System and method for measuring moving vehicle information using electrical time domain reflectometry

Abstract

Systems, apparatus and methods are provided for measuring moving vehicle information. Moving vehicle information may be measured by a sensor configured to respond to one or more wheels of the moving vehicle, where one or more of the wheels change the characteristic impedance of the sensor at the wheel's contact location. An electrical time domain reflectometry signal processing system which is capable of measuring the change in the impedance of the sensor and converting the impedance change to a signal may be connected operatively to the sensor. A data-processing system receives the signal and extracts the moving vehicle information therefrom.

1 . A system for measuring moving vehicle information of a moving vehicle, comprising:
 an electrical time domain reflectometry signal processing system being capable of measuring a change in an impedance of a sensor, and also being capable of converting the change in the impedance of the sensor to a signal; and   a data-processing system being capable of extracting the moving vehicle information from the signal.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the sensor is configured to respond to at least one wheel of the moving vehicle, where said at least one wheel causes the change in the impedance of the sensor.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the moving vehicle information comprises any one of a wheel pressure and a wheel-sensor contact dimension.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the wheel-sensor contact dimension comprises at least one of a width of a wheelsensor contact, a location of the wheel-sensor contact along the sensor, and a wheelsensor contact duration.   
     
     
         5 - 39 . (canceled).