Patents Assigned to Q-FREE ASA
  • Patent number: 11756420
    Abstract: A vehicle detection system 200 comprises: a receiver 202 arranged to receive data transmissions from a vehicle 210; a camera 204 arranged to capture an image of the vehicle 210; and a processing subsystem 206 arranged to implement a trained model for detecting and/or classifying vehicles in an image. The system 200 is arranged to operate in a first mode wherein: the camera 204 captures an image of a vehicle 210 and the receiver 202 receives a data transmission from the vehicle 210; and the processing subsystem 206 is arranged to use information resulting from the data transmission received and the image to train the model further. The system 200 is also arranged to operate in a second mode wherein: the camera 204 captures an image of a vehicle 210 and the receiver 202 does not receive a data transmission; and the processing subsystem 206 is arranged to use the image and the trained model to detect and/or classify the vehicle 210 in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Q-FREE ASA
    Inventor: Ola Martin Lykkja
  • Patent number: 10997856
    Abstract: A system including a plurality of warning devices (100) each with a radio transmitter (111) and a positioning system (109). Each warning device is arranged to communicate with at least one other of the warning devices so that at least one of the plurality of warning devices can determine the mutual positions of the plurality of warning devices, determine a pattern from the mutual positions and transmit a specific message corresponding to the pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Q-Free ASA
    Inventors: Ola Martin Lykkja, Knut Inge Evensen
  • Publication number: 20200098257
    Abstract: A system including a plurality of warning devices (100) each with a radio transmitter (111) and a positioning system (109). Each warning device is arranged to communicate with at least one other of the warning devices so that at least one of the plurality of warning devices can determine the mutual positions of the plurality of warning devices, determine a pattern from the mutual positions and transmit a specific message corresponding to the pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Q-Free ASA
    Inventors: Ola Martin Lykkja, Knut Inge Evensen
  • Patent number: 10504363
    Abstract: A vehicle detection and classification system which comprises a plurality of proximity sensors is distributed in a fixed spatial array relative to a road such that a distance of each sensor to the nearest adjacent sensor is less than a minimum horizontal dimension of a vehicle to be detected. The array has a maximum dimension greater than the minimum horizontal dimension of a vehicle to be detected. Each of the sensors is configured to determine presence or absence of a vehicle and to communicate data regarding said presence determination to a data processing system, wherein the data processing system is configured to use data from a plurality of the sensors to detect and classify a vehicle on the road based on at least one dimension of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Q-Free ASA
    Inventors: Brage Blekken, Anders Ivar Hagen, Ola Martin Lykkja
  • Publication number: 20190019406
    Abstract: A vehicle detection and classification system which comprises a plurality of proximity sensors is distributed in a fixed spatial array relative to a road such that a distance of each sensor to the nearest adjacent sensor is less than a minimum horizontal dimension of a vehicle to be detected. The array has a maximum dimension greater than the minimum horizontal dimension of a vehicle to be detected. Each of the sensors is configured to determine presence or absence of a vehicle and to communicate data regarding said presence determination to a data processing system, wherein the data processing system is configured to use data from a plurality of the sensors to detect and classify a vehicle on the road based on at least one dimension of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Applicant: Q-Free ASA
    Inventors: Brage Blekken, Anders Ivar Hagen, Ola Martin Lykkja
  • Patent number: 10109186
    Abstract: A vehicle detection and classification system which comprises a plurality of proximity sensors is distributed in a fixed spatial array relative to a road such that a distance of each sensor to the nearest adjacent sensor is less than a minimum horizontal dimension of a vehicle to be detected. The array has a maximum dimension greater than the minimum horizontal dimension of a vehicle to be detected. Each of the sensors is configured to determine presence or absence of a vehicle and to communicate data regarding said presence determination to a data processing system, wherein the data processing system is configured to use data from a plurality of the sensors to detect and classify a vehicle on the road based on at least one dimension of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Q-Free ASA
    Inventors: Brage Blekken, Anders Ivar Hagen, Ola Martin Lykkja
  • Patent number: 10053057
    Abstract: A vehicle (18) having a license plate tamper detection system comprising: a first sensor (4) arranged to provide monitor data corresponding to presence of a first license plate (20) on the vehicle; and a second sensor (6) arranged to provide reference data. The license plate tamper detection system is arranged to compare the monitor data with the reference data and generate a tampering event if the comparison yields more than a predetermined difference between the monitor data and the reference data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Q-Free ASA
    Inventors: Ola Martin Lykkja, Anders Ivar Hagen
  • Patent number: 9886849
    Abstract: A particle filter, also known as Sequential Monte Carlo Method, used to estimate vehicle position based on GNSS pseudo range measurements and other sensors. The particle filter creates an ensemble of particles and road user charging (road tolling) can be performed on each particle. The resulting distribution of assessed vehicle passages is analyzed to assess if the event actually took place or not. The use of particle filter overcomes limitations occurring while employing traditional Kalman filter based methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Q-Free ASA
    Inventors: Ola Martin Lykkja, Geir Olve Storvik, Jon Glenn Gjevestad, Anders Løland
  • Patent number: 9886804
    Abstract: Method and system for zone based detection of vehicles passing into and out from a geographical zone using polygons to define the border of said zone, wherein a first polygon (32) defines a virtual border against which vehicles passing into the zone is compared by use of a GNSS system (10) comprising an OBU (2) in every vehicle to be surveyed by the method. A second polygon (31) larger than the first polygon (32) and completely enveloping said first polygon is defined as a virtual border against which objects passing out from the zone is compared by use of the GNSS system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Q-Free ASA
    Inventors: Ola Martin Lykkja, Hans Christian Bolstad, Anders Løland, Ragnar Bang Huseby
  • Patent number: 9840231
    Abstract: A vehicle (18) having a license plate tamper detection system comprising: a first sensor (4) arranged to provide monitor data corresponding to presence of a first license plate (20) on the vehicle; and a second sensor (6) arranged to provide reference data. The license plate tamper detection system is arranged to compare the monitor data with the reference data and generate a tampering event if the comparison yields more than a predetermined difference between the monitor data and the reference data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Q-Free ASA
    Inventors: Ola Martin Lykkja, Anders Ivar Hagen
  • Patent number: 9666001
    Abstract: Method and system for detecting passages by vehicle at a virtual gantry controlled by a GNSS system comprising an OBU in every vehicle to be surveyed by the system, said OBU receiving signals from satellites to consistently and frequently estimate positions for the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: defining a virtual gantry in terms of a number of ordered passage lines across a road; determining intersection points from the intersection between the GNSS trace and the passage line; calculating a value representing probability of a true passage at that passage line; for each vehicle for which intersection points have been determined for at least two different passage lines, calculating a total probability value based on the individually calculated probability values; concluding of a true passage by the vehicle in question only if the total probability value is exceeding a predefined minimum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Q-Free ASA
    Inventors: Ola Martin Lykkja, Hans Christian Bolstad, Anders Løland, Ragnar Bang Huseby
  • Patent number: 9543759
    Abstract: A system and method for automatic identification and recording of vehicles passing a road user charging point or location. A system and method for powering an on-board-unit (OBU) that can be mounted in a vehicle by including an energy harvester capable of providing at least a part of the energy required to operate the on-board-unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Q-FREE ASA
    Inventor: Anders Hagen
  • Patent number: 7342482
    Abstract: A method for processing of encoded information by a battery-powered active transponder is disclosed for the application within a transponder system for the wireless payment of road toll having the steps of receiving modulated microwave radiation of preset frequency by the transponder over the antenna and for obtaining an input signal demodulated for obtaining a binary input data sequence, feeding said binary input data sequence to a digital processor (microcontroller) operated by a processing clock of preset clock frequency for decoding and generating of a binary output data sequence, and forming an output signal from an answer to the received input signal within a certain duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Q-Free Asa
    Inventor: Atle Saegrov
  • Patent number: 6885342
    Abstract: Antenna for sending and receiving microwave radiation, e.g. for use in a transponder in a transponder system for wireless payment of tolls, or the like. It has an excited antenna element (13) placed on a dielectric antenna carrier or substratum (11), e.g. on a printed circuit board laminate with a copper covered plastic basis suitable for manufacturing of so-called printed circuits. To increase the performance of the antenna for high production rates with cheap materials, the antenna element is placed such that it gets a directional effect mainly perpendicular to a bearing plane (12) of the substratum (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Q-FREE ASA
    Inventors: Atle Saegrov, Geir Vavik
  • Patent number: D454084
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Q-Free ASA
    Inventor: Kai Bogen