US4238829A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Vehicle locating apparatus
Assignee: Siemens Dematic Postal Automation LP
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Filing: 1978-07-24
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Granted: 1980-12-09
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Expires: 1998-07-24
Abstract
Abstract In a vehicle locating apparatus that utilizes Hall effect generators to determine the magnetic heading of the vehicle there is provided magnetic compensation by the placing of a coil around the Hall generators. A current source generator provides power to the coil of such magnitude so as to create a magnetic field which cancels the spurious local magnetic field components. The apparatus also includes a set of manual switches to program a constant number into the system. The system incorporates this number to compensate for variable wheel diameters and to allow the selection of variable map scale units. This number is utilized by the system in a division technique that repeatedly substracts the number or adds the number to the accumulated distance traveled by the vehicle. The location of the vehicle is updated as the vehicle passes a transmitting signpost. Data transmitted to and from the vehicles locating apparatus is in a self-clocking format that reduces oscillator accuracy requirements. The system also includes a second set of manual switches for inputting a rotation angle. A variable time delay circuit incorporates this rotation angle to electronically increase or decrease the measured magnetic heading angle. This electronic rotation provides for a method to correct physical misalignment of the heading sensor in the vehicle and to compensate for local magnetic deviation.
Inventors
- 👤 Willie E. Martin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:41
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/01; G08G1/042; G01; G01C; G01C21/00; G01C21/10; G01C21/12; G01C21/14; G01C21/26; G01C21/28; G08G1/123; G08G1/127
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
Apparatus in a vehicle locating system that utilizes wheel rotation to measure distance traveled for incorporating variable map scale units and variable wheel circumferences comprising: (a) means for inputting a constant number wherein said constant number is the quotient of said wheel circumference divided by said map scale unit, (b) means for accumulating distance traveled as measured by said wheel rotations, (c) means for detecting when the absolute value in said accumulating means exceeds the constant number, (d) means for storing a vehicle location value wherein the location value is increased by one unit when the value in said accumulator means exceeds the positive value of said constant number and is decreased by one unit when the value in said accumulator means is less than the negative value of said constant number, and (e) means for adding said constant number to said accumulating means when the location value stored in said means for storing is decreased and subtracting said constant number from said accumulating means when the location value stored in said means for storing is increased.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
Apparatus in a vehicle locating system that utilizes wheel rotation to measure distance traveled for incorporating variable map scale units and variable wheel circumferences comprising: (a) means for inputting a constant number wherein said constant number is the quotient of said wheel circumference divided by said map scale unit, (b) means for accumulating distance traveled as measured by said wheel rotations, (c) means for detecting when the absolute value in said accumulating means exceeds the constant number, (d) means for storing a vehicle location value wherein the location value is increased by one unit when the value in said accumulator means exceeds the positive value of said constant number and is decreased by one unit when the value in said accumulator means is less than the negative value of said constant number, and (e) means for adding said constant number to said accumulating means when the location value stored in said means for storing is decreased and subtracting said constant number from said accumulating means when the location value stored in said means for storing is increased.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus in a vehicle locating system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for inputting includes an array of switches for programming the constant number in powers of two.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus in a vehicle locating system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said array of switches enables programming the constant from a minimum of 1 to a maximum of 63 and 63/64ths.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus in a vehicle locating system as set forth in claim 1 including means for generating the heading of the vehicle as a component of the vehicle location value as stored in said means for storing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus in a vehicle locating system as set forth in claim 4 wherein each unit of the vehicle location value equals one wheel circumference.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
268 words
Apparatus in a vehicle locating system that utilizes wheel rotation to measure distance traveled for incorporating variable map scale units and variable wheel circumferences, comprising: (a) means for inputting a constant number wherein said constant number is the quotient of said map scale unit divided by said wheel circumference, (b) means for generating the north/south heading of the vehicle from a central reference location, (c) means for generating the east/west heading of the vehicle from the same reference location, (d) means for accumulating distance traveled in the north/south direction as measured by said wheel rotations, (e) means for accumulating distance traveled in the east/west direction as measured by said wheel rotations, (f) means for detecting when the value in each of said accumulating means exceeds the constant number, (g) means for storing a north/south vehicle location value wherein the location value is increased by one unit when the value in said accumulator means is less than the negative value of said constant number, (h) means for storing the east/west vehicle location value wherein the location value is increased by one unit when the value in said accumulator means exceeds the positive value of said constant number and is decreased by one unit when the value in said accumulator means is less than the negative value of said constant number, and (i) means for adding said constant number to each of said accumulator means when the location value stored in the respective means for storing is decreased and subtracting said constant number from said respective accumulating means when the location value stored in said means for storing is increased.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
268 words
Apparatus in a vehicle locating system that utilizes wheel rotation to measure distance traveled for incorporating variable map scale units and variable wheel circumferences, comprising: (a) means for inputting a constant number wherein said constant number is the quotient of said map scale unit divided by said wheel circumference, (b) means for generating the north/south heading of the vehicle from a central reference location, (c) means for generating the east/west heading of the vehicle from the same reference location, (d) means for accumulating distance traveled in the north/south direction as measured by said wheel rotations, (e) means for accumulating distance traveled in the east/west direction as measured by said wheel rotations, (f) means for detecting when the value in each of said accumulating means exceeds the constant number, (g) means for storing a north/south vehicle location value wherein the location value is increased by one unit when the value in said accumulator means is less than the negative value of said constant number, (h) means for storing the east/west vehicle location value wherein the location value is increased by one unit when the value in said accumulator means exceeds the positive value of said constant number and is decreased by one unit when the value in said accumulator means is less than the negative value of said constant number, and (i) means for adding said constant number to each of said accumulator means when the location value stored in the respective means for storing is decreased and subtracting said constant number from said respective accumulating means when the location value stored in said means for storing is increased.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus in a vehicle locating system as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for inputting includes an array of switches for programming the constant number in powers of two.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-12-09 | 1984-06-09 | 1984-12-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-12-09 | 1988-06-09 | 1988-12-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-12-09 | 1992-06-09 | 1992-12-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |