GB2176374A - Vehicle identification system - Google Patents

Abstract

The identity of a vehicle can be verified as it enters a checking zone by means of a transmitter (5) on the vehicle which transmits coded signals to a receiver (2) within the zone. There is also a portable personal identification device (9) which is arranged in proximity to the transmitter (5) whereby the transmitted coded signals identify both the vehicle and the personal identification device. Preferably, the transmitter (5) and the personal identification device (9) are inductively coupled, as also are the transmitter (5) and the receiver (2). The system may be used to open an automatic barrier. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vehicle identification system This invention relates to a system for identifying vehicles within zones.

It is often necessary to check the identity of vehicles and their drivers for example to verify their security clearance for access to a restricted zone and/orfor purposes of monitoring their whereabouts and movements. This may arise in the context of a factory or warehouse site where commercial vehicles are constantly entering and leaving the site to collect and deliver goods.

Customarily such identity checking is effected by visual inspection of the vehicle and of documents held by the driver. This procedure, however, can be slow and inconvenient, and may lack reliability.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple convenient, reliable, automatic checking system which can be operated on a "hands-free" basis i.e., such that the checking procedure can be performed whilst the vehicle is being driven and without undue inconvenience to the driver.

According to the invention therefore there is provided a vehicle identification system, for checking the identity of a vehicle within a zone, comprising a transmitting device located on the vehicle, a portable personal identification device removably locatable in interactive proximity with said transmitting device, said transmitting device being operable to transmit coded signals identifying the vehicle as predetermined by the transmitting device and identifying the personal identification device as determined by the interaction of the identification device with the transmitting device, and a receiving device operable to receive said signals within said zone and interpret the coding thereof.

With this arrangement, the vehicle and driver can be automatically and reliably checked when the vehicle is within the zone whereby as desired and as appropriate the whereabouts and movements of the vehicle and driver can be monitored and/or an entrance or exit barrier or other equipment can be automatically operated. The said zone may be an entrance or exit location of a site such as a commercial vehicle collection and/or delivery site.

The invention is however not restricted to this application and may be used in any suitable context for any suitable purpose. In so far as the checking procedure is performed by automatic evaluation of the transmitted signals it will be appreciated that operation largely or completely on a "hands-free" basis can be achieved.

With regard to the transmission mode, this may be of any suitable nature although preferably an inductive transmission/reception technique is used since advantageously this can be readily limited to a confined area. Thus the transmitter may be operable in the range of 1KHz to 150KHz and the receiver may have a loop aerial running around the periphery of the said zone. For a further description of a suitable inductive technique reference is made to our U.K.

Patent Application 2087691A. The coding of the signals may be effected in any suitable manner e.g.

by selection of the transmission frequency, by modulation of the transmission carrier using FM or AM, or by interruption of the transmission carrier.

Most preferably the arrangement is such that the same transmission link is used to convey the vehicle code and the personal identification code. Thus, the respective coded signals may be conveyed on the same carrier as separable interlaced or sequential signals or may be conveyed simultaneously or sequentially on separate carriers. In this case appropriate separation circuitry will be provided in the receiving device.

In so far as there is a possibility that the said zone may be entered by two or more vehicles simultaneously or in close sequence, the system is preferably arranged to deal with received identification signals one at a time. Thus, on receiving a first signal this is checked and utilized as required (e.g. by controlling opening and closing of a barrier) before a subsequent signal from a subsequent vehicle is acknowledged. It will be appreciated that the abovementioned inductive technique is particularly desirable in this respect since it permits sharply limited reception zones.

In a preferred embodiment, the system is arranged to identify direction of movement. This may be achieved by providing two linearly spaced receiving aerials connected to a two-channel receiving device. Where the system is used to control operation of an automatic barrier or the like, the receiving aerials may be provided respectively in front of and behind the barrier.

Where the system is used to control an automatic barrier or other equipment, operation of the equipment may be effected directly by the receiving device. Alternatively, if desired there may be an auxiliary proximity detecting device (such as an infra-red sensor or the like) which is actuated by the receiving device and then operates the equipment when the presence of the vehicle is detected by the proximity device.

The identification device may be introduced into said proximity with the transmitting device only when it is required to effect said signal transmission. In this case the signal transmission may be initiated by the introduction of the transmitting device or it may be necessary to operate a manual control such as a press button.

Alternatively the identification device may be maintained in said proximity with the transmitting device during use of the vehicle, said transmission being effected continuously or only when initiated by a manual control. In the latter case, the identification device may also as a vehicle ignition actuator in that the vehicle can only be driven when an appropriate circuit detects that the identification device is in said proximity with the transmitting device.

The transmitting device may be pre-setto generate the vehicle identifying code. Alternatively or additionally the transmitting device may incorporate a key pad or the like through which appropriate transmission coding information can be entered.

With regard to the personal identification device, conveniently this may be in the form of a card.

Desirably the identification device is arranged to interact with the transmitting device without any electrical contact or interconnection therebetween.

In one embodiment, the identification device is arranged to be inductively coupled with the transmitting device as fully described in our copending Application 8514219 of even date (Reference M15274A).

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic representation of one form of a vehicle identification system.

Two loops of wire la, 1b extend around the peripheries of adjacent lineraly spaced zones, for example in front of and behind a barrier protecting the entrance to a commercial vehicle site. The wire 1 may be embedded in the road surface and thereby extends generally in a horizontal plane. The loops define two aerials for receiving inductive signals and are connected respectively to two channels of an inductive receiver 2 incorporating decoding and processing equipment. The processed output of the decoding equipment is connected to a control device 3 which is used to control the barrier and also it is connected to a monitoring device 4.

Each vehicle authorized to use the site is provided with an inductive transmitter 5 which is mounted at a fixed position e.g. within the vehicle cab. The transmitter 5 has a housing having a slot 6 and a key pad 7. The transmitter 5 may be powered from an internal battery or from the vehicle battery as desired. The transmitter 5 is connected to an aerial 8 which projects beneath the vehicle close to the road surface.

Each driver authorised to drive the vehicle is provided with an identification card 9 in the form of a thin rectangular plastics plate which can be easily carried in a person's pocket. The card incorporates electronic components, namely an inductor, a timebased trigger cirduit, a programmed data store, a switching transistor with a resistor in its emittercollector circuit, and rectifying diodes. There is no battery power supply on the card.

In use, when the authorised driver approaches the barrier in the authorised vehicle he inserts the identification card 9 into the slot6 in the transmitting device 5. The transmitting device 5 is actuated (either automatically as a consequence of the insertion of the card, or in response to operation of a manual control e.g. one of the keys on the key pad 7).

The transmitter first reads the code ofthe identification card 9. That is, a high frequency signal is transmitted inductivelyfrom an inductor in the transmitter 5 to the abovementioned inductor in the card 9. The transistor switch ofthe card switches the resistor on and off across the card inductor in a manner determined by the data in the data store and this causes a corresponding change in the current flowing through the transmitter inductor which is monitored and integrated by an appropriate reading circuit in the transmitter 5.

The transmitter then transmits an inductive carrier which carries the code from the identification card 9, which is unique to that card, a code with which the transmitter is pre-programmed, which is unique to the vehicie, and a further code corresponding toany data which is entered via the key pad 7. The information transmitted is time division multiplexed so that the three codes can be readily separated in the-receiver 2.

The received data is processed and identified, and, if acceptable, is utilised to open the barrier and thereby allow access of the vehicle to the site. At the same time, a record is made of the entry of the particular vehicle and driver with the monitoring device 4 so that their whereabouts and movements can be determined. Also, any data entered by the key pad 7 e.g. relating to the load carried or to be collected by the vehicle, is monitored and a record made or action taken as appropriate.

The two aerial loops la and 1b receive the transmitted signals as the vehicle approaches the barrier and as the vehicle passes through and leaves the barrier. This provides information as to the direction of movement of the vehicle (i.e. entering or leaving the premises) which is recorded by the monitoring device and also initiates respectively opening and closing of the barrier. In the latter respect, the control device 3 may control directly opening and closing of the barrier on receipt of signals via the two loops 1 a, 1 b with appropriate time delays. Alternatively and preferably one or more proximity detectors of known kind e.g.

involving transmission of an infra-red beam from a light source to a light sensor across the path of the vehicle, may be used in conjunction with the control device 3 whereby the barrier is only opened or closed if the appropriate loop la or 16 receives the correct signal and the (or the appropriate) proximity detector is actuated.

As described above the barrier is operated and the movement of the vehicle monitored automatically on a largely "hands-free" basis so far as the driver is concerned. Once the transmitter has been actuated with the identification card in position the driver only has to drive towards and then through the barrier in so far as the identification signals are continuously transmitted to the aerial loops. Indeed it is possible for the card 9 to be inserted in the transmitting device 5 when the driver first takes control of the vehicle whereby no action or only minimum operation of the key pad 7 is required when the barrier is approached.

As described above, the main aspect of the invention involves the utilisation of a personal identification device in conjunction with a vehicle identification device to give transmitted signals identifying both the person and the vehicle. Other important aspects of the invention which may find application in conjunction with or independently of the above main aspect comprise: 1. the use of linearly spaced receiving aerials in conjunction with a vehicle transmitting a coded identification signal which provides information as to the direction of movement of the vehicle; and 2. the use of a proximity detector in conjunction with a receiver which receives a transmitted vehicle identification signal whereby a barrier or other equipment is operated in response to detection of a correct identification signal and also detection of the presence of the vehicle at a predetermined location.

moreover, although reference is made herein to the use of the system of the invention for controlling a barrier it is to be understood that the invention may also be used in other contexts. In particular the system may be used for controlling operation of equipment where it is important to monitor the identity of the user of that equipment. Thus, for example, the system may be used for controlling operation of petrol pumps whereby a pump is rendered actuable and the identity of the user is automatically recorded by monitoring apparatus associated with the pump, when the vehicle moves into close proximity with the pump. The driver of the vehicle as well as the vehicle may be identified in the manner described above. Alternatively a simpler system may be used in which only the vehicle is identified. In either case it is preferred that the identification system utilises continuous low level inductive identification transmissions from the vehicle.

Claims (13)

1. A vehicle identification system, for checking the identity of a vehicle within a zone, comprising a transmitting device located on the vehicle, a portable personal identification device removably locatable in interactive proximity with said transmitting device, said transmitting device being operable to transmit coded signals identifying the vehicle as predetermined by the transmitting device and identifying the personal identification device as determined by the interaction of the identification device with the transmitting device, and a receiving device operable to receive said signals within said zone and interpret the coding thereof.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the transmission and reception of signals occurs inductively.

3. A system according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the same tansmission link is used to convey the vehicle code and the personal identification code.

4. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the direction of movement of the vehicle is identified.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein identification of the direction of movement is achieved using two linearly spaced receiving aerials connected to a two-channel receiving device.

6. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 which is used to control an automatic barrier.

7. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 which is used to control operation of a petrol pump.

8. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the identification device is also used as an ignition actuatorforthe vehicle.

9. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the transmitting device is pre-set to generate the vehicle identifying code.

10. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the transmitting device'incorporates a key pad through which transmission coding in formation can be entered.

11. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the personal identification device is in the form of a card.

12. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the personal identification device is arranged to be inductively coupled with the transmitting device.

13. A system according to claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.