U.S. patent application number 14/775082 was filed with the patent office on 2016-01-28 for vehicular access barrier arm apparatus and related methods.
The applicant listed for this patent is Thomas R. RICHMOND. Invention is credited to Patrick S Kochie, Suzanne Richmond, Thomas R Richmond.
Application Number | 20160024730 14/775082 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51537808 |
Filed Date | 2016-01-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160024730 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Richmond; Thomas R ; et
al. |
January 28, 2016 |
VEHICULAR ACCESS BARRIER ARM APPARATUS AND RELATED METHODS
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for helping to prevent
vehicular barrier gate arms from lowering in certain situations
(such as if an obstruction such as a person is present), while not
impacting the primary operation and function of the barrier arm
(which is to lower the arm to prevent unauthorized vehicles from
entering/exiting an area).
Inventors: |
Richmond; Thomas R; (Santa
Ana, CA) ; Richmond; Suzanne; (San Pedro, CA)
; Kochie; Patrick S; (Semi Valley, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
RICHMOND; Thomas R. |
Santa Ana |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
51537808 |
Appl. No.: |
14/775082 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2014 |
PCT Filed: |
March 14, 2014 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US14/29403 |
371 Date: |
September 11, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61793824 |
Mar 15, 2013 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
404/6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01F 13/06 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E01F 13/06 20060101
E01F013/06 |
Claims
1. Apparatus for vehicular access control, including: an access
control arm sized and positioned to move between a default closed
position (that bars passage by a vehicle) and a temporary open
position (that permits passage by a vehicle); a photo-beam sensor
that is active during motion of the control arm from the open
position to the closed position, and that, upon interruption,
stops/reverses the motion of the control arm; and a vehicle sensor
positioned and configured to determine whether an interruption of
the photo-beam sensor has been caused by a vehicle.
2. A method of vehicular access control, including the steps of:
providing the apparatus of claim; operating the apparatus,
including using signals from photo-beam sensor and the vehicle
sensor to determine whether downward closing motion of the control
arm should continue or instead should stop/reverse.
Description
[0001] This invention relates broadly to devices for helping to
prevent vehicular barrier gate arms from lowering in certain
situations (such as if an obstruction such as a person is present),
while not impacting the primary operation and function of the
barrier arm (which is to lower the arm to prevent unauthorized
vehicles from entering/exiting an area).
[0002] As indicated herein, the inventions disclosed herein can be
used in a broad range of applications and provide many
benefits.
[0003] These and other embodiments will become readily apparent to
those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of
embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the invention
not being limited to any particular preferred embodiment(s)
disclosed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Vehicular barrier gate operators are designed as traffic
control mechanisms to restrict vehicular entry or exit from a
designated area (such as a parking area). The "default" position of
the barrier arm or arms typically is in the lowered (or down)
position, at least during hours in which the access is being
controlled. In order to provide the desired control over which
vehicles enter and/or leave the controlled area, typically the
arm(s) raise only when a vehicle has been granted entry or exit
permission. Commonly, this permission is automated (via proximity
cards or other technology). Following such authorization, once the
barrier arm has raised and the vehicle passes through, typically
the arm rotates or otherwise moves back to the "default" down
position (again, to maintain the desired control of the designated
area).
[0005] In prior art systems, these "descending" barrier arms can
injure individuals who may be passing beneath the arm as the arm
moves downwardly (those persons may not be paying sufficient
attention to the arm movement, may be trying to "beat" the arm's
drop, or otherwise). Prior art efforts to prevent such injuries
(i.e., to stop the arm from descending if a person is beneath the
arm) is to install a photo-electric cell or similar sensor which,
if the photo-beam is interrupted (blocked by the person's body) or
the sensor is triggered, prevents the arm from further rotating
down (or even reverses the downward movement).
[0006] That prior art approach to the risk is less than ideal.
Among other things, it can provide an opportunity for drivers of
unauthorized vehicles to "beat" the gate by closely following
behind an authorized vehicle--as the arm begins to descend after
the authorized vehicle has entered the controlled area, the
unauthorized vehicle interrupts the photo-beam and/or sets off the
sensor just as a person/pedestrian does, which (like the
pedestrian's interruption/triggering of the sensor) then prevents
the arm from rotating down (or even reverses the downward
movement). With the control arm stopped and/or raised again, the
unauthorized vehicle can then enter/exit the controlled area, thus
defeating the primary purpose of the gate/arm control system--to
stop unauthorized vehicular traffic through the gate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary controlled
gate/arm installation, in which an arm 1 allows an authorized
vehicle 2 to enter (or exit, depending on the
installation/embodiment), but also (undesirably) allows a
tailgating unauthorized vehicle 3 to enter (or exit) by closely
following the authorized vehicle 2. The arm motion is indicated by
arrow 4.
[0008] FIG. 2A is one of the many embodiments of a controlled
access gate constructed in accordance with the current invention.
The view and most elements are similar to those in FIG. 1, but
among other things, FIG. 2A illustrates how an unauthorized vehicle
3 will NOT stop or reverse the downward motion of arm 1--instead
the arm motion 5 continues downward despite the exit attempt by the
unauthorized vehicle 3.
[0009] FIG. 2B is virtually the same as FIG. 2A, but illustrates
how a pedestrian will cause the arm motion 6 to occur (very
similarly to the arm motion 4 of FIG. 1).
[0010] FIG. 3 is a prior art drawing illustrating one of the types
of vehicle sensors (an induction loop) that may be utilized as part
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0011] The inventions disclosed herein can be used in a broad range
of applications and provide many benefits. Embodiments of the
present invention will now be described with references to the
accompanying figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like
elements throughout.
[0012] Persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that
the apparatus of the invention and variations of its many methods
can be practiced using any of a wide variety of suitable processes
and materials.
[0013] As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, in one embodiment of the
invention, a photo-beam system or other sensor is used to detect
non-vehicular obstructions (such as persons) beneath the barrier
arm, and absent some other signal (such as described below), that
sensor will function in much the same manner as in the prior art
systems discussed herein (interruption of the photo-beam will cause
the arm 1 to reverse its downward motion, as shown by arrow 6 in
FIG. 2B. In this embodiment of the invention, however, an
additional sensing means is provided (such as a vehicular
inductance loop system such as shown in FIG. 3, which is preferably
located operably generally under the unauthorized vehicle 3's
position in FIG. 2A) to detect the presence of a vehicle beneath
the barrier arm. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will
understand that this additional sensing means can take any of a
range of forms and technologies, but preferably functions to
distinguish whether the interruption of the photo-beam has been
caused by (a) a vehicle or (b) a person or persons (or even more
broadly, something OTHER than a vehicle). If the latter (a person,
something OTHER than a vehicle, etc.), the embodiment preferably
does stop or reverse the motion of the arm 1, as described above,
helping to ensure that the person is not struck by the descending
arm 1. If the former, however, the embodiment preferably does NOT
stop or reverse the motion of the arm 1 (see illustrative arrow 5
showing this continuing downward arm motion), and instead the arm 1
continues its downward motion into the default closed position, so
that the integrity of the "controlled area" is maintained.
[0014] Persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that,
for embodiments using an inductive loop vehicle detector system,
any of a wide range of inductive loop vehicle detector systems can
be utilized. One example is illustrated at
http://www.marshproducts.com/pdf/Inductive%20Loop%20Write%20up.pdf,
and includes a loop that is:
[0015] " . . . a continuous run of wire that enters and exits from
the same point. The two ends of the loop wire are connected to the
loop extension cable, which in turn connects to the vehicle
detector. The detector powers the loop causing a magnetic field in
the loop area. The loop resonates at a constant frequency that the
detector monitors. A base frequency is established when there is no
vehicle over the loop. When a large metal object, such as a
vehicle, moves over the loop, the resonate frequency increases.
This increase in frequency is sensed and, depending on the design
of the detector, forces a normally open relay to close. The relay
will remain closed until the vehicle leaves the loop and the
frequency returns to the base level. The relay can trigger any
number of devices such as an audio intercom system, a gate, a
traffic light, etc."
[0016] Other details of such inductive loop technology are
discussed that cited article/posting on the Internet.
[0017] In certain embodiments, preferably some automated signal
processing and logic such as a computer program/logic (code) is
provided to receive the sensor input(s) and make the determination
as to whether the photo-beam interruption is being caused by a
vehicular or non-vehicular obstruction, and to thereafter
(relatively immediately) cause the barrier arm system (and
specifically arm 1) to move (and/or stop) in an appropriate manner.
As indicated above, preferably the system prevents the arm 1 from
rotating down if a non-vehicular obstruction is present, but allows
the barrier arm 1 to rotate down if a vehicle is present. In short,
the system differentiates between (a) a non-vehicle interrupting
the photo-beam (and thereafter prevents the arm 1 from further
rotating down) and (b) a vehicle interrupting the photo-beam (in
which case the system preferably allows the arm 1 to continue to
rotate or otherwise move down to a default closed position).
[0018] The system of the invention thus provides a means to help
prevent accidents to pedestrians who inadvertently (or
intentionally) find themselves in a controlled access traffic lane.
As a further safety feature in certain embodiments, the computer
logic (code) also can monitor for the presence of, and correct
operation of, the photo-beam system/inductive loop system, on each
cycle of the barrier arm 1 (each time the arm 1 operates to "open"
and allow an authorized entrance or exit). If such monitoring
indicates that the photo-beam system and/or the inductive loop
system are not connected to the barrier arm operator and/or are not
otherwise operating correctly, the system can be set to
"deactivate" any motion by the barrier arm 1, or to operate in some
other "safe" manner. For example, the system can be programmed so
that, if an electric fault exists in the photo-beam system and/or
the inductive loop system, the barrier arm operator will not be
allowed to rotate the barrier arm 1 to the down position.
[0019] The present invention is described herein with reference to
the accompanying Figures, which serve as illustrations of some of
the many embodiments in which the invention may be practiced.
Subject to the context and other factors (including for example the
understanding of persons of ordinary skill in the arts relevant to
the inventions), generally in those Figures and references similar
reference numerals refer to similar or identical elements
throughout this description.
[0020] Those Figures and references, and the other terminology used
in these descriptions, are not intended to be interpreted in any
limited or restrictive manner, simply because it is being utilized
in conjunction with a detailed description of certain embodiments
of the invention. Furthermore, various embodiments of the invention
(whether or not specifically described herein) may include one or
more of the novel features disclosed herein, no single one of which
(a) is necessarily solely responsible for any particular desirable
attribute(s) of the inventions or (b) is essential to practicing
the inventions described.
[0021] For the purpose of summarizing the invention, certain
objects and advantages have been described herein. It is to be
understood that not necessarily all such objects or advantages may
be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the
invention. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will
recognize that the invention may be embodied or carried out in a
manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of
advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other
objects or advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.
[0022] The apparatus and methods of the invention have been
described with some particularity, but the specific designs,
constructions, and steps disclosed are not to be taken as
delimiting of the invention. A wide range of modifications and
alternative structures and steps for practicing the invention will
make themselves apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, all
of which will not depart from the essence of the invention, and all
such changes and modifications are intended to be encompassed
within the appended claims.
[0023] Although the examples of the many various methods of the
invention are described herein with steps occurring in a certain
order, the specific order of the steps, or any continuation or
interruption between steps, is not necessarily intended to be
required for any given method of practicing the invention.
* * * * *
References