JP2012230452A - Traffic signal control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a traffic signal control system which recognizes an emergency vehicle and causes the emergency vehicle to travel through an intersection smoothly on a priority basis.SOLUTION: A signal control device 18 includes a control part 19 for generating a step signal used for switching, by step, operations of individual signal lights disposed on an intersection, and a signal control circuit 20 for counting steps using plural step counters 27 and 28 on the basis of the step signal generated by the control part 19 to switch operations of the signal lights in plural directions. The signal control devices 18 are disposed in plural intersections, and an optical beacon 17 is disposed upstream of the intersection to recognize an emergency vehicle heading toward the intersection. Further, the signal control device 18 controls only a signal light to green in the travel direction of the emergency vehicle on the basis of a recognition information of the emergency vehicle.

Description

  The present invention relates to a traffic signal control system, and more particularly to a traffic signal control system that recognizes an emergency vehicle and allows the emergency vehicle to travel smoothly and preferentially in an intersection.

  In general, in the current control of road traffic signals in Japan, a step control method is adopted in which a signal lamp is switched for each step based on a step signal output at a predetermined pitch from a step signal generator. This step control method can be said to be a very excellent method in terms of safety since the change of the step signal is performed serially in units of steps.

  However, in the conventional step control method, there is only one type of step counter that counts the number of seconds of each step, and there is a problem that uplink and downlink cannot be controlled separately.

  For this reason, a signal control circuit has been provided with a plurality of step counters so that upstream and downstream signal control can be performed independently, enabling real-time signal control according to the traffic situation of each inflow path at the intersection. A technique is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  In such a traffic signal control system, conventionally, when an emergency vehicle is recognized, FAST sensitive control is performed in which the signal lamp in the direction in which the emergency vehicle travels is controlled in blue. Is able to pass through the intersection smoothly.

JP 2006-268547 A

  However, in the conventional technique, when the FAST response control is performed, if the direction in which the emergency vehicle travels is controlled to blue, the signal lamp for the opposite vehicle is also controlled to blue. When the vehicle tries to turn right at the intersection, the oncoming vehicle can also travel. Therefore, the emergency vehicle needs to travel within the intersection with attention to the oncoming vehicle, and the emergency vehicle travels smoothly and preferentially. Have the problem of not being able to.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a traffic signal control system that can recognize an emergency vehicle and smoothly and preferentially drive the emergency vehicle in an intersection. To do.

In order to achieve the above object, the traffic signal control system according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a control means for generating a step signal for switching the operation of each signal lamp installed at an intersection every step. A signal control circuit comprising: a signal control circuit that counts steps by a plurality of step counters based on a step signal generated by the control means and switches the operation of the signal lamp device in a plurality of directions; And
A communication means for recognizing an emergency vehicle heading for the intersection on the upstream side of the intersection;
The signal control device controls only the signal lamp in the traveling direction of the emergency vehicle to blue based on the recognition information of the emergency vehicle.

  The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in claim 1, the communication means is an optical beacon.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, a communication unit is further installed on the downstream side of the intersection, and the signal control device recognizes the emergency vehicle by the downstream communication unit. Further, the control is performed so as to return to the normal control.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the communication unit recognizes a travel route of the emergency vehicle, and the signal control device Only the emergency vehicle signal is controlled to be blue based on the travel route.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, the signal control device controls only the signal lamp in the traveling direction of the emergency vehicle to blue based on the recognition information of the emergency vehicle. Can be smoothly and preferentially driven.

  According to the invention according to claim 2, since the communication means is an optical beacon, the emergency vehicle can be properly recognized by the optical beacon, and the emergency vehicle is smoothly and preferentially driven in the intersection. be able to.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, communication means is further installed on the downstream side of the intersection, and when the emergency vehicle is recognized by the communication means on the downstream side by the signal control device, control is performed so as to return to normal control. Thus, after the emergency vehicle passes through the intersection, it is possible to properly return to normal signal control.

  According to the invention of claim 4, the communication means recognizes the travel route of the emergency vehicle, and the signal control device controls only the signal of the emergency vehicle to blue based on the travel route of the emergency vehicle. Therefore, the signal can be appropriately controlled according to the travel route of the emergency vehicle, and the emergency vehicle can be smoothly and preferentially traveled within the intersection.

It is the schematic which shows embodiment of the traffic signal control system which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a traffic signal control system according to the present invention. It is a present | indicated hierarchy which shows the normal operation | movement by the signal control apparatus in embodiment of the traffic signal control system which concerns on this invention. It is a present | indicated hierarchy which shows the operation | movement at the time of the emergency vehicle recognition by the signal control apparatus in embodiment of the traffic signal control system which concerns on this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a traffic signal control system according to the present invention. For convenience of explanation, at this intersection, the direction of traveling from the bottom to the top of FIG. 1 is the N1 direction, the direction of traveling from the right to the left is the N2 direction, and the direction of traveling from the top to the bottom is the direction. Is the S1 direction, and the direction traveling from the left to the right is the S2 direction. However, the right turn signal in the N1 direction is controlled by the same step counter as the straight / left turn signal in the S1 direction, and the right turn signal in the S1 direction is controlled by the same step counter as the straight / left turn signal in the N1 direction. The right turn signal is controlled by the same step counter as the straight / left turn signal in the S2 direction, and the right turn signal in the S2 direction is controlled by the same step counter as the straight / left turn signal in the N2 direction. It has become.

  As shown in FIG. 1, at an intersection, an N1 direction vehicle signal 2 for an N1 direction vehicle 1 traveling in the N1 direction, an S1 direction vehicle signal 4 for an S1 direction vehicle 3 traveling in the S1 direction, and an N2 direction travel. An N2-directional vehicle signal 6 for the N2-directional vehicle 5 and an S2-directional vehicle signal 8 for the S2-directional vehicle 7 traveling in the S2 direction are installed. Each of these traffic lights 2, 4, 6 and 8 is provided with a vehicle straight / left turn possible traffic signal 9, 10, 11, 12 and a vehicle right turn possible traffic signal 13, 14, 15, 16 respectively. Each of the traffic lights 2, 4, 6 and 8 is provided with yellow and red signal lamps. In the following description, these signal lamps are referred to as 1Y · 1R, 2Y · 2R, 3Y · 3R. , 4Y · 4R, 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G signal lights for the vehicle straight turn / left turn signal devices 9, 10, 11, 12 and 1A for the vehicle right turn signal devices 13, 14, 15, 16 , 2A, 3A, and 4A.

  Further, in the present embodiment, an optical beacon 17 as a communication means is installed upstream of the intersection, and detects that an emergency vehicle has traveled from the upstream of the intersection and outputs an emergency vehicle detection signal. Is configured to do. Here, the optical beacon 17 can recognize that it is an emergency vehicle by reading unique information preset in the emergency vehicle.

  Similarly, an N1 direction vehicle traffic light 35, an S1 direction vehicle traffic signal 36, an N2 direction vehicle traffic signal 37, and an S2 direction for an N1 direction vehicle 1 traveling in the N1 direction are located at an intersection downstream of the intersection in the N1 direction. Vehicle traffic lights 38 are respectively installed. These traffic lights 35, 36, 37, 38 include vehicle straight / left turn possible traffic lights 39, 40, 41, 42 and vehicle right turn possible traffic lights 43, 44, 45, 38. 46 are provided.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a signal control device 18 for controlling each of the traffic signals 2, 4, 6, 8 is provided, and this signal control device 18 is provided for each step. A control unit 19 as a control means for generating a step signal for switching the operation of the signal lamp, a signal control circuit 20 for switching the operation of the signal lamp based on the step signal generated by the control unit 19, and a signal lamp A display memory 21 for storing the lamp color data to be lit in correspondence with the step signal is provided.

  The signal control circuit 20 includes an operation level determination circuit 22 that monitors the internal operation of the signal control circuit 20, a control unit interface circuit 23 that matches an interface with the control unit 19, and an N1 direction signal device and an N2 direction signal device. N direction timer circuit 24 for setting unit time of step, S direction timer circuit 25 for setting unit time of step for S1 direction signal and S2 direction signal, N direction timer circuit 24 and S direction timer circuit N as a step counting means that counts the steps for the N1 direction vehicle signal device 2 and the N2 direction vehicle signal device 6 based on the step signal generated from the control circuit 19 and the clock circuit 26 that generates the clock signal that drives 25 Directional step counter circuit 27, S1 direction vehicle signal 4 and S2 direction vehicle S-direction step counter circuit 28 as step counting means for counting steps with respect to the traffic signal 8, and step synchronization circuits for synchronizing step signals generated from the N-direction step counter circuit 27 and the S-direction step counter circuit 28, respectively. 29, a display memory reading circuit 30 that reads data in the display memory 21, and a GG determination for forcibly changing the lamp color of the signal lamp when detecting signal lamp data that disables simultaneous lighting in principle. A circuit (lamp color changing means) 31 and a lamp color output circuit 32 for lighting the signal lamp unit based on the lamp color data stored in the display memory 21 are provided.

  A G pickup replacement circuit 33 for replacing a signal from the G pickup is provided in the preceding stage of the GG determination circuit 31, and an output side of the lamp color output circuit 32 includes a signal from the lamp color output circuit 32. A lamp color replacement circuit 34 that replaces the output signal and outputs it as a lamp color output is provided.

  In the present embodiment, an emergency vehicle recognition signal from the optical beacon 17 is sent to the central device 30 of the control center, and emergency vehicle approach information and passing information are sent from the central device 30 to the control unit 19. It is configured. And the control part 19 is comprised so that control of a signal lamp may be performed based on the approach information and passage information of the emergency vehicle sent from the central apparatus 30. FIG.

  That is, when the light beacon 17 recognizes that the emergency vehicle is traveling from the N1 direction toward the intersection, the N1 direction of the N1 direction vehicle signal 2 is synchronized with the timing at which the emergency vehicle enters the intersection. The vehicle straight travel / left turn signal 9 (1G) and N1 direction right turn signal 13 (1A) are controlled in blue, and the S1 direction signal 4, the N2 direction signal 6, and the S2 direction signal 8 Are all configured to control red.

In this case, the optical beacon 17 is desirably installed at a position that satisfies the following two expressions.
[Light beacon installation position] <[Blue extension limit seconds] x [Emergency vehicle speed] (1)
[Optical beacon installation position] / [Emergency vehicle speed]> [Total red time when red is shortened] (2)
By installing the optical beacon 17 at such a position, it is possible to pass through the intersection without stopping the emergency vehicle.

  The emergency vehicle recognition signal sent from the optical beacon 17 may be sent directly from the optical beacon 17 to the signal control device 18.

  FIG. 3 is a current floor plan showing a normal operation in the signal control system of the present invention. In FIG. 3, the horizontal axis indicates the number of steps, and the vertical axis indicates each signal name. Also, what is indicated by an arrow on the thick black line indicates that the arrow signal is lit, the wavy line indicates that the traffic light is yellow, and the double line indicates that the traffic light is red. Yes.

  First, in Step 1 in the N direction, the N1 direction vehicle signal 2 (1Y, 1R) is red, the N1 direction vehicle straight / left turn signal 9 (1G) is lit, and the S1 direction right turn signal 14 (2A). Is controlled to be turned off, the N2 direction vehicle traffic light 6 (3Y, 3R) is red, the N2 direction vehicle straight / left turn possible signal device 11 (3G) is turned off, and the S2 direction vehicle right turn possible signal device 16 (4A) is turned off. Be controlled. Therefore, in the N1 direction vehicle 1, the 1V direction vehicle traffic lights (1Y, 1R) are red, but since the 1V direction vehicle straight / left turn signal 9 (1G) is lit, the vehicle can go straight and turn left. is there. The N2 direction vehicle 5 is stopped by the N2 direction vehicle signal device 6 (3Y, 3R).

  On the other hand, in step 1 in the S direction, the S1 direction vehicle signal 4 (2Y, 2R) is red, the S1 direction vehicle straight / left turn signal 10 (2G) is lit, and the 1V direction vehicle right turn signal 13 (1A). Is turned off, S2 direction vehicle traffic light 8 (4Y, 4R) is red, S2 direction vehicle straight / left turn possible signal device 12 (4G) is turned off, and N2 direction vehicle right turn possible signal device 15 (3A) is turned off. . Therefore, in the S1 direction vehicle 3, the S1 direction vehicle traffic light 4 (2Y, 2R) is red, but the S1 direction vehicle straight / left turn possible signal device 10 (2G) is lit, so the vehicle can go straight and turn left. It is. The S2 direction vehicle 7 is stopped by the S2 direction vehicle traffic light 8 (4Y, 4R).

  Next, in Step 2 in the N direction, the N1 direction vehicle signal 2 (1Y, 1R) is yellow, the N1 direction vehicle straight / left turn signal (1G) is turned off, and the S1 direction vehicle right turn signal 14 (2A). Is turned off, the N2 direction vehicle traffic light 6 (3Y, 3R) is red, the N2 direction vehicle straight / left turn possible signal device 11 (3G) is turned off, and the S2 direction vehicle right turn possible signal device 16 (4A) is turned off. . Therefore, the N1 direction vehicle 1 is stopped because the N1 direction vehicle traffic light 2 (1Y, 1R) is yellow. The N2 direction vehicle 5 is stopped by the N2 direction vehicle signal device 6 (3Y, 3R).

  On the other hand, in step 2 in the S direction, the S1 direction vehicle signal 4 (2Y, 2R) is yellow, the S1 direction vehicle straight / left turn signal 10 (2G) is turned off, and the N1 direction right turn signal (1A) is Off, S2 direction vehicle signal 8 (4Y, 4R) is red, S2 direction vehicle straight / left turn signal 12 (4G) is off, S2 direction right turn signal 16 (4A) is off, N2 direction vehicle The right turn signal 15 (3A) is controlled to be turned off. Accordingly, the S1 direction vehicle 3 is stopped because the S1 direction vehicle traffic light 4 (2Y, 2R) is yellow. The S2 direction vehicle 7 is stopped by the S2 direction vehicle traffic light 8 (4Y, 4R).

  Next, in Step 3 in the N direction and the S direction, all the traffic lights 2 and 6 that are lit are controlled to be red or unlit. Therefore, the N1 direction vehicle 1 is stopped by the N1 direction vehicle signal device 2 (1Y, 1R). The N2 direction vehicle 5 is stopped by the N2 direction vehicle signal device 6 (3Y, 3R).

  Next, in Step 4 in the N direction, the N1 direction vehicle signal 2 (1Y, 1R) is red, the N1 direction vehicle straight / left turn signal 9 (1G) is turned off, and the S1 direction right turn signal 14 (2A). ) Is on, N2 direction vehicle traffic light 6 (3Y, 3R) is red, N2 direction vehicle straight / left turn signal 11 (3G) is off, and S2 direction vehicle right turn signal 16 (4A) is off. The Accordingly, the S1 direction vehicle 3 can turn right because the S1 direction vehicle right turn signal 14 (2A) is lit, and the N2 direction vehicle 5 is stopped by the N2 direction vehicle signal 6 (3Y, 3R). Become.

  On the other hand, in step 4 in the S direction, the S1 direction vehicle signal 4 (2Y, 2R) is red, the S1 direction vehicle straight / left turn signal 10 (2G) is turned off, and the N1 direction right turn signal 13 (1A). Is turned on, S2 direction vehicle traffic light 8 (4Y, 4R) is red, S2 direction vehicle straight / left turn possible signal device 12 (4G) is turned off, and N2 direction vehicle right turn possible signal device 15 (3A) is turned off. . Accordingly, the N1 direction vehicle 1 can turn right because the N1 direction vehicle right turn signal 13 (1A) is lit, and the S2 direction vehicle 7 is stopped by the S2 direction vehicle signal 8 (4Y, 4R). .

  Next, at step 5 in the N direction, the N1 direction vehicle signal 2 (1Y, 1R) is yellow, the N1 direction vehicle straight / left turn signal 9 (1G) is turned off, and the S1 direction vehicle right turn signal 14 (2A). ) Is off, N2 direction vehicle traffic light 6 (3Y, 3R) is red, N2 direction vehicle straight / left turn signal 11 (3G) is off, and S2 direction vehicle right turn signal 16 (4A) is off. The Therefore, the N1 direction vehicle 1 is stopped because the N1 direction vehicle traffic light 2 (1Y, 1R) is yellow. The N2-directional vehicle 5 is stopped by the N2-directional vehicle traffic light 6 (3Y, 3R).

  On the other hand, in step 5 in the S direction, the S1 direction vehicle signal 4 (2Y, 2R) is yellow, the S1 direction vehicle straight / left turn signal 10 (2G) is turned off, and the N1 direction right turn signal 13 (1A). Is turned off, S2 direction vehicle traffic light 8 (4Y, 4R) is red, S2 direction vehicle straight / left turn possible signal device 12 (4G) is turned off, and N2 direction vehicle right turn possible signal device 15 (3A) is turned off. . Accordingly, the S1 direction vehicle 3 proceeds with caution because the S1 direction vehicle traffic light 4 (2Y, 2R) is yellow. The S2 direction vehicle 7 is stopped by the S2 direction vehicle signal device 8 (4Y, 4R).

  Next, in step 6 in the N direction and the S direction, all the traffic lights 2 and 6 that are lit are controlled to be red or light-off. Therefore, the N1 direction vehicle 1 is stopped by the N1 direction vehicle signal device 2 (1Y, 1R). The N2 direction vehicle 5 is stopped by the N2 direction vehicle signal device 6 (3Y, 3R).

  When step 6 is completed, the step synchronization circuit 29 synchronizes so that the fall of the N-direction step counter circuit 27 and the S-direction step counter circuit 28 coincide with each other.

  After step 7, in both the N direction and the S direction, the vehicle traffic lights 2, 4, 6, 8; the vehicle straight / left turn possible traffic lights 9, 10, 11, 12; the vehicle right turn possible traffic lights 13, 14, 15, Since 16 repeats the same operation as in steps 1 to 6, its description is omitted.

  Next, when an emergency vehicle traveling in the N1 direction is recognized by the optical beacon 17, the S1 direction is advanced to step 4 while the N1 direction is held in step 1. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, the N1 direction vehicle signal 2 (1Y, 1R) is red, the N1 direction vehicle straight / left turn signal 9 (1G) is lit, and the S1 direction right turn signal 14 (2A). ) Is controlled to be off, S1 direction vehicle signal 4 is red, S1 direction vehicle straight / left turn signal 10 (2G) is off, N1 direction right turn signal 13 (1A) is on. Is done. As a result, the S1 direction vehicle 3 is stopped, and only the N1 direction vehicle 1 including the emergency vehicle can travel in any direction of the straight traveling direction, the left turn direction, and the right turn direction. When sufficient time has passed for the emergency vehicle to pass the intersection, the N1 direction vehicle straight / left turn signal 9 (1G) is controlled to red and the S1 direction vehicle right turn signal 14 (2A) is turned on. Then, the normal control is restored.

  In the embodiment, when a sufficient time has passed for the emergency vehicle to pass through the intersection, the normal control is returned. For example, the optical beacon 17 is installed on the downstream side of the intersection. If the emergency vehicle is recognized by the downstream optical beacon 17, it may be assumed that the emergency vehicle has passed the intersection and the normal control is returned to.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when an emergency vehicle heading for an intersection is recognized by the optical beacon 17, only the signal in the direction in which the emergency vehicle travels is controlled to be blue. The emergency vehicle can be smoothly and preferentially driven.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the optical beacon 17 is used as the communication means has been described. However, for example, a communication means capable of communicating route information of the car navigation system of the emergency vehicle may be used. Good. In this case, only the traveling direction of the emergency vehicle may be controlled to be blue. For example, when an emergency vehicle is going straight ahead or turning left in an intersection, only the N1 direction vehicle straight / left turn signal 9 (1G) needs to be controlled in blue.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made based on the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 N1 direction vehicle 2 N1 direction vehicle signal 3 S1 direction vehicle 4 S1 direction vehicle signal 5 N2 direction vehicle 6 N2 direction vehicle signal 7 S2 direction vehicle 8 S2 direction vehicle signal 9 N1 direction vehicle straight / left turn signal DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 S1 direction vehicle straight / left turn signal 11 N2 direction vehicle straight / left turn signal 12 S2 direction vehicle straight / left turn signal 13 N12 direction right turn signal 14 S1 direction right turn signal 15 N2 direction vehicle Right turn signal 16 S2 direction right turn signal 17 vehicle detector 18 signal controller 19 control unit 20 signal control circuit 21 display memory 22 operation level determination circuit 27 step counter circuit for N direction 28 step counter circuit for S direction 29 Step synchronization circuit

Claims (4)

Control means for generating a step signal for switching the operation of each signal lamp installed at an intersection for each step, and a plurality of step counters based on the step signal generated by the control means to count the steps. A signal control circuit that switches the operation of the signal lamp in a plurality of directions, and a signal control device provided at a plurality of intersections,
A communication means for recognizing an emergency vehicle heading for the intersection on the upstream side of the intersection;
The traffic signal control system characterized in that the signal control device controls only the signal lamp in the traveling direction of the emergency vehicle to blue based on the recognition information of the emergency vehicle.   The traffic signal control system according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit is an optical beacon.   A communication unit is further installed on the downstream side of the intersection, and the signal control device controls to return to a normal control when the emergency vehicle is recognized by the downstream communication unit. The traffic signal control system according to claim 1 or 2.   The communication means recognizes a travel route of the emergency vehicle, and the signal control device controls only the signal of the emergency vehicle to blue based on the travel route of the emergency vehicle. The traffic signal control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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