COMPACT SINGLE LENS LASER SYSTEM FOR OBJECT/VEHICLE PRESENCEAND SPEED DETERMINATION

• Main Authors: FIELD, CHRISTOPHER, SEAS, ANTONIOS, SIROTA, J. MARCOS
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 28.12.2005
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: ALARM SYSTEMS; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION ORRERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; MEASURING; MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION,OR SHOCK; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; PHYSICS; RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; SIGNALLING; SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; TESTING; TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS

A compact system for determining the presence and speed of an object/vehicl e, and its application for Red Light Camera photo-enforcement is disclosed. The disclosed system uses accurate timing, laser radiation in the form of optical pulses, and the scattering effect of optical pulses from the road or vehicle surface to determine the presence of a vehicle, and estimate its speed. The system can determine whether an object/vehicle is present at a specific location, estimate its height, and i n the case that the object/vehicle is moving, the system can estimate its speed. Combining the disclosed technology with commercially available digital recording techniques and equipment, a traffic photo-enforcement system can be constructed. The system is capable o f monitoring traffic in an intersection/highway, measure vehicle speed, identi fy potential traffic violations, and trigger a visual recording device such as a camera o r video system for documenting a violation. The system can serve as a tool by law enforceme nt agencies and research groups for other applications, such as measurement of traffic density, monitor vehicle speed, and the study of traffic patterns. Other important information that can be generated from the disclosed system is the profile of a moving object/vehicle, the length of the moving object/vehicle, and whether the moving object/vehicle w as accelerating or decelerating. Further analysis of the recorded data can yiel d information relevant to the make and model of the passing vehicles.