Vehicle detector with operational display

• US 6,087,964 A
• Filed: 04/24/1997
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Reno A&E
• Original Assignee: Reno A&E
• Inventors: Allen, Robert S., Potter, Thomas R. Sr., Seabury, Thomas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huang, Sihong
• Application Number:
  US08/847,777
• Time in Patent Office: 1,174 Days
• Field of Search: 340/941, 340/933, 340/934, 340/936, 340/937, 235/384, 701/117, 701/118
• US Class Current: 340/941
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/042 using inductive or magnetic detectors

Abstract

A programmable vehicle detector with operator actuatable function selection and parameter value setting keys, and an operational display. A small cluster (four) of key switches enables an operator to select programmable vehicle detector functions, such as pulse/presence, scanning/non-scanning, end of green control; and also adjust the value of settable parameters, such as loop frequency, sensitivity, delay time, and maximum presence time. The value of certain parameters is displayed, either by manual interrogation by operation of the switches during a set mode or automatically during normal operation. During normal operation, the display also indicates dynamically the relative value of the loop inductance, using a unique bar graph, the generation of Call a signal, and the time remaining in a delay time period and a maximum presence time period. The display further indicates which of several channels has been selected for function and parameter programming, or is currently being monitored for operation. The vehicle detector can be operated as both a scanning multi-channel detector or a non-scanning multi-channel detector.

Claims

1. A vehicle detector comprising:

means for detecting the occupancy state of a loop detection zone;

manually actuatable flnction switches coupled to said detecting means for enabling operator control of function state selection and selection of any one of a plurality of vehicle detector parameter values; and

a variable display device coupled to said detecting means for displaying selected function states, the identification of a selected vehicle detector parameter, and the actual value of a vehicle detector parameter selected by at least one of said function switches.

2. The vehicle detector of claim 1 wherein said detecting means includes a microprocessor.

3. The vehicle detector of claim 1 wherein said display device includes a liquid crystal display.

4. The vehicle detector of claim 1 wherein the selected vehicle detector parameter is relative sensitivity of said loop detection zone.

5. The vehicle detector of claim 1 wherein the selected vehicle detector parameter is loop frequency.

6. The vehicle detector of claim 1 wherein the selected vehicle detector parameter is loop inductance.

7. The vehicle detector of claim 1 wherein the selected vehicle detector parameter is loop inductance change in percentage caused by the entry of a vehicle into said loop detection zone.

8. The vehicle detector of claim 1 wherein the selected vehicle detector parameter is delay time before a call signal is generated.

9. The vehicle detector of claim 1 wherein the selected vehicle detector parameter is maximum presence time.

10. The vehicle detector of claim 1 wherein the selected vehicle detector parameter is extension time before a call signal is dropped.

11. The vehicle detector of claim 1 wherein said selected function states include pulse mode and presence mode of operation.

12. The vehicle detector of claim 1 wherein said selected function states include scanning mode and non-scanning mode of operation.

13. The vehicle detector of claim 1 wherein said selected function states include end-of-green function.

14. A variable vehicle detector display for facilitating operator control of function state selection, vehicle detector parameter selection, and vehicle detector parameter value selections, said display comprising:

a first variable display portion including a plurality of individually activatable bar-like segments together defining a bar graph for displaying the relative magnitude of at least one vehicle detector parameter;

a second variable display portion having a plurality of character regions for displaying actual values of at least one vehicle detector parameter; and

a third display portion having a plurality of individually activatable message indicators for indicating a selected parameter whose actual value is being displayed by said second portion.

15. The display of claim 14 wherein said at least one vehicle detector parameter comprises the inductance of a loop associated to a vehicle detector containing said display.

16. The display of claim 14 wherein said multiple segment displays are seven-segment liquid crystal display characters.

17. The display of claim 14 wherein said display comprises a liquid crystal device.

18. The vehicle detector display of claim 14 wherein said first display portion bar-like segments also indicate the relative magnitude of a selected vehicle detector parameter.

19. The vehicle detector display of claim 18 wherein the selected vehicle detector parameter displayed by said second portion is the inductance change in percentage caused by the entry of a vehicle into an oscillator loop associated with said vehicle detector display.

20. The vehicle detector display of claim 14 wherein said plurality of alpha-numeric character regions include multiple segment display regions.

21. The vehicle detector display of claim 14 wherein at least some of said message indicators indicate function state selection.

22. The vehicle detector display of claim 14 wherein said display is associated with a multiple channel vehicle detector;

and wherein said display flier includes a fourth display portion for indicating a selected channel.

23. The vehicle detector display of claim 14 wherein the selected vehicle detector parameter displayed by said second portion is inductance of an oscillator loop associated with said vehicle detector display.

24. The vehicle detector display of claim 14 wherein the selected vehicle detector parameter displayed by said second portion is frequency of an oscillator loop associated with said vehicle detector display.

25. The vehicle detector display of claim 14 wherein the selected vehicle detector parameter displayed by said second portion is delay time before a call signal is generated by a vehicle detection means associated with said vehicle detector display.

26. The vehicle detector display of claim 14 wherein the selected vehicle detector parameter displayed by said second portion is maximum presence time permitted by a vehicle detection means associated with said vehicle detector display.

27. The vehicle detector display of claim 14 wherein the selected vehicle detector parameter displayed by said second portion is extension time before a call signal is dropped by a vehicle detection means associated with said vehicle detector display.

28. The vehicle detector display of claim 14 wherein said selected function states indicated by said third portion include pulse mode and presence mode of operation of a vehicle detection means associated with said vehicle detector display.

29. The vehicle detector display of claim 14 wherein said selected function states indicated by said third portion include scanning mode and non-scanning mode of operation of a vehicle detection means associated with said vehicle detector display.

30. The vehicle detector display of claim 14 wherein said selected function states indicated by said third portion include end-of-green function performed by a vehicle detection means associated with said vehicle detector display.

31. A vehicle detector comprising:

means for detecting the occupancy state of a loop detection zone;

at least two manually actuatable function switches coupled to said detecting means for enabling operator control of function state selection, selection of any one of a plurality of vehicle detector parameters, and vehicle detector parameter value selection; and

a variable display device coupled to said detecting means for indicating a selected parameter and the actual value of a parameter selected by at least one of said function switches.

32. The vehicle detector of claim 31 where said display device includes a first display portion having a plurality of character display regions for indicating values of at least one vehicle detector parameter, and a second display portion having a plurality of individually activatable message indicators for indicating a selected parameter.

33. The vehicle detector of claim 31 wherein said selected parameter is relative sensitivity of said loop detection zone;

and wherein said display device includes means for displaying the sensitivity value.

34. The vehicle detector of claim 33 wherein said means for displaying the sensitivity value comprises a display region having selectively activatable indicators for providing a graph-like indication of sensitivity.

35. The vehicle detector of claim 31 wherein said means for detecting the occupancy state comprises a multiple-channel detection means;

and wherein said display device further includes means for indicating an active channel.

36. The vehicle detector of claim 31 wherein the selected vehicle detector parameter is loop frequency.

37. The vehicle detector of claim 31 wherein the selected vehicle detector parameter is loop inductance.

38. The vehicle detector of claim 31 wherein the selected vehicle detector parameter is loop inductance change in percentage caused by the entry of a vehicle into said loop detection zone.

39. The vehicle detector of claim 31 wherein the selected vehicle detector parameter is delay time before a call signal is generated.

40. The vehicle detector of claim 31 wherein the selected vehicle detector parameter is maximum presence time.

41. The vehicle detector of claim 31 wherein the selected vehicle detector parameter is extension time before a call signal is dropped.

42. The vehicle detector of claim 31 wherein said selected function states include pulse mode and presence mode of operation.

43. The vehicle detector of claim 31 wherein said selected function states include scanning mode and non-scanning mode of operation.

44. The vehicle detector of claim 31 wherein said selected function states include end-of-green function.