Detecting traffic

• US 9,000,946 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2010
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Superior Traffic Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Speed Information
• Inventors: Finlay, Doug
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu, Shirley
• Application Number:
  US12/960,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20120139753A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,583 Days
• Field of Search: 340/905, 340/907, 348/148
• US Class Current: 340/905
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/00 Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor for lighting vehicle interior B60Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2200/00 Special features or arrangements of vehicle headlamps
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/00 Traffic control systems for road vehicles arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00 ; automatic vehicle control B62D
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/01 Detecting movement of traffic to be counted or controlled G08G1/07 - G08G1/14 take precedence
• 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 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/065 by counting the vehicles in a section of the road or in a parking area, i.e. comparing incoming count with outgoing count

Abstract

Devices and methods for detecting traffic objects. A detector configured to capture radiated energy and to generate data associated with the radiated energy, wherein the radiated energy is radiated from traffic objects. A communicator configured to transmit the data associated with the radiated energy. A power source configured to provide power to the detector and the communicator.

Claims

1. A device for detecting traffic objects, said device comprising:

a detector comprising a passive array of at least three infrared sensors configured to capture radiated energy within a trap zone defined within a field of view of said at least three infrared sensors wherein said radiated energy is infrared and said detector is further configured to generate data associated with said radiated energy by buffering several samples of said radiated energy within said trap zone, wherein said radiated energy is radiated from traffic objects;

a communicator configured to transmit said data associated with said radiated energy; and

a power source configured to provide power to said detector and said communicator.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said passive array is a two dimensional passive array to capture said radiated energy.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said detector comprises a passive detector for detecting radiated energy.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said communicator is a modem that sends and receives data over a network.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said power source is self contained.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said power source utilizes solar energy.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said traffic objects are vehicles traveling on a surface.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said radiated energy and said data associated with said radiated energy may differ for traffic objects of varying size.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said data associated with said radiated energy contains information related to a speed of said traffic object.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein said data associated with said radiated energy contains information related to lane occupancy by said traffic objects on a roadway.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said radiated energy is generated by said traffic objects disposed in multiple lanes of said roadway.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein said radiated energy is generated by said traffic objects traveling in more than one direction.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein said traffic objects are people.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein said traffic objects is a roadway and said data associated with said radiated energy contains information related to said road a temperature of said roadway.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein said detector is further configured to over-sample said data associated with said traffic objects.

16. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

an image receiving device for capturing images of said traffic objects;

wherein said communicator is further configured to transmit said images of said traffic objects.

17. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a mounting apparatus configured for mounting said detector, said communicator and said power source to an existing structure.

18. A device for detecting traffic objects, said device comprising:

a traffic detector comprising a passive array of at least three infrared sensors configured to detect said traffic objects using infrared radiated energy captured within a trap zone defined within a field of view of said at least three infrared sensors and generate traffic data related to said traffic objects by buffering several samples of said infrared radiated energy within said trap zone;

an image receiving device configured to capture an image of said traffic objects;

a communication device configured to transmit traffic data and said image; and

a power source configured to power said traffic detector, said image receiving device and said communication device.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein said passive array is a two dimensional passive array.

20. The device of claim 18 wherein said traffic detector is configured to use Doppler radar to detect said traffic objects.

21. The device of claim 18 wherein said power source utilizes solar energy.

22. The device of claim 18 wherein said communication device is a modem for sending and receiving data over a network.

23. The device of claim 18 wherein said image receiving device is a digital camera.

24. The device of claim 18 wherein said image receiving device is further configured to capture said image upon receiving a command from a user.

25. The device of claim 18 wherein said image receiving device automatically captures said image based on said traffic data.

26. The device of claim 18 wherein said image receiving device is further configured to adjust a zoom of a lens associated with said image receiving device.

27. The device of claim 18 wherein said image receiving device is further configured to adjust a position of a lens.