The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 16, 1993
Filed:
Nov. 27, 1990
James V Yardley, Centerville, UT (US);
Gary L Whatcott, Holladay, UT (US);
John A Petersen, Bountiful, UT (US);
Herman P Schutten, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Eaton-Kenway, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT (US);
Abstract
Apparatus for detecting and controlling the position of an automatic guided vehicle to enable precise positioning of the vehicle at a predetermined place such as a load pickup/delivery terminal. In one embodiment a mat having a passive short-circuited loop of wire embedded in it is positioned on the floor at the terminal. On the vehicle an oscillator and a transmitting antenna provide a primary magnetic field that excited the loop in the mat whenever the vehicle is in the terminal, inducing current in the loop. The current in the loop produces a secondary magnetic field having a predetermined spatial pattern. Receiving antennas on the vehicle detect the secondary magnetic field. Prior knowledge of the spatial pattern enables onboard electronic apparatus to ascertain the position of the vehicle relative to the mat. Both transverse and longitudinal position can be detected and controlled. The same on-board apparatus enables the vehicle to follow an energized guidewire in the floor between terminals. The vehicle can also navigate by dead reckoning between terminals.