Detecting traffic

• US 9,245,444 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2015
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Salander, LLC
• Original Assignee: Speed Information
• Inventors: Finlay, Doug
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu, Shirley
• Application Number:
  US14/639,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20150179065A1
• Time in Patent Office: 327 Days
• Field of Search: 340/942
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. Radiated energy is captured at a detection device, wherein the radiated energy is radiated from traffic objects. Data associated with the radiated energy is generated. The data associated with the radiated energy is transmitted using a communication device.

Claims

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

a detector comprising a passive array of 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 wireless communicator configured to wirelessly 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 power source is wireless and self-contained.

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

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said power source is hard wired to a power grid.

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

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

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

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

9. 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.

10. 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.

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

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

a detector comprising a passive array of 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 wired communicator configured to transmit said data associated with said radiated energy over a hard wired connection; and

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

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said power source is wireless and self-contained.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein said power source utilizes solar energy.

15. The device of claim 12 wherein said power source is hard wired to a power grid.

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

a detector comprising a passive array of 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 self-contained power source configured to provide power to said detector and said communicator wherein said self-contained power source is wireless.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein said self-contained power source utilizes solar energy.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein said communicator is a wireless modem configured to wireless transmit said data.

19. The device of claim 16 wherein said communicator is hard wired to transmit said data.

20. The device of claim 16 wherein said detector is further configured to over-sample said data associated with said traffic objects.