MID-BLOCK TRAFFIC DETECTION AND SIGNAL CONTROL

• US 20090284395A1
• Filed: 12/18/2008
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Road Dynamics Incorporated (Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.))
• Original Assignee: International Road Dynamics Incorporated (Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.))
• Inventors: BUSHMAN, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,502,697 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/907
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/08 according to detected number or speed of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles

Abstract

A method and system for a mid-block traffic detection and traffic signal control system is provided herein that is suited to monitoring heavy commercial vehicles such as trucks is provided. The method comprises detecting a vehicle and determining at least one pre-determined parameter of the vehicle. A traffic condition is evaluated based on the at least one pre-determined parameter. In response to the evaluation of the traffic condition, a traffic signal is controlled.

Claims

1. A method for mid-block detection of vehicles comprising:

detecting a vehicle on a traffic lane;

determining at least one pre-determined parameter of the vehicle;

evaluating a traffic condition based on the at least one pre-determined parameter, and

controlling a traffic signal in response to the evaluation of the traffic condition.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one pre-determined parameter is one of the following:

vehicle speed, vehicle length, vehicle weights;

vehicle axle spacings;

vehicle number of axles; and

time and date of detection of a vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a pre-determined traffic signal is controlled in response to a plurality of detected vehicle parameters.

4. A system for mid-block detection of vehicles comprising:

a sensor for detecting a vehicle in a traffic lane; and

a processor for determining at least one pre-determined parameter of the vehicle and for evaluating a traffic condition based on the at least one pre-determined parameter, wherein

the processor controls a traffic signal in response to the evaluation of the traffic condition.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the at least one pre-determined parameter is one of the following:

vehicle speed;

vehicle length;

vehicle axle weights;

vehicle axle spacings;

vehicle number of axles; and

time and date of detection of a vehicle.