Patent Publication Number: US-8115654-B2

Title: Small vehicle detection system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims priority to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/274,114, filed on Nov. 19, 2008, entitled “Small Vehicle Detection System”, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to the field of vehicle size detection systems for use in an entrance to an area. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The number of cars that can be parked in a parking facility directly affects the revenue that the facility can take in. The more vehicles parked in a facility, the more revenue generated by that facility. The average parking space can accommodate one large car, but when laid out properly, can accommodate two small vehicles. A reduced rate for small vehicles would provide an incentive for people to drive smaller vehicles while still allowing the amount of revenue a site takes in to increase by allowing for more vehicle capacity. Moreover, a surcharge for oversize vehicles would provide a disincentive for people to drive larger vehicles. 
     What is needed is a system that can determine the size of a vehicle upon entering a parking facility so that the optimum amount of cars can be parked in a given parking facility. Further to encourage people to drive smaller cars, and to discourage people from driving larger cars, the system needs to provide parking rates based on the size of a vehicle. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a small vehicle detection system for a parking facility. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a small vehicle detection system that allows a parking facility to determine rates based on vehicle size. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a small vehicle detection system that utilizes a video system that is installed in an area that will allow the entire drive lane to be within the video image range of the camera. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a small vehicle detection system that utilizes a video system wherein an image of a car captured by the video system is compared to a preset grid that will determine whether the vehicle falls within certain preset size parameters and the to provide a rate based on the size parameter the vehicle fits into. 
     It is another object of the present invention to utilize ultrasonic sensors to determine the size of a vehicle entering a parking facility. 
     It is another object of the present invention to determine the size of a vehicle utilizing ultrasonic sensors that are positioned at pre-determined intervals to ascertain the distance between the absolute front and rear of a vehicle entering a parking facility. 
     It is another object of the present invention to determine the size of a vehicle utilizing an ultrasonic sensor that is positioned at a predetermined height above the ground to ascertain the height of a vehicle entering a parking facility. 
     It is another object of the present invention to utilize both a video-grid system in combination with ultrasonic sensors to determine the size of a vehicle entering a parking facility. 
     It is another object of the present invention to utilize a video-grid system and/or ultrasonic sensors in combination with a parking system having inductance arming loops, a ticket dispenser with multiple rate printing and encoding capabilities, and a barrier gate. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to increase the revenue a parking facility can take in by increasing the amount of vehicles that can be parked in the facility. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an incentive for people to drive smaller cars, and/or a disincentive for people to drive larger/oversize cars, while still allowing the amount of revenue a parking facility can take in by optimizing the amount of vehicles that can park in the facility. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, the invention provides a method for determining the size of a vehicle entering into a particular area having an entrance. The method includes the steps of: detecting that the vehicle has entered the entrance to the area; generating a signal instructing a driver of the vehicle to drive the vehicle forward; sensing when the vehicle has pulled forward into a predetermined position; generating a signal instructing the driver of the vehicle to stop the vehicle when the vehicle is sensed to be in the predetermined position; determining the size of the vehicle; associating determined vehicle size with a rate of charge based on the determined vehicle size; generating a signal instructing the driver of the vehicle to push a button on a ticket dispenser; dispensing a ticket containing the determined vehicle size and associated rate of charge information. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention a small vehicle detector system for determining a size of a vehicle entering a particular area the particular area having an entrance and assigning a rate of charge based on said determined size of vehicle. The small vehicle detector system further includes a vehicle size detector for determining size of the vehicle in the entry lane, and a ticket dispenser for dispensing a ticket with the assigned rate of charge based on the size determined by the vehicle size detector. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention where the small vehicle detector further includes a barrier gate for preventing the vehicle from entering the area without having a ticket with assigned rate of charge based on size determined by the vehicle size detector. The detector also has an inductance loop for detecting the presence of a vehicle entering said entrance and a driver indicator to instruct a driver of said vehicle to drive the vehicle forward. The detector further includes a front sensor located before said barrier gate to sense when vehicle is in a measurement position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a simplified schematic illustration of a vehicle in an entrance to an area that has a small vehicle detector system, provided in accordance with the present invention, having a video grid system for determining the vehicle&#39;s size that is in the entry lane. 
         FIG. 2  is a simplified schematic illustration of a vehicle in an entrance to an area that has the small vehicle detector system of  FIG. 1  having a front and rear sensor for determining vehicle size. 
         FIG. 3  is a simplified schematic illustration of a vehicle in an entrance to an area that has the small vehicle detector system of  FIG. 1  having a video grid system and a front and rear sensor for determining vehicle size. 
         FIG. 4  is a simplified schematic illustration of a control module for use with the small vehicle detector system of  FIG. 1  and a diagram, in block form, of a system constituting one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a simplified schematic illustration of enlarged view of the control module for use with the small vehicle detector system of  FIG. 1  and a diagram, in block form, of a system constituting one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a simplified schematic illustration of steps of a method of how the small vehicle detector of  FIG. 1  operates in one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a simplified schematic illustration of a small vehicle in an entrance to an area that has the small vehicle detector system having a front sensor, rear sensor and height sensor for determining vehicle size. 
         FIG. 8  is a simplified schematic illustration of a standard size vehicle in an entrance to an area that has the small vehicle detector system having a front sensor, rear sensor and height sensor for determining vehicle size. 
         FIG. 9  is a simplified schematic illustration of a large vehicle in an entrance to an area that has the small vehicle detector system having a front sensor, rear sensor and height sensor for determining vehicle size. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  is a simplified schematic illustration of an entrance  10  to an area such as a parking facility utilizing an inductance arming loop or loops  12  for detecting the presence of a vehicle  14 , a ticket dispenser  16  with dual rate printing and encoding capabilities, a driver indicator  18 , and a barrier gate  20 . The entrance will also include one or more embodiments of the system of the present invention. The entrance has a vehicle size detector that utilizes sensors and/or a video-grid system  26  with grid measurement and recording capabilities for determining vehicle size. 
     As a vehicle  14  arrives at the rear of the entrance an inductance arming loop or loops  12  or a sensor  22  will detect the presence of the vehicle and turn on the system. Once the vehicle has been detected pulling into the entrance, the vehicle driver (not shown) will be instructed to pull forward by a driver indicator  18  that provides audio and/or visual information to the driver of the vehicle. There is a front sensor located in the entrance near the barrier gate  20  that detects when the front of the vehicle has pulled forward into a measurement position indicated by the dotted line  30 . The front sensor can be a sensor such as an ultrasonic detector  22  or an inductive arming loop  36 . The driver will be alerted when the vehicle is in the measurement position  30  by the driver indicator and instructed to stop the vehicle. 
     Once the vehicle is in the measurement position, determination of the vehicle size can be performed. The entrance has an overhead video-grid system  26  that can capture an image of the entire vehicle in the entrance to the parking facility or other area. The video-grid system will send the image of the vehicle to a microprocessor/video grid processor and place the image over a predetermined grid (not shown) that will determine the size of the vehicle and an associated parking rate. The size of the vehicle will then be displayed on the driver indicator, which can be a light bank or video display, along with instructions for the driver to push a button  32  of a ticket dispenser  16  and a ticket  34  will be printed with the rate that is associated with the determined vehicle size. The barrier gate  20  will then open and allow the driver to drive the vehicle into the parking facility and park the vehicle. 
     In  FIG. 2 , the entrance  40  may also include a rear sensor  24  that is placed in the entrance at a certain distance from the front sensor. In one embodiment of the present invention the distance between the sensors  22 ,  24  can be predetermined by the parking facility as a distance that if a vehicle is shorter than the vehicle will be considered a small vehicle, if the vehicle is larger than the distance then the vehicle will be considered a large vehicle, and the driver will be charged a small or large rate accordingly. If the vehicle is a small vehicle, when the vehicle is in the measurement position the rear sensor will not detect the presence of the rear of the car, or will detect the vehicle is smaller then the predetermined distance. The vehicle will then be assigned a small car rate. If the car is a large car it will extend beyond the distance between the front and rear sensors and the rear sensor will detect the rear of the car. The car will then be determined to be a large car and assigned a large car rate. Once the system determines whether the vehicle is a small or large vehicle as described above, the driver will then be notified whether the vehicle has been determined a small or large vehicle by the driver indicator and instructed to push the button on the ticket dispenser. The ticket dispenser will dispense either a small rate ticket or a large rate ticket based on the determination of the car size. 
     The system can also be equipped with more sensors if the parking facility wants more than just a large or small vehicle determination and rate. For example, there could be a third sensor placed at a predetermined distance from the rear ultrasonic sensor. This would allow the system to have three categories (e.g. small, medium, and large) that vehicles can be determined to fit into and charged accordingly. Even more sensors could be added for a more refined and/or expanded range of vehicle size determination. 
     For example, in another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 7-9 , the system may be capable determining a vehicle&#39;s size as small, large or standard size and assigning a small car rate, large car rate or standard car rate, respectively. In this embodiment, the system will operate in substantially the same way as hereinbefore described, however, a third sensor  25  may be added to the system adjacent the entrance to the parking facility to detect the height of a vehicle entering the parking facility. As described above, as a vehicle  14 ,  15 ,  17  arrives at the entrance, an inductance arming loop or loops or a sensor  22  will detect the presence of the vehicle and turn on the system. The driver indicator  18  will instruct the driver to pull forward, and a the front sensor located in the entrance near the barrier gate  20  will detect when the front of the vehicle has pulled forward into the measurement position. The driver will then be alerted by the driver indicator that the vehicle is in the measurement position and to stop the vehicle. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7-9 , the entrance  10  may include a front sensor  22 , rear sensor  24  and height sensor  25 . As noted above, the parameters, i.e., the distance between the sensors  22 ,  24 , may be predetermined or preset by the parking facility. In addition, the parameters, i.e., the distance of the height sensor  25  from the ground, may also be predetermined and preset by the parking facility. Importantly, the sensors are adjustable to all the facility to change the parameters as the specific size criteria necessary for a reduced rate or surcharge changes. In operation, when the vehicle is in the measurement position and the rear sensor  24  does not detect the presence of the rear of the vehicle, the system will designate the vehicle as a “SMALL VEHICLE.” That is, if both of the sensors  22 ,  24  see that the vehicle is of a length that is within the preset length parameters, a designation of “SMALL VEHICLE” may be given and a small car rate assigned. This scenario is best shown in  FIG. 7 , with vehicle  14  not being detected by the rear sensor  24 . 
     If the system determines that the size of the vehicle does not meet the distance parameters of a small vehicle, however, a standard or large vehicle designation will be given. In this scenario, the rear sensor  24  will detect the presence of the vehicle. The height sensor  25  will then measure to determine if the vehicle is a standard size vehicle  15  or a large vehicle  17 . If the height sensor  25  detects the presence of the vehicle when a vehicle, indicating that the vehicle is taller than the predetermined height limit measured by the height sensor  25 , the system is configured to assign a designation of “LARGE VEHICLE” and assign a large vehicle rate. This scenario is best shown in  FIG. 9 , with vehicle  17  being detected by the height sensor  25 . However, if the height sensor  25  does not detect the presence of the vehicle, a “STANDARD VEHICLE” designation is given and a standard rate may be assigned. That is, if the vehicle is longer than a small vehicle, but the predetermined height limit is not exceeded, a “STANDARD VEHICLE” designation may be assigned. This scenario is best shown in  FIG. 8 , with vehicle  15  being detected by the rear sensor  24 , but not by the height sensor  25 . 
     Once the system determines whether the vehicle is a small, large or standard size vehicle as described above, the driver will then be notified whether the vehicle has been determined to be a small, large or standard size vehicle by the driver indicator and instructed to push the button on the ticket dispenser. The ticket dispenser will then dispense either a small rate ticket, large rate ticket or standard rate ticket based on the determination of the size of the car. Upon exiting the facility, the small, large or standard rate ticket will be used to pay at the exit and the proper rate will be calculated by either a cashier-less or cashiered type pay system. 
     In another embodiment the rear sensor could be on a movable track or the like (not shown). The rear sensor would start at a position close to the front sensor, for example, two feet. Once the vehicle has been determined to be in the correct position by the front sensor, the rear sensor could then move away from the front sensor and “scan” the vehicle until it finds where the vehicle ends. The distance between the two sensors would then be known and representative of the size of the car and a rate based on the determined size would be assigned/charged accordingly. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 3  the combination of video grid system  26  and sensors  22 ,  24  could be used together in the entrance  50 . This embodiment will work as those mentioned above except that both the video system and ultrasonic setup will determine the size of the vehicle almost simultaneously and when the video grid system and sensors agree on the size of a vehicle, a rate that coincides with that size will be assigned to that vehicle and then a ticket with the appropriate rate will be dispensed. 
     The sensors, in the embodiments detailed above, are transceivers, preferably of the ultrasonic type, but other sensors well known to a person skilled in the art such as optical beam sensors may also be used. The sensors are preferably located overhead of the entrance to a parking facility, but other arrangements can be utilized. 
     Knowing the size of each car entering the parking facility will allow the facility to optimize the number of cars that will fit into the facility, which in turn will maximize the parking facilities revenue generated. Further, since the smaller the vehicle the lower the rate charged for parking, it will provide an incentive for people to drive smaller vehicles. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the system also includes a control device or module. The control device is preferably a processor and storage device, such as a personal computer, industrial computer, and/or server. The control device includes a microprocessor, memory, and video display with recording capabilities. The control device can be located on site such as an attendant&#39;s booth, or in a remote location. 
     The control module can be operably connected to the sensors, inductance-arming loop or loops, video camera, video recording device, video display, driver indicator display, microprocessor, ticket dispenser and button, and other related components. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in operation the system is in a standby mode until a vehicle is detected by a first inductance-arming loop  12 . The control device  60  awaits a signal from the first inductance-arming loop. When the first inductance-arming loop detects the presence of the vehicle it will send the signal via signal channel  70  to the control device. Once the control device receives the signal from the sensor, it sends a signal to the rest of the components in the system to exit standby mode and power on. 
     The control module also generates and sends a signal via signal channel  72  to the driver indicator instructing the driver of the vehicle to drive forward. At this time the control module will continuously monitor the distance between the vehicle and a front sensor  22  and compares it to a value stored in a lookup table in the computers memory. When the distance has reached the value (e.g. zero) stored in the computers memory, the vehicle has reached the measurement position represented by the dotted line  30 . 
     When the front of the vehicle reaches the measurement position as determined by the front sensor  22  or an additional inductance loop  36 , a signal is sent via signal channel  71  or  74  to the control device. The control device generates a signal that is sent to the driver indicator  18  via signal channel  72  instructing the driver to stop the vehicle. 
     Now that the vehicle is in the measurement position, the microprocessor uses the signals sent via signal channels  74  and  76  generated from the sensors  22 ,  24 ,  25  to determine the length/height/size of the car. The microprocessor then compares the determined size to a rate lookup table stored in memory that has rates based on vehicle size via signal channel  90 . 
     The microprocessor takes the image signal generated from the video-grid system  26  and overlays the image on a sizing grid to determine the cars length. 
     A signal with the video image with grid overlay, the grid determined vehicle size, and sensor determined vehicle size is generated and sent to the video processor  66  via signal channel  88 . The video processor converts the signal and sends a converted signal via signal channel  82 , to the video monitor  58  so that the image and grid along with the determined vehicle sizes can be viewed. 
     In a further embodiment the microprocessor can compare the vehicle sizes determined by the video grid system and sensors to see if they match. If the video grid and sensor length determinations match, the microprocessor will generate a signal to send the rate information via a signal channel  80  to the ticket dispenser, and will also generate and send a signal via signal channel  72  to the driver indicator instructing the driver to press the ticket button  32  on the ticket dispenser  16 . 
     If the video grid and sensor length determinations do not match, there are several options of determining a size and rate for the vehicle. The microprocessor can make a decision based on a parking facility&#39;s statistical data stored in the system&#39;s memory  68 . Another option is that a warning could be sent to the video monitor via signal channel  82  so that a parking facility worker/attendant can input a determination via a manual input device  62  and a signal will be generated and sent via signal channel  92  to the microprocessor on what size and rate should be assigned to the vehicle. Still another option would be for the vehicle size detector to quickly re-run the sensors and grid measurement and repeat the comparison. 
     Again, once the system has determined the size of the vehicle and this information has been sent to the driver indicator via signal channel  72 , the driver indicator will inform the driver of the vehicle to press the ticket button. 
     Since the information of vehicle size has been sent to the ticket dispenser via signal  80 , when the driver presses the ticket button on the ticket dispenser the ticket dispensed will be for the rate as determined by the system based on the determined vehicle size. 
     Once the ticket dispenser has detected that the driver of the vehicle has taken the ticket from the ticket dispenser, the ticket dispenser generates and sends a signal via signal channel  80  to the control module which converts the signal, and the converted signal is sent via signal channel  86  to the gate barrier  20  to open the barrier to allow the driver and vehicle to enter the area/parking facility. 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the control device  60  shown with associated signal channels connected to the components of the system, which are schematically represented by blocks. The microprocessor  64  sends and receives signals from the control device&#39;s memory  68  via signal channel  90  and to and from the video processor  66  via signal channel  88 . 
     In a further embodiment of the present invention, the control device can be eliminated from all or some of the system components. The system components can be directly wired to each other and any processing and/or signal generation can be done in the individual components. 
       FIG. 6  is a simplified schematic illustration of steps of a method of how the small vehicle detector of  FIG. 1  operates in one embodiment of the invention. Each step in  FIG. 6  is in a box depicted by numerals  100 - 190 . The method starts with step  100  where the small vehicle detector is detecting that the vehicle has entered the entrance to the area  100 . Step  110  includes generating a signal to instruct a driver of the vehicle to drive the vehicle forward. Step  120  involves sensing when the vehicle has reached a predetermined position. Step  130  includes generating a signal instructing the driver of the vehicle to stop the vehicle once the detector has sensed the vehicle has reached the predetermined position. Step  140  includes determining the size of the vehicle. Step  150  includes associating the determined vehicle size with a rate of charge based on said determined vehicle size. Step  160  includes generating a signal instructing said driver of said vehicle to push the button on the ticket dispenser. Step  170  includes dispensing a ticket once the driver has pushed the button on the ticket dispenser, wherein said ticket contains said vehicle size and associated rate of charge information. Step  180  includes lifting a barrier gate once the driver of the vehicle has removed the dispensed ticket from the ticket dispenser. Step  190  includes allowing the driver to drive said vehicle into the particular area. 
     In additional embodiments of the present invention other technologies can be used to supplement the steps of the method of  FIG. 6 . The vehicle can be detected entering the entrance using an inductance loop. The vehicle can be detected entering the entrance by a sensor located at the rear of the entrance using an ultrasonic sensor. A driver indicator can generate a signal to instruct the driver of the vehicle to drive forward. The sensing of when the vehicle has reached the measurement position can be done by an inductance loop or a front ultrasonic sensor. A signal instructing the driver of the vehicle to stop when it is sensed that the vehicle has reached the measurement position can also be done by a driver indicator. The size of the vehicle can be determined by a video grid system, by a front and rear sensor combination, or by a front, rear and height sensor combination. The front, rear and height sensors can be ultrasonic or optical beam sensors. Coupling the vehicle size with a parking rate based on the determined vehicle size can be done with a microprocessor. A signal instructing the driver of the vehicle to push the button on the ticket dispenser can be generated using a driver indicator. 
     The present invention allows a parking facility to optimize the amount of cars that can be parked in the facility by determining the size of each vehicle entering the facility. The present invention allows a parking facility to charge a reduced rate for smaller cars, and/or a surcharge for larger cars, which provides incentive for people to drive smaller cars, and a disincentive to drive larger cars, while still allowing the amount of revenue the parking facility takes in to increase by allowing the facility to increase its vehicle capacity. 
     It will be readily appreciated that the system described above, in any embodiment, may also be applied at any location in which the size of a car, or pricing by the size of a car, is desired to be determined. For example, the system of the present invention may be employed at a car wash facility, a toll plaza and the like, for determining pricing based on the size of a vehicle entering a designated area. 
     While the invention had been described with reference to the preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various obvious changes may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof, without departing from the essential scope of the present invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention includes all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.