Device for photographic monitoring of cross-roads

• US 4,884,072 A
• Filed: 06/08/1987
• Issued: 11/28/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Heinrich Horsch
• Original Assignee: Heinrich Horsch
• Inventors: Horsch, Heinrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Orsino, Joseph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TUMM, BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US07/050,769
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 340/937, 340/928, 346/40, 346/107 VP, 354/76, 354/105
• US Class Current: 340/937
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0175 by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules

Abstract

In order to ensure the photographic monitoring of cross-roads a camera (26 or 28) is provided which covers an intersection (10). An initial sensor (22) responds when a vehicle (30 or 32) goes beyond a halt line during the stop phase of the traffic lights (16), in which case an initial photograph is taken by the camera (26) or (28). A second sensor (24) is arranged directly ahead, behind the first sensor (2) in the danger area of the intersection (10) and in an optimum photographic position in relation to the camera (26 or 28) and when this sensor is passed a second photograph is triggered. As a result, the vehicle (30 or 32) is photographed whatever its speed and always in an optimum photographic position.

Claims

1. Device for photographic monitoring of an intersection controlled by traffic lights comprising:

(a) a photographic camera the field of view of which covers the intersection,

(b) a first sensor which responds to a vehicle moving into the intersection beyond a first position and which provides a sensor signal,

(c) means for generating a stop phase signal depending on the traffic lights being switched to stop phase,

(d) a camera-triggering device, which is arranged to be controlled by triggering signals to trigger the photographic camera,

(e) signal processing means to which the sensor signal and the stop phase signal are applied for providing a first triggering signal for triggering a first exposure of the camera, when a sensor signal appears during the duration of the stop phase signal,

(f) and a second sensor arranged to apply a second sensor signal to the signal processing means to provide a second triggering signal delayed with respect to the first triggering signal for triggering a second exposure,

(g) the second sensor is located within the intersection and responds to the passage of the vehicles through a second position located in straight direction behind the first position.

2. Device as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the photographic camera (28) is adapted and arranged for the frontal photographing of the vehicle (30;

32).

3. Device as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the second sensor (24) is arranged to be enabled only by the first sensor signal of the first sensor (22).

4. Device as set forth in claim 3, characterized in that the signal processing means are arranged to produce said second triggering signal for triggering said second exposure after a predetermined delay time, if the first sensor (22) responds during the duration of the stop interval signal, and if the second sensor (24) does not respond within the predetermined delay time.