sensing means mounted to said platform for detecting at least one characteristic of said collected material on said platform and for producing a signal corresponding to said characteristic;
a microprocessor carried on said vehicle for processing and converting said signal into a form suitable for display and control; and
a conduit means connected between said sensing means and said processor for carrying said signal to said processor.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and apparatus for detecting and evaluating surface conditions on a road surface from a moving vehicle as disclosed. The system comprises a sensor means for detecting the presence of deposited material on a road surface, detecting means for determining one or more characteristics of the material such as its freezing temperature, process means for converting a detected signal and display means for displaying the condition of the road surface. A first embodiment of the invention includes a collection device for collecting a sample of the surface materials and one or more sensors to detect the freezing point of the material. A second embodiment includes a collection chamber which can be isolated and its contents frozen so that the freeze temperature may be obtained irrespective of knowing the composition of the material. A third embodiment of the present invention includes a remote sensing apparatus which utilizes electromagnetic radiation to sense actual surface material conditions, temperatures, and composition. This information is then processed through a computer in order to determine, preferably while the vehicle is in motion, those additional steps necessary to apply additional materials to the road surface in order to minimize hazardous driving conditions.
63 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system carried by a vehicle for sensing and displaying at least one characteristic of a material deposited on a vehicle travel surface comprising:
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a platform on said vehicle for collecting and temporarily holding a portion of a material obtained from said vehicle travel surface; a sensing means mounted to said platform for detecting at least one characteristic of said collected material on said platform and for producing a signal corresponding to said characteristic; a microprocessor carried on said vehicle for processing and converting said signal into a form suitable for display and control; and a conduit means connected between said sensing means and said processor for carrying said signal to said processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system carried by a vehicle for remotely sensing and displaying at least one characteristic of a material deposited on a vehicle travel surface, said apparatus comprising:
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an electromagnetic radiation transmitter mounted on said vehicle for transmitting a signal toward said material on said vehicle travel surface; an electromagnetic radiation receiver mounted on said vehicle for receiving a first reflected signal from said vehicle travel surface and a second reflected signal from said deposited material on said vehicle travel surface; at least one signal processor connected to said receiver for processing said first and second reflected signals and producing a depth output signal corresponding to the thickness of said deposited material; a database containing information representing various characteristic values for potential deposited materials; and a computer connected to said processor and to said database for comparing said output signal to information in said database and generating a corresponding display signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system carried by a vehicle for collecting, sensing and displaying the freeze temperature of a material deposited on a vehicle travel surface comprising:
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a platform on said vehicle for collecting and temporarily holding a portion of a deposited material obtained from said vehicle travel surface; a selectively sealable chamber having a central thermally conductive portion mounted on said platform for receiving and containing a portion of said collected material in said central conductive portion of said chamber; a thermoelectric heater/cooler mounted on said conductive portion of said chamber for cooling said portion of said collected material; and a sensor connected to said central portion for sensing the freeze point of said collected material as said collected material is cooled. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification