Abstract: A traffic monitoring system has a common housing for a Doppler radar transceiver, a video camera, and a digital computer for processing the Doppler signal. The system also includes a video cassette recorder, a high-speed photographic camera, and a laptop computer for downloading control settings and a program from a diskette or memory card to the digital computer. The digital computer performs an initial self-test by injecting a calibration signal in lieu of a Doppler signal into an electronic interface between the radar transceiver and the digital computer. The radar transceiver generates a Doppler signal having two channels, and the phase between the channels indicates whether a vehicle is approaching or receding from the radar transceiver. The two channels are recorded on the left and right audio channels of the video cassette.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting fault conditions within a vehicle recording device are disclosed herein. The fault detection technique may be implemented in a vehicle in which are incorporated one or more vehicle sensors for monitoring one or more operational parameters of the vehicle. A recording device disposed within the vehicle is used to collect vehicle operation data produced by the one or more vehicle sensors.The fault detection technique of the invention contemplates storing a current time value at regular intervals during periods in which the recording device is provided with a source of main power. Time differences are determined between consecutive ones of the stored time values, and the time differences compared to a predetermined maximum value. A power loss fault condition is registered when at least one of the time differences exceeds the predetermined maximum value.

Abstract: With a traffic monitoring device for photographic recording of vehicles exceeding a predetermined speed, the speed of the approaching traffic is measured substantially against the travelling direction. The vehicles (12) are photographed frontally when they exceed the predetermined speed. Two speed measurements are effected: A first measuring value is obtained in a relatively short part of the available measuring section (22) on the entrance side and serves to release a camera (18). A second measuring value evaluates all speed measuring values occuring in the measuring section (22), in which the vehicle (12) is detected by the radar beam (20). This second measuring value is recorded.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for logging data corresponding to the motion of a vehicle. Programmable variables in the logger are set when it is connected to a remote indicating device. The logger is then installed in the vehicle and connected to power and motion sensor lines. The logger monitors electrical signals from the motion sensor and determines the relative speed of the vehicle. Information is stored in the memory of the logger for each stop of the vehicle. Such information may include the maximum speed since the last stop, the distance, date, and time the maximum speed occurred, and the distance, date, time, and duration of the stop and any short intermediate stops. The logger contains circuitry for merging together information data groups for each stop in the memory, thereby allowing the longest stops to define the boundaries of the data information groups.

Abstract: An improved electronic data recorder for use in a vehicle includes a housing having a pair of connectors. The housing encloses a modular converter, a printer module, a continuous roll of paper, a modular paper advance mechanism, conversion electronics, and memory and computation electronics. Also included in the housing are a driver code input keypad, a clock and date display, and keys for selecting a variety of functions. The data recorder connects to a free end of a rotatable odometer-speedometer cable between a rotating part of a vehicle to which the cable is attached and the vehicle odometer-speedometer. The data recorder also connects to the vehicle battery and ignition switch. The rotational motion of the cable is communicated into the housing of the data recorder by one of the connectors and from there into the modular converter. The converter converts the rotational motion into a plurality of unique electrical signals representative of mileage.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring and recording accelerations or other physical quantities experienced by easily damaged items of commerce such as fruit and electronic computers. A triaxial accelerometer or other suitable sensor produces signals which are sampled by a microprocessor operating according to a program stored in a read-only memory. When the sampled accelerations or other physical quantities exceed a predetermined threshold, samples are stored in a random access memory, along with their times of occurrence. The apparatus provides a serial port for reading out the recorded acceleration data. The data may then be subjected to further processing externally.

Abstract: An electronic hub odometer employs a permanent magnet and a magnetic reed switch for recording the number of revolutions of a vehicle wheel to which the odometer is mounted. A programmable integrated circuit electrically communicates with a clock crystal and the magnetic reed switch to automatically produce data relative to the time, distance and rate of travel of the associated vehicle. The data is stored in a random access memory integrated circuit. An infrared light emitting diode is employed for transmitting the data from the odometer to a remote unit. Information is also transmitted to the odometer from a remote unit via a photo-optical detector.

Abstract: Vehicle speed values are preliminarily stored in an apparatus including a pulse generator 2 coupled to a speed sensor 1, a microprocessor 4 and an electronic memory 14, and a visual speed reconstruction is provided by reading out data from the memory 14 to an external recording instrument 32. The pulses generated with separations corresponding to a given road length act as interrupt signals for a counting operation performed in the microprocessor 4 so that the count or a speed value derived therefrom is transferred for each interrupt signal to the memory 14. The memory has a number of series-arranged memory blocks 15-18 having cyclically addressed memory locations arranged as circular lists and divided into sections having an equal number of memory locations, with a marking of the first memory location in each section.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for recording operating condition information regarding transportation equipment and for determining the accuracy of recorded duration of the operating conditions. The system includes a first recording member for recording the operating condition information and a second recording member for recording time information in a predetermined pattern with accurate duration recording of the operating condition information and where such predetermined pattern is broken with inaccurate duration recording of the operating condition information.

Abstract: The disclosed tachograph writes work data for motor vehicle work into a microprocessor-controlled EEPROM semiconductor memory mounted on a movable data card carried by the driver. A printing device prints out the content of a data card memory in the form of a tabular drive record in plain language. The face of the tachograph includes receiving slots located next to one another for the data cards of a driver and a co-driver, as well as a line display for guiding the driver as to how to key in information. A front slot in the face of the tachograph receives an unimprinted paper sheet. Two keys enter the work times, while the functions concerning the print-out of the driving record are controllable with a keyboard on the basis of information on the line display.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recording system for recording operating parameter information on transportation equipment, such as large trucks and the like. The recording system includes at least one circuit line for operation thereof and is characterized by a sensor for sensing circuit line impedence changes indicative of unauthorized shut down of the system, as well as a recording member responsive to the sensor for visually recording any occurrences of these impedence changes on the recording medium.

Abstract: A load-sensing mat comprising a pair of superposed spaced capacitance plates held together in a mat by resilient material. The load-sensing mat also contains a conductive loop for inductance dependent load detection.

Abstract: A system for and a method of recording information concerning vehicle operation comprising a logic circuit interfacing with a microprocessor whereby accurate velocity information can be recorded to provide a precise record of operation, including acceleration and deceleration information, over a period of time.

Abstract: The apparatus measures the braking of the vehicle and the turning action on the wheels, secondarily the speed and the acceleration or the running of the engine. It records these measurements graphically and simultaneously so that, if necessary, the driver may correct his mistakes. A warning is activated if the vehicle is braked and its wheels are turned at the same time. This warning is graphic, audible or visual. The apparatus is useful for driving instruction and tests.

Abstract: A device for recording time markings on a speed graph in a tachograph includes a support mounting a pair of rods on which a slide is movably displaceable. The slide supports a recording member or stylus for marking the graph. An electromagnet is arranged to tilt the slide and laterally displace the stylus for a brief period of time in the direction of the time coordinate of the tachograph for effecting a marking on the speed graph.

Abstract: Speed data samples from an ordinary digital speedometer are written sequentially into a number of addressed memory locations. Each new entry replaces the oldest entry then in memory. This writing process occurs only when the vehicle is moving, so the memory cannot be erased when the vehicle is at rest. The last writing address used is retained. Any stored data sample may be recalled and displayed by presenting its address. The time-before-vehicle-stop of the displayed recalled data corresponds to the sequential interval between the recalling address and the last-used writing address. In the most convenient modification, the user stepwise specifies the sequential interval and the device produces the appropriate recalling address.

Abstract: A digital tachograph system includes a vehicle unit operative to detect vehicle performance characteristics such as vehicle speed, elapsed trip distance, engine rpm, total engine revolutions, total fuel consumption, rate of fuel consumption and the like as a function of time. The forgoing vehicle performance characteristic data is displayed in the vehicle unit and is stored in a data memory located therein. A fixed base unit includes a central computer system for processing vehicle performance data, storing the data in a memory file and for reading out the vehicle performance data in the form of a printout, graph plot, CRT display or the like. The vehicle performance data may be transferred from the vehicle unit to a field terminal which connects to the central computer system either by means of a cable connection by directly interconnecting said portable memory unit or by radio transmission means.

Abstract: Sensors are positioned adjacent a roadway. Such sensors conveniently comprise pressure switches connected to two speed hoses to be run over as in a traffic counter. Alternately, photo-optical, acoustical, or magnetic field sensors can be used. The sensors are spaced a predetermined distance apart in the direction of travel, and provide information to a logic system to measure the speed of vehicles traveling along the roadway. The logic system is connected to a simple readout sign displayed for observation by drivers of vehicles along such roadway, which sign indicates whether a vehicle is traveling at a proper rate, or too fast or too slow, or too close to a preceding vehicle. A modified motion picture camera is provided adjacent the roadway to film a vehicle that is moving too rapidly, and a modified film editing device is provided for counting the frames exposed, and thereby to determine the speed of such vehicle. This latter device preferably reads out direct in miles per hour.

Abstract: An electronic tachograph for providing a chart recording of the speed of a vehicle and the distance travelled by the vehicle in relation to time includes an input transducer coupled to the vehicle drive to provide distance pulses representing the distance travelled by the vehicle, a sampling circuit which samples the distance pulses at a predetermined rate and provides pulses to a speed counter and a distance counter which responsively provide control outputs representative of the speed of the vehicle and the distance travelled by the vehicle for controlling stepping motors which effect the positioning of a speedometer shaft and the incrementing of an odometer, and for moving a speed stylus and an odometer stylus on a recording chart which is driven by a further stepping motor controlled by outputs of a time base generator which supplies timing pulses to the sampling circuit and the speed control circuits.

Abstract: A locomotive speed recorder system having a gear train drive operable off the drive wheel of a locomotive, in which system a pneumatically operable cam bar is provided for disengaging the gear train drive so as to de-activate the recorder during dead-head engine runs. A changeable gear train is utilized to effect drive wheel wear compensation; and a right angle drive from the drive wheel incorporates reduction gearing to reduce wear of a flexible cable connecting the right angle drive with the recorder.

Abstract: A tape recorder module vehicle operation data, on-board. The module is removed from the vehicle and data is played back at a ground station. A telecommunication link exists with a remote data processing system for processing the played back data.