CA2232739A1

CA2232739A1 - Speed activated time delay system

Info

Publication number: CA2232739A1
Application number: CA 2232739
Authority: CA
Inventors: Anthony Thomas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-05-22
Filing date: 1998-05-22
Publication date: 1999-11-22

Abstract

SATDS is a device that becomes a fixture to any combination of traffic lights.

From a fixed position, close to the light cluster (with the three speed sensors pointing towards traffic flow) this device (automatically activating when lights turn from green to yellow) will start to monitor approaching traffic.

If a vehicle is approaching too fast, each of three sensors (set at different distances from the traffic lights) will digitally accumulate a ten-second time delay.
The amount of time delay is relevant to speed limit and is adjustable. The ten-second time delay would be passed to the central traffic light control bank. (if vehicle manages to stop within yellow light duration, time delay will be cancelled) and be added to the normal three-second duration of the cross flow traffic 'Red Light' (also the pedestrian lights) allowing the runaway vehicle to run the red light without incident.

Traffic lights will then return to normal, the device will go to standby ready for next yellow light.

Description

Speed Activated Time Delay System (SA TDS) SPECIFICATION:
The SADTS is a device contained within a metal box with sturdy fastening brackets to enable it to be attached to steel tubing (Fig. 2) close to traffic light cluster. The box should (for best results) be located close to, side-by-side or above the "Traffic Lights"
light cluster (excluding special left turn or right turn signals).
The metal box encompasses a complete system (that when connected, fastened to and working in conjunction with road traffic light:) will work as follows:
Each direction of traffic will need one metal box device (SATDS) to monitor approaching traffic.
SATDS works as follows) for any one direcaion while the traffic lights are in the "green mode" SATDS is on "Standby".
When the traffic lights change to "yellow rnode" instantly SATDS will start monitoring approaching traffic speed, (the duration of a normal yellow light is six seconds) this is the job of the three speed sensors. Each speed sensor is set to detect a speed at different distances (Fig. 1 ) from the box (SATDS near light cluster). The first sensor (set at the furthest distance of one hundred meters, this distance is adjustable) will be set to detect a vehicle moving at what would be calculated to be too fast (at that junction) to be able to safely stop before the "Red Light' signal.
Within a split second of detecting such a vehicle a ten-second time delay will (by way of computer within the box (SATDS)) be passed on instantaneously to the second speed sensor, (also located within the box (SATDS)). The second speed sensor (set at a middle distance of sixt~r meters (this distance is adjustable) will be set to detect the vehicle moving at speeds in excess of what would be calculated to be "Too Fast" (at the aforesaid junction) to be able to safely stop before the 'Red Liqhf. (If a vehicle slows to speeds under the limit (within the sensor range) the ten-second time delay will be cancelled. Within a split second of detection, the ten-second time delay (passed on by the first speed sensor) will "be passed" on again (by way of computer within the box (SATDS)), all happening at the same speE~d, but always in hand as the approaching vehicle.

Speed Activated Time Delay System (SATDS) The time delay is carried from the first speed sensor to the second speed sensor and then to the third speed sensor (set at the shortest distance from the box (SATDS)). This sensor will be set to a distance of twenty-eve meters and detect the vehicle's speed in excess of what would calculated to be too fast to stop at the "Red Light". The accumulated time delay of (ten-seconds in this case) (ten-second time delay can be adjusted to suit size of junction and other variables) will be passed to the "Traffic Light's" central control and be added to the normal (three seconds) delay from the starting of the aforesaid "Red Liqht" to the cross traffic green light (and pedestrian walk signal) creating a larger time delay of thirteen seconds. (a safer time duration in which to allow the aforesaid vehicle (Red light runner) to clear the junction without incident!) In the situation where the aforesaid vehicle managing to come to rest at the third sensor and not being detected by the third censor, the accumulated time delay will automatically be cancelled. The time delay will be cancelled at any time a vehicle comes to a safe speed within the three sensors.
In the situation where the aforesaid vehiclE: has been detected at too high a speed by the first sensor and the second sensor, therefore accumulating a "Time Delay"
and the lights change from "yellow to red" before the vehicle reaches the third sensor, the ten-second time delay will immediately be "Passed on" and added to the cross traffic "Red Light" and "Don't Walk" signal (normal three-second time duration) as a safety barrier!
During the red light duration, if a vehicle blatantly tries to run through the junction, starting at any time from behind either sensor, if the speed sensors' set speed limits are broken a safety feature is activated. Within a split second the cross traffic are warned by way of Red and Yellow lights alternately flashing. (This would be known to be the warning of a "Red Light Runner") in the case of pedestrians the "Don't Walk"
light will flash faster than normal with a high pitched warning sound. (This would be known to be the warning of a "Red Light Runner"). When the red light turns to green the SATDS will return to "standby".
Each box (SATDS) in each direction of i:raffic will work as above on a continually unmanned basis!

Claims

Speed Activated Time Delay System (SATDS) THE CLAIM:

A device for calculating an amount of time delay to create safe passage of traffic through road traffic light junctions in the case of a "Red Light Runner".
A device (only working in conjunction with road traffic lights) that (by way of speed detection) will (in the case of a "Red Light Runner") calculate (by means of a computer) a ten-second time delay period that will extend the period of set time between traffic light change over to cross traffic, averting traffic accidents and pedestrian accidents in the event a vehicle runs a red light.