Processor architecture for traffic sensor and method for obtaining and processing traffic data using same

1. A method for obtaining vehicular traffic data using a traffic sensor having an antenna/transceiver module, a DSP and a microcomputer, the method comprising:

(a) transmitting radiation at vehicles on a roadway;

(b) receiving the radiation reflected back from the vehicles;

(c) producing a stream of electrical signals based on the radiation reflected back from the vehicles;

(d) processing the stream of electrical signals using the DSP to determine if a vehicle detection threshold is met, and, if the vehicle detection threshold is met, to determine an initial vehicle position;

(e) when the vehicle detection threshold is met, generating a first signal representing the initial vehicle position using the DSP;

(f) transmitting the first signal to the microcomputer

(g) deriving a first traffic information signal from the first signal using the microcomputer;

(h) transmitting the first traffic information signal to an external traffic management system.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein

step (e) comprises deriving the first signal from an initial portion of the stream of electrical signals, and after the stream of electrical signals ends, deriving a second signal from the stream of electrical signals using the DSP;

step (f) comprises transmitting the second signal to the microcomputer;

step (g) comprises deriving a second traffic information signal from the second signal using the microcomputer; and,

step (h) comprises transmitting the second traffic information signal to the external traffic management system.

3. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein the first signal, the first traffic information signal, the second signal, and the second traffic information signal are generated and transmitted in real time.

4. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein step (e) comprises deriving a final vehicle position from the stream of electrical signals and the second signal includes the final vehicle position.

5. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein

step (f) comprises transmitting the first signal to the microcomputer before the stream of electrical signals ends; and,

step (h) comprises transmitting the first traffic information signal to the external traffic management system before the stream of electrical signals ends.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein

steps (d) and (e) are performed by the DSP at a first clock speed; and

steps (g) and (h) are performed by the microcomputer at a second clock speed, the second clock speed being slower than the first clock speed.

7. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein steps (d), (e) and (f) comprise determining the first signal and transmitting the first signal to the microcomputer while concurrently processing the stream of electrical signals to derive the second signal.

8. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein

step (d) comprises determining a duration of the vehicle; and, the second signal comprises the duration.

9. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein

step (d) comprises determining a vehicle lane for the vehicle detection, and a centricity of the vehicle relative to a center of the vehicle lane; and,

the second signal comprises the centricity of the vehicle.

10. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein the method further comprises, in the microcomputer,

collecting aggregate vehicle data from a plurality of first signals and a plurality of second signals generated for a plurality of vehicles,

establishing a network connection to the external traffic management system, and

configuring the aggregate vehicle data for transmission over the network connection.

11. The method as defined in claim 10 wherein the microcomputer configures the aggregate vehicle data for transmission over the network connection by providing a destination network protocol address for routing the aggregate vehicle data.

12. The method as defined in claim 10 wherein the microcomputer configures the aggregate vehicle data according to the National Transportation Communications for ITS Protocol.

13. A sensor for obtaining vehicular traffic data, the sensor comprising:

an antenna/transceiver module for transmitting microwave radiation at a vehicle passing the sensor and for receiving the microwave radiation reflected back from the vehicle, and for producing a stream of electrical signals based on the microwave radiation reflected back from the vehicle;

a DSP for processing the stream of electrical signals, the DSP having a vehicle detection function for determining a vehicle detection if a vehicle detection threshold is met and for determining a vehicle position, and a signal generation function for generating a first signal representing the vehicle detection and the vehicle position, the signal generation function being linked to the vehicle detection function for communication therewith; and,

a microcomputer for receiving and processing the first signal to derive a first traffic information signal for transmission to an external traffic management system, the microcomputer being electronically coupled to the DSP and having a communication function for electronic communication with an external traffic management system.

14. The sensor as defined in claim 13 wherein

the vehicle detection function is further operable to detect an end of the vehicle passing the sensor, and the signal generation function is further operable to generate a second signal based on the end of the vehicle and to communicate the second signal to the microcomputer; and,

the microcomputer is further operable to receive and process the second signal to derive a second traffic information signal for transmission to the external traffic management system.

15. The sensor as defined in claim 14 wherein

the vehicle detection function is further operable to determine a duration of the vehicle passing the sensor; and,

the second signal comprises the duration.

16. The sensor as defined in claim 14 wherein

the vehicle detection function is further operable to determine a vehicle lane and a center of the vehicle lane for the vehicle detection, and a centricity of the vehicle relative to the center of the vehicle lane; and,

the second signal comprises the centricity of the vehicle.

17. The sensor as defined in claim 14 wherein

the microcomputer further comprises a data compilation function for collecting aggregate vehicle data from a plurality of first signals and a plurality of second signals generated for a plurality of vehicles passing the sensor; and

the communication function is further operable to establish a network connection to the external traffic management system, and to configure the aggregate vehicle data for transmission over the network connection.

18. The sensor as defined in claim 17 wherein the communication function is operable to configure the aggregate vehicle data for transmission over the network connection by providing a destination network protocol address for routing the aggregate vehicle data.

19. The sensor as defined in claim 14 wherein the communication function is operable to configure the aggregate vehicle data according to the National Transportation Communications for ITS Protocol.

20. The sensor as defined in claim 13 wherein the DSP has a first processing speed and the microcomputer has a second processing speed, wherein the second processing speed is substantially slower than the first processing speed.