Detecting traffic

• US 9,361,799 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2014
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• 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:
  US14/258,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20140226016A1
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• 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 method for detecting traffic, said method comprising:

capturing radiated energy at a detection device within a trap zone defined within a field of view of said at least three infrared sensors associated with said detection device, wherein said radiated energy is radiated from traffic objects;

generating data associated with said radiated energy by buffering several samples of said radiated energy within said trap zone; and

transmitting said data associated with said radiated energy using a communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating electricity using a solar source for powering at least one of said detection device and said communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

capturing an image at an image receiving device of said traffic objects; and

transmitting said image using said communication device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said capturing said radiated energy further comprises capturing infrared radiation.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said capturing said radiated energy further comprises capturing infrared radiation at a two dimensional passive array associated with detection device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said capturing said radiated energy further comprises capturing radiation generated from a vehicle traveling on a surface.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said capturing said radiated energy further comprises capturing radiation generated from a person.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said capturing said radiated energy further comprises capturing radiation generated from a surface.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said generating said data associated with said radiated energy further comprises generating data related to a number of said traffic objects traveling on a surface during a time period.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said generating said data associated with said radiated energy further comprises generating data related to a speed of at least one of said traffic objects.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said generating said data associated with said radiated energy further comprises generating a first type of data related a traffic object of a first size and a second type of data related a traffic object of a second size.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said generating said data associated with said radiated energy further comprises generating data related to a temperature of a surface.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said generating said data associated with said radiated energy further comprises generating data related to lane occupancy of said traffic objects on a roadway.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said communication device is a modem and said transmitting said data associated with said radiated energy further comprises transmitting said data using said modem over a network.

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

16. A method for detecting traffic, said method comprising:

detecting traffic objects at a detection device by capturing radiated energy within a trap zone defined within a field of view of infrared sensors associated with said detection device;

generating traffic data associated with said detecting said traffic objects by buffering several samples of said radiated energy within said trap zone;

capturing an image of said traffic objects at an image receiving device; and

transmitting said traffic data and said image using a communication device.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said radiated energy is radiated from said traffic objects.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said detecting said traffic objects further comprises employing Doppler radar.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein said capturing said image takes place upon a request from a user.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein said capturing said image takes automatically based on said traffic data.