Red Light Detection System with Shared Presence Zone
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for detecting vehicle crossings of red traffic lights are limited to controlling three lanes due to image sensor coverage and processor connectivity, leading to potential double penalties for vehicles traversing central lanes without synchronization mechanisms to avoid duplicate sanctions.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising two pieces of equipment on either side of the roadway, each capable of processing multiple lanes with image sensors and presence zones, including an additional zone to prevent duplicate penalties by ensuring only single detection and validation per vehicle crossing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If two pieces of equipment are deployed to control roadways with four or more lanes, then the coverage capability is improved, but vehicles traveling in central lanes may be detected by both equipment and penalized twice
Solution Approach 1:
An additional presence zone is introduced as an intermediary element that belongs to both equipment simultaneously. This zone acts as a mediator that triggers a specific protocol: when a vehicle is detected in this shared zone, the second equipment is prevented from issuing a penalty, even though it detects the vehicle. This resolves the double penalty issue while maintaining expanded roadway coverage.
2Area of stationary object
If the number of presence zones connected to a processor is increased to cover more lanes, then the roadway coverage is improved, but the processor connectivity limit is exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The roadway monitoring system is segmented into two independent equipment units, each handling a subset of lanes. Each equipment-processors connection remains within the six-zone limit, but together they cover more lanes. The additional presence zone creates a controlled overlap region that enables coordination between the segmented systems without requiring each processor to handle excessive connections.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables effective control of roadways with four or more lanes, preventing vehicles from being penalized twice and eliminating the need for synchronization mechanisms or post-processing to avoid duplicate sanctions, while being compatible with existing hardware and software.
Implementation Method 1
Typically, each loop is an inductive loop, installed in the roadway, and defining an oscillating circuit whose impedance is modified by the passage of a vehicle 3 - comprising a metal carcass - in the presence zone. The variation of the impedance of the circuit formed by the loop can be measured by the processor 20, so that the processor 20 can detect the presence of a vehicle at the level of the corresponding loop.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The invention relates to a system for detecting the crossing, by a vehicle (3), of an effective line (L1) of a red light in a three-color traffic light (2), on a roadway (4) comprising at least four lanes, said system comprising at least two apparatuses (1) located on either side of the roadway (4), wherein each apparatus (1) comprises a pair of presence areas provided on each lane, for one to n lanes of the roadway (4); an image sensor (10), the field of view of which is capable of viewing at least the one to n lanes of the roadway (4) that are provided with at least one pair of presence areas, and thus defining a farthest lane in view on the roadway (4) as being the most distant lane from the sensor (10) among the one to n lanes of the roadway (4); and a processor (20) connected at least to each pair of presence areas and to the sensor (10), the processor being capable of detecting the presence of a vehicle (3) passing into a presence area, characterized in that the system comprises an additional presence area (31-1), connected to a first apparatus (1) and located in the farthest lane in view of the second apparatus (1), upstream from any presence area (21) connected to said first apparatus and located in the farthest lane in view of the apparatus (1). The invention also relates to a method implemented by the system.