Optronic system for the measurement of vehicle traffic

• US 20020000921A1
• Filed: 03/13/2001
• Published: 01/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Herbert A. Hutchinson
• Original Assignee: Herbert A. Hutchinson
• Inventors: Hutchinson, Herbert A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,750,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/942
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/183 by interruption of a radiation beam or barrier
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/056 with provision for distinguishing direction of travel

Abstract

The present invention is a vehicle traffic measurement system designed to accurately count and record the number of vehicles passing through a selected location, to more accurately determine and record the velocity at which the individual vehicles travel through that location, and to accurately determine and record in which relative direction the vehicles are traveling as they pass that location. The basic physical principle is of a moving object interrupting two parallel light beams a known reference distance apart, and information extracted from the interruptions sensed and electronically processed into count, direction, and velocity being recorded for subsequent data analysis.

Claims

1. A vehicle traffic measuring system comprising:

a. a beam emitter unit comprising;

i. a first power source; and

ii. at least two laser beam emitters operatively interconnected to said first power source;

b. a detachable control display subunit comprising;

i. a second power source;

ii. a beam status discriminator operatively interconnected to said second power source;

iii. a pulse oscillator operatively interconnected to said second power source;

iv. an electronic chip comprising an electronic timer and clock operatively interconnected to said second power source;

v. a processor operatively interconnected to said second power source;

vi. a data recorder operatively interconnected to said second power source; and

vii. a display panel operatively interconnected to said second power source;

and

c. a sensor control unit comprising at least two laser beam sensors operatively interconnected to said second power source.

2. A vehicle traffic measuring system according to claim 1, further comprising a transmitter.

3. A vehicle traffic measuring system according to claim 1, wherein said laser beam sensors comprise photoelectric transistors.

4. A vehicle traffic measuring system according to claim 1, wherein said laser beam emitters comprise a first visible wavelength laser beam emitter, a second visible wavelength laser beam emitter, and a third visible wavelength laser beam emitter means for aligning said beam emitter unit with said sensor control unit.

5. A vehicle traffic measuring system according to claim 1, wherein said first power source comprises a rechargeable battery.

6. A vehicle traffic measuring system according to claim 1, wherein said second power source comprises a rechargeable battery.

7. A vehicle traffic measuring system according to claim 1, wherein said second power source comprises a removable battery.

8. A method of counting individual moving vehicles comprising the steps of:

i. generating at least one laser beam from a first unit to a second unit;

ii. interrupting said laser beam(s) with a moving vehicle;

iii. sensing said interruption(s) of said laser beam(s);

iv. processing said sensed interruptions into electronic count data;

v. recording said electronic count data;

and

vi. formatting and generating a list of said electronic count data into a usable format.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of transmitting said electronic count data to a receiver.

9. A method of determining individual vehicle velocity and direction of travel comprising the steps of:

i. generating at least two laser beams from a first unit to a second unit;

ii. interrupting said laser beams with a moving vehicle;

iii. sensing said interruptions of said laser beams;

iv. processing said sensed interruptions into electronic velocity and direction of travel data;

v. recording said electronic velocity and direction of travel data; and

vi. formatting and generating a list of said electronic velocity and direction of travel data into a usable format.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of transmitting said electronic velocity and direction of travel data to a receiver.

10. A method of counting, determining the velocity and direction of travel of individual vehicles comprising the steps of:

i. generating at least two laser beams from a first unit to a second unit;

ii. interrupting said laser beams with a moving vehicle;

iii. sensing said interruptions of said laser beams;

iv. processing said sensed interruptions into electronic count, velocity and direction of travel data;

and

v. formatting and generating a list of said electronic count, velocity and direction of travel data into a usable format.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of transmitting said electronic count, velocity and direction of travel data to a receiver.