Apparatus and method for activating an inductance loop vehicle detection system

• US 7,026,955 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2001
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Green Light Triggers, LLC
• Original Assignee: Scott Kauffman
• Inventors: Kauffman, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US09/904,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20020175833A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,734 Days
• Field of Search: 340/941, 340/939, 340/936, 340/938, 340/916, 340/905, 340/919, 340/917, 340/448
• US Class Current: 340/941
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/042 using inductive or magnetic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/08 according to detected number or speed of vehicles

Abstract

An apparatus and method for activating an inductance loop vehicle detection system is disclosed, wherein a magnet is attached to a vehicle. In order to activate the inductance loop vehicle detection system, the vehicle, and attached magnet, are moved in relation to an induction loop embedded within a roadway. A reaction between the magnet and induction loop causes the inductance loop vehicle detection system to register the presence of a vehicle.

Claims

1. An apparatus for activating an inductance loop vehicle detector, comprising:

a permanent magnet, and

a mount for attaching the magnet to a vehicle at a position that will cause the magnet to activate an inductance loop vehicle detector when the vehicle moves proximal to an inductance loop of the inductance loop vehicle detector.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is selected from a group consisting of:

a motorcycle, an automobile, and a bicycle.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the magnet is selected from the group consisting of:

a ceramic magnet, a neodymium-iron-boron magnet, a samarium-cobalt magnet, and a magnet formed of an alloy of aluminum, nickel, and cobalt.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the magnet is a grade 5 ceramic magnet.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnet has a total flux of at least 20,000 maxwells and a maximum energy product of at least 6.5 MGOe.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the magnet further has a residual induction of at least 3000 gauss, and a coercive force of at least 2200 oersteds.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnet includes a protective coating.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the coating is a conducting material.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the coating is one or more of the group consisting of:

tin, nickel, or chrome.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the coating is a non-conductive material.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the coating is formed from plastic or rubber.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mount is selected from the group consisting of:

an adhesive material, brackets, and a hook and loop fastener.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mount includes a member having an adhesive coating on two opposing surfaces.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mount includes a corrugated tie.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mount is integrally formed with the vehicle.

16. A method of activating an inductance loop vehicle detector, comprising:

attaching a permanent magnet to a vehicle at a position on the vehicle that will cause the magnet to activate an inductance loop vehicle detector when the vehicle moves proximal to an inductance loop of the inductance loop vehicle detector, and

moving the vehicle with the magnet proximal to an inductance loop of the inductance loop vehicle detector.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the magnet is selected from the group consisting of:

a ceramic magnet, a neodymium-iron-boron magnet, a samarium-cobalt magnet, and a magnet formed of an alloy of aluminum, nickel, and cobalt.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the magnet is a grade 5 ceramic magnet.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the magnet has a total flux of at least 20,000 maxwells and a maximum energy product of at least 6.5 MGOe.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the magnet further has a residual induction of at least 3000 gauss, and a coercive force of at least 2200 oersteds.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the magnet includes a protective coating.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the coating is a conducting material.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the coating is one or more of the group consisting of:

tin, nickel, or chrome.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the coating is a non-conductive material.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the coating is formed from plastic or rubber.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein the magnet is attached using a mount.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the mount is selected from the group consisting of:

an adhesive material, brackets, and a hook and loop fastener.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the mount includes a member having an adhesive coating on two opposing surfaces.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the mount includes a corrugated tie.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the mount is integrally formed with the vehicle.

31. A method far manufacturing a vehicle, comprising:

manufacturing a vehicle; and

attaching a permanent magnet to the vehicle at a position on the vehicle that will cause the magnet to activate an inductance loop vehicle detector when the vehicle moves proximal to an inductance loop of the inductance loop vehicle detector for purposes of activating proximal inductance loop detectors.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the magnet is selected from the group consisting of:

a ceramic magnet, a neodymium-iron-boron magnet, a samarium-cobalt magnet, and a magnet formed of an alloy of aluminum, nickel, and cobalt.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the magnet is a grade 5 ceramic magnet.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the magnet has a total flux of at least 20,000 maxwells and a maximum energy product of at least 6.5 MGOe.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the magnet further has a residual induction of at least 3000 gauss, and a coercive force of at least 2200 oersteds.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein the magnet includes a protective coating.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein to coating is a conducting material.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the coating is one or more of the group consisting of:

tin, nickel, or chrome.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the coating is a non-conductive material.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the coating is formed from plastic or rubber.

41. The method of claim 31, wherein the magnet is attached using a mount.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the mount is selected from the group consisting of:

an adhesive material, brackets, and a hook and loop fastener.

43. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the mount includes a member having an adhesive coating on two opposing surfaces.

44. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the mount includes a corrugated tie.

45. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the mount is integrally formed with the vehicle.

46. A method of retrofitting a vehicle, comprising:

attaching a permanent magnet to a vehicle at a position on the vehicle that will cause the magnet to activate an inductance loop vehicle detector when the vehicle moves proximal to an inductance loop of the inductance loop vehicle detector.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the magnet is selected from the group consisting of:

a ceramic magnet, a neodymium-iron-boron magnet, a samarium-cobalt magnet, and a magnet formed of an alloy of aluminum, nickel, and cobalt.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the magnet is a grade 5 ceramic magnet.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein the magnet has a total flux of at least 20,000 maxwells and a maximum energy product of at least 6.5 MGOe.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the magnet further has a residual induction of at least 3000 gauss, and a coercive force of at least 2200 oersteds.

51. The method of claim 46, wherein the magnet includes a protective coating.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the coating is a conducting material.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the coating is one or more of the group consisting of:

tin, nickel, or chrome.

54. The method of claim 51, wherein the coating is a non-conductive material.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the coating is formed from plastic or rubber.

56. The method of claim 46, wherein the magnet is attached using a mount.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the mount is selected from the group consisting of:

an adhesive material, brackets, and a hook and loop fastener.

58. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the mount includes a member having an adhesive coating on two opposing surfaces.

59. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the mount includes a corrugated tie.