JPH10269494A - Traffic signal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily discriminate the color of a lighting signal lamp in a time band influenced by solar light by simultaneously turning on a flash lamp attached to the lighting signal lamp when a signal is outputted from a photodetecting means. SOLUTION: Respective signal lamps, i.e., a green lamp 21, an yellow lamp 22 and a red lamp 23, are included in a signal lamp 2. Flash lamps 4 are arranged near respective signal lamps 21 to 23 so as to easily discriminate the lighting state of the signal lamps of a lighting state even when the lighting state of each signal lamp can not be discriminated due to the irradiation of solar light 5. When solar light 5 is made incident from a direction facing the signal 1 almost horizontally, a sensor 3 fitted near the lamps 21 to 23 detects the solar light 5 and the flash lamp 4 arranged close to the signal lamp to be turned on is flashed by an output from the sensor 3. When the sensor 3 is not irradiated with the solar light 5, the flashing of the lamp 4 is stopped.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a traffic signal installed on a road or the like for controlling traffic of an automobile or the like, and in particular, easily determines the color of a lit signal light without being affected by sunlight. Traffic lights that can be.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a device for organizing traffic of automobiles and the like, a traffic signal device which has a plurality of signal lights having different emission colors and which emits a desired traffic signal by emitting any one of them. There is. In other words, this device "stops" the driver of a car or the like by the color of the lit signal light.
Or, it is a device that instructs an action such as "caution" at the time of "progress", and is an important device for safely passing a car or the like on an intersecting road or changing the direction, especially at an intersection. . It is also an important device for pedestrians, and is a device for surely stopping a car or the like when crossing a road.

However, there is also a problem with traffic signals having such an important role, which is illuminated when the signal lamp portion of the traffic signal is almost horizontally incident on the traffic signal such as the morning sun or sunset. In such a case, it becomes difficult to determine the lighting state of the signal lamp, or it becomes impossible to determine. For this reason, it seems that the eaves-type hood provided above the signal light is provided as a countermeasure, but when the sun is facing the signal lamp part, the hood can be said to be absolutely impossible. It is not currently useful.

[0004] For this reason, during the time period when the signal lamp portion of the traffic signal is illuminated by sunlight, accidents often occur due to misjudgment of the color of the illuminated signal light or delay in judgment, and the occurrence of accidents such as automobiles Drivers and crossing pedestrians must drive and cross with special care. From these things, we promote traffic safety and traffic accident reduction,
Drivers such as automobiles and road users such as crossing pedestrians also want to improve the visibility of traffic signals.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a traffic signal that can easily determine the color of a lit signal light during a time zone affected by sunlight. It is the purpose.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The gist of the present invention is a traffic signal having a plurality of signal lights having different emission colors and transmitting a desired traffic signal by illuminating one of them. A flash lamp is attached to each of the signal lights, and light detection means for detecting only light that is incident substantially horizontally from substantially the front of the signal lights is provided, and the light is turned on when an output signal is received from the light detection means. It is characterized in that the flash lamps attached to the signal lights are simultaneously turned on.

The traffic signal of the present invention will be described in detail.
It mainly controls the traffic state of cars and pedestrians, and has signal means for instructing actions by turning on each of green, yellow and red lamps. Although this traffic signal is mainly installed on a road or the like, it is not limited to that installed on a road, but also includes a traffic signal installed on a railway line and controlling a section passing state of a train or the like.

[0008] A flash lamp which blinks at a predetermined interval is attached to the traffic light of the traffic light.
It is desirable that the flash lamp emits light with high luminance, such as a strobe flasher. However, the flash lamp is not particularly limited as long as it can be easily viewed without being affected by sunlight.

It is desirable to mount the flash lamp at a position directly below the hood. However, a plurality of flash lamps may be mounted below each signal light or a plurality of flash lamps may be mounted so as to surround the signal lamp of the signal light. The number and mounting method are not particularly limited. further,
The emission color of the flash lamp is not limited to white, and may be the same color as the signal lamp color of the signal lamp.

[0010] The traffic signal is provided with light detecting means for detecting only light which is incident substantially horizontally from substantially the front of the signal light. This light detection means is desirably an optical sensor for detecting the amount or intensity of light, which is provided below the hood or provided at the back of a horizontal light guide path provided in the main body, Detects horizontal component of light. Of course, the light detecting means includes means for measuring the incident angle of sunlight.

[0011]

As described above, the traffic light according to the present invention, when the sunlight is incident almost horizontally on the traffic light from directly opposite to the traffic light,
The light detecting means mounted near the signal light detects this, and the flash lamp provided near any one of the signal lights to be turned on and off emits light by the output. And
When the sunlight stops illuminating the light sensor, the flash lamp stops flashing.

That is, even if the lighting state of each signal lamp becomes indistinguishable due to the irradiation of sunlight, the flash lamp of high brightness automatically flashes and emits light. It is possible to determine which signal light is in the lighting state.

[0013]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a traffic signal according to the present invention; FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a traffic signal according to the present invention; A traffic light 2 is a green lamp 21, a yellow lamp 22, and a red lamp 23. Each of the signal lamps 2 and 3 is an optical sensor for detecting an irradiation state of sunlight which is incident almost horizontally from almost the front of the signal lamp 2, and 4 is an almost horizontal sun. A flash lamp, which emits light when the light sensor 3 detects the light irradiation to notify the signal light 2 in a lighting state, 5 is sunlight for irradiating the signal light 2, and 6 is a hood. Reference numeral 11 denotes a support for the signal light 2.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the inside of the signal light.
The signal lamp 2 is provided with a green lamp 21, a yellow lamp 22, and a red lamp 23 in the interior of the signal lamp 2. Further, when the lighting state of each signal lamp 2 cannot be determined due to the irradiation of sunlight, Even so, the flash lamps 4 are provided near the respective signal lamps so that the signal lamps in the lighting state can be easily known.

Although the optical sensor 3 is provided in the lower part of the signal light 2 in the configuration diagram, it may be provided in another part. Further, the number of the optical sensors 3 may be increased depending on the irradiation state of sunlight. Reference numeral 24 denotes a control device including a timer for controlling the lighting time of each signal lamp such as the green lamp 21, yellow lamp 22, and red lamp 23, and reference numeral 25 denotes a circuit such as each signal lamp and a flash lamp. FIG. 3 is a flash lamp lighting circuit diagram of a traffic signal according to the present invention. In the figure, 25a is a DC power supply, and 25c is a blink control circuit of the flash lamp FL.

[0016]

The traffic signal of the present invention is configured as described above. Therefore, even if the lighting state of the signal lamp becomes difficult or indistinguishable due to the irradiation of sunlight which is substantially horizontal because it is directed straight at the traffic signal, The high-brightness flash lamp flashes automatically. As a result, it is possible to recognize that the signal light of the red signal is on when the blinking position is on the right, the blue signal is on the left, and the orange signal is on on the center,
The driver can prevent the occurrence of an accident due to a mistake in discriminating the color of the lit signal lamp or a discrimination delay without being affected by sunlight.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a traffic signal according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the inside of a signal light.

FIG. 3 is a flash lamp lighting circuit diagram of a traffic signal according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1-traffic signal, 11-post, 2-signal lamp, 21-green lamp, 22-yellow lamp, 23-red lamp, 24-
Signal lamp control circuit, 25-electric circuit, 25a-DC power supply,
25c-flashing control circuit, 3-light sensor, 4-flash lamp, 5-sunlight, 6-hood

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A traffic signal device having a plurality of signal lights having different emission colors and transmitting a desired traffic signal by causing any one of them to emit light, wherein a flash lamp is added to each of the signal lights. Detecting means for detecting only light which is incident substantially horizontally from substantially the front of the signal light, and simultaneously turns on a flash lamp attached to the signal light to be turned on when there is an output signal from the light detecting means. Characteristic traffic signal 2. The traffic signal according to claim 1, wherein said light detecting means is a light sensor.