Speed measurement system with onsite digital image capture and processing for use in stop sign enforcement
First Claim
1. A system for field or onsite use in determining a failure of a vehicle to stop at a traffic sign or signal and capturing images of the vehicle, comprising:
- a laser-based speed detector determining a speed of a vehicle in an enforcement window adjacent the sign or signal and in response, generating a speed signal;
a camera aligned with the speed detector capturing and storing an image of the vehicle, wherein the camera is adapted for operating in response to an image capture signal; and
a portable field processor communicatively linked with the speed detector and the camera, wherein the portable field processor receives the speed signal from the speed detector, compares the speed signal to a capture speed threshold, and when the threshold is determined to be exceeded, transmits the image capture signal to the camera.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A speed measurement system for measuring speeds of vehicles, capturing images of vehicles, and detecting violation of stop sign and traffic signal laws. The system includes a laser speed detector for determining a speed of a vehicle adjacent a stop sign. When a speed is determined, the detector generates a speed signal. The system includes a camera generally aligned with the speed detector operable to capture and store digital still images of vehicles in memory. The camera is programmed to respond to an image capture signal to generate and transmit a digital image file including a still image of the vehicle targeted by the detector. A portable processor is linked to the speed detector and the camera to first receive the speed signal, to compare the detected speed with a threshold speed, to transmit an image capture signal to the camera, and to receive the image file from the camera.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A system for field or onsite use in determining a failure of a vehicle to stop at a traffic sign or signal and capturing images of the vehicle, comprising:
-
a laser-based speed detector determining a speed of a vehicle in an enforcement window adjacent the sign or signal and in response, generating a speed signal;
a camera aligned with the speed detector capturing and storing an image of the vehicle, wherein the camera is adapted for operating in response to an image capture signal; and
a portable field processor communicatively linked with the speed detector and the camera, wherein the portable field processor receives the speed signal from the speed detector, compares the speed signal to a capture speed threshold, and when the threshold is determined to be exceeded, transmits the image capture signal to the camera. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method of determining violation by a vehicle of a traffic sign or signal that requires the vehicle to stop and capturing a digital image of the vehicle, comprising:
-
positioning a speed detector and a camera at a location selected relative to the traffic sign or signal for monitoring vehicle traffic through an enforcement window in a road lane adjacent the traffic sign or signal;
operating the camera on an ongoing basis to capture still images of vehicles passing through the enforcement window and to store the still images at least temporarily in memory;
determining the speed of a targeted vehicle in the enforcement window with the speed detector;
transmitting the speed from the speed detector to a portable field processor;
processing the speed with the portable field processor to determine whether a capture speed threshold has been exceeded and when determined exceeded, transmitting a trigger signal to the camera; and
at the camera, receiving the trigger signal, retrieving a still image corresponding to the targeted vehicle from memory, and transmitting the still image in a digital image file to the portable field processor. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A system for use in determining a failure of a vehicle to stop at a traffic sign or signal and for capturing images of the vehicle, comprising:
-
means for determining a speed of a vehicle in an enforcement window adjacent the sign or signal and in response, generating a speed signal, wherein the speed determining means comprises a laser-based speed detector;
means aligned with the speed determining means for capturing and storing a video image of the vehicle for a measurement window, wherein the video image means is adapted for operating in response to an image capture signal; and
processing means communicatively linked with the speed determining means and the video image means for receiving the speed signal, comparing the speed signal to a capture speed threshold, determining when the threshold is exceeded, and transmitting the image capture signal to the video image means. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
Specification