← Back to Patent Explorer
US5283573A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Traffic flow measuring method and apparatus

Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
•
Filing: 1991-04-29
•
Granted: 1994-02-01
•
Expires: 2011-04-29
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract This invention relates to a method an apparatus for measuring traffic flows or in other words, the flows of vehicles, inside and near a crossing, and is directed to provide method and apparatus capable of extracting vehicles with a high level of accuracy. Overlap of vehicles can be avoided by setting the field of a camera not to a range from the inflow portion to the vicinity of center of the crossing, but to a range from the center to the vicinity of the outflow portion (151) of the crossing. Accordingly, accuracy of traffic flow measurement can be improved.

Inventors

  • 👤 Masao Takatou
  • 👤 Kazunori Takahashi
  • 👤 Nobuhiro Hamada
  • 👤 Tadaaki Kitamura
  • 👤 Kuniyuki Kikuchi
  • 👤 Hiroshi Takenaga
  • 👤 Yasuo Morooka

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 00:09
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/065; G08G1/07; G08G1/08; G08G1/01; G08G1/04

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim 176 words
A traffic flow measuring apparatus comprising: image input means for taking images of scenes near a crossing; image processing means for executing various image processings for said images taken in said image input means, extracting possible vehicles and providing characteristic quantities of said possible vehicles; and measuring means for determining position data of vehicles based on said characteristic quantities obtained from said image processing means, for tracking said vehicles by use of said position data and for calculating the number of vehicles moving in at least one direction in which vehicles run; wherein said measuring means includes vehicle identification means for identifying vehicles on the basis of a moving range data table of moving range data of vehicles for each time zone associated with the phase of the signal lights of a traffic signal controller, a table of points in the moving direction of each vehicle and priority of said moving range, and vehicle moving direction determination means for determining the moving direction of a vehicle on the basis of said points in the moving direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 176 words
A traffic flow measuring apparatus comprising: image input means for taking images of scenes near a crossing; image processing means for executing various image processings for said images taken in said image input means, extracting possible vehicles and providing characteristic quantities of said possible vehicles; and measuring means for determining position data of vehicles based on said characteristic quantities obtained from said image processing means, for tracking said vehicles by use of said position data and for calculating the number of vehicles moving in at least one direction in which vehicles run; wherein said measuring means includes vehicle identification means for identifying vehicles on the basis of a moving range data table of moving range data of vehicles for each time zone associated with the phase of the signal lights of a traffic signal controller, a table of points in the moving direction of each vehicle and priority of said moving range, and vehicle moving direction determination means for determining the moving direction of a vehicle on the basis of said points in the moving direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 31 words
A traffic flow measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image processing means includes means for calculating at least the area and the coordinates of centroid of said possible vehicles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 145 words
A traffic flow measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said moving range data table includes a value representing a priority of a search corresponding to an existing position of a vehicle; said moving direction point table includes a value representing a moving direction point corresponding to a position of passage of a vehicle; said identification means includes means for identifying a vehicle on the basis of said priority of said moving range and on the basis of position coordinates data of said vehicle; said vehicle moving direction determination means including first means for accumulating moving points of a position of passage of said vehicle and second means for calculating moving direction points corresponding to a moving distance, wherein the moving direction of a vehicle is determined from the maximum value of the moving direction points obtained from both of said first and second means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 40 words
A traffic flow measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said measuring means includes means for preparing said moving range data table and said moving direction point table by learning using data obtained at the time of an on-line measurement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 38 words
A traffic flow measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said measuring means further includes means for calculating the number of vehicles in each vehicle moving direction by use of measurement values of other traffic flow measuring apparatuses.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 54 words
A traffic flow measuring apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said calculating means uses at least the number of inflowing vehicles and the number of outflowing vehicles of each road corresponding to the phase of a signal light of a traffic signal controller as said measurement values of said other traffic flow measuring apparatuses.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 109 words
A traffic flow measuring apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said calculating means uses the values off our time zones of the phase of the signal lights of the traffic signal controller, including a red time zone corresponding to the passage of a time zone a from the start of a red signal, a time zone b occurring after the start of a green signal, a time zone c occupying a time of the green signal after passage of the time zone b from the start of the green signal, and a yellow time zone d, in determining as the numbers of inflowing and outflowing vehicles of each road.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 36 words
A traffic flow measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said measuring means further includes means for calculating a mean vehicle speed in at least one direction among the vehicle speeds for various vehicle moving directions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 37 words
A traffic flow measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image input means and said image processing means are constituted in such a manner as to correspond on an n:1 basis, where n is an integer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 32 words
A traffic flow measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image input means and said image processing means are constituted in such a manner as to correspond on the 1:1 basis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 35 words
A traffic flow measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image input means, said image processing means and said measuring means are constituted in such a manner as to correspond on a 1:1:1 basis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 70 words
A traffic flow measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said measuring means further includes vehicle tracking means for storing block coordinates before, at, and after, a new vehicle appears inside the field of said image input means for each vehicle, and determining means for determining the moving direction of said vehicle by tracking the block coordinates that have been stored already, when said vehicle comes out from said field.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 118 words
A traffic flow measuring apparatus comprising: image input means for taking images of scenes near a crossing; image processing means for executing various image processings for said images taken in said image input means, extracting possible vehicles and providing characteristic quantities of said possible vehicles; and measuring means for determining position data of vehicles based on said characteristic quantities obtained from said image processing means, for tracking said vehicles by use of said position data and for calculating the number of vehicles moving in at least one direction in which vehicles run; wherein said measuring means includes means for checking for an abnormality of said measuring means by use of measurement values of other traffic flow measuring apparatuses.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 118 words
A traffic flow measuring apparatus comprising: image input means for taking images of scenes near a crossing; image processing means for executing various image processings for said images taken in said image input means, extracting possible vehicles and providing characteristic quantities of said possible vehicles; and measuring means for determining position data of vehicles based on said characteristic quantities obtained from said image processing means, for tracking said vehicles by use of said position data and for calculating the number of vehicles moving in at least one direction in which vehicles run; wherein said measuring means includes means for checking for an abnormality of said measuring means by use of measurement values of other traffic flow measuring apparatuses.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 163 words
A traffic flow measuring apparatus comprising: image input means for taking images of scenes near a crossing; image processing means for executing various image processings for said images taken in said image input means, extracting information representing possible vehicles and providing characteristic quantities of said possible vehicles; and measuring means for determining position data of vehicles based on said characteristic quantities obtained from said image processing means, for tracking said vehicles by use of said position data and for calculating the number of vehicles moving in at least one direction in which vehicles run; wherein said measuring means includes first means for measuring (m 2 -3 m+1) of the number of vehicles in a moving direction at an m-way crossing, second means for determining numbers of inflowing and outflowing vehicles of each of k roads, and third means for calculating the [(2k-11] (2k-1) number of vehicles which continue in the moving direction by use of outputs of said first and said second means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 163 words
A traffic flow measuring apparatus comprising: image input means for taking images of scenes near a crossing; image processing means for executing various image processings for said images taken in said image input means, extracting information representing possible vehicles and providing characteristic quantities of said possible vehicles; and measuring means for determining position data of vehicles based on said characteristic quantities obtained from said image processing means, for tracking said vehicles by use of said position data and for calculating the number of vehicles moving in at least one direction in which vehicles run; wherein said measuring means includes first means for measuring (m 2 -3 m+1) of the number of vehicles in a moving direction at an m-way crossing, second means for determining numbers of inflowing and outflowing vehicles of each of k roads, and third means for calculating the [(2k-11] (2k-1) number of vehicles which continue in the moving direction by use of outputs of said first and said second means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 197 words
A traffic flow measuring and controlling apparatus comprising: image input means for taking images of scenes near a crossing; image processing means for executing various image processings for said images taken in said image input means, extracting data representing possible vehicles and providing characteristic quantities of said possible vehicles; measuring means for determining position data of a vehicle based on said characteristic quantities obtained from said image processing means, for tracking said vehicles by use of said position data and for calculating the number of vehicles moving in at least one direction in which vehicles run; and control means for controlling a signal on the basis of an output of said measuring means; wherein said measuring means includes vehicle identification means for identifying vehicles on the basis of a moving range data table of moving range data of vehicles for each time zone associated with the phase of the signal lights of a traffic signal controller, a table of points in the moving direction of each vehicle and priority of said moving range, and vehicle moving direction determination means for determining the moving direction of a vehicle on the basis of said points in the moving direction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 197 words
A traffic flow measuring and controlling apparatus comprising: image input means for taking images of scenes near a crossing; image processing means for executing various image processings for said images taken in said image input means, extracting data representing possible vehicles and providing characteristic quantities of said possible vehicles; measuring means for determining position data of a vehicle based on said characteristic quantities obtained from said image processing means, for tracking said vehicles by use of said position data and for calculating the number of vehicles moving in at least one direction in which vehicles run; and control means for controlling a signal on the basis of an output of said measuring means; wherein said measuring means includes vehicle identification means for identifying vehicles on the basis of a moving range data table of moving range data of vehicles for each time zone associated with the phase of the signal lights of a traffic signal controller, a table of points in the moving direction of each vehicle and priority of said moving range, and vehicle moving direction determination means for determining the moving direction of a vehicle on the basis of said points in the moving direction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 33 words
A traffic flow measuring and controlling apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said image processing means includes means for calculating at least the area and coordinates of a centroid of a possible vehicle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 149 words
A traffic flow measuring and controlling apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said moving range data table includes a value representing a priority of a search corresponding to an existing position of a vehicle; said moving direction point table includes a value representing a moving direction point corresponding to a position of passage of a vehicle; said identification means includes means for identifying a vehicle on the basis of said priority of said moving range and on the basis of position coordinates data of said vehicle; and said vehicle moving direction determination means including first means for accumulating moving points of a position of passage of said vehicle, second means for calculating moving direction points corresponding to a moving distance and third means for determining the moving direction of a vehicle from the maximum value of the moving direction points obtained from both of said first and second means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 42 words
A traffic flow measuring and controlling apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said measuring means includes means for preparing said moving range data table and said moving direction point table by learning using data obtained at the time of an on-line measurement.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 40 words
A traffic flow measuring and controlling apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said measuring means further includes means for calculating the number of vehicles in each vehicle moving direction by use of measurement values of other traffic flow measuring apparatuses.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 48 words
A traffic flow measuring and controlling apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said calculating means includes means for determining at least the number of inflowing vehicles and the number of outflowing vehicles of each road corresponding to the phase signal of a traffic controller traffic flow measuring apparatuses.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 107 words
A traffic flow measuring and controlling apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said calculating means uses the values of four time zones of a phase of signal lights of the traffic signal controller, including a red time zone corresponding to the passage of time a from the start of a red signal, a time zone b occurring after the start of a green signal, a time zone c occupying a time of the green signal after passage of the time zone b from the start of the green signal, and a yellow time zone d, in determining the numbers of inflowing and outflowing vehicles of each road.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 33 words
A traffic flow measuring and controlling apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said measuring means further includes means for calculating a mean vehicle speed in at least one direction in which vehicles run.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 39 words
A traffic flow measuring and controlling apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said image input means and said image processing means are constituted in such a manner as to correspond on an n:1 basis, where n is an integer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 34 words
A traffic flow measuring and controlling apparatus according to claim 15, herein said image input means and said image processing means are constituted in such a manner as to correspond on a 1:1 basis.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 37 words
A traffic flow measuring and controlling apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said image input means, said image processing means and said measuring means are constituted in such a manner as to correspond on a 1:1:1 basis.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 45 words
A traffic flow measuring and controlling apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said control means includes means for performing on-line signal control of a traffic signal light on the basis of a result of statistical processing of a measurement result produced by said measuring means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 43 words
A traffic flow measuring apparatus according to claim 26, including means for correcting at least one of a plurality of parameters including a cycle, a split and an offset, on an on-line basis, on the basis of the result of said statistical processing.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 53 words
A traffic flow measuring apparatus according to claim 30, including means for determining a traffic condition of at least one of a right turn lane and a left turn preferential lane and a status of a right turn-only signal on an off-line basis on the basis of the result of said statistical processing.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 48 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, for measuring traffic flow near a crossing, wherein image data from a camera whose field is set to a range from the center of said crossing to the vicinity of its outflow portion is used as input data to said measuring apparatus.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 39 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein image data from the camera whose field is set in such a manner as not to cover a traffic signal inside said crossing is used as input data to said measuring means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 139 words
A traffic flow measuring and controlling apparatus comprising: image input means for taking images of scenes near a crossing; image processing means for executing various image processings for said images taken in said image input means, extracting data representing possible vehicles and providing characteristic quantities of said possible vehicles; measuring means for determining position data of a vehicle based on said characteristic quantities obtained from said image processing means, for tracking said vehicles by use of said position data and for calculating the number of vehicles moving in at least one direction in which vehicles run; and control means for controlling a signal on the basis of an output of said measuring means; wherein said measuring means includes means for checking for an abnormality of said measuring means by use of measurement values of other traffic flow measuring apparatuses.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 139 words
A traffic flow measuring and controlling apparatus comprising: image input means for taking images of scenes near a crossing; image processing means for executing various image processings for said images taken in said image input means, extracting data representing possible vehicles and providing characteristic quantities of said possible vehicles; measuring means for determining position data of a vehicle based on said characteristic quantities obtained from said image processing means, for tracking said vehicles by use of said position data and for calculating the number of vehicles moving in at least one direction in which vehicles run; and control means for controlling a signal on the basis of an output of said measuring means; wherein said measuring means includes means for checking for an abnormality of said measuring means by use of measurement values of other traffic flow measuring apparatuses.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 181 words
A traffic flow measuring and controlling apparatus comprising: image input means for taking images of scenes near a crossing; image processing means for executing various image processings for said images taken in said image input means, extracting data representing possible vehicles and providing characteristic quantities of said possible vehicles; measuring means for determining position data of a vehicle based on said characteristic quantities obtained from said image processing means, for tracking said vehicles by use of said position data and for calculating the number of moving vehicles in at least one direction in which vehicles run; and control means for controlling a signal on the basis of an output of said measuring means; wherein said measuring means includes first means for measuring (m 2 -3 m+1) [of] numbers of vehicles in a moving direction at an m-way crossing, second means for determining the number of inflowing and outflowing vehicles of each of k roads, and third means for calculating the (2k-1) number of vehicles which continue in the moving direction by use of outputs of said first and said second means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 181 words
A traffic flow measuring and controlling apparatus comprising: image input means for taking images of scenes near a crossing; image processing means for executing various image processings for said images taken in said image input means, extracting data representing possible vehicles and providing characteristic quantities of said possible vehicles; measuring means for determining position data of a vehicle based on said characteristic quantities obtained from said image processing means, for tracking said vehicles by use of said position data and for calculating the number of moving vehicles in at least one direction in which vehicles run; and control means for controlling a signal on the basis of an output of said measuring means; wherein said measuring means includes first means for measuring (m 2 -3 m+1) [of] numbers of vehicles in a moving direction at an m-way crossing, second means for determining the number of inflowing and outflowing vehicles of each of k roads, and third means for calculating the (2k-1) number of vehicles which continue in the moving direction by use of outputs of said first and said second means.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 188 words
A traffic flow measuring apparatus comprising: image input means for taking image of scenes near a m-way crossing; image processing means for executing various image processings for said images taken in said image input means, extracting possible vehicles and providing characteristic quantities of said possible vehicles; and measuring means for determining position data of vehicles based on said characteristic quantities obtained from said image processing means, for tracking said vehicles by use of said position data and for calculating the number of moving vehicles in at least one direction in which vehicles run; wherein said measuring means includes means for determining numbers of vehicles running in individual directions and numbers of incoming and outgoing vehicles at the m-way crossing, and means for performing a calculation, using equations relative to volumes of traffic per signal light cycle at an m-way crossing together with (m 2 -3 m+1) independent values representing the numbers of vehicles running in individual directions and (2 m-1) values representing the numbers of incoming and outgoing vehicles, so as to calculate the (2 m-1) values representing the numbers of vehicles which continue running in individual directions.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 188 words
A traffic flow measuring apparatus comprising: image input means for taking image of scenes near a m-way crossing; image processing means for executing various image processings for said images taken in said image input means, extracting possible vehicles and providing characteristic quantities of said possible vehicles; and measuring means for determining position data of vehicles based on said characteristic quantities obtained from said image processing means, for tracking said vehicles by use of said position data and for calculating the number of moving vehicles in at least one direction in which vehicles run; wherein said measuring means includes means for determining numbers of vehicles running in individual directions and numbers of incoming and outgoing vehicles at the m-way crossing, and means for performing a calculation, using equations relative to volumes of traffic per signal light cycle at an m-way crossing together with (m 2 -3 m+1) independent values representing the numbers of vehicles running in individual directions and (2 m-1) values representing the numbers of incoming and outgoing vehicles, so as to calculate the (2 m-1) values representing the numbers of vehicles which continue running in individual directions.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 207 words
A traffic flow measuring apparatus comprising: image input means for taking images of scenes near a m-way crossing; image processing means for executing various image processings for said images taken in said image input means, extracting data representing possible vehicles and providing characteristic quantities of said possible vehicles; measuring means for determining position data of a vehicle based on said characteristic quantities obtained from said image processing means, for tracking said vehicles by use of said position data and for calculating the number of moving vehicles in at least one direction in which vehicles run; and control means for controlling a signal on the basis of an output of said measuring means; wherein said measuring means includes means for determining numbers of vehicles running in individual directions and numbers of incoming and outgoing vehicles at the m-way crossing, and means for performing a calculation, using equations relative to volumes of traffic per signal light cycle at an m-way crossing together with (m 2 -3 m+1) independent values representing the numbers of vehicles running in individual directions and (2 m-1) values representing the numbers of incoming and outgoing vehicles, so as to calculate the (2 m-1) values representing the numbers of vehicles which continue running in individual directions.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 207 words
A traffic flow measuring apparatus comprising: image input means for taking images of scenes near a m-way crossing; image processing means for executing various image processings for said images taken in said image input means, extracting data representing possible vehicles and providing characteristic quantities of said possible vehicles; measuring means for determining position data of a vehicle based on said characteristic quantities obtained from said image processing means, for tracking said vehicles by use of said position data and for calculating the number of moving vehicles in at least one direction in which vehicles run; and control means for controlling a signal on the basis of an output of said measuring means; wherein said measuring means includes means for determining numbers of vehicles running in individual directions and numbers of incoming and outgoing vehicles at the m-way crossing, and means for performing a calculation, using equations relative to volumes of traffic per signal light cycle at an m-way crossing together with (m 2 -3 m+1) independent values representing the numbers of vehicles running in individual directions and (2 m-1) values representing the numbers of incoming and outgoing vehicles, so as to calculate the (2 m-1) values representing the numbers of vehicles which continue running in individual directions.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim 188 words
A traffic flow measuring apparatus comprising: image input means for taking images of scenes near a 4-way crossing; image processing means for executing various image processings for said images taken in said image input means, extracting possible vehicles and providing characteristic quantities of said possible vehicles; and measuring means for determining position data of vehicles based on said characteristic quantities obtained from said image processing means, for tracking said vehicles by use of said position data and for calculating the number of moving vehicles in at least one direction in which vehicles run; wherein said measuring means includes means for determining the numbers of left-turning and right-turning vehicles and the numbers of incoming and outgoing vehicles at the 4-way crossing, and means for performing a calculation, using equations relative to volumes of traffic per signal light cycle at a 4-way crossing together with two independent values representing the numbers of left-turning and right-turning vehicles, necessary values representing the numbers of incoming and outgoing vehicles per each signal phase of individual roads, so as to calculate 6 values representing the numbers of vehicles which continue running in individual directions.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim 188 words
A traffic flow measuring apparatus comprising: image input means for taking images of scenes near a 4-way crossing; image processing means for executing various image processings for said images taken in said image input means, extracting possible vehicles and providing characteristic quantities of said possible vehicles; and measuring means for determining position data of vehicles based on said characteristic quantities obtained from said image processing means, for tracking said vehicles by use of said position data and for calculating the number of moving vehicles in at least one direction in which vehicles run; wherein said measuring means includes means for determining the numbers of left-turning and right-turning vehicles and the numbers of incoming and outgoing vehicles at the 4-way crossing, and means for performing a calculation, using equations relative to volumes of traffic per signal light cycle at a 4-way crossing together with two independent values representing the numbers of left-turning and right-turning vehicles, necessary values representing the numbers of incoming and outgoing vehicles per each signal phase of individual roads, so as to calculate 6 values representing the numbers of vehicles which continue running in individual directions.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim 54 words
A traffic flow measuring apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said calculation performed using equations relative to volumes of traffic per signal light cycle at an m-way crossing includes values of switching timing of a signal of a traffic signal and a delay time due to different positions of measurement for a given vehicle.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim 207 words
A traffic flow measuring apparatus comprising: image input means for taking images of scenes near a 4-way crossing; image processing means for executing various image processings for said images taken in said image input means, extracting data representing possible vehicles and providing characteristic quantities of said possible vehicles; measuring means for determining position data of a vehicle based on said characteristic quantities obtained from said image processing means, for tracking said vehicles by use of said position data and for calculating the moving number of vehicles in at least one direction in which vehicles run; and control means for controlling a signal on the basis of an output of said measuring means; wherein said measuring means includes means for determining the numbers of left-turning and right-turning vehicles and the numbers of incoming and outgoing vehicles at the 4-way crossing, and means for performing a calculation, using equations relative to volumes of traffic per signal light cycle at a 4-way crossing together with two independent values representing the numbers of left-turning and right-turning vehicles, necessary values representing the numbers of incoming and outgoing vehicles for each signal phase of individual roads, so as to calculate 6 values representing the numbers of vehicles which continue running in individual directions.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim 207 words
A traffic flow measuring apparatus comprising: image input means for taking images of scenes near a 4-way crossing; image processing means for executing various image processings for said images taken in said image input means, extracting data representing possible vehicles and providing characteristic quantities of said possible vehicles; measuring means for determining position data of a vehicle based on said characteristic quantities obtained from said image processing means, for tracking said vehicles by use of said position data and for calculating the moving number of vehicles in at least one direction in which vehicles run; and control means for controlling a signal on the basis of an output of said measuring means; wherein said measuring means includes means for determining the numbers of left-turning and right-turning vehicles and the numbers of incoming and outgoing vehicles at the 4-way crossing, and means for performing a calculation, using equations relative to volumes of traffic per signal light cycle at a 4-way crossing together with two independent values representing the numbers of left-turning and right-turning vehicles, necessary values representing the numbers of incoming and outgoing vehicles for each signal phase of individual roads, so as to calculate 6 values representing the numbers of vehicles which continue running in individual directions.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim 54 words
A traffic flow measuring apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said calculation performed using equations relative to volumes of traffic per signal light cycle at an m-way crossing includes values of switching timing of a signal of a traffic signal and a delay time due to different positions of measurement for a given vehicle.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

DE249783C Cited
US2710390A Cited
US3663937A Cited
JPS6010111A Cited
US4884072A Cited
US4839648A Cited
US4847772A Cited
US5041828A Cited
US5066950A Cited
JPH01281598A Cited
DE3820520A1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-01-31 1997-08-02 1998-02-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-01-31 2001-08-02 2002-02-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-01-31 2005-08-02 2006-02-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag