KR20120117410A - Method and system for controlling traffic lights - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method and system for controlling a traffic light are provided to automatically control traffic lights by effectively checking the degree of traffic congestion for each lane. CONSTITUTION: A road area having a set distance from a road intersection area is photographed. An image frame of the road area is divided for each lane. The lane of the image frame is divided into a plurality of sections. The degree of traffic congestion is determined by detecting the existence of vehicles in each section. A traffic light is controlled according to the degree of the traffic congestion for each lane. [Reference numerals] (AA) First lane; (BB) Second lane; (CC) Third lane; (DD) Fourth lane

Description

Method and system for controlling traffic lights

The present invention relates to a traffic light control method and system, and more particularly, to a traffic light control method and system for controlling a traffic light for each road in the road intersection area.

In a traffic light control system for controlling traffic lights for each road at a road crossing area, the traffic lights are periodically turned on at regular time intervals.

According to such a conventional traffic light control system, it is not possible to flexibly control the traffic lights according to the degree of vehicle congestion on each road.

Of course, the traffic police can manually control the road crossing area where the traffic is predicted at rush hour, but this corresponds to the subjective judgment of the traffic police. Therefore, it is difficult to precisely control the traffic level by lane.

An embodiment of the present invention is to provide a traffic light control method and system that can automatically determine the traffic jam level for each lane to automatically control traffic lights.

According to an aspect of the present invention, steps (a) to (d) may be included in a traffic light control method for controlling a traffic light for each road in a road crossing area.

In step (a), road areas having a set distance from the road intersection area are photographed for each of the roads.

In step (b), the image frame of the road area is divided for each lane of the road area, and each lane of the image frame is divided into a plurality of sections.

In step (c), the vehicle congestion degree of each lane is determined by detecting whether a vehicle image exists in each of a plurality of sections of each lane in the image frame.

In step (d), the traffic lights for each road are controlled according to the traffic congestion level determined for each road.

Meanwhile, the lanes in steps (b) to (d) may include a left turn lane and a straight lane.

In addition, at least one of the left turn lane and the straight lane in the steps (b) to (d) may include a plurality of lanes.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in a traffic light control system having a respective traffic light controller in each road intersection area, in each road intersection area, a set distance from the road intersection area for each road is determined. Cameras for photographing the road area having a further may be provided.

The image frame of the road area is divided for each lane of the road area, and each lane of the image frame is divided into a plurality of sections.

The cameras may detect whether a vehicle image exists in each of a plurality of sections of each lane in the image frame, and transmit detection result information to each of the traffic light controllers.

Each of the traffic light controllers determines a traffic jam level of each lane according to the detection result information from the cameras, and determines the traffic jam level of each lane according to the traffic jam level determined for each road. To control traffic lights.

Each of the cameras may include an image signal generator, an image signal processor, a communication interface, and an image analyzer.

The video signal generation unit includes an optical system and a photoelectric conversion unit to generate a video signal according to photographing.

The digital video signal is generated by processing the video signal from the video signal generator.

The communication interface is provided for communication with the traffic light controller.

The image analyzer analyzes an image of a digital image signal from the image signal processor, detects whether a vehicle image exists in each of a plurality of sections of each lane in the image frame, and detects the result of the communication interface. Transmit to the traffic light controller through.

Meanwhile, each of the traffic light controllers may include a communication interface, a controller, and a traffic light driver.

The communication interface is provided for communication with the cameras.

The control unit may determine a vehicle congestion degree for each lane according to the detection result information input from the cameras through the communication interface, and the respective roads may be determined according to the vehicle congestion degree determined for each lane. Output traffic light control signal for.

The traffic light driver drives the traffic lights according to the traffic light control signal from the controller.

On the other hand, the traffic light control system of the embodiment of the present invention may further include a main controller for controlling the operation of each traffic light controller while communicating with the respective traffic light controller.

Further, each traffic light controller transmits the detection result information from the cameras to the main controller, and according to the traffic congestion level for each lane determined for each road and the control information from the main controller. Traffic lights for each of the roads can be controlled.

In this case, each traffic light controller may include a first communication interface, a second communication interface, a controller, and a traffic light driver.

The first communication interface is provided for communication with the cameras.

The second communication interface is provided for communication with the main controller.

The control unit may determine the vehicle congestion degree for each lane according to the detection result information input from the cameras through the first communication interface, and determine the vehicle congestion degree for each lane determined for each road, and the main vehicle. According to the control information input from the controller through the second communication interface, the traffic light control signal for each of the roads is output.

The traffic light driver drives the traffic lights according to the traffic light control signal from the controller.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the vehicle congestion degree of each lane may be efficiently determined by detecting whether a vehicle image exists in each of a plurality of sections of each lane in the image frame.

This is because it is possible to determine whether a vehicle exists in each section by the camera's image recognition function, and that the vehicles waiting in the road area having a set distance from the road intersection area are closely connected and connected in line. .

For example, as the section in which the vehicle image exists is farther away from the road intersection region, the degree of vehicle congestion becomes worse.

Therefore, the traffic congestion level for each lane can be efficiently understood and traffic lights can be automatically controlled.

1 is a view for explaining a traffic light control method of an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a flowchart illustrating a traffic light control method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a view for explaining an example of step S22 of FIG.
4 is a view for explaining a traffic light control system of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining that an image frame of a road area is divided into lanes of a road area and each lane of the image frame is divided into a plurality of sections in one camera of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of one camera of FIG. 4.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a traffic light controller of FIG. 4.
8 is a view for explaining a traffic light control system of another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a traffic light controller of FIG. 8.

The following description and the annexed drawings are for understanding the operation according to the present invention, and a part that can be easily implemented by those skilled in the art may be omitted.

In addition, the specification and drawings are not provided to limit the invention, the scope of the invention should be defined by the claims. Terms used in the present specification should be interpreted as meanings and concepts corresponding to the technical spirit of the present invention so as to best express the present invention.

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

1 is a view for explaining a traffic light control method of an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 shows a traffic light control method of an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a view for explaining an example of step S22 of FIG.

1 to 3, a traffic light control method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In Fig. 1, E denotes east, W denotes west, S denotes south, and N denotes north.

A traffic light control method according to an embodiment of the present invention is a method of controlling traffic lights 12E, 12W, 12S, and 12N for each road in a road intersection area, and includes steps S21 to S24.

In step S21, road areas having a set distance Ds from the road intersection area are photographed for each road.

For example, the trend camera 13E photographs the road area of the east E with the set distance Ds from the road intersection area. The westward camera 13W photographs the road region of the west W having a set distance Ds from the road intersection region. The south facing camera 13S captures the road area of the south S having a set distance Ds from the road intersection area. The north facing camera 13N photographs the road region of the north E having a set distance Ds from the road intersection region.

In operation S22, each of the surveillance cameras 13E, 13W, 13S, and 13N divides the image frame 3 of the road area into lanes of the road area, and divides each lane of the image frame into a plurality of sections B1 to B. B10). Of course, step S22 will already be performed in the initialization step of each of the surveillance cameras 13E, 13W, 13S, 13N according to the user's setting.

For example, the lane of the road area may be divided into each of the first to fourth lanes, and may include a left turn lane (first lane), a straight lane (second and third lanes), and a right turn (fourth lane). May be partitioned into lanes. At least one of the left turning lane and the straight lane may include a plurality of lanes. Of course, the right turn (fourth lane) lane may not be used depending on the situation.

3, the left turning lane (first lane) is divided into three sections B1 to B3, the straight lane (second and third lanes) is divided into five sections B4 to B8, and a right turn (fourth). Lane) The lane is divided into two sections B9 and B10, respectively.

In operation S23, each of the cameras 13E, 13W, 13S, and 13N detects whether a vehicle image exists in each of the plurality of sections B4 to B8 for each lane in the image frame.

In step S24, the traffic-light lamp controller 14 determines the traffic jam level for each lane based on the detection result of each camera 13E, 13W, 13S, 13N, and determines the traffic jam for each lane determined for each road. The traffic lights 12E, 12W, 12S, 12N for each road are controlled according to the degree.

For example, if the trend camera 13E transmits the information to the traffic-light signal controller 14 that the vehicle is present in all the blocks B4 to B8 of the left turn lane of the road area, the traffic-light signal controller 14 The left turn signal of the trend signal light 12E is turned on for a relatively long time as a set ratio.

According to the control method as described above, by detecting whether the vehicle image exists in each of the plurality of sections B1 to B10 for each lane in the image frame 3, the degree of vehicle congestion for each lane may be efficiently determined. .

This is because it is possible to determine whether a vehicle exists in each of the sections B1 to B10 by the image recognition function of the cameras 13E, 13W, 13S, and 13N, and the road having the set distance Ds from the road intersection area. This is because the cars waiting in the area are used in close proximity to each other.

For example, as the final section of the vehicle image moves away from the road intersection area, the degree of vehicle congestion becomes more severe.

Therefore, the traffic jam level 12E, 12W, 12S, 12N can be automatically controlled by grasping the vehicle congestion degree per lane efficiently.

4 is a view for explaining a traffic light control system of an embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 4, reference numerals C1 to C16 denote cameras, and 41a to 41d denote traffic light controllers, respectively. FIG. 5 illustrates that an image frame of a road area is divided into lanes of a road area and each lane of the image frame is divided into a plurality of sections B1 to B7 in one camera C2 of FIG. 4. Drawing.

4 and 5, in the traffic light control system of one embodiment of the present invention, each traffic light controller 41a to 41d is provided at each road intersection area.

In each road crossing area, cameras C1 to C16 are provided for photographing road areas having a set distance Ds from the road crossing area for each road.

The image frame of the road area is divided for each lane of the road area, and each lane of the image frame is divided into a plurality of sections (eg, B1 to B7).

For example, the lane of the road area may be divided into each of the first to fourth lanes, and may include a left turn lane (first lane), a straight lane (second and third lanes), and a right turn (fourth lane). May be partitioned into lanes. At least one of the left turning lane and the straight lane may include a plurality of lanes.

In the case of FIG. 5, the left turn lane (first lane) is divided into three sections B1 to B3, the straight lane (second and third lanes) is also turned to three sections B4 to B6, and a right turn (fourth) Lanes) The lanes are each divided into one section B7. Of course, the right turn (fourth lane) lane may not be used depending on the situation.

The cameras C1 to C16 detect whether a vehicle image exists in each of a plurality of sections (for example, B1 to B7) for each lane in the image frame, and detect the detection result information in the traffic light controllers 41a to 41d. To each).

More specifically, the first to fourth cameras C1 to C4 transmit the detection result information to the first traffic light controller 41a. The fifth to eighth cameras C5 to C8 transmit the detection result information to the second traffic light controller 41b. The ninth through twelfth cameras C1 through C12 transmit the detection result information to the third traffic light controller 41c. The thirteenth to sixteenth cameras C13 to C16 transmit the detection result information to the fourth traffic light controller 41d.

Each of the traffic light controllers 41a to 41d determines the vehicle congestion degree for each lane according to the detection result information from the cameras C1 to C16, and according to the vehicle congestion degree for each lane determined for each road. Control traffic lights (eg L2, L8, 12E, 12W, 12S, 12N in FIG. 1) for each road.

According to the control system as described above, the vehicle congestion degree of each lane can be efficiently determined by detecting whether the vehicle image exists in each of the plurality of sections (for example, B1 to B7) for each lane in the image frame. have.

This is because it is possible to determine whether a vehicle exists in each section (for example, B1 to B7) by the image recognition function of the cameras C1 to C16, and the road having the set distance Ds from the road intersection area. This is because the cars waiting in the area are used in close proximity to each other.

For example, as the final section of the vehicle image moves away from the road intersection area, the degree of vehicle congestion becomes more severe.

Therefore, the traffic congestion level for each lane can be efficiently determined so that traffic lights (eg, L2, L8, 12E, 12W, 12S, 12N of FIG. 1) can be automatically controlled.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining an internal configuration of one camera C1 of FIG. 4.

4 and 6, each of the cameras C1 to C16 includes an image signal generator 61, an image signal processor 62, a communication interface 64, and an image analyzer 63.

The video signal generation unit 61 includes an optical system and a photoelectric conversion unit to generate a video signal in accordance with photographing. Here, the photoelectric conversion unit is composed of a Charge Coupled Device or a Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (SMOS) for converting an optical signal from an optical system into an electrical signal.

The video signal processor 62 processes the video signal from the video signal generator 61 to generate a digital video signal.

The communication interface 64 is provided for communication with a traffic light controller (eg 41a).

The image analyzer 63 analyzes an image of the digital image signal from the image signal processor 62 and stores a vehicle in each of a plurality of sections (eg, B1 to B7 of FIG. 5) in each lane in the image frame. It detects whether an image exists and transmits the detection result information to the traffic light controller (for example, 41a) via the communication interface 64. Techniques for determining the type of an object by image recognition in a camera are well known, and thus description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram for explaining an internal configuration of any traffic light controller 41a of FIG.

4 and 7, each traffic light controller (eg, 41a) includes a communication interface 71, a controller 72, and a traffic light driver 73.

The communication interface 71 is provided for communication with cameras (any group of C1 to C16).

The controller 72 determines the degree of vehicle congestion for each lane according to the detection result information input from the cameras C1 to C16 through the communication interface 71, and is determined for each road. The traffic light control signal for each road is output according to the traffic congestion level for each lane.

The traffic light driver 73 drives the traffic lights (eg, L2, L8 of FIG. 5, 12E, 12W, 12S, and 12N of FIG. 1) according to the traffic light control signal from the controller 72.

8 is a view for explaining a traffic light control system of another embodiment of the present invention. Comparing the traffic light control system of FIG. 8 with that of FIG. 4, it can be seen that the main controller 82a in the control center 82 is added. Here, the main controller 82a controls the operation of each traffic light controller 81a to 81d while communicating with each traffic light controller 81a to 81d.

In FIG. 8, the same reference numerals as used in FIG. 4 indicate objects of the same function. Since the traffic light control system of FIG. 4 has already been described in detail, only the differences thereof, that is, the differences of the respective traffic light controllers 81a to 81d as the main controller 82a is added in the control center 82 will be described. do.

Each traffic light controller 81a to 81d transmits the detection result information from the cameras C1 to C16 to the main controller 82a.

Further, each of the traffic light controllers 81a to 81d is a traffic light for each road according to the lane-determined vehicle congestion degree and control information from the main controller 82a for each road, for example, FIG. L2, L8 of 5, 12E, 12W, 12S, 12N of FIG.

That is, each traffic light controller (81a to 81d), the traffic lights (e.g., L2, L8 of FIG. 5, 12E, 12W, FIG. 12S, 12N, but if relevant commands exist in the control information from the main controller 82a, the traffic lights (e.g., L2, L8 in FIG. 5, 12E, 12W, 12S, 12N in FIG. ).

Accordingly, there is an additional effect that the traffic lights (eg, L2, L8 of FIG. 5, 12E, 12W, 12S, 12N of FIG. 1) may be controlled in interlocking road intersection regions.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram for explaining an internal configuration of any of the traffic light controllers 81a to 81d in FIG. 8.

8 and 9, each of the traffic light controllers 81a to 81d includes a first communication interface 91, a second communication interface 94, a controller 92, and a traffic light driver 93.

The first communication interface 91 is provided for communication with the cameras C1 to C16.

The second communication interface 94 is provided for communication with the main controller 82a in the control center 82.

The controller 92 determines the degree of vehicle congestion for each lane according to the detection result information input from the cameras C1 to C16 through the first communication interface 91, and determines the lanes determined for each road. The traffic light control signal for each road is output in accordance with the vehicle congestion degree and the control information input from the main controller 82a through the second communication interface 94.

The traffic light driver 93 drives the traffic lights (eg, L2, L8 of FIG. 5, and 12E, 12W, 12S, and 12N of FIG. 1) according to the traffic light control signal from the controller 92.

That is, the control unit 92 controls the traffic light driver 93 based on the traffic congestion level determined for each road, but if there is a relevant command in the control information from the main controller 82a, the traffic is controlled accordingly. The traffic light driver 93 is controlled.

Accordingly, there is an additional effect that the traffic lights (eg, L2, L8 of FIG. 5, 12E, 12W, 12S, 12N of FIG. 1) may be controlled in interlocking road intersection regions.

As described above, according to embodiments of the present invention, the vehicle congestion degree of each lane may be efficiently determined by detecting whether a vehicle image exists in each of a plurality of sections of each lane in the image frame. .

This is because it is possible to determine whether a vehicle exists in each section by the camera's image recognition function, and that the vehicles waiting in the road area having a set distance from the road intersection area are closely connected and connected in line. .

For example, as the section in which the vehicle image exists is farther away from the road intersection region, the degree of vehicle congestion becomes worse.

Therefore, the traffic congestion level for each lane can be efficiently understood and traffic lights can be automatically controlled.

The present invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in various other forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof.

For example, in the embodiment of Figs. 4 to 7, the main controller 82a in the control center 82 is not intervened as in the embodiment of Figs. 8 and 9, and neighboring traffic light controllers 41a to 41d communicate with each other. You can control traffic lights interlockingly. That is, even if the main controller 82a in the control center 82 is not interposed as in the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9, the effect of the interlocking control can be obtained.

Therefore, the disclosed embodiments should be considered in descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and the inventions claimed by the claims and the inventions equivalent to the claimed invention are to be construed as being included in the present invention.

It is possible to be used not only for traffic light control systems but also for conveyor control systems in manufacturing plants.

12E, 12W, 12S, 12N ... traffic lights, 13E, 13W, 13S, 13N ... cameras,
14 ... traffic light controller, E ... east,
W ... west, S ... south,
N ... North, Ds ... Set distance,
B1 to B10 ... segment intervals, 3 ... video frame,
C1 to C16 cameras, 41a to 41d traffic light controllers,
L2, L8 ... traffic light controllers, 61 ... video signal generator,
62 video signal processor, 63 video analyzer,
64 communication interface, 71 communication interface,
72 control unit, 73 traffic light driver,
81a to 81d ... traffic light controllers,
Control center, 82a, main controller,
91 first communication interface, 92 control unit,
93 ... traffic-light driver, 94 ... second communication interface.

Claims (11)

In the traffic light control method for controlling the traffic lights for each road in the road intersection area,
(a) photographing, for each of the roads, road areas having a set distance from the road intersection area;
(b) dividing the image frame of the road area by lanes of the road area, and dividing each lane of the image frame into a plurality of sections;
(c) determining a vehicle congestion level of each lane by detecting whether a vehicle image exists in each of a plurality of sections of each lane in the image frame; And
and (d) controlling the traffic lights for each of the roads according to the traffic congestion level determined for each of the roads. The method of claim 1, wherein the lane in the step (b) to (d),
Traffic light control method including left turn lane and straight lane. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the left turn lane and the straight lane in the step (b) to (d),
A traffic light control method comprising a plurality of lanes. In a traffic light control system having a respective traffic light controller in each road intersection area,
Cameras for photographing a road area having a set distance from the road crossing area for each road at each road crossing area,
The image frame of the road area is partitioned for each lane of the road area,
Each lane of the image frame is divided into a plurality of sections,
The cameras,
Detecting whether a vehicle image exists in each of a plurality of sections of each lane in the image frame, and transmitting detection result information to each of the traffic light controllers,
Each traffic light controller,
A traffic light control for determining a traffic jam for each lane according to the detection result information from the cameras, and controlling a traffic light for each road according to the traffic jam for each lane determined for each road. system. The method of claim 4, wherein the lane,
Traffic light control system including left turn lane and straight lane. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one of the left turn lane and the straight lane,
Traffic light control system including a plurality of lanes. The method of claim 4, wherein each of the cameras,
An image signal generation unit including an optical system and a photoelectric conversion unit to generate an image signal according to photographing;
An image signal processor configured to generate a digital image signal by processing the image signal from the image signal generator;
A communication interface for communicating with a traffic light controller; And
Analyzing an image of the digital image signal from the image signal processor, detecting whether a vehicle image exists in each of a plurality of sections of each lane in the image frame, and detecting the detection result information to the traffic light controller through the communication interface. Traffic light control system including image analysis unit for transmitting. The traffic light controller of claim 4, wherein each of the traffic light controllers includes:
A communication interface for communicating with the cameras;
Determining the degree of vehicle congestion for each lane according to the detection result information input from the cameras through the communication interface, and traffic lights for each road in accordance with the vehicle congestion degree determined for each lane A control unit for outputting a control signal; And
Traffic light control system including a traffic light driver for driving traffic lights in accordance with the traffic light control signal from the control unit. The method of claim 4, wherein
And a main controller for communicating with each of said traffic light controllers to control operation of said each traffic light controller. The traffic light controller of claim 9, wherein each of the traffic light controllers includes:
Transmit the detection result information from the cameras to the main controller,
And a traffic light control system for controlling the traffic lights for each of the roads according to the traffic congestion level for each lane and the control information from the main controller. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein each traffic light controller,
A first communication interface for communicating with the cameras;
A second communication interface for communicating with the primary controller;
Determine the vehicle congestion degree for each lane according to the detection result information input from the cameras through the first communication interface, determine the vehicle congestion degree for each lane, and the first controller from the main controller; A control unit for outputting a traffic light control signal for each of the roads according to control information input through two communication interfaces; And
Traffic light control system including a traffic light driver for driving traffic lights in accordance with the traffic light control signal from the control unit.

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