Vehicle detector system with synchronized operation

• US 20050110659A1
• Filed: 11/20/2003
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reno A&E
• Original Assignee: Reno Agriculture & Electronics
• Inventors: Jacobs, Allen, Lu, Jason Zhen-Yu, Luke, Benjamin
• Granted Patent: US 7,116,248 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/941
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/042 using inductive or magnetic detectors

Abstract

A vehicle detector system having a number of individual vehicle detectors each capable of sampling a plurality of vehicle loops in mutual synchronization. One detector operates as a master detector for synchronization purposes; the other detectors are operated as slave detectors. The system can be configured for series or parallel synchronous operation. The system is particularly advantageous in installations requiring a large number of closely spaced vehicle loops each operated by a detector set to high sensitivity.

Claims

1. A synchronous vehicle detector system comprising;

a plurality of vehicle detectors each having least one vehicle loop to which that detector can be intermittently coupled for vehicle sampling purposes; and

means for synchronizing the operation of said plurality of vehicle detectors;

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said means for synchronizing comprises circuitry incorporated in said vehicle detectors for enabling one of said vehicle detectors to control the synchronous operation of said plurality of vehicle detectors.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said vehicle detector system is configured for series synchronization.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said vehicle detector system is configured for parallel synchronization.

5. A method of controlling the operation of a plurality of vehicle detectors in a synchronous manner, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) assigning one of said detectors the role of master detector; and

(b) operating the remaining number of vehicle detectors as slave detectors to the master.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said step (b) is performed in series synchronization.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said step (b) is performed in parallel synchronization.