Abstract: A radar camera of a signalized traffic control system determines rain intensity, compares it to a threshold, then adjusts traffic signal operation. Rain intensity of a level relative to the threshold causes the traffic control system to operate in a rain intensity mode. The rain intensity mode has the system hold a call to a traffic light controller during the time when rain intensity is above the threshold. The traffic control system includes a radar camera, traffic controller, a computer with memory, and program instructions. A manner of operation includes sampling camera radar, counting the number of raindrops and raindrop size within a predetermined range, determining rain intensity using the measured raindrop parameters/characteristics, comparing the determined rain intensity with a rain intensity threshold, and operating the traffic controller accordingly while the rain intensity is above the threshold.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 27, 2017
Date of Patent:
February 4, 2020
Assignee:
MS Sedco, Inc.
Inventors:
Wei Wang, Jessica L. Myers, Leroy S. Wignot
Abstract: A radar camera of a signalized traffic control system determines rain intensity, compares it to a threshold, then adjusts traffic signal operation. Rain intensity of a level relative to the threshold causes the traffic control system to operate in a rain intensity mode. The rain intensity mode has the system hold a call to a traffic light controller during the time when rain intensity is above the threshold. The traffic control system includes a radar camera, traffic controller, a computer with memory, and program instructions. A manner of operation includes sampling camera radar, counting the number of raindrops and raindrop size within a predetermined range, determining rain intensity using the measured raindrop parameters/characteristics, comparing the determined rain intensity with a rain intensity threshold, and operating the traffic controller accordingly while the rain intensity is above the threshold.
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 27, 2017
Publication date:
November 2, 2017
Applicant:
MS Sedco, Inc.
Inventors:
Wei Wang, Jessica L. Myers, Leroy S. Wignot
Abstract: A traffic control sensor system which provides outputted signals to a receiving traffic control system to assist the traffic control system in making real-time informed green light decisions. Such signals received by the traffic control system include calls for a green light for monitored traffic lanes approaching an intersection. The traffic control sensor system employs various techniques to reduce the number of vehicles that are dropped or occluded. A vehicle is considered to be dropped or occluded whenever the traffic control sensor system first detects the vehicle entering a user defined zone within the approaching lanes to the intersection, and then fails to detect or monitor such vehicle exiting the user defined zones. Occlusion or dropping may occur whenever a sensor is malfunctioning, certain environmental conditions are present, or during any time the sensor's detection signal is interrupted such as from cross traffic entering the monitored intersection.