Truck traffic monitoring and warning systems and vehicle ramp advisory system
First Claim
1. A traffic monitoring and warning system for a vehicle approaching a hazard, comprising:
- (i) a first set of above-road electro-acoustic sensor arrays disposed adjacent a traffic lane in a first detection zone approaching a hazard for sensing a vehicle in said first detection zone and for producing signals indicative of said sensed vehicle;
(ii) a second set of above-road electro-acoustic sensor arrays, in a second detection zone downstream of said first set of above-road electro-acoustic sensor arrays for sensing a vehicle in said second detection zone and for producing signals indicative of said sensed vehicle in said second detection zone;
(iii) a processor operatively connected both to said first set of above-road electro-acoustic sensor arrays, and to said second set of above-road electro-acoustic sensor arrays, said processor for analysing said signals from said first set of electro-acoustic sensor arrays indicative of said sensed vehicle in said first detection zone to determine if said sensed vehicle is a truck, to determine a truck classification of said truck, and to determine an appropriate safe speed for traversing said hazard in view of hazard site-specific information and said classification, said processor also for analysing signals from said second set of above-road electro-acoustic sensors for determining the speed of said truck in said second detection zone, and (iv) a traffic signalling device associated with said traffic lane and disposed downstream of said first set of above-road electro-acoustic sensor arrays, said traffic signalling device being controlled by said processor to provide a warning to said truck concerning said appropriate safe speed, said second set of above-road electro-acoustic sensor arrays being upstream of said traffic signal, said processor also determining the actual speed of said truck in said first detection zone and activating said traffic signalling device if said actual speed exceeds said appropriate safe speed, said processor including a timer for discontinuing operating said traffic signalling device, said processor activating said timer in response to deceleration of said truck, said processor alternatively for discontinuing the operation of said traffic-signalling device if the speed of said truck in the second detection zone no longer exceeds said appropriate safe speed for said truck.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Traffic monitoring and warning systems and vehicle ramp advisory systems are provided herein. Such system includes a set of sensor arrays comprising a set of above-road electro-acoustic sensor arrays which is disposed above a traffic lane approaching a hazard for producing signals which are indicative of whether the vehicle is an automobile or a truck and, if it is a truck, to record the presence of such truck, and to provide signals which are indicative of the speed of such truck. A processor is provided which has a memory for storing site-specific data related both to the geometry of the hazard and to signals which have been received from the set of above-road electro-acoustic sensor arrays. A traffic signalling device is associated with the traffic lane and is disposed downstream of the set of above-road electro-acoustic sensor arrays, the traffic signalling device being controlled by the processor. The processor is responsive to the signals from the set of above-road electro-acoustic sensor arrays for computing an actual speed of the truck and for computing a computed maximum safe speed for such truck at the hazard. The computed maximum safe speed of the truck is derived from the site-specific dimensional data of the hazard and from at least the initial speed of the truck, the computed maximum safe speed of the truck being a maximum safe speed for that truck safely to negotiate the hazard. The processor compares the computed actual speed of the truck with the computed maximum safe speed for the truck. Then, the processor automatically operates the traffic signalling device if the computed actual speed of the truck exceeds the computed maximum safe speed for the truck. The processor also discontinues operating the traffic signalling device if the computed actual speed of the truck no longer exceeds the computed maximum safe speed for the truck.
276 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A traffic monitoring and warning system for a vehicle approaching a hazard, comprising:
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(i) a first set of above-road electro-acoustic sensor arrays disposed adjacent a traffic lane in a first detection zone approaching a hazard for sensing a vehicle in said first detection zone and for producing signals indicative of said sensed vehicle;
(ii) a second set of above-road electro-acoustic sensor arrays, in a second detection zone downstream of said first set of above-road electro-acoustic sensor arrays for sensing a vehicle in said second detection zone and for producing signals indicative of said sensed vehicle in said second detection zone;
(iii) a processor operatively connected both to said first set of above-road electro-acoustic sensor arrays, and to said second set of above-road electro-acoustic sensor arrays, said processor for analysing said signals from said first set of electro-acoustic sensor arrays indicative of said sensed vehicle in said first detection zone to determine if said sensed vehicle is a truck, to determine a truck classification of said truck, and to determine an appropriate safe speed for traversing said hazard in view of hazard site-specific information and said classification, said processor also for analysing signals from said second set of above-road electro-acoustic sensors for determining the speed of said truck in said second detection zone, and (iv) a traffic signalling device associated with said traffic lane and disposed downstream of said first set of above-road electro-acoustic sensor arrays, said traffic signalling device being controlled by said processor to provide a warning to said truck concerning said appropriate safe speed, said second set of above-road electro-acoustic sensor arrays being upstream of said traffic signal, said processor also determining the actual speed of said truck in said first detection zone and activating said traffic signalling device if said actual speed exceeds said appropriate safe speed, said processor including a timer for discontinuing operating said traffic signalling device, said processor activating said timer in response to deceleration of said truck, said processor alternatively for discontinuing the operation of said traffic-signalling device if the speed of said truck in the second detection zone no longer exceeds said appropriate safe speed for said truck. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
(a) a first above-road electro-acoustic sensor array for receiving a first acoustic signal from said truck at a predetermined zone and for converting said first acoustic signal into a first electric signal that represents said first acoustic signal;
(b) a second above-road electro-acoustic sensor array for receiving a second acoustic signal which is radiated from said truck at said predetermined zone and for converting said second acoustic signal into a second electric signal that represents said second acoustic signal;
(c) spatial discrimination circuitry for creating a third electric signal based on said first electric signal and said second electric signal, that substantially represents acoustic energy emanating from said predetermined zone;
(d) frequency discrimination circuitry for creating a fourth signal which is based on said third signal; and
(e) interface circuitry for creating an output signal based on said fourth signal such that said output signal is asserted when said truck is within said predetermined zone and whereby said output signal is retracted when said truck is not within said predetermined zone.
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10. The system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said frequency discrimination circuitry comprises a bandpass filter.
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11. The system as in claim 10, wherein said bandpass filter comprises a lower passband edge substantially close to about 4 KHz and an upper passband edge substantially close to about 6 KHz.
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12. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first set of above-road, electro-acoustic sensor arrays and said second set of above-road acoustic-electric sensor arrays comprises:
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(A) a plurality of above-road electro-acoustic sensor arrays each trained on said detection zones;
(B) a bandpass filter for processing electrical signals from said plurality of above-road electro-acoustic sensor arrays;
(C) a correlator having at least two inputs and an output for correlating filtered versions of said electrical signals originating from at least two of said plurality of above-road electro-acoustic sensor arrays;
(D) an integrator for integrating said output of said correlator means over time; and
(E) a comparator for indicating detection of said truck when said integrated output exceeds a predetermined threshold.
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13. The system as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a plurality of analog-to-digital convertors for converting said electrical signals to digital representations prior to said processing thereof.
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14. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said integrator and said comparator are each microprocessor-based programs.
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15. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein each of said plurality of electro-acoustic sensor arrays comprises two vertical multiple-microphone elements and two horizontal multiple-microphone elements, and wherein said correlator means has one of said at least two inputs receiving a sum of said two multiple-microphone vertical elements, and said other of said at least two inputs receiving a sum of said two horizontal multiple-microphone elements.
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16. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said traffic signalling device comprises a fiber optic sign.
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17. A method of controlling a traffic signalling device associated with a hazard comprising the steps of:
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(i) downloading, into a processor, a first set of records of a first speed of a truck derived from signals from a first set of electro-acoustic sensor arrays disposed in a first detection zone adjacent a traffic lane approaching, and upstream of, said hazard, said processor analysing said signals from said first set of electro-acoustic sensor arrays which are indicative of a vehicle sensed in said first detection zone to determine if said sensed vehicle is a truck, to determine a truck classification of said truck, and to determine an appropriate safe speed for traversing said hazard in view of hazard site specific information downloaded into said processor and said classification;
(ii) downloading, into said processor, a second set of records derived from signals from a second set of electro-acoustic sensor array in a second detection zone downstream of said first set of electro-aoustic sensor arrays, said processor analysing said signals for determining the actual speed of said truck in said second detection zone;
(iii) disposing a traffic signalling device downstream of said second set of electro-acoustic sensor arrays;
(iv) matching records, by said processor, of said appropriate safe speed of said truck from said first set of records and of said actual speed of said truck from said second set of records;
(v) comparing, by said processor, said actual speed of said truck and said appropriate safe speed for said truck;
(vi) automatically operating, by said processor, said traffic signalling device if said actual speed of said truck exceeds said appropriate safe speed of said truck, to display a warning that said actual speed of said truck exceeds said appropriate safe speed of said truck; and
(vii) discontinuing, by said processor, operating said traffic signalling device if said actual speed of said truck no longer exceeds said appropriate safe speed for said truck, by operating, by said processor, a timer to discontinue operating said traffic signalling device in response to deceleration of said truck. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
associating said traffic signalling device with said curve;
disposing said first set of electro-acoustic sensor arrays upstream of said curve;
disposing said second set of electro-acoustic sensor arrays downstream of said first set of electro-acoustic serge arrays and upstream of said curve;
computing an appropriate safe speed which is the threshold speed for said truck to prevent said truck from rolling over; and
measuring said actual speed of said truck at the point of curvature of said curve.
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20. The method as claimed in claim 17 wherein said hazard is an intersection, and including the steps of:
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disposing said traffic signalling device at a traffic-signal controlled intersection;
computing, by said processor, from said first set of records and from said second set of records, an actual speed of said truck and a stopping distance to enable said truck to stop which is derived from stopping threshold data downloaded into said processor;
computing, by said processor, said actual speed of said truck at a premeasured distance upstream from said intersection;
determining, by said processor, whether said truck will be able to stop before it reaches said intersection; and
sending, by said processor, from said determination, a signal to said traffic signalling device to enable said truck to cross said intersection, and to discontinue operating said traffic signalling device after said truck crosses said intersection.
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21. The method as claimed in claim 17, including the step of downloading a set of records of the actual weight of the truck.
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22. The method as claimed in claim 17, including the step of addressing a video system to record truck passage at said traffic signalling device.
Specification