GB2376126A

GB2376126A - Traffic control signals

Info

Publication number: GB2376126A
Application number: GB0127180A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edmund Campbell D Olier Lees
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-06-02
Filing date: 2001-11-13
Publication date: 2002-12-04
Also published as: GB0113406D0; GB0127180D0

Abstract

A traffic control signal comprises a housing 10, first light emitting means 11 for emitting a red light, second light emitting means in spaced relationship to the first light emitting means for emitting a green light 13, and third light emitting means 15 for emitting a light of contrasting colour to the red and green lights. The third light emitting means 15 preferably surrounds only the first light emitting means 11. The colour of the light emitted by the third light emitting means 15 is preferably white to give the best possible contrast recognition. The shape of the third light emitting means is preferably rectangular.

Description

TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNALS This invention relates to traffic control signals and more particularly to stationary traffic control signals used on railways and roads.

Present day traffic control signals rely on red, amber and green lights set against an unilluminated black background or border. These are often missed by drivers of road vehicles and railway trains resulting in accidents and loss of life. Traffic signals with black backgrounds are often sited on gantries or other structures creating a confusing affect for the driver.

The present invention seeks to provide a traffic control signal which is more readily seen by a driver.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stationary traffic control signal comprising a housing, first light emitting means for emitting a red light, second light emitting means in spaced relationship to the first light emitting means for emitting a green light, and third light emitting means for emitting a light of contrasting colour to the red and green lights, the third light emitting means surrounding at least the first light emitting means.

Preferred and/or optional features of the first aspect of the present invention are

set forth in claims 2 to 11, inclusive.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stationary traffic control signal comprising first light emitting means for emittir a red light having a first shape when viewed head on and second light emitting means surrounding the first light emitting means, the second light emitting means being for emitting a contrasting light having a peripheral edge defining a second shape which is different from the first shape when viewed head on.

Preferred and/or optional features of the second aspect of the present invention are set forth in claims 13 to 16, inclusive.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : Figure 1 is a schematic head on view of one embodiment of a traffic control signal according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the traffic control signal shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the traffic control signal shown therein is a stationary

traffic control signal intended for use as a road traffic control signal.

The control signal shown in the drawings comprises a rectangular housing 10 having red, amber and green signal lights 11,12 and 13 which are circular when viewed head on and which are arranged in spaced apart relationship in a vertical column. The housing 10 is internally partitioned to prevent interference between emitted light. Each light 11,12 and 13 includes a first light emitting element (not shown), such as a bulb or a light emitting diode (LED), a reflector (not shown) and an appropriately coloured lens 14. In some cases the amber light and even the green light is omitted.

The red light 11 is surrounded by a single white light 15 having a square or rectangular peripheral edge when viewed head on. The white light 15 may comprise one or more second light emitting elements (not shown), such as lamps, a reflector (not shown) and a lens 16. The lens 16 may be transparent or translucent. The lens 16 may incorporate a diffuser.

The white light 15 also comprises a neutral density filter (not shown) through which light emitted from the or each second light emitting element passes. No light emitted from the red light 11 passes through the neutral density filter.

The neutral density filter acts to attenuate light passing through it. When the white light 15 is in a deactivated state, the neutral density filter causes any ambient light

passing through it to appear as a uniform or substantially uniform grey colour.

However, when the white light 15 is activated, white or substantially white light is emitted. This provides a beneficial difference in contrast between the activated and deactivated states.

The background surrounding the amber and green lights 12 and 13 may be coloured the same or similar grey as produced around the red light 11 when the white light 15 is deactivated. This produces a uniform or substantially uniform background colour, when the white light 15 is deactivated, against which the red, amber and green lights 11,12 and 13 are set.

Electronic circuitry, including an ambient light sensor, may be provided for varying the intensity of the or each second light emitting element of the white light 15 according to the ambient light sensed by the sensor. Thus, the intensity of the or each second light emitting element of the white light 15 could be higher in daylight than at night.

It is believed that, when activated, a circular red light set in a square or rectangular white background will give the best possible contrast recognition. However, the white light could be of alternative shape and/or an alternative colour which contrasts with the red light.

As described above, the white light 15 only surrounds the red signal light 11.

However, the white light 15 may, for example, be common to and surround the red, amber and green lights 11,12 and 13. In this case the white light 15 will have a rectangular peripheral edge.

It is the intention that the white light 15 will only be illuminated along with the red light 11.

The neutral density filter could, of course, be omitted. The colour of the background surrounding the red, amber and green lights 11,12 and 13 could also be non-uniform.

It should be noted that, in the case of a rail traffic control signal, the signal often comprises more than three coloured lights. Preferably, only the red light is surrounded by the white light, although all of the lights could be surrounded by the white light.

The embodiments described above are given by way of example only and various modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A stationary traffic control signal comprising a housing, first light emitting means for emitting a red light, second light emitting means in spaced relationship to the first light emitting means for emitting a green light, and third light emitting means for emitting a light of contrasting colour to the red and green lights, the third light emitting means surrounding at least the first light emitting means.
2. A traffic control signal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second light emitting means are circular as viewed head on and the third light emitting means is square or rectangular as viewed head on.
3. A traffic control signal as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the third light emitting means is for emitting a white light.
4. A traffic control signal as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the third light emitting means surrounds only the first light emitting means.
5. A traffic control signal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising fourth means for emitting an amber light.
6. A traffic control signal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein

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the third light emitting means includes a neutral density filter.
7. A traffic control signal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein, when the third light emitting means surrounds only the first light emitting means, the second light emitting means is set against a background which has the same or similar colour as the third light emitting means when deactivated.
8. A traffic control signal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the third light emitting means includes a light diffuser.
9. A traffic control signal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising means for varying the intensity of the third light emitting means according to the intensity of ambient light.
10. A traffic control signal as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in the form of a road traffic control signal.
11. A traffic control signal as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, in the form of a rail traffic control signal.
12. A stationary traffic control signal comprising first light emitting means for emitting a red light having a first shape when viewed head on and second light emitting

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means surrounding the first light emitting means, the second light emitting means being for emitting a contrasting light having a peripheral edge defining a second shape which is different from the first shape when viewed head on.
13. A stationary traffic control signal as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first shape is circular.
14. A stationary traffic control signal as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the second shape is square or rectangular.
15. A stationary traffic control signal as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the contrasting light is white light.
16. A stationary traffic control signal as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the second light emitting means includes a neutral density filter.
17. A stationary traffic control signal substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.