Amtech Systems, Incorporated

Fiore Industries, Inc.

Other

John Todd Elson

Michael Melville

Kelly Gravelle

Paul Hamel

Greg Lantz

Yousuf Kamal

Richard Skotnicki

David E Lane

Nicolas Martinez

A system for tracking vehicle position using a smart phone in the vehicle as an active transponder, which is detected by roadside equipment is disclosed. In an embodiment, the system uses existing RF transceivers on the smart-phone, such as Bluetooth LE or WiFi to periodically transmit an identifying message. Road-based equipment detects and locates the smart phone. In a further embodiment, the smart phone is alerted by roadside beacons and only then responds with its identification information. Processing can be performed either on the smart phone or by roadside or central office equipment as is the case in prior art active or passive transponder-based tolling systems. Vehicle location detection can be enhanced through the use of directional antenna matrices such as a Butler matrix. The system can be used for automated roadway tolling and monitoring.

Vehicle tracking system using smart-phone as active transponder

A system is described for tracking vehicle position using a smart phone or similar device as an active transponder that communicates with roadside equipment. The system may uses existing RF transceivers on the smart-phone, such as Bluetooth® LE or WiFi to periodically transmit an identifying message. Road-based equipment detects and locates the smart phone. In a further aspect, the smart phone is alerted by roadside beacons and responds with identification information. Transaction processing may be performed either on the smart phone or by roadside or back office equipment. The system may be used for automated roadway tolling and monitoring and also for access control. A coded card may be scanned by the smart card to enter identification for access control.

A system combining readers for RFID transponders and Bluetooth&#xae; devices for for automated roadway tolling and monitoring is described. Because of the ubiquity of Bluetooth&#xae; devices, filtering methods are described to narrow received Bluetooth&#xae; signals to a particular monitored traffic lane and to further associate the Bluetooth&#xae; signal with a registered RFID toll tag in a vehicle. Signal strength of the Bluetooth&#xae; signal at each of a plurality of receiver antennas may be used to identify the location of the Bluetooth&#xae; device that emitted the signal.

The present invention comprises radar detection of rail car truck assembly features to determine the presence of a rail vehicle comprising a car, axle count of the vehicle, and the travel direction of and speed of a rail car.

Radar enabled determination of presence, axle count, speed, and direction of a rail car

A system is described for tracking vehicle position using a smart phone or similar device as an active transponder that communicates with roadside equipment. The system may uses existing RF transceivers on the smart-phone, such as Bluetooth&#xae; LE or WiFi to periodically transmit an identifying message. Road-based equipment detects and locates the smart phone. In a further aspect, the smart phone is alerted by roadside beacons and responds with identification information. Transaction processing may be performed either on the smart phone or by roadside or back office equipment. The system may be used for automated roadway tolling and monitoring and also for access control. A coded card may be scanned by the smart card to enter identification for access control.

A system is described for measuring distance between an RFID reader and an RFID backscatter tag, including an adaptive linear combiner, which is a tapped delay line with controllable weights on each tap, and outputs that are summed and subtracted from a reference to produce an error signal. After a sufficient number of cycles, the weight distribution indicates the delay of the received signal with respect to the reference, and by extension determines the distance between the tag and receiver.

System and method for estimating range to an RFID tag

The a system for measuring distance between an RFID reader and tag, including an adaptive linear combiner, which is a tapped delay line with controllable weights on each tap, and outputs that are summed and subtracted from a reference to produce an error signal. After a sufficient number of cycles, the weight distribution indicates the delay of the received signal with respect to the reference, and by extension determines the distance between the tag and receiver.

Method and apparatus for remotely disabling a vehicle using modulated microwave energy. The modulation characteristics are preferably tailored for different types of vehicles. This approach enables the use of a low power radiation source, which minimizes injury to people and property and which enables the use of portable devices, such as for use on law enforcement or military vehicles.

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Albuquerque, NM, United States of America

John Todd Elson