WO2001015115A1

WO2001015115A1 - Automobile registration and inspection system

Info

Publication number: WO2001015115A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/040731
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Douglas Kondroik, Jr.; Jim Don Smith; Donald J. Bergeron
Original assignee: Detection Device Systems, Llc
Priority date: 1999-08-24
Filing date: 2000-08-24
Publication date: 2001-03-01
Also published as: CA2382692A1; AU8033500A

Abstract

A method for objective identification which includes personal access tags capable of transmitting user personal access identification data to a vehicle transponder capable of combining the user data with a carrier signal, transmitting that signal containing the data to a mobile reader having a receiver for detection of a returned signal from a vehicle transponder, transmitting that data to a base unit for processing. The system of the present invention includes a transceiver for generating a modulated or unmodulated radio frequency interrogation signal, a receiver for detection of a returned signal from a vehicle transponder and a signal processor for processing the returned signal. A demodulator within the mobile reader extracts data and transmits collective data to the base unit for processing. A personal access tag contains the user information to be downloaded to the vehicle transponder. A base unit will process the information for general use.

Description

AUTOMOBILE REGISTRATION AND INSPECTION SYSTEM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 . Field of the Invention

This invention relates in general to an improved object identification system, and in particular to an improved mobile object identification system. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to an improved apparatus and method for automatic identification and verification of vehicle compliance, such as the registration, inspection, and insurance status of automobiles.

2. Description of the Prior Art

To maintain safe public roadways, automobiles are required to comply with laws regarding vehicle registration, state inspection, and liability insurance requirements. Each automobile must be identified as to its current status of compliance with these laws. Present identification systems utilize adhesive decals that are affixed directly to the vehicles. Vehicle owners and operators are typically required to replace inspection and registration decals on their vehicles every year to keep them in compliance with the laws.

The decals are serialized, dated, and color-coded for ease of visual detection by mobile or stationary inspectors such as law enforcement personnel. When mobile inspectors are in transit, they have some difficulty reading and verifying the status of the decals and, thus, enforcing the laws requiring them. This lack of enforcement has allowed vehicle operators to abuse the inspection, registration, and insurance laws such that some vehicles are unsafe for roadway use. An improved method and apparatus for inspecting vehicle compliance with roadway safety laws is needed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for object identification, which includes an electronic mobile reader, base unit, an electronic vehicle transponder and electronic personal access tags. In one embodiment, the electronic mobile reader interrogates the electronic

5 vehicle transponder with an RF (radio frequency) poll allowing the electronic vehicle transponder to backscatter an RF signal containing electronic personal access tag identification to the electronic mobile reader. The electronic mobile reader demodulates the signal and sends the electronic personal access identification to the base-unit where it identifies the status ι o of the personal access tags that were inserted into the electronic vehicle transponder. The electronic personal access identification may be as simple as verifying the expiration data. No database search is necessary to evaluate the expiration data. The electronic personal access identification sent to the electronic mobile reader is compared to the current date for each

15 electronic personal access tag stored in the electronic vehicle transponder memory. In one embodiment, either a red or green light illuminates indicating the noncompliance or compliance, respectively, of the electronic personal access identification of each electronic personal access tag received by the electronic mobile reader.

20

Each electronic personal access tag contains memory that is downloaded to the electronic vehicle transponder at the time the electronic personal access tag is inserted into the electronic vehicle transponder. An indicator will alert the user that the sequence has been completed 25 successfully and, at that moment, the user will remove the electronic personal access tag from the electronic vehicle transponder. Electronic personal access tag memory will be rendered useless upon removal of electronic personal access tag from the electronic vehicle transponder if the data transfer was successful. In one embodiment, the electronic personal access tag and the electronic vehicle transponder utilize an encryption scheme to eliminate fraud or misuse of the electronic personal access tag.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the electronic vehicle transponder utilizes an anti-theft/tamper proof scheme to render the transmitter circuitry useless if it is removed from the vehicle. An electronic personal access tag key is inserted into the electronic vehicle transponder to reactivate the transmitting circuits. The personnel electronic personal access tag key is be unique to that electronic vehicle transponder and can have an encryption scheme to eliminate fraud or theft. The electronic personal access tag key makes the electronic vehicle transponder virtually worthless to individuals that may want to remove them from vehicles.

The base-unit receives electronic personal access identification data from the electronic mobile reader and alerts the user to the status of the electronic vehicle transponder being interrogated. In one version, the base- unit utilizes green and red indicator lights to signify good and bad inspection, registration, insurance or any combination. In addition, the base- unit may be included in the electronic mobile reader.

The electronic vehicle transponder is an electronic device with onboard memory and, preferably, an encryption scheme. The electronic personal access tag is a contact smart card approximately half the size of a credit card. The smart card is inserted into a slot on the electronic vehicle transponder. The contacts on the smart card engage contacts inside the electronic vehicle transponder to provide power to the smart cards and start a flashing green indicator on the electronic vehicle transponder. When the data is transferred from the smart card memory to the electronic vehicle transponder memory, a solid indicator illuminates acknowledging the status of the data transfer. The electronic vehicle transponder will not start transmitting the information until the electronic personal access tag is removed from the slot.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in view of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the features, advantages and objects of the invention, as well as others which will become apparent, are attained and can be understood in more detail, more particular description of the invention briefly summarized above may be had by reference to the embodiment thereof which is illustrated in the appended drawings, which drawings form a part of this specification. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only a preferred embodiment of the invention and is therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope as the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a presenting unit with two programmable cards inserted therein and is constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the presenting unit and programmable cards of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a side view of the presenting unit and programmable cards of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of one of the programmable cards of Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a detector of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a front elevational view of the detector of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a side view of the detector of Figure 5; Figure 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention installed in an automobile and a law enforcement vehicle;

Figure 9 is a block diagram of the presenting unit of Figure 1 ; and

Figure 10 is a block diagram illustrating a preferred embodiment of the entire system of the present invention and the relationship between its major components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to Figures 1 -7, an automobile registration and inspection system comprises a presenting unit 10, a detector 12, and programmable information cards 14. As shown in Figure 1 , the presenting unit 10 is a device of nominal thickness and dimensions with a front side 16 and back side 18. Slots 20 on the top of the presenting unit 10 allow the insertion of programable information cards 14. The slots 20 are aligned horizontally but they may be stacked one behind the other allowing the presenting unit 10 to be narrower in width. The presenting unit 10 secures to an automobile windshield or other structure in a way that prevents removal and tampering by someone other than the owner of the automobile. In one version, the presenting unit 10 accepts a vehicle registration card 22 and a vehicle inspection card 24, as shown in Figure 2. However, the presenting unit 10 could also be used with other cards 14 containing information such as vehicle insurance, etc.

The detector 12 of the present system is a device located a distance away from the presenting unit 10, preferably in a law enforcement vehicle 60, as shown in Figure 8. Detector 12 in law enforcement vehicle 60 is used to monitor and inspect the cards 14 in presenting unit 10, which may be mounted in, for example, a passenger vehicle 62. Referring to Figures 5-

7, the detector has a front panel 26 containing indicators 28. Indicators 28 may be in the form of light-emitting elements (e.g., light-emitting diodes or laser diodes) to show a "good" (in compliance) or "bad" (noncompliance) signal has been processed for each type of interrogation (e.g., registration, inspection, etc.), as shown in Figure 6. Alternatively, a textual indicator or other sensory means may be used as well. An audible selector 30 allows the operator to choose whether one receives an audible signal in addition too or instead of the indication given on the front panel 26. The detector 12 reads the signal emitted by the presenting unit 10 and provides a comprehendible indication to the operator of the detector 12. Many types of signals may be used by the presenting unit 10 and detector 12 such as infrared signals, radio frequencies (RF), radar technology, satellite tracking, cellular or digital signals, and/or microwave frequencies. The projection selector 32 on the detector 12 allows acceptance of signals from the front or back or both sides of detector 12. In one version, the system functions at a minimum range of about 60 feet.

Referring now to Figure 9, there is depicted an embodiment of a presenting unit 10. Presenting unit 10 includes a registration card reader 34a and an inspection card reader 34b that are utilized to extract the information stored on vehicle registration card 22 and vehicle inspection card 24 (see Figures 1 -2). It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the type of registration and inspection card readers 34a, 34b utilized are dependent on the encoding methodology employed in writing data onto the vehicle registration and inspection cards 22, 24. Thus, if the vehicle's information are encoded on a magnetic strip, for example, registration and inspection card readers 34a, 34b are conventional magnetic card readers. The present invention does not contemplate limiting its practice to any one particular encoding scheme. For example, in another advantageous embodiment, the data may be encoded using bar codes and, consequently, registration and inspection card readers 34a, 34b are conventional optical bar code readers.

To prevent the use of vehicle registration and inspection cards 22, 24 on other vehicles for which they are not authorized, registration and inspection card readers 34a, 34b, may, after the cards are inserted into presenting unit 10 for the first time, erase the information on the cards, thus invalidating and precluding the use of the cards with any other automobile. Alternatively, in another embodiment, registration and inspection card readers 34a, 34b may add an additional piece of information on the cards to indicate that the cards have been associated with a particular automobile. Still other security measures also may be employed to prevent misuse of the system.

Again referring to Figure 9, a controller 36, such as conventional microprocessor, is coupled to registration and inspection card readers 34a, 34b and to an RF transponder 38. Controller 36, in an advantageous embodiment, utilizes its internal clock to time-stamp the first insertion of vehicle registration and inspection cards 22, 24 into presenting unit 10. Generally, the information contained on vehicle registration and inspection cards 22, 24 and the time stamp are saved in a registry file within the memory of controller 36. This allows controller 36 to periodically check the recorded time-stamp, at predetermined intervals, to determine if the cards have "timed out," i.e., expired, e.g., after one year.

RF transponder 38 is a conventional transponder that is tuned to transmit only at two predetermined frequencies corresponding to the "good" and "bad" signals discussed previously. Controller 36 selectively switches RF transponder 38 to emit the good or bad signal based on information retrieved by registration and inspection card readers 34a, 34b as described above. The good or bad signal is transmitted by presenting unit 10 utilizing an antenna 40 coupled to RF transponder 38 that, in a preferred embodiment, is a directional antenna. Alternatively, in another advantageous embodiment, antenna 10 may include both an omnidirectional (isotropic) antenna, such as a whip antenna, and a directional antenna, such as a Yagi or micro strip patch. Also shown in the illustrated embodiment, is a power supply 42, such as battery or an adapter to the automobile's battery, that provides power to registration and inspection card readers 34a, 34b, controller 36 and RF transponder 38. In operation, a law enforcement official in a law enforcement vehicle 60 (Figure 8) positions the audible selector 30 and projection selector 32 of detector 10 in desired positions. As an automobile 62 with a presenting unit 10 in place comes into range of the detector 12, the detector 12 analyzes the emitted signal and produce a reading on the front panel 26. In another version of the present invention, the detector 12 may be incorporated into a police radar detector gun.

A block diagram of a further embodiment of the present invention illustrating the relationship between the major components of the system is shown in Figure 10. The electronic personal access tag 200 allows the vehicle owner and/or an associated organization to download data into the electronic vehicle transponder 300 (an alternate version of presenting unit 10). The electronic personal access tag 200 is a contact smart card 530 (an alternate version of one of the cards 14) with limited memory 210. The memory 210 contains, for example, information that identifies the vehicle owner, the type of registration tag, and expiration date(s). The information identifying the vehicle owner may be but is not limited to the license plate number of the vehicle. Vehicle transponder 300 verifies that the correct electronic personal access tag 200 is being used with an authorized electronic vehicle transponder 300, allowing the electronic personal access tag 200 to download data. If the vehicle owner's identification does not match, the download process will not take place (a proper match may be determined, for example, with reference to the vehicle's unique vehicle identification number). In addition, an indicator light illuminates on the electronic vehicle transponder 300 as to the status of the download. After memory 210 of personal access tag 200 successfully downloads its contents, vehicle transponder 300 initiates a process to render electronic personal access tag memory 210 useless. This will effectively prevent unauthorized use of personal access tag 200. The transaction between the electronic mobile readers and the electronic personnel access tag will be protected by an encryption scheme 220 to prevent fraud and/or misuse.

Expiration date and tag type identifies the particular organization to which the electronic personal access tag 200 was issued, and the date on which the personal access tag 200 expires. In one version of the present invention, each organization that issues registrations and inspections, and/or private insurance company is capable of issuing electronic personal access tags 200 to authorized users.

Referring again to Figure 10, the electronic vehicle transponder 300 is a self-contained unit comprising an RF-detector, RF-demodulator 330, microcontroller 320 with non-volatile memory 310, and antenna 350. It uses wireless backscatter modulation 340 technology to respond to RF signals transmitted from the 91 5 MHz antenna 350 assembly by reflecting and modulating the received RF signal. In one version, the downlink 520 interrogation from the electronic mobile reader 100 (an alternate version of detector 12) operates at 91 5MHz, horizontally polarized, modulation 140 method amplitude shift keying, and the modulation 140 pattern is continuous wave.

The electronic vehicle transponder 300 detects the 91 5 MHz field and demodulates the signal. If the modulation 340 is correct, the transponder starts to backscatter modulate. The backscatter modulation 340 radar cross-sectional area is, in one version, a minimum of 50 square centimeters, backscatter encoding subcarrier type, subcarrier frequency 500 kHz, subcarrier modulation 340 two phase shift keying, subcarrier data encoding is differential, and subcarrier data speed is 1 25 bits per second. The data sent to the mobile reader contains, for example, the vehicle owner's identification, expiration date, and tag type. The electronic mobile reader 100 is a two-watt amplitude shift keyed transmitter 1 10 homodyne receiver operating in the 909.75 to 921 .75 MHz band. In the downlink 520 mode, filtered Manchester-coded data shifts the transmitter between two power levels differing by more than 25 dB at a 300 kbps signaling rate. In the uplink 510 mode, the electronic reader transmits an unmodulated carrier at approximately 91 6 MHz, and the electronic vehicle transponder 300 amplitude modulates the reflected signal with one of two frequencies, 600 kHz or 1 200 kHz, to encode the uplink 510 binary data. The electronic mobile reader's 100 homodyne receiver down converts 160 the 600 kHz or 1 200 kHz modulation 140 tones to base band filters and removes amplitude variation from the frequency shift- keying signal. The transceiver homodyne transmitter transmits two different types of signals, amplitude modulated downlink 520 signal to send data to the electronic vehicle transponder 300 and an unmodulated carrier to illuminate the tag for the backscatter modulation 340 uplink 510 mode.

The electronic mobile reader 100 can multiplex two transmitter and receiver channels. These channels are connected to two antenna pairs 150 that allow the mobile user to read forward and aft electronic vehicle transponder 300. The electronic mobile antenna 150 allows for a directional read zone to accommodate highway and rural speed requirement.

The power of the mobile reader can be adjusted to control read zone distances. Yagi, dipole and patch array antennas 150 are utilized to accomplish the wide variety of read zone requirements.

The electronic mobile reader 100 compares the data received from the electronic vehicle transponder 300 and performs a simple microprocessor 130 and memory 120 comparison of the expiration date for each electronic personal access tag 200 type to the present date. This comparison activities an algorithm for each tag type and sends a digital signal 500 to the base-unit 400 to illuminate the correct user indicator 410.

The automobile registration and inspection system provides several advantages. The invention is adaptable to be used in application not only with automobiles but also marine craft, water craft, air craft or motorcycles. Likewise, the practicability and ease of operation of programmable information cards permit the distribution by a licenced agency and installation by the public. Also, the detector does not require the use of a database to compare and analyze the received signal. The system may be completely independent of any on-board computers in the vehicles.

While the invention has been shown or described in only some of its forms, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible to various changes without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for monitoring regulatory compliance of a vehicle, comprising: vehicle transponder means for transmitting vehicle compliance data; mobile detector means for sending an interrogation signal to said vehicle transponder means, and for receiving said vehicle compliance data; and means for determining a compliance status based on the vehicle compliance data.

2. The system of Claim 1 wherein the vehicle compliance data is stored locally at said vehicle transponder means.

3. The system of Claim 1 wherein said vehicle transponder means transmits vehicle compliance data which includes an expiration date and tag type associated with a vehicle regulation.

4. The system of Claim 1 wherein said vehicle transponder means includes a removable, memory-bearing media containing the vehicle compliance data.

5. The system of Claim 1 wherein said vehicle transponder is interrogated by said mobile detector means using signals selected from the group consisting of infrared signals, radio frequency signals, radar signals, satellite tracking signals, digital signals, cellular signals, and microwave signals.

6. The system of Claim 1 wherein said mobile detector means includes first and second antennas for forward and aft vehicle interrogation, respectively.

7. The system of Claim 4 wherein said memory-bearing media comprises a smart card.

8. The system of Claim 4 wherein said memory-bearing media contains the vehicle compliance data in the form of an expiration date and a tag type for a plurality of vehicle regulations.

9. The system of Claim 4 wherein said vehicle transponder means includes means for reading the vehicle compliance data from said memory- bearing media.

1 0. The system of Claim 3 wherein said determining means compares the expiration date to a current date.

1 1 . The system of Claim 1 wherein said vehicle transponder means includes means for invalidating said memory-bearing means after said vehicle transponder means has downloaded the vehicle compliance data therefrom.

1 2. The system of Claim 1 wherein said vehicle compliance data comprises a signal whose frequency is indicative of the compliance status.

1 3. An electronic automobile inspection system comprising: at least one smart card containing information pertaining to compliance of an automobile with a vehicle regulation; a transponder having a memory; a card reader adapted to receive the information on said smart card and download the information to said memory of said transponder; and a detector having means for remotely interrogating said transponder, said transponder providing a signal to the detector in response to said interrogation, the signal being indicative of a compliance status of the automobile.