DE102011113705A1 - Light signal system i.e. traffic light, has light joists arranged at respective signal lamps e.g. red, yellow and green lamps, that are arranged one above other, where light joists are provided with LED lamps - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has light joists (4, 5) arranged at respective signal lamps e.g. red, yellow and green lamps, that are arranged one above the other. The light joists are provided with LED lamps (6), where light color of the LED lamps corresponds to traffic lamp color. The LED lamps are arranged orthogonal to a longitudinal side of the signal system, where the light joists radiate white light. A power supply for the light joists is connected directly to traffic lamps, where illumination of the LED lamps is controlled by hardware in the light joists.

Description

field of use

The invention relates to a traffic signal, in particular traffic lights, with which the remaining time for the red and green phase can be displayed. The equipment is designed in such a way that even existing traffic lights can be retrofitted at the lowest possible cost.

State of the art

In recent years, attempts have been made to give motorists before traffic lights additional information on the remaining term of the green or red phase. The reason for this is that when approaching the traffic signal system by means of said information a situation-dependent, forward-looking, energetically optimized driving style is enabled, d. H. despite the presence of red phases, the rolling traffic in the traffic light area should be maintained as far as possible. Stationary vehicles must be restarted and the efficiency is particularly low in the start-up phase, especially in vehicles with internal combustion engines based on the distance covered instantaneous distance. With the poor efficiency, not only increases the fuel consumption but the inefficient energy conversion additionally causes the emission of carbon dioxide, soot particles and fine dust at this time increases dramatically.

Hereinafter, existing solutions are described, which reduce the downtime of vehicles in the traffic lights with the help of information on the remaining time.

DE 10 2004 052 984 Proposes to indicate the remaining time by means of a numeric display, placed above the flares of the traffic lights. The same applies to DE 2005 013 275 , it is a countdown counter with large numbers. The same will be done with the DE3812550 proposed. In this case, located next to the superimposed traffic lights a rotating pointer as a display instrument or ring of light that informs about the remaining time remaining. With the DE 20 2004 019 253 one has waived an additional peripheral display aid as mentioned above and the remaining time appears as a 1 to 2-digit number in the light field of the traffic light of the active light signal

Another variant to represent the remaining term is the utility model G8416787.4 , A so-called filling running light moves circularly around the active traffic light and indicates the remaining time remaining.

The other patents DE 20 2004 014 650 . DE 19833789 . DE 2006 002 756 . DE 3148243 . DE 401266 . CH 622117 . FR 9803216 . FR 02691566 EP 1933289 . GB 2457668 . US 6268805 (2001) . US 2008/0136671 . US 2010/0259419 show analogous ideas to the solutions described above.

Disadvantages of the cited prior art

General publications

• http://www.adac.de/_nun/pdf/sp_05_countdown_ampeln_0910_42414.pdf . http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/verkehr/drei-zwei-eins-los-pankow-will-countdownampel/1541058.html . http://www.trendsderzukunft.de/ampel-mit-integriertem-countdownschont-die-umwelt/2009/12/07/ . http://www.welt.de/welt_print/article1150527/Behoerde_stoppt_Countdown_Ampeln_fuer_Autofahrer.html , however, show that the proposed solutions could not prevail nationwide, although on the one hand the urgency to save energy resources and on the other hand the environment is not still unnecessarily burdening is still current.

Object of the invention

• • Verbesserungen jeglicher Art müssen auch ohne unnötig erhöhten Aufwand an vorhandenen Ampelanlagen mit übereinander angeordneten Lichtsignalen vorgenommen werden können.
• • Zusätzliche Informationen für den Autofahrer machen nur dann einen Sinn, wenn sie aus genügend großer Entfernung und bei den meisten Witterungsverhältnissen eindeutig erkannt werden.
• • Es macht wenig Sinn, wenn die verbleibende Restlaufzeit mittels permanent veränderlichen Zahlen dargestellt und damit die Informationsaufnahme unnötig erschwert wird.
• • Das für den Autofahrer allgemeine Erscheinungsbild der zur Zeit bekannten Ampelausführung, d. h. die drei senkrecht angeordneten Ampellampen zum Einnschalten der Rot-, Gelb- bzw. Grünphase, sollte wegen zusätzlichen Informationen nicht unnötig verändert werden.
• • Die Informationen zur Restlaufzeit sollten gegenüber der vorhandenen Ampelausführung, d. h. übereinander angeordneten Signallampen mit den dazu gehörigen Farben, nicht vordergründig dargestellt werden, da diese letztlich nicht für einen sicheren Verkehrsablauf entscheidend sind. Diese gilt besonders dann, wenn sich die Information im Lampenkörper selbst befindet.
• • Die Darstellung der Restlaufzeit sollte für beide Phasen, d. h. Rot- bzw. Grünphase, optisch getrennt dargestellt werden

The object of the invention is that, without going into details of the abovementioned solutions, the disadvantages inherent in this by adhering to the following boundary conditions for the new traffic light equipment are largely avoided:

• • Improvements of any kind must be made without unnecessarily increased effort on existing traffic lights with stacked light signals.
• • Additional information for motorists only makes sense if they are clearly detected from a distance and in most weather conditions.
• • It makes little sense if the remaining time remaining is displayed using permanently variable numbers, making it unnecessarily difficult to collect information.
• • The general appearance of the currently known traffic light version, ie the three vertically positioned traffic light lamps for switching on the red, yellow or green phase, should not be unnecessarily changed due to additional information.
• • The information on the remaining time should not be compared to the existing traffic light design, ie superimposed signal lamps with the associated colors, not superficially, since these are ultimately not crucial for a safe traffic flow. This is especially true when the information is in the lamp body itself.
• • The display of the residual time should be optically separated for both phases, ie red and green phases

Solution of the task

The following describes a solution for displaying the remaining time for the green and red phase, with the one hand, the above-mentioned boundary conditions are met and in addition to the z. Z. known traffic lights can be retrofitted without any special effort.

According to the invention the object is achieved in that are located on the left and right longitudinal side of the known traffic lights lightbar whose luminous color with the associated traffic lamp color, d. H. Red or green, matches. When the green or red phase is switched on, the associated light bar is over its entire length, i. H. along the traffic lights, illuminated.

Thereafter, in direct dependence on the remaining time remaining to reduce the illumination of the light bar until extinguishing and the length of the illuminated light bar is then the indirect measure of the remaining time remaining.

Advantages of the invention

• • gegenüber den bisher bekannten externen bzw. in der Lampe der Ampel integrierten Zahlenangaben ist die Darstellung der Restlaufzeit in wesentlich größerer Entfernung zu erkennen, so dass zu einen früheren, optimalen Zeitpunkt die vorausschauende, energetisch optimierte Fahrweise eingeleitet werden kann,
• • mit den zusätzlichen Leuchtbalken vergrößert sich die aktive, aufleuchtende Lichtsignalfläche,
• • die Lichtbalken lassen sich problemlos längsseits der Ampel montieren und elektrisch in der Ampelschaltung integrieren,
• • das von der bekannten Verkehrsampel allgemeine Erscheinungsbild bleibt erhalten

With this solution, the above-mentioned boundary conditions are met, because

• • Compared to the previously known external or in the lamp of the traffic light integrated figures, the representation of the remaining time to be seen in much greater distance, so that at an earlier, optimal time, the predictive, energetically optimized driving style can be initiated
• • the additional light bars increase the active, flashing light signal area,
• • the lightbars can easily be mounted alongside the traffic light and electrically integrated in the traffic light circuit,
• • The general appearance of the known traffic lights remains

embodiment

The invention will be explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment.

1 shows the well-known traffic lights with the below arranged 3 lamps for the red ( 1 ) - Yellow ( 2 ) - and green phase ( 3 ).

2 shows the same, gem. 1 , Traffic light shown on both longitudinal sides in each case additionally a light bar ( 4 . 5 ) is attached, whose luminous color coincides with the corresponding green or red phase.

At the beginning of each phase, ie red or green phase, the entire length of the light bar is illuminated with the corresponding color of the phase and steadily decreases depending on the remaining phase time, so that they together with the respective traffic light at the end of the term is switched off together. The light bars ( 4 . 5 ) have a plurality of electrically interconnected LED lights ( 6 in detail "z" of 2 ). After lighting up all LED lights, these are then switched off in rows one after the other orthogonal to the long side. With the last LED row, the initially switched on red or green phase at the traffic light will go out at the same time. Thereafter, the analogous procedure with the mounted on the opposite side of the traffic light bar and its changed color according to the now switched on traffic lights. 3 shows the red phase with the lamp switched on ( 7 ), the light bar lit up for this purpose 5 and the residual time of about 2/3 of the total runtime shown as red illuminated bar length ( 8th ).

In analogy to this shows the 4 the remaining time remaining from the green phase to the green illuminated bar length ( 9 ) for a remaining time of approx. 50% with the green traffic light ( 10 ).

With this solution, the well-known traffic lights with the 3 lights red-yellow-green for the driver remains visually untouched.

The new information signal is initially almost as long as the entire vertical length of the traffic lights and, together with the switched on traffic light already recognizable at a greater distance, since the color-lit visible surface has increased for the active phase.

Furthermore, contrary to other proposed solutions, the information on the remaining time, shown as the length of the illuminated light bar, completely sufficient, also because z. B. displayed in numbers represent rather an additional burden of information.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102004052984 [0004]
• DE 2005013275 [0004]
• DE 3812550 [0004]
• DE 202004019253 [0004]
• DE 8416787 [0005]
• DE 202004014650 [0006]
• DE 19833789 [0006]
• DE 2006002756 [0006]
• DE 3148243 [0006]
• DE 401266 [0006]
• CH 622117 [0006]
• FR 9803216 [0006]
• FR 02691566 [0006]
• EP 1933289 [0006]
• GB 2457668 [0006]
• US 6268805 [0006]
• US 2008/0136671 [0006]
• US 2010/0259419 [0006]

Claims (9)

Light signal system, in particular traffic lights, with representation of the remaining time for the red and green phase characterized in that both sides of the arranged with the 3 superimposed signal lamps, consisting of the colors red, yellow and green, known traffic light each a light bar is arranged alongside. Traffic signal system according to claim 1, characterized in that the light bars are equipped with LED lamps and their luminescent color coincides with the associated traffic lamp color. Light signal system according to claim 1, characterized in that instead of claim 2, both light beams can emit white light. Lighting system according to claim 1, characterized in that the LED lamps on the light bar, preferably in rows successively orthogonal, according to 2 "Detail z" are arranged to the longitudinal side of the traffic lights with the 3 signal lamps arranged one above the other. Light signal system according to claim 1, characterized in that with the switching on of the traffic light lamp for one of the green or red phase, the complete length of the light bar is first illuminated with the corresponding color of the phase and depending on the remaining time remaining for the active phase, the luminous LED Steadily remove the lamp rows until the last LED row together with the active traffic light at the end of the remaining running time is switched off together and goes out. Light signal system according to claim 1, characterized in that instead of the claim 5 associated with the active green or red phase, a white light bar illuminates, which decreases analogously to claim 5 as a function of the remaining time and the last row of LEDs together with the active traffic light at the end of Remaining time is switched off together and goes out. Traffic signal system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control of the LED lamps located on the light bar is integrated with the overall concept for new installation in the entire traffic light system. Light signal system according to claim 1, characterized in that in case of retrofitting the power supply for the light bar directly to the traffic lights, d. H. not from the external mounted in crossroads control, it is assumed that the illumination of the LEDs on the light bar autarc is done by a hardware located in the light bar and the required start-stop control is linked to the switching on and off the traffic lights. Light signal system according to claim 1, characterized in that not only the for a lane according to 1 - 4 Traffic lights can be provided with light bars, but the same for straight lanes and right- or left-turning lanes, ie all conceivable traffic lights for regulating the traffic in the crossing area.

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