Optical traffic preemption detector
First Claim
1. A detector assembly for receiving pulses of light from an emergency vehicle and sending an output signal to a remote phase selector, the detector assembly comprising:
- A. a detector housing capable of being installed near a traffic intersection, the detector housing comprising;
1) a base for attachment to a support structure;
2) at least one detector turret rotatably coupled to the base and having light access means for allowing said pulses of light from a direction to be received therein; and
3) a cap coupled to the detector turret for covering an end of the detector housing;
B. lens means positioned within said light access means for concentrating said received light pulses; and
C. a detector circuit positioned in at least one said detector turret, the detector circuit comprising;
1) circuit board means for providing conduction paths for components;
2) photocell means positioned adjacent said lens means to receive said concentrated light pulses therefrom, and coupled to the circuit board means for providing an electrical signal that varies with an intensity of light concentrated thereon; and
3) output means coupled to the photocell means, for processing the electrical signal produced by the photocell means into the output signal capable of being received by a phase selector not in proximity to the detector assembly.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical traffic preemption detector detects pulses of light emitted by an approaching emergency vehicle and provides an output signal which is processed by a phase selector. The phase selector can request a traffic signal controller to preempt a normal traffic signal sequence to give priority to the emergency vehicle. A detector assembly is mounted in proximity to an intersection and can have multiple detector channels. A detector channel can have multiple photocells. A detector housing includes a base, at least one detector turret and a cap. A detector channel circuit includes a circuit board, a photocell with a lens placed over the photocell, and circuitry to produce an output signal.
58 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A detector assembly for receiving pulses of light from an emergency vehicle and sending an output signal to a remote phase selector, the detector assembly comprising:
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A. a detector housing capable of being installed near a traffic intersection, the detector housing comprising; 1) a base for attachment to a support structure; 2) at least one detector turret rotatably coupled to the base and having light access means for allowing said pulses of light from a direction to be received therein; and 3) a cap coupled to the detector turret for covering an end of the detector housing; B. lens means positioned within said light access means for concentrating said received light pulses; and C. a detector circuit positioned in at least one said detector turret, the detector circuit comprising; 1) circuit board means for providing conduction paths for components; 2) photocell means positioned adjacent said lens means to receive said concentrated light pulses therefrom, and coupled to the circuit board means for providing an electrical signal that varies with an intensity of light concentrated thereon; and 3) output means coupled to the photocell means, for processing the electrical signal produced by the photocell means into the output signal capable of being received by a phase selector not in proximity to the detector assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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11. The detector assembly of 6 wherein the lens has a diameter of approximately 0.644 inches.
Specification