Patents Assigned to Frogparking Limited
  • Patent number: 12243424
    Abstract: A vehicle flow monitoring system for detecting both a car count and direction of movement of vehicles passing a point of interest. The vehicle flow monitoring system generally includes a car counter which may include a microcontroller and a pair of distance sensors. Each of the distance sensors is oriented toward a unique point of interest. Each of the distance sensors includes a threshold distance reading which is used to detect whether a vehicle has passed underneath the car counter. The system may determine direction of travel of the vehicle based on which of the distance sensors is passed by the vehicle first. The microcontroller may assign an Event ID to each time a vehicle passes each of the sensors, with the Event ID being used to identify when and if the vehicle should be counted, or whether a non-vehicle object has passed the car counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Frogparking Limited
    Inventor: Donald H. Sandbrook
  • Patent number: 12195934
    Abstract: Vehicle barrier systems that can selectively move a barrier arm between a first position that prevents a vehicle from passing, or a second position that allows the vehicle to pass, wherein the barrier arm moves both upwardly away from a travel path and laterally along the travel path in a direction away from the vehicle. The barrier arm movement thereby leads the driver of the vehicle through the barrier system in a sweeping or leading movement. In some embodiments, an actuator assembly of the barrier system includes a breakaway assembly coupled to the barrier arm. In the event that an abnormal force (e.g. vehicle strike, vandalism, etc.) applied to the barrier arm exceeds a predetermined threshold, one or more drive magnets of the breakaway assembly disengage from the one or more magnetically-attractive elements to prevent damage to the barrier system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Frogparking Limited
    Inventor: Donald H. Sandbrook
  • Patent number: 12163370
    Abstract: A vehicle barrier gate system which is positioned above a roadway through which vehicles pass. Some of the various embodiments of the present disclosure include a gate comprised of an arm and barrier which is adjustable between a raised position in which a vehicle may pass and a lowered position in which a vehicle is prevented from passing. The gate may be movably connected to a ceiling or an overhead support structure positioned above the roadway. Various types of actuators may be utilized to adjust the gate along a linear and/or angular path between the raised and lowered positions. A control unit may be in communication with one or more sensors and/or an authorization system to control the actuator. The gate may include a breakaway mechanism which allows the gate to be manually raised or lowered in the event of actuator failure or a vehicle ramming through the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Frogparking Limited
    Inventor: Donald H. Sandbrook
  • Patent number: 12165512
    Abstract: A vehicle presence detection system for determining whether a parking space is vacant or occupied and utilizing this information to guide vehicles to available parking spaces. generally includes a LIDAR device, a cloud-based processing unit, a database, and a guidance light. The LIDAR device generally includes a light emitter, a light sensor, a CPU, a memory unit, and a communications device. The LIDAR device determines the distance between itself and a parking spot or a vehicle parked in that parking spot using an algorithm that accounts for variances in the ambient conditions. This status information can be communicated to a cloud-based processing unit, which can store this information in a database and/or use this information to send parking status indications to an autonomous vehicle dynamic sign, mobile device, or guidance light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Frogparking Limited
    Inventor: Donald H. Sandbrook
  • Patent number: 11948458
    Abstract: A vehicle flow monitoring system for detecting both a car count and direction of movement of vehicles passing a point of interest. The vehicle flow monitoring system generally includes a car counter which may include a microcontroller and a pair of distance sensors. Each of the distance sensors is oriented toward a unique point of interest. Each of the distance sensors includes a threshold distance reading which is used to detect whether a vehicle has passed underneath the car counter. The system may determine direction of travel of the vehicle based on which of the distance sensors is passed by the vehicle first. The microcontroller may assign an Event ID to each time a vehicle passes each of the sensors, with the Event ID being used to identify when and if the vehicle should be counted, or whether a non-vehicle object has passed the car counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Frogparking Limited
    Inventor: Donald H. Sandbrook
  • Patent number: 11875679
    Abstract: A vehicle presence detection system for determining whether a parking space is vacant or occupied and utilizing this information to guide vehicles to available parking spaces. generally includes a LIDAR device, a cloud-based processing unit, a database, and a guidance light. The LIDAR device generally includes a light emitter, a light sensor, a CPU, a memory unit, and a communications device. The LIDAR device determines the distance between itself and a parking spot or a vehicle parked in that parking spot using an algorithm that accounts for variances in the ambient conditions. This status information can be communicated to a cloud-based processing unit, which can store this information in a database and/or use this information to send parking status indications to an autonomous vehicle dynamic sign, mobile device, or guidance light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Frogparking Limited
    Inventor: Donald H. Sandbrook
  • Patent number: 11821155
    Abstract: Vehicle barrier systems that can selectively move a barrier arm between a first position that prevents a vehicle from passing, or a second position that allows the vehicle to pass, wherein the barrier arm moves both upwardly away from a travel path and laterally along the travel path in a direction away from the vehicle. The barrier arm movement thereby leads the driver of the vehicle through the barrier system in a sweeping or leading movement. In some embodiments, an actuator assembly of the barrier system includes a breakaway assembly coupled to the barrier arm. In the event that an abnormal force (e.g. vehicle strike, vandalism, etc.) applied to the barrier arm exceeds a predetermined threshold, one or more drive magnets of the breakaway assembly disengage from the one or more magnetically-attractive elements to prevent damage to the barrier system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Frogparking Limited
    Inventor: Donald H. Sandbrook
  • Patent number: 11798414
    Abstract: A vehicle flow monitoring system for detecting both a car count and direction of movement of vehicles passing a point of interest. The vehicle flow monitoring system generally includes a car counter which may include a microcontroller and a pair of distance sensors. Each of the distance sensors is oriented toward a unique point of interest. Each of the distance sensors includes a threshold distance reading which is used to detect whether a vehicle has passed underneath the car counter. The system may determine direction of travel of the vehicle based on which of the distance sensors is passed by the vehicle first. The microcontroller may assign an Event ID to each time a vehicle passes each of the sensors, with the Event ID being used to identify when and if the vehicle should be counted, or whether a non-vehicle object has passed the car counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Frogparking Limited
    Inventor: Donald H. Sandbrook
  • Patent number: 11761256
    Abstract: A vehicle barrier gate system which is positioned above a roadway through which vehicles pass. Some of the various embodiments of the present disclosure include a gate comprised of an arm and barrier which is adjustable between a raised position in which a vehicle may pass and a lowered position in which a vehicle is prevented from passing. The gate may be movably connected to a ceiling or an overhead support structure positioned above the roadway. Various types of actuators may be utilized to adjust the gate along a linear and/or angular path between the raised and lowered positions. A control unit may be in communication with one or more sensors and/or an authorization system to control the actuator. The gate may include a breakaway mechanism which allows the gate to be manually raised or lowered in the event of actuator failure or a vehicle ramming through the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Frogparking Limited
    Inventor: Donald H. Sandbrook
  • Patent number: 11610487
    Abstract: A vehicle presence detection system for determining whether a parking space is vacant or occupied and utilizing this information to guide vehicles to available parking spaces. generally includes a LIDAR device, a cloud-based processing unit, a database, and a guidance light. The LIDAR device generally includes a light emitter, a light sensor, a CPU, a memory unit, and a communications device. The LIDAR device determines the distance between itself and a parking spot or a vehicle parked in that parking spot using an algorithm that accounts for variances in the ambient conditions. This status information can be communicated to a cloud-based processing unit, which can store this information in a database and/or use this information to send parking status indications to an autonomous vehicle dynamic sign, mobile device, or guidance light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Frogparking Limited
    Inventor: Donald H. Sandbrook
  • Patent number: 11488475
    Abstract: A vehicle flow monitoring system for detecting both a car count and direction of movement of vehicles passing a point of interest. The vehicle flow monitoring system generally includes a car counter which may include a microcontroller and a pair of distance sensors. Each of the distance sensors is oriented toward a unique point of interest. Each of the distance sensors includes a threshold distance reading which is used to detect whether a vehicle has passed underneath the car counter. The system may determine direction of travel of the vehicle based on which of the distance sensors is passed by the vehicle first. The microcontroller may assign an Event ID to each time a vehicle passes each of the sensors, with the Event ID being used to identify when and if the vehicle should be counted, or whether a non-vehicle object has passed the car counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Frogparking Limited
    Inventor: Donald H. Sandbrook
  • Patent number: 11462108
    Abstract: A vehicle presence detection system for determining whether a parking space is vacant or occupied and utilizing this information to guide vehicles to available parking spaces. generally includes a LIDAR device, a cloud-based processing unit, a database, and a guidance light. The LIDAR device generally includes a light emitter, a light sensor, a CPU, a memory unit, and a communications device. The LIDAR device determines the distance between itself and a parking spot or a vehicle parked in that parking spot using an algorithm that accounts for variances in the ambient conditions. This status information can be communicated to a cloud-based processing unit, which can store this information in a database and/or use this information to send parking status indications to an autonomous vehicle dynamic sign, mobile device, or guidance light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Frogparking Limited
    Inventor: Donald H. Sandbrook
  • Patent number: 11377899
    Abstract: A vehicle barrier gate system which is positioned above a roadway through which vehicles pass. Some of the various embodiments of the present disclosure include a gate comprised of an arm and barrier which is adjustable between a raised position in which a vehicle may pass and a lowered position in which a vehicle is prevented from passing. The gate may be movably connected to a ceiling or an overhead support structure positioned above the roadway. Various types of actuators may be utilized to adjust the gate along a linear and/or angular path between the raised and lowered positions. A control unit may be in communication with one or more sensors and/or an authorization system to control the actuator. The gate may include a breakaway mechanism which allows the gate to be manually raised or lowered in the event of actuator failure or a vehicle ramming through the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Frogparking Limited
    Inventor: Donald H. Sandbrook
  • Patent number: 11151874
    Abstract: A vehicle flow monitoring system for detecting both a car count and direction of movement of vehicles passing a point of interest. The vehicle flow monitoring system generally includes a car counter which may include a microcontroller and a pair of distance sensors. Each of the distance sensors is oriented toward a unique point of interest. Each of the distance sensors includes a threshold distance reading which is used to detect whether a vehicle has passed underneath the car counter. The system may determine direction of travel of the vehicle based on which of the distance sensors is passed by the vehicle first. The microcontroller may assign an Event ID to each time a vehicle passes each of the sensors, with the Event ID being used to identify when and if the vehicle should be counted, or whether a non-vehicle object has passed the car counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Frogparking Limited
    Inventor: Donald H. Sandbrook
  • Patent number: 11138881
    Abstract: A vehicle presence detection system for determining whether a parking space is vacant or occupied and utilizing this information to guide vehicles to available parking spaces. generally includes a LIDAR device, a cloud-based processing unit, a database, and a guidance light. The LIDAR device generally includes a light emitter, a light sensor, a CPU, a memory unit, and a communications device. The LIDAR device determines the distance between itself and a parking spot or a vehicle parked in that parking spot using an algorithm that accounts for variances in the ambient conditions. This status information can be communicated to a cloud-based processing unit, which can store this information in a database and/or use this information to send parking status indications to an autonomous vehicle dynamic sign, mobile device, or guidance light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Frogparking Limited
    Inventor: Donald H. Sandbrook
  • Patent number: 10748424
    Abstract: A vehicle presence detection system for determining whether a parking space is vacant or occupied and utilizing this information to guide vehicles to available parking spaces. generally includes a LIDAR device, a cloud-based processing unit, a database, and a guidance light. The LIDAR device generally includes a light emitter, a light sensor, a CPU, a memory unit, and a communications device. The LIDAR device determines the distance between itself and a parking spot or a vehicle parked in that parking spot using an algorithm that accounts for variances in the ambient conditions. This status information can be communicated to a cloud-based processing unit, which can store this information in a database and/or use this information to send parking status indications to an autonomous vehicle dynamic sign, mobile device, or guidance light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Frogparking Limited
    Inventor: Donald H. Sandbrook
  • Patent number: 10510250
    Abstract: A vehicle presence detection system for determining whether a parking space is vacant or occupied and utilizing this information to guide vehicles to available parking spaces. generally includes a LIDAR device, a cloud-based processing unit, a database, and a guidance light. The LIDAR device generally includes a light emitter, a light sensor, a CPU, a memory unit, and a communications device. The LIDAR device determines the distance between itself and a parking spot or a vehicle parked in that parking spot using an algorithm that accounts for variances in the ambient conditions. This status information can be communicated to a cloud-based processing unit, which can store this information in a database and/or use this information to send parking status indications to an autonomous vehicle dynamic sign, mobile device, or guidance light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Frogparking Limited
    Inventor: Donald H. Sandbrook
  • Patent number: 10373493
    Abstract: A vehicle presence detection system for determining whether a parking space is vacant or occupied and utilizing this information to guide vehicles to available parking spaces. generally includes a LIDAR device, a cloud-based processing unit, a database, and a guidance light. The LIDAR device generally includes a light emitter, a light sensor, a CPU, a memory unit, and a communications device. The LIDAR device determines the distance between itself and a parking spot or a vehicle parked in that parking spot using an algorithm that accounts for variances in the ambient conditions. This status information can be communicated to a cloud-based processing unit, which can store this information in a database and/or use this information to send parking status indications to an autonomous vehicle dynamic sign, mobile device, or guidance light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Frogparking Limited
    Inventor: Donald H. Sandbrook
  • Patent number: 10096247
    Abstract: A vehicle presence detection system for determining whether a parking space is vacant or occupied and utilizing this information to guide vehicles to available parking spaces. generally includes a LIDAR device, a cloud-based processing unit, a database, and a guidance light. The LIDAR device generally includes a light emitter, a light sensor, a CPU, a memory unit, and a communications device. The LIDAR device determines the distance between itself and a parking spot or a vehicle parked in that parking spot using an algorithm that accounts for variances in the ambient conditions. This status information can be communicated to a cloud-based processing unit, which can store this information in a database and/or use this information to send parking status indications to an autonomous vehicle dynamic sign, mobile device, or guidance light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Frogparking Limited
    Inventor: Donald H. Sandbrook
  • Patent number: 10008116
    Abstract: A vehicle presence detection system for determining whether a parking space is vacant or occupied and utilizing this information to guide vehicles to available parking spaces. generally includes a LIDAR device, a cloud-based processing unit, a database, and a guidance light. The LIDAR device generally includes a light emitter, a light sensor, a CPU, a memory unit, and a communications device. The LIDAR device determines the distance between itself and a parking spot or a vehicle parked in that parking spot using an algorithm that accounts for variances in the ambient conditions. This status information can be communicated to a cloud-based processing unit, which can store this information in a database and/or use this information to send parking status indications to an autonomous vehicle dynamic sign, mobile device, or guidance light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Frogparking Limited
    Inventor: Donald H. Sandbrook