WIRELESS VEHICLE DETECTION SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED METHODS HAVING ENHANCED RESPONSE TIME

摘要

Embodiments of the invention include a wireless vehicle detection systems and associated methods with extended range and battery life. The wireless vehicle detection system can include a plurality of sensor pods in communication with an access point without repeaters. Embodiments of the sensor pod can include a vehicle detector controller adapted to determine the presence of vehicles and a communication controller connected to the vehicle detector and adapted to transmit data 300 feet or more to an access point, which in turns communicates with the base station. To extend the battery life of the sensor pod, the sensor pod can be adapted to detect received communication signal strength and adjust transmitting power based upon said strength to thereby conserve power. Embodiments of the sensor pod can also include a battery connected in parallel to an HLC capacitor to further extend the life of the battery.

主权项

1. A wireless vehicle detection system comprising:
one or more spaced-apart sensor pods positioned in or below, and yet in close proximity to, a plane of a surface of a road, adapted to detect received communication signal strength, and operationally adapted to adjust transmitting power based upon the communication signal strength to thereby conserve power usage, each sensor pod including: (1) one or more vehicle detector controllers adapted to determine presence of one or more vehicles, (2) one or more communication controllers in communication with the vehicle detector and adapted to communicate data relating to the presence of one or more vehicles, the one or more vehicle detector controllers and the one or more communication controllers each collectively having separate clock cycles and separately controlled sleep cycles for drawing power, (3) one or more batteries, (4) one or more capacitors connected in parallel electrically to the one or more batteries to enhance protection of the one or more batteries from degradation at transmit power levels and enhance the life extension of the one or more batteries; and (5) one or more low profile antennas positioned within an enclosure of the sensor pod and adjacent an upper end portion of the enclosure when the sensor pod is positioned in or below the surface of the road, the one or more antennas being adapted to allow for and support one or more communication frequencies within a preselected radio frequency band, the one or more low profile antenna also having an antenna housing having a substantially hollow interior portion to allow communication circuitry components to be mounted at least partially within the antenna housing; and a base station adapted to provide data processing and storage for the wireless vehicle detection system.