Abstract: A sensor for obtaining vehicular traffic data is described. The sensor includes a housing having a front surface. The sensor also includes an antenna plate having an antenna ground surface and a radiating surface. The antenna plate is disposed within the housing for transmitting radiation to a vehicle through the front surface and for receiving the radiation reflected back from the vehicle through the front surface. A transceiver circuit plate is disposed within the housing for electrically driving the antenna plate. The transceiver circuit plate has a component side for supporting circuit components and a circuit ground side for grounding the circuit components. The antenna ground surface is between the radiating surface and the transceiver circuit plate. A processor unit drives and processes electrical signals from the transceiver circuit plate to obtain vehicular traffic data.

Abstract: A traffic sensor and a method of operating the traffic sensor to collect vehicular traffic data for a road is described. The traffic sensor has (a) a radar module for generating radar-based vehicle data regarding a plurality of vehicles passing the sensor field of view based on detection and measurement of traffic; (b) an image module for generating image data representing a plurality of images of the road and the traffic; and, (c) a traffic sensor enclosure for enclosing both the radar module and the image module.

Abstract: A traffic sensor is mounted at a fixed location to monitor multiple lanes of traffic. The traffic sensor (a) generates a programmable time-varying modulating signal; (b) generates a modulated microwave signal based on the programmable time-varying modulating signal; (c) radiates the modulated microwave signal in a radiation beam at an object; (d) provides a proportional calibration signal based on the modulated microwave signal; (e) measures parameters of the calibration signal, and (f) corrects the programmable time-varying modulating signal based on the parameters of the calibration signal.

Abstract: A method and system for determining a position of a vehicle within a field of view using a traffic sensor are provided. This involves (a) mounting the traffic sensor at a fixed location relative to a road; (b) modulating a microwave signal to produce a periodic time-varying modulated signal; (c) radiating the periodic time-varying modulated microwave signal in a radiation beam at a vehicle on a road to generate a reflected modulated microwave signal, wherein the reflected periodic time-varying modulated microwave signal induces a first received signal at a first receiver antenna and a second received signal at a second receiver antenna, the second receiver being spaced from the first receiver; and, (d) determining the position of the vehicle on the road within the field of view based on the periodic time-varying modulated signal, the first received signal, and the second received signal, wherein the position of the vehicle is determinable during a single period of the periodic time-varying modulated signal.

Abstract: A traffic sensor and a method of operating the traffic sensor to collect vehicular traffic data for a road is described. The traffic sensor has (a) a radar module for generating radar-based vehicle data regarding a plurality of vehicles passing the sensor field of view based on detection and measurement of traffic; (b) an image module for generating image data representing a plurality of images of the road and the traffic; and, (c) a traffic sensor enclosure for enclosing both the radar module and the image module.

Abstract: A traffic sensor is mounted at a fixed location to monitor multiple lanes of traffic. The traffic sensor (a) generates a programmable time-varying modulating signal; (b) generates a modulated microwave signal based on the programmable time-varying modulating signal; (c) radiates the modulated microwave signal in a radiation beam at an object; (d) provides a proportional calibration signal based on the modulated microwave signal; (e) measures parameters of the calibration signal, and (f) corrects the programmable time-varying modulating signal based on the parameters of the calibration signal.

Abstract: Vehicular traffic data is obtained using a traffic sensor having an antenna/transceiver module, a DSP and a microcomputer. This involves (a) transmitting radiation at a vehicles on a roadway; (b) receiving the radiation reflected back from the vehicles; (c) producing a stream of electrical signals based on the radiation reflected back from the vehicles; (d) processing the stream of electrical signals using the DSP to determine if a vehicle detection threshold is met, and, if the vehicle detection threshold is met, to determine an initial vehicle position; (e) when the vehicle detection threshold is met, generating a first signal representing the initial vehicle position using the DSP; (f) transmitting the first signal to the microcomputer; (g) deriving a first traffic information signal from the first signal using the microcomputer; (h) transmitting the first traffic information signal to an external traffic management system.

Abstract: A sensor for obtaining vehicular traffic data is described. The sensor includes a housing having a front surface. The sensor also includes an antenna plate having an antenna ground surface and a radiating surface. The antenna plate is disposed within the housing for transmitting radiation to a vehicle through the front surface and for receiving the radiation reflected back from the vehicle through the front surface. A transceiver circuit plate is disposed within the housing for electrically driving the antenna plate. The transceiver circuit plate has a component side for supporting circuit components and a circuit ground side for grounding the circuit components. The antenna ground surface is between the radiating surface and the transceiver circuit plate. A processor unit drives and processes electrical signals from the transceiver circuit plate to obtain vehicular traffic data.

Abstract: A method of operating a traffic sensor to define ranges of centers of traffic lanes from the traffic sensor is described. The method comprises a) providing a set of lane center variables representing the ranges of the centers of the traffic lanes from the traffic sensor; b) initializing each lane center variable in the set of lane center variables to have an associated starting range value; and then, c) updating the set of lane center variables by, for each vehicle in a plurality of vehicles, i) detecting the vehicle, ii) determining an associated lane center variable having an associated lane center range value closest to the vehicle; iii) estimating a vehicle displacement from the associated lane center range value, and iv) calculating a new lane center range value for the associated lane centre variable using the associated lane center range value and the vehicle displacement.