WO2002050795A1

WO2002050795A1 - Remote vehicle detection system

Info

Publication number: WO2002050795A1
Application number: PCT/AU2001/001647
Authority: WO
Inventors: James Frederick Morris
Original assignee: James Frederick Morris
Priority date: 2000-12-20
Filing date: 2001-12-20
Publication date: 2002-06-27
Also published as: AUPR222100A0

Abstract

A remote vehicle or vehicle space detection/monitoring systen comprises a surface mounted housing (10) which includes an electromagnetic loop (11), a sensor (12), a transmitter (13) and a power source (14) (optionally solar powered) all operatively connected to a remote receiver (15) and to associated data collection and processing means. The system can be adapted to transmit information as to particular space availability or occupancy, for more efficient parking station management and usage, and for more efficient regulation, control or monitoring of traffic movements in a given area.

Description

REMOTE VEHICLE DETECTION SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to improvements in traffic movement detection, and more specifically to a remote vehicle detection system for monitoring traffic movements and/or allocated vehicle spaces within a defined area, such as a car park.

BACKGROUND ART

Electromagnetic signal detection systems are one of several means for detecting the presence of motor vehicles or the like and for controlling or regulating traffic flow. Other detection means include but are not limited to infra-red systems wherein a passing vehicle breaks a beam of infra-red light between two pre-determined points, and pressure-sensitive systems, wherein the weight of a vehicle passing over a pressure-sensitive detective set in or on the road pavement activates traffic lights, a boom gate or other traffic control/regulating means.

Electromagnetic signal detection systems are perhaps the most widely used traffic control or traffic regulating systems because of their adaptability or versatility, their cost compared to other systems, and their reliability. This is especially so in applications for traffic control/regulation on public roads and in car parking stations. However the cost of installation of such electromagnetic signal detection/traffic control systems is relatively high, being both labour intensive and capital equipment intensive, as well as being time consuming.

Existing electromagnetic traffic detection loops are incorporated into the floors of parking stations and covered with a surface layer of bitumen or concrete. Usually they are laid during construction of the parking station, or during maintenance or repair thereon. Alternatively, traffic detection loops are retrofitted to parking station floors after the floor has been laid, this requires that a groove be cut into the floor, manually installing a loop with a settable filling material. This process is very labour intensive and time consuming, and therefore expensive. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide improved installation methods for vehicle movement detection systems for monitoring traffic movement and/or for monitoring space availability or occupancy, which goes at least some way towards overcoming or at least minimising the prior art problems or limitations which have become apparent.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved electromagnetic traffic control or monitoring system which is universally adaptable for use in most traffic control or monitoring systems.

It is another object of this invention to provide both hard-wired and wireless remote vehicle detection systems for monitoring traffic movements and/or space availability or occupancy in a predetermined area such as a single-level or multi-storey car park.

It is a further object of this present invention to provide an improved remote vehicle detection system or space availability/occupancy monitoring system which is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, is easier and less expensive to install than previous systems, and which is simple and reliable in operation.

These and other objects of this invention will become more apparent from the following descriptions and the drawings.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote vehicle detection/monitoring system for monitoring vehicle space availability or occupancy in a predetermined area, comprising a vehicle detection unit having operatively connected or inter-related vehicle detection means, sensor means, a transmitter and a power source; a receiver adapted to receive signals transmitted from said transmitter; and data collection and processing means to process transmitted information as to particular space availability or occupancy, for management of said space.

According to another aspect of this invention there is provided an electromagnetic traffic monitoring or traffic control system which includes one or more electromagnetic signal detection loops comprising a pre-formed or pre-wound electrically conducting material encapsulated in a protective mat or flexible housing adapted to be affixed to the floor surface at predetermined locations to control or monitor traffic access to an area adjacent to said mat or flexible housing, said signal detection loops being operatively connected to a boom gate, or other traffic control or regulating means. Alternatively, the system can be adapted to convey information regarding vehicle space availability or occupancy via transmitter/receiver means as described above to a parking station attendant or to data collection and processing means means, to process transmitted information to facilitate more efficient management of a given space, and of the car parking station generally.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings relating, to two non-limiting embodiments of the invention, wherein:-

Fig.1 is a schematic representation of a remote vehicle or vehicle space detection/monitoring system according to a first aspect of the invention;

Fig 2 is a plan and section views of a surface-mounted pad or housing for an electromagnetic traffic signal or traffic control system according to a second aspect of the invention; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the surface-mounted pad of Fig. 2 taken along the line A-A.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring to Fig.l, the remote vehicle or vehicle space detection/monitoring system comprises a car space vehicle detection unit 10 which includes an electromagnetic loop 11, a sensor 12, a transmitter 13 and a power source 14 (optionally solar powered) incorporated into a common floor-mounted housing 10, ideally fabricated from synthetic rubber or plastic polymer material. A vehicle entering or leaving the space, controlled by a particular transmitter unit, creates and transmits a signal to a wall or ceiling-mounted receiver 15, which transmits the signal to a parking station attendant or to data collection and processing 16 means which processes the transmitted information as to particular space availability or occupancy, for more efficient parking station management and usage, and for better regulation and control of traffic flow to a particular floor or section of the car park. Ideally, a transmitter unit is provided at each car space and/or at each floor level of a car park.

In one variation of this embodiment, the sensor is adapted to detect a particular programmed microchip in authorised motor vehicles and to detect whether the parking space is occupied, and if so whether or not the vehicle is authorised to use that space.

Referring to Fig. 2, an electromagnetic signal detection loop 11 is encapsulated or contained with a protective mat or flexible housing 10 (e.g. resin or plastic) adapted to be affixed to a floor surface at predetermined locations, such as the entrance to a particular car space. The mat is preferably moulded to the required shape and size from synthetic rubber or plastic polymer compositions, and may include reinforcing mesh or the like therein to provide strength and rigidity insitu. Because traffic movements within the confines of a car park are generally at low speeds, usually below lOkph, there is minimal potential for damage to the loop or to the protective mat from vehicle tyres passing over same. Ideally the surface of the mat is provided with a non-slip surface, and can be used to display advertising material, logos or other corporate identity material.

The mat is adapted to be affixed to the underlying surface by adhesives or by bolts suitable for concrete fixing. The signal detection loop within the mat is operatively connected to a boom gate or other traffic control or regulating means, whereby the electromagnetic signal disturbance created by the magnetic field of a motor vehicle passing over the loop activates the traffic control or regulating means. Alternatively, it can be operated remotely from a central control room within the car park. As a further alternative the system can be adapted to convey information regarding vehicle space availability or occupancy via transmitter/receiver means to a parking station attendant at a central control room, or to data collection and processing means, to process transmitted information to facilitate more efficient management of a given space or area of the car park. In a further alternative, the attendant can remotely open or close a given car space or area of the car park. The vehicle detection/monitoring system of the present invention can be manufactured to suit specific requirements, such as use with boom gates, quick-action roller doors, in loading bays or to detect the presence of a vehicle (authorised or unauthorised) in individual parking bays.

FIRST EMBODIMENT

In one embodiment the electromagnetic traffic monitoring or traffic control system is designed to have a one-to-one real time link, having a road surface mounted vehicle detection loop without the need for cabling between the sensor and the roadside monitoring equipment. In this embodiment: -

A. The surface mounted loop pad has inbuilt electronics comprising two distinct elements:

1. A low power vehicle detector

2. A simple RF transmitter

1. The vehicle detector is not unlike commercially available devices that energise the loop with an AC signal at a nominal frequency of 100kHz. This results in a magnetic field surrounding the loop conductors.

The passage of a vehicle having metal content disturbs the magnetic field causing a small frequency change to the ac signal.

This frequency change is processed by the detector electronics and produces an output is response to the vehicle presence.

A scientific requirement for this application is that the vehicle detector must be a very low power device as used in battery operated traffic counting equipment.

2. A simple coded RF transmitter of the type used in remote control devices (such as garage door openers) can be employed to transmit the vehicle presence from the surface mounted loop in the roadway to a simple receiver at the roadside. The duration of the RF signal corresponds to the duration of the vehicle over the loop. The coding of the RF signal used only to discriminate against other random transmissions at a similar frequency.

B. Roadside Receiver

The receiver converts the transmission received from the transmitter to an electrical signal corresponding to vehicle presence. SECOND EMBODIMENT (8 to 1 real-time link)

The requirement in this embodiment is to install a number of similar surface mounted loops in various lanes of a roadway at the same location ideally without the need for cabling between the sensors and roadside equipment.

1. The vehicle detector is the same device described in Embodiment 1.

2. The RF transmitter is a variation of that described in Embodiment 1.

B. Roadside Receiver

The Roadside receiver can be capable of simultaneously receiving data concerning vehicle presence from each of the surface mounted loops in the roadway. This may be done by means of frequency or time division multiplexing of the data. Management of the simultaneous transmission of data may require bi-birectional transmission between the receiver and the various loop pads.

The receiver converts the transmission received from the transmitters to an electrical signal corresponding to each sensors vehicle presence.

THIRD EMBODIMENT (many to one link) (slow transmission rate) The requirement in this embodiment is to install a road surface mounted vehicle detection loop in each bay of a carpark. The status of the bay (occupied or vacant) can be communicated to a central receiver ideally without the need for cabling between the sensor and receiver.

1. The vehicle detector is the same device described in Embodiments 1 and 2.

2. The RF transmitter can be a variation of that described in Embodiment 2.

B. Ceiling mounted Receiver

The Roadside receiver is capable of receiving data concerning vehicle presence from each of the surface mounted loops in the parking bays. This may be done by means of frequency or time division multiplexing of the data. There is no requirement for simultaneous transmission of data as this data is not required in real-time. Bi-birectional transmission between the receiver and the various loop pads may still be required to retrieve the data in an orderly manner.

The receiver will convert the transmission received from the transmitters to a coded message containing data for each sensors vehicle presence.

All components of the electromagnetic traffic monitoring or control system are available shelf items, and the materials used are well-known. Similar considerations apply to the remote vehicle detection/monitoring system herein disclosed.

Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art that a number of changes, modifications or alterations to the invention described herein may be made, none of which depart from the spirit of the present invention. All such changes, modifications, and alterations should therefore be seen as being within the scope of the present invention,

It should be appreciated that the present invention provides a substantial advance in electromagnetic traffic monitoring or traffic control, and in remote vehicle detection and monitoring systems, providing all of the herein-described advantages without incurring any relative disadvantages.

Claims

1. A remote vehicle detection/monitoring system for monitoring vehicle space availability or occupancy in a predetermined area, comprising a vehicle detection unit having operatively connected or inter-related vehicle detection means, sensor means, a transmitter and a power source; a receiver adapted to receive signals transmitted from said transmitter; and data collection and processing means to process transmitted information as to particular space availability or occupancy, for management of said space.

2. An electromagnetic traffic monitoring or traffic control system according to claim 1, which includes one or more electromagnetic traffic monitoring or traffic control system according to claim 1, and which includes one or more electromagnetic signal detection loops comprising a pre-formed or pre-wound electrically conducting material encapsulated in a protective mat or flexible housing adapted to be affixed to the floor surface at predetermined locations to control or monitor traffic access to an area adjacent to said mat or flexible housing, said signal detection loops being operatively connected to a boom gate, or other traffic control or regulating means.

3. A traffic monitoring or control system according to claim 2, adapted to convey information to centralised remote data collection and processing means.

4. A traffic monitoring and control system according to any one of the preceding claims, when used to monitor and/or to control traffic flow and space management in a car parking station or the like.

5. A traffic monitoring and control system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the operative connection between the vehicle detection means transmitter and the associated receiver is a wireless RF connection.