JPH04323800A - Method for displaying remaining time of blue signal - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a method for displaying the remaining time of the blue signal of a traffic light on a digital count-down basis. CONSTITUTION: While the blue signal illuminates for the 1st time and 2nd time, a detector detect 1st-time and 2nd-time data, which are stored in a 1st and a 2nd address of a memory carrier. When the difference between those data is less than a set value, the data in the 2nd address is displayed on the digital count-down basis on a display device for a period equal to the value of the data in the 2nd address during 3rd-time blue signal illumination (step c). Then, while the blue signal illuminates for the 3rd time, the detector detect 3rd-time data. The data in the 2nd address is converted into the 1st address and the 3rd-time data is stored in the 2nd address (step d). The steps (c) and (d) are repeated unless the difference between the data in the 1st and 2nd addresses becomes larger than the set value.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] This invention uses a digital countdown method to display the remaining green time of a traffic signal, to indicate the remaining green time for pedestrians and drivers, and to ensure that the traffic signal is functioning accurately. It relates to a method for indicating the presence or absence of a person.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Traffic accidents often occur at intersections even if traffic signals are provided. It is extremely dangerous for pedestrians to cross intersections without overpasses or underpasses. This is because pedestrians do not know whether they have enough time to cross the intersection or not. It is not only pedestrians who have problems crossing intersections, but also drivers, who hesitate as to whether they should enter a busy intersection the moment the traffic lights turn yellow and red. It may block the

Conventional traffic light display systems have been developed to indicate how many seconds are left before a green light changes to another light. However, this conventional system is not fully compatible with current traffic light systems, creating disadvantageous problems. That is, the current traffic light system needs to be modified, otherwise it cannot be retrofitted with a conventional system. In addition, conventional systems do not guide blind people across intersections.

0004

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for displaying the remaining green time of a traffic signal in a digital countdown manner, in order to solve the problems encountered when using conventional systems. Another object of this invention is to provide a convenient way to indicate whether a green light is functioning correctly.
The goal is to provide the following.

[0005] Still another object of the present invention is to assist visually impaired people in crossing an intersection when a green light is on.
It is to generate sound effects.

[0006]

According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for displaying the remaining green time of a traffic signal using a digital countdown method includes the following (a) to (e). It consists of steps.

a) Detect the first data while the first green light is on, and transfer the first data to the first green light of the memory carrier.
b) detecting second data during a second green light illumination following the first green light illumination, and storing this second data at a second address of the memory carrier; c) When the difference between the data included in the first address and the data included in the second address is not larger than a preset value, the time equal to the value of the data included in the second address during the next green light is lit. (period), comparing the data contained in the first address with the data contained in the second address, and displaying the data contained in the second address on the display means in a digital countdown manner; and d) the next green light. While the light is on, the third data is detected, the data included in the second address is converted (shifted) to the first address, and the third data is detected.
storing the data in the second address; and e) repeating steps c and d until the difference between the data contained in the first address and the data contained in the second address is greater than a set value.

Another aspect of this invention (aspe
ct), the method for displaying the remaining green time of a traffic signal using a digital countdown method is as follows (a).
) to (f).

a) detecting first data while the first green light is on, and storing the first data in a first address of the memory carrier; b) while the next green light is on, detecting the first data; c) displaying the data contained in the first address on the display means in a digital countdown manner for a time equal to the value of the data contained in the address; c) detecting the second data while the next green light is on; d) comparing the data contained in the first address with the data contained in the second address; and e) storing the data contained in the first address in the second address of the memory carrier. f) converting the data contained in the second address into the first address when the difference between the data contained in the second address and the data contained in the second address is not larger than a preset value; A step of repeating steps b to e until the difference between the data contained in the second address and the data contained in the second address becomes larger than the set value.

[0010] The method further includes a method of producing a sound effect while displaying the remaining time of a green light, thereby assisting blind people in crossing an intersection.

[0011]

[Embodiment] As shown in FIG. 1, a control circuit according to the present invention includes a detection means 10.
, a read-only memory (ROM) 20, a constant speed access memory (RAM) 30, and a central processing unit (CPU).
and a display device 50. The detection means 10 is arranged in parallel to a green light 60 of a traffic signal (not shown).
lel) Two terminals that can be electrically connected (diagram omitted)
has. When the detection means 10 is electrically connected to a green signal, it detects the duration of the green signal 60 while the green signal is on. This acquired data is stored in the constant speed access memory RAM.
30. The read-only memory ROM 20 is programmed to display acquired data stored in the constant speed access memory RAM 30 on the display device 50 in a digital countdown manner. The control circuit further includes acoustic means for producing an acoustic effect during green light illumination. I would like to explain this sound effect in detail later.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a method for displaying the remaining green time of a traffic signal. First (i
(initially) The entire control circuit is connected to the traffic signal by means of two terminals of the detection means which are electrically connected to the green signal.

[0013] Subroutine (subprogram/subro
utine) 100, the detection means 10 first detects the first data t1 while the first green light is on.
Detect. Next, this first data t1 is stored at the first address d1 of the constant speed access memory RAM30. The control circuit does not operate while the red or yellow light is on. When the green light is lit again, as shown in subroutine 102, the detection means 10 detects the second data t2 while the second green light is lit. Then, the second data t2 is stored at the second address d2 of the constant speed access memory RAM 30.

As shown in the comparator 104, the central processing unit CPU40 receives the first data t at the first address d1.
1 and the second data t2 at the second address d2. In the comparator 104, (d1) indicates data at the first address d1 (the data included here is t1),
(d2) indicates data at the second address d2 (data included here is t2). If the difference between t1 and t2 is less than a preset value r, for example less than 2 seconds, then the second data t2 at the second address d2 follows the lighting of the second green light, as shown in subroutine 106. While the third green light is on, it is displayed on the display device 50 in a digital countdown format for t2 seconds. The central processing unit CPU 40 has a counter (not shown) for countdown display, and since this counter is of a conventional type, a detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

On the other hand, if the difference between t1 and t2 is greater than 2 seconds, this traffic signal does not function well and requires repair.
r) is required. Under such conditions, the display device 50 does not display anything (see subroutine 112).
, the program advances to subroutine 108. As shown in subroutine 107, while displaying the remaining green light time, the acoustic means 70 produces a sound effect to guide blind people across the intersection. For example, if the display period of the green light is 45 seconds (i.e. t2=45),
During the first 15 seconds, the acoustic means 70 produces a "beep" sound every 2 seconds. Then, for the next 15 seconds, the sound means 70 produces a "beep" sound every 2 seconds. Then, for the last 15 seconds, the sound means 70 beeps every 2 seconds.
produces a sound like Therefore, blind people can determine approximately how much time remains on a green light. However, it is possible to eliminate this subroutine 107 without departing from the scope of the present invention. As shown in subroutine 108, while displaying the remaining time of the third green light,
The detection means 10 further detects third data t3 while the third green light is on. While the second data t2 is being converted to the first address d1, the third data t3 is stored at the second address d2 (see subroutine 110). In this way, the first data is stored in the constant speed recall memory RA.
Removed from M30. Next, the central processing unit CPU40
compares the data contained in the second address, which changed from t2 to t3 again, with the data contained in the first address, which changed from t1 to t2 (see comparator 104). If the difference between t3 and t2 is less than 2 seconds, t3 is displayed on the display 50 in a digital countdown manner for t3 seconds while the fourth green light is on. Comparator 104 and subroutines 106, 108, 110 repeat as long as the traffic signal is in normal operating condition. If the traffic signal is not working properly, no indication will appear on the display 50, so it can be seen at a glance that the traffic signal must be repaired. As described above, the present invention displays the remaining time of the green light,
To provide a convenient method for indicating the operating status of a traffic signal for convenient maintenance.

FIG. 3 shows an alternative method (alt.
FIG. As shown in the subroutine 200, the detection means 10 initially detects the first data t while the first green light is on.
1 is detected, and the first data t1 is stored in the constant speed recall memory RA.
It is stored at the first address d1 of M30. Next, as shown in the subroutine 202, for a period equal to the duration of the first green light, that is, t1 seconds, while the second green light is on following the first green light, the first data t1 of the first address d1 is is displayed on the display device 50 in a digital countdown format.

As shown in subroutine 203, the sound means 70 is again activated while displaying the remaining time of the green light.
produces sound effects to guide blind people across. For example, when the green light display period is 45 seconds (ie, t2=45), the sound means 70 generates a "beep" sound every 2 seconds for the first 15 seconds. Next 1
For 5 seconds, the sound means 70 generates a "beep" sound every 2 seconds. Then, during the last 15 seconds, the sound means 70 generates a "beep beep" sound every 2 seconds. Therefore, blind people can understand how much time is left on the green light. However, subroutine 203 may be omitted without departing from the scope of the invention.

Next, as shown in subroutine 204, the detection means 10 detects the second data t while the second green light is on.
2 is detected, and this second data t2 is stored at the second address d2 of the constant speed recall memory RAM 30. Comparator 2
06, the central processing unit CPU40 inputs the first data at the first address (d1) and the second data at the second address (d1).
2) is compared with the second data. When the difference between the data included in the first address and the data included in the second address is greater than or equal to a preset range r, for example, 2 seconds or more, no display appears, and as shown in subroutine 208, the The data contained in the second address (d2) is converted to the first address d1 (see subroutine 212). The program then proceeds to subroutine 204.

If the difference between the data contained in the first address (d1) and the data contained in the second address (d2) is 2
If it is less than a second, the data contained in the second address (d2) is converted to the first address d1, as shown in subroutine 210. Subsequently, for a period equal to the value of the data included in the first address, that is, for t2 seconds, while the third green light is on, the first address (d
The data included in 1) is displayed on the display device 50 in a digital countdown format. Next, while the third green light is on, the detection means 10 detects third data t3 and stores it at the second address d2.

The central processing unit CPU 40 again compares the data contained in the second address (d2), ie, t3, with the data contained in the first address (d1), ie, t2. If the difference between t2 and t3 is 2 seconds or less, data at the second address (d2) is converted to the first address d1. Then, the data at the first address (d1) (now the third data) is displayed in a digital countdown manner for t3 seconds while the fourth green light is on. Comparator 206 and subroutines 202, 204, 210 repeat as long as the traffic signal operates normally. Again, if the difference between the second data and the third data is 2 seconds or more, nothing is displayed on the display, indicating that the traffic signal is malfunctioning. This method therefore also provides a convenient way to display the remaining time of a green light and formaintaining a traffic signal.

Having thus described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is believed that many variations thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading this specification. Accordingly, the invention disclosed herein is covered by the appended claims.
nded claims).

[0022]

As explained above, since the remaining time of the green light is displayed in a digital countdown manner, pedestrians and drivers can cross the intersection without difficulty. Furthermore, since the display does not appear if the signal is not operating normally, it is convenient for signal maintenance. Additionally, there is a sound effect when the green light is on, so even blind people can cross with confidence.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control circuit according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for displaying the remaining green time of a traffic signal according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating another method for displaying the remaining green time of a traffic signal according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Detection means 20 Read only memory (read only m
memory) 30 Constant speed recall memory (rando
m access memory) 40 central processing unit (central processing unit)
t) 50 Display device 60 Green light 70 Sound effect

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. a) detecting first data while the first green light is on, and storing the first data at a first address d1 of a memory carrier; b) detecting the first data following the first green light being on; while the second green light is on, detecting second data t2 and storing the second data t2 at a second address d2 of the memory carrier; c) combining the data included in the first address (d1) and the second data t2; The data contained in the address (d2) is compared, and if the difference between the data contained in the first address (d1) and the data contained in the second address (d2) is a set value r
If the following is true, the data contained in the second address (d2) is displayed on the display device using a digital countdown method during the period equal to the value of the data contained in the second address (d2) while the next third green light is on. d) While the third green light is on, detecting third data t3, converting the data included in the second address (d2) to the first address d1, and displaying the third data t3. e) until the difference between the data included in the first address (d1) and the data included in the second address (d2) becomes larger than a set value r; A method for displaying the remaining time of a green traffic signal using a digital countdown method while the green signal is on, comprising the steps of repeating step c and step d. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a sound effect indicative of remaining green light time. 3. A step of: a) detecting the first data t1 while the first green light is on and storing the first data t1 in the first address d1 of the memory carrier; and b) turning on the next second green light. During a period equal to the value of data included in the first address (d1), the first address (d1)
c) detecting second data t2 while the second green light is on, and displaying the second data t2 at a second address d2 of the memory carrier; d) comparing the data contained in the first address (d1) with the data contained in the second address (d2); and e) if the data contained in the first address (d1) If the difference between the data contained in the second address (d2) and the data contained in the second address (d2) is less than or equal to a set value r, converting the data contained in the second address (d2) to the first address d1; f) repeating steps b to e until the difference between the data included in the first address (d1) and the data included in the second address (d2) becomes larger than a set value r; A method for displaying the remaining time of a green traffic signal using a digital countdown method while the green signal is on. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the method further comprises generating a sound effect during the display indicating the remaining time of the green light.