TransCore, the largest global manufacturer of transportation-based RFID technology, announced it has been awarded U.S. patent 7,782,206 B2 for an RFID tag disabling device used for high occupancy vehicle (HOV)/ high occupancy tolling (HOT) applications. The RFID device is used in managed lane environments when a motor vehicle is being driven in a high occupancy vehicle lane with sufficient passengers to meet the minimum HOV lane occupancy requirements and a toll is not required.

“This exemplifies our commitment to developing innovative technology to support our customers as they deploy managed lane concepts throughout the United States and expand capacity on their roadway systems,” explained Kelly Gravelle, TransCore’s chief technical officer. “This invention is unique because it provides a solution that allows passive tags to be used in the HOT environment in a practical way.”

Managed lanes and high occupancy tolling is one of the most compelling uses of existing transportation infrastructure to expand capacity in major metropolitans that have limited right of way but need to relieve congestion. TransCore’s experience with HOT lane deployments includes the nation’s first use on I-15 in San Diego, as well as Miami’s I-95 Express, Seattle’s SR 167, Houston METRO, Georgia SRTA’s I-85, and Utah’s I-15 in Salt Lake City.

The first product to incorporate the invention is TransCore’s tag disabler, originally deployed in 2008, for use with eGo Plus sticker tags. However, the invention applies broadly to cost-effective disabling of all types of tags, particularly passive tags.