ROAD - VEHICLE SIGNALING SYSTEM

Abstract: The road-vehicle signalling system comprises two units, the first being a road-installed transponder (TDR). The transponder (TDR) is embedded in the roads and is electronically marked with a message, or message-code, of the "Road Event" to be conveyed to the driver.

Description: Road - Vehicle Signaling System Background and Field of Invention The present invention relates to an automatic information system and more particularly to such a system which would convey data and information to a driver during and while driving a car. Traffic and road indication signs and other means are used to improve the so to say, "communication"' between the driver and the road so as to alert the driver in order to diminish the possibilities of accidents and improve the driving and safety thereof. Analyzing the reason for road accidents based on statistics of more than 10 years show that there is reason and need for assisting the driver to foresee forthcoming "Road Events" such as road junctions, curbs, speed limits, intersections, various driving signs, instructions and the like, so as to enable the driver to be better prepared for these "Road Events", as the case may be. At present, while driving, the driver accumulates all kinds of data and information from different sources, analyzing same and acts accordingly. Some of the information and data is fed to the driver via road signs and road conditions while others are accumulated by the driver from his immediate surroundings. In some instances his response must be immediate to avoid all kinds of situations. It is thus apparent that the sooner the information is brought to his attention, his awareness and readiness would improve and consequently avoid unexpected dangerous situations. It is known that if a road sign is seen by a driver from a distance of approximately 100 meters this distance is covered by a car within 4 seconds when driving at 90 k.p.h. Thus, any information given so that the span of time is larger would inevitably improve the reaction of the driver and improve his possibilities to act in the best way possible. Moreover, if this information is provided in a form of a vocal message, the driver can not "avoid" receiving it. Object of the Invention It is the main object of the present invention to provide a system which would improve the transfer of all kinds of necessary data to the driver even though it could be available by the conventional means (i.e. road signs, etc.). Summary of the Invention Accordingly, the system comprises two units, the first being a road-installed element which is a Transponder. The Transponder is embedded in the roads and is electronically marked with a message, or a message-code, of the "Road Event" to be conveyed to the driver. The second unit is a vehicle-installed Interrogator consisting of Interrogator Transceiver and an Operation unit. Two variants of Passive Transponders Communication techniques will be referred to, one is called "Magnetic Strip" and the second is called "Radar Reflector". Once the Interrogator passes by or over a Transponder, accurate information is transmitted from the Transponder to the driver by any conventional means. In the preferred embodiments a GPS could be integrated in the system. The Transponders would be devices installed in predetermined spots on the road. It is possible to install more than one Transponder at the same point or with some distance between them so as to create a message/message-code or in order to repeat the transferred information. It is within the scope of the invention to mount temporary Transponders which could be removed easily when no longer required. The Transponders of this invention could be passive in a sense that it would not be necessary to supply them with electrical power or use internal batteries or active, i.e. will need a power source, as the case may require. The vehicle equipment would consist of an Operation unit through which the drivers would receive the information, and the Interrogator Transceiver. The Interrogator Transceiver include also Antenna (one or several) which would be installed anywhere around or underneath the vehicle so as to be in free space communication with the Transponder on the road. When the vehicle passes by or over the Transponder, the Interrogator would activate the Transponder and the required information would be transmitted to the driver. The driver is informed by a voice message and/or a visual one. The Interrogator Transceiver is connected to the Operation unit. The Operation unit consists of voice generating means, interrogation control, processing and various controls and displays for the driver. Also, in order to facilitate improved and accurate data to the driver the system will interface to some of the vehicle's existing systems and indications, such as speedometer, lights, brakes etc. These items of information will be used, when available, to assess and enhance the information announced to the driver. For instance, if a driver approaches an intersection at an excessive speed the system will take the speed into consideration and provide the proper warning. The speed of the vehicle will also be determined by calculation, i.e. the product of the distance between Transponders, divided by the time passed between the readings of these Transponders. The system will provide the driver with the option to control the kind of messages he wishes to receive, the language, the volume etc. Also, additional vehicle safety information coming from the vehicles' systems will be detected and integrated into the voice warning. The invention will now be described with reference to the annexed drawings which are given by way of example. Figure 1, is an illustration of a vehicle equipped with the system in typical relation to the Transponder elements embedded in the road. Figure 2, is an Electrical Block Diagram of the system according to the invention. Figure 3 is a circuit diagram of a Magnetic Strip Sensor according to the invention. Figure 4 is a circuit diagram of Radar reflector communication. In Figure 1, there is shown a vehicle "V" provided with several Antennae "ANT" mounted at various locations on the vehicle, Interrogation transceiver "TxRx" and Operation unit "Ou" which is installed inside the vehicle near the driver to enable easy access for control and clear sound. On the road there are mounted a plurality of Transponders "TDR" in such a manner which would not cause any obstacle to the passing vehicle and not be vulnerable of being destroyed by the vehicle. Figure 2 depicts the components of the system. As can be seen and understood. In the event Interrogator's Antenna "ANT" passes over a Transponder "TDR" , the data stored in the "TDR" would be read by the Interrogator's Transceiver "TxRx" and passed to the Processor which would generate audio announcements and, if so required , visual displays. As mentioned above the first communication technique is a Magnetic Strip Communication system. The Magnetic Strip Transponder comprises strips having magnetic properties or many small magnet and are used as the communication Transponder. The magnetic field direction is peφendicular to the surface of the strip. The Magnetic Strip can be placed also in the opposite polarity i.e., the N-S vector facing down. The Structure of Magnetic Sensor (Antenna & Receiver) comprises a receiver that reads the magnetic strip which is constructed out of the following main circuits (see Figure 3). The first being a Magnetic Pick-up (al) circuit which serves as the antenna. It is constructed of 2-elements, Rx and Ry. Rx is so oriented as to be sensitive and responds to the change in the X component of the magnetic field Bx & Ry responds to By. The second circuits being a Pre amplifier (a2) circuits which are to match and interface the Pick-up (al) and to improve the sensitivity of the Pick-up devices. The third circuit is a Signal Processing (a3) circuit which is constructed of standard Analogue and Digital components. Its function is to receive the signal from the Pick-up (Rx and Ry) after amplification by Ay and Ax, process the signal and generate the following information type of data. - A pulse, positive or negative, in analogue or digital form, representing the validity and the polarity of the Magnetic Strip Field. - A very short pulse representing the point in time when the sensor has passed over the center of the strip. - A signal (in an analogue or digital form) representing the proportional magnitude of the magnetic field strength that is generated by the Magnetic Strip. Principle of Operation of the "Magnetic Strip Communication" It is known that when a magnetic pick-up device ('HET' or 'L') is crossing a magnetic field, voltage (or current) are induced in the Pick-up When the Magnetic Pick-up moves at a certain speed, towards and over the Magnetic Strip, the sensors will sense the Bx component of the field The information available in Sy and Sx (see Figure 3), after proper amplification (by Ay and Ax), is defined as Syo and Sxo and is processed as follows Syo, being either positive or negative, is processed via a comparator circuit which provides a pulse This output is designated Sv and can take the shape of a standard (+5v or -5v) pulse or a digital format (such as 01 for + & 10 for -) Sxo is being process for what is known as "zero crossing" which results in a short pulse (impulse) indicating the middle point (center) of the strip This output is designated St Syo is also being processed to measure its amplitude which results in what is designated as Sa This is performed using standard Sample and Hold technique and sampling the data Syo at its peak using the St as the sampling point The second Communication technique is a Radar Reflector system which compπses a standard Doppler Transceiver Sensor (such as one used for home alarm system) is installed on the vehicle It illuminates a passive reflector (e g., flat aluminium sheet or what is known as "corner reflector") (see Figure 4) While passing over, the vehicle's Sensor Transceiver (5) transmits a C.W. signal and receive the reflection from the reflector (4). These reflections contains the doppler shift due to the pointing component (Vd) of the velocity of the vehicle (V) towards the reflector. This response can be extracted (via a circuit known as frequency discriminator) which will provide an "S" shape time response. Also when measuring the total energy (independent of the doppler shift) that is being received as a result of the reflection, the response will be similar to a "Bell" shape. It is within the scope of the invention to use a beam powered Transponder Communication system. This technology is frequently used at various frequencies such as ISM frequency bands (Industrial, Scientific, Medical) and in various applications such as "smart cards" etc. The advantage of this technology is its low cost, simple installation and the "no battery" operation, thus, eliminating the need to service the Transponder. Explanation of the overall system operation is given in the main document of this patent application. The driver will have control of the system such as volume of the sound, language, level of warning and other man-machine-interface (MMI) functions.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An automatic system for conveying data and information to drivers during and while driving, which comprises two main units, being a road installed transponder and a vehicle installed unit being a Sensor Interrogator and an Operation unit. 2. A system as claimed in claim 1 where said Transponder is embedded in the road. 3. A system as claimed in Claim 2 where said Transponder is at least one magnetic strip. 4. A system is claimed in claim 1 where said Sensor Interrogator consists of a transceiver. 5. A system as claimed in Claim 1 where said sensor consists of at least one magnetic pick-up. 6. A system as claimed in Claim 5 where said magnetic pick-up is constructed of two orthogonal pick-up elements. 7. A system as claimed in claim 1 where the system is integrated with a GPS unit. 8. A system as claimed in Claim 1 where said communication system comprises a Radar Reflector Transceiver. 9. A system as claimed in claims 1 to 4, where said Interrogator Transceiver includes an Antenna. 10. A system as claimed in claim 5 where said Antenna is mounted underneath the vehicle. 11.A system as claimed in claim 1 where said operation unit consists of voice generating means, processor and controls. 12. A system as claimed in claim 9 when said operation unit also includes displays. 13. A system as claimed in Claims 1 to 12 where the speed of the vehicle is read from vehicles Tachometer, and integrated into the system. 14. A system as claimed in Claims 1 to 13 where vehicles internal information concerning the status of various functions (such as "open-door", "oil pressure", "hand brake", etc.) is read and this data is integrated into the system. 15. A system as claimed in Claims 1 to 14 where external information (such as "freezing temperature", "humidity", "lights conditions", etc.) is read and integrated into the system. 16. A system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 15 substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.

Inventors: SHAHAM AMOS, SHAHAM, AMOS
Applicants: SHAHAM AMOS, SHAHAM, AMOS
Application year: 1997
Main classification: G08G1
IPC codes: G08G1