Communications: electrical – Traffic control indicator – Combined
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-10
2001-07-10
Lefkowitz, Edward (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Traffic control indicator
Combined
C340S933000, C235S384000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06259376
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a tolling apparatus for judging whether the travelling vehicle is fair vehicle or unfair vehicle with a radio wave communication.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A tolling apparatus for judging whether the travelling vehicle is a fair (ETC, Electronic Toll Collection) vehicle or an unfair (non-ETC) vehicle with a radio wave communication is known. Japanese patent application provisional publication No. 9-326057 discloses such a tolling apparatus having a transmitting and receiving antenna, first and second sensors are arranged at a specific interval in a communication area of the antenna to start and stops communication with the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aim of the present invention is to provide a superior tolling apparatus.
According to the present invention there is provided a first tolling apparatus which includes: a first sensor arranged at a first position along a lane for detecting a vehicle passing the first sensor on the lane in a direction of the lane; a second sensor arranged at a second position apart from the first sensor by a predetermined distance in the direction for detecting the vehicle passing the second sensor on the lane; a communicating portion having a communication area on the lane arranged to substantially correspond to an area on the lane between the first and second sensors for communicating with a communication unit on the vehicle in response to the first sensor to establish a communication link with the communication unit; a timer for measuring a predetermined interval in response to the first sensor; a microprocessor responsive to the timer, the first and second sensors, and the communicating portion for judging the vehicle as a fair vehicle if the communication link is established during an interval between when the first sensor detects the vehicle and when the second sensor detects the vehicle and if the communication link is established during the predetermined interval and as an unfair vehicle if the communication link is not established during the interval and if the communication link is not established during the predetermined interval and outputting the judging result.
According to the present invention there is provided a second tolling apparatus which includes: a first sensor arranged at a first position along a lane for detecting a vehicle passing the first sensor on the lane in a direction of the lane; a second sensor arranged at a second position apart from the first sensor by a predetermined distance in the direction for detecting the vehicle passing the sensor on the lane; a communicating portion having a communication area arranged to substantially correspond to an area on the lane between the first and second sensors for communicating with a communication unit on the vehicle in response to the first sensor to establish a communication link with the communication unit; a timer for measuring a predetermined interval in response to the first sensor; and a microprocessor responsive to the timer, the first and second sensors, and the communicating portion for judging the vehicle as a fair vehicle if the communication link is established during a first interval between when the first sensor detects the vehicle and when the second sensor detects the vehicle and if the communication link is established during a second interval between when the first sensor detects the vehicle and when the first sensor detects that the vehicle has just passed through the first sensor after the predetermined interval and as an unfair vehicle if the communication link is not established during the first interval and if the communication link is not established during the second interval and outputting the judging result.
In the second tolling apparatus, the communication area includes a main communication area and peripheral communication area around the main communication area, an intensity of a radio wave from the communicating portion at the peripheral communication area is lower than that at the main communication area, and the first position is substantially just outside the peripheral communication area.
According to the present invention there is provided a third tolling apparatus which includes: a first sensor arranged at a first position along a lane for detecting a vehicle passing the first sensor on the lane in a direction of the lane; a second sensor arranged at a second position apart from the first sensor by a predetermined distance in the direction for detecting the vehicle passing the second sensor on the lane; a communicating portion having a communication area arranged to substantially correspond to an area on the lane between the first and second sensors for communicating with a communication unit on the vehicle in response to the first sensor to establish a communication link with the communication unit; a microprocessor responsive to the timer, the first and second sensors, and the communicating portion for judging the vehicle as a fair vehicle if the communication link is established during a first interval between when the first sensor detects the vehicle and when the second sensor detects the vehicle and if the communication link is established during a second interval between when the first sensor detects the vehicle and when the first sensor detects another vehicle following the vehicle and as an unfair vehicle if the communication link is not established during the first interval and if the communication link is not established during the second interval and outputting the judging result.
In the third tolling apparatus, the communication area may include a main communication area and peripheral communication area around the main communication area, an intensity of a radio wave from the communicating portion at the peripheral communication area is lower than that at the main communication area and the first position may be substantially just outside the peripheral communication area.
According to the present invention there is provided a fourth tolling apparatus which includes: a first sensor arranged at a first position along a lane for detecting a vehicle passing the first sensor on the lane in a direction of the lane; a second sensor arranged at a second position apart from the first sensor by a predetermined distance in the direction for detecting the vehicle passing the second sensor on the lane; a third sensor arranged between the first and second positions for detecting the vehicle passing the third sensor on the lane; a communicating portion having a communication area arranged to substantially correspond to an area on the lane between the first and second sensors for communicating with a communication unit on the vehicle in response to the first sensor to establish a communication link with the communication unit; a timer for measuring a predetermined interval in response to the first sensor; a microprocessor responsive to the timer, the first and second sensors, and the communicating portion for judging the vehicle as a fair vehicle if the communication link is established during a first interval between when the first sensor detects the vehicle and the second sensor detects the vehicle and if the communication link is established during a second interval between when the first sensor detects the vehicle and when the third sensor detects the vehicle after the predetermined interval and as an unfair vehicle if the communication link is not established during the first interval and if the communication link is not established during the second interval and outputting the judging result.
In the fourth tolling apparatus, an interval between the first position and the third sensor is substantially less than a size of the vehicle in the direction.
According to the present invention there is provided a fifth tolling apparatus which includes: a sensor arranged at a predetermined position along a lane for detecting a vehicle passing the sensor on the lane in a direction of the lane; a communicating portion having a predetermined communicati
Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz
Lefkowitz Edward
Matsushita Electric - Industrial Co., Ltd.
LandOfFree
Tolling apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Tolling apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Tolling apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2552349