Flow control gate and method
US8928458B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 11, 2012 |
| Grant date | Jan 6, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 26, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG08B23/00
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A flow control gate system that comprises a first and second elongated barrier members defining a passageway between a first area and a second area. The gate system also comprises a plurality of narrow beam presence sensors with substantially constant spacing therebetween defining a linear array mounted along the first barrier member and defining a presence detection beam orientation crosswise and substantially perpendicular to the passageway. The gate system further comprises a controller electrically connected to the plurality of narrow beam presence sensors. The controller implements an operating program to process signals from the plurality of narrow beam presence sensors and define valid detection periods to determine that an item is detected when a detection period is equal to or longer than a predetermined value and invalid detection periods interpreted as no detection when a detection period is shorter than the predetermined value. A flow control method is further provided.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.