Abstract: A traffic sensor system for detecting and tracking vehicles is describede. A video camera is employed to obtain a video image of a section of a roadway. Motion is detected through changes in luminance and edges in frames of the video image. Predetermined sets of pixels (“tiles”) in the frames are designated to be in either an “active” state or an “inactive” state. A tile becomes active when the luminance or edge values of the pixels of the tile differ from the respective luminance or edge values of a corresponding tile in a reference frame in accordance with predetermined criteria. The tile becomes inactive when the luminance or edge values of the pixels of the tile do not differ from the corresponding reference frame tile in accordance with the is predetermined criteria. Shape and motion of groups of active tiles (“quanta”) are analyzed with software and a neural network to detect and track vehicles.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 13, 1998
Date of Patent:
July 6, 2004
Assignee:
Nestor Traffic Systems, Inc.
Inventors:
Michael T. Glier, Douglas L. Reilly, Michael T. Tinnemeier, Steven I. Small, Steven S. Hsieh, Randall T. Sybel, Mark D. Laird
Abstract: A traffic sensor system for detecting and tracking vehicles is described. The disclosed system may be employed as a traffic light violation prediction system for a traffic signal, and as a collision avoidance system. A video camera is employed to obtain a video image of a section of a roadway. Motion is detected through changes in luminance and edges in frames of the video image. Predetermined sets of pixels (“tiles”) in the frames are designated to be in either an “active” state or an “inactive” state. A tile becomes active when the luminance or edge values of the pixels of the tile differ from the respective luminance or edge values of a corresponding tile in a reference frame in accordance with predetermined criteria. The tile becomes inactive when the luminance or edge values of the pixels of the tile do not differ from the corresponding reference frame tile in accordance with the predetermined criteria.
Type:
Application
Filed:
May 10, 2001
Publication date:
May 9, 2002
Applicant:
Nestor Traffic Systems, Inc.
Inventors:
Michael T. Glier, Douglas L. Reilly, Michael T. Tinnemeier, Steven I. Small, Steven S. Hsieh, Randall T. Sybel, Mark D. Laird