Wireless tilt sensor system for a waste or recycling services vehicle
View Patent ↗A wireless tilt sensor system for a waste or recycling services vehicle is provided. The sensor component can be operationally connected to a low power inclinometer or accelerometer to detect movement and tilt angle for a lift arm of the waste or recycling services vehicle and filter out spurious forces from truck movement vibration. The wireless tilt sensor system has a number of advantages over prior technologies, including, without limitation, lowering the cost of the inclination switch, removing all wires routed through the truck, uses long lasting batteries, and can communicate with multiple types of devices (e.g., PS, tilt trigger, etc.).
1 . A tilt sensor system for a waste or recycling services vehicle, comprising:
a tilt sensor component positioned on a lift arm of the waste or recycling services vehicle, the lift arm configured to lift a waste or recycling container, the tilt sensor component comprising a tilt sensor device, a first power source, and a first communications component, wherein the tilt sensor component is operably connected to an accelerometer configured to detect movement and tilt angle for the lift arm, and wherein the accelerometer comprises a gyroscope configured to measure movement of the lift arm; and
a receiver component comprising:
a relay device;
a second power source; and
a second communications component that is configured to communicate directly with the first communications component; and
wherein:
the tilt sensor device generates a signal corresponding to a respective tilt angle for the lift arm; and
in response to receiving the signal corresponding to each respective tilt angle for the lift arm, the tilt sensor component implements a delay in signal transmittal to the second communications component, the delay in signal transmittal comprising suppressing signal transmittal corresponding to the change in tilt angle for a pre-designated period of time; and
after the pre-designated period of time has passed, the tilt sensor component sends an instruction to the first communication component to communicate to the second communications component a change in tilt angle for the lift arm.
2 . The tilt sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the instruction to the first communication component is to communicate wirelessly to the second communication component.
3 . The tilt sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the signal corresponding to the respective tilt angle for the lift arm indicates a deviation from a level or upright position.
4 . The tilt sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the signal corresponding to the respective tilt angle for the lift arm indicates a change in elevation or direction.
5 . The tilt sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the pre-designated period of time is two seconds or more.