Detecting roadway targets across beams
First Claim
1. A method for detecting targets in a plurality of beams generated by a multiple beam radar system, the method comprising:
- dividing one or more returns from the multiple beam radar system into a grid of range bins, including dividing each beam in the plurality of beams into a plurality of range bins of uniform varied distances from the multiple beam radar system, each beam being divided into a plurality of range bins in accordance with the uniform varied distances;
identifying a multi-beam image within the returns from the multiple beam radar system, the multi-beam image representing a target within a roadway, the multi-beam image spanning a sub-plurality of the plurality of beams, the multi-beam image also spanning a plurality of range bins within the grid of range bins;
identifying an energy peak within the multi-beam image; and
for a specified range bin in one of the beams of the sub-plurality of beams,determining that the magnitude of the identified energy peak in a specified range bin is above a specified threshold; and
determining that the magnitude of the identified energy in the specified range bin is greater than the magnitude of the identified energy in any surrounding adjacent range bin within the grid of range bins.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for detecting targets across beams at roadway intersections. Embodiments of the invention include tracking a target across a plurality of beams of a multiple beam radar system in a roadway intersection and updating track files for targets within a roadway intersection. Returns from a plurality of radar beams monitoring a roadway intersection are divided into range bins. Identified energy in the range bins is used to compute the position of targets within a roadway intersection. When the position of a target is computed, it is determined if the position is a new position for an existing target or if the position is the position of a new target.
174 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for detecting targets in a plurality of beams generated by a multiple beam radar system, the method comprising:
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dividing one or more returns from the multiple beam radar system into a grid of range bins, including dividing each beam in the plurality of beams into a plurality of range bins of uniform varied distances from the multiple beam radar system, each beam being divided into a plurality of range bins in accordance with the uniform varied distances; identifying a multi-beam image within the returns from the multiple beam radar system, the multi-beam image representing a target within a roadway, the multi-beam image spanning a sub-plurality of the plurality of beams, the multi-beam image also spanning a plurality of range bins within the grid of range bins; identifying an energy peak within the multi-beam image; and for a specified range bin in one of the beams of the sub-plurality of beams, determining that the magnitude of the identified energy peak in a specified range bin is above a specified threshold; and determining that the magnitude of the identified energy in the specified range bin is greater than the magnitude of the identified energy in any surrounding adjacent range bin within the grid of range bins. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A traffic control system comprising:
a traffic sensor for monitoring a roadway, the traffic sensor comprising; a multiple beam radar system including a plurality of beams and configured to transmit a signal into the roadway and to receive reflections of the signal off of objects in the roadway using the plurality of beams; and a computer system coupled to the radar system and configured to; divide returns from the multiple beam radar system into a grid of range bins, including dividing each beam in the plurality of beams into a plurality of range bins of uniform varied distances from the multiple beam radar system, each beam being divided into a plurality of range bins in accordance with the uniform varied distances; and identify an energy peak within a single beam of the multiple beam radar system, including, for a specified range bin in one of the beams of the sub-plurality of beams, determine that the magnitude of the identified energy in the specified range bin is above a specified threshold; and determine that the magnitude of the identified energy in the specified range bin is greater than the magnitude of the identified energy in each of the adjacent range bins. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for detecting targets in a plurality of beams generated by a multiple beam radar system, the method comprising:
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dividing one or more returns from the multiple beam radar system into a grid of range bins, including dividing each beam in the plurality of beams into a plurality of range bins of uniform varied distances from the multiple beam radar system, each beam being divided into a plurality of range bins in accordance with the uniform varied distances; creating a first comprehensive image from the returns for each beam at a first detection period; creating a second comprehensive image from the returns for each beam at a second detection period, the second detection period occurring subsequent to the first detected period; comparing the first comprehensive image from the first detection period to the second comprehensive image from the second detection period; and identifying differences between the first and second comprehensive images. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A traffic sensor for monitoring a roadway, the traffic sensor comprising:
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a multiple beam radar system including a plurality of beams and configured to transmit signals into a roadway and to receive reflections of signals reflected off of objects in the roadway using the plurality of beams; and a computer system coupled with the multiple beam radar system and configured to; divide one or more returns from the multiple beam radar system into a grid of range bins, including dividing each beam in the plurality of beams into a plurality of range bins of uniform varied distances from the multiple beam radar system, each beam being divided into a plurality of range bins in accordance with the uniform varied distances; identify a multi-beam image within the returns from the multiple beam radar system, the multi-beam image representing a target within a roadway, the multi-beam image spanning a sub-plurality of the plurality of beams, the multi-beam image also spanning a plurality of range bins within the grid of range bins; identify an energy peak within the multi-beam image; and for a specified range bin in one of the beams of the sub-plurality of beams, determine that the magnitude of the identified energy peak in a specified range bin is above a specified threshold; and determine that the magnitude of the identified energy in the specified range bin is greater than the magnitude of the identified energy in any surrounding adjacent range bin within the grid of range bins. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification