System for controlling usage of shopping carts or other human-propelled vehicles
US9091551B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 1, 2009 |
| Grant date | Jul 28, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 11, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/49826
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A system is disclosed for tracking and controlling shopping carts or other types of human-propelled vehicles. In one embodiment, the system includes a wheel or wheel assembly with a braking mechanism that is activated in response to signals received by multiple receivers. The receivers may, for example, include a VLF (Very Low Frequency) receiver for detecting a VLF signal transmitted by a buried cable, and an RF transceiver for communicating over a wireless network. The receivers may, but need not, be included in the wheel. The multiple receivers may be used in combination to control a shopping cart; for example, a command received by a shopping cart's RF transceiver may cause the cart to ignore (not activate the brake in response to) a detected VLF signal.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.