Detector system for detecting the direction in which an item passes through a determined boundary zone

• US 7,821,416 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2005
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neopost Technologies S.A. (Quadient SA)
• Original Assignee: Neopost Technologies S.A. (Quadient SA)
• Inventors: Lievre, Jerome, Venture, Guy
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thompson; Bradley E
• Application Number:
  US11/046,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20050195083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,098 Days
• Field of Search: 340/673, 340/995.28, 324/165, 235/462.46
• US Class Current: 340/673
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/104 using several coupled or uncoupled coils G01V3/101 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2454 Checking of authorisation of a person accessing tagged items in an EAS system

Abstract

The invention relates to a goods transport vehicle including a detector system for detecting the direction in which an item passes through a loading/unloading door on the vehicle, the detector system including:

• • a first read-interrogate element including a first antenna having a first detection lobe, the first read-interrogate element monitoring a first region situated on one side of the loading/unloading door;
  • a second read-interrogate element including a second antenna having a second detection lobe that does not overlap the first detection lobe, the second read-interrogate element monitoring a second region situated on the other side of the loading/unloading door; and
  • processor means connected to the first and second read-interrogate elements, the processor means determining the direction in which the item passes through as a function of the order in which the two regions are crossed.

Claims

1. A goods transport vehicle including a detector system for detecting the direction in which an item passes through an opening of a loading/unloading door on the vehicle, wherein said detector system comprises:

a first read-interrogate element including a first antenna having a first detection lobe, the first read interrogate element being located in the door of the vehicle and monitoring a first region situated on one side of said door;

a second read-interrogate element including a second antenna having a second detection lobe that does not overlap the first detection lobe, the second read interrogate element being located in the door of the vehicle and monitoring a second region situated on the other side of said; and

processor means connected to the first and second read-interrogate elements, the processor means determining the direction in which the item passes through as a function of the order in which said two regions are crossed.

2. A transport vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the processor means further determine identification data relating to the item.

3. A transport vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the detector system further includes wireless communications means for transmitting identification data and data relating to the travel direction of the item to management means external to the vehicle.

4. A transport vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the detector system further includes wired communications means for transmitting identification data and data relating to the travel direction of the item to management means external to the vehicle.

5. A transport vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the detector system further includes sound and/or light indicator means.

6. A transport vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the data is transmitted between the wired communications means and the management means via a local area network to which the vehicle is connected.

7. A transport vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said first and second antennas substantially surround the opening of the door.

8. A transport vehicle according to claim 1, where said first and second antennas extend along top and side portions of the opening of the door.