John H Fewer

US Patent:

20040021579, Feb 5, 2004

Filed:

May 7, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/430869

Inventors:

Mark Oursler - Severna Park MD, US
Wendy Chiu - Columbia MD, US
Gary Worrell - Columbia MD, US
John Fewer - Elkridge MD, US
Ronald Char - West Friendship MD, US

International Classification:

H04Q009/00
G08C019/22

US Classification:

340/870070

Abstract:

A primary set of sensors is situated along a highway approaching a weighing/inspection station, and a secondary set of sensors is situated along a ramp that is traversed by vehicles exiting the highway into a weighing/inspection station. The secondary sensors use vehicle identification based upon transponders and/or alternate means (such as license plate readers) that are suitable for lower speeds and for vehicles not equipped with transponders. The sensors are coupled to a processing system that accesses a database storing data correlated to vehicles using the highway. Upon the sensing of certain parameters by the primary sensors, the vehicles are directed to exit the highway to the weigh station entry ramp The secondary set of sensors along the ramp provide an ability to identify transponder and non-transponder equipped vehicles and more accurate sensing capability due, among other things, to the slower speed of the vehicle while passing sensors.