EP0514247B1 - Control device for traffic lights - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the field of traffic control devices regulating traffic. Such devices are commonly called "intersection controllers" of which the document EP-A-0 061 963 gives an example.

In general, the crossroad controllers known to date include a series of power switching elements making it possible to selectively supply the light lamps (green, yellow and red, for vehicles) and a central logic which generates orders to execute respectively by the power switches.

Given the emerging use of traffic lights to regulate traffic, the current trend is to offer intersection controllers designed to drive several intersections simultaneously.

The document EP-A-0038268 describes for example a light control device proposed by the Applicant to control several crossroads.

More precisely, in current intersection controllers, the power switches are generally distributed in several power modules, each comprising several lines of lights which themselves have several switches. Most often the lines of lights, identical to each other, each comprise four power switches intended to drive respectively a so-called main red light, a so-called secondary red light, a yellow light and a green light. The lines of lights of known devices can be used to control not only the three-color, red, yellow, green lights, but to control signals comprising a lower number of lights, for example a flashing yellow light (arrow) or a pedestrian signal with two lights: green and red.

However, in known intersection controllers, the different power switches of the same line of lights are logically linked together. Therefore, when at least one of the power switches of a line of lights is used, for example to control a flashing yellow light, the other power switches of the same line of lights are unavailable, even if they are not used.

So for example when each power module includes four lines of lights, two power modules are necessary to control a crossroads comprising two lines of traffic lights, two pedestrian signals with two lights and a flashing yellow light, since five lines of lights are necessary to steer such a crossroads.

It is understood that the known crossroad controllers are therefore not entirely satisfactory and lead to significant expenses.

The present invention aims to improve the situation.

• une série d'organes commutateurs de puissance répartis dans plusieurs modules de puissance comprenant chacun plusieurs lignes de feux possédant elles-mêmes plusieurs commutateurs, et
• une logique centrale qui engendre des ordres à exécuter respectivement par les commutateurs de puissance,

caractérisé par le fait que certaines au moins des lignes de feux sont divisées en plusieurs sous lignes de feux logiquement indépendantes.To this end, the present invention provides a device for controlling traffic lights, of the type known per se, comprising:

• a series of power switching elements distributed in several power modules each comprising several lines of lights which themselves have several switches, and
• central logic which generates orders to be executed respectively by the power switches,

characterized by the fact that at least some of the light lines are divided into several logically independent light lines.

Thus according to the present invention, the power switches of the same line of lights can be assigned to logically independent light controls, for example a flashing yellow light and a pedestrian signal.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the present invention, each line of lights is divided into two logically independent sub-lines of lights.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the present invention, each line of lights is divided into two sub-lines of logically independent lights comprising respectively, one a switch and the other three switches. It is therefore understood that a sub-line of lights in accordance with the present invention can be used to control a single light.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the present invention, the configuration of the logically independent light sub-lines can be adapted to the request.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the present invention, a current control module is associated with each sub-line of lights.

• la figure 1 représente une vue schématique, sous forme de blocs fonctionnels, de la structure générale d'un contrôleur de carrefours conforme à la présente invention,
• la figure 2 représente une vue schématique, sous forme de blocs fonctionnels, d'un module de puissance conforme à la présente invention,
• la figure 3 représente une vue détaillée d'une ligne de feux conforme à un premier mode de réalisation de la présente invention, et
• la figure 4 représente une vue similaire d'une ligne de feux conforme à un second mode de réalisation de la présente invention.

Other characteristics, aims and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows and with reference to the appended drawings given by way of nonlimiting examples and in which:

• FIG. 1 represents a schematic view, in the form of functional blocks, of the general structure of a crossroads controller in accordance with the present invention,
• FIG. 2 represents a schematic view, in the form of functional blocks, of a power module in accordance with the present invention,
• FIG. 3 represents a detailed view of a line of lights according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and
• Figure 4 shows a similar view of a line of lights according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

We will first describe the general structure of the intersection controller according to the present invention, with reference to Figure 1 attached.

As indicated previously, the crossroads controller mainly comprises a central logic 10 and a series of power switching elements distributed in power modules 100.

The central logic or central unit 10 dialogues with the power modules 100 via a bus 12. According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, eight power modules are provided. The number of power modules 100 can however be the subject of numerous variants. The outputs of the power modules 100 are connected to the signaling lights by means of a power terminal block referenced 14 in FIG. 1.

The system power module is referenced 16 in Figure 1.

Preferably, the central unit 10 is connected to a programming module 20, to a dialogue module with a peripheral, for example a PC referenced 22, and a maintenance module 24.

The central unit 10 is also connected to a terminal block 30 which is itself connected to sets for detecting external events, such as vehicle or pedestrian detectors, and connected to a control unit for police officers.

Finally, preferably, the bus 12 is connected to a parking meter module 40 and to extension modules 42, 44 and 46. Three extension modules are shown in FIG. 1. This number is however not limiting.

The general structure of the controller shown in Figure 1 is known to those skilled in the art.

We will now describe the structure of the power module shown in FIG. 2.

• un module d'interface entrée/sortie 110,
• plusieurs lignes de feux 150, et
• un contrôleur 120.

As shown in this figure, each power module includes:

• an input / output interface module 110,
• several lines of lights 150, and
• a controller 120.

the number of lines of lights 150 of each power module 100 can be the subject of various variants. According to Figure 2, each power module 100 includes four lines of lights 150. This provision is not, however, limiting.

the interface module 110 and the controller 120 are connected to the bus 12.

Each line of lights 150 itself comprises several power switches. The number of power switches included in each line of lights 150 can be varied.

In the remainder of this description, it will be considered that each line of lights 150 comprises four power switches, without this provision being limiting.

The interface module 110 includes outputs 112, 114, 116, 118 in a number equal to the number of lines of lights. According to FIG. 2, four outputs 112, 114, 116, 118 are therefore provided for the interface module 110.

Each output 112, 114, 116, 118 of the interface module 110 itself comprises a number of bits equal to the number of power switches contained in each line of lights 150. According to FIG. 2, the outputs 112, 114, 116 , 118 of the interface module 110 thus each comprise four bits.

The outputs 112, 114, 116, 118 of the interface module 110 are also connected to the controller 120.

Each line of lights 150 is designed to control lights 200 in a number equal to the number of power switches contained in each line of lights 150. For this, each line of lights 150 includes an output number equal to the number of power switches that 'it contains. According to FIG. 2, each line of lights 150 thus comprises four outputs 151, 152, 153, 154. The lights 200 are connected respectively between the neutral and one of the outputs 151, 152, 153, 154.

In addition, outputs 155 from each line of lights 150 are connected to the controller 120. These outputs 155 are intended to apply to the controller 120 signals representative of a detection of current and voltage, as will be described in more detail by the following.

Each output 155 comprises a number of bits equal to the sum of the number of power switches contained in each line of lights and the number of sub-lines of lights forming the line of lights considered.

Thus, according to the representation given in the figures, each line of lights 150 comprises four main switches and each line of lights 150 is formed of two sub-lines of lights. Therefore, each output 155 of a line of lights 150 comprises six bits.

We will now describe the structure of the line of lights 150 shown in FIG. 3.

This figure shows four power switches 160 formed of triacs.

A first electrode of the triacs 160, referenced 161 in FIG. 3, is connected to a respective output 151, 152, 153 and 154 of the line of lights 150.

The second main electrode of the triacs 160, referenced 162 in FIG. 3 is connected to a phase line 170 by means of current detector modules 180. More specifically, a number of detectors is provided in each line of lights 150 current 180 equal to the number of sub-lines of lights of each line of lights 150.

More precisely still, according to FIG. 3, the line of lights 150 comprises two sub-lines of lights: a first sub-line of lights formed from the triac 160A, and a second sub-line of lights formed from the triacs 160B, 160C and 160D.

The second electrode 162 of the triac 160A forming the first sub-line of lights is connected to the phase line 170 via the current detector 180A.

The second electrodes 162 of the triacs 160B, 160C, 160D forming the second sub-line of lights are connected to the phase line 170 via a second current detector 182.

The triggers 163 of the triacs 160 receive control signals from the central unit 10 and passing through the bus 12 and the interface 110. In FIG. 3, the four component wires are referenced 1120, 1121, 1122 and 1123. one of the outputs 112 of the interface 110. These wires 1120 to 1123 are connected to the triggers 163 respectively of the triacs 160A, 160B, 160C, 160D, by means of optocouplers 165A, 165B, 165C, 165D. Each optocoupler 165 includes an emitting diode 166 connected between the corresponding logic output 1120, 1121, 1122, 1123 and a +5 Volts logic level via a load resistor 167.

Each optocoupler 165 further comprises a photodiode 168 connected between the trigger 163 and the second electrode 162 of the corresponding triac 160 via a load resistor 169.

The optocouplers 165 make it possible to apply triacs 160 to the trigger 163, the logic signals coming from the central unit 10, while isolating the triacs.

The current detector modules 180 shown in FIG. 3 comply with the specifications given in the patent application filed by the Applicant on July 26, 1989 under the number 89 10053 and published under the number 2650423.

For this reason, the current detector modules 180 will not be described in detail below.

However, it will be noted that these current detector modules 180 comprise threshold voltage current converter means connected in series with the phase line 170 and the second electrode 162 of the corresponding triacs 160. These current-voltage converter means are formed by two diodes 181, 182 connected in series and in the same direction between the phase line 170 and the second electrode 162 of the triacs. The anode of the diodes 181, 182 is placed on the phase line 170 side, while the cathode of the diodes 181, 182 is placed on the second electrode 162 of the triacs.

Thus the diodes 181, 182 deliver, during the positive alternation of the supply voltage, a voltage of constant amplitude synchronous with the current absorbed by the lamps 200 as indicated in the aforementioned prior document.

A third diode 183 is connected in reverse in parallel with the diodes 181, 182, to allow the passage of current during the negative alternation of the supply voltage. The cathode of the diode 183 is therefore connected to the phase line 170, while the anode of the diode 183 is connected to the second electrode 162 of a corresponding triac 160.

The voltage present at the terminals of the diodes 181, 182 is transmitted to the controller 120 via an optocoupler 184.

For this, the optocoupler 184 comprises an emissive diode 185 connected in parallel with the diodes 181, 182, via a load resistor 186.

Each optocoupler 184 further comprises a phototransistor 187, a main electrode of which is connected to one of the output wires 155.

The exploitation of the logic signal present on the output 155 of the optocoupler 184 conforms to the description given in the prior document FR-A-2650423.

In addition, the triacs 160 are each associated with a respective voltage detector module 190. Each voltage detector module 190 comprises a load resistor 191 connected between a neutral line 172 and a first electrode 161 of a respective triac 160. More specifically, the voltage taken from the load resistor 191 is transmitted to the controller 120 via an optocoupler 192. Each optocoupler 192 comprises an emissive diode 193 connected in series with the load resistor 191 between the neutral line 172 and a first electrode 161 of a triac. Each optocoupler 192 further comprises a phototransistor 194, a main electrode of which forms one of the wires of the output 155 applied to the controller 120.

Thus, the optocouplers 184 apply to the controller 120 information representative of the current absorbed by each light line, while the optocouplers 192 apply to the controller 120 information representative of the voltage at the terminals of each lamp 200. The combined use of these current and voltage information allows to know permanently and with certainty the state of each lamp 200, and if necessary, to require a so-called safety procedure known per se when a load is deficient.

This security procedure being known in itself, will not be described in detail below. However, it should be noted that it leads in particular to supplying a flashing yellow light in the event of a deficiency being detected on the main red light.

It will be noted that the current detectors 180 associated with several power switches 160 can only be combined with power switches 160B, 160C and 160D which are supplied alternately and not simultaneously.

The line of lights shown in the attached FIG. 3 can be used to control lights 200 respectively of main red, yellow and green using the triacs 160B, 160C, 160D and to control a light 200 of red secondary to the using the triac 160A.

In this case, the two light lines are used to control logically dependent lights. In fact, the secondary red light 200 is logically linked to the main red light.

However, as indicated above, according to the main characteristic of the invention the two sub-lines of lights are logically independent. They can therefore be used to control logically independent lights. Consequently, the line of lights shown in the attached FIG. 3 can be used to control lights 200 of main red, yellow and green respectively, using the triacs 160B, 160C, 160D, and to control a light 200 yellow flashing logically independent using the triac 160A.

The line of lights shown in Figure 3 may be subject to other variants. It can for example be used to control a pedestrian signaling with two lights using two triacs chosen from triacs 160B, 160C, 160D, and to control a flashing yellow light using the logically independent triac 160A.

According to the representation given in FIG. 3, the line of lights 150 is divided into two sub-lines of logically independent lights comprising respectively, one a switch 160A and the other three switches 160B, 160C, 160D.

As a variant, the line of lights 150 could be divided into two logically independent sub-lines of lights each comprising two switches, for example one the switches 160A and 160B, and the other the switches 160C and 160D. Such a line of lights could be used to simultaneously control two sub-lines of pedestrian lights with two lights each.

There is shown in Figure 4 attached, an alternative embodiment of a line of lights according to the present invention, in which the configuration of the logically independent light sub-lines can be adapted to the request.

For this, the second electrodes 162 of the triacs 161 are not connected by construction and definitively to the current detectors 180, but are designed to be selectively connected thereto, by means of selective connection means 140. These means of 140 connection can be formed of any suitable conventional structures, for example switches. According to the embodiment shown diagrammatically in FIG. 4, these selective connection means 140 are formed of jumpers 142.

More precisely still, according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the second electrodes 162 of the triacs 160A, 160B, are connected to the first current detector 180A by means of jumpers 142A, 142B, while the second electrodes 162 of the triacs 160C and 160D, are connected to the second current detector 180B via jumpers 142C, 142D.

The line of lights 150 shown in FIG. 4 is thus divided into two sub-lines of lights each comprising two switches 160.

Of course, the connection means 140 must connect to the same current detector main switches designed to be controlled alternately and not simultaneously.

According to a nonlimiting embodiment, the input / output interface module 110 can be formed from a PIA circuit 6821, while the controller 120 is formed from a PAL structure.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the particular embodiments which have just been described but extends to all variants in accordance with the subject of claims 1 to 11.

Claims (11)

1. A device for controlling traffic lights, of a type known per se and comprising:
      a series of power switch members (160) distributed in a plurality of power modules (100) each comprising a plurality of sets of lights (150) the sets themselves possessing a plurality of switches; and
      a central logic unit (10) that generates orders to be performed by the respective power switches (160);
      characterized by the fact that at least some of the sets of lights (150) are subdivided into a plurality of logically independent sub-sets of lights.
2. A control device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that each set of lights (150) is subdivided into two logically independent sub-sets of lights.
3. A control device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that each set of lights (150) is subdivided into two logically independent sub-sets of lights, one of which comprises one switch (160A) and the other of which comprises three switches (160B, 160C, and 160D).
4. A control device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that at least some sets of lights (150) are subdivided into two logically independent sub-sets of lights each comprising two switches (160A, 160B; 160C, 160D).
5. A control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by the fact that the configuration of the logically independent sub-sets of lights can be adapted on request.
6. A control device according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that the configuration of the logically independent sub-sets of lights can be adapted by using selective connections (140).
7. A control device according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that the selected connection means (140) are selected from the group comprising switches and straps (142).
8. A control device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by the fact that a current monitoring module (180) is associated with each of the sub-sets of lights.
9. A control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 taken in combination with claim 8, characterized by the fact that the current monitoring modules (180) are connected by construction to the main switches (160) respectively associated therewith.
10. A control device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, taken in combination with claim 6, characterized by the fact that the current monitoring modules (180) are connected to the respectively associated switches (160) via selective connection means.
11. A control device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by the fact that a voltage monitoring module is associated with each power switch (160).

Images