Trailer cargo detection using ultrasonic transducers

• US 7,579,941 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2006
• Issued: 08/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Asset Intelligence LLC (PowerFleet, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Wendler, Steve, Cleveland, Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/335,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20060132306A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 340/686.1, 340/686.16, 340/943, 340/991, 340/666, 340/431, 340/506, 340/566, 340/601, 340/602, 340/501, 340/522, 340/523, 340/693.6, 367/93, 367/94, 180/167, 180/169, 702/155, 701/1
• US Class Current: 340/431
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/88 Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52006 with provision for compensating the effects of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52015 Diversity systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/521 Constructional features

Abstract

A cargo detector for use in a trailer that includes an ultrasonic transducer for covering the entire interior area of the trailer. In particular, the cargo detector has three modes including short range, long range, and proximity range, and can detect cargoes located flush against a front or rear wall of the trailer.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting an object in a trailer comprising:

a long-range sensor mounted along a nose wall of the trailer;

an atmospheric absorption compensation module connected to the long-range sensor; and

a power source electrically connected to the sensor;

wherein;

the atmospheric absorption compensation further comprises at least one sensor sensing one or more atmospheric conditions; and

the atmospheric conditions comprise air humidity.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more openings to facilitate sensing of at least one atmospheric condition.

3. The method of claim 1:

wherein the atmospheric condition further comprises air temperature.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the atmospheric absorption compensation module further comprises controls for amplifying sensor signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the atmospheric absorption compensation module further comprises a processor for calculating effects of atmospheric absorption on ultrasonic signal.