Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-15
2001-03-06
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
C701S028000, C701S117000, C340S928000, C340S937000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06198987
ABSTRACT:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all rights accruing thereto under 35 U.S.C. § 119 through my patent application entitled Apparatus for Determining Vehicle Class and Method Therefor earlier filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on the Apr. 18, 1997 and there duly assigned Serial No. 1997/14458.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to determining the class of a vehicle and, more specifically, to a method and an apparatus for determining the class of a vehicle for use in a toll collection system.
2. Background Art
Vehicle-class determining apparatuses used for the collection of tolls generally discriminate between vehicle classes, by collecting various data such as the length, height, and width of a vehicle, the number of axles of the vehicle, the distance between the wheels, and the width of the wheels. The various bits of information are then analyzed and compared to a data base to determine the appropriate vehicle class. Once the vehicle class is determined an appropriate fare is then assessed.
Some techniques for determining the class of a vehicle are shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,034 to Kuwagaki entitled Vehicle Classification System Using Profile, U.S. Pat. No. 4,789,941 to Nunberg entitled Computerized Vehicle Classification System, U.S. Pat. No. 3,914,733 to Viracola entitled System Including a Pressure Switch for Counting Axles and Classifying Vehicles, U.S. Pat. No. 3,794,966 to Platzman entitled Automatic Vehicle Classification and Ticket Issuing System, U.S. Pat. No. 3,872,283 to Smith entitled Vehicle Identification Method and Apparatus, U.S. Pat. No. 4,493,103 to Yamashita entitled Automatic Toll-Ticket Issuing Apparatus, U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,234 to Mani entitled Traffic Monitoring System for Determining Vehicle Dimensions, Speed, and Class, U.S. Pat. No. 3,927,389 to Neeloff entitled Device for Determining, During Operation, the Category of a Vehicle According to a Pre-Established Group of Categories, U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,200 to Swett entitled Fast Lane Credit Card, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,090,941 to Breese entitled Toll Collecting Device.
Techniques currently in use today lack the ability to detect cars that pass the vehicle class detector apparatus at great speed or closely behind another car. For example, a common device for determining the class of a vehicle is the treadle. Despite the treadle's simple design, employing a contact method, the treadle method generates serious errors. Parts of the treadle must be replaced often and mis-operation may occur since data for determining the class of a vehicle varies depending on the physical contact of the tires. Also, the treadle apparatus, because it uses the contact method, cannot be used in a “rolling” toll collection system since it is hard to install and it cannot accurately sense the vehicle when speeds exceed 60 km/hr. Furthermore, systems that rely on optical sensors, lasers, or transducers can be extremely accurate for collecting vehicle data to determine the class of a vehicle, but they do not generate evidence that can later be used against people that do not pay the toll or that are being prosecuted for another crime, such as car jacking, kidnaping, or car theft.
I believe that it is possible to improve on the current techniques for determining the class of a vehicle while reducing errors due to poor tire contact, lack of evidence generation for future use, high speed rolling toll collection, and cars being closely positioned near each other will improve automated toll collection, lower the overall cost on taxpayers to support local highways, and allow for evidence to be generated at the same time as vehicle dimensions are determined.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for determining the class of a vehicle.
It is another object to provide a method and apparatus for determining the class of a vehicle that reduces errors caused by vehicles traveling a high speed.
It is still another object to provide a method and apparatus for determining the class of a vehicle that reduces errors due to poor tire contact.
It is yet another object to provide a method and an apparatus that reduces errors caused by cars traveling close together.
It is a further object to provide a method and an apparatus that can collect data regarding the dimensions of a car simultaneously with generating evidence that can be used in future proceedings.
To achieve these and other objects, an apparatus may be installed in a traffic lane that may be constructed with a vehicle sensor that determines when a vehicle enters a lane. A camera is located above the lane. The camera takes a photograph of the vehicle and sends it to a computer that uses the top image to determine the width and the length of the vehicle. Then the computer uses the length and width information and information from a treadle located in a lane to determine the class of the vehicle. Additionally, the computer stores the image data for a predetermined period of time so that it may be recalled later and used for evidentiary purposes.
An apparatus for determining the class of a vehicle as constructed according to an embodiment of the present invention may use a vehicle sensor to determine when a vehicle enters the lane and then generates a vehicle sense signal in response to the detection of the vehicle. Additionally, a vehicle separator may be installed at both sides of the lane for measuring a time interval that starts when the front end of a vehicle passes the vehicle separator and ends when the rear end of the vehicle passes the separator. Furthermore, an axle detector may also be used that may be constructed using four switch contacts that are arranged on the bottom of the lane and generate contact signals when pressure from the wheels of the vehicle on the respective switch contacts is detected. A camera may also be installed above the axle detector to photograph the vehicle as a reference image and to photograph the vehicle when a first axle of the vehicle is sensed by the axle detector during the interval of time bounded by the time when the front of the car passes the vehicle separator and when the rear end of the car passes the separator. A vehicle class determiner may also be used to calculate the width and length of the vehicle using the difference between the reference image and the vehicle image, determining the number of axles and discriminating between forward and backward movements of the vehicle by the order and number of the contact signals generated in the axle detector, and determining the class of the vehicle. The images of the vehicle can then be stored for a predetermined amount of time so that they can be later retrieved for evidentiary purposes when someone fails to pay a toll, is driving a stolen car, etc.
A method for determining the class of vehicle entering a lane by an apparatus for determining vehicle class uses a vehicle sensor to determine when a vehicle is entering a predetermined lane. Then, a vehicle separator measures an interval time from when the front end portion of the vehicle passes the separator sensor to when the rear end portion of the vehicle passes the separator sensor. An axle detector senses the number of axles and discriminates between forward and backward movements of the vehicle to collect data. Lastly, a camera installed above the axle detector photographs a reference image and a vehicle image that can be used to determine the width and length of the vehicle and provide potential evidence. Then a computer or controller determines the width and length of the vehicle, and uses that data along with the number of axles of the vehicle to determine the class of the vehicle.
The first step is to photograph the background of the vehicle using the camera to obtain a reference image that is stored in a predetermined memory location of the vehicle class determiner. The second step is when the front end of the vehicle is sensed by t
Jeong Han-kyu
Park Won-seo
Arthur Gertrude
Bushnell , Esq. Robert E.
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
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