DEVICE FOR MONITORING TRAFFIC

• US 3,866,165 A
• Filed: 06/27/1973
• Issued: 02/11/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Herbert Maronde, Jurgen Holzapfel
• Original Assignee: Herbert Maronde, Jurgen Holzapfel
• Inventors: Maronde, Herbert, Holzapfel, Jurgen
• Primary Examiner(s): Cooper, William C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Myers, Randall P.
• Application Number:
  US05/373,966
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 340/22,31R,31C 346/33D,17VP
• US Class Current: 340/937
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0175 by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules

Abstract

A camera photographs an intersection when a vehicle enters the intersection against a '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'stop'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' light indication. The camera simultaneously photographs two clocks, a first of which exhibits the time when the photograph was taken and the other of which exhibits the time as it existed at the initiation of that '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'stop'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' light indication. The clocks are digitally operated by periodic impulses from one of several impulse generators. Alternative embodiments are described for delaying a periodic impulse from changing the reading on the first clock while a photograph is being taken.

Claims

1. In an apparatus for monitoring the traffic at a road intersection at which there is a traffic control light having a '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'stop'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' period, said apparatus including a time meter which computes the local time and having a time display means which displays the local time as computed and a camera which is actuated, by a vehicle driving into the intersection, to photograph both the intersection and the time meter display means, the improvement comprising:

said time meter computes the time with an accuracy of at least one-tenth of a second;

a time display device positioned to be also photographed by said camera when a photograph is taken of said intersection and said meter; and

memory means connected to said time meter and said time display device to transfer to said display device the local time as computed by said time meter at the beginning of said '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'stop'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' period during which the photograph was taken.

2. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said time meter includes a digital counter, said memory means comprises register means having a control input and connected to said digital counter so that the small time units on the digital counter are transferred to the register means when a control impulse is applied to said input aT the beginning of the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'stop'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' period.

3. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 2, including means for generating clock impulses;

wherein said time meter display means comprises first electronic display elements;

said digital counter comprises flip-flops to divide said clock impulses into time units;

said time meter comprises means including first decoders connecting said flip-flops and said display elements to apply the counts of the flip-flops to the display elements;

said register means having parallel inputs connected to said flip-flops;

said time display device comprising second display elements; and

said memory means including second decoders between said register means and the second display elements to apply the count from said register means to said second display elements.

4. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said means-including-first-decoders decoders comprises shift register means having parallel inputs connected to said flip-flops and a control input for receiving a control impulse when the camera is actuated so that the flip-flop count is retained by the shift register means for the duration of the photographic exposure.

5. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said time meter includes an input to receive said clock impulses, delay means between the latter input and said flip-flops and including a control input so that when a camera actuating impulse is applied at the latter control input the next clock impulse is delayed and applied to the flip-flops following a subsequent clock impulse.

6. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including means for generating clock impulses;

wherein said time meter display means comprises first electronic display elements;

said time meter comprises flip-flops to divide said clock impulses into time units, and means including first decoders connecting said flip-flops and said display elements to apply the counts of the flip-flops to the display elements;

said time display device comprising second electronic display elements; and

said memory means including second decoders and means connecting the time meter and the second decoders, the second decoders being connected to the second display elements to apply the count from said flip-flops to said second display elements.

7. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said means-including-first-decoders comprises shift register means having inputs connected to said flip-flops and a control input for receiving a control impulse when the camera is actuated so that the flip-flop count is retained by the register means for the duration of the photographic exposure.

8. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said time meter includes an input to receive said clock impulses, delay means between the latter input and said flip-flops and including a control input so that when a camera actuating impulse is applied at the latter control input the next clock impulse is delayed and applied to the flip-flops following a subsequent clock impulse.

9. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said delay means has an output and includes two gates one of which is closed and the other of which is opened by an impulse at said control input of the delay means, means connecting said one gate to the delay means output to pass a clock impulse thereto when the one gate means is open, and means including monostable flip-flop means having a fixed time delay connecting the other gate means and the delay means output.

10. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said delay means has an output, monostable flip-flop means connected to the input of the time meter and to the delay means output and having a control input, said flip-flop means being triggered by the clock impulses at the time meter input to apply impulses to the delay means output except when a signal is being applied to the control input thereof, means including a flip-flop device connected to Said delay means output and having a control input connected to the control input of the flip-flop means for applying an impulse to the delay means output when said signal is applied thereto.