Traffic monitoring device

• US 4,988,994 A
• Filed: 08/11/1988
• Issued: 01/29/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robot FOTO & Electronic GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Robot FOTO und Electronic GmbH U Company KG
• Inventors: Loeven, Hans-Gerd
• Primary Examiner(s): Orsino, Joseph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Application Number:
  US07/231,083
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 340/936, 340/937, 340/938, 340/933, 342/115
• US Class Current: 340/936
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/56 for comparing two speeds
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/92 for velocity measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/054 photographing overspeeding vehicles

Abstract

A traffic monitoring device mounted in a moving monitoring vehicle comprises a radar device for measuring the relative speed of a vehicle to be detected with respect to the speed of the monitoring vehicle. A speedometer measures the speed of the monitoring vehicle. By means of a releasing mechanism automatically triggered at adjustable limit speeds, a camera is released and the vehicle to be detected is photographed. The relative speed of the vehicle to be detected and the speed of the monitoring device are added in summing means. The sum then corresponds to the absolute speed of the vehicle to be detected. The camera is not released dependent on the relative speed but on the absolute speed of the vehicle to be detected. Thereby, all vehicles exceeding an allowed speed are detected without taking an unnecessary number of pictures.

Claims

1. A traffic monitoring device particularly for use with a moving monitoring vehicle, comprising

a measuring instrument for measuring the relative speed of a vehicle to be detected with respect to the speed of the monitoring vehicle,

a speed measuring means for measuring the speed of the monitoring vehicle,

signal evaluation means to which

a relative speed signal from said measuring instrument indicative of the relative speed of the vehicle to be detected,

the monitoring vehicle speed signal from the speed measuring means,

an adjustable limit speed signal,

a minimum relative speed signal, and

a minimum monitoring vehicle speed signal

are applied, and which comprises

means for comparing the speed of the vehicle to be detected with said limit speed, said comparison using said relative speed signal and taking into account said monitoring vehicle speed signal,

means for comparing said monitoring vehicle speed signal with said minimum monitoring vehicle speed signal,

means for comparing said relative speed signal with said minimum relative speed signal, and

means for providing a releasing signal,

if said comparison indicates exceeding of said limit speed by said vehicle to be detected, and

provided said monitoring vehicle speed signal exceeds said minimum monitoring vehicle speed signal, and

further provided said relative speed signal exceeds said minimum relative speed signal, and

a photographic camera for photographing the vehicle to be detected, and releasing means triggered by said releasing signal for automatically releasing said photographic camera.

2. A traffic monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, in which warning means are provided, which are adapted to be switched-on and -off and which supply an acoustic and/or optical signal when the speed of the monitoring vehicle drops below a predetermined lower limit value.

3. A traffic monitoring device as claimed in claim 1 in which warning means are provided, which are adapted to be switched-on and -off and which supply an acoustic and/or optical signal when the speed of the monitoring vehicle exceeds a predetermined upper limit value.

4. A traffic monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, in which a speed controller is provided, which is adapted to be switched-on and -off and by means of which the speed of the monitoring vehicle automatically is kept between said predetermined limit values.

5. A traffic monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, in which digital indication means are provided for indicating the relative speed and an absolute speed of the vehicle to be detected and the speed of the monitoring vehicle.

6. A traffic monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, in which the automation of the releasing means is adapted to be switched-off so that the releasing means may be manually activated whereby the traffic monitoring device is capable of use as a stationary traffic monitoring device in the form of a radar device.

7. A traffic monitoring device as claimed in claim 5, in which the relative and absolute speeds of the vehicle to be detected and the speed of the monitoring vehicle are adapted to be recorded in a photograph achieved by means of said photographic camera.

8. A traffic monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, in which said photographic camera is used for preparing photographic documentation of the vehicle to be detected.

9. A traffic monitoring device as claimed in claim 8, in which the display of said indication means is contained in the photographic documentation.

10. A traffic monitoring device as claimed in claim 6, in which an instantaneous mode of operation of the traffic monitoring device is adapted to be indicated and recorded.

11. A traffic monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the traffic monitoring device is pivotable.

12. A traffic monitoring device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the traffic monitoring device is adapted to be stopped in one or several predetermined positions.

13. A traffic monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the traffic monitoring device is removable.