Detecting targets in roadway intersections

• US 7,889,098 B1
• Filed: 08/24/2009
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wavetronix
• Original Assignee: Wavetronix
• Inventors: Jarrett, Bryan R., Karlinsey, Thomas W., Smith, Ryan L., Jarvis, Dale M., Waite, Jonathan L., Arnold, David V.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFSASS, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US12/546,219
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 340/907, 340/916, 340/917, 340/933, 340941-943, 343/700.MS
• US Class Current: 340/907
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S13/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/92 for velocity measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/0254 Active array antenna
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/26 varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture H01Q3/12, H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence

Abstract

The present invention extends to detecting targets in roadway intersections. A traffic sensor includes a transducer system and a transceiver system. The transducer system creates a plurality of transducer views for detecting targets located in a portion of the intersection. The transducer system includes a transducer configured to transmit signals towards and to receive signals and signal reflections within a portion of the two or more approaches to the intersection. The transducer is configured such that when necessary the transducer can transmit a signal and receive a signal or signal reflection simultaneously. The transceiver system is configured to generate digital data indicative of the transducer receiving a signal or signal reflection. The transducer system and transceiver system interoperate to generate an aggregate sensor view of the intersection that includes a plurality of transducer views of the two or more approaches to the intersection.

Claims

1. A traffic sensor for monitoring an intersection of roadways, the traffic sensor comprising:

a transducer system for creating a plurality of transducer views, each transducer view for detecting targets located in a portion of the intersection of roadways, the transducer system including;

a transducer configured to transmit signals towards targets within the intersection of roadways and configured to receive signals and signal reflections from targets within the intersection of roadways;

a transceiver system configured to generate digital data indicative of the transducer receiving a signal or signal reflection; and

wherein the transducer system and transceiver system interoperate to generate an aggregate sensor view, the aggregate sensor view including a plurality of transducer views of the two or more approaches to the intersection of roadways.

2. The sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein a transducer configured to transmit signals towards a portion of two or more approaches to the intersection of roadways comprises a transducer configured to transmit FMCW signals.

3. The sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein a transducer configured to transmit signals towards a portion of two or more approaches to the intersection of roadways comprises a transducer configured to transmit one or more of:

an acoustic signal;

a laser signal;

a non-coherent light signal; and

an infrared signal.

4. The sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein a transducer configured to transmit signals towards a portion of two or more approaches to the intersection of roadways comprises a transducer configured to transmit a microwave signal.

5. The sensor as recited in claim 4, wherein each transducer comprises a printed microwave antenna.

6. The sensor as recited in claim 4, wherein the transducer comprises:

a plurality of radiating transducer elements; and

a plurality of corresponding phase shifters to control the phase of a signal transmitted through said plurality of radiating transducer elements.

7. The sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein the transducer system comprises one or more additional transducers with the beam of each transducer steered to a different angle.

8. The sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises a mechanically steered transducer capable of at least 360°

of rotational capability.

9. The sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein the aggregate sensor view includes a plurality of transducer views of all approaches of the intersection of roadways.

10. The sensor as recited in claim 1, further comprising

one or more computer-readable storage media, having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the sensor to process received signals and received signal reflections.

11. The sensor as recited in claim 10, wherein the one or more computer-readable storage media, having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the sensor to process received signals and received signal reflections further comprises computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the sensor to detect traffic.

12. The sensor as recited in claim 10, wherein the one or more computer-readable storage media, having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the sensor to process received signals and received signal reflections further comprises computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the sensor to create at least one presence indication.

13. The sensor as recited in claim 10, wherein the one or more computer-readable storage media, having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the sensor to process received signals and received signal reflections further comprises computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the sensor to generate a traffic statistic.

14. The sensor as recited in claim 10, wherein the one or more computer-readable storage media, having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the sensor to process received signals and received signal reflections further comprises computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the sensor to generate a traffic count.

15. The sensor as recited in claim 10, wherein the one or more computer-readable storage media, having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the sensor to process received signals and received signal reflections further comprises computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the sensor to estimate vehicle speed.

16. A traffic sensor for monitoring a roadway intersection, the traffic sensor comprising:

a plurality of transducers, at least two of the transducers configured to transmit signals towards a portion of the roadway intersection and at least two of the transducers configured to receive signals and signal reflections from targets within the portion of the roadway intersection such that the plurality of transducers monitors at least a portion of two or more approaches to the roadway intersection;

a transceiver system configured to;

create a signal that is transmitted through a transmit transducer selected from among the plurality of transducers; and

receive a signal or signal reflection through a receive transducer selected from among of the plurality of transducers; and

wherein the plurality of transducers and the transceiver system interoperate to generate an aggregate sensor view, the aggregate sensor view including a plurality of transducer views of the two or more approaches to the roadway intersection.

17. The traffic sensor as recited in claim 16, wherein each transducer comprises a printed microwave antenna.

18. The traffic sensor as recited in claim 16, wherein the transceiver system includes:

an RF signal generator that upon signal activation generates an RF signal.

19. The traffic sensor as recited in claim 18, wherein the transceiver system includes:

a means for switching the RF signal between the plurality of transducers.

20. The traffic sensor recited in claim 16, wherein the aggregate sensor view of the traffic sensor is 60 degrees or greater.

21. The traffic sensor as recited in claim 16, wherein the traffic sensor comprises three transceiver systems, each transceiver system including a plurality of transducers having an aggregate sensor view of 60 degrees or greater.

22. The traffic sensor recited in claim 16, wherein the transceiver system is further configured to:

receive a signal activation from a processor;

send sensor data to a processor.

23. The traffic sensor recited in claim 16, wherein the transmit transducer and receive transducer are the same transducer selected from among of the plurality of transducers.

24. The traffic sensor recited in claim 16, wherein the transmit transducer and receive transducer are the different transducers selected from among of the plurality of transducers.