ITMI960639A1 - TRAFFIC LIGHT SYSTEM WITH COLORED AND MOBILE VIDEO FIGURATIONS IN TIME SEQUENCE OF ROADS PARTICULARLY SUITABLE FOR INDICATIONS - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a traffic light system equipped with luminous, colored and movable videofigurations for programmable duration times, particularly suitable for realizing all indications of viability, safety and control of road, air, railway traffic and the like.

As is well known, current traffic lights for regulating road, railway and similar traffic are extremely important for ensuring regular traffic of both motorized vehicles and pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles.

It is also known that current traffic lights for road signs normally consist of three superimposed lights, associated with a parallelepiped box-like body or the like, supported in some cases by a tubular pole placed on the sides of intersections and / or deviations of roads and, in other cases, suspended from a cable supported in the center by the crossroads and at a height such as to allow the transit of vehicles of high heights.

Each traffic light device has a green light at the top indicating the go-ahead, an intermediate yellow light to signal the imminent turning off of the green light and a lower light with a red stop light.

Currently, the green and red, and also yellow, switch-on duration times are set by timers set up in control units normally arranged in the vicinity of a group of traffic lights and calibrated in minutes seconds depending on the average intensity of traffic that occurs in the streets affected by traffic lights.

In the case of public transport traffic, such as trams, buses and the like, using normal roads in public use, the headlights of current traffic lights are equipped with other luminous and fixed indications, such as white and straight bars which, depending on their position ( vertical or inclined) indicate the green light to said vehicles; in other cases, four headlights are provided, one of which provides for the fixed illumination of a green arrow indicating "right or left turn" for all motor vehicles, pedestrians and the like. There are also traffic lights with several lights for particular uses.

In practice, all current types of traffic lights have some serious drawbacks and limitations; in fact, since the series of three or more superimposed headlights is positioned at a limited height from the ground, their remote display is not always correct, especially for fast vehicles and for those that follow and stop behind and close to large vehicles , stop at traffic lights.

Furthermore, they require the manual intervention of specialized personnel whenever it is necessary to replace the headlight bulbs, repair faults or breakages in the colored glass of the headlights and change the duration times of the lighting of the various colors as needs vary.

Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a traffic light system for the regulation and control of road, air, railway and similar traffic, conceived and structured in such a way as to obviate the drawbacks and limitations of use presented by current traffic light devices and in particular such as to ensure excellent visibility from a distance, safe operation and high reliability over time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a traffic light system using a smaller number of headlights compared to that of traditional traffic lights, equipped with means for adjusting the duration of the colors, control and safety that can be operated both manually and also automatically by electronic circuits. forming part of both fixed and mobile exchanges, also placed at a distance, as well as capable of creating videofigurations and indicating mobile and color messages depending on the road conditions in place.

A further object is to provide a traffic light system suitable for use both on crossroads of roads with one or more lanes, on train level crossings, and as a replacement for the usual headlights for regulating both air and water traffic.

These and other purposes, which will be more clearly highlighted later, are achieved by a traffic light system with colored and mobile videofigurations and video signs in a sequence of viable temporality, particularly suitable for the regulation and control of both road and air traffic, railways and traffic. similar, according to the present invention, which system consists of a quadrilateral box-like body placed at the top in the center of a crossroads or the like and supported by a trellis with tubular poles, anchored to the ground floor at the corners formed by the roads or lanes of the crossroads, on at least two opposite sides, and preferably on the four vertical sides of said central box-like body, four lights being anchored, each of which consists of an external circular protective lens and a circular display reader, with movable luminous figures and of viable temporality with colors, interspersed, such as green, yellow, red and white, said reader being made in the shape of a disc to allow said mobile figures to move clockwise and with a predetermined sequence, said four circular display readers being then connected, by means of cables passing through said poles, to a control unit and control, housed in a chamber obtained at the base of said support poles and consisting of: an electronic micro-video computer with an insertable program for changing the signaling of the headlights and controlling the video configurations, a digital microcomputer with fixed programming for the control and variants of the signs and a manual adjustment panel of the duration times of the video configurations of all the circular display readers, transceiver means being also provided inside the box-like body that supports the headlights, designed to allow remote monitoring of the system traffic light via a fixed or mobile control unit, located at a distance.

More particularly, said chamber or housing obtained at the base of at least one of said tubular support poles is made in separate sections for containing, respectively, the electric power supply panel, the electronic command, programming and control panel and a telephone system. , said compartment chamber being protected by two inspection doors, one of which can be opened outwards and the other slides inside a cavity formed in the wall of the tubular pole.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description, made with reference to the attached drawing tables, given only as a non-limiting example, in which:

Figure 1 shows, in perspective view, a traffic light system with mobile and colored videofigurations, made according to the invention and illustrated, positioned on an intersection between a four-lane two-way road, and a two-lane double-lane road direction of travel;

Figures 2 and 2a respectively show a top view and a perspective view of the traffic light system of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows, schematically, an example of video signal sequences for three traffic light colors, usable on a single crossroads and relating to the two display headlights of two sides at an angle of the headlight-holder box-shaped body;

Figure 4 shows, also schematically, an example of signaling video sequences (green-red-yellow colors and other road signs) relating to a traffic light system for multiple crossroads and more precisely for two headlights arranged on contiguous facades at an angle;

figure 5 shows the block diagram of the complex of electronic and mechanical devices for the operation of the video-traffic light;

Figure 6 schematically shows a video station (fixed or mobile) for the remote control and regulation of a semi-automatic system, both terrestrial and for air vehicles and the like;

figure 7 shows a further example of a traffic light system with colored video-figures for road safety;

figure 8 shows a video station (fixed or mobile) for the remote control of a video traffic light referred to in figure 7, while

Figure 9 shows a variant of the present invention and more precisely a video panel indicating the various (colored) proximity signals of a traffic light system of the type according to the present invention.

With reference to said figures, and in particular to figures from 1 to 5, the traffic light system with colored and mobile video-figures, object of the present invention, essentially consists of a central box-like body, indicated globally with 1 in figure 1 , having a quadrilateral format with circular openings on the four vertical faces 1a-1b-1c-1d (figure 2) within which four identical lights 2-2a-2b and 2c are anchored, the structure of which will be explained later.

Said central box-like body 1 is located at the top, in the center of a crossroads constituted, for example; a two-lane road for both directions 4-4a and a two-lane road 5 (figure 1); it is supported by four tubular poles 3-3a-3b-3c, which are arched at the top and connected to the central body 1 and at the bottom anchored to the ground floor between the four corners formed by the intersection between the two roads as illustrated in figure 1.

Each lighthouse 2-2a, Etc., consists of an unbreakable discoidal lens 6 (figure 2) and a circular reader with a luminous display 7 (lem with video points) and several colors (green, yellow-orange, red and white background ), made in the shape of a disc, that is, with the light-emitting diodes arranged in a radial pattern and colored in an intercalated way in order to allow the alternating and sequential switching on, in a clockwise direction, of the individual fixed and mobile figures relating to the indications and messages relating to road video signs , railway, air and the like, as exemplified in Figure 3, which will be better clarified below.

Said circular readers with luminous and mobile displays 7 are then connected to an electronic functional control unit, by means of cables arranged inside the tubular poles 3-3a, etc., supporting and housed in a chamber or housing obtained near the base of the poles themselves and closed by two doors 8 (Figure 1), one of which can be opened outwards and the other slides within an interspace formed in the body of the pole.

Said electronic functional control unit essentially consists of: an electronic micro-video computer with programming software that can be inserted for changing the signage and controlling the video configurations; by a further digital micro-computer with fixed programming for the control and the variations to be made to the signs and by a manual adjustment panel of the duration times of the signals for all said computers; said components will be described in detail below with reference to Figure 5.

The electronic component housing chamber is then divided into three sections, one of which constitutes a compartment for the electrical power supply panel, one constitutes the compartment for the electronic control panel for programming and control and the other for containing a telephone. .

Figure 5 shows the block diagram of the electromechanical and electronic circuits which govern the operation of the traffic light system described above with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

In said block diagram (figure 5): "a" indicates the box-like body with the headlights; "b" the alternating current power supply network; "c" indicates an electric accumulator for autonomous power supply of the system in the absence of energy from the urban network; "d" and "e" indicate two general automatic and manual feed switches; "f" is an electronic amplifier of the transceiver groups (g-h-i); "g" is a radio frequency modulated and ultrasonic frequency cable transceiver group, "h" indicates a cable or radio transceiver group in laser frequencies and photonic-luminous frequencies; "i" denotes an over-the-air cable transceiver group in Television Frequencies and in Radar-Frequency; "1" indicates a digitally programmed computer that is remote controlled over the air and by cable; "m" are tape and floppy-disk software for inserting and recording and sending data, manually and remotely controlled by cable; "or" are timers of viable timing of the mobile signaling figures of the traffic light with manual time adjustment and remote control via the air via cable; "p" is an automatic control unit for the electronic operation of the TRAFFIC LIGHT; "q" is a Central Processor for incoming and outgoing data of the SEMA-FORO functions, "n" is a storage with data-memory cores with data counter.

On the other hand, figure 7 shows, according to the block diagram, a fixed and / or mobile television station 1, which can be positioned above the land, air and nautical means of transport, for the remote command and control of the viability by air (or even via cable) and in monitoring, where: with "a1" is indicated a tele-calculator for the command and control of the roads (over the air, via cable and in monitoring) with tele-photo and remote printer; "g1-h1-i1" indicates transceiver systems with functions and connections to the transceiver groups indicated with g-h-i in Figure 5, again over the air, via cable and under monitoring; "1" indicates a monitoring viability control teletext; with "2" a road traffic control teletext; with "3" a railway traffic control teletext; with "4" a teletext for the control of the air traffic and with "5" a teletext for the control of the nautical traffic. In addition, "6" indicates a "stop" signal on a rotating color disc; the signal appears when the red disk is almost all on.

Always according to the invention, the traffic light system can be realized, in the case of use for the regulation of road traffic, as illustrated in figure 7.

In this case, the box-shaped traffic light body "a" is supported by a pole "b" arched at the top in order to position the traffic light body "a" at the top and in the center of the crossroads "h"; "c" indicates the door of the chamber for the control and adjustment of the figures.

Said crossroads "h" is formed by a double lane road "d1 and d3" and by a similar double lane road "e1-e3", at 90 * with the first.

In the same figure 7, the disc d2 (colored and timed circular reader) which corresponds to the lane "d1" with the direction of travel according to the arrow F is, at a given moment, three-quarters illuminated with red (indicated by R) , for the remaining quarter with white B and, centrally with the triangular stop sign (S). This causes traffic to stop in the direction of lane d1, while the green disc "V" for three quarters and white "B" for the remaining quarter appears in correspondence with the cross lane "e1"; this allows the green light to traffic in the lane and l; the red and green signals for lanes d1 and e1 correspond, in the opposite direction d3 and e3, to the same signaling conditions; moreover, at each passage from green "V" to red "R" the yellow-orange "G" appears, as clearly illustrated in figure 3.

Furthermore, a telecontrol circuit "f" with a monitoring camera and an equal circuit "g" below is associated with the traffic light body "a" (Figure 7).

For remote control, via a fixed or mobile station, a control unit substantially identical to the one described with reference to figure 6 is provided, that is (see figure 8) consisting of a television station "al", with transceivers, fg 1 - fg 2 and fg 3 and 2-3-4-5 televideomputers for the control of road traffic (road crossings), confluence of road crossings, crossing tracks and pedestrian crossings respectively.

To further clarify the operation of the circular readers with bright and mobile color displays, the sequence of signals of the colored display discs are briefly described below, as illustrated in figures 3 and 4.

Figure 3 shows two headlights (colored discs 7 in figure 2) arranged between them on two contiguous faces 1-2 and at 90 "to each other of the box-like body, i.e. two traffic-regulating headlights placed at the crossroads between two roads, as for example the crossroads indicated with "h" in figure 7.

Considering the lighthouse A (figure 3) corresponding to a lane of the road and the lighthouse B in correspondence with the lane that crosses this road with the 90 'one, when the lighthouse A is completely green V (position A1), the lighthouse B at an angle it must be completely red R (position B1) in figure 3.

The image colored in green of position A1 is timed (by the program specified above) for example for a duration of 60 "and, for example, the image colored in red by pressure B1 is also timed for an equal (or different) time ) from the green one, depending on the intensity of traffic in one of the two intersecting roads.

Since said colored and mobile representations are generated by displays or LEMs of the multi-color video point type with predetermined interleaving, at the end of the set duration time (or even earlier) the green image A1 rotates clockwise, i.e. it switches off according to triangular segments, simultaneously showing the orange or yellow background G (position A2) until a green segment V1 remains (position A2) while the rest remains orange and also, if necessary, a red stop triangle R1; this means that the traffic stop time is coming. The definitive stop occurs with the appearance of the all red image R (position A3). At the same time as these phases, the lighthouse B of the lane or road that crosses the first, passes from the complete Red disk (position B1) to the intermediate one (position B2) where the background is white and only one segment R remains red; this means that the green signal V (position B3) is about to trigger and thus give the green light.

In the case of a very complex crossroads (corner or curved roads) and / or traveled by public means of transport on tracks or the like, the signals can be programmed, on said moving headlights, as exemplified in figure 4 only for two opposites headlights A-B and relative only to the red image with various turn signals or prohibitions In said figure 4, the complete red R signal (position A1) indicates stop for all; in position A2 the red remains but with a white line "L" pointing to the right (green light only for a tram or similar); in position A3 the red R remains but with line "L" facing in the opposite direction to the previous one; in position A3 some of the red remains but a green arrow F appears indicating only right turn; in position A5, the orange background G appears with red stop sign S and green arrow F1 pointing to the right, while in position A6 the arrow F1 points to the left.

Simultaneously with the positions from A1 to A6 of the first red lighthouse, on the opposite red lighthouse B the similar figures appear, obviously with turn, stop and prohibition signals facing in the opposite direction to those of traffic light A.

From the foregoing according to some embodiments, the invention allows to adapt the traffic light system as well as to the control of road traffic, also to the railway, air and nautical one with arrangement of the lights and programs as required for the safety of trains, planes and ships, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention. Thus, for example, the electromechanical and electronic complex described above can be programmed very simply to turn on colored or non-colored lamps arranged at the sides of the launch-landing runways of aircraft, to signal level crossings of trains and the like.

In fact, said circular readers with colored displays and movable according to predetermined timings, can be used to create a so-called "proximity signal", as illustrated in Figure 9.

Said signal is essentially constituted by a bearing rod P supporting a flat circular panel, globally indicated with P1, divided into six circular sectors enclosed within white circles and with a mobile circular reader with display; these sectors have different colors, for example: red, green, yellow, blue; moreover, said colors can be obtained from a station located at a distance and alternatively or intermittently to indicate the approach, for example, of a level crossing, a sudden or occasional stop, or even to indicate a danger signal in general.

From the foregoing and from what is apparent from the figures and drawings described above, it is obvious that all those variants and modifications of a structurally and functionally equivalent nature which may be required by particular signaling requirements, including any messages, fall within the scope of protection of the invention. and / or warnings for road, airplane and similar users.

Claims (7)

CLAIMS 1. Traffic light system with colored and mobile videofigurations in sequence of viable temporality, suitable for the regulation and control of both road and rail, air and nautical traffic, characterized by the fact that it consists of a quadrilateral box-like body placed at the top in the center of a crossroads or the like and supported by a trellis with tubular poles, anchored to the ground floor at the corners formed by the roads or lanes of the crossroads, on at least two opposite sides, and preferably on the four vertical sides of said central box-like body, four being anchored headlights, each of which consists of an external circular protective lens and a circular display reader, with luminous, moving and temporal visualizations with colors, interspersed, such as green, yellow, red and white, said reader being made in the shape of a disk to allow said movable figures to move clockwise and with a predetermined sequence, det The four circular display readers are then connected, by means of cables passing through said poles, to a command and control unit, housed in a chamber obtained at the base of said support poles and consisting of: an electronic micro-video computer with an insertable program for the modification of the signaling of the headlights and control of the video configurations, by a digital microcomputer with fixed programming for the control and variants of the signaling and by a manual adjustment panel of the duration times of the video configurations of all the circular readers with display, being also provided transceiver means inside the box-like body that supports the headlights, designed to allow remote monitoring of the traffic light system by means of a fixed or mobile control unit, located at a distance. 2. Traffic light system according to claim 1, characterized in that said chamber or housing for said electronic command and control unit is obtained in at least one of said tubular support poles and is made in separate sections for containing, respectively, the switchboard electric power supply, of the electronic command, programming and control panel and of a telephone system, said chamber with compartments being protected by two inspection doors, one of which can be opened outwards and the other slides inside a cavity obtained in the wall of the tubular pole. 3. Traffic light system according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it is powered by the urban network in alternating current and, in the absence of this, by a rechargeable electric accumulator. 4. Traffic light system according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said transceiver means are made to transmit signals and / or messages over the air, via cable in television frequencies and in radar-frequencies and the like, by means of a remote door exchange. 5. Traffic light system according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the duration times of the moving figures are controlled by adjustable timers designed to achieve the normal times provided for by the traffic lights for road, rail and similar traffic. 6. Traffic light system according to the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said movable figures according to predetermined sequences are also used for the realization of fixed proximity signals, said signals being constituted by a pole for supporting a flat discoidal body divided into several sectors circular and alternatively illuminable with various colors such as those normally used to signal situations of danger, stopping or the like, said proximity signals also being remotely controlled and regulated, by means of fixed or mobile performances. 7. Traffic light system according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made for the purposes and uses specified above according to what has been described and illustrated.