Device for monitoring disregard of a traffic signal

• US 5,432,547 A
• Filed: 11/16/1992
• Issued: 07/11/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Toyama, Masakazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Tommy P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, RICHARD J
• Application Number:
  US07/977,023
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 358/93, 358/108, 340/933, 340/936, 340/937, 340/928, 340/942, 340/291
• US Class Current: 348/149
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0175 by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/054 photographing overspeeding vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A device for cracking down on disregard of a traffic signal includes a television camera for imaging a road, on which signal lights are mounted at a cross; a vehicle movement measuring instrument for processing image data coming from the television camera and measures traveling position and traveling speed of each vehicle; a signal state detector for detecting an indication color of the signal lights; and a traffic signal disregarding vehicle detector for detecting a vehicle which has disregarded a traffic signal, based on the traveling position and the traveling speed of the vehicle measured by the vehicle movement measuring instrument and the indication color of the signal lights detected by the signal state detector. The vehicle movement measuring instrument measures the distance from the cross and the speed of the vehicle. In the case where there is a vehicle traveling within the cross, while the signal state detector detects a red indication of the signal lights, it is detected as a vehicle which has disregarded the traffic signal, and a recorder records the traveling state and the registration number thereof.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring disregard of a traffic signal comprising:

a television camera for imaging a road above which signal lights are mounted;

vehicle movement measuring means for processing image data provided by said television camera and for measuring traveling position and traveling speed of a vehicle based on processing of said image data;

signal state detecting means for detecting a signal state of said signal lights;

traffic signal disregarding vehicle detecting means for detecting whether said vehicle has disregarded a traffic signal, based on said traveling position and said traveling speed of said vehicle measured by said vehicle movement measuring means and said signal state of said signal lights detected by said signal state detecting means;

traveling state recording means for recording a traveling state of said vehicle when said traffic signal disregarding vehicle detecting means detects that said vehicle has disregarded said traffic signal;

registration number recording means for detecting and recording a registration number on a number plate of said vehicle when said traffic signal disregarding vehicle detecting means detects that said vehicle has disregarded said traffic signal;

transmission means for transmitting an alert to a police box, a police station or a patrol car, when said traffic signal disregarding vehicle detecting means detects that said vehicle has disregarded said traffic signal; and

signal indication change instruction means for transmitting an instruction to cause a next signal light located in a traveling direction of said vehicle to be red, when said traffic signal disregarding vehicle detecting means detects that said vehicle has disregarded said traffic signal.

2. A device for monitoring disregard of a traffic signal according to claim 1, wherein said signal state detecting means detects said signal state of said signal lights by inputting a lightening control signal from a traffic signal controller, which controls lightening of said signal lights.

3. A device for monitoring disregard of a traffic signal according to claim 1, wherein said signal state detecting means detects said signal state of said signal lights by processing image data relating to said signal lights provided by said television camera.

4. A device for monitoring disregard of a traffic signal comprising:

a television camera for imaging a road above which signal lights are mounted;

vehicle movement measuring means for processing image data provided by said television camera and for measuring traveling position and traveling speed of a vehicle based on processing of said image data;

signal state detecting means for detecting a signal state of said signal lights;

traffic signal disregarding vehicle detecting means for detecting whether said vehicle has disregarded a traffic signal, based on said traveling position and said traveling speed of said vehicle measured by said vehicle movement measuring means and said signal state of said signal lights detected by said signal state detecting means;

traveling state recording means for recording a traveling state of said vehicle when said traffic signal disregarding vehicle detecting means detects that said vehicle has disregarded said traffic signal;

transmission means for transmitting an alert to a police box, a police station or a patrol car, when said traffic signal disregarding vehicle detecting means detects that said vehicle has disregarded said traffic signal; and

signal indication change instruction means for transmitting an instruction to cause a next signal light located in a traveling direction of said vehicle to be red, when said traffic signal disregarding vehicle detecting means detects that said vehicle has disregarded said traffic signal.

5. A device for monitoring disregard of a traffic signal according to claim 4, wherein said signal state detecting means detects said signal state of said signal lights by inputting a lightening control signal from a traffic signal controller, which controls lightening of said signal lights.

6. A device for monitoring disregard of a traffic signal according to claim 4, wherein said signal state detecting means detects said signal state of said signal lights by processing image data relating to said signal lights provided by said television camera.

7. A device for monitoring disregard of a traffic signal comprising:

a television camera for imaging a road above which signal lights are mounted;

vehicle movement measuring means for processing image data provided by said television camera and for measuring traveling position and traveling speed of a vehicle based on processing of said image data;

signal state detecting means for detecting a signal state of said signal lights;

traffic signal disregarding vehicle detecting means for detecting whether said vehicle has disregarded a traffic signal, based on said traveling position and said traveling speed of said vehicle measured by said vehicle movement measuring means and said signal state of said signal lights detected by said signal state detecting means;

registration number recording means for detecting and recording a registration number on a number plate of said vehicle when said traffic signal disregarding vehicle detecting means detects that said vehicle has disregarded said traffic signal;

transmission means for transmitting an alert to a police box, a police station or a patrol car, when said traffic signal disregarding vehicle detecting means detects that said vehicle has disregarded said traffic signal; and

signal indication change instruction means for transmitting an instruction to cause a next signal light located in a traveling direction of said vehicle to be red, when said traffic signal disregarding vehicle detecting means detects that said vehicle has disregarded said traffic signal.

8. A device for monitoring disregard of a traffic signal according to claim 7, wherein said signal state detecting means detects said signal state of said signal lights by inputting a lightening control signal from a traffic signal controller, which controls lightening of said signal lights.

9. A device for monitoring disregard of a traffic signal according to claim 7, wherein said signal state detecting means detects said signal state of said signal lights by processing image data relating to said signal lights provided by said television camera.