Vehicle Detection Using Optical Trigger and Magnetic Confirmation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for detecting vehicle presence in areas, especially in roofless spaces, face challenges with high energy consumption and inability to reliably detect stationary vehicles, as they require continuous operation of sensors like magnetoresistors and vibration sensors, which drain batteries quickly and fail to account for vehicles hidden or motionless.
Innovation Solution
A method using a passive optical sensor in the flooring to detect shade conditions, activating a magnetoresistive sensor only when necessary to confirm the presence of a vehicle, with a digital controller managing power supply to minimize energy consumption by maintaining sensors in a standby state until illumination changes are detected, and periodically measuring magnetic fields to verify vehicle presence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If magnetoresistive sensors are used to detect vehicle presence, then detection reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases due to continuous operation requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic measurement cycles where the microcontroller activates the magnetoresistive sensor at intervals (e.g., every few seconds) rather than continuously. The system alternates between active measurement phases and standby phases, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining reliable vehicle presence detection through regular sampling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an optical sensor to detect preliminary conditions (shade/illumination changes) that may indicate vehicle presence. This preliminary detection triggers the magnetoresistive sensor activation only when needed, avoiding continuous operation and reducing energy consumption while maintaining detection reliability through conditional triggering.
2Measurement precision
If vibration sensors are used to detect vehicle passage, then movement detection is improved, but stationary vehicle detection fails and energy consumption increases due to continuous active state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple detection methods: optical sensing for preliminary vehicle presence indication, magnetoresistive sensing for confirmation, and vibration sensing for passage detection. This merged approach allows the system to detect both moving and stationary vehicles reliably, as each sensor type compensates for the limitations of the others.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs periodic measurements using the magnetoresistive sensor even when vibration sensors indicate no recent movement. This periodic checking ensures stationary vehicles are detected despite the vibration sensor's inability to sense motionless objects, while the periodic nature maintains energy efficiency.
3Reliability
If sensors are continuously activated to detect vehicles, then detection reliability is improved, but battery life is reduced due to high energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a periodic measurement strategy where sensors are activated at scheduled intervals rather than continuously. The microcontroller manages power by putting sensors into standby mode between measurements, extending battery life while maintaining reliable detection through regular sampling cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical sensor performs preliminary detection of conditions that may indicate vehicle presence (illumination changes). Only when these preliminary conditions are met does the system activate the more energy-intensive magnetoresistive sensor, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining detection reliability through conditional triggering.
4Use of energy by moving object
If passive optical sensors are used to detect shade conditions, then energy consumption is reduced, but false positives occur from non-vehicle causes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the optical sensor as an intermediary that detects preliminary conditions (shade changes) and triggers the magnetoresistive sensor for confirmation. The magnetoresistive sensor acts as a mediator to verify whether the shade condition is caused by a vehicle, eliminating false positives while maintaining low overall energy consumption through this two-stage verification process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by using the optical sensor's detection results to control the activation of the magnetoresistive sensor. When the optical sensor detects a shade condition, it provides feedback that triggers the magnetoresistive sensor to confirm vehicle presence, creating a feedback loop that reduces false positives while maintaining energy efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for continuous, reliable vehicle detection with significantly lower energy consumption, capable of distinguishing vehicle presence from other causes of shade, and effectively managing battery life in battery-powered systems.
Implementation Method 1
a passive optical sensor which detects the shade condition produced by the vehicle
Implementation Method 2
a magnetic sensor which confirms whether said shade condition is due to a vehicle which is over the sensor
Data Source
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AI summary
In the present invention there is described a method and apparatus for the continuous, non-intermittent, detection of vehicles based on detecting the sharp change in illumination caused on the flooring under a vehicle when this arrives or departs, and on the use of said detection to activate a magnetic sensor the sensitivity of which is adjusted to detect only those magnetic disturbances sufficiently large to be able to be attributed to a vehicle which is over the sensor. Both the light sensor and the magnetic sensor are connected directly to a digital controller without the need of active electronic components or their own or a shared power supply source. The detector may be fixed or portable, wireless or connected by cables, and may operate independently or as part of a sensor network.