JP2001067586A - Traffic signal display history gathering device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a traffic signal display history gathering device which can store a history of display states of the signal lamps of a traffic signal so as to perform traffic control complying with traffic states and can easily be installed on an existent traffic signal. SOLUTION: A signal lamp display information process part 14 outputs display information of the respective signal lamps 31 to 33 to a control part 10 according to the current values of the respective signal lamps 31 to 33 detected by current detecting devices 41 to 43. Then the control part 10 outputs the display information of the signal lamps 31 to 33 from the signal lamp display information process part 14 to a signal lamp display history process part 11 together with time information from a timer part 13 and accident information from an accident information process part 17 and stores them as display history information in a signal lamp display history storage part 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a traffic signal display history collecting apparatus for collecting the history of the display state of each signal light of a traffic signal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When performing traffic control in accordance with traffic conditions using a traffic signal, a signal light switching timing and a display order of signal lights based on so-called present data for controlling a state of each signal light to be displayed. It is conceivable to change etc. Such a change can be made by controlling the traffic signal from a traffic control center in a traffic signal that is connected online to the traffic control center.

[0003]

However, in a traffic signal that is not connected online, the control constant for controlling the switching timing of the signal light based on the present data is fixed, and the control device for controlling the control constant and the like. Is operated on the assumption that it does not break down, and therefore does not normally store the signal light control history based on the present data.

[0004] Recently, there is a traffic signal which stores a signal light control history based on present data set in advance in the control device, but does not store the data actually displayed. In addition, in order to store the signal light control history in an existing traffic light that cannot store the signal light control history based on the present data, the control device itself must be replaced.

In addition, the display state of each signal light of the traffic signal is always continuously recorded as a video signal together with the video signal photographing the vicinity of the intersection, and the video signal of the traffic light is also reproduced when reproducing the video when a traffic accident occurs. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 4-338900 discloses a traffic accident situation recording apparatus. However, if the display state of a signal light is a video signal, a large-capacity data storage device is required, which is inconvenient.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a traffic signal display history collection which can store the history of the actual display state of the traffic light in order to perform traffic control in accordance with the traffic situation, and which can be easily installed in an existing traffic signal. It is intended to provide a device.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a current value of each signal light of a traffic signal is measured.
Signal light display detection means for detecting the display state of each signal light according to the current value, clocking means for measuring the time, and the detection time information of the display state of each signal light at least for the first time, measured by the clocking means, Signal light display history storage means for storing display information of each signal light from the signal light display detection means.

[0008] According to this configuration, the signal light display detecting means measures the current value of each signal light of the traffic signal, and detects the display state of each signal light according to the current value. The clock means measures the time. The signal light display history storage means stores at least the detection time information of the display state of each signal light for the first time and the display information of each signal light from the signal light display detection means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the display state of each signal light detected last time is different from the display state of each signal light detected this time, the display information of each signal light is displayed. The signal light display history storage means may store the information.

The invention according to claim 3 further comprises a traffic accident detecting means for detecting the occurrence of a traffic accident, wherein the signal light display detecting means detects when the occurrence of the traffic accident is detected by the traffic accident detecting means. Then, the time information from the timing means and the display information of each signal light are stored in the signal light display history storage means.

According to this configuration, the traffic accident detecting means detects occurrence of a traffic accident. The signal light display detecting means, when the occurrence of the traffic accident is detected by the traffic accident detecting means, stores the time from the timing means and the display information of each signal light from the signal light display detecting means in the signal light display history storage means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transmission means for transmitting the time information and the display information of each of the signal lights to the outside. According to such a configuration, the transmission unit transmits the time information and the display information of each signal lamp to the outside.

It is preferable that the signal lamp display detecting means detects a value of a current flowing through a conducting line of each signal lamp using a non-contact type ammeter.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a traffic light display history collection device of the present embodiment.

In FIG. 1, a traffic signal whose history is collected by the present traffic signal display history collecting device is a control device 2.
0 and the signal lamp 30. The signal light device 30 includes, for example, three signal lights 31 to 33 of green, yellow, and red.

The control unit 20 controls the operation of the opening / closing unit 22 based on display control information provided in advance.
The signal lights 31 to 31 of the signal lamp 30 are controlled by the control unit 21.
And an opening / closing section 22 for controlling supply / interruption of the current to the switch 33.

The traffic signal display history collecting apparatus includes a timekeeping unit 13 as a timekeeping means for clocking the acquisition time of the display information of each of the signal lights 31 to 33 of the signal light 30, and an accident occurrence detecting the occurrence of a traffic accident. Device 18 and accident generating device 1
8, an accident information processing unit 17 that outputs accident information indicating the presence or absence of a traffic accident, and a current value flowing through signal lines 31a to 33a connecting the switch 22 and the signal lights 31 to 33 are detected. The current detection devices 41 to 43, the signal light display information processing unit 14 that outputs display information of each of the signal lights 31 to 33 based on each current value detected by the current detection devices 41 to 43, and the time information from the clock unit 13. A control unit 10 for outputting the accident information from the accident information processing unit 17 and the display information of each of the signal lights 31 to 33 from the signal light display information processing unit 14 to the signal light display history processing unit 11, time information, accident information and display information The signal light display history processing unit 11 that performs a process for storing the information as display history information, and the signal light display history processing unit 11 performs, for example,
33, the detected time information of the display information, and the accident information processing unit 1
7 and the signal lights 31 to 31 from the control unit 10.
A signal light display history storage unit 12 as signal light display history storage means for storing the display information of 33, and a transmission means for transmitting time information, accident information and display information of each of the signal lights 31 to 33 to the outside as described later. And a signal light display history reference unit 19 that includes a display device and an input device, reads out information stored in the signal light display history storage unit 12, and performs display processing and the like. Here, a traffic accident detecting means is constituted by the accident information processing unit 17 and the accident generating device 18, and the current detecting devices 41 to 43, the signal light display information processing unit 14, the signal light display history processing unit 11, and the control unit 10
Constitutes a signal lamp display detecting means.

For example, a current of about 0.6 A flows through the signal lines 31a to 33a when the lamp is turned on, and no current flows when the lamp is turned off. Therefore, in the current detection devices 41 to 43, for example, when the green signal light 31 is turned on, the current detection device 41 indicates a predetermined current value, for example, a current value of about 0.6 A,
The current detection devices 42 and 43 of the yellow signal light 32 and the red signal light 33 indicate a current value of 0A. The detected current value is
It is output to the signal light display information processing unit 14.

In order to detect the state in which each of the signal lights 31 to 33 is actually displaying without affecting the display state of each of the signal lights 31 to 33, a non-contact type ammeter is used as the current detection devices 41 to 43. For example, it is preferable to use a digital clamp tester (manufactured by Yokogawa Instruments).

The signal light display information processing section 14 receives the current values from the current detection devices 41 to 43,
It is converted into the display information of 33. For example, as described above,
When the green signal light 31 is turned on, the signal light display information processing unit 14 receives the predetermined current value from the current detection device 41 and outputs “1” indicating the lighting as the display information of the green signal light 31. Then, “0” indicating the extinguished light is output as display information of the yellow signal light 32 and the red signal light 33 whose current value is 0 A.

The accident detecting device 18 includes, for example, an acoustic sensor or an image pickup device, which is disposed at a position where an accident near the intersection where the signal light 30 is installed can be detected, and detects sound near the intersection. Shooting video. The detected audio signal and the captured video signal are transmitted to the accident information processing unit 17.
Output to

The accident information processing unit 17 includes an accident detection device 18
It is determined whether or not an accident has occurred at the intersection using the audio signal and the video signal from the vehicle. For example, if the level of the sound signal is equal to or higher than a preset threshold value, it is determined that the sound is a vehicle collision sound, and accident information indicating that a traffic accident has occurred is output to the control unit 10.

At normal times, the control unit 10 transmits the time information from the timer unit 13 and the accident information from the accident information processing unit 17 at predetermined time intervals according to the time information input from the timer unit 13. Each signal light 31 from the signal light display information processing unit 14
33 to the signal light display history processing unit 11.

However, when accident information indicating occurrence of an accident is input, at that time, the time information is added to the display information of the signal lamps 31 to 33 and the accident information and output to the signal lamp display history processing unit 11.

The signal light display history processing unit 11 includes a control unit 10
Time information, accident information and signal lights 31 to 3 output from the
Then, processing is performed to write the display information of No. 3 into the signal light display history storage unit 12.

In this embodiment, the signal light display history processing unit 1
1 has two storage units for storing display information of each of the signal lights 31 to 33, the display information of each of the signal lights 31 to 33 detected and input from the control unit 10 last time, and the display information of this time. The display information of each of the signal lights 31 to 33 detected this time is written into the signal light display history storage unit 12 only when the two pieces of display information are different from each other by comparing the input display information of each of the signal lights 31 to 33.

For example, when the signal light display history processing unit 11 has two storage units A and B, the first display information (1, 1) of the signal lights 31 to 33 is stored in the storage unit A at time t0 as shown in FIG. (0,0) is stored. Signal light display history processing unit 11
Is the current display information (1, 0, 0) stored in the storage unit A.
And the display information of the storage unit B are compared. Since the display information is not stored in the storage unit B and the two display information are different, the signal light display history processing unit 11 copies the display information (1, 0, 0) of the storage unit A to the storage unit B. At the same time, it is stored in the signal light display history storage unit 12.

Next, at time t1, new display information (1,
(0, 0) is stored in the storage unit A. The signal light display history processing unit 11 stores the current display information (1, 0,
0) and the previous display information (1, 0,
0). Since the two display information is the same,
The signal light display history processing unit 11 copies the current display information (1, 0, 0) from the storage unit A to the storage unit B, but does not store the information in the signal light display history storage unit 12. Similarly, time t
2, since the current display information (1, 0, 0) in the storage unit A and the previous display information (1, 0, 0) in the storage unit B are the same, the signal light display history processing unit 11 This display information (1, 0, 0) is copied to the storage unit B, but is not stored in the signal light display history storage unit 12.

Next, at time t3, the signal light display history processing unit 11 newly displays the current display information (0, 1, 0) in the storage unit A and the previous display information (0, 1, 0) stored in the storage unit B. 1,0,0). Since the two pieces of display information are different, the signal light display history processing unit 11 copies the present display information (0, 1, 0) stored in the storage unit A to the storage unit B and stores the information in the signal light display history storage unit 12. Let it. Similarly, at time t4, the current display information (0, 0, 1) in storage unit A and the previous display information (0, 1, 1) in storage unit B.
0), the signal light display history processing unit 11 copies the current display information (0, 0, 1) in the storage unit A to the storage unit B and stores the information in the signal light display history storage unit 12.

As described above, when the display information of each of the signal lights 31 to 33 inputted continuously is the same, the amount of information to be stored can be reduced by not storing the information in the signal light display history storage unit 12, so that the signal light 31 The display information for a longer time can be stored as compared with the case where the display information of ~ 33 is stored every time.

In the signal light display history storage unit 12, for example,
The information is formatted as shown in FIG. 3, and each information is stored for each of the dates M1 to Mn. For each date M1 to Mn,
A plurality of records R1 to Rn are stored. The record R stores time information of hours, minutes, and seconds, accident information indicating presence or absence of an accident, and display information of green, yellow, and red signal lights 31 to 33.

Specifically, the first record R is stored including time information, and the second and subsequent records R store accident information and display information. At this time, as described above,
Since the display information is not stored when the same display information continues, the record R may store only the accident information in some cases. Further, the accident information may not be stored when the same display information is continuous, and the time information, the accident information, and the display information may be stored in the record R only when the continuous display information is different. Note that all information may be always stored without determining whether or not continuous display information is the same.

The transmission unit 15 is connected to, for example, an external history collection server 16.
When a predetermined amount of information has been stored in the second server 2, this information is transmitted to the history collection server 16 and stored therein. Since the history collection server 16 has a large-capacity storage device, each signal light 31 to
33 display information can be stored for a long time.
By connecting the history collection server 16 to a traffic signal display history collection device provided for a plurality of traffic signals, it is possible to centrally manage the display information of the signal lights of the plurality of traffic signals.

In the signal light display history reference section 19, for example,
Information such as date and time to be referred to is input from an input device such as a keyboard. This information is output to the control unit 10,
Under the control of the control unit 10, display history information corresponding to desired information is read from the signal light display history storage unit 12 and displayed on a display device such as a monitor.

For example, when the date M1 shown in FIG. 2 is input from the input device of the signal light display history reference unit 19, the control unit 10 sends a control signal for reading the display history information of the date M1 to the signal light display history processing unit 11 Output to The signal light display history processing unit 11 reads out the information of the records R1 to Rn stored on the date M1 from the signal light display history storage unit 12 and outputs the information to the control unit 10 according to the input control signal. The control unit 10 outputs the obtained information to the signal light display history reference unit 19. Thus, the display device of the signal light display history reference unit 19 displays the time information, the accident information, and the display information of the signal lights 31 to 33 included in the records R1 to Rn stored on the date M1.

Next, the control processing operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step 1 ("S1" in the figure, hereinafter similarly shown), the control unit 10 acquires the time information measured by the clock unit 13.

Thereafter, in step 2, the control section 10 acquires the accident information from the accident information processing section 17 and proceeds to step 3.
Is used to determine whether a traffic accident has occurred. Step 3
If it is determined that a traffic accident has occurred, the process proceeds to step 5, and the control unit 10 acquires display information of each of the signal lights 31 to 33 from the signal light display information processing unit 14. In step 6, time information, accident information indicating that a traffic accident has occurred, and display information of each of the signal lights 31 to 33 are output to the signal light display history processing unit 11. After the signal light display history processing unit 11 stores each information in the signal light display history storage unit 12, the process proceeds to step S7.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 3 that no traffic accident has occurred, the process proceeds to step 4, where the control unit 10 outputs the display information of each of the signal lights 31 to 33 output from the signal light display information processing unit 14. Is determined.

If it is determined in step 4 that it is time to acquire the display information of each of the signal lights 31 to 33, the process proceeds to step 5, where the control unit 10 causes the signal light display information processing unit 14
, The display information of each of the signal lights 31 to 33 is acquired, and in step 6, the time information, the accident information indicating that there is no accident, and the display information of each of the signal lights 31 to 33 are output to the signal light display history processing unit 11. The signal light display history processing unit 11 stores time information, accident information, and display information when writing information for the first time, and stores accident information and display information signal when the display information changes when writing information for the second time or later,
If the display information does not change, only the accident information is stored.
After the signal light display history processing unit 11 stores the desired information in the signal light display history storage unit 12, the process proceeds to step S7.

On the other hand, in step 4, each of the signal lights 31 to 33
If it is determined that it is not the acquisition timing of the display information, the process proceeds to step 7 without performing the acquisition and writing operation of each information.

In step 7, the control unit 10 determines whether or not it is time to transmit the information already stored in the signal light display history storage unit 12 to the outside, that is, whether or not a predetermined amount of information has been accumulated. Is determined. If it is determined that a predetermined amount of information has been stored, in step 8, the control unit 10
Outputs a predetermined amount of display history information read from the signal light display history storage unit 12 by the signal light display history processing unit 11 to the transmission unit 15. The transmitting unit 15 transmits the data to the external history collection server 16 connected thereto. Step 7
If it is determined that the predetermined amount of information has not been stored, the process ends without transmitting the display history information to the outside.

When the processing is completed, the processing from step 1 is continued. When transmitting the display history information to the outside, it may be performed at regular time intervals. That is,
In step 7, it may be determined from the time information of the timer 13 whether or not the transmission time has come.

As described above, the traffic signal display history collection device of the present embodiment includes the traffic lights 31 to 31 of the traffic signal 30.
Since the display information is detected and stored by measuring the current value sent to 33, the information actually displayed by each of the signal lights 31 to 33 can be stored even in the case of a failure of the control device 20 or the like. Moreover, the existing traffic signal can be easily installed without replacing the control device 20.

When the display information of the previous signal light and the display information of the current signal light have the same value, the amount of information can be reduced by not storing the display information of the current signal light. Display history information can be stored.

Further, the presence or absence of a traffic accident is detected by the accident detecting device 18, and when a traffic accident occurs, each of the signal lights 31 to 31 is detected.
Since the process of storing the display information of 33 is performed, by reading out the stored information, it is possible to verify the accurate situation of the intersection at the time of the occurrence of the traffic accident.

Further, by transmitting the display history information to the history collection server 16 including a large-capacity data storage device provided outside, display history information for a long period can be stored. The display history information of the traffic signal can be used.

In this embodiment, the transmitting unit 15
Although the accident detection device 18, the accident information processing unit 17, and the signal light display history reference unit 19 are provided, they need not always be provided.

[0048]

As described above, according to the traffic signal display history collecting apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, in the traffic signal not connected online, the control device of the traffic signal fails. In this case, the information actually displayed by the signal lamp can be stored. Moreover, the existing traffic signal can be easily installed without replacing the control device 20.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the display information of the previous signal light and the display information of the current signal light have the same value, the display information of the current signal light is not stored, so that all information is stored. In this case, the amount of information can be reduced as compared with the case where the display history information is displayed, and display history information for a longer time can be stored.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the traffic accident detecting means detects the presence or absence of a traffic accident and performs processing for storing display information of each signal light at the time of occurrence of the traffic accident,
Based on the stored traffic signal display information, it is possible to verify the exact situation near the intersection at the time of the traffic accident.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, by transmitting the detected display information of the signal lamp and the like to the outside, the display information of the signal lamp for a long time is stored in a large-capacity storage device provided outside. And can be used. In addition, if a system for transmitting information from a plurality of traffic signal display history collection devices to a single storage device can centrally manage information from a plurality of traffic signals, it is possible to monitor a wide range of road traffic conditions. Become.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the current value sent to the signal light can be accurately detected without affecting the display state of the signal light, so that the display information of the signal light can be accurately detected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of a traffic signal display history collection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining storage processing of display information of a signal light;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a storage state of a display history.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a control processing operation according to the embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 control unit 11 signal light display history processing unit 12 signal light display history storage unit 13 clock unit 14 signal light display information processing unit 15 transmission unit 16 history collection server 17 accident information processing unit 18 accident detection device 19 signal light display history reference unit 20 control device 30 Signal lights 31-33 Signal lights 41-43 Current detector

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A method of measuring a current value of each signal light of a traffic signal,
Signal light display detection means for detecting the display state of each signal light according to the current value, clocking means for clocking time, and at least the first detection time information of the display state of each signal light, which is timed by the clocking means, A traffic light display history collection device, comprising: traffic light display history storage means for storing display information of each traffic light from the traffic light display detection means. 2. The signal light display detecting means, when the display state of each signal light detected last time and the display state of each signal light detected this time are different, displays the display information of each signal light this time to the signal light display history storage means. The traffic light display history collection device according to claim 1, wherein the traffic light display history collection device is stored. 3. A traffic accident detecting means for detecting occurrence of a traffic accident, wherein said signal light display detecting means detects time information from said timing means when said traffic accident detecting means detects occurrence of a traffic accident. The traffic light display history collection device according to claim 1, wherein the traffic light display history storage device stores the traffic light display information and display information of each traffic light in the traffic light display history storage unit. 4. The traffic signal display history collection device according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission unit for transmitting the time information and the display information of each of the signal lights to the outside. . 5. The signal light display detecting means detects a value of a current flowing through an energizing line of each of the signal lights using a non-contact type ammeter.
The traffic signal display history collection device described in (1).