ES2867323A1 - Universal device for the wireless real-time capture of data from traffic light signals, solar-powered and self-contained - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a universal U-shaped device which is highly energy-efficient, has low power consumption, is of reduced weight and size, easy to install in a matter of seconds, is self-contained due to being solar-powered and which, regardless of the manufacturer, brand, technology or age of the traffic light signal and its lamps, is able to collect data from the traffic signal, the status of the same, the timing programs, average speed, the presence of road users, humidity and other variables in the traffic signal, in the absence of any electrical contact within a radius of several metres, and regardless of whether there is electrical power at the traffic light signal or not, by means of an easily-installed, inexpensive device which collects and shares the data from the traffic signal in real time with similar devices and with internet, enabling road users and governments to be aware of these data for the making of decisions regarding maintenance of the infrastructure, mobility and road safety.

Description

DESCRIPTION

UNIVERSAL DEVICE FOR WIRELESS CAPTURE OF ROAD SIGNAL DATA IN REAL TIME, SOLAR AUTONOMOUS

TECHNOLOGY SECTOR

The road infrastructure of most countries, the old technology that is not very compatible between different manufacturers of traffic lights and mobility and road safety control systems, does not allow obtaining any real-time data from these systems and infrastructure that were not conceived at the time to interconnect with data with everything that is around it in real time. Traffic lights, for example, in many countries, especially those under development, are old and there is no way to obtain their status and configuration data in real time without changing the entire control system to modern equipment that can communicate with each other, many cities in the world. The world does not have the money to buy high-cost traffic equipment from recognized brands and the latest technology that allows these interconnections of data in real time to share the data with other road users and other signals and traffic lights in real time.

Many regulations for safety issues prevent that traffic lights as road safety devices are electrically connected with cables and invasive accessories to obtain information from them in real time, there are many brands, technologies and many different systems so there is no system compatible with all brands regardless of manufacturer, age, type of technology, type of energy they use, etc.

Local governments do not allow private persons outside the government to manipulate the electrical circuits and electronic devices of the traffic lights to obtain their operation data, since it represents a risk to road safety and affects the warranty offered by the manufacturer of the equipment.

When there is no conventional electrical power or when there is damage to fiber optic or wired networks, it is not possible to have data on what happened with the traffic lights or what their status is, even more so, it is difficult to obtain more complex data in real time such as the time of a traffic light of vehicles or people, the times in their green lights, yellow and red in relation to the time it takes for a vehicle to pass the intersection and reach the pedestrian zone or to a pedestrian crossing or stop sign or calculate simultaneously with the traffic light times based on stopping distance, speed the humidity status of the floor according to the vehicles approaching that point and the time of the traffic light versus pedestrians who want to pass the road the time of the pedestrian traffic light, but ignore when the traffic light changes or if it has already changed and the vehicles are going to stop or not.

Nor is there a universal device that allows data to be captured and shared in real time on any traffic light signal without having to intervene and electrically connect the traffic light system or buy a new high-cost one that has these functions, nor is the data shared or displayed. in voice mode on the roads to road users.

The proposed invention seeks to obtain a device with a universal shape for any type of signal or traffic light, a very small device, easy to install on all types of signal, lightweight, autonomous with solar energy and integrated speed, humidity and presence sensors, which Regardless of the manufacturer or type of technology, it can read without electrical connection the road signs and time of each of the traffic lights, their programming and other variables of the site in real time through integrated sensors that detect without electrical contact variables in the signal via , sharing that data in real time with other similar devices in other road signs, traffic lights and vehicles where the data is translated into voice messages spoken on the road and then shared to the internet at a very low cost without having to buy new traffic light control equipment or control centers of billions and regardless of whether the traffic lights are old, if they lose power or do not count. still with systems to monitor them.

PREVIOUS TECHNOLOGY

The traffic signals, vehicular and pedestrian traffic lights, as well as the new traffic light technologies use an internal system incorporated into the traffic light control system and computers to share that data of times and traffic light status to the control centers of the cities that have to be of the same brand and costs of billions of pesos. But at no time do they share these important data with the users of the roads that are close to those sites and They can improve their mobility if they know in advance the status of road signs and other variables.

When the power goes out in a sector of the city, the traffic lights turn off and / or the communication systems incorporated into the traffic light that depend on conventional energy stop working, this in those cities that have the budget to have a power plant. high cost control for traffic lights and they are left without knowing what type of failure occurred, whether it was the wired or fiber optic communication system in some part of the city or a total failure of the power or the traffic light system. In any case, the users of the roads that are close to those places never know the data of the traffic signals and they cannot avoid a traffic jam or congestion due to a traffic light without power, damaged or without communication with the control center.

Most small or intermediate cities do not have the budget to assemble high-cost technology. Many of these systems are more than 10 or 20 years old and do not even have the option of being able to monitor them from a central office, they must make a visual inspection or wait for an accident or call from the community to go and solve the problem of the traffic lights.

Pedestrian traffic lights with sound by means of an audible or luminous signal indicate to people the right moment to pass a road with traffic lights safely, but they do not produce data in real time, nor do they share it with other devices on the roads, with pedestrians or vehicles or with the internet and do not use them for purposes other than monitoring by the cities of the state of the traffic lights and their lights. Not so that nearby drivers and pedestrians know this data in real time avoid congestion and risks.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The device for wireless data capture for road signs and traffic light programs in real time autonomous solar, arises from the need to have a device with a universal shape and use that can be implemented in any road sign or traffic light, independent of the manufacturer and the type of technology, which without electrical contact with the road signal system or traffic light using optical detection of the lights, can determine the status of the traffic light road signal and the times of programming of the lights as well as other variables of the site, which you can share in order that other road actors near these sites can have access to this data in real time through spoken messages. Wet floor speed sensors for the presence of vehicles and pedestrians complement the reading data of the device that is shared in real time to other nearby similar devices and to the Internet.

The device is a single unit in the shape of a very thin and flattened "U", which enters like a clamp on the sheets of the traffic lights that form the hood, visor or protective cap so that the sun's rays do not hit on the traffic lights. Due to the fact that the traffic light caps are standard size, this device can be placed on any type of traffic light, the sides of the "U" are retractable allowing the distance of the legs of the U to be adjusted between 5 to 19 cm. The lower leg of the U that remains on the inside of the traffic light cap is just 3 millimeters thick, so it does not obstruct the visibility of the traffic light.

The U-shaped device has integrated a small solar panel, a long-life battery, a microprocessor with communication module, an audio output, a humidity sensor, ccd sensor, optical sensor, presence and speed connected to each other by inside the U and fused into the unit looking like a bulge on the upper leg of the U before the bend. It also has on the upper leg of the U on one of its sides an output and input port for digital and audio signals.

The way to use this invention is by inserting the U in the upper part of the sheet of the cap of the road sign or traffic light and securing it with a screw to the traffic light cap, which takes a few seconds, does not require any configuration or electrical connection being ready for use and even installing it without contact with the traffic light, it can detect the status of the lights from several meters away. At the bottom of the U, at the tip that is pointing to the traffic light, there is an optical sensor that monitors the state of the traffic light signal light without electrical contact with the traffic light, nor with its electrical circuit, nor with your data networks, not with your computer, not with your lights.

The solar panel provides enough energy for autonomous work during the day, without the need for direct sunlight and even on cloudy days with only daylight and stores excess energy in the battery for night operation. In the upper part of the curve of the U, the sensors and electronic system are embedded which are seen as a protrusion and at the end of the upper part of the U is embedded the small solar panel.

During the daily operation of the traffic light and the change of the lights, the microprocessor stores and learns how the lights behave according to the day and time, obtaining the traffic light programming and anticipating when it will change its sequence of lights, simultaneously takes data from the sensors, analyzes them and this set of data sends them to other equal devices that receive the information and reproduce it in the form of a voice, this information is also sent to the internet and has a logic output from the microprocessor through a port on the side. top of the U to activate other light or sound devices or connect external sensors.

The device has high energy efficiency, which allows it to work autonomously with a small solar panel even on cloudy days or without only direct and without requiring conventional electrical energy or any type of electrical connection with the traffic light road sign, working universally in any road sign.

The same device operates in 2 modes, Master and Slave, the master allows sending the traffic light data to other devices and the slave allows receiving the data sent by the master and reproducing the sound alerts.

The orange economy technologies and the fourth industrial revolution or industry 4.0 is based on the power of data to connect and obtain information in real time that allows the efficiency and effectiveness of actions to solve complex and expensive problems, this device seeks to obtain these data from road signs semaphores that due to their age, technology or lack of budget do not have the ability to generate this data and share it.

With this device you can obtain data in real time of: The color in which each of the traffic lights is found from centimeters to meters away, the time it takes for each light to be turned on, the days and hours of the week in which that these lights are programmed with different times, obtain the data of whether lights burned out, obtain data on the average speed at that site and if there are vehicles or people present, obtain data on whether the power of the traffic light has gone, regardless of whether the traffic light can transmit data on its status and whether or not it has power electrical. This device economically provides important data both to the city authorities with old traffic lights without monitoring systems, as well as to other people, data in real time that allows anticipating mobility, maintenance and road safety actions, being able to obtain this data without need for conventional electrical energy and regardless of whether the traffic light has energy or not to communicate this data.

TECHNICAL CHALLENGES AND PROBLEM RAISED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS INVENTION

The problem posed consists of the need for a universal system that, regardless of the age, brand, manufacturer, type of traffic signal technology, can be used to acquire real-time data from programs of times of lights and status of red and green lights. and yellow of the traffic light road sign, average speed at the road sign site and other variables without having an electrical connection with the road sign, its cabinets or computers and regardless of whether the traffic light road sign has electrical power or connectivity to operate. , part of the need is for you to be able to share that data on failures, state of lights, time schedules and absence of power in real time with road users and city governments for timely maintenance, to avoid congestion and accidents by planning mobility, to avoid passing through areas with mobility conflicts or congestion caused by road signs, traffic lights without power.

Part of the problem and technical challenges to be solved is the size, weight, location, energy efficiency, the shape of the universal system, ease and fast installation, reading the status of the lights from several meters away, costs and technical feasibility economic so that its use and installation in any traffic light road sign can be universal without electrical contact or access to cabinets or computers to obtain data and without using the energy or connectivity of the traffic light road signal system.

TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM:

The present invention provides a universal U-shaped device, with high energy efficiency, low consumption, low weight, small size, easy to install in a few seconds and autonomous with solar energy that regardless of the manufacturer, brand, technology or age of the road signs traffic lights and their lights, you can acquire data from the road sign, their status, time programs, average speed and other variables in the road sign without having any electrical contact, several meters away and regardless if there is electrical power in the traffic light road sign or not, by means of an inexpensive device that is easy to install that acquires and shares road sign data in real time to similar devices and the internet, allowing road users and governments to know this data for takings of infrastructure maintenance, mobility and road safety decisions.

EXAMPLE OF APPLICATION

An example of application is when a traffic light signal equipped with this U-shaped device sends data hundreds of meters to other slave devices regarding the average speed at the traffic light site and when the traffic light is about to turn green or red, allowing road users to anticipate their movements and decisions according to the information sent. This information also shared to the internet allows to know in real time the status of the mobility and to plan the movements and circulation through those sites, in addition to having in real time information on the average speed of circulation in this site of the road sign according to its level of congestion and if the traffic light is broken or without power, being able to avoid the congestion or risk that it represents in advance.

Another application of this U-shaped device can be used on the glass of the window of a vehicle in the same way that it is installed in the traffic light or in its interior in a place where the solar rays reach it, allowing in slave mode to receive the messages from the road signs and traffic lights to know their status in real time, it can also be used in a portable way by people on sports caps, on briefcases, on motorcycles, or on other signs on the road. Its light weight, its shape, its energy autonomy with sunlight and its size, allow it to be used in multiple ways such as for advertising and artistic campaigns at traffic lights, knowing for sure when the traffic light will change and what time is available to do it. an intervention on the road etc, without having to have an electrical or physical connection can be used several meters away from the lights of road signs traffic lights to obtain this data in real time continuously.

Another application of this device is to be used by governments in small, intermediate cities or with very old traffic lights, without communication or obsolete that do not have a traffic signal monitoring system, allowing them regardless of whether the traffic light has power or not. connectivity or not, report the status of the lights, congestion or average speed in the traffic light area and if it is faulty or without power, data that it provides in real time so that local authorities can act in time to do maintenance, improve Mobility and road safety by avoiding accidents caused by traffic signals turned off or damaged for a long time before governments are aware of the failures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES. FIGURE 1:

Figure 1 shows the device for wireless data capture of traffic signals in real time, autonomous solar U-shaped in perspective where you can see the solar panel (1) integrated in the upper part of the U, the sensor module , battery, communication, port and microprocessor (4) integrated in the upper part before the curve of the U, the hole for the fixing screw (3) that secures the device to the surface where it is installed so that it does not fall through the vibration, the optical sensor (2) that points towards the traffic lights to obtain digital signals of their state without electrical contact, the hole of the input port and output signals (6) and the retractable legs of the U (5) that allow adjust the length of the device.

BEST WAY TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION

It is done as follows: An electronic circuit composed of a microprocessor, sensors, battery, port and communications module previously configured according to its use as master or slave, with its wiring and specially designed for the functions written in the description, is fused into of a flattened U-shaped plastic form, which is left with a hermetically sealed protrusion at the top before the bend as can be seen in figure 1, then the two legs of The U, in the lower leg, is fused with an optical sensor with its cable to connect to the electronic circuit, this sensor is hermetically fused and sealed and is the one that will collect the signals from the traffic lights without electrical contact, a function that can achieve up to several meters away if necessary. The upper leg of the U is fused into the plastic mold with a small solar panel that is fused into the plastic on its sides and with its connection cable that remains inside the leg to join it with the electronic circuit when the legs are placed. that enter the U. Subsequently, the hole is drilled in the upper part of the U where the screw that tightens the device against the plastic or metallic sheet of the road sign at the time of installation is made. Then the cables of the solar panel and the sensor are connected to the electronic circuit and the legs are put inside the U which fit tightly and allow the size of the U to be graduated at the time of installation.

After assembly, there is a compact one-piece device ready to use that only requires a small pocket screwdriver for its installation, which is done in a few seconds in an easy way, which automatically starts its operation.

Claims (9)

1. Characterized by being a U-shaped device that integrates inside: - A solar panel (1) that supplies energy to the system autonomously. - A circuit module (4) that contains sensors, battery, port, communications and microprocessor. - An optical sensor (2). - Two retractable legs (5) - A hole for a fixing screw (3) - One digital signal input and output port hole (6) 2. Characterized by the fact that the electronic elements that make it up and work integrated in the same U-shaped device, are electrically and physically connected to the interior in the following way: the solar panel (1) is physically connected its negative pole to pin 5 of the circuit module (4) that contains sensors, battery, port, communications and microprocessor and its positive pole is physically connected to pin 14 of the module (4), the optical sensor (2) is physically connected to pins 9 and 10 of the module (4). 3. Characterized by the fact that the circuit module (4) is composed of a speed sensor physically connected to pins 7 and 8 of the microprocessor, the ccd optical sensor is physically connected to pins 9 and 10 of the microprocessor, the port pins of digital output (6) that arrive from the module (4), are connected to pins 9, 10, 18 and 17 of the microprocessor, the optical sensor (2) through pins 9 and 10 of the module (4) connect physical and electrically with pins 11 and 12 of the microprocessor, the communications chip is physically connected to pins 8 and 6 of the microprocessor, the humidity sensor is physically connected to pins 5 and 13 of the microprocessor. The way in which the electrical connections inside the module (4) were designed define the shape of the circuit, its size, the electrical consumption and the characteristic external shape of the device. 4. Characterized by having an upper retractable leg that has a solar panel (1) melted at its upper end, with a cable that goes inside said leg and is physically connected to the circuit module (4). 5. Characterized by having a lower retractable leg that has a sensor (2) fused at its end, with a cable that goes inside said leg and is physically connected to the circuit module (4). 6. Which according to claim 1 is characterized by having 2 retractable legs (5) at the end of the U shape characteristic of the device, which move towards the inside of the U, allowing the length of the device to be adjusted independently per leg to precisely match the traffic light signal. 7. Which according to claim 3 is characterized by having a crest shape in the upper part before the curve of the U, which is defined by the location and electrical connection of the sensors and circuits that are part of the module. of circuits (4) embedded in the U-shaped device. 8. Which according to claim number 1 is characterized by having a hole through which the connection pins of the digital signal port come out, located in the upper part of the U on one side of the crest that contains the circuit module (4) . 9. Characterized by having a U-shape with a protrusion, a hole in the upper part (3) that goes through half a segment of the U and another hole in the upper side (6) which is superficial.