Patent Publication Number: US-2023132783-A1

Title: Automatic gate system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/274,018, filed Nov. 1, 2021, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates to the field of controllable gates for being openable upon arrival of vehicles, wheel chairs and others. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Gates being controllable by wireless transmission are disadvantaged of being openable by a non-allowed transceiver receiving the allowed code and other disadvantages. 
     There is a long felt need to provide a solution to the above-mentioned and other problems of the prior art. 
     SUMMARY 
     A vehicle gate system, including:
         a transmitter for the vehicle, for continuously transmitting transmission including requests including   information including location of the vehicle in relation to the gate, and at least an allowed code; and   a device for the gate, including:
           a receiver, for continuously receiving the continuous transmission; and   a controller including the allowed code,   for continuously approving the requests according to the allowed code, and   for opening the gate only once the requests include the information of the transmitted transmission indicating that the vehicle is sufficiently near the gate.   
               

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments, features, and aspects of the invention are described herein in conjunction with the following drawings: 
         FIG.  1    depicts a first request to open a gate. 
         FIG.  2    depicts a second request to open the gate of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    depicts a third request to open the gate of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  4    depicts a fourth request to open the gate of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  5    depicts the struggle between transmitter and transceiver. 
     
    
    
     The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The invention will be understood from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, which are meant to be descriptive and not limiting. For the sake of brevity, some well-known features are not described in detail. 
     The reference numbers have been used to point out elements in the embodiments described and illustrated herein, in order to facilitate the understanding of the invention. They are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. Also, the foregoing embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated in conjunction with systems and methods thereof, which are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. 
     An access control system is configured to identify a user and to automatically open an access barrier when the user approaches the access barrier. 
     The term “vehicle” refers herein to vehicles, wheel chairs, robots, etc. 
     The system may include in a vehicle a wireless communications controller, for example a Wi-Fi communications component connected to a USB socket inside the vehicle continuously receiving power from the vehicle, and on the side of the gate a modem which communicates with the communications controller. The gate modem may include a Wi-Fi modem. 
     As the vehicle approaches the modem at the gate, encrypted information is transmitted between the vehicle communications controller and the gate modem. Optionally, the encrypted information is 128 bit. The Wi-Fi transmissions between the vehicle communications controller and the gate modem include preselected fixed time durations, for example, 100 milliseconds. 
     The wireless communications between the vehicle communications controller and the gate modem may include any one of the following communications modes: mobile phone communications, Bluetooth communication and Wi-Fi especially of 2.4 GHz which may be encrypted, nRF24, nRF52, among other wireless communications modes. 
     The gate modem may use scanning networks to detect the vehicle communications controller to allow transmitting the information via a secure communications connection between the gate modem and the vehicle communications controller. 
     As the vehicle communication controller approaches the gate modem, it may receive a transmission signal from the gate modem and may responsively start transmitting the information back to the modem. 
     Upon the gate modem receiving the desired information, if the information is encrypted, it may convert the encryption into plain text and may request authentication from a server associated with a company which provides the service. Additionally, or alternatively, authentication may be performed by an access authentication component inside the gate modem. 
     In some embodiments, to prevent duplication and copying of frequency or the information, the information sent from the vehicle communications controller may be changed in every transmission. The transmitted information may include, for example, a serial number of the controller combined with a random number, or an increasing number, or the current date and time, among other information. 
     In some embodiments, the gate modem may be a 4th generation data modem (and not a dial-up modem) which may be controlled through a dedicated application program on a mobile phone, and/or a remote control and/or RF communication devices operating at a frequency of 2.4 GHz and with a range of up to 100 meters. 
     In some embodiments, the system may include GPS which may detect when the vehicle is a predetermined distance from the gate and may automatically activate the vehicle communications controller. Alternatively, the system may include a sensor to detect that the vehicle is not moving, and the vehicle communications controller may automatically send a transmission signal to the gate modem. Optionally, the vehicle communications controller may activate a hotspot which may be detected and identified by the gate modem, and to which the gate modem may securely connect for the purpose of transmitting information. 
       FIG.  1    depicts a first request to open a gate. 
     A vehicle gate system  10  includes an allowed transmitter  12 A for the vehicle  14 A and a receiver  12 B for the gate  16 A. 
     Transmitter  12 A and receiver  12 B use correlated encoding  18 A and decoding  18 B. 
     At a first transmittance being while vehicle  14 A is far, say 50 meters, transmitter  12 A transmits a request  20 A, being after encoding  18 A according to an example, the code 10110111. 
     Code 10110111 being request  20 A is produced by including code  22 A 1  allowed by gate  16 A such as “JOE1”, combined with allowed code  22 A 2  allowed by gate  16 B such as “JOE2”, and combined with the hour/time  34 A, such as “9:05” retrieved from time  25  of the clock  24 A, and encoding ( 18 A) the combination of codes  22 A 1 ,  22 A 2  and time  34 A. 
     Controller  30 B 1  of gate  16 A receives request  20 A from receiver  12 B, and decodes ( 18 ) request  20 A to “JOE1”, “JOE2”, and “9.05”. 
     Controller  30 B 1  of gate  16 A approves “JOE1” in its database  26 , and approves “9:05” upon checking in its clock  24 B. However, controller rejects request  20 A due to low transmittance intensity  32 A measured by a transmittance intensity meter embedded in receiver  12 B, such as used by RSSI. 
     Controller  30 B 2  of gate  16 B receives request  20 A, and decodes request  20 A to “JOE1”, “JOE2”, and “9.05”. Controller  30 B 2  of gate  16 B approves “JOE2” in its database  26 , and approves “9:05” upon checking in its clock. However, controller  30 B 2  as well rejects request  20 A due to low transmittance intensity. 
       FIG.  2    depicts a second request to open the gate of  FIG.  1   . 
     At a second transmittance being while vehicle  14 A is near, say 20 meters, transmitter  12 A transmits a request  20 B, being according to an example the code 111101. 
     Request  20 B is produced by including the allowed code  22 A 1 , being according to the example “JOE1”, combined with the current hour  34 B, such as “9:06” retrieved from clock  24 A. 
     Controller  30 B 1  receives request  20 A from receiver  12 B, and decodes ( 18 ) request  20 A to “JOE1” and “9.05”. 
     Controller approves “JOE1” in its database  26 , and approves “9:06” upon checking in its clock  24 B. Controller  30 B 1  as well finds sufficient intensity  32 A of the transmittance, and thus approves request  20 B, thus opens gate  16 A. 
     Thus, the decision to open gate  16 A is a function of the allowed request  20 A and its transmittance intensity  32 A, after continuously approving allowed code  22 A 1  of requests  20 A,  20 B, etc., and comparing transmittance intensity  32 A of each of approved requests  20 A, 20 B, etc. with a pre-determined intensity, for opening  16 A only once transmittance intensity  32 A of approved request  20 B exceeds the pre-determined intensity. 
     Requests  20 A, 20 B, etc. are automatically and continuously produced and transmitted while driving the vehicle. For example at distance 100 meters, 99 meters, 98 meters, etc., thus improving the distance resolution for opening the gate exactly upon arriving the gate, even at a high speed of driving the vehicle. 
     An interval between requests  20 A,  20 B, etc. may be determined. According to one embodiment the interval between request may be decreased upon decreasing the distance from the gate. For example at a distance of 200 meters, the interval between each request may be 2 seconds, whereas at a distance of 30 meters, the interval between each request may be 0.1 seconds. 
     The allowance of request  20 A according to its allowed code  22 A 1  and current hour  34 B is an example for any secured transmission  36  whose intensity  32 A may be measured by the receiver. 
     Request  20 A may be allowed according to its allowed code  22 A 1  and an additional hooping/rolling code instead of current hour  34 B, being another secured transmission  36  whose intensity  32 A may be measured by the receiver. 
     The intensity of the transmission reaching the transceiver of the gate allows computing the distance of the vehicle from the gate. 
     The distance of the vehicle from the gate may as well be measured by a positioning tool  38  attached to the vehicle, such as by GPS. 
     Transmitter  12 A may transmit the location of the vehicle as provided by positioning tool  38 . The controller of the gate knows the gate&#39;s location and computes the distance of the vehicle, and opens the gate upon being near than a pre-determined distance. 
     Positioning tool  38  may as well obtain the speed of the vehicle. Transmitter  12 A transmits the location and speed of the vehicle as provided by positioning tool  38 . The controller of the gate knows the gate&#39;s location and computes the distance of the vehicle, and opens the gate upon a combination of the distance of the vehicle from the gate to be sufficiently near and of the vehicle&#39;s speed, which may include to have sufficient deceleration. 
     The position and speed of the vehicle within transmission  36  may as well be encrypted. 
     Secured transmission may apply 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi encrypted transmission including its Service Set IDentifier (SSID) and code  22 A 1 . 
     Controller  30 B 1  may receive requests  20 A, 20 B etc. along time such that the intensity increases along time, and may open gate only at a pre-determined intensity, being only at the moment the vehicle enters the gate. 
       FIG.  3    depicts a third request to open the gate of  FIG.  1   . 
     Suppose a vehicle  14 B disposed far from gate  16 A, includes a non-allowed transceiver  12 C, and receives ( 21 ) request  20 B being according to the example code 111101, from allowed transmitter  12 A, and transmits it. 
     Then, controller  30 B 1  receives request  20 B from transceiver  12 C, and decodes ( 18 ) request  20 B to “JOE1” and “9.06”. 
     Controller approves “JOE1” in its database  26 , and approves “9:06” upon checking in its clock  24 B. However, controller finds low transmittance intensity  32 B, and thus rejects request  20 B from transceiver  12 C, thus closes gate  16 A. 
       FIG.  4    depicts a fourth request to open the gate of  FIG.  1   . 
     Suppose vehicle  14 B has reached at time 9:07 near gate  16 A, and includes non-allowed transceiver  12 C, and receives transmittance  20 B being according to the example code 111101, from allowed transmitter  12 A. 
     Controller  30 B 1  receives request  20 B from non-allowed transceiver  12 C, and decodes ( 18 ) request  20 B to allowed code  22 A 1  being “JOE1” and to time  34 B being “9.06”. 
     Controller approves “JOE1” in its database  26 . However, controller rejects “9:06” upon checking in its clock  24 B time 9:07, even though controller now finds sufficiently high intensity  32 B of the transmittance, and thus rejects request  20 B from transceiver  12 C, thus closes gate  16 A. 
       FIG.  5    depicts the contest between transmitter  12 A and transceiver  12 C. 
     Thus, transmitter  12 A as being able to transmit the security code only and not another transmitter can open gate  16 A and only at a certain moment being upon exceeding a pre-determined intensity, thus at a pre-determined distance. 
     Since already request  20 A is approved regarding its security, the decision regarding the intensity requires less computing power, and thus is swift, thus high speed driving of the vehicle may open the gate a short time before arriving. 
     Thus, in one aspect, the invention is directed to an automatic gate ( 16 A) system ( 10 ), including:
         a transmitter ( 12 A), for continuously transmitting transmission ( 36 ) including requests ( 20 A, 20 B) including   information including location of the transmitter ( 12 A) in relation to the gate ( 16 A), and   at least an allowed code ( 22 A 1 ); and   a device ( 30 B 1 ) for the gate ( 16 A), including:   a) a receiver ( 12 B), for continuously receiving the continuous transmission ( 36 ); and   b) a controller ( 30 B 1 ) including the allowed code ( 22 A 1 ),
           for continuously approving the requests ( 20 A, 20 B) according to the allowed code ( 22 A 1 ), and   for opening the gate ( 16 A) only once the requests ( 20 A, 20 B) include the information of the transmitted transmission ( 36 ) indicating that the transmitter ( 12 A) is sufficiently near the gate ( 16 A).   
               

     The information may further includes speed and de-acceleration of the transmitter ( 12 A) towards the gate ( 16 A), and
         wherein the controller ( 30 B 1 ) is characterized to open the gate ( 16 A) only once the requests ( 20 A, 20 B) include the information of the transmitted transmission ( 36 ) indicating a combination of transmitter&#39;s ( 12 A) distance from the gate ( 16 A) and of at least one of the transmitter&#39;s ( 12 A) speed and de-acceleration thereof.       

     The information including the location of the transmitter ( 12 A) in relation to the gate ( 16 A) transmitted by the transmission ( 36 ), includes location obtained from a positioning tool ( 38 ) attached to the transmitter ( 12 A). 
     The location obtained from the positioning tool ( 38 ) and transmitted by the transmission ( 36 ), may be encrypted. 
     The transmission ( 36 ) may be intensity-measurable, and the information including the location of the transmitter ( 12 A) in relation to the gate ( 16 A) may include intensity of the transmission ( 36 ) as reaching to the receiver ( 12 B). 
     The at least allowed code ( 22 A 1 ) of the requests ( 20 A, 20 B) transmitted by the transmitter ( 12 A) may include at least two codes ( 22 A 1 , 22 A 2 ),
         thereby the requests ( 20 A, 20 B) continuously transmitted by the transmitter ( 12 A) may include
           the information including location of the transmitter ( 12 A) in relation to the at least two gates ( 16 A, 16 B), and   the at least two codes ( 22 A 1 , 22 A 2 ),   
           thereby the device ( 30 B 1 ) for each of the at least two gates ( 16 A, 16 B) continuously receives the continuous transmission ( 36 ), and continuously approves the requests ( 20 A, 20 B) according to one of the at least two codes ( 22 A 1 , 22 A 2 ), for opening its gate ( 16 A) only once the requests ( 20 A, 20 B) include the information of the transmitted transmission ( 36 ) indicating that the transmitter ( 12 A) is sufficiently near that gate ( 16 A).       

     The continuous transmitting of the transmission ( 36 ) may include intervals of the transmission. 
     The intervals within the transmission may decrease upon increasing the nearness of the transmitter ( 12 A) to the gate ( 16 A). 
     The requests ( 20 A, 20 B) may further include time changing information. 
     The time changing information may be current time and/or a rolling code. 
     In the figures and description herein, the following reference numerals (Reference Signs List) have been mentioned:
         numeral  10  denotes the vehicle gate system according to one embodiment of the invention;     12 A: transmitter of vehicle  14 A;     12 B: receiver of gate  16 A;     14 A, 14 B: vehicles;     16 A: gate;     17 : hinge of gate  16 A;     18 A: encoding;     18 A: decoding;     20 A, 20 B: requests to open gate  16 A;     21 : receipt of transmittance from one vehicle to another;     22 A 1 : code encoded within request  20 A allowed for gate  16 A;     22 A 2 : code encoded within request  20 A allowed for gate  16 B;     22 B: another code allowed by controller  30 B 1  of gate  16 A;     24 A, 24 B: clocks;     25 : current hour/time;     26 : database within controller  30 B 1 ;     30 A: controller of vehicle  14 A;     30 B 1 : controller of gate  16 A;     32 A: low intensity of transmittance of request  20 A or  20 B, indicating it is too early to open gate  16 A;     32 B: high intensity of transmittance of request  20 A or  20 B, indicating the vehicle has arrived and it is time to open;     34 A: hour/time encoded within request  20 A;     34 B: hour/time encoded within request  20 B;     36 : secured transmission;     38 : positioning tool;       

     The foregoing description and illustrations of the embodiments of the invention have been presented for the purpose of illustration, and are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the above description in any form. 
     Any term that has been defined above and used in the claims, should be interpreted according to this definition. 
     The reference numbers in the claims are not a part of the claims, but rather used for facilitating the reading thereof. These reference numbers should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any form.