EP1752946A1

EP1752946A1 - Device for detecting fixed or mobile obstacle

Info

Publication number: EP1752946A1
Application number: EP05017200A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Salvatore Maida; Filippo Gallegra
Original assignee: ELME IMPIANTI Srl
Current assignee: ELME IMPIANTI Srl
Priority date: 2005-08-08
Filing date: 2005-08-08
Publication date: 2007-02-14

Abstract

An obstacle detection device comprising at least one microwave beam detector (2), associated with an LED light emitter (4) whose turning on depends on the type, frequency and duration of the obstacle interception (A). After a preset period of time, the detection is radio activated to a series of other equal devices, preceding (and/or following). A Control Centre is alerted that the LED panels (4), from the position of the activated devices to the positions of sequential devices, are turned on and are signalling to the vehicles passing by that their are approaching an obstacle, such as a road accident, a slowing down, road-works, fog or the like.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for detecting fixed or moving obstacles particularly suited for controlling road traffic and signalling generic dangerous situations in real time.
It is well known that up to date signalling and/or alerting systems used for the regulation and safety of roads, such as: horizontal and vertical signs, speed limit signs, radio and television periodical bulletins, traffic light boards, vehicles road and on board signalling radar, mobile light indicators from the highway companies or police patrols, are substantially limited in that, some of them, give too generic information, others are scarcely effective especially in terms of prevention, while others again cannot guarantee the necessary rapid and/or localized interventions almost in real time, in case of sudden and unforeseeable dangerous situations.
These limits are particularly important and heavy also in case of bad weather conditions, such as: dense fog and bank-fog, intense and heavy showers, snow, ice, and in case of generic dangerous situations such as: road accident, road-works, roadway exchange, damaged vehicles.
Object of the present invention is to provide a device for detecting fixed or mobile obstacles, and for reducing to the minimum all the inconveniences deriving from the actual signalling and information means, and for giving, in real time, precise indications in order to prevent risks of road accident.
According to the present invention, these and other objects resulting from the following description are obtained through a device detecting fixed and mobile obstacles comprising: at least one central processing unit (CPU) interconnected, by means of discreet commands conductors, or at least one motion sensor, or at least one signalling optic unit and at least one general control unit which is also connected, by means of discreet commands conductors, to at least one radio transceiver unit for communication; all said components being further connected among them and to at least one interface input/output (I/O) unit via data transmission conductors and being contained within only one sealed container with at least one general power unit.
A plurality of obstacles detection devices of the present invention are installed at preset distances along the lateral wayside of roads and/or tunnels or along lateral wayside or central barriers separating roadways of highways and freeways. Obstacles or general dangers detection, done by the motion sensor of a device, produces the excitation of the light sensors associated with it and activates, via radio, the transmission of the alarm signal itself to a proper number of other sequential devices of the same kind; the series of activated devices sets on the same alarm state turning on their respective light sensors and thus signalling, with a certain advance and a proper distance allowing the driver to slow down, the presence of a danger to the drivers of the approaching vehicles.
The advantages obtained by means of the fixed and mobile obstacles detection device of the present invention are essentially given by the fact that, in any weather condition, the drivers of the vehicles moving on a road featuring the present detector, are noticed in advance and in real time of the possible, sudden and unforeseen obstacles, fixed or mobile, which might represent a danger for road conditions.
The fixed or mobile obstacles detection device of the present invention is described in detail below, according to a preferred embodiment uniquely given as a non limitative example, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

fig. 1 represents a general block diagram of an operative circuit for the obstacles detection device, according to the invention,
fig. 2 represents the schematic lateral view of an example device for detecting obstacles, according to the invention,
fig. 3 represents frontal schematic view of an example obstacles detection device, according to the invention,
fig. 4 represents a perspective lateral view of an example obstacles detection device, according to the invention, to be mounted on central barriers separating highways' and freeways roadways and the like, and
fig. 5 represents an example of distribution of obstacles detection devices, according to the invention, along a highway section.

With reference to the figures, device 100 according to the present invention comprises a container 8, generally a leak-proof one, featuring: one general energy source 1, at least one motion sensor 2, at least one radio transceiver unit 3 for communication, at least one optic unit 4 for signalling, general control units 5, one electric signals input/output unit 6 and one Central Processing Unit (CPU) 7.
The general energy source 1 of the electronic circuits of the device is set to accept a low tension supply voltage (e.g. 13,8 Vcc), supplied by external elements like: batteries, preferably but not limited to, like leak-proof Lead batteries rechargeable with solar panel 9, motor vehicles, table power suppliers for control test or CA/CC converters for direct supply from the electric network. The general energy source 1 includes a connector for the service supply to be used for the rapid battery charging and to be used in laboratory and maintenance.
Motion sensors 2, transversely set to the roadways, may have different technologies as a function of the type of installation; they may be active or passive, with optic technology, microwave, magnetic induction or variable reluctance. As an alternative to white light, in case of optic technology, it is possible the use of any wave length, with monochromatic light, chosen as a function of needs and installation environment. Both in case of monochromatic light, also coherent, and in case of white light, it is possible the use light beams 2' with splitable polarization planes.
The radio transceiver communication unit 3 is set to dialogue with other obstacle detection devices 100, preceding and/or following, and with a Control Operative Centre, remote, for the general management of signalling, resetting interventions and reactivation of the damaged unit, restoration of the regular road and safety conditions, intervention of operative and/or first aid vehicles. The communication unit utilizes discreet radio channels, chosen in conformity to the regulations in force, or it uses Wireless LAN (Local Area Network, typically in indoor areas, with radio connection) systems. Communication unit 3 may be set in order to interface single-fibre or multi-fibre type Optic Fibre systems, both monomodal and multimodal, or even, it is able to connect to LAN/WAN systems (Local Area Network [typically in indoor areas]/Wide Area Network [typically on a national area]).
The unit 3 itself may feature standard serial doors RS232 and/or RS485 - RS422 in parallel. LAN/WAN and Wirelss LAN systems have compatibility with the TCP/IP standard network protocol greatly adopted in local and Internet environment, in its various versions. As a function of the safety level required, it is possible to use multiple technologies as redundant communication channels.
The radio communication system described, is based on a Wireless LAN technology, useful to go beyond distances and guarantee a distributed diagnosis.
The system is preferred because it allows a reduction of the installation cost avoiding cable wiring. However, it is evident, in case of existing lines, that the most economical solution is to directly connect to those lines, thus reducing the cost of the radio apparatuses themselves, batteries and supply means, such as solar panels.
The task of the signalling optic unit 4 is to visualize alarm messages received from motion sensors 2; it is preferably arranged directly onto the external surface of the sealed container 8 and it is oriented toward the roadways of the approaching vehicles. The possibility of applying them on separate panels in order to facilitate the installation or make the alarm indication more visible is not to be excluded. The unit is composed by at least one matrix of high luminosity LED 100 (Light Emitting Diode) and, preferably but not limited to them, three colours according to the standard codification of the necessary information for the composition of the complete light spectrum from black to white, RGB (Red-Green-Blue).
The matrix of the signalling optic unit 4 may be of different types and dimensions (e.g. 10x10=100 LEDs) with LEDs' start timer, both as shape and as visual effect 4', such as: one central point expanding, series of concentric rings alternatively turning on, full turn on or chessboard-like turn on and the like, possibly coded as the current fixed road signs, or also for visualizing icons or any kind of message, as a function of the warning sings and/or alarms relative to the type of obstacles detected.
General control units 5 perform the task of realizing the internal diagnosis of single components. The monitored parameters include at least: internal temperature of the sealed container 8, supply voltage level, functionality of the motion sensor or sensors 2, efficiency of the LED matrix of the signalling optic 4.
Among said systems is also included the reset function (restart) of a logic system in case of malfunctioning of the central process and processing unit CPU 7.
I/O (input/output) unit 6 has the function of interfacing the external devices which are not directly connected to the function of obstacle detection. The system features optically isolated inputs for reading the established logic states, optically isolated outputs for driving the external signs and standard serial doors. Through these interfaces it is possible to connect each obstacle detection group 100 also to different types of devices, such as for example: reader of embedded coils for counting the number of vehicles passing by, common road service columns 11, fog sensors emitting, when activated, signals different from non moving traffic, manual commands of danger warning, light or acoustic signs sent to receiving devices to be supplied to vehicle drivers, light for local illumination, traffic lights, speed detection devices, emergency buttons. The commands managed by said interfaces are directly controlled by the remote Operative Control Centre.
The central process and processing unit 7 (CPU) controls all the elements present within the obstacles detection groups, on the base of different architectures, as a function of the overall performance required:

unit based on microprocessor and peripheral components, such as: RAM (Random Access Memory) that is random access memories without data retention in case of power supply loss; EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) that is writable and erasable memory with data retention in case of absence of power supply; EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) that is electronically writable memory and erasable by exposition to ultraviolet rays with data retention in case of absence of power supply; FLASH ROM (Flash Read Only Memory) that is fast writable memory with possible data retention in case of absence of power supply; I/O (Input/Output) that is: circuit, component or device allowing the input and output of electric signals; Watch-dog that is a device resetting a logic system in case of malfunctioning of the CPU.
Unit based on microcontroller and peripheral components, such as: RAM, EEPROM, EPROM, FLASH ROM, I/O, Watch-dog.
Unit based of an industrial type PC board and real-time Operative System with relative peripheral components, such as: RAM, EEPROM, EPROM, FLASH ROM, FLASH-DISK (flash type memory simulating the functioning of hard disk unit), I/O, Watch-dog.

As a non limitative example, the fixed and mobile obstacles detection device 100, according to the figures from 2 to 5 to be applied on central barriers 12 separating highways and freeways' roadways. More precisely, a plurality of detectors 100 according to the invention are mounted on the barriers 12 at distance X between them, for example 200 meters, or less or more, to be evaluated keeping into account possible different situations, on the base of the road layout, link roads, points where atmospheric phenomenon like fog or ice are more likely to happen, and so on. On the mounting on highways or freeways, in each container 8 two complete obstacles detection devices can be set, with their optic signalling units 4 oriented following the two opposite ways, and with motion sensors 2 oriented in the transversal direction, relative to the direction of their respective roadway; possibly but not limited to it, excluding or including from their action area 2' the emergency roadways where stopping vehicles might even be not a real obstacle to traffic.
It is evident that, for applications on two ways roads and/or tunnels, containers 8 feature just a single obstacle detector, with motion sensor 2 oriented toward the approaching vehicles, and they have to be mounted along the borders, just as the traditional signs.
The microwave beam 2' with a low power focus, of each obstacle detection device 100, detects the motionless traffic condition, or the presence of non moving vehicles or vehicles moving at a low speed, typical of an emergency situation or intense traffic.
In case one of these situations is detected, e.g. an accident (point A - figure 5), the obstacle is detected by beam 2' of the motion sensor 2 of the closest device 100'; after a preset and programmed period of time, the device itself sends the turn on command to its own optic unit 4 and radio transmits the same turn on signal to the optic unit 4 of the preceding device (and/or following), together with an indication about the number of resends the turn on command itself has to undergo. This allows the turn on of the same number of LED panels 4 and sequential devices 100. At the same time, the device 100' that detects the obstacle, sends, to the Control Operative Centre, the information that the LED panels of the devices 100 have been turned on from x position to y position. Thus the approaching vehicles are able to detect the presence of a danger with a certain advance, slow down, and keep going with care avoiding any accident.
In case of cars lining up, more and more devices are able to detect the stopped or slowing vehicles, thus activating other sequential LED panels. In summary, the first device 100' detecting the slowing down or the traffic stopping, sets on alarm state and automatically indicates the same state to a group of devices preceding (and/or following) creating a line of visual alarm, dedicated to the drivers, whose length allows the approaching vehicles to move safely and the Operative Control Centre.
The transmission structure of the radio signals from a device 100', requires the sequential receiving device 100 to give a confirmation of the signals received. In case the receiving point is out of order or not able to confirm the reception or to send back the same signals to the sequential position, the transmission structure of the device 100' skips the position out of order and calls the following one, and so on, alerting at the same time the Operative Control Centre on single or multiple anomalous situations detected. At the Operative Control Centre, at least one PC is interfaced through a radio connection to the obstacle detection devices according to the logic described and with a dedicated software for managing normal system and alarms control activities, such as: out of order units, unit with low batteries, units with LED panels broken or with reduced functionality, units with damaged vehicles analysis devices, units with high or low temperature, and so on.
The operators are able to send commands to each single device or groups of devices in order to verify the functionality of the different units, and the like, receiving a periodical indication on their state.

Claims

A device for detecting fixed and mobile obstacles particularly suitable for being installed along the edges of roads and/or tunnels and along edges or along the barriers separating highways or freeways' roadways, characterized in that they comprise: at least one central processing unit (CPU) (7) interconnected, through discreet command conductors, to at least one motion sensor (2), to at least one signalling optic (4), and at least one general control unit (5) which is interconnected, through discreet command conductors, to at least one communication radio transceiver (3); all said components being further connected with each other and to at least another input/output (I/O) interface unit (6), through data transmission conductors and being housed in a unique sealed container (8) with at least one general power source (1).
The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the general energy source (1) of the electronic circuits is set to accept a low tension supply voltage coming from external elements such as: leak-proof Lead batteries rechargeable with solar panel 9, motor vehicles, table power suppliers for control test, or CA/CC converters for direct supply from the electric network; said unit comprising a service supply connector.
The device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the motion sensor (2), transversely oriented with respect to the roadways, is active or passive, with white light or monochromatic light optic technology, chosen as a function of needs and installation environment; in both cases with monochromatic light and white light, being used light beams 2' with selectable polarization planes.
The device according to claim 3, characterized in that, motion sensor 2 is chosen between those with microwave technology, with magnetic induction technology and variable reluctance technology.
The device according to any of the above claims, characterized in that the communication radio transceiver unit (3) can be interfaced with Optic Fibre systems, mono-fibre or multi-fibre type, both monomodal and multimodal; said units being provided in parallel with serial doors RS232 and/or RS485 - RS422.
The device according to any of the above claims, characterized in that the communication radio transceiver unit (3) utilizes discrete radio channels.
The device according to any of the above claims, characterized in that the communication radio transceiver unit (3) is connected to LAN/WAN systems or to Wireless LAN systems.
The device according to any of the above claims, characterized in that the communication radio transceiver unit (3) utilizes more technologies as redundant communication channels.
The device according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the optic signalling unit (4), for visualizing the alarm messages received by the motion sensors (2), is directly set on the external surface of the sealed container (8) oriented toward the drive direction of the approaching vehicles; said unit being composed by at least one high luminosity LED matrix (10).
The device according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the signalling optic unit (4) is composed by at least one three-colours high luminosity LED matrix (10).
The device according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the general control unit (5) is dedicated to the internal components diagnosis, by monitoring the parameters connected to functionality: internal temperature of the sealed container (8), power supply level, functionality of the one or more motion sensors (2), efficiency of the LED matrix of the signalling optic (4), reset function (restart) of the logic system in case of malfunctioning of the CPU (7).
The device according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the I/O unit (6) has the function to interface with external devices non directly linked to the obstacles detection function and can be controlled by a remote Operative Control Centre.
The device according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the central process and processing unit (7) fulfils the task of controlling the elements present within the obstacle detection devices groups 100, with an architecture based on microprocessor and peripheral components: RAM, EEPROM, EPROM, FLASH ROM, I/O, Watch-dog.
The device according to any of the above claims from 1 to 12, characterized in that the central process and processing unit (7) fulfils the control of the elements present within the obstacle detection groups 100, with an architecture based on microcontroller and peripherals components: RAM, EEPROM, EPROM, FLASH ROM, I/O, Watch-dog.
The device according to any of the above claims from 1 to 12, characterized in that the central process and processing unit (7) fulfils the control of the elements present within the obstacle detection groups 100, with an architecture based on industrial type PC board or real-time Operative System with relative peripheral components: RAM, EEPROM, EPROM, FLASH, ROM, FLASH-DISK, I/O, Watch-dog.
The device according to one of the above claims characterized in that each container (8) contains an obstacle detector, wherein the signalling optic unit (4) is oriented according to the vehicles' way, and the motion sensor (2) is oriented, according to the roadways.
The device according to any of the claims from 1 to 15, characterized in that each container (8) contains two obstacles detectors, wherein the signalling optic units (4) are oriented according to the two ways, and the motion sensors (2) are oriented transversely, according to the way of their respective roadways.
The device according to any of the above claims, characterized in that each activation of the motion sensor (2) derived from the presence of a fixed or mobile obstacle, commands its own signalling optic unit (4) to turn on and radio transmits the same turn on signal to its respective optic unit (4) of the preceding device (and/or following), together with the indication about the number of sendings the turn on command itself has to undergo toward the sequence of other devices (100); the same activation signal of the LED panel of the devices 100 from a x position to a y position, is transmitted to a Operative Control Centre.