Traffic light signal system using radar-based target detection and tracking
First Claim
1. A signaling system, comprising;
- a traffic signal controller adapted to couple to a traffic control indicator, the traffic signal controller adapted to control different states of the traffic control indicator;
a signal state information module having a state of a traffic control indicator;
an RF transmitter operable to transmit signals toward at least one object/vehicle target;
an RF receiver operable to receive reflected signals from at least one said object/vehicle target; and
a radar/traffic processor coupled to the traffic signal controller and the signal state information module, and adapted to receive signals from the RF receiver;
the radar/traffic processor having an algorithm operable to determine characteristics of the object/vehicle targets and dynamically cause the traffic signal controller to control a state of the traffic control indicator in response thereto.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A novel system and method of integrating an RF emissions device, such as a radar system (103A), within a traffic control indicator (101) system. The system and method determines, using LFM-CW radar signals (201) and a multi-stage spectral processing algorithm (600), if one or more object/vehicle targets will enter an intersection and comprises receiving a radar echo response (203) indicating the object/vehicle target (104) is approaching the intersection, receiving range and velocity of the object/vehicle targets (104), and based on the receiving, determining if the object/vehicle target (104) will enter the intersection. The system and method can programmatically be configured to activate red-light-hold, green-light-extension, or left-turn-warning.
148 Citations
73 Claims
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1. A signaling system, comprising;
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a traffic signal controller adapted to couple to a traffic control indicator, the traffic signal controller adapted to control different states of the traffic control indicator;
a signal state information module having a state of a traffic control indicator;
an RF transmitter operable to transmit signals toward at least one object/vehicle target;
an RF receiver operable to receive reflected signals from at least one said object/vehicle target; and
a radar/traffic processor coupled to the traffic signal controller and the signal state information module, and adapted to receive signals from the RF receiver;
the radar/traffic processor having an algorithm operable to determine characteristics of the object/vehicle targets and dynamically cause the traffic signal controller to control a state of the traffic control indicator in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 47, 48)
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44. An apparatus for controlling a traffic intersection, comprising;
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a traffic signal controller coupled to a traffic control indicator, adapted to change states of the traffic control indicator;
a radar operable to receive signals from a plurality of object/vehicle targets;
a signal state information module having a state of a traffic control indicator;
a radar/traffic processor coupled to the traffic signal controller and signal state information module and adapted to receive signals from the radar;
the radar/traffic processor having an algorithm operable to determine characteristics of the object/vehicle targets and dynamically cause the traffic signal controller to control the states of the traffic control indicator in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46)
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49. A method for determining if an object/vehicle target will enter an intersection, comprising:
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receiving a radar echo response indicating the object/vehicle target is approaching the intersection;
determining a range of the object/vehicle target and a velocity of the object/vehicle target; and
based on the object/vehicle range and velocity, determining if the object/vehicle target will enter the intersection. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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70. A method of controlling a traffic signal at an intersection, comprising:
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directing radar emissions at oncoming object/vehicle targets;
receiving the reflected radar emissions at the radar receiver; and
controlling a traffic control indicator via a traffic signal controller as a function of the received radar reflections. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72, 73)
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Specification