Travel information sensing and communication system

摘要

Driving condition monitoring system for a vehicle on a travel surface includes stationary mounting structures arranged proximate the travel surface, and sensors located in the mounting structures in a vicinity of the travel surface and apart from the travel surface. The sensors generate information about the travel surface or an environment around the travel surface. An arrangement on the vehicle or associated with the sensors initiates a transmission of the information generated by each sensor to the vehicle when the vehicle is proximate the sensor.

主权项

1. A driving condition monitoring system for vehicles on a travel surface, comprising:
a plurality of detecting sensors that each detect the presence of a vehicle within a set distance from said detecting sensor, each of said detecting sensors being embedded in the travel surface or located in a stationary mounting structure in a vicinity of the travel surface and apart from the travel surface, a respective measuring or detecting component coupled to each of said detecting sensors, each of said measuring or detecting components being activated to measure or detect a property or condition of the travel surface or the environment around the travel surface that affects interaction between tires of the vehicle and the travel surface only when said detecting sensor coupled to said measuring or detecting component detects the presence of a vehicle within the set distance from said detecting sensor; a respective energy harvesting system coupled to each of said detecting sensors and said measuring or detecting component coupled to said detecting sensor, each of said energy harvesting systems generating energy and providing the generated energy to said respective measuring or detecting component to enable it to measure or detect the property or condition of the travel surface or environment around the travel surface and said respective detecting sensor to enable it to detect the presence of a vehicle within a set distance from said detecting sensor; and a respective communication system coupled to each of said measuring or detecting components and that communicates directly to the vehicle or occupant thereof, the property or condition measured or detected by said measuring or detecting components when said detecting sensor coupled to said measuring or detecting component detects the presence of a vehicle within the set distance from said detecting sensor, whereby for each of said measuring or detecting components, the property or condition measured or detected by said measuring or detecting component is not communicated from said measuring or detecting component by said respective communication system until said measuring or detecting component is activated.