GB2431498A - Traffic detector that is programmed using a short range wireless configuration device. - Google Patents

Traffic detector that is programmed using a short range wireless configuration device. Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2431498A
GB2431498A GB0606623A GB0606623A GB2431498A GB 2431498 A GB2431498 A GB 2431498A GB 0606623 A GB0606623 A GB 0606623A GB 0606623 A GB0606623 A GB 0606623A GB 2431498 A GB2431498 A GB 2431498A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
detector
settings
configuration device
detectors
short range
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0606623A
Other versions
GB0606623D0 (en
Inventor
Peter Michael Hutchinson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
AGD Systems Ltd
Original Assignee
AGD Systems Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by AGD Systems Ltd filed Critical AGD Systems Ltd
Publication of GB0606623D0 publication Critical patent/GB0606623D0/en
Publication of GB2431498A publication Critical patent/GB2431498A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G08SIGNALLING
    • G08GTRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
    • G08G1/00Traffic control systems for road vehicles
    • G08G1/01Detecting movement of traffic to be counted or controlled
    • G08G1/04Detecting movement of traffic to be counted or controlled using optical or ultrasonic detectors
    • GPHYSICS
    • G08SIGNALLING
    • G08GTRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
    • G08G1/00Traffic control systems for road vehicles
    • G08G1/01Detecting movement of traffic to be counted or controlled

Abstract

The detector system, disclosed, can detect the presence and/or movement of objects within a region. The system has a programmable detector for observing the region and a configuration device for selecting the settings of the detector. The selected settings are programmed into the detector by a short range communication link. The system may be used to detect traffic and/or pedestrians. The settings may include the detection range, the shape of the detection zone, threshold values relating to the object eg speed or size, sensitivity and hold times. The communication link may be a radio link such as a Bluetooth link from a handheld unit such as a PDA handset. The detector may have a memory to hold the received settings and a backup set of data settings. The detector may also hold a default set of parameters to be used if the downloaded set is lost or corrupted. The system may have several detectors each with means to identify themselves to the configuration device. The configuration device may have software for a plurality of detectors and be able to select the correct software for a particular detector.

Description

I
Detector Systems This invention relates to detector systems and in particular, but not exclusively, to detector systems for use in traffic control. The invention is not however so limited as the detector systems described herein may be used for example in other applications such as intruder detection systems where, for example, a static detector is installed to monitor activity.
Detection for traffic control has been adapted for many years by means of a set of switches on the electronic equipment which provides the function. Thus in the case of loop detectors, the switches are on the electronic processing card Is..
and provide adjustment of function such as the presence time and loop sensitivity. In the case of pole-mounted detectors adjustable functions may be e:s controlled by means of a set of switches accessed though a protective port positioned on the detector. Recently, we have developed equipment whereby
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* * quite complex functions can be controlled over and above that allowed by simple switching. In our AGD 930 LivewireTM system, the settings on the detector are configured by means of a handheld device such as a PDA connected by cable to a connector on the detector. For safety and security, the electrical connection on its own is insufficient to achieve the correct functionality. The detector has a separate memory which can only be written to when the cable is connected between the handheld device and the detector and a "write enable" pin is activated on the separate memory so that the settings transmitted down the cable from the PDA can be saved during set up. When the set up cable is disconnected, the memory is no longer changeable and this gives an indelible robust format for the settings even upon power interruptions and software bugs etc. Although this development allows much greater flexibility in setting up of the detector, it still suffers from the disadvantage that the engineer has to climb the pole on which the detector is mounted to connect the cable and likewise to disconnect the cable and replace the protective cover when he is finished configuring the detector.
Accordingly, in one aspect, this invention provides a detector system for detecting the presence and/or movement of objects within a region, said system comprising: a detector for observing said region and being programmable to allow one or more settings thereof to be selected; a configuration device for allowing settings to be selected for said detector, and S...
short range communication means for allowing settings to be transferred from said configuration device to said detector.
In this manner, the need for the engineer to climb the pole to connect and disconnect the cable is obviated, thereby facilitating the process and removing a potential health and safety hazard. Furthermore, the speed with which several detectors can be configured or reconfigured is increased.
Although the detection system is broadly applicable to detection activity, in preferred embodiments the detector is operable to detect the presence and/or movement of pedestrians or vehicles on a carriageway or walkway.
The number and nature of the settings that can be varied will depend on the particular application but typical settings include one or more of the following: * The detection range * The shape and/or extent of the detection zone * Threshold values relating to the objects, such as speed, size etc. * Sensitivity * Hold times.
Although numerous different types of short range communication means may be used in the form.e.g of a beam, it is preferred for this to provide a short range radio link such as BluetoothTM, ZigbeeTM.
:... Preferably, the detector includes a memory for storing the main setting S...
1O data received from said configuration device, the memory being further operable to receive and store a duplicate set of settings data. In this manner, a write S..
* protect function may be provided. Thus if the main settings are corrupted by, *...
: say, a power interruption during the memory write routine then the second set * may be recovered in uncorrupted form. Preferably also the detector memory has stored therein a default set of parameters so that, if performance is compromised by, say, a software bug within the detector resulting in loss of the saved parameters, then the default set is adopted. This allows operation to continue albeit in non-optimised fashion.
In many applications, there may be several detectors sharing the same pole and so the system preferably includes means to identify which of the detectors is in communication with the configuration device. Thus, for example, the detector or memory therein may contain a unique application such that when wireless access is made, a signal is sent back to the configuration device to identify to the commissioning engineer which of the detectors is currently in communication. The configuration device then preferably selects appropriate settings and set up software corresponding to the detector.
Preferably, the configuration device contains configuration software for a number of different detectors and is operable to select the correct software for a particular detector.
Preferably access to the detector settings is allowed only if the operator inputs a pre-determined user ID and password to the configuration device.
Whilst the invention has been described above, it extends to any inventive combination of the features set out above or in the following
*....1O description.
The invention may be performed in various ways, and an embodiment will now be described by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a detector system employing a detector and a handheld configuration device in accordance with this invention, and Figure 2 is a block diagram of the steps involved in setting up a communication link and programming one of the detectors in the arrangement of Figure 1.
The arrangement illustrated in the Figures is intended to allow an engineer at street level to programme a detector with various settings to configure it for its intended use, using a handheld configuration device and obviating the need to climb up a pole to establish a direct cable connection.
In the illustrated embodiment, two different detectors 10,12 are secured at the top of a pole 14 to one side of a carriageway 16 with the detectors monitoring activity in either direction. The detectors could be Doppler detectors, infra red detectors or an imaging device such as a digital camera. Each detector has a number of settings which may be programmed into it such as the range of the detected/viewed scene, its shape, or threshold parameters for object in the scene such as speed or size thresholds etc. In this manner the detection zones can be suitably positioned and shaped so that they detect activity in a specified zone. The zone may be shaped, for example, to provide objects or areas which may give rise to unwanted artefacts in the signal.
Each detector also has associated therewith a radio transceiver 18. A S...
handheld configuration device such as PDA 20 is provided which has a touch- operated display screen 22 which acts as a graphical user interface. The configuration device 20 also has a transceiver module 24 which is capable of :r' setting up a short range radio link with the transceivers 18 of the detectors 10 and 12. By way of example, the short range link may operate on the BluetoothTM or ZigbeeTM protocols.
The configuration device is programmed with software which enables it to transmit to the detectors the various settings described above. In addition, where the detector is for example an imaging device, the detector may transmit the image back down the short range link to be displayed on the display of the configuration device 22. The software implemented by the configuration device may also allow interactive real time adjustment of the field of view of an imaging device on the detector.
Each detector 10,12 has an internal processor 26 and an attached memory 28. Likewise the configuration device 20 has a memory and a store for storing configuration software for a number of different detectors.
In use, as shown in Figure 2, the configuration device 20 is operated to set up a communication link with the transceivers 18. As part of the initial handshake routine in setting up the radio link the processors 26 operate to identify themselves to the configuration device 20 and the configuration device allows the engineer to select which of the detectors in the radio range he wishes to connect to. Each detector will be identified by a unique number such as its serial number. To assist the operator the detector may also have an indicator such as an LED which shows when the detector is in programmable mode. 0I*S
When the engineer makes a selection, the configuration device retrieves the appropriate configuration software and loads it so that the engineer is able to input the required settings. Where the detector is an imaging detector this may involve transmitting an image back down to the configuration device. Once the required values for the settings have been transmitted, the processor 26 stores a main set of the configuration settings in one area of memory and then also stores a duplicate set of these settings in another area of memory. This is done so that if a set is corrupted by, say, an interruption during the memory write routine, then the second set may be recovered.
In addition, the memory 28 contains a default set of settings so that if performance is compromised by, say, a software bug within the detector resulting in a loss of the saved parameters, then the default set may be adopted, and a fault registered by the detector. This provides "safe mode" operation pending visit by the engineer.
Once the engineer has completed configuring the settings of the first detector then he may acquire a link with another of the detectors currently in range and repeat the process until all the detectors have been appropriately configured. * S * S.. *. S * S * **. *. S. p* . * S
S S... SS.
S
* **..* S *

Claims (14)

1. A detector system for detecting the presence and/or movement of objects within a region, said system comprising: a detector for observing said region and being programmable to allow one or more settings thereof to be selected; a configuration device for allowing settings to be selected for said detector, and short range communication means for allowing settings to be transferred from said configuration device to said detector. S...
2. A detector system according to Claim 1, wherein, in use said detector is operable to detect the presence and/or movement of pedestrians or vehicles on a carriageway or walkway.
3. A detector system according to Claim 2, wherein said settings include one or more of the following: * the detection range * the shape and/or extent of the detection zone * threshold values relating to the objects, such as speed, size etc. * sensitivity * hold times.
4. A detector system according to any preceding claim, wherein said short range communication comprises a short range radio link.
5. A detector system according to any preceding claim, in which the detector includes a memory for storing the main setting data received from said configuration device, the memory being further operable to receive and store a duplicate set of settings data.
6. A detector system according to any preceding claim, wherein the detector memory has stored therein a default set of parameters so that, if performance is compromised by resulting in loss or corruption of the saved parameters, then the default set is adopted.
7. A detector system according to any preceding claim, which includes several detectors, and the system includes means to identify which of the detectors is in communication with the configuration device.
8. A detector system according to Claim 7, wherein said detector II..
contains a unique application, operable on establishing the communication link to cause a signal to be sent back to the configuration device to identify which of the detectors is currently in communication.
9. A detector system according to Claim 8, wherein the configuration
S
S.....
* S device is operable to select appropriate settings and set up software corresponding to the detector.
10. A detector system according to claim 9, wherein the configuration device contains configuration software for a plurality of different detectors and is operable to select the correct software for a particular detector.
11. A detector according to any preceding claim, wherein access to the detector settings is allowed only if the operator inputs a pre-determined user ID and password to the configuration device.
12. A method for configuring a detector system for detecting the presence and/or movement of objects within a region, in which the system comprises a detector for observing said region and being programmable to allow one or more settings thereof to be selected, said method comprising using a configuration device to allow settings to be selected for said detector, characterised in that said configuration device communicates with said detector by a short range communication means for allowing the settings to be transferred from said configuration device to said detector.
13. A detector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, any of the accompanying drawings.
14. A method of configuring a detector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
* .. S I 0 S. *I * . S * .
S
SS
I S...
S S...
S
S..... * S
GB0606623A 2005-04-02 2006-04-03 Traffic detector that is programmed using a short range wireless configuration device. Withdrawn GB2431498A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB0506722.8A GB0506722D0 (en) 2005-04-02 2005-04-02 Detector systems

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GB0606623D0 GB0606623D0 (en) 2006-05-10
GB2431498A true GB2431498A (en) 2007-04-25

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GB0606623A Withdrawn GB2431498A (en) 2005-04-02 2006-04-03 Traffic detector that is programmed using a short range wireless configuration device.

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Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8242476B2 (en) 2005-12-19 2012-08-14 Leddartech Inc. LED object detection system and method combining complete reflection traces from individual narrow field-of-view channels
US8310655B2 (en) 2007-12-21 2012-11-13 Leddartech Inc. Detection and ranging methods and systems
US8436748B2 (en) 2007-06-18 2013-05-07 Leddartech Inc. Lighting system with traffic management capabilities
US8600656B2 (en) 2007-06-18 2013-12-03 Leddartech Inc. Lighting system with driver assistance capabilities
US8723689B2 (en) 2007-12-21 2014-05-13 Leddartech Inc. Parking management system and method using lighting system
US8842182B2 (en) 2009-12-22 2014-09-23 Leddartech Inc. Active 3D monitoring system for traffic detection
US8908159B2 (en) 2011-05-11 2014-12-09 Leddartech Inc. Multiple-field-of-view scannerless optical rangefinder in high ambient background light
US9235988B2 (en) 2012-03-02 2016-01-12 Leddartech Inc. System and method for multipurpose traffic detection and characterization
US9378640B2 (en) 2011-06-17 2016-06-28 Leddartech Inc. System and method for traffic side detection and characterization
US10488492B2 (en) 2014-09-09 2019-11-26 Leddarttech Inc. Discretization of detection zone

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6223125B1 (en) * 1999-02-05 2001-04-24 Brett O. Hall Collision avoidance system
US6243644B1 (en) * 1998-12-07 2001-06-05 James S. Dengler Traffic monitoring device attached to a traffic sign
US20020177942A1 (en) * 2001-05-22 2002-11-28 Knaian Ara N. Wireless roadway monitoring system
WO2003017227A2 (en) * 2001-08-20 2003-02-27 Spx Corporation System tp receive data from vehicles

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6243644B1 (en) * 1998-12-07 2001-06-05 James S. Dengler Traffic monitoring device attached to a traffic sign
US6223125B1 (en) * 1999-02-05 2001-04-24 Brett O. Hall Collision avoidance system
US20020177942A1 (en) * 2001-05-22 2002-11-28 Knaian Ara N. Wireless roadway monitoring system
WO2003017227A2 (en) * 2001-08-20 2003-02-27 Spx Corporation System tp receive data from vehicles

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8242476B2 (en) 2005-12-19 2012-08-14 Leddartech Inc. LED object detection system and method combining complete reflection traces from individual narrow field-of-view channels
US8436748B2 (en) 2007-06-18 2013-05-07 Leddartech Inc. Lighting system with traffic management capabilities
US8600656B2 (en) 2007-06-18 2013-12-03 Leddartech Inc. Lighting system with driver assistance capabilities
USRE49342E1 (en) 2007-12-21 2022-12-20 Leddartech Inc. Distance detection method and system
US8310655B2 (en) 2007-12-21 2012-11-13 Leddartech Inc. Detection and ranging methods and systems
US8723689B2 (en) 2007-12-21 2014-05-13 Leddartech Inc. Parking management system and method using lighting system
US8842182B2 (en) 2009-12-22 2014-09-23 Leddartech Inc. Active 3D monitoring system for traffic detection
US8908159B2 (en) 2011-05-11 2014-12-09 Leddartech Inc. Multiple-field-of-view scannerless optical rangefinder in high ambient background light
USRE47134E1 (en) 2011-05-11 2018-11-20 Leddartech Inc. Multiple-field-of-view scannerless optical rangefinder in high ambient background light
USRE48763E1 (en) 2011-05-11 2021-10-05 Leddartech Inc. Multiple-field-of-view scannerless optical rangefinder in high ambient background light
US9378640B2 (en) 2011-06-17 2016-06-28 Leddartech Inc. System and method for traffic side detection and characterization
USRE48914E1 (en) 2012-03-02 2022-02-01 Leddartech Inc. System and method for multipurpose traffic detection and characterization
US9235988B2 (en) 2012-03-02 2016-01-12 Leddartech Inc. System and method for multipurpose traffic detection and characterization
US10488492B2 (en) 2014-09-09 2019-11-26 Leddarttech Inc. Discretization of detection zone

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Publication number Publication date
GB0606623D0 (en) 2006-05-10
GB0506722D0 (en) 2005-05-11

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