JP2007086981A - Traffic control information transmitting device, traffic control information notifying device, and traffic control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable vehicles to pass a location at which the traffic is controlled, with higher safety. <P>SOLUTION: A traffic control system 100 acquires position information and speed information on a vehicle, which is traveling toward a traffic signal 1, with a detection sensor 14, produces signal information which is to be notified when the vehicle reaches the traffic signal 1 with a traffic signal control unit 11, transmits the signal information from a communications device 13 to the two communication parts 23 provided in the vehicle, and sends a notification, according to the signal information from a notification part 24 in a traffic control information notifying device 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a traffic control information transmitting device, a traffic control information notifying device, and a traffic control system for performing traffic control by notifying a driver of a vehicle passing through a section requiring traffic control.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, traffic signals provided at places where traffic needs to be organized, such as intersections, railroad crossings or construction sites, perform traffic control by turning on various signal lights and notifying pedestrians and drivers of traffic information.

For example, as a technique for notifying traffic information in a traffic signal, as shown in Patent Document 1, in order to make it easier for a driver to recognize that a traffic signal such as an intersection has changed to a red signal, the traffic signal is provided. There is one that transmits signal information indicating a lighting state of a signal from a roadside device to a vehicle-mounted device and notifies the driver of the vehicle.
JP 2004-252718 A

  However, the conventional display with only signal lights can be overlooked or overlooked in urban areas when it is difficult to check the signal lights due to poor visibility or curves, or due to the effects of lighting advertisements or signal lights at adjacent intersections. There was a possibility.

  In addition, in the case of using the above-described technology for notifying traffic information, the current signal lamp display information is informed to the in-vehicle device, and the driver can only be informed of the current display state of the signal lamp. In addition, vehicles that require a braking distance are not always sufficient in terms of safety.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a subject, The place made into the objective is providing the technique which enables it to pass through the location where traffic control is performed with a traffic signal more safely.

  In order to solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 is a vehicle information acquisition means for acquiring current position information and current speed information of a vehicle traveling toward a traffic signal, and a signal lamp installed in the traffic signal. Lighting information acquisition means for acquiring the current lighting state of the vehicle, and lighting of the signal lamp when the vehicle reaches the traffic signal based on the current position information, current speed acquisition information, and current lighting state information of the vehicle Predicting means for predicting the state and generating the predicted lighting state information and transmitting means for transmitting the predicted lighting state information are provided.

  The invention according to claim 2 is a traffic control information notification device mounted on a vehicle, and predicts the signal lamp of the traffic signal when the vehicle reaches a traffic signal existing ahead of the vehicle in the traveling direction. It is characterized by comprising receiving means for receiving lighting state information, and notifying means for notifying the received predicted lighting state information in the vehicle.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the notifying unit notifies with a sound corresponding to the received predicted lighting state information.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a traffic control system comprising the traffic control information transmitting device according to the first aspect and the traffic control information notifying device according to the second or third aspect. .

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the fourth aspect, the communication between the traffic control information transmitting device and the traffic control information notifying device is performed by a DSRC method.

  DSRC here is an abbreviation for Dedicated Short Range Communication, and indicates narrow-area communication (dedicated short-range communication) using bidirectional wireless communication technology including optical beacons.

  According to the present invention, based on the current position information and current speed information of a vehicle traveling toward a traffic signal that performs traffic control, and the current lighting status of a signal light installed in the traffic signal, the vehicle It is possible to predict and notify the lighting state of the signal lamp when it reaches the traffic light. Therefore, the driver of the vehicle can know the signal state at the time of arrival in advance, and can safely pass through the place where the traffic control is performed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Further, the embodiment of the present invention shows the most preferable embodiment of the invention, and the terms and uses of the invention are not limited to this.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a functional configuration of a traffic control system 100 according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of the traffic control system 100 installed on a road. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing performed by the traffic signal controller 11, FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing other signal information creation processing performed by the traffic signal controller 11, and FIG. 5 is a time chart regarding signal information. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display screen G in the traffic control information notification device 2, and FIG. 7 is a ladder chart showing processing in the traffic signal 1 and the adjacent traffic signal controller 4.

  First, the functional configuration of the traffic control system 100 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the traffic control system 100 includes a traffic signal 1, a traffic control information notification device 2, a traffic control center 3, and an adjacent traffic signal controller 4.

  The traffic signal 1 includes a traffic signal controller 11, a signal lamp 12, a communication device 13, and a detection sensor 14.

  The traffic signal controller 11 is a circuit unit that performs overall control of the operation of the traffic signal device 1, and includes a control circuit 111 and a transmission circuit 112. The control circuit 111 is a circuit including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a transmission unit, and the like that are not particularly illustrated. Based on the control program and setting information stored in the ROM, the control circuit 111 develops the control program in the work area of the RAM and sequentially executes it in synchronization with the clock signal transmitted from the transmission unit. Signal lighting control of the signal lamp device 12 and processing in the traffic signal device 1 described later are executed.

  The setting information stored in the ROM of the control circuit 111 includes information on an installation position (center position) of the traffic signal 1 described later, information on traffic regulation for each traveling direction or vehicle type from the installation position, and an entering vehicle Information on the position where the vehicle is detected (the distance from the intersection), information on the positional relationship with the adjacent intersection (the distance, connection state), and the like.

  The transmission circuit 112 is a communication circuit that performs data communication between the electrically connected communication device 13, the detection sensor 14, the traffic control center 3, and the adjacent traffic signal controller 4 according to a predetermined protocol. Note that the connection between the transmission circuit 112 and each of the above-described units may be wireless, infrared communication, or the like, in addition to wired connection that is an electrical connection.

  The signal lamp 12 lights a signal in accordance with a control instruction from the traffic signal controller 11 to give a traffic instruction to a vehicle driver who travels in an area where traffic needs to be organized such as an intersection where the traffic signal 1 is installed. Do. The communication device 13 performs bidirectional data communication with the communication unit 23 in the communication range by a DSRC (Dedicated Short-Range Communication) method. The communication device 13 may be configured to perform bidirectional data communication using an optical beacon or the like.

  The detection sensor 14 is a sensor that detects a vehicle by a radar detection method, an ultrasonic method, or the like. The detection sensor 14 detects the vehicle that travels in the direction toward the traffic signal 1 and the traveling speed of the detection sensor 14 and detects the detection signal. Is transmitted to the traffic signal controller 11.

  The traffic control information notification device 2 includes a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, a communication unit 23, a notification unit 24, and a sensor unit 25.

  The control unit 21 includes a CPU (not shown) and the like. The control unit 21 uses a predetermined area of the storage unit 22 as a work area, and develops and sequentially executes control programs and setting information stored in the storage unit 22 in advance, thereby controlling the traffic control. The operation of the information notification device 2 is comprehensively controlled.

  The storage unit 22 is configured to include a readable / writable nonvolatile memory or the nonvolatile memory and a RAM, and stores a control program and setting information of the traffic control information notification device 2 in advance. Note that the storage unit 22 may have a configuration capable of reading and writing information in a semiconductor memory such as an IC card or a flash memory or an optical / magnetic storage medium. The setting information stored in the storage unit 22 includes the operating conditions when the control unit 21 executes the control program, the type of vehicle on which the traffic control information notification device 2 is loaded, and the attribute (age of the vehicle owner or driver)・ Operation history, violation history, etc.).

  The communication unit 23 performs bidirectional data communication by the DSRC method with the communication device 13 in the communication range. The notification unit 24 is an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) (not shown), a voice output device including a voice synthesis circuit, an amplifier, a speaker, and the like, and an image for the driver according to a control instruction input from the control unit 21. Information display and voice guidance. Note that the speech synthesis is performed by combining sound piece data and speech patterns set in advance according to the control instruction of the control unit 21.

  The sensor unit 25 outputs to the control unit 21 information related to the traveling direction corresponding to the traveling speed of the vehicle and the operation state of the direction indicator (not shown) (lighting of the right or left turn signal). The sensor unit 25 may output the vehicle position detected by GPS (Global Positioning System) or the like to the control unit 21 as position information.

  The traffic control center 3 is composed of a server (not shown) and the like, and performs wide-area traffic control by synchronizing lights of a plurality of traffic signals connected so as to be communicable. The adjacent traffic signal controller 4 has the same configuration as that of the traffic signal controller 11, and controls the traffic signals provided in the traffic signal 1 adjacent to the traffic signal 1 that need to be organized.

  Next, the outline of the traffic control system 100 installed on the road will be described with specific examples. As shown in FIG. 2, the roads extending in the XX ′ direction and the YY ′ direction intersect with each other, and are adjacent to the intersection J1 of the cross road, which is a place that requires traffic arrangement, in the X direction. There is an intersection J2 that is a crossroad.

  The intersection J1 is centered at the center point J11, and traffic control is performed by the traffic signal 1 in which the traffic signal controller 11 is installed on the side. Similarly, traffic control is performed at the intersection J2 by the adjacent traffic signal controller 4.

  Signal lamps 12a to 12d that perform traffic control at the intersection J1 by controlling the lights by the traffic signal controller 11 are provided at the intersection J1. The signal lamps 12a to 12d are set up with poles or the like so that they can be confirmed by a vehicle driver traveling to the intersection J1 more widely. The traffic at the intersection J1 is controlled in the X-X 'direction by the lights of the signal lamps 12b and 12d, and in the Y-Y' direction by the lights of the signal lamps 12a and 12c.

  At a position J13 that is a distance D1 (distance) away from the stop line J12 before the progress of the intersection J1, the detection of the vehicle C1 traveling to the intersection J1 and the traffic control information notification device 2 provided in the vehicle C1 A communication device 13a and a detection sensor 14a are provided to enable communication. Note that the communication device 13a and the detection sensor 14a are adjusted so as to target only vehicles passing through the lane proceeding to the intersection J1, and are installed on a pole or the like. Similarly, a communication device 13b and a detection sensor 14b for the vehicle C2 passing there are provided at a position J14 that is a distance D2 (distance) away from the stop line J12.

  For this reason, the traffic signal 1 installed at the intersection J1 receives information such as the position, traveling speed, traveling direction, vehicle type, and driver attributes from the vehicle C1 and the vehicle C2 traveling to the intersection J1 at the positions J13 and J14. While being able to acquire, the information from the traffic signal controller 11 can be notified with respect to the traffic control information alerting apparatus 2 with which the vehicles C1 and C2 were equipped.

  Next, processing performed by the traffic signal controller 11 when the vehicle passes through the positions J13 and J14 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 3, the traffic signal controller 11 acquires travel speed information and position information of a vehicle passing through the predetermined positions (positions J13 and J14 in FIG. 2) from the detection sensor 14 and the communication device 13 ( Steps S11 and S12), based on the acquired information and signal information indicating the current lighting status of the signal lamp, a future signal that is signal information that is lit on the signal lamp unit 12 when a vehicle that has traveled from that position approaches the intersection Information (predicted lighting state information) is created (step S13).

  Regarding the creation of the future signal information, for example, in the example of FIG. 2 described above, the time until the vehicle C1 reaches the stop line J12 before the intersection J1 is calculated based on the traveling speed of the vehicle C1 and the distance D1. Then, signal information to be lit by the signal lamps 12a and 12c when the vehicle travels around the stop line J12 from the calculated time is created. Similarly, in the vehicle C2, signal information that is lit when the vehicle C2 travels around the stop line J12 is created.

  Next, signal information creation processing other than the future signal information is performed (step S14), and the created signal information and future signal information are transmitted to the traffic control information notification device 2 (step S15), and the process ends. To do.

  As for other signal information creation processing, as shown in FIG. 4, first, other information such as the direction of travel, vehicle type, driver attribute, etc. is acquired (step S141), and whether or not the direction of travel information is included. If it is determined (step S142), if it is included, the signal information for each direction of travel, that is, the signal information dedicated to the right or left turn or the information set in the ROM of the control circuit 111 is added with the information on the traffic regulation at the time of the right or left turn. Signal information indicating the lighting of the signal lamp device 12 is created (step S143).

  Next, it is determined whether or not vehicle type information is included (step S144). If included, signal information corresponding to vehicle type regulations, that is, entry prohibition according to the type of vehicle such as a large vehicle / ordinary vehicle / motorcycle, etc. If there is restriction information, current signal information to which restriction information corresponding to the included vehicle type information is added is created (step S145).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the attribute information of the driver is included (step S146). If included, signal information corresponding to the attribute of the driver, for example, a person with a short driving history or an accident history Current signal information to which attention information indicating that traffic accidents frequently occur is created (step S147), and the process ends.

  In the process of step S147, the driver attribute information is information indicating a person with a short driving history or a person with an accident history, and the future signal information created in step S13 is a yellow signal or a red signal. A configuration may be added in which information for warning is added. In this case, it is possible to notify signal information that is more in line with driving attributes. Moreover, in step S141-S147, when other information is not acquired, the structure by which only the signal information which shows the lighting of the present signal lamp device 12 may be produced may be sufficient.

  Through the processing described above, the traffic control information notification device 2 can notify the driver of the generated signal information, additional information, and future signal information by the notification unit 24. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, for a vehicle heading for an intersection that lights at the timing of the signal information L11 and L12, and the vehicle that receives traffic control based on the signal information L12, the signal information L12 and the travel Signals L13 or L14 of the future time H1 and time H2 according to the speed and the distance to the intersection are notified.

  For example, for a vehicle that has undergone traffic control based on the signal information L12 at the intersection at time T1 and requires time H1 to reach the intersection, information on the current blue signal and the yellow signal at the time of arrival at the intersection Information is notified. Similarly, at time T2, a vehicle that requires time H2 to reach the intersection is notified of the current yellow signal information and the red signal information at the time of arrival.

  In the traffic control information notification device 2, the notified current signal information, future signal information, and additional information are notified to the driver by voice from the notification unit 24. Note that the notification by the notification unit 24 may be performed on a person who is mainly displayed on the LCD and displayed on the front passenger seat (for the driver, such as a view position during driving so that there is no obstacle in driving). To display). For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a warning message related to future signal information may be displayed and notified on the display window W of the display screen G provided in the notification unit 24.

  Next, a process of notifying future signal information from the adjacent traffic signal controller 4 will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the process same as the process mentioned above (step S11-S15), and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The traffic signal 1 confirms the presence / absence of the adjacent traffic signal controller 4 by setting information and communication set in advance in the control circuit 111 (step S131). If the adjacent traffic signal controller 4 exists, step S11, The traveling speed / position information of the vehicle passing through the predetermined position acquired in S12 is transmitted to the adjacent traffic signal controller 4 (step S132), and future signal information sent from the adjacent traffic signal controller 4 is received accordingly. (Step S133), the future signal information received from the adjacent traffic signal controller 4 and the future signal information and signal information created by the above-described processing are transmitted to the traffic control information notification device 2.

  The adjacent traffic signal controller 4 receives the travel speed / position information sent from the traffic signal 1 (step S21), the travel speed and the preset positional relationship information with the adjacent traffic signal 1, and the received position. Based on the road until the vehicle calculated by the information reaches the intersection of the adjacent traffic signal controller 4, the future signal information to be lit when the vehicle reaches the adjacent intersection is created (step S22), The created future signal information is transmitted to the traffic signal 1 (step S23).

  As described above, the traffic control system 100 acquires the position information and speed information of the vehicle traveling toward the traffic signal 1 with the detection sensor 14, and the signal information to be notified when the vehicle reaches the traffic signal 1. Created by the traffic signal controller 11 and transmitted from the communication device 13 to the communication unit 23 of the traffic control information notifying device 2 provided in the vehicle, and the traffic control information notifying device 2 provides notification according to the signal information. The configuration is performed from the notification unit 24. For this reason, the driver of the vehicle can recognize in advance the lighting state of the signal when passing through the intersection and can operate the vehicle with a margin, so that the driver can pass through the intersection more safely.

  In addition, since the vehicle driver can be notified by voice according to the signal information notified when the traffic signal 1 is reached, the vehicle driver can be recognized safely without causing any trouble in driving. Can do.

  In addition, since the traffic control system 100 is configured to perform communication between the traffic signal 1 and the traffic control information notification device 2 by the DSRC method, without affecting the traffic control information notification device 2 mounted on other vehicles, It is possible to selectively notify the vehicle traveling toward the traffic signal 1.

  In the traffic control system 100, the signal information notified from the notification unit 24 of the traffic control information notification device 2 is not only information from the traffic signal 1 in the traveling direction, but also adjacent traffic signal control adjacent to the traffic signal 1. Information from the machine 4 may be used. In this case, it is possible to notify in advance the signal situation when passing through a traffic signal ahead, and a safer driving environment can be provided to the driver.

  Note that the description in the present embodiment shows an example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this. The configuration and operation of the traffic control system 100 according to the present invention can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, the traffic control system 100 has a configuration in which the traffic control center 3 performs overall control in place of the traffic signal controller 11 and the adjacent traffic signal controller 4 without providing the traffic signal controller 11 for each traffic signal. May be.

  In addition, although the case where the traffic signal 1 is installed at the intersection is illustrated as an example, the configuration may be simply provided at the construction site. Further, the traffic signal 1 may be installed at a railroad crossing where the road and the rail intersect in addition to the intersection where the road intersects, and the traffic control system 100 may notify the driver of the vehicle or train passing there.

  Further, the transmission means is provided in the vicinity of the position J13 or the position J14 other than the configuration in which the traffic control information notification device 2 notifies the user with the sound or the image when the position J13 or the position J14 is passed. It is a signal lamp equivalent to the signal lamp device 12 provided at a position that can be confirmed from the driver's field of view, and may be configured to be notified by the lighting of the signal lamp.

It is the figure which showed typically the functional structure of the traffic control system 100 which is this invention. It is a figure which shows the outline of the traffic control system 100 installed on the road. It is a flowchart which shows the process which the traffic signal controller 11 performs. It is a flowchart which shows the other signal information preparation process which the traffic signal controller 11 performs. It is a time chart regarding signal information. It is a figure which illustrates display screen G in traffic control information reporting device 2. It is a ladder chart which shows the process in the traffic signal 1 and the adjacent traffic signal controller 4. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

100 Traffic control system 1 Traffic signal (traffic control information transmitter)
2 Traffic control information notification device 3 Traffic control center 4 Adjacent traffic signal controller (traffic control information transmission device)
11 Traffic signal controller (prediction means)
111 Control circuit 112 Transmission circuit 12, 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d Signal lamp 13, 13a, 13b Communication device (transmission means)
14, 14a, 14b Detection sensor (vehicle information acquisition means)
21 control unit 22 storage unit 23 communication unit (reception means)
24 Notification unit (notification means)
25 Sensor part C1, C2 Vehicle D1, D2 Distance G Display screen H1, H2 Time J1 Intersection J11, J21 Center point J12 Stop line J13, J14 Position J2 Intersection L11-L14 Signal information T1, T2 Time W Display window

Claims (5)

Vehicle information acquisition means for acquiring current position information and current speed information of a vehicle traveling toward the traffic signal;
Lighting information acquisition means for acquiring the current lighting state of the signal light installed in the traffic signal,
Based on the current position information, current speed acquisition information, and current lighting state information of the vehicle, prediction that predicts the lighting state of the signal lamp when the vehicle reaches the traffic signal and generates the predicted lighting state information Means,
Transmitting means for transmitting the predicted lighting state information;
A traffic control information transmitting device characterized by comprising: A traffic control information notification device mounted on a vehicle,
Receiving means for receiving the predicted lighting state information of the traffic light of the traffic signal at the time when the vehicle reaches the traffic signal present in the forward direction of the vehicle;
Informing means for informing the received predicted lighting state information in the vehicle;
A traffic control information notification apparatus comprising:   The traffic control information notifying device according to claim 2, wherein the notifying means notifies the user with a sound corresponding to the received predicted lighting state information.   A traffic control system comprising the traffic control information transmitting device according to claim 1 and the traffic control information notifying device according to claim 2 or 3.   5. The traffic control system according to claim 4, wherein communication between the traffic control information transmitting device and the traffic control information notifying device is performed by a DSRC method.

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