Wireless, especially mobile, communication device for communicating with communication devices in vehicles

• US 7,447,480 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2002
• Issued: 11/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EFKON GmbH (Strabag Se)
• Original Assignee: Efkon AG (Strabag Se)
• Inventors: Rieder, Helmut, Pammer, Raimund
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson; Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUANG, WEN WU
• Application Number:
  US10/466,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20040053651A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,491 Days
• Field of Search: 455 411- 3, 340/905, 340/928, 340/907, 340/908, 340/933, 342/42, 342/44, 342/51
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence

Abstract

A wireless, in particular mobile, communication device (8) for communicating with communication units (9) in vehicles (5, 6, 7), comprising a transmitter (26) and a receiver (29) for information-containing electromagnetic waves, as well as a control unit (25) for controlling the transmitter (26), a directional characteristic (10, 10′) being provided for the receiver (29) and/or for the transmitter (26), for a selective communication with communication units (9) in vehicles (5, 6, 7) at distances (D) of more than 10 m, preferably in the order of from 20 m to 200 m, e.g. in the order of approximately 100 m, in particular with a receiving angle, or a radiation angle, respectively, of from 0.5° to 4°, preferably 0.8° to 2.5°, and a sighting unit (13) as well as an indication unit (16, 18) being provided, the indication unit being connected with the receiver (29) via a processing unit.

Claims

1. A wireless infrared toll checking system for communicating with IR communication units in vehicles, for wireless checking as to whether or not a toll transaction has occurred, said toll checking system comprising:

a) an active vehicle communication unit disposed in a motor vehicle;

b) a portable toll checking device comprising;

i) a portable housing

ii) an IR-transmitter disposed in said housing and comprising an IR diode, for sending an IR signal to said active vehicle communication unit,

iii) an IR-receiver disposed in said housing and for receiving information containing electromagnetic waves from said active vehicle communication unit;

iv) at least one focusing optic, disposed in said housing and for focusing said transmitted IR signal;

v) at least one receiving optic disposed adjacent to said at least one focusing optic in said housing, and for receiving a signal transmitted from said active vehicle communication unit within a limited receiving angle range;

vi) a control unit disposed in said housing for controlling said IR-transmitter, wherein said IR-receiver and said IR-transmitter have optics with a directional characteristic, said directional characteristic being adaptable in accordance with a given maximum distance to IR communication units in vehicles, for a selective communication with said active vehicle communication units at distances (D) of from 20 m to 200 m,;

vii) an optic sighting unit coupled to said housing;

viii) a processing unit disposed in said housing;

ix) an indication unit disposed in said housing the indication unit being connected to said IR-receiver via said processing unit;

wherein said control unit for said IR transmitter has an associated memory for, pre-determined transmission signal information, and wherein said IR transmitter sends a wake up signal to wake up said active vehicle communication unit wherein said wake up signal includes command signals for said vehicle communication unit, and is arranged so to cause said active vehicle communication unit to identify itself and send stored status information, and information regarding toll transactions, in an automatic manner.

2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the directional characteristic is defined for a selective communication at distances in the order of approximately 100 m.

3. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said IR-receiver is provided with a receiving angle of from 0.5°

to 5°

.

4. The communication system according to claim 3, wherein the receiving angle is from 0.8°

to 2.5°

.

5. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said IR-transmitter is provided with an angle of radiation of from 0.5°

to 5°

.

6. The communication system according to claim 5, wherein said angle of radiation is from 0.8°

to 2.5°

.

7. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said indication unit comprises a LCD display.

8. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the indication unit comprises an acoustic indicating means, e.g. a buzzer.

9. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said processing unit is formed by a processor.

10. The communication system according to claim 9, wherein said processor has a memory for information to be transmitted and received, respectively.

11. The communication device according to claim 9, wherein said processor has a clock signal generator for providing a date and clock indication.

12. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said control unit for said transmitter is formed by a processor.

13. The communication system according to claim 12, wherein said processor is connected to an input unit, in particular keys, for inputting information and instructions.

14. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said control unit for said IR-transmitter has an associated trigger-like switch for triggering the transmitter for radiating electromagnetic waves.

15. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said control unit for the said IR-transmitter, has an associated memory for pre-determined transmission signal information, with a wake-up signal for said vehicle communication unit and with command signals for said vehicle communication unit so as to cause said vehicle communication unit to identify itself and deliver stored information, in particular status information and information regarding toll transactions.

16. The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a memory for storing a toll-site identification.

17. A portable wireless infrared toll checking device for communicating with active communication units in vehicles for wireless checking as to whether a toll transaction has occurred, said toll checking device comprising:

a) a portable housing;

b) an IR transmitter disposed in said housing and having focusing optics arranged for selective communication with the communication units in the vehicles at a distance of at least 20 meters to 200 meters;

c) an IR receiver disposed in said housing said IR receiver having receiving optics disposed adjacent to said focusing optics, said receiving optics for receiving and reading signals within a limited receiving angle range;

d) a control unit disposed in said housing and for controlling said IR transmitter, said control unit having a memory for storing predetermined transmission signal information comprising a wake up signal to be sent to the vehicle communication unit, and wherein said control unit has an additional memory for storing toll site identification information;

e) an optical sighting unit coupled to said housing and for allowing a user to aim said IR transmitter;

f) at least one indication unit disposed in said housing and being coupled to said IR receiver;

g) a memory unit;

wherein said IR transmitter sends command signals to the vehicle communication unit to cause the vehicle communication unit to identify itself and deliver stored information in the form of status information regarding toll transactions wherein said status information regarding toll transactions are stored in said memory unit; and

wherein the control unit for the IR transmitter has an associated memory for pre-determined transmission signal information, with a wake up signal for the vehicle communication unit.

18. The portable wireless device as in claim 17, further comprising a handle coupled to said housing, wherein said handle is for allowing a user to hold the device and point the device at a particular vehicle while using said optical sighting unit.

19. The portable wireless device as in claim 18, further comprising a trigger switch coupled to said housing, said trigger switch to trigger said IR transmitter.

20. The portable wireless device as in claim 17, wherein said IR transmitter has a narrow directional characteristic corresponding to an angle between 0.5 degrees to 4 degrees.

21. A system for tracking motor vehicles and for charging tolls comprising:

a) at least one active communication unit on an associated motor vehicle, said at least one communication unit have a microprocessor having an associated memory for storing data relating to toll transactions;

b) a portable wireless infrared communication device comprising;

i) a portable housing;

ii) an IR transmitter disposed in said housing and having focusing optics arranged for selective communication with said at least one communication unit in said associated vehicle at a distance of at least 20 meters to 200 meters;

iii) an IR receiver disposed in said housing;

iv) at least one focusing optic disposed in said housing, for focusing said transmitted IR signal;

v) at least one receiving optic, disposed adjacent to said focusing optic in said housing, said at least one receiving optic for receiving information from said active vehicle communication unit within a limited receiving angle range;

vi) a control unit disposed in said housing and for controlling said IR transmitter, said control unit having a memory for storing predetermined transmission signal information comprising a wake up signal to be sent to the vehicle communication unit, and wherein said control unit has an additional memory for storing toll site identification;

vii) an optical sighting unit coupled to said housing and for allowing a user to aim said IR transmitter; and

viii) at least one indication unit disposed in said housing and being coupled to said IR receiver;

wherein said IR transmitter sends command signals to said at least one active vehicle communication unit to cause said at least one active vehicle communication unit to identify itself and deliver stored information in the form of status information regarding toll transactions and

wherein the control unit for the IR transmitter has an associated memory for pre-determined transmission signal information, with a wake up signal for activating said active vehicle communication unit so that said active vehicle communication unit can transmit signals back to said portable wireless infrared communication device.

22. A system for tracking motor vehicles as in claim 21, wherein said at least one active communication unit further comprises a communication unit comprising a transmitter and a receiver.

23. The system for tracking motor vehicles as in claim 22, wherein said at least one active communication unit further comprises a microprocessor, and a memory, said memory for storing data relating to toll transactions and identity information.

24. The system for tracking motor vehicles as in claim 21, wherein said control unit has a series of instructions for performing the following steps:

a) initiating in said portable wireless infrared communication device a wake up signal via an infrared transmission from said IR transmitter to said active communication unit to selectively wake up said active communication unit; and

b) receiving and storing information derived from a plurality of signals transmitted from said active communication unit, said information relating to toll transactions and identification information.