Patent ID: 7817183
Filing Date: 2010-10-19
Classification: G01J,G01N,G08G,H04N

Abstract:
1. Stationary detection device to be installed on a road for detecting environmental conditions and monitoring and controlling traffic, said stationary device comprising: sensor means including a CCD or CMOS matrix of optical sensors defining a sensitive area, said sensitive area being divided into a plurality of sub-areas, and a plurality of different optical systems respectively associated to a different ones of said different sub-areas of the sensor matrix, corresponding to different directions and/or fields of view by which the scene is seen by said different optical systems, so that different sub-areas carry-out different specific monitoring functions simultaneously, wherein at least a first sub-area and a respective first optical system monitor the traffic of the vehicles traveling along a road by observing queues of vehicles, accidents, obstacles or violations, whilst at least a second sub-area and a respective second optical system detect the presence of mist, fog and fog banks, and at least a third sub-area and a respective third optical system detect lighting; and wherein the second optical system includes an emitter and receiver for respectively emitting and receiving an optical signal; wherein the third sub-area of the sensor matrix dedicated to the lighting detection function is used to actuate a corresponding adjustment of emergency lights along a portion of the road wherein said stationary detection device has an optical window and wherein one of said sub-area of the sensor matrix is dedicated to detection of dirt on said optical window.