Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
  • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
  • G08G1/09—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions
  • G08G1/095—Traffic lights
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
  • G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
  • G08G1/005—Traffic control systems for road vehicles including pedestrian guidance indicator

Definitions

• the technical field of the invention is the regulation of road traffic by signaling.
• the invention described here which is called “alternating STOP” or “stop-lamp” in the rest of the presentation (not to be confused with the STOP lamp located at the rear of the vehicles), has the advantageous object a new combined use of known means but still, until now, used independently.
• This new combined use of known means makes it possible to effectively solve a problem that has been felt for a long time without having been addressed completely.
• the solution adopted by the authorities has been the installation of vehicle arrival detection sensors at certain intersections equipped with traffic lights.
• these installations are expensive and require feedback to the fire controller which must adapt the display times of the green and red lights according to the traffic, this solution is, in practice, only partially effective because significant downtime remains in use.
• the present invention proposes a simple, effective and intelligent alternative to traffic lights at intersections of traffic lanes where visibility is sufficient to allow the motorist to engage in the intersection if he judges that no vehicle threatens to cross its path, the same way it faces a traditional STOP sign.
• This new combined use of a signaling system is authentically innovative because it allows a simple and effective way of intelligent alternation between the traditional operation of traffic lights and the usual function of traffic signs. "STOP" or "give way”.
• the traffic signal lights can manage the traffic in a traditional manner, each route arriving at the intersection being assigned the priority of passage in turn for a given time.
• the stop light in the event that the lane is free, takes over by exploiting the signaling "STOP" or "give way” which does not have the disadvantage of the traffic light. in that it does not force the motorist to wait for the light to turn green.
• the fire-STOP advantageously combines, within a single device, traffic lights and STOP signal or give-the-light passage dynamically, without requiring complex and expensive system of arrival detection of vehicles, whose efficiency in eliminating downtime is only very partial. Indeed, compared to a traditional traffic light, the duration of the signal of the red light integrated in the stop light is shortened, most often brief (of the order of one second), or even zero as will be seen in an alternative form. of the invention, before the display of the STOP signal which effectively replaces the red light.
• “Driver” means a driver of a vehicle subject to the Highway Traffic Act, whether that vehicle is a heavy vehicle, an automobile, a 2-wheeled vehicle, or a 3-wheeled vehicle;
• “crossroads” means any crossing of lanes open to traffic and subject to signage relating to the priority of passage, irrespective of the number of lanes converging there; by extension, the term “intersection” means a junction or a traffic lane equipped with a priority crossing sign in front of a simple pedestrian crossing, the intersection designating in this case the intersection between the traffic lane and the crossing. pedestrians; by extension also, the term “concurrent lane” means any lane or pedestrian crossing crossing the original lane, called lane A, for which the operation of the STOP light is described.
• lane A for which the operation of the STOP light is described.
• the object of the present invention is to provide a simple, effective and intelligent solution to the objective technical problem still encountered so far which is, how, independently of the circumstances, reduce waiting time and eliminate time deaths imposed by the traditional traffic lights and or the signaling devices of the type "STOP" or "yield-passage".
• STOP traffic lights and or the signaling devices of the type "STOP" or "yield-passage”.
• the present invention aims to provide an efficient solution to the problems and disadvantages presented above by the various devices and systems of the prior art. It aims to significantly reduce the waiting time and eliminate the dead time imposed on drivers by traditional traffic lights and or signaling devices of the type "STOP" or "give-the-passage”.
• a road traffic control signaling system arranged at a junction or at a simple pedestrian crossing, hereinafter called "intersection"
• said system signage being composed of a programmable controller and a set of light signals that it controls, the set of light signals being disposed above or on the side of the tracks in the vicinity of said intersection, the method of use being remarkable in that said signals are at most four types whose time cycle follows the sequence:
• red light whose duration is typically of the order of one second if the intersection is
• the method according to the invention relates to a new combined use of known means, but still, until today, used independently.
• This new combined use of known means makes it possible to respond effectively to a need felt for a long time without having ever been effectively satisfied.
• the present invention provides a simple, effective and intelligent alternative to traffic lights at intersections of traffic lanes where visibility is sufficient to allow drivers to engage in the intersection if no vehicle threatens to cross their path.
• This new combined use of a signaling system is authentically innovative because it allows a simple and effective way to intelligently alternate between the traditional operation of traffic lights and the usual function of the signs "STOP" or "give way” .
• the traffic signal lights make it possible to manage the traffic in a traditional manner, each lane arriving at the intersection being assigned priority of passage in turn for a given time.
• the STOP light in the event that the lane is free, automatically authorizes the operation of a "STOP" or "give way” signaling which does not have the disadvantage of the tricolor light since the motorist no longer has to wait for the light to turn green.
• the method of use according to the invention advantageously exploits the combination of known means but used for a new purpose, which produces a new and remarkable effect in that it was desired for a long time but had never been achieved.
• This new effect is authentically remarkable because the cleverly combined means here are known and used daily for a large number of years, proof is the dates of the documents, all old, of the prior art approaching the field of the invention.
• the characteristics of this combination make it possible to mutually reinforce their effects, so that a new technical result, clear visual indications, automatically and instantly exploitable by the motorists, is obtained.
• the manner of posing the technical problem and the good combination of known means also significantly contributed to obtaining the result and the technical effect obtained.
• the main object of the invention is to reduce the loss of time and eliminate the dead time imposed by traditional traffic lights is fully achieved, which allows, in turn, moreover, advantageously and sigmficatively reduce pollution generated by vehicles that usually remain unnecessarily on hold.
• the inventive system discussed here is, in principle, the combination of traffic lights with a bright STOP signal (or any signal light meaning to give way), which lights either instead a red light that is no longer needed, just after the red light has come on (typically 1 or 2 seconds later, the latter then turning off).
• the invention is a three-state STOP-lamp (green-yellow -STOP); in the second case, it is a four-state STOP-STOP (green-yellow-red-STOP).
• This device is compatible with the current highway code in that it uses existing signaling elements, but it cleverly combines them to allow a more fluid traffic at crossroads regardless of the traffic status. This device can only be used at intersections or junctions where visibility is good and clear, to allow the motorist to judge whether the lane is safe.
• the STOP-lamp is equipped a priori with the assembly of a green light, a yellow light and a STOP light signal intermittently, but it is not necessarily limited to this assembly as will be seen with various variants in the following.
• a three-cycle cycle is provided by default, each time being programmable by means of a traditional fire controller: first, the light from channel A is green and gives priority to the cars arriving in front of this light, then it passes in yellow to warn of the imminence of the mandatory stop that will have to mark the vehicle on approach.
• the STOP signal comes on at the same time as the yellow light goes out, to force the motorist to stop and give way to any vehicle appearing near the intersection.
• this third time may be preceded by the ignition of a red light in a very transient manner, of the order of one second, to safeguard the integrity of the traffic light known to all motorists.
• the reverse signals are presented to pedestrians or cars on competing tracks, that is to say pedestrian crossings or lanes crossing the A track: as long as the green or yellow light is shown on lane A, a red light or a STOP signal remains on each of the competing lanes, and vice versa.
• a simple crossing where are installed STOP lights at the four corners, the three times of the cycle of these lights-STOP are then presented.
• This device is generalizable not only at more complicated intersections, but also at pedestrian crossings, whether they are located at an intersection or isolated in the middle of a track equipped with a STOP light: the light is green or yellow only in one direction of traffic while the signals of the competing channels are STOP signals on, or red lights if necessary.
• the device of the invention must include a programmable traffic light controller, which synchronizes the lights and STOP signals in the same way that it would synchronize traditional traffic lights. Thanks to the controller, it is in particular possible to add a small delay between the moment when a light goes to the luminous STOP and the moment when the light of a competing channel turns green. Without the red light option presented above, the STOP-lamp controller may be identical to that used for traffic lights, since the STOP signal ignition control is then strictly equivalent to the traffic light red light control. traditional. So this controller does not present itself as innovative.
• the luminous STOP signal may advantageously be surmounted by a sun visor, as may be each of the green and yellow lights. This allows the STOP-lamp to be more visible in case of strong sunlight. It can also help protect the fire and its electronic components from rainfall precipitation.
• the LEDs constituting this light can light up with at least two different colors according to the command that is intended for them, one of these colors being green, the other being red or white according to the LED and the location of the fire on the STOP sign.
• LED-based version of the yellow light described in 2 forming part of the luminous STOP panel.
• the LEDs constituting this light can light up with at least two different colors depending on the command that is intended for them, one of these colors being yellow, the other being red or white depending on the LED and the location of the fire on the STOP sign.
• 3 ' small version of the luminous STOP described in 3, allowing its integration into a column (or row) of traditional traffic lights, typically above the (right) red light, or instead of the red light .
• 3 " LED-based version of the luminous STOP signal described in 3, allowing to integrate within it one or more traffic lights.
• the LEDs constituting said lights are part of all the LEDs constituting the STOP signal light. They can be red (see example in Figure 4), two-colored, tricolor or even quadricolored depending on their location and the luminous STOP panel model (see Figure 6).
• LED-based red light integrated into the LED-based bright STOP panel.
• the LEDs constituting this red light are part of the LEDs constituting the luminous STOP panel. They are a priori monocolores (red) because the associated red light is an integral part of the red background of the STOP sign and does not encroach on the border or on the word STOP consisting of white LEDs.
• red light integrated into the STOP luminous panel consisting of LEDs, some of which are bi-colored, tricolor or quadricolored, depending on their location and the luminous STOP sign model (see Figure 6).
• LED-based version of the give-and-pass "light signal described in 5, allowing the integration of one or more traffic lights, the LEDs constituting the said lights are part of the set of LEDs constituting the signal "give-the-passage” bright.They can be red, two-colored, tricolor, or even quadricolored according to their location and the model of "yield-passage” sign light (see example Figure 13).
• FIG. 1 represents a schematic view of a 3-state STOP lamp, according to a first embodiment of the invention.
• First the light is green (1), indicating the motorists to go their way, then it turns yellow (2), warning them of the imminence of the ignition STOP signal (3).
• the device looks like a tricolor traffic light where the red light is simply replaced by a bright STOP signal triggering instead of the red light.
• the STOP-lamp has 3 possible states: green, yellow, or STOP.
• the absence of a red light allows a total compatibility of the STOP-lamp with the existing traffic light controllers because they do not require reprogramming: the control of the ignition of the signal STOP is then that which is traditionally reserved for the red light.
• the relative size of the STOP panel relative to the green and yellow lights may vary depending on the local regulations or the type of track on which this device is installed.
• the luminous STOP is typically larger than the lights associated with it, as are traditional STOP signs with respect to each of the three traditional traffic lights.
• the STOP signal overcomes the green and yellow lights.
• the octagonal luminous STOP signal is of a size close to that of the green and yellow lights that it overcomes, the width of the octagon is then similar to the diameter. of the red light that it replaces.
• the luminous STOP signal is a priori the same as that described in the Highway Code, ie a STOP word in white on a red background in a white hexagonal frame.
• the first is a matrix of white and red LEDs with low consumption, with a granularity sufficient to allow good visibility of the word "STOP" at a distance of several tens of meters, unambiguously.
• the second embodiment consists of an incandescent bulb backlighting of a circular or octagonal translucent window on which the STOP signal appears.
• the use of LEDs is preferred because it is more economical than the backlighting with an incandescent bulb.
• the regulation on dynamic signage recommends the use of "inverted decorations", where a black background is used instead of white backgrounds to reduce the number of LEDs lit (see IISR, 9th edition). part). If these rules are to be applied to the STOP light, then an alternative form of the luminous STOP signal could be represented by the word STOP in white or red on a black background with a white or red hexagonal border.
• Figure 2 shows the sequence of states of four 3-state STOP lamps in the example of an intersection of two two-way traffic lanes. First the light is green (1) for the channels shown vertically in the diagram, at the same time as the STOP is lit for the channels shown horizontally, so that the priority of passage is clearly established for the "vertical" channels .
• the third state at the bottom of Figure 2 may be preceded by a short time when the four STOP signs are lit simultaneously, especially to allow time for vehicles engaged in the intersection to clear the passage before lighting the green lights.
• FIG. 3 represents a 3-state STOP-fire scheme where the luminous STOP is integrated in a traditional traffic light column in place of the red light.
• the 3 states represented are equivalent to those shown in FIG. 1.
• a red light may also occupy the same location as the STOP signal, making it possible to have a four-state STOP-lamp, as explained below. Simply put two-color LEDs (red or white) in the white locations of the STOP signal.
• FIG. 4 represents a schematic view of a four-state STOP lamp, according to another embodiment of the invention.
• the light is green, indicating the motorists to go their way, then it turns yellow (2), warning them of the imminence of the lighting of the red light (3), which precedes one to several seconds the illumination of the luminous STOP signal (4).
• This last state or these two last states coincide typically with the lighting of the green lights for the pedestrians of the corresponding way and the green lights facing the vehicles of a competing way.
• the presence of the red light possibly allows a return to the use of the traditional traffic light at busy times or in a prolonged manner if the use of the stop lamp described above is not considered satisfactory by the local authorities.
• the signal STOP overcomes the green and yellow lights, but in another embodiment of a signal-STOP lamp with 4 signal states arranged in a column, this signal STOP can be positioned at the same time. above (see Figure 5) or below a column of traffic lights.
• Figures 4 and 6 to 11 show the luminous STOP signal incorporating one or more traffic lights.
• the signal panel is typically lined with an array of LEDs (see Figure 14). Depending on their location on this panel, some of these diodes are single-color because they only require a binary state (off or on), or at least two-color if 3 states are required in the green / yellow / STO cycle; the two-color diodes are then sometimes green, sometimes white or red, or sometimes yellow, sometimes white or red depending on their location on the panel. In some embodiments of the invention described below, the signal lights disks overlap partially or totally, requiring the use of tricolor LEDs or quadricolores if 4 states are required.
• the multi-color LEDs exposed above may be replaced by single-color LED arrays, as disclosed in US Patent 6,054,932, however this embodiment is not preferred because it requires more material and surface on the illuminated panel.
• the luminous STOP can integrate a red light which is triggered either in the place of the signal STOP if the local authorities decide to return to the more traditional use of the traffic light, either between the yellow light and the STOP signal (see figure 4, but also figures 8 and 11).
• the alternation between the fire-STOP and the traditional traffic lights can be programmed in the light controller.
• the traffic light can be used during peak hours, while the stoplight is used during less frequent traffic hours.
• the red light is used to complete the sequence of green light, yellow light, before giving way to the start of the STOP.
• the red light would then remain lit for a short time, typically a second.
• the addition of the red light if it does not seem to be indispensable from the functional point of view, can be used to make it easier for the authorities to accept the invention because the traffic lights and the STOP signal are known to the public. legislation whereas the only assembly green light, yellow light and STOP signal is not explicitly.
• the red light of lane A can extend when the lights of the other 2 lanes are green and the STOP signal.
• the legislator can therefore decide, at complex junctions and at a given moment, to allow only one lane to the STOP signal in addition to the green lane, and to block the circulation of all traffic lights. other ways to red.
• the four-state cycle green, yellow, prolonged red, STOP
• the red light is integrated in the STOP signal, depending on the location chosen for the red light, the use of two-color LEDs may be required (sometimes white, sometimes red depending on whether the STOP or the red light is on).
• the red light can be integrated in the red background of the STOP panel, as shown in Figure 4, in which case the two-color LEDs are not essential.
• a red light can occupy the same location as the luminous STOP signal if it consists of LEDs whose subset is two-colored, sometimes white, sometimes red (states respectively corresponding to the STOP signal). and at the red light).
• the red light may take the octagonal form for simplicity. But it can also take the form of a luminous disc like the green and yellow lights; then, either it fits in the octagon of the luminous STOP, or its outline is circumscribed to the octagon or placed between these positions "inscribed” and "circumscribed".
• FIG. 6.a represents a 3-state or 4-state STOP lamp where the traffic lights are arranged in a vertical column, according to the most common configuration of the traffic light.
• the red light is optional: it is constitutive of the device if the local authorities wish to resort to the use of the traditional traffic light or to a 4-state stop light.
• the sequence of the lights is represented in FIG. 7 (3 states) or FIG. 8 (4 states).
• Figure 6.b shows a 3- or 4-state STOP lamp where the traffic lights are arranged in a horizontal row, in accordance with a pattern prevalent in North America.
• the red light is optional and the sequence of lights is the same as that shown in Figure 7 (3 states) or Figure 8 (4 states).
• Figures 6.c to 6.f show four-state STOP lamps where the traffic lights are arranged in equilateral triangle, so that they can occupy more surface on the STOP panel than in the aligned configurations of the figures 6. a and 6.b. They are thus visible from a more distant distance of the motorists facing them. In these triangular configurations, the conventional sizes of the STOP sign and the traffic lights can be maintained.
• the invention covers all possible permutations of the traffic lights, as well as all angles of rotation of the equilateral triangle around the center of the STOP sign.
• Figures 6. g to 6.j show stop lights with 3 or even 4 states, where only 2 light locations are present on the bright STOP signal. In these configurations, the conventional sizes of the STOP sign and the traffic lights can be maintained.
• the model in Figure 6. g has a green light in the lower half of the panel and a yellow light in its upper half.
• the sequence of states of this configuration is shown in Figure 9.
• Another 4-state mode can be generated if the yellow light turns into a red light before the transition to illumination of the STOP signal.
• the passage of the yellow light to the red light is made possible with the use of three-colored LEDs which are successively extinguished, yellow, and red or white depending on their location on the matrix of LEDs of the luminous STOP.
• the model in Figure 6. h has a flashing yellow light at the bottom and a red light at the top.
• the sequence of the 3 states of this configuration is shown in Figure 10.
• a green light can replace the yellow flashing light.
• Another 4-state mode of this configuration can be generated if one of the two lights (lower or higher) becomes a continuous yellow light before the red light.
• the transition to continuous yellow light from a green light in the lower part is made possible with the use of three-colored LEDs that are successively off, green, yellow, and red or white depending on their location on the matrix of LEDs STOP bright .
• the transition to continuous yellow light at the top location also requires the use of tri-color LEDs in some places: their state is then successively off, yellow, red and white.
• the model in figure 6.k is equivalent to the model in figure 6.a, the difference being in the size of the fires which are enlarged for a better visibility of the drivers coming from far away.
• this difference makes it possible to have conventional sized lights in a column, but it nevertheless requires them to overlap partially.
• this is made possible by the use of tri-color LEDs on the intersections of the discs of overlapping lights on the matrix of LEDs. On the intersections of the green and yellow lights, the tri-color LEDs to be used light up sometimes in green, sometimes in yellow, sometimes in red or white according to their location on the STOP sign.
• the invention also incorporates an equivalent model (not shown here), where the traffic lights partially overlap by being arranged in a horizontal row on the STOP panel.
• the model in figure 6.1 presents another embodiment of the invention fire-STOP with 3 or 4 states (according to which the red light is added), where the discs of the lights overlap completely on the same surface of the STOP panel .
• the example of Figure 6.1 shows a fire cover in the central portion of the panel, but any other arbitrary location of the lamp disk on the panel is also covered by the invention.
• the LEDs are tricolor or quadricolored depending on their location and the number of states desired.
• the state sequence of the 4-state version is shown in Figure 11. In this mode, the tri-color LEDs on the disc are sometimes green, sometimes yellow, sometimes red, and the quadricolored LEDs are sometimes green, sometimes yellow, sometimes red, sometimes white.
• Figure 12 outlines an embodiment of the invention according to the four-state “surrender-pass” variant.
• the 4 states similar to those of the STOP-light of FIG. 4, are shown in sequence, except that the luminous STOP signal is replaced by a luminous "give-and-pass" signal in the form of an equilateral triangle at the bottom. white, pointing down.
• a black "give-and-pass" light message on a white background is part of a rectangle inserted between the yellow light and the said triangle, effectively discarding these two elements of light. the height of said rectangle (this rectangle is not shown in Figure 12 nor on the next).
• Figure 13 shows another embodiment of the invention according to the variant "fire-give-the-passage” to 4 states, where traffic lights are integrated into the light panel “give it passage ", in a similar manner to the stop light of FIG. 8.
• FIG. 14 shows, in its upper half, the detail of the LEDs composing the fire-STOP signal model presented in FIG. 6.k, which constitutes one of the preferred embodiments of the device of the invention.
• a typical octagonal STOP signal panel consisting of a matrix of LEDs spaced and symbolized by small circles.
• the size of the panel may vary depending on the size of the road at or above the road. However, if it is 60 cm wide, then the LEDs are, in the example drawn here, spaced about 0.75 cm in both dimensions of the plane of the panel. All the LEDs are connected to the STOP signal control (state 4 of figure 8). In the state "STOP", the LEDs of the 2 rows of the border of the panel are white, as well as those whose centers are in the letters of the word STOP represented on the diagram (the sketched limit of these letters does not represent a component physical device). All other LEDs will illuminate red in this state.
• each LED whose center is in one of these disks must be connected to the corresponding fire ignition control, the other LEDs must go out during said command.
• the LEDs associated with the lights are connected to at least two commands (STO and fire).
• the LEDs of the green and yellow lights are at least two-colored.
• the LEDs of the red light whose center is in one of the STOP letters are also at least two-colored.
• the LEDs whose centers are located in the intersections of two disks are connected to two traffic lights, thus to at least 3 commands including the STOP signal. They are tricolor, except those of the intersection of the red and yellow lights which remain in the red background when the signal STOP is lit, for which two colors are enough.
• Another embodiment can also be noted, a simplified variant of the invention in which the green lights, yellow and red are absent. There are then simple luminous STOP signals which are in the on or off state according to the priority given at a given instant at the intersection or at the intersection. If the signal is off on one of the channels at a given moment, this is implicitly equivalent to a green light; then the signals from the competing lanes will be lit to ask the motorists coming from these lanes to stop and give way. Of course, such a system will also be based on the alternation of the priorities granted and this, through a programmable automatic light controller, the same type that is equipped with traditional fire controllers.
• the non-existent yellow light can advantageously be replaced by a flashing state of the STOP signal, announcing the imminence of a passage to the STOP signal lit continuously.
• pedestrian lights usually present at intersections may be omitted at pedestrian crossings.
• the invention may be provided to integrate only one of the two green or yellow lights, which represents an intermediate form between the device described with Figures 1 to 11 and the last proposed variant.
• only a green light fits into the STOP sign, so as to signify to the motorists their priority when the light is on.
• only the yellow light accompanies the STOP sign; if the yellow light is flashing or off, it invites the motorists to cross the intersection carefully without stopping, whereas if it lights up continuously, it announces the imminence of the passage to STOP and invites them to s 'Stop.
• Figure 6.1 may thus represent an example of a single-fire embodiment (although this figure also illustrates an embodiment with several lights, where the different light conditions follow one another at the same location of the panel).
• STOP-light and tricolor lights can coexist at the same crossroads.
• local authorities may wish to adopt STOP-light on either traditional traffic lights and lights on the other lane (s).
• the proposed invention is therefore compatible with a combined traffic light-STOP / traffic light at certain intersections or intersections.
• a national highway exitway
• a secondary road slower road
• a red light as long as the light on the said national road is green
• a STOP-lamp can advantageously be used on the national road so that the motorists on this road a priori more frequented will be able to pass their way after a brief stop at the luminous STOP if the way is free.
• the stop light may be combined with directional traffic lights, whether they apply to the green, yellow or red light, or to the STOP signal itself.
• An arrow must then indicate the direction for which the stop is required in the immediate vicinity of the illuminated STOP, or highlighted on the panel itself if it consists of LEDs.
• Other signals must then be associated with the other directions. In the absence of an arrow accompanying the STOP signal, it applies to all motorists facing it, regardless of the direction they wish to take.
• the green light referred to throughout this document may be replaced by a flashing yellow light to recommend caution around the intersection: the STOP signal for competing lanes does not guarantee that no vehicle will engage. in the intersection. For example a driver at the STOP may not see a vehicle arrive and engage his own vehicle in the intersection while a two-wheeler arrives quickly to him. It is therefore preferable to send a flashing yellow signal to the driver of the two-wheelers and more generally to all motorists, to encourage them to slow down, rather than transmit a green signal that they can interpret as a pledge of safety. Ultimately, the choice of the green light or flashing yellow light must be the responsibility of the authorities.
• the invention incorporates the possibility of replacing the green light by a flashing yellow light. It also presents the possibility of having two signals, green or yellow flashing, within the same panel, according to what has been programmed in the light controller. The transition to one or the other of these two possibilities is made possible by the use of at least two-colored LEDs that can emit green or yellow as needed. In operation, these two colors are then exclusive and correspond to similar fire conditions where the priority of passage is given to the driver facing the STOP light.
• the usual traffic light has, not 3 states, but 4 or even 5 states.
• the 4th state is then the brief ignition of the yellow light without extinguishing the red light, which announces the imminent passage to the green light after the red state.
• the 5th state if it exists, is the flashing green between the green and yellow states, warning of the end of the green state.
• these states can be incorporated into the STOP lamp.
• the "STOP" state is then added to the existing 4 or 5 states, to give a 5-state or 6-state STOP light, respectively.
• This invention also provides a variant where the local authorities, wishing to further fluidize the traffic in the case of an intersection with high visibility, may choose to replace the bright STOP signal with a signal "ced-the-passage” light (cf examples in Figures 12 and 13). Instead of stopping when this signal is on, the motorist has the right to cross the intersection after ensuring that no vehicle will cross his route. This has the advantage of avoiding jolts specific to stop-restarts. All that has been previously explained concerning the luminous STOP signal then applies to the "give-and-pass" signal which remains on as long as one of the competing paths has a green or yellow light on. All the forms of device described above can be declined with the signal "give-the-passage” instead of the signal STOP. The fire-STOP then becomes a fire-cede-the-passage, while one will keep, for convenience, in the remainder of the document, the general terms STOP signal and fire-STOP to designate one or the other STOP or give-pass variants.
• An embodiment of the invention provides in particular a declination of at least two-color LEDs of the fire-pass (see Figures 12 and 13), compatible with the traditional use of traffic lights.
• the local authorities may choose to fire a "give-and-pass" fire and combine it with traffic lights and / or stop lights on one or the other of the competing tracks. 5.6 Marking on the ground and pedestrian crossings.
• Pedestrian traffic lights are inseparable from traffic light traffic lights. It is the same for crossroads with STOP lights, except for exception, as possibly in the case of STOP-fire without fire.
• the signaling of pedestrian lights is then strictly the same as when they accompany traditional traffic lights: the illumination of the STOP signal light is then treated as that of a red light.
• the fire controller has activated this ignition, it triggers the greening of the corresponding pedestrian lights (the green may be replaced by a flashing yellow signal to invite pedestrians to be cautious).
• the STOP light just like the traditional STOP sign, must be accompanied by a white stripe on the ground which marks the place where the vehicles must stop before being able to leave again.
• This strip is typically an extension of the sidewalks to allow motorists to advance as much as possible and thus expand their field of view on competing routes.
• a crosswalk is provided at the intersection where the STOP light is located, it may be positioned just in front of the pedestrian crossing, although the white ground STOP marking tape is positioned behind the pedestrian crossing. Thus the driver must give way to pedestrians before marking the stop just in front of the white band in case the STOP is on.
• the pedestrians have their own red signage so that they do not enter the pedestrian crossing at this time. -the. Conversely, the symbol of a pedestrian green or yellow flashing lights once the STOP is illuminated vis-a-vis the motorists of the way crossed by the pedestrian crossing.
• a discontinuous white line is marked on the ground in the extension of the sidewalk, as it accompanies a traditional triangular "yield-the-passage" panel. If a pedestrian crossing is present before the yield-crossing line, it is also preferable to position the fire-cede-pass just before the pedestrian crossing, so as to induce motorists to yield pedestrians before giving way to the vehicles.
• the side post supporting the stop light may be positioned just behind the pedestrian crossing, as is the case for STOP signs or give-and-pass traditional.
• the STOP-lamp will be exposed even after the intersection, above the roadway, as is the case with most traffic lights in the United States.
• the STOP signal is on, it is understood that the drivers will have to give way to the pedestrians before marking the stop just in front of the white band marked on the ground in the extension of the sidewalk.
• the invention is intended to be universal: the proposed signaling system is fully compatible with the Highway Code currently in force in the world (in 2014), in that it integrates only signal elements already well known, unlike, for example, the application US 2010/0283631. It is the spatial association of these elements ("STOP" or "give-the-passage” and traffic lights) and their temporal sequence which are innovative and which constitute the object of the invention. This one responds to a need for a more efficient, priority-free alternation process for drivers. This process is more in line with the expectations of urban and modern life than the one authorized by the traffic lights on the one hand, or by traditional STOP signs on the other hand.
• FIGS. 6.a and 6.k in their 4-state version.
• signal green light (1), yellow light (2), red light (4 r ), STOP signal (5 ")
• Figure 14 details the surface of the panel of figure 6.k.
• the implementation of these models has the advantage of consuming less material than the implementation of FIG. 1 or FIG. 5 since the STOP-lamp is based on a single array of LEDs (6) capable of emitting 1, 2, or 3 colors and There is no need for additional loose lights like those shown in Figure 1.
• the matrix of LEDs (6) of the preferred embodiment covers the entire surface of the octagon. Only a part of these LEDs, those contributing to traffic signal signals, are two-color or tricolor LEDs with several states. In the manner of a traditional traffic light manufactured in the state of the art, the octagonal matrix is protected from the weather in a sealed housing and the LEDs (6) are easily replaceable in case of failure. A transparent window closes the housing at the front, facing the vehicles, so that the light signals are seen from as far away as possible.
• the diameter of conventional traffic lights is of the order of 20 to 30 cm if they dominate the roadway more than two meters high; in some instances, the red light is wider than the green and yellow lights: typically, the diameter of the red light is then 30 cm while that of the green and yellow lights is 20 cm. But the typical width and height of a traditional octagonal STOP panel is 60 cm, more rarely 80 cm. If the model of Figure 6. a is adopted to include a column of lights of 30 cm each, it is necessary a priori to provide a size of STOP sign luminous of at least 90 cm of height.
• each LED of the model of Figure 14 falls into one of the following categories according to its location on the panel. By default the LED is off except in the states mentioned in its category:
• the invention covers all possible locations of the column of lights vertical (or horizontal) on the panel, as well as all possible fractions of recoveries between the lights taken two by two.
• the red light ⁇ 4 ') is larger than the other two lights is taken into account: then it is possible that only two of the three fire discs overlap partially, the third is detached from the other two.
• the legislator may prefer to isolate the large red light for greater visibility, in which case it is the green (7) and yellow ( 1 ) lights which may be partially overlapped, even if they are smaller. .
• the spatial resolution of the lights and STOP signal appearing in white on a red background is determined by the surface density of LEDs (6) on the panel. This may vary from one implementation to another, but for an octagonal panel size of 80 cm, at least LEDs ( ⁇ 5) should be placed every centimeter in both orthogonal directions of the panel plane. Any higher surface density is acceptable however it can increase the cost of the fire-STOP and its maintenance.
• the bright STOP panel with its 3 lights is the original part of the invention. However, to be more exhaustive in the description of the device of the invention, it should be associated with elements without which the panel alone could not fulfill its function.
• the light panel With a means of maintaining it at a certain height, either above the sidewalk or at the side or above the roadway: this support function is ensured by a lateral pole, a gallows, or by carrying cables stretched over the road.
• the suspension of the panel by bracket or carrying cable may be located on the other side of the intersection with respect to the vehicle arriving at the intersection and facing the fire-STOP.
• the power cables of the LED matrix are routed along the support to the panel as concealed as possible. It can also be associated with the control-command cables, but this function can also be provided wirelessly by electromagnetic waves emanating from the fire controller. In the latter case, an antenna and a receiver must equip the luminous panel of the stop light, the receiver then distributing the commands transmitted to the different LEDs.
• the STOP-fire controller is in all respects similar to the traditional traffic light controllers. However its programming differs in that it can be led to manage 4 states per line of stop lights instead of 3 usually required for traffic lights, in case the transition of the red light between the yellow light and the ignition STOP signal is retained by the authorities. Fire-STOP / tricolor cycles succeeding each other during a day can then also be programmed. The STOP-fire controller must also manage the triggering of pedestrian lights as would a traditional fire controller.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Traffic Control Systems (AREA)
• Road Signs Or Road Markings (AREA)

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• 2014
  • 2014-06-24 FR FR1401417A patent/FR3022673B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2015
  • 2015-06-23 US US15/317,413 patent/US20170103650A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2015-06-23 WO PCT/IB2015/054708 patent/WO2015198226A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2015-06-23 JP JP2016573996A patent/JP2017520847A/ja active Pending
  • 2015-06-23 EP EP15742087.8A patent/EP3161810A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2015-06-23 CN CN201580042695.2A patent/CN106688025A/zh active Pending
  • 2015-06-23 CA CA2953304A patent/CA2953304A1/fr active Pending

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