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. 24, 2014
Filed:
Oct. 05, 2011
Michael D. Olinger, Kentwood, MI (US);
Joseph G. Mickley, Kentwood, MI (US);
Michael D. Olinger, Kentwood, MI (US);
Joseph G. Mickley, Kentwood, MI (US);
Checkpoint LLC, Kentwood, MI (US);
Abstract
An automatic guided vehicle (AGV) system for automatically transporting loads along a predetermined path is provided that includes a plurality of magnets distant from one another, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of magnets represent a positioning point, and a plurality of AGVs, wherein at least one of the plurality of AGVs includes a drive assembly and a sensor system configured to determine guidance information. The sensor system includes a circuit board, a two-dimensional array of giant magneto resistive (GMR) sensors along a surface of the circuit board, the GMR sensors configured to detect at least one of the plurality of embedded magnets when the GMR sensors are proximate thereto, and an electromagnetic coil extending around the circuit board and at least a portion of the GMR sensors, the electromagnetic coil configured to polarize the GMR sensors.