Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
  • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
  • G08G1/16—Anti-collision systems
  • G08G1/164—Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
  • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
  • G08G1/09—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions
  • G08G1/0962—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
  • G08G1/0967—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits
  • G08G1/096766—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits where the system is characterised by the origin of the information transmission
  • G08G1/096783—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits where the system is characterised by the origin of the information transmission where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a road signaling system intended to be installed along traffic lanes such as motorways, expressways or in sections at risk
• a more recent technique consists in using so-called active signaling pads, that is to say integrating electronics and a light source.
• the light source which can be constituted by one or more light-emitting diodes is activated sequentially for example by emission of successive flashes to warn the motorist of an immediate danger
• This electronics and this light source are integrated in a retroreflective block which in the absence of light emissions becomes a passive stud simply reflecting the lights emitted by the headlights of vehicles.
• These retroreflective signaling studs are generally integrated into the roadway at the shoulder. Apart from the information panel system, the other techniques do not inform the motorist of the actual actual road conditions km by km.
• the system also includes mterfaces which make it possible to make the connection between the beacons and a control center
• the interfaces as their name suggests, only serve as an intermediary between the control center and the beacon network .
• the mterfaces and the control center have no function under normal operating conditions for the beacons of this system, since the beacons incorporate both the detection means and the signaling means.
• the mterfaces only serve as intermediaries between the beacons and the control center to route the information collected by the beacons to the control center, or as intermediaries between the control center and the beacons to operate the light emitting diodes of the beacons in a case other than an accident. There is therefore no specific communication between the mterfaces and the tags, since the mterfaces cannot generate information.
• the present invention proposes to solve the aforementioned problem of the prior art by defining a road signaling system which informs the user in real time of the real traffic conditions on the traffic lane concerned continuously.
• the present invention provides a road signaling system intended to be installed along traffic lanes, characterized in that it comprises. at least one detection beacon provided with sensors capable of detecting critical climatic and / or traffic conditions, and a transmitter, several signaling elements each provided with a receiver and at least one light source activated in response to a signal emitted by the transmitter of the beacon after detection of a critical condition.
• the detection beacon therefore detects in situ the conditions which may influence the driving safety of motorists and instantly sends a signal corresponding to the studs which will activate their light source to warn motorists of the imminent danger.
• This system there is no time lag between the moment when the critical condition is detected and the moment when the motorist is notified.
• the light sources of the elements may emit in a specific color or according to a specific natural frequency.
• the detection beacons could be installed on the median separating the two lanes, while the signaling elements could be integrated into the roadway in the form of studs, for example along the shoulders .
• the signaling elements could be integrated into the roadway in the form of studs, for example along the shoulders .
• the present invention is therefore well characterized by the combination of an emitting transmitter beacon to which is controlled a group of light receiving pads which receive detection signals directly from the beacon.
• each element comprises an autonomous supply either by batteries or by accumulator charged by solar panel.
• the light source comprises at least one LED light-emitting diode.
• each element may include an optical retro-reflection system reflecting the light from the headlights of vehicles.
• the retroreflective surfaces of the optical system contribute to a better diffusion of the light emitted by the light-emitting diode (s).
• a microcontroller intended to manage the duration and the frequency of light emissions from the source as a function of the signals emitted.
• the microcontroller therefore constitutes the real brain of the signaling element by decoding the signals emitted by the dedicated beacon and by sending a command order to the light source which is specific to the signals received.
• the transmitter of the REV3 tag may include means for checking the state of charge of the power supply and then controlling the activation of the light source according to a code indicative of the state of charge of the power supply.
• the microcontroller may include means for activating the light source in the event of a failure of the beacon.
• the microcontroller can include means for activating the light source in the event of failure of the receiver of the pad.
• the microcontroller therefore fulfills various functions of failure detection, order recognition, self-diagnosis, reception and processing of information coming from the beacons as well as the control of the light-emitting diodes.
• the beacon comprises a receiver capable of receiving signals transmitted by other beacons or a terminal for centralizing information.
• a beacon which detects a critical condition can thus send a signal to the adjacent beacons which do not detect this critical condition so that they activate their specific studs, so as to warn motorists of the impending critical condition.
• Another possibility is the self-diagnosis of the pads dedicated to a beacon from a terminal which sends a diagnostic request signal to the beacons.
• the transmitter of the beacon is able to send a self-diagnostic signal to the associated signaling elements in response to a diagnostic request signal picked up by the beacon receiver, the respective microcontroller of each element of signaling in response to the diagnostic request signal, making a diagnosis of the general state of said element and communicating the result of the diagnosis by activating the light source frequency decodable to the eye or using an optical decoder.
• the road signaling system essentially comprises two types of constituent elements, namely one or more detection beacons and one or more series of signaling elements each dedicated to a detection beacon.
• the detection beacons may for example be placed with an interval of 800 meters for example in the call terminals, and to each beacon will be dedicated a series of elements for example the number of 20
• each beacon will be dedicated a series of elements for example the number of 20
• the detection beacon can for example be installed on the central reservation of a motorway or expressway. These are independent detection beacons powered by batteries or solar panels and accumulators, and comprising a set of sensors allowing the detection of risks linked to bad weather or poor traffic conditions. Each detection beacon comprises a transmitter capable of transmitting a status signal specific to each critical condition detected.
• the beacons also include a receiver, which in association with the transmitter, allows communication between them in order to circulate the information and thus guarantee the signaling of the risks upstream of the zone concerned allowing the drivers to anticipate or to inform a terminal in good time of monitoring the critical climatic condition of the road network and its actual development over time
• the set of sensors may for example include sensors for climatic conditions of fog, rain, snow, risk aquaplanmg, risks related to the proximity of following vehicles, risk of ice, etc. as well as traffic condition sensors (accident, slowdown, traffic jam, etc.). The list is not exhaustive.
• a series of signaling elements is thus associated or dedicated to each detection beacon. It is advantageously that each element in the series is identified independently so that a specific order signal can be sent to each individual element. This makes it possible to manage the synchronization of the elements or of any other desired operating mode, for example in chemllard mode.
• each element comprises a receiver capable of receiving the signals emitted by the beacon to which it is dedicated, and at least one light source, for example under the shape of light-emitting diodes LED
• Each element can thus include for example four LEDs of different color; in short, each dedicated element has the same beacon will activate one or more of these LEDs after reception of one or more control signals emitted by the detection beacon which has just detected one or more critical climatic or traffic conditions.
• each signaling element can be in the form of an integral stud in the roadway. It may for example include a glass cover inside which the various components are assembled. The cover serves as protection against mechanical shock while ensuring internal sealing.
• the stud may also include a passive reflector in the form of a retroreflective system making it possible to return the light emitted by the headlights of vehicles traveling on the roadway
• the retroreflective system can for example be produced by a retroreflective film of the 3M type (registered trademark) either by forming the glass cover during the pressing phase. Consequently, when the LEDs are not activated, the signaling pad is a simple passive pad reflecting the light of the vehicle headlights. On the other hand, as soon as one or more LEDs are activated, the retroreflection system is used for the widest diffusion of the light emitted by the LEDs.
• Each element or pad also comprises an autonomous electrical supply system, for example in the form of an accumulator / solar panel assembly, or even in the form of a battery, advantageously long-lasting.
• the accumulator / solar panel or battery assembly is integrated in the glass cover of the pad.
• Each element or block also includes a microcontroller which constitutes the real brain of the active block and which makes it possible to carry out the complete management of the system.
• the microcontroller must in fact fulfill various functions, including fault detection, order recognition, self-diagnosis function, reception and processing of information from beacons and control of light-emitting diodes.
• the microcontroller can for example detect a possible failure of its associated beacon.
• the beacon can for example be programmed so as to send a status signal at determined periods, for example every 10 minutes. If no status signal is transmitted to the pad after, for example, three periods, this means that the associated beacon is malfunctioning, and the microcontroller triggers the activation of one or more light-emitting diodes in night operation. In this case, all the studs start to flash at night when there are no bad weather problems, which means that the beacon is broken. The personnel in charge of maintenance can then easily identify the failure of a beacon by noting the specific blinking of the associated studs.
• the microcontroller can also detect a failure of the receiver on its pad.
• the microcontroller then has a self-checking protocol. In the event of failure detection on the pad, the light-emitting diode is lit at night. If a stud starts to flash at night, when there is no bad weather problem, it is because the stud in question is out of service.
• the microcontroller also allows recognition of orders from the beacon. This requires the identification of each stud by a family number referenced to a tag and an individual serial number in the series of studs dedicated to this tag. This makes it possible to operate the diodes of the pads at the same time or even in an offset manner to create a flashing of the chase type.
• the microcontroller can also be used to perform a self-diagnosis of the power supply. In the case where a long-life battery is used to supply the pad, the microcontroller controls the level of the battery, that is to say its no-load voltage and its charge voltage. In the case where an accumulator associated with a solar panel is used, the microcontroller controls the maximum charging current and voltage of the accumulator during the day, it also controls the charging current and voltage of the solar panel, and the no-load voltage as well as the battery charge. It can also control the supply current of the light-emitting diode (s).
• the microcontroller controls the level of the battery, that is to say its no-load voltage and its charge voltage. In the case where an accumulator associated with a solar panel is used, the microcontroller controls the maximum charging current and voltage of the accumulator during the day, it also controls the charging current and voltage of the solar panel, and the no-load voltage as well as the battery charge. It can also control the supply current of the light-emitting diode
• the microcontroller triggers the activation of the light-emitting diodes according to a flash code allowing an operator to know what the general state of the pad is.
• the light-emitting diodes may start to flash according to a Morse type code allowing the operation to visually recognize the state of the pad.
• the flashes emitted by the light-emitting diodes can be detected using a portable optical analyzer capable of reading the signal emitted by the LED in order to then make it possible to know the general state of the pad and to detail the different sub-assemblies.
• the microcontroller allows above all the management of information, that is to say signals from the beacons, and the processing of these signals to activate the light-emitting diodes according to the critical climatic and / or traffic conditions detected. by the associated tag.
• the microcontroller allows activation light-emitting diodes according to different very specific codes according to the different critical conditions detected
• the activation of the flashes must allow motorists to easily detect the nature of the critical conditions which it will meet as well as the level of danger to which it will be exposed
• the microcontroller controls the light-emitting diodes upon reception of signals emitted by the terminal and according to the state of charge of the accumulators. or stack. If the signal corresponds to a diagnostic signal, the light-emitting diodes are then activated to respond to the diagnosis. If the order consists of a normal operating cycle, then the microprocessor controls the color, the flash or continuous mode and the number of light-emitting diodes used If the signal corresponds to an operating cycle with a low charge level, then the microcontroller can decrease the intensity of the power supply of the light-emitting diodes, decrease the cycle time, activate the operation according to the level of circulation, for example according to data in time range, or a combination of one or more of the above three possibilities.
• the microcontroller therefore makes it possible to manage the entire operation of a pad and the aforementioned functions should not be considered as the only possible. Indeed, one can imagine a microcontroller performing other functions without going beyond the scope of the invention. All orders or signals emitted by the beacon or a verification device are therefore processed by the microcontroller so as to activate the light-emitting diodes according to a very specific code.
• a beacon when a beacon detects a critical condition, for example fog, it sends a signal corresponding to its series of dedicated studs which will be received by the stud receivers and processed by the respective microcontrollers so as to trigger the diode (s) electroluminescent according to a very specific code.
• the beacon emits a signal towards the adjacent beacons to inform them that a critical condition is detected.
• the adjacent beacons then in turn send a signal corresponding to the critical condition detected so as to activate their series of dedicated pads respectively.
• Each beacon can then warn its adjacent beacon (s) that a critical condition is detected up to the information centralization terminal so that weather and traffic conditions are known in real time on the entire equipped traffic lane. of a system according the invention.
• the system can also be used to signal an accident by activating, for example, the studs of the three or four beacons installed upstream of the accident site.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Atmospheric Sciences (AREA)
• Traffic Control Systems (AREA)
• Road Signs Or Road Markings (AREA)
• Optical Communication System (AREA)
• Radio Relay Systems (AREA)
• Radar Systems Or Details Thereof (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

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• 1999
  • 1999-09-30 FR FR9912196A patent/FR2799295B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2000
  • 2000-09-28 WO PCT/FR2000/002683 patent/WO2001024132A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 2000-09-28 AT AT00966216T patent/ATE271245T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2000-09-28 EP EP00966216A patent/EP1222642B9/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-09-28 DE DE60012204T patent/DE60012204T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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