Multi-lane vehicle detection apparatus

• US 7,884,740 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Chiao Tung University (Government of The Republic of China)
• Original Assignee: National Chiao Tung University (Government of The Republic of China)
• Inventors: Chang, Chi-Ho, Tzuang, Ching-Kuang C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): BEE, ANDREW W.
• Application Number:
  US12/078,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20090243890A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 340/933, 340/934, 340/936
• US Class Current: 340/934
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/015 with provision for distinguishing between two or more types of vehicles, e.g. between motor-cars and cycles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/042 using inductive or magnetic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P

Abstract

A vehicle detection apparatus adopting microwave sensing schemes for performing the multi-lane vehicle detection is provided in the present invention. According to the present invention, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the detected reflecting wave is varied within an inconsiderable range so that the provided apparatus may exhibit a unique property which is adoptable for the multi-lane vehicle detection and the precision is unachievable by the existing detectors.

Claims

1. A microwave vehicle detecting apparatus having a receiving antenna array and a transmitting antenna array with signal-to-noise ratio varied from 28 dB to 34 dB for multi-lane vehicle detection at a respective distance ranged from 5 m to 30 m to the multiple lanes, comprising:

a radio-frequency transceiving unit having a signal input and a signal output and generating a difference-frequency signal therefrom;

a receiving antenna array and a transmitting antenna array, wherein said receiving antenna array and said transmitting antenna array are isolated by a value of at least 40 dB, and the receiving array receives a microwave signal having a signal-to-noise ratio reflecting from a target where said signal-to-noise ratio being varied from 28 dB to 34 dB corresponding to the multiple lanes, and the antenna arrays being configured at a position for the receive antenna array to receive said microwave signal at an elevation angle and being spaced from each other at a distance of less than 5 mm and coupled to said signal input and said signal output respectively;

an adjusting device coupled to said receiving antenna array and said transmitting antenna array for adjusting one of said position and said elevation angle to achieve the signal-to-noise ratio; and

an intermediate-frequency and digital signal processing unit for a real assessment of range measurement coupled to said radio-frequency transceiving unit and generating at least a traffic parameter corresponding to at least a lane in response to said difference-frequency signal, wherein said traffic parameter being selected from a group consisting of a vehicle speed, a vehicle classification, an occupancy, a density and a flow;

thereby said microwave vehicle detecting apparatus being operable for multi-lane vehicle detection.

2. The microwave vehicle detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said radio-frequency transceiving unit made by being integrated into a standard 0.18 μ

m one-poly six-metal (1P6M) complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) as system-on-chip, comprises;

a voltage controlled oscillator;

a buffer amplifier coupled to said voltage controlled oscillator;

a power divider coupled to said buffer amplifier;

a first driving amplifier and a second driving amplifier respectively coupled to said power divider at a first end and a second end thereof;

a mixer coupled to said first driving amplifier; and

a low-noise amplifier coupled to said mixer, wherein said voltage controlled oscillator, said buffer amplifier, said power divider, said first and second driving amplifiers, said mixer and said low-noise amplifier are integrated into the chip.

3. A microwave vehicle detecting apparatus having a receiving antenna array and a transmitting antenna array with signal-to-noise ratio varied from 28 dB to 34 dB for multi-lane vehicle detection at a respective distance ranged from 5 m to 30 m to the multiple lanes, comprising:

a radio-frequency transceiving unit, wherein said radio-frequency transceiving unit made by being integrated into a standard 0.18 μ

m one-poly six-metal (1P6M) complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) as system-on-chip, comprising;

a voltage controlled oscillator;

a buffer amplifier coupled to said voltage controlled oscillator;

a power divider coupled to said buffer amplifier;

a first driving amplifier and a second driving amplifier respectively coupled to said power divider at a first end and a second end thereof;

a mixer coupled to said first driving amplifier; and

a low-noise amplifier coupled to said mixer, wherein said voltage controlled oscillator, said buffer amplifier, said power divider, said first and second driving amplifiers, said mixer and said low-noise amplifier are integrated into the chip;

a receiving antenna array and a transmitting antenna array, wherein said receiving antenna array and said transmitting antenna array are isolated by a value of at least 40 dB, and the receiving antenna array receives a microwave signal having a signal-to-noise ratio reflecting from a target where said signal-to-noise ratio being varied from 28 dB to 34 dB corresponding to the multiple lanes, and the antenna arrays being configured at a position for the receive antenna array to receive said microwave signal at an elevation angle and being spaced from each other at a distance of less than 5 mm and coupled to said signal input and said signal output respectively;

an adjusting device coupled to said receiving antenna array and said transmitting antenna array for adjusting one of said position and said elevation angle to achieve the signal-to-noise ratio; and

an intermediate-frequency and digital signal processing unit for a real assessment of range measurement coupled to said radio-frequency transceiving unit and generating at least a traffic parameter corresponding to at least a lane in response to a difference-frequency signal of the radio-frequency transceiving unit, wherein said traffic parameter being one selected from a group consisting of a vehicle speed, a vehicle classification, an occupancy, a density and a flow;

thereby said microwave vehicle detecting apparatus being operable for multi-lane vehicle detection.