Traffic monitoring system

• US 6,301,544 B1
• Filed: 08/30/1999
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: K.K. Holding AG
• Original Assignee: K.K. Holding AG
• Inventors: Sonderegger, Hans Conrad
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tan
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US09/385,355
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117, 701/118, 701/119, 340/938, 340/905, 340/940, 340/933, 340/934, 340/935, 731/462, 348/149
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/06 Signalling devices actuated by deformation of the tyre , e.g. tyre mounted deformation sensors or indirect determination of tyre deformation based on wheel speed, wheel-centre to ground distance or inclination of wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/035 using electrical weight-sensitive devices

Abstract

A traffic management systems, combining different monitoring capabilities, beginning with standard WIM (Weigh in Motion) systems for axle weight measurements, combined with tire pressure monitoring in motion and suspension monitoring in motion, whereby for all three specialties, novel road embedded force measuring sensors are used, partly for force measurement and partly for switching operation upon touching the edge of the sensors by the onrolling tire, whereby all possible combinations of the three specialties are within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A traffic monitoring system comprising:

first, second, third and fourth strip sensors in a road surface;

the first sensor being a pre-selector group and the second, third and fourth sensors being a first selector group;

the pre-selector group being spaced in a direction of travel along the road surface by at least one meter and the sensors in the first selector group being spaced from each other in the direction of travel a distance selected to distinguish different tire print lengths of a selected category of vehicles; and

the sensors being solid-state weight in motion sensors, each having substantially similar design, wherein edges of each sensor emit a start signal precisely upon initial contact by a vehicle upon the sensor edges, thereby providing a precision switch sensor.

2. A traffic monitoring system according to claim 1, including a data processing installation connected to the sensors and which recognizes one or more of stamps of the tire pressures and detect at least four amplitudes of the frequency band of vibrations, in order to analyze the maximum force amplitudes and to detect road knocking.

3. A traffic monitoring system according to claim 1 wherein the selector group is in metal boxes and the sensors are mounted on a metal frame in such a way that at least two of the sensors are selectively movable, adjustable and securable, to optimum distance values.

4. A traffic monitoring system according to claim 3, wherein the inbetween spaces are closed with filler plates and the metal box is cast into the road surface by epoxy grout.

5. A traffic monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the lengths of tire prints are determined for a given category of vehicles with similar wheel sizes and similar tires, and where for each category a further selector group of sensors is provided, with an additional data processing capability.

6. A traffic monitoring system according to claim 1, including at least a second selector group of a plurality of sensors of the same design as the first selector group, and the sensors in the second selector group being spaced from each other in the direction of travel a distance selected to distinguish different tire print lengths of a second selected category of vehicles.

7. A traffic monitoring system according to claim 6, wherein one of the selector group'"'"'s sensors is positioned at an angle with respect to the direction of travel to detect double wheels on a vehicle.

8. A traffic monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the pre-selector group includes a trigger line preceding the first sensor in the direction of travel.

9. A traffic monitoring system comprising:

first, second, third and fourth strip sensors in a road surface;

the first sensor being a pre-selector group and the second, third and fourth sensors being a first selector group;

the pre-selector group being spaced in a direction of travel along the road surface by at least one meter and the sensors in the first selector group being spaced from each other in the direction of travel a distance selected to distinguish different tire print lengths of a selected category of vehicles; and

the sensors being weight in motion sensors having substantially similar design, wherein the sensors have solid state design and a sensor edge which gives an accurate start signal when initially contacted by a given vertical force, the sensors having a very small error range, resulting in a precision switch sensor.

10. A traffic monitoring system comprising:

first, second, third and fourth strip sensors in a road surface;

the first sensor being a pre-selector group and the second, third and fourth sensors being a first selector group;

the pre-selector group being spaced in a direction of travel along the road surface by at least one meter and the sensors in the first selector group being spaced from each other in the direction of travel a distance selected to distinguish different tire print lengths of a selected category of vehicles; and

the sensors being weight in motion sensors having substantially similar design, wherein the sensors function as a force sensor as well as a contact switch of high precision, where a switching point of the sensor coincides with a load sensitive edge of the sensor, having an additional switching arrangement that is actuated by a sharp signal rise when a load touches the load sensitive edge of the sensor.