JP2012123458A - Traffic signal controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a traffic signal controller capable of facilitating an operation of manual stepping even when executing movement control.SOLUTION: A time lag indication determination part 15 determines at a predetermined time of signal cycle whether or not to execute time lag indication to any one direction of roads facing at an intersection, based on traffic information acquired by a traffic information acquisition part 12. When the time lag indication determination part 15 determines to execute the time lag indication, if a manual operation part 13 accepts an operation of manual stepping, a selection part 16 selects a grade pattern including a combination of lamp colors for not executing the time lag indication. When the operation of manual stepping is executed, a lamp color control part 17 uses the grade pattern selected by the selection part 16 to output a lamp color signal to a signal lamp unit installed at the intersection according to the manual stepping.

Description

  The present invention relates to a traffic signal controller capable of performing time difference display control of a signal lamp.

  For the purpose of improving traffic jams at intersections, the traffic lights (arrows) assigned to each movement are used for the movement lines of vehicles and pedestrians that are classified according to direction, lanes used, traffic rights, etc. Therefore, movement control (also referred to as variable phase control or variable display control) for independently controlling the time for each lamp color of the signal lamps on the opposite roads (for example, the upward direction and the downward direction) has been studied. By performing movement control, for example, when there is a deviation in traffic demand in the vertical direction, the time difference is displayed in a direction where there is a lot of demand (also called a priority direction) By displaying the display of all the signal lights in the direction where demand is low, the traffic light can be expected to improve.

  As an example of a traffic signal controller for movement control, a dual ring equipped with a plurality of step counters and capable of independent upstream / downstream signal control and real-time signal control according to the traffic situation of each inflow path at the intersection A traffic signal controller of the type is disclosed (see Patent Document 1).

  In addition to the dual ring method, a current page selection method is also being studied for realizing movement control. The current page selection method is to prepare a plurality of current pages (a floor pattern that includes combinations of signal lamp colors) and determine the current page to be executed next at a predetermined timing during the signal cycle. To do.

JP 2006-268547 A

  On the other hand, a conventional traffic signal controller is provided with a manual step button or switch that can manually switch the color of the signal lamp in the event of an abnormality or emergency. However, in traffic signal controllers that perform movement control, the time for each light color of the signal lights on the opposite road is controlled independently, so it is necessary to perform an operation for manual stepping individually. In order to realize the lamp color display time in a well-balanced manner, there has been a problem that the manual step operation becomes very complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a traffic signal controller that can easily perform manual stepping even when performing movement control.

  A traffic signal controller according to a first aspect of the present invention is a traffic signal controller capable of performing a time difference display control of a signal lamp device based on traffic information of roads facing each other at an intersection. Storage means for storing a floor pattern including a combination and a floor pattern including a combination of light colors that do not perform time difference display, and time difference display determination means for determining whether or not to perform time difference display based on road traffic information And a combination of lamp colors for which the time difference display is not performed when the manual step operation is received by the reception unit when the manual step operation is received by the reception unit that receives the manual step operation and the time difference display determination unit. And a selection means for selecting a floor pattern that includes the signal pattern, and the lamp color control of the signal lamp is performed according to the floor pattern selected by the selection means.

  The traffic signal controller according to a second aspect of the present invention is the traffic signal controller according to the first aspect, wherein the selection means performs a time difference display when the reception means accepts a manual step operation before or after the start of the time difference display. It is configured to select a floor pattern including a combination of light colors that are not used.

  The traffic signal controller according to a third aspect of the present invention is the traffic signal controller according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, wherein when the selection means determines that the time difference display determination means performs time difference display, When the manual stepping operation is accepted by the accepting means, the stepping is performed according to a floor pattern including a combination of lamp colors for performing time difference display.

  In the first aspect of the invention, a floor pattern including a combination of lamp colors that implements the time difference display and a floor pattern including a combination of lamp colors that does not execute the time difference display are stored. The time difference display determination means determines whether or not to perform time difference display based on road traffic information. In other words, the time difference indication judging means is based on traffic information (for example, traffic demand such as traffic volume, traffic jam length, number of waiting for traffic lights, etc.) in each direction of the road facing the intersection (direction flowing into the intersection). It is determined at a predetermined time point of the signal cycle (for example, a time point before a time point at which the time difference display is started) whether or not the time difference display is performed in any direction of the road to be performed. For example, it can be determined that the time difference display is performed in a direction with a large traffic demand. When the time difference display is performed in an east direction with a large traffic demand, the west of the traffic direction with a small traffic demand is the opposite direction. All the light colors of the direction signal lamps are set to red, and after the vehicle is stopped traveling in the west direction, the vehicle is advanced in the east direction (including straight, left and right turns).

  The accepting means for accepting the manual step operation is, for example, a manual step command button for outputting an instruction to advance the step. When the time difference display determination means determines and the selection means receives a manual step operation by the reception means, the selection means selects a stepped pattern including a combination of lamp colors that does not perform the time difference display. “Accept manual stepping operation” means, for example, switching between an automatic stepping mode in which the lamp color of the signal lamp is automatically stepped and a manual stepping mode in which the lamp color of the signal lamp is stepped manually. This means that the manual step changeover switch does not mean the moment when the manual step change mode switch is turned on, but the manual step command button is turned on (pressed) once. When determining whether or not to perform time difference display at a predetermined point in the signal cycle, when manual step operation is accepted (for example, manual step operation was performed before time difference display was performed) ), Select the floor pattern that does not display the time difference, and control the lamp color so that the time difference display of the signal lamp is not performed. As a result, prior to the time difference display, manual step can be prioritized over the time difference display so that the time difference display is not performed. It is not necessary to perform a manual step operation in consideration of the balance of lamp color display time, and the manual step operation can be easily performed.

  In the second aspect of the invention, when the manual step operation is received before or after the start of the time difference display, the selection means selects the step pattern including the combination of the light colors that do not perform the time difference display. As a result, when the movement control is being performed, when a manual operation is accepted before or after the start of the time difference display, it is possible to quickly shift from the movement control to the normal control that does not perform the time difference display.

  In the third invention, when it is determined that the time difference display is performed, the selection means receives a manual step operation during the time difference display, and the combination of lamp colors for performing the time difference display. Incremental according to the floor pattern including. In other words, if a manual step operation is received during the time difference display (between the start and end of the time difference display), each time the manual step operation is received, the time difference display is performed. Since the stepping is performed according to the floor pattern including the combination, it is not necessary to perform the manual stepping operation in consideration of the balance of the display time of each light color of the signal lamp when performing the time difference display. It can be done easily.

  According to the present invention, when manual step operation is accepted before the time difference display, the manual step is prioritized over the time difference display so that the time difference display is not performed. It is not necessary to perform manual stepping operation in consideration of the balance of the display time of each light color of the signal lamp at the time of displaying, and the manual stepping operation can be easily performed.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the traffic signal controller which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the intersection in which the signal control by the traffic signal controller of this Embodiment is performed. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the floor pattern selected when not implementing a time difference display. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the floor pattern selected when giving a time difference display with respect to the west direction. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the floor pattern selected when giving a time difference display with respect to the east direction. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the selection method of the floor pattern by the traffic signal controller of this Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, a traffic signal controller according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a traffic signal controller 10 according to the present embodiment. The traffic signal controller 10 includes a CPU 11 that controls the entire traffic signal controller 10, a traffic information acquisition unit 12, a manual operation unit 13 that receives manual stepping operation, a storage unit 14, and a time difference display determination unit. The time difference display determination unit 15, a selection unit 16 as a selection unit for selecting a floor pattern, a lamp color control unit 17, and the like.

  The traffic information acquisition unit 12 acquires traffic information for determining whether or not to perform time difference display for one direction of a road facing at an intersection. The traffic information is, for example, traffic demand such as traffic volume, congestion length, number of waiting for traffic lights, etc., for example, traffic information from road devices such as light beacons and image-type vehicle detectors installed at appropriate locations on the road Can be obtained. The travel time between the optical beacons can be calculated based on the vehicle uplink information collected by the optical beacon or the like, and the congestion of the road can be determined based on the travel time. Further, it is possible to estimate the traffic jam length based on the traffic volume per unit time or the occupation rate measured by a point measurement type vehicle detector represented by an ultrasonic type or a loop type. It is also possible to measure the length of traffic jam or the number of waiting signals by imaging the vehicle with an image-type vehicle detector installed at an appropriate location on the road.

  Based on the traffic information acquired by the traffic information acquisition unit 12 (for example, traffic demand such as traffic volume, traffic jam length, number of waiting for traffic lights, etc.), the time difference indication determination unit 15 Whether or not the time difference display is performed is determined at a predetermined time point of the signal cycle (for example, a time point a predetermined time before the time difference start time).

  For example, it can be determined that the time difference display is performed in a direction with a large traffic demand. When the time difference display is performed in an east direction with a large traffic demand, the west direction (traffic) The light color of the signal lamp of the one with less demand is set to red, and the vehicle traveling in the west direction is stopped, and then the vehicle in the east direction (including straight, left and right turns) is advanced with a green light. In addition, the east-west direction is an example for convenience, and is not limited to this.

  The manual operation unit 13 has a function as a reception unit that receives a manual step operation. The manual operation unit 13 is used when the lamp color of the signal lamp is switched by manual operation in the case of abnormality or emergency. The manual operation unit 13 includes a manual step command button for performing a manual step for manually switching the color of the signal lamp. Each time the manual step command button is pressed, the manual operation unit 13 outputs an operation signal to the selection unit 16. Note that “accepting manual stepping operation” means, for example, an automatic stepping mode in which the lamp color of the signal lamp is automatically stepped and a manual stepping mode in which the lamp color of the signal lamp is stepped manually in sequence. This means that the manual step changeover switch for switching is not the moment when the manual step change mode is turned on, but the manual step command button is turned on (pressed) once.

  The memory | storage part 14 memorize | stores the floor pattern containing the combination of the lamp color which implements a time difference display, and the floor pattern containing the combination of the lamp color which does not implement a time difference display. Details of the floor pattern will be described later.

  If the time difference display determination unit 15 determines that the time difference display is to be performed, the selection unit 16 selects a floor pattern including a combination of lamp colors for performing the time difference display, and the time difference display determination unit 15 selects the time difference. If it is determined that the display is not performed, a floor pattern including a combination of lamp colors for which the time difference display is not performed is selected.

  In addition, when the manual operation unit 13 receives a manual step operation before or after the start of the time difference display, the selection unit 16 selects a floor pattern including a combination of light colors for which the time difference display is not performed. As a result, when the movement control is being performed, when a manual operation is accepted before or after the start of the time difference display, it is possible to quickly shift from the movement control to the normal control that does not perform the time difference display.

  When the time difference display determination unit 15 determines that the time difference display is to be performed, the selection unit 16 displays a time difference display when the manual operation unit 13 accepts a manual step operation during the time difference display. Proceed according to a floor pattern that includes a combination of light colors. In other words, when a manual step operation is received by the manual operation unit 13 during the time difference display (from the start to the end of the time difference display), the time difference display is displayed each time the manual step operation is received. Since the stepping is performed according to the floor pattern including the combination of the light colors to be implemented, it is not necessary to perform the manual stepping operation in consideration of the balance of the display time of each light color of the signal light device when displaying the time difference. The step operation can be easily performed.

  When the manual stepping operation is not performed, the lamp color control unit 17 sets the lamp color to the signal lamp installed at the intersection according to the step command from the CPU 11 based on the step pattern selected by the selection unit 16. Output a signal. Thereby, the lamp color of the signal lamp is switched in a predetermined order and display time.

  In addition, when the manual stepping operation is performed, the light color control unit 17 sends a light color signal to the signal light device installed at the intersection according to the manual stepping based on the floor pattern selected by the selection unit 16. Output.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an intersection where signal control is performed by the traffic signal controller 10 of the present embodiment. For the intersection, four roads intersect, and for convenience, one direction of roads facing each other at the intersection is defined as the east direction, and the facing direction is defined as the west direction. The facing direction is not limited to the east-west direction. A signal lamp for the vehicle traveling in the east direction (for the east direction) is referred to as an east signal lamp, and a signal lamp for the vehicle traveling in the west direction is referred to as a west signal lamp.

  Each signal lamp has respective lamp colors of a round lamp (G, Y, R), a right arrow (blue arrow), and a right turn arrow (blue arrow). G indicates a blue light color, Y indicates a yellow light color, and R indicates a red light color. In addition, since there is no left turn blue arrow at an intersection where a left turn is always permitted, in such a case, a straight blue arrow may include a left turn blue arrow.

  Next, the floor pattern (present page) will be described. Hereinafter, although an example is given and demonstrated about the east-west direction, it is the same also about the road (North-South direction) which cross | intersects the east-west direction. Moreover, the stairs step is set to 1-9 about the east-west direction.

  The floor pattern P1 is a floor pattern selected when time difference display is not performed, and the floor pattern P2 is a floor pattern selected when time difference display is performed (given) in the west direction. P3 is a floor pattern selected when the time difference display is performed (given) in the east direction. The floor pattern is not limited to these.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the floor pattern P1 selected when the time difference display is not performed. The floor pattern defines lighting or extinction of a plurality of lamp colors (round lamp, straight left arrow, right turn arrow) for each step (floor). Further, the display seconds (the longest display seconds and the shortest display seconds) of each lamp color are determined for each step. When the floor pattern P1 is designated, traffic control is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. The display seconds are an example, and are not limited to those shown in the figure.

  In step (step) 1, the signal lamp in the east direction is in the lighting state of the left arrow and R (red), and the signal lamp in the west direction is in the lighting state of the right arrow and R (red). That is, on the floor (step) 1, the vehicle in both the east and west directions can go straight and turn left.

  In steps (steps) 2 to 4, the east signal lamp is in the left-lit state and R (red) is lit, and the west signal lamp is in the lit-up arrow and R (red). That is, in the steps (steps) 2 to 4, the vehicles in both east and west directions can go straight and turn left.

  In the step (step) 5, Y (yellow) is turned on for the east signal lamp, and Y (yellow) is turned on for the west signal lamp.

  In the step (step) 6, R (red) is lit for the east signal lamp, and R (red) is lit for the west signal lamp.

  In step (step) 7, the signal lamp in the east direction turns on the right turn arrow and R (red), and the signal lamp in the west direction turns on the right turn arrow and R (red). That is, at the floor (step 7), the vehicle traveling in both east and west directions can be stopped with a red signal, and the vehicle can turn right in both east and west directions.

  In the step (step) 8, Y (yellow) is turned on in the east signal lamp, and Y (yellow) is turned on in the west signal lamp.

  In the step (step) 9, R (red) is lit in the east signal lamp, and R (red) is lit in the west signal lamp. In the next step of the step (step) 9, for example, signal control can be performed on the road in the north-south direction using the same step pattern.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the floor pattern P2 selected when the time difference indication is given to the west direction. Since the steps (steps) 1 and 7 to 9 are the same as the case where the time difference display of FIG. 3 is not performed, the description thereof is omitted.

  In step (step) 2, the signal lamp in the west direction is lit in the direction of the left arrow and R (red), and the signal lamp in the east direction is lit in Y (yellow). In addition, in the step (step) 3, the signal lamp in the west direction is lit in the right direction, R (red), and the signal lamp in the east direction is lit in R (red).

  In step (step) 4, the signal lamp in the west direction is lit with the left arrow and the right turn arrow, and the signal lamp in the east direction is lit in R (red). That is, at the steps (steps) 2 to 4, all the vehicles in the east direction are stopped at a red light, and the vehicles in the west direction can go straight, turn left, and turn right.

  In step (step) 5, Y (yellow) is lit in the west signal lamp, and R (red) is lit in the east signal lamp.

  In the step (step) 6, R (red) is turned on for the west signal lamp, and R (red) is turned on for the east signal lamp.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the floor pattern P3 selected when the time difference indication is given to the east direction. Since the steps (steps) 1 and 7 to 9 are the same as the case where the time difference display of FIG. 3 is not performed, the description thereof is omitted.

  In step (step) 2, the signal lamp in the east direction is in the left-lit direction and R (red) is lit, and the signal lamp in the west direction is lit in Y (yellow). Further, in the step (step) 3, the east direction signal lamp is turned on in the left direction and R (red) is turned on, and the west direction signal lamp is turned on in R (red).

  In step (step) 4, the signal lamp in the east direction is lit with the left arrow and the right turn arrow, and the signal lamp in the west direction is lit in R (red). That is, at the steps (steps) 2 to 4, all the vehicles in the west direction are stopped at a red light, and the vehicles in the east direction can go straight, turn left, and turn right.

  In step (step) 5, Y (yellow) is lit for the east signal lamp, and R (red) is lit for the west signal lamp.

  In the step (step) 6, R (red) is lit for the east signal lamp, and R (red) is lit for the west signal lamp.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a method for selecting a floor pattern by the traffic signal controller 10 of the present embodiment. The selection of the floor pattern means the selection of the current page. In FIG. 6, there are three methods for selecting a floor pattern. When the time difference display is not performed, the step pattern P1 is selected. When the time difference display is performed (given) in the west direction, the step pattern P2 is selected and the time difference display is performed in the east direction. When performing (giving), the floor pattern P3 is selected.

  That is, when the time difference display determination unit 15 determines that the time difference display is not performed at a predetermined time point of the step (step) 1, for example, the selection unit 16 selects the step pattern P1. In addition, when the time difference display determination unit 15 determines that the traffic demand in the west direction is large, for example, the selection unit 16 determines that the time difference display is to be performed in the west direction at a predetermined point in the step (step) 1. The floor pattern P2 is selected. In addition, when the time difference display determination unit 15 determines that the traffic demand in the east direction is large, the selection unit 16 determines, for example, that the time difference display is performed in the east direction at a predetermined time of the step (step) 1. The floor pattern P3 is selected.

  When the time difference display determination unit 15 determines that the time difference display determination unit 15 determines that the manual operation unit 13 has received a manual stepping operation, the selection unit 16 selects a floor pattern including a combination of lamp colors that does not perform the time difference display. . “Accept manual stepping operation” means, for example, switching between an automatic stepping mode in which the lamp color of the signal lamp is automatically stepped and a manual stepping mode in which the lamp color of the signal lamp is stepped manually. This means that the manual step changeover switch does not mean the moment when the manual step change mode switch is turned on, but the manual step command button is turned on (pressed) once. When determining whether or not to perform time difference display at a predetermined point in the signal cycle, if manual step operation is accepted (manual step operation before or after the start of time difference display) Shows the case where it was accepted, for example, in the example of FIGS. 3-5, if there is an operation of manual stepping before displaying the time difference (step 1), etc., select the floor pattern that does not perform the time difference display Then, the lamp color is controlled so that the time difference display of the signal lamp is not performed. As a result, prior to the time difference display, manual step can be prioritized over the time difference display so that the time difference display is not performed. It is not necessary to perform a manual step operation in consideration of the balance of lamp color display time, and the manual step operation can be easily performed.

  When the selection unit 16 receives a manual step operation from the manual operation unit 13 before or after the start of the time difference display, for example, in the steps (steps) 1 and 7 to 9 in the examples of FIGS. Then, the floor pattern P1 including a combination of lamp colors that do not perform the time difference display is selected. As a result, when the movement control is being performed, when a manual operation is accepted before or after the start of the time difference display, it is possible to quickly shift from the movement control to the normal control that does not perform the time difference display.

  Further, when it is determined that the time difference display is performed, the selection unit 16 accepts a manual step operation during the time difference display, for example, in the steps (steps) 2 to 6 in the examples of FIGS. If it does, it will step according to a floor pattern that includes a combination of lamp colors that implement the time difference display. In other words, if a manual step operation is received during the time difference display (between the start and end of the time difference display), each time the manual step operation is received, the time difference display is performed. Since the stepping is performed according to the floor pattern including the combination, it is not necessary to perform the manual stepping operation in consideration of the balance of the display time of each light color of the signal lamp when performing the time difference display. It can be done easily.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when manual step operation is accepted before time difference display, manual step is given priority over time difference display so that time difference display is not performed. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform the manual step operation in consideration of the balance of the display time of each color of the signal lamp when performing the time difference display, and the manual step operation can be easily performed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the directions in which the roads face each other have been described as the east direction and the west direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In addition, the intersection is not limited to the intersection that intersects in a cross shape, and traffic of the present embodiment can be used at any intersection such as a three-way intersection or a five-way intersection as long as it is capable of displaying a time difference. A signal controller 10 can be used.

  The disclosed embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

11 CPU
12 Traffic information acquisition unit 13 Manual operation unit (reception means)
14 storage unit 15 time difference display determination unit (time difference display determination means)
16 Selection part (selection means)
17 Light color control unit

Claims (3)

In a traffic signal controller that can perform time difference display control of signal lights based on traffic information of roads facing each other at an intersection,
Storage means for storing a floor pattern including a combination of lamp colors for performing time difference display and a floor pattern including a combination of lamp colors for not performing time difference display;
Time difference display determination means for determining whether or not to perform time difference display based on road traffic information;
Accepting means for accepting manual stepping operation;
In the case of determining by the time difference display determination means, when a manual step operation is received by the reception means, a selection means for selecting a stepped pattern including a combination of light colors that does not perform the time difference display, and
A traffic signal controller characterized in that the light color of the signal lamp is controlled according to the floor pattern selected by the selection means. The selection means includes
When a manual step operation is accepted by the accepting means before or after the start of the time difference display, a step pattern including a combination of light colors not implementing the time difference display is selected. The traffic signal controller according to claim 1. The selection means includes
When it is determined that the time difference display is performed by the time difference display determination means, and a manual step operation is received by the reception means during the time difference display, a combination of lamp colors for performing the time difference display is selected. The traffic signal controller according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the traffic signal controller is configured to step according to a floor pattern including the step.

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