Lane Position Detection Arrangement Using Radio Frequency Identification

1 . A lane position detection system comprising:

one or more RFID tags positioned at stationary locations along a traffic lane;

an RFID reader positioned and oriented near the traffic lane to interrogate the one or more RFID tags,

wherein a vehicle is detected in the traffic lane when the RFID reader fails to receive a response from at least one of the one or more RFID tags.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the RFID reader periodically interrogates the one or more RFID tags.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more RFID tags are embedded in pavement forming the traffic lane.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the RFID reader is positioned over the traffic lane.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more RFID tags are positioned alongside the traffic lane, and wherein the RFID reader is positioned along an opposite side of the traffic lane from the one or more RFID tags.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more RFID tags form a tag array including a plurality of RFID tags.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the tag array is a linear tag array oriented parallel to a direction of travel of traffic in the traffic lane.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the traffic lane is an entry/exit lane of a parking garage.

9 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to determine the presence of a vehicle based on responses received by the RFID reader.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a vehicle positioned in the traffic lane blocks communication between the RFID reader and the at least one of the one or more RFID tags.

11 . A parking garage comprising:

a traffic lane providing vehicular access to a plurality of parking spaces;

one or more RFID tags positioned at stationary locations along the traffic lane;

an RFID reader positioned and oriented near the traffic lane to interrogate the one or more RFID tags,

wherein the RFID reader detects presence of a vehicle when the RFID reader fails to receive a response from at least one of the one or more RFID tags.

12 . The parking garage of claim 11 , wherein the one or more RFID tags are embedded in pavement forming the traffic lane.

13 . The parking garage of claim 11 , wherein the traffic lane includes a gate, and wherein the one or more RFID tags are positioned near the gate.

14 . The parking garage of claim 13 , further comprising, upon detecting a vehicle, transmitting a signal to cause the gate to be actuated.

15 . The parking garage of claim 11 , wherein a vehicle positioned in the traffic lane blocks communication between the RFID reader and at least one of the one or more RFID tags.

16 . A method for detecting a vehicle in a traffic lane, the method comprising:

interrogating one or more RFID tags positioned at stationary locations along a traffic lane;

determining that no vehicle is present when a response from each of the one or more RFID tags is received; and

determining the presence of a vehicle when a response is not received from at least one of the one or more RFID tags.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising embedding the one or more RFID tags into pavement forming the traffic lane.

18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising determining a size of a vehicle present in the traffic lane based at least in part on the response not received from the at least one of the one or more RFID tags.

19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising distinguishing between two or more vehicles in the traffic lane based on spaces observed to be present between the two or more vehicles.

20 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising constructing a digital representation of a vehicle present in the traffic lane.