System for apprehending traffic signal violators

• US 20040239527A1
• Filed: 12/16/2003
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Kim, Young-Heum
• Application Number:
  US10/738,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20040239527A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/937
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0175 by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules

Abstract

A system for apprehending vehicles violating a traffic signal comprises on-board equipment provided in vehicles that transmits speed information and license plate numbers of the vehicles. Roadside equipment receives the speed information and license plate numbers from the vehicles both before and after the vehicles enter an intersection. A signal light controller controls traffic signal lights at the intersection. A server center detects a vehicle violating a traffic signal on the basis of signals inputted from the roadside equipment and the signal light controller. An automated camera performs a photographing operation according to control of the server center and produces at least one image of the vehicle violating the traffic signal.

Claims

1. A system for apprehending vehicles violating a traffic signal, comprising:

on-board equipment (OBE) provided in vehicles for transmitting speed information and license plate numbers of the vehicles;

a first roadside equipment (RSEs) for receiving the speed information and the license plate numbers from the vehicle OBE before the vehicles enter an intersection;

a second RSE for receiving the speed information and license plate numbers from the vehicle OBE after the vehicles enter the intersection;

a signal light controller for controlling traffic signal lights at the intersection;

a server center for detecting a vehicle violating a traffic signal on the basis of signals inputted from the first and second RSEs and said signal light controller, and

an automated camera for performing a photographing operation according to the control of said server center and producing at least one image of the vehicle violating the traffic signal.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said server center compares the license plate numbers of the vehicles after the vehicles enter the intersection with the license plate numbers of the vehicles before the vehicles enter the intersection, determines the direction of the vehicles entering the intersection according to a result of the comparison, and determines whether or not a vehicle entering the intersection has violated the traffic signal by referring to the operating state of the traffic signal light.

3. The system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said server center determines that the vehicle has unavoidably violated the traffic signal due to road congestion if a speed of the violating vehicle is equal to or lower than a predetermined speed.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a traffic control system for receiving, from said server center, the license plate number and image of the vehicle violating the traffic signal so that the violator can be prosecuted.