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:
Jun. 05, 2001
Filed:
Mar. 31, 1999
Applicant:
Inventors:
Jonathan W. Hill, Scarborough, ME (US);
Jurgen Dorschky, St. Mery, FR;
Mark Cote, Springvale, ME (US);
Damon F. Gentile, Windham, ME (US);
Assignee:
Control Devices, Standish, ME (US);
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B06Q 1/00 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B06Q 1/00 ;
Abstract
A sensor (,) for detecting the approach and exit of a vehicle (,) to a tunnel (,). In one embodiment there is a sensor (,) with a photodiode (,) that receives light through an inclined channel (,) or aperture (,). The channel provides a field of view (,) ahead and above the vehicle. The photosensor (,) is thus sensitive to the change in light from this field of view (,) as a vehicle enters (,) and exits (,) a tunnel (,). Some embodiments of the present invention include a second photosensor (,) with a wider field of view (,) for detecting ambient light.