INTERSECTION INGRESS-EGRESS AUTOMATIC ELECTRONIC TRAFFIC MONITORING EQUIPMENT

• US 3,663,937 A
• Filed: 06/08/1970
• Issued: 05/16/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomas E. Bolner
• Original Assignee: Thomas E. Bolner
• Inventors: Bolner, Thomas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Claffy, Kathleen H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Myers, Randall P.
• Application Number:
  US05/044,491
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 340/38R,38L,38P,22,23,24,39,38S 178/DIG.1
• US Class Current: 340/937
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0116 from roadside infrastructure, e.g. beacons
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0133 for classifying traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors

Abstract

An electronic detection circuit identifies several traffic paths through an intersection as a vehicle passes over a predetermined sequence of discrete separated positions identifying a path. A television camera can view the intersection and the paths be identified on a receiving cathode ray tube screen by placing a series of light detectors over desired patterns. A switching circuit responsive to the detectors then identifies and counts only those vehicles passing one complete sequence of the positions identifying a particular path.

Claims

1. An electronic system for determining traffic patterns comprising in combination, a series of electronic position detectors arranged in the form of at least one predetermined traffic path on an electronic image receiving screen and so spaced as to detect the position of a vehicle at predetermined sequential positions in a pattern in said path, an electrical switching circuit with a plurality of switching stages connected to operate in sequence to actuate a final switch stage only in response to said detectors when said vehicle travels through said traffic path in said pattern in the predetermined sequence of positions, and an egress counter-circuit connected for counting the number of switching operations, at said final switch stage.

2. The system defined in claim 1 including an ingress counter coupled for response to an initial one of the switching stages.

3. The system defined in claim 1 wherein the traffic path is of an intersection to identify a vehicle making a turn.

4. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein the electronic position detectors comprise a series of light detectors placed on a television screen displaying traffic moving through said pattern.

5. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein each switching stage in said sequence comprises a prior relay with a contact connected for enabling the next sequential switching stage only when a vehicle passes through said sequence of positions to energize said prior relay.

6. An electronic traffic pattern determining system for analyzing a plurality of traffic patterns at an intersection comprising in combination, a television camera directed to view traffic at said intersection, a television receiver with a cathode ray tube screen displaying a view of the traffic at said intersection in response to the camera signals, a set of light discriminating devices located at discrete separated sequential positions in a multiplicity of traffic patterns on said screen to detect at least two discrete paths a vehicle may take through said intersection, a switching circuit responsive to said devices to identify traffic patterns of a vehicle encompassing a full sequence of said devices responding to a particular one of said vehicle paths, and a counting circuit actuated by said switching circuit only when a vehicle passes each sequential position identifying said particular one path.

7. A system as defined in claim 6 wherein said light discriminating devices comprise means for temporarily locating and holding them on said screen but permitting them to be moved to other positions when desired.

8. An electronic traffic pattern determining system for displaying a plurality of traffic patterns at an intersection comprising in combination means for producing an image of said intersection and means for displaying said image, electronic vehicle path detection means on said image displaying means identifying a set of discrete sequential detector positions in at least two paths vehicles may take through said intersection, means converting each of said detector positions into an electrical signal, a switching circuit responsive to only a sequence of said electrical signals identifying a vehicle path through each possible discrete position in one of said paths, and egress counting means connected for totalling each response of said switching circuit.