Communications: electrical – Traffic control indicator
Patent
1994-10-31
1997-04-01
Hofsass, Jeffery
Communications: electrical
Traffic control indicator
340436, 340905, 340917, 340933, 340936, G08G 108
Patent
active
056170866
ABSTRACT:
A traffic monitoring system comprises a set of in-road sensor arrays for providing signals in response to a vehicle traversing the sensor arrays, a processor unit for processing the signals to determine vehicle speed and specific parameters such as axle count and spacing, and a traffic signal or sign controllable by the processor unit. The processor unit stores data specific to the site at which the traffic monitoring system is installed and uses the site-specific information and the specific parameters measured for the vehicle to determine whether or not to activate the traffic signal or sign. One embodiment is located before a steep downgrade and computes a safe descent speed for a vehicle to descend the downgrade and displays the safe speed on a roadside sign. Another embodiment is located before a curve, such as a highway exit ramp, and uses data such as ramp curvature and superelevation, together with vehicle height and class information to predict whether or not the vehicle will exceed a threshold speed for that vehicle to negotiate that curve without rollover. A third embodiment is located on a steep downgrade approaching a traffic signal controlled intersection and computes whether or not the vehicle is a "runaway" which cannot stop at the intersection if necessary, in which case the system pre-empts the traffic signal to ensure that the vehicle has right or way through the intersection. A video system records vehicles which prompted pre-emption.
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Bergan Terry
Klashinsky Rod
Hofsass Jeffery
International Road Dynamics
Woods Davetta C.
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