ITPI20090125A1 - LUMINOUS MATRIPHED ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR THE EMISSION OF SIGNALS IN STATIC AND DYNAMIC MODE. - Google Patents

Description

Description accompanying the patent application for industrial invention entitled:

ELECTRONIC TRAFFIC LIGHT DEVICE WITH LUMINOUS MATRIX FOR

THE EMISSION OF SIGNALS IN STATIC MODE AND

DYNAMICS

Scope of the invention

The present invention relates to the technical sector concerning the management of vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

In particular, the invention refers to an innovative information traffic light system capable of managing traffic in an innovative way through a luminous indication that can be managed in a dynamic way and, based on the specific needs of the place, able to reproduce both in static and dynamic, road signs required by the highway code and other other types of messages.

Brief notes on the known art

The traffic light is a well-known vehicle and pedestrian traffic management tool that has been used for almost a hundred years. Through the timed switching on in sequence of the red color to indicate the stop, green to indicate consent to the passage and yellow to indicate the transition from green to red, the traffic light is able to manage traffic flows vehicular and pedestrian.

However, in the span of these hundred years, industrialization and progress have led to exponential economic growth and with it to an exponential expansion of urban areas. What was considered, at the dawn of the twentieth century, a hectic life is today only the distant memory of a basically quiet life. Today, millions of vehicles are pouring into the traffic in cities, frantically and ever more rapidly trying to reach their destination. It is clear that the management of such an articulated traffic, especially in large metropolitan areas, introduces new problems that are no longer manageable by the simple and traditional traffic light, which has remained fundamentally unchanged over time. In particular, beyond the use of innovative light sources such as LEDs or solar power, the traffic light does not seem to be in line with the technologies available today, nor with the safety needs of citizens.

Only some of the possible examples are given for clarification purposes.

It is common to witness scenes in which maintenance work in progress along certain road sections is the cause of traffic congestion. At the beginning of the works it is in fact necessary to manually arrange a special sign that is able to provide information on the alternative route to follow. If the works, as often happens, start at the same time as the manual arrangement of these signs, an initial problem of traffic congestion is created. Furthermore, this arrangement requires a considerable effort of manpower with additional management costs. In addition, the traffic lights used to manage the adjacent road sections on which traffic is diverted are not â € œadaptableâ € or in any case are not â € œadaptedâ € to the management of the new transitory flow increase condition. The result is therefore a traffic congestion with all the consequences of the case, including the increase of atmospheric and acoustic pollution.

At other times, to indicate a road interruption or a slowdown, it is even limited to the use of the traffic light placed on site by setting it to a flashing yellow condition. It is evident that, even in this case, this functionality is absolutely inadequate, as it does not provide any information on alternative routes or on the condition in progress.

Another example is inherent to the classic operation of the traffic light. The motorist never has a precise idea of the remaining time of duration of a color, be it red or green. Often times it happens that the duration time is well over two minutes. It is evident that, in the event of red, the engines can be safely switched off in this time interval, all for the benefit of the health of the environment. Failure to report an estimated residual time does not almost always favor this environmental measure. Another similar condition concerns the duration of the green and the much more risky transition from green to yellow. Also in this case the motorist is often unaware of the residual duration. In this sense, it often happens that you find yourself close to the traffic light at a relatively high speed and suddenly see yourself yellow. This is obviously a potentially dangerous condition. Many traffic lights are in fact now integrated with photographic surveillance systems that serve to inhibit incorrect behavior when passing with red. It is therefore evident that in this transitory situation the motorist is induced into a condition of strong indecision that can cause him to make a sharp braking, with the consequent risk of rear-end collision, or a sudden acceleration with a strong risk of a frontal or lateral accident. more serious.

The same problem is also equivalent in the traffic light management of the pedestrian crossing.

Furthermore, at the moment, both the incorrect and inadequate programming of a traffic light as well as the occurrence of a failure of the same, always require a notification from the citizens. In this case there is the risk of a total tilt of the traffic with very serious consequences. Furthermore, interventions are never timely and, moreover, do not allow an easy new programming of the adjacent traffic lights in order to manage the consequences of the case.

Summary of the invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an information traffic light device capable of managing vehicular and pedestrian traffic in a much safer manner.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a traffic light device capable of dynamically indicating the signaling duration time so as to visually indicate to the user the residual time during this condition.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an information traffic light device that is able to further perform the function of road indication in accordance with the signs provided for by the highway code, in order to have a support function for all possible critical conditions of traffic management that may arise.

Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to provide an information traffic light device which, if necessary, is able to reproduce any type of warning such that, in particular situations of danger or severity, it is useful for safeguarding the safety of citizens.

In particular, the aim of the present invention is to provide an informative traffic light device capable of giving road directions with both static and dynamic functionality, in order to facilitate a more immediate understanding of the communicative message in progress.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a traffic light device that can be remotely managed on the network in such a way as to be easily monitored and rapidly reprogrammed according to the specific needs of the place.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a traffic light device that is able to interact directly with people with disabilities, for example the Czechs, in such a way as to be able to communicate directly and exclusively with them following their specific request for support.

These and other purposes are therefore achieved by the present traffic light device as per claim 1.

The traffic light device (1), in accordance with the invention, therefore comprises light sources (2) that can be controlled in such a way as to pass from a luminous condition indicating a stop obligation to the subsequent luminous condition indicating consent to pass and vice versa. The aforementioned light sources, according to the invention, are arranged in such a way as to form a matrix. This arrangement is evident how the reliability of operation increases considerably, given that the high number of sources is redundant. In addition, the lights arranged according to this matrix order can be controlled at will in order to create dynamic animations that simulate and indicate the residual duration of time for the color in progress. For this purpose, control means are provided which are configured in such a way as to manage the switching on and / or switching off of the light sources within the matrix according to a predetermined sequential order as a function of time t in such a way as to display the luminous condition in course (8, 9, 10) dynamically variable over time and such as to visually simulate the residual time duration of the specific condition in progress.

In this way many other of the aims set by the invention are achieved. In particular, both the pedestrian and the driver have a visual idea of the time available to them.

Advantageously, the matrix of light sources defines an illuminated area (8, 9, 10) while the control means manage the switching on and off of these light sources in the matrix in such a way as to determine at least one of the following conditions:

- A progressive reduction according to the time t of the illuminated area (8) in progress;

- A digital display of a remaining time (9) in progress in combination with the progressive reduction of the illuminated area (8).

- An animated reproduction (10) for the pedestrian crossing;

- An animated playback (10) for the pedestrian crossing in combination with a digital display of a remaining time (9) in progress.

Advantageously, the control means are further programmed in such a way as to further allow the reproduction of one or more of any signs (11) provided for by the highway code.

This can happen both in static and dynamic mode.

Among the various possible solutions, the control means can comprise an electronic card with microprocessor and dedicated management software.

The aforementioned control means, as well as the power supply, are redundant in order to guarantee maximum operational reliability.

Furthermore, the light sources arranged in the matrix can be made up of LEDs, RGB LEDs or even with the use of LCD panels (2).

Advantageously, wireless communication means can be further provided configured in such a way as to communicate with dedicated external receiving devices to indicate the status of the signals in progress.

Furthermore, an operational control center (7), to which one or more of the traffic light devices (1) are connected, can be used in such a way that the traffic lights can be controlled and / or programmed remotely in real time.

Furthermore, a method of managing the operation of a traffic light is further described here, including the operation of passing from a luminous condition indicating a stop obligation to the next luminous condition indicating consent to transit and vice versa and in which the switching operation involves a control of switching on and / or switching off programmed as a function of time t of light sources (2) arranged according to a matrix in such a way as to display the light condition in progress according to a dynamic mode as a function of time t such to visually simulate the residual duration of the current lighting condition.

Advantageously, the dynamic luminous display operation can be obtained through at least one of the following ways:

- A progressive reduction of the illuminated area in progress as a function of time;

- A digital display of a residual time in progress in combination with the progressive reduction of the illuminated area as a function of time;

- An animated reproduction (10) for the pedestrian crossing;

- An animated playback (10) for the pedestrian crossing in combination with a digital display of a remaining time (9) in progress.

Advantageously, in the case of digital display of the residual time in progress in combination with the progressive reduction of the illuminated area as a function of time, a first phase of digital display of a countdown and a subsequent progressive reduction of the area illuminated at the end of said counting phase.

Advantageously, a further control of the luminous functionality of the traffic light can be provided so that the traffic light 1 reproduces one or more of any signs 11 required by the highway code and any other type of signal useful to warn citizens in the event of extraordinary circumstances.

Advantageously, the control can be managed remotely through a specific operational control center to which said traffic lights are connected.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clearer with the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 shows a traffic light device according to the present invention;

- Figure 2 shows the support frame for the LEDs;

- Figure 3 and Figure 4 show a system for connecting several traffic light devices to each other;

- Figure 5 schematically shows a control unit 7 through which the management of the traffic light devices takes place;

- Figure 6 and Figure 7 show dynamic operating sequences of the device according to the present invention;

- Figure 8 shows a solution in which a digital time counter is integrated;

- The sequence of figure 9 shows an example of a traffic light device used to control the pedestrian crossing;

- Figure 10 instead shows a further functionality of the traffic light device in accordance with possible road signs.

- Figure 11 shows the traffic light device which interfaces wirelessly with an external user in possession of a dedicated device;

- Figure 12 shows a horizontal arrangement of three faces of the traffic light device.

Description of a preferred embodiment

With reference to the attached figures, a LED matrix traffic light device 1 is described, preferably of the RGB type, according to the present invention.

In particular, as described in Figure 1, the device 1 comprises a face 2 on which LEDs 3 are arranged so as to form a matrix. As shown in greater detail in Figure 2, a frame 4 supports the face 2 for housing the LEDs. A suitable external electric power supply, for example solar or conventional, can then be provided in order to allow the switching on and off. The same, being well known in the state of the art, is not further described here. The rear part of the frame includes couplings 5 to allow connection to a tubular 6 (see figure 3). The tubular, as shown in figure 4 below, allows the connection of several devices 1 to each other. In addition, it can be advantageously used for the passage of electrical wiring.

The following figure 5 schematises a network connection between the traffic lights and between the traffic lights towards a control and management control unit 7. Central 7 has been schematized in a symbolic way with a computer interfaced with the various devices 1 located in various parts of the city center.

The traffic light device 1 is also equipped with control means configured in such a way as to manage the switching on and / or switching off of the light sources within the matrix according to a predetermined sequential order as a function of time t. In this way, a visualization of the lighting condition in progress (8, 9, 10) is created which is dynamically variable over time and such as to visually simulate the residual time duration of the condition in progress.

In particular, the aforesaid means provide a microprocessor and a dedicated software which can be controlled through the control unit 7 in such a way as to be able to operate as immediately described below.

Figure 6 shows a sequence in succession in which an illuminated area 8, obtained through the corresponding lighting of the LEDs, is progressively reduced as a function of time t (in the specific example the area is the red one, thus indicating the No passing). In this way it is visually possible to realize how much is the residual duration of the arrest obligation.

It is evident that, according to this solution, the LEDs are therefore suitably controlled in such a way that each row switches off sequentially in such a way as to determine the reduction of the area.

Similarly, as shown in figure 7 below, the exact same functioning is naturally predictable in the case of the green color. In particular, figure 7 shows the progressive reduction of the green area of interest until the classic yellow area appears, which indicates the transition from the permitted transit condition to the blocking one (last sequence in figure 7).

The possibilities for implementing such operations are naturally endless.

The following figure 8 shows an example of integration of a digital counter 9, introduced in order to visually indicate the residual time before a progressive reduction of the illuminated area begins. In particular, from the yellow condition (first element of the sequence in question) the subsequent red condition takes over in which the equivalent area 8 remains constant for the whole time of duration t in which the counter 9 indicates the countdown until reaching zero. Once the zero value of the counter is reached, from that moment onwards a progressive reduction of the area 8 begins until the transition to the new green condition. Similarly, the green condition can follow the same logic as counter 9 in order to give a quantitative idea of the remaining time available.

As shown in the sequence of the following figure 9, the same principle is also applicable to indicate the consent to the pedestrian crossing. In this case the LEDs light up in such a way as to define, for example, an animated shape.

The shape can then preferably be combined with a time counter at least for the conditions of green for the passage (shape in motion) and red for the block (immobile shape in waiting).

The control unit 7 is therefore able to program appropriately remotely, and therefore to modify, the functionality of each traffic light device according to the specific needs of traffic in real time.

In particular, the traffic light can be managed in the event of particular extraordinary conditions such as work in progress. For this purpose the following figure 10 indicates only some of the examples in which the LEDs are controlled by the control unit 7 in order to replace the common road signs.

Each traffic light device, although remotely controllable in real time, can also provide sensors for controlling the flow of traffic in such a way as to automatically vary the duration of red and green. The software is therefore configured to manage this additional function.

Finally, figure 11 shows how each traffic light device can be equipped with an interface 12 suitable for communication with dedicated external devices 13. This is the case, for example, of blind people who can communicate with the traffic light device through a simple headset 13 with well-known wireless technology, such as Bluetooth or equivalent. In this way the unpleasant inconvenience of the acoustic signal indicating the consent to the pedestrian crossing is avoided and is activated in a continuous cycle regardless of the real presence of the blind person. Furthermore, the current sound solution does not adequately guarantee the safety of the blind because, in correspondence with an intersection, it does not give any idea what the real direction of the permitted transit is. The risk is therefore that the warning sound when passing leads the blind person to cross the road in the lane where in reality this is not allowed.

The proposed solution, on the other hand, allows the blind person to communicate directly with the specific traffic light device and therefore to perceive with certainty the moment in which to make the passage in the corresponding lane.

In use, therefore, it is evident that the present invention allows to solve innumerable of the aforementioned drawbacks.

In particular, in an accident or work in progress condition, the traffic light in charge of controlling the area can be set immediately remotely via the control unit 7 in order to indicate the state of inactivity. In this case the corresponding signal, in static or dynamic mode, can be easily reproduced. At the same time, again through the control unit 7, the adjacent traffic lights can be programmed in order to better manage the greater flow of transitory traffic.

It is also evident that the use of the LED matrix is in fact a redundant system for the functional safety of the traffic light device itself. In this sense, the failure of one or more LEDs does not affect the operation of the entire traffic light device.

Finally, figure 12 shows a variant 201 of a traffic light device in which three faces 202 are provided with horizontal orientation and in which each face is used for the management of a color. Similarly to what has been said, the same device can be managed as road signs and this solution is advantageous as it allows to manage several signals at the same time.

With reference instead to an example of use in the standard case of stop at a red, it is noted how the presence of a decremental counter or in any case of only the dynamic reduction of the area of interest allows to clearly perceive the time available. This gives the driver the possibility of rational choice to foresee a shutdown of the vehicle engines.

In the case of green, the dynamic reduction of the area is useful to indicate the opportunity to avoid the passage, in order not to incur unpleasant accidents.

Claims (12)

CLAIMS 1. A traffic light device (1; 201) comprising light sources (2; 202) controllable in such a way as to pass from a luminous condition indicating a stop obligation to the next luminous condition indicating the consent to the passage and vice versa and characterized in that said light sources are arranged in such a way as to form a matrix, and in which control means are provided configured in such a way as to manage the switching on and / or switching off of the light sources within the matrix according to a pre-established sequential order as a function of time t in such a way as to create an equivalent illuminated area (8, 9, 10) dynamically variable over time, such as to visually simulate the residual time duration of said current lighting condition. 2. A traffic light device (1; 201), according to claim 1, in which said control means manage the switching on and off of said light sources in the matrix in such a way as to determine at least one of the following conditions: - A progressive reduction according to the time t of the illuminated area (8) in progress; - A digital display of a remaining time (9) in progress in combination with the progressive reduction of the illuminated area (8). - An animated reproduction (10) for the pedestrian crossing; - An animated playback (10) for the pedestrian crossing in combination with a digital display of a remaining time (9) in progress. 3. A traffic light device, according to claim 1, in which said control means are further programmed in such a way as to further allow the reproduction of one or more of any signs (11; 211) provided for by the highway code. 4. A traffic light device, according to one or more claims 1 to 3, in which said control means comprise an electronic card with microprocessor and dedicated management software. 5. A traffic light device, according to claim 1, in which said light sources can consist of at least one of the following elements to be chosen from: - LED; - RGB LED; - LCD panel. 6. A traffic light device, according to claim 1, further comprising wireless communication means (12) configured in such a way as to communicate with dedicated external receiving devices (13) to indicate the status of the signals in progress. 7. A traffic light device, according to one or more preceding claims from 1 to 6, in which an operational control unit (7) is provided to which one or more of said traffic light devices (1; 201) are connected so that can be controlled and / or programmed remotely in real time. 8. A method of managing the operation of a traffic light comprising the operation of passing from a luminous condition indicating a stop obligation to the next luminous condition indicating consent to transit and vice versa and characterized by the fact that said passing operation provides for a control programmed switching on and / or switching off as a function of time t of light sources (2; 202) arranged according to a matrix in such a way as to display the current light condition according to a dynamic mode as a function of time t such as to visually simulate the remaining duration of the current light condition. 9. A method of managing the operation of a traffic light, according to claim 8, in which said dynamic luminous display operation is obtained through at least one of the following ways: - The progressive reduction of the illuminated area in progress as a function of time; - The digital display of a residual time in progress in combination with the progressive reduction of the illuminated area as a function of time; - An animated reproduction (10) for the pedestrian crossing; - An animated playback (10) for the pedestrian crossing in combination with a digital display of a remaining time (9) in progress. 10. A method of managing the operation of a traffic light, according to claim 9, in which, in the case of digital display of the residual time in progress in combination with the progressive reduction of the illuminated area as a function of time, a first digital display phase of a countdown and a subsequent progressive reduction of the illuminated area at the end of said counting phase. 11. A method of managing the operation of a traffic light, according to claim 8, in which a further control of said luminous functionality of the traffic light is provided in such a way that said traffic light reproduces one or more of any signs provided for by the highway code and any another type of report useful to warn citizens in the event of extraordinary circumstances. 12. A method of managing the operation of a traffic light, according to one or more preceding claims from 8 to 11, in which said control is managed remotely through a specific operational control center to which said traffic lights are connected.