In-car detection of traffic control devices and methods thereof
AssigneeVoice Products Inc.
InventorsMichael G. Kaufman, Kevin Weekly
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Traffic sensor detecting systems are provided for detecting the presence and location of traffic sensors (i.e., embedded induction loop coils) and communicating this information to the driver of a vehicle. The traffic sensor detecting systems can provide navigational information to assist with positioning the vehicle into a proper position over an induction loop coil so that a traffic light controller can be activated, a gate controller can be activated, or other process associated with the embedded induction loop coil can be triggered.
Claims20
A traffic sensor detection system, comprising:
- a detection unit, the detection unit comprising
- a receiver coil, wherein the receiver coil generates a voltage signal responsive to a magnetic field;
- an analog signal conditioning stage, wherein the analog signal conditioning stage receives the voltage signal and generates an analog output;
- a digital signal conditioning stage, wherein the digital signal conditioning stage receives the analog output and generates a digital output;
- a processing unit, wherein the processing unit processes the digital output and generates an output signal;
- an output unit, wherein the output unit transmits an output signal;
- and
- a receiver unit in communication with the output unit, wherein the receiver unit receives the output signal.
A traffic sensor detection system, comprising:
- a detection unit and a receiving unit, wherein the detection unit comprises
- a receiver coil, wherein the receiver coil generates a voltage signal responsive to a magnetic field;
- an analog signal conditioning stage, wherein the analog signal conditioning stage receives the voltage signal and generates an analog output;
- a digital signal conditioning stage, wherein the digital signal conditioning stage receives the analog output and generates a digital output;
- and
- a processing unit and a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus transceiver, wherein the processing unit processes the digital output and transmits an output signal via the Controller Area Network (CAN) bus transceiver over a CAN bus to the receiver unit.
A method of detecting a traffic sensor embedded in a roadway, comprising:
- generating with a receiver coil a voltage in response to a changing magnetic field caused by the presence of the traffic sensor in proximity to the receiver coil, wherein the receiver coil is mounted to a vehicle;
- amplifying the voltage with an analog amplifier;
- filtering the amplified signal to isolate at least one frequency of interest associated with the traffic sensor to generate a filtered signal;
- measuring a power level of the filtered signal;
- converting the power level measurements to a digital signal;
- and
- processing the digital signal to generate an output signal indicative of a location of the traffic sensor relative to the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.