Optical vehicle detection system

• US 4,433,325 A
• Filed: 09/29/1981
• Issued: 02/21/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1980
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omron Tateisi Electronics Co. (Omron Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Omron Tateisi Electronics Co. (Omron Corporation)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Ryohei, Kato, Yutaka, Odake, Takaaki, Kitamura, Akinobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Application Number:
  US06/306,775
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 340/38 R, 340/38 P, 340/31 C, 340/23, 358/93, 358/105, 358/107, 358/108, 346/107 VP, 250/206, 250/215, 250/216, 250/222 R, 250/222.1
• US Class Current: 340/937
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors

Abstract

An optical vehicle detection system comprising camera means for catching the image of a vehicle running in a selected roadway lane to generate an output video signal, inquiring means for inquiring if the output video signal includes a predetermined shadow signal component, and processing means associated with the inquiring means, if the output video signal includes the predetermined shadow signal component, for processing the output video signal as a signal having a component of shadow cast by a vehicle.

Claims

1. An optical vehicle detection system comprising:

camera means for catching the image of a vehicle running in a selected roadway lane to generate an output video signal,

inquiring means for inquiring if said output video signal includes a predetermined vehicle shadow signal component, and

processing means associated with said inquiring means, for processing said output video signal as a signal having a component of shadow cast by a vehicle, when said output video signal includes the predetermined shadow signal component.

2. A system according to claim 1 in which said predetermined shadow signal component is a wave decreasing at the beginning thereof from a predetermined road surface level.

3. A system according to claim 1 in which said predetermined shadow signal component is one of predetermined signal wave form patterns representing shadow cast by a vehicle running in a neighboring roadway lane.

4. A system according to claim 1 further including means for confirming if said output video signal including the predetermined shadow signal component exceeds a predetermined vehicle confirmation level.

5. An optical vehicle detection system comprising:

camera means for catching the image of a vehicle running in a selected roadway lane to generate an output video signal;

inquiring means for inquiring if said output video signal includes a predetermined vehicle shadow signal component, said inquiring means comprising;

sampling means for sampling said output video signal every sampling cycle so as to generate a current data,

comparing means for comparing a reference deviation with a deviation obtained by subtracting a previous processed data from said generated current data,

detecting means for detecting a wave form pattern of said output video signal as to increment, decrement and constant states; and

processing means associated with said inquiring means, for processing said output video signal as a signal having a component of shadow cast by a vehicle when said output video signal includes the predetermined shadow signal component.

6. An optical vehicle detection system comprising:

camera means for catching the image of a vehicle running in a selected roadway lane to generate an output video signal,

inquiring means for inquiring if said output video signal includes a predetermined vehicle shadow signal component, and

processing means associated with said inquiring means, for processing said output video signal as a signal having a component of shadow cast by a vehicle when said output video signal includes the predetermined shadow signal component, and

said processing means having means for memorizing said output video signal which includes a predetermined vehicle shadow component and having means for detecting as a detection time a time difference between the time points when a set signal and reset signal are respectfully generated as vehicle crosses a road surface.