Patent ID: 7659997
Filing Date: 2010-02-09
Classification: B60L,B61L,G01B

Abstract:
1. A moving body system detecting a position of moving bodies by linear sensors, the system including: the linear sensors each outputting a relative position based on an origin located at a predetermined position of each sensor, the linear sensors being arranged at least in two rows along a moving route of the moving bodies; at least two marks to be detected by the linear sensors, the marks being provided in each of the moving bodies; means for adding an absolute coordinate of the origin located at the predetermined position of each of the linear sensors to an output from said each of linear sensors to determine an absolute position for each of the moving bodies; means for storing data of an ID of each of the moving bodies and a current position of each of the moving bodies; means for retrieving a record for each of the moving bodies from data stored in the storing means, searching a moving body having a current position closest to output from the linear sensors, and updating the current position for the moving body based on the output from the linear sensors; means for determining a moving direction for each of the moving bodies based upon whether the output from the linear sensors increases or decreases; and means for determining whether a next linear sensor or a previous linear sensor along the moving route is used, based upon the moving direction, when switching linear sensors.