Patents by Inventor Ronald K. Char

Ronald K. Char has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6980093
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Mark A. Oursler, Wendy W. Chiu, Gary C. Worrell, John H. Fewer, Jr., Ronald K. Char
  • Publication number: 20040021579
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: Mark A. Oursler, Wendy W. Chiu, Gary C. Worrell, John H. Fewer, Ronald K. Char