HRP980209A2 - Light signalling device comprising a traffic control display - Google Patents

Description

The technical field to which the invention belongs

According to the International Classification of Patents (ICP), the subject of the invention can most closely be treated under the following classes:

- G 08 G 1/00 - Traffic control system for road vehicles

- G 08 G 1/095 - Traffic lights

- G 08 G 1/96 - Indicators in which the sign change occurs due to a certain elapsed time, for example the duration of a green wave

- G 08 B 7/00 - Signaling devices which provide simultaneous sound and visual indications

Technical problem:

Technical devices for signaling in road traffic must satisfy two functions: operational and safety. The work function refers to the performance of the tasks for which the devices are intended, and the safety function must ensure that dangerous situations do not arise due to incorrect signaling as a result of device failure or carelessness of the server. Therefore, the devices must have the property of self-control of operation, which prevents their dangerous operation. Since there is no completely reliable device, it is reliably determined on the basis of assumptions about the expected number (intensity) of failures and the requirement of operational reliability.

One of the biggest problems in road traffic signalling, which results in injuries to people and cars, is the unclear, i.e. unmarked duration of the light signal for free passage through the intersection (green light). The problem comes to the fore especially at moments when road users come across an already open signal (green light), because then they don't know how much time is left until it changes.

State of the art:

The first traffic control device was installed in 1868. in London at the intersection of Bridge St. and New Palace Yard. It was a signal with movable arms. Raised arms denoted free movement, and lowered arms warned of caution. In the dark, this information was given using a gas lamp with red and green light. After a few days of trial operation, the gas lamp exploded and such signaling was discontinued.

Today's common light signals were installed for the first time in Detroit (October 9, 1917). The device was made according to the recommendations of W. Ph. Aeno. In Europe, the first three-color signal was installed in Great Britain in 1926. Signal device, installed in 1929. in New Haven and Baltimore (USA), were managed by the road users themselves. It was operated using a microphone, and the drivers announced their requests with a horn. During the economic crisis, in the thirties of this century, there was no further development and traffic management was left to the police.

After the Second World War, due to the sudden increase in the number of vehicles, the modernization and expansion of signal systems began. Electronic computers began to be used for traffic management in 1959.

Maximum use of the city's road network is made possible by electronic devices that can be used to create light signals, which ensure optimal use of city roads.

Time-based control, as one of the forms of control of signal devices, is based on a predetermined sequence and duration of signals. This is how a signal plan is determined that corresponds to a certain traffic situation. Since the traffic situation changes during the day, traffic is indirectly managed by changing signal plans according to the period of the day.

The traffic signal system consists of light signaling devices, light signals, detectors and cable network.

Each signal plan is completely determined by the duration of the entire cycle (the time of the single expiration of the signal plan), the ratio of the duration of the green signal to the entire cycle (this ratio is called "split") and the intermediate time (the time between the end of the green signal and the beginning of the green signal of the opposite direction).

Light signals are optical emitters of red, yellow and green light. They are constructed with the light source located in the focal point of the parabolic reflector. Ordinary or halogen bulbs are used as a light source. In order to prevent the phantom effect of sunlight reflection, which could interfere with the recognition of signal lights, special shields are installed in the reflector.

Standard lens diameters are 300, 210 and 100 mm. The diameter of the lens is selected according to the purpose of the signal and its position. Various symbols are incorporated into signal devices (pedestrian symbol, arrow, etc.).

(Data source: Technical encyclopedia - Signaling - safety technology)

Today's light signaling devices on city roads, when viewed on their own, are technically sophisticated. All of them have built-in devices that prevent the simultaneous turning on of the green light for the directions of intersecting vehicles. However, the announcement of the change in the type (color) of the light is problematic and was not carried out in a way that would suggestively warn the largest possible number of road users (drivers and pedestrians) about the imminent change of the right of way.

In the world, there are different ways of marking the expiration of the GREEN light. One of the ways; The GREEN light flashes for the last three seconds, or the YELLOW light also turns on. After a short time, the green light turns off and only the yellow light remains, which warns of a signal change.

Regardless of the way of changing the green light - signal of free passage through the intersection, a very large number of drivers try to pass through the intersection. Drivers see the green light at the traffic light, but they don't know how much time it is already, or how much time they have left to pass. For the above reason, quite a number increase their speed, and when the light changes, as a rule, they continue moving, even though the green light has gone out.

Presentation of the essence of the invention

The goal of the invention is to maximize the safety of vehicles passing through the intersection and for pedestrians when they cross the roadway at the intersection, and to increase the throughput of the intersection, while at the same time maximally avoiding dangerous situations.

The essence of the invention is the following: instead of the current GREEN light, a panel - DISPLAY with green LEDs - is installed. By turning on the traffic signal, a green pedestrian appears on the display, and after a while, a green number indicating the seconds of the green signal's programmed duration. Every two seconds the number DECREASES and road users clearly see how much time they have to pass the intersection. Practically, this means that when a time of two seconds appears on the display, the driver who is in the immediate vicinity of the traffic light can safely pass the intersection, while the driver behind him has an imminent change of light (signal) announced and can stop his vehicle without difficulty.

A light signaling device for pedestrians with such a built-in display would help pedestrians not to start crossing the road, if they have 4-5 seconds left, because that is too little time to cross the entire width of the road. This problem is obvious especially in elderly people.

Brief description of the drawing

The pictures in the attachment show the appearance of the light signaling device with a display for regulating road traffic.

Image no. 1 - shows the appearance of a light signaling device showing a green signal

Image no. 2 - shows the appearance of a light signaling device showing a red signal

Image no. 3 - shows the electrical block diagram

Image no. 4 - shows the arrangement of electronic elements

Image no. 5 - shows the electrical block diagram

The light signaling device for road traffic regulation is intended for the regulation of city road traffic, in any traffic management system. Unlike other types of light signaling devices, this type is more "intelligent", so after signaling the free movement of pedestrians or vehicles, it shows the remaining time of freedom of movement in that direction. This makes it easier for the pedestrian, or the driver, to decide whether to start crossing the intersection at all at a given moment.

The light signaling device, whose operation is shown in the electrical block diagram - Figure 3, can be installed in any existing traffic management system.

It is mechanically adaptable to existing traffic light housings by changing only the supporting front panel. It is electrically adapted to any supply voltage of the semaphore terminal. Automatic traffic management can be of any type, because the operation of the light signaling device is completely independent of the operation of the central automatic crossing.

The light signaling device with a display for regulating road traffic (Figure 3) starts with the arrival of power from the control system. First, the input monostable circuit is switched on, which ensures that the display of the green pedestrian who is moving lights up during the first four seconds (picture 1). After four seconds, the pedestrian display turns off, and the initial number set by the microswitch group according to the setting instructions starts to light up. The seconds counter starts counting and every second it changes its state to "units counter". The binary-to-seven-segment code decoder controls the LED segments according to the state of the counter. When changing the state of the "ones counter" from zero to nine, the state of the "tens counter" is changed by one number. A binary-to-seven-segment code decoder connected to the "counting tens counter" controls the tens display, composed of the same segments as the display unit. When the count reaches zero in both displays, the seconds counter is blocked. With zero on the display, the traffic light is waiting to be turned off, or to turn on the "red" pedestrian (picture 2). The assembly for encoding the display selection, according to the set code, during the countdown alternately includes the display of the number of seconds remaining and the green pedestrian. The alternating display of pedestrians and numbers alternates, for example, every two seconds, until the last six seconds of the green cycle, when the remaining seconds are displayed.

The function of the light signaling device with a display for regulating road traffic (Figure 3) can be expanded with the addition shown on the electrical block diagram (Figure 5). After the operation of the "green" light signal is completed, and the red "pedestrian" is turned on, there is a pause until the green signal is turned on for cars from the opposite direction. Then the "yellow" signal for pedestrians is turned on (picture 2), and it speeds up pedestrians caught at the crosswalk.

The light signaling device (picture 5 and picture 2) starts with the arrival of power from the control system. At the same time, the red and yellow signals for pedestrians are switched on. The yellow pedestrian display consists of five equal segments, made of yellow LEDs, stretched between the green and red pedestrian signals. On the light signaling device, the pedestrian closest to the green light turns on first, and then alternately, for example, pedestrians in the red direction every second. After the fifth yellow pawn, only the red pawn remains lit. The electronics of the yellow light signal consists of a seconds counter, a yellow display decoder, and a circuit for blocking the counter after the yellow cycle has expired.

Detailed description of the method of realizing the invention

Instead of the current signals with lights, a green display should be installed instead of the green light, which will show the countdown of the duration of the traffic signal (the current green light).

All light signaling devices work automatically and have built-in clock mechanisms that are adjusted to the second, which means that the conditions for installing the display already exist, which makes the change itself cheaper.

By applying the invention, greater safety of vehicle and pedestrian traffic at intersections would be achieved, and the costs of building light signaling devices would not increase significantly. The display consumes less electricity. energy (70 - 80 %) and lasts much longer than a light bulb that is turned on and off many times.

Claims (4)

1. A light signaling device with a display for regulating road traffic with a red light as a signal indicating STOP and a yellow light indicating a change of signal, indicated by the fact that a display with green LEDs is used for the signal indicating free passage, which shows the remaining duration of the signal until change (countdown). 2. Light signaling device, according to the 1st requirement, which starts with the arrival of power from the control automation, characterized by the fact that the monostable circuit is connected to a green signal display made of LED segments and a seconds counter, and the seconds counter is connected to a reverse unit counter , which we select with the segment decoder, changes the state on the display of units, and through the tens counter and the binary segment decoder, the state on the tens display, the units counter and the tens counter are connected to the display selection coding circuit, which, according to the set code, during the countdown, alternately turns on the display the number of seconds remaining and the green pawn. 3. Light signaling device according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that the yellow pedestrian display consists of equal segments made of yellow LEDs, stretched between the green and red pedestrian signals, which alternately turn on and off. 4. Light signaling device according to claim 3, characterized in that the five-segment yellow display is connected to the decoder, which is connected to the seconds counter and the counter blocking circuit.