Traffic sensor incorporating a video camera and method of operating same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of operating a traffic sensor to collect vehicular traffic data for a road, the traffic sensor having a radar module and an image module both contained in a traffic sensor enclosure, the method comprising:
- a) operating the radar module to generate radar-based vehicle data regarding a plurality of vehicles passing a sensor field of view based on detection and measurement of the traffic on the road;
b) operating the image module to generate image data representing a plurality of images of the road and the traffic on the road;
c) determining if a triggering event has occurred;
d) transmitting the radar-based vehicle data to a remote location spaced from the traffic sensor and, if the triggering event is determined to have occurred, transmitting the image data to the remote location; and
e) if the triggering event is determined to have occurred, comparing the radar-based vehicle data with the image data at the remote location;
wherein the image module is a video camera and the image data is not transmitted to the remote location and is not compared with the radar-based vehicle data unless the triggering event is determined to have occurred.
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Abstract
A traffic sensor and a method of operating the traffic sensor to collect vehicular traffic data for a road is described. The traffic sensor has (a) a radar module for generating radar-based vehicle data regarding a plurality of vehicles passing the sensor field of view based on detection and measurement of traffic; (b) an image module for generating image data representing a plurality of images of the road and the traffic; and, (c) a traffic sensor enclosure for enclosing both the radar module and the image module.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of operating a traffic sensor to collect vehicular traffic data for a road, the traffic sensor having a radar module and an image module both contained in a traffic sensor enclosure, the method comprising:
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a) operating the radar module to generate radar-based vehicle data regarding a plurality of vehicles passing a sensor field of view based on detection and measurement of the traffic on the road; b) operating the image module to generate image data representing a plurality of images of the road and the traffic on the road; c) determining if a triggering event has occurred; d) transmitting the radar-based vehicle data to a remote location spaced from the traffic sensor and, if the triggering event is determined to have occurred, transmitting the image data to the remote location; and e) if the triggering event is determined to have occurred, comparing the radar-based vehicle data with the image data at the remote location; wherein the image module is a video camera and the image data is not transmitted to the remote location and is not compared with the radar-based vehicle data unless the triggering event is determined to have occurred. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A traffic sensor for collecting vehicular traffic data for a road, the traffic sensor comprising:
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a radar module for generating radar-based vehicle data regarding a plurality of vehicles passing the sensor field of view based on detection and measurement of traffic; an image module for generating image data representing a plurality of images of the road and the traffic; a communication link for transmitting both the radar-based vehicle data and the image data to a remote location spaced from the traffic sensor; a processor for determining if a triggering event has occurred, wherein the processor is operable to control transmission of the image data to the remote location such that the image data is not transmitted to the remote location unless the triggering event is determined to have occurred; and a traffic sensor enclosure for enclosing both the radar module and the image module. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of operating a traffic sensor to collect vehicular traffic data for a road, the traffic sensor having a radar module and an image module both contained in a traffic sensor enclosure, the method comprising:
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a) operating the radar module to generate radar-based vehicle data regarding a plurality of vehicles passing a sensor field of view based on detection and measurement of the traffic on the road; b) operating the image module to generate image data representing a plurality of images of the road and the traffic on the road; and c) comparing the radar-based vehicle data with the image data; wherein step c) comprises providing both the radar-based vehicle data and the image data to a human operator for verification of the calibration of the traffic sensor using the radar-based vehicle data and the image data. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification