Traffic event recording method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A method for determining the condition of a traffic controlling semaphore at a street intersection at the time of a collision in said intersection, said semaphore including a controller, said method comprising the steps of placing an audio sensor in the vicinity of said intersection, providing computing means within said controller, providing clock means within said controller, feeding audio signals from said audio sensor to said computing means, monitoring said audio signals for sounds above a minimum decibel level that constitutes a loud event, feeding semaphore controlling signals to said computing means, creating a record at the time of each loud event, said record comprising status of said semaphore, date and time, and recording said record on a recording means.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for determining the condition of a traffic controlling semaphore has an audio sensor mounted in the vicinity of an intersection so the sound level is monitored at all times. A computer is placed into the semaphore controller, and the computer receives the audio signal, a time signal, and a signal representing the status of the semaphore. When a sound is detected above a certain minimum level, which is above the usual traffic noise, a record is generated by the computer, and recorded in permanent form, perhaps printed on paper. The record includes the date, time, and status of the semaphore.
100 Citations
7 Claims
- 1. A method for determining the condition of a traffic controlling semaphore at a street intersection at the time of a collision in said intersection, said semaphore including a controller, said method comprising the steps of placing an audio sensor in the vicinity of said intersection, providing computing means within said controller, providing clock means within said controller, feeding audio signals from said audio sensor to said computing means, monitoring said audio signals for sounds above a minimum decibel level that constitutes a loud event, feeding semaphore controlling signals to said computing means, creating a record at the time of each loud event, said record comprising status of said semaphore, date and time, and recording said record on a recording means.
- 5. Apparatus for determining the condition of a traffic controlling semaphore at a street intersection at the time of a collision in said intersection, said semaphore including a controller for generating signals to control said semaphore, computing means within said controller, clock means within said controller for providing date and time to said computing means, circuit means for providing said signals to control said semaphore to said computing means, an audio sensor in the vicinity of said intersection for providing audio signals to said computing means, means for determining when said audio signals are above a minimum decibel level that constitutes a loud event, means for creating a record at the time of each loud event, said record comprising status of said semaphore, date and time, and recording means for said record.
Specification
-
- Resources
-
Current AssigneeOtto M. Rodriguez
-
Original AssigneeOtto M. Rodriguez
-
InventorsRodriguez, Otto M.
-
Primary Examiner(s)Mullen, Thomas
-
Assistant Examiner(s)TONG, NINA C
-
Application NumberUS08/800,109Time in Patent Office362 DaysField of Search340/937, 340/907, 340/909, 340/915, 340/916, 340/917, 340/902, 340/903, 340/904, 340/905US Class Current340/937CPC Class CodesG08G 1/0104 Measuring and analyzing of ...
