TWI733367B - Trffic signal auxiliary device and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A traffic signal auxiliary device applied to a traffic signal includes a microphone for sensing a specific sound wave, a control unit and a processing unit. The control unit is electrically connected to the traffic signal. The processing unit is electrically connected to the microphone and the control unit. Wherein, when the microphone senses the specific sound wave, the processing unit determines the distance of a sound wave source by the volume, and calculates the direction and speed of the sound wave source by the frequency, and calculates the time when the sound wave source arrives at an intersection based. A control signal is generated when it takes a predetermined time to reach the intersection from the sound wave source. The traffic signal is adjusted traffic light according to the control signal, to allow a vehicle of the sound wave source can pass directly through the intersection.

Description

Traffic signal auxiliary device and method

The present invention is related to a traffic signal auxiliary device and method, in particular to a traffic signal auxiliary device and method that can adjust the traffic signal according to the decibel and frequency of a specific sound wave so that the vehicle can directly pass through the intersection.

The current general traffic signs do not have the function of allowing working vehicles such as ambulances and fire trucks to pass quickly. When there are working vehicles such as ambulances and fire trucks that need to quickly pass through the intersection, these working vehicles are notified by sirens. For other passers-by, make other passers-by actively give up the passage so that working vehicles can directly pass through the intersection. However, not all passers-by will actively give up the passage, so how to make all passers-by give way in advance through traffic signs semi-mandatory , And to further enable work vehicles such as ambulances and fire trucks to pass through intersections quickly, becoming a topic worthy of discussion.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a traffic sign auxiliary device and method to solve the problems of the prior art.

The traffic sign auxiliary device of the present invention is used for a traffic sign, and the traffic sign auxiliary device includes It includes a microphone, a control unit, and a processing unit. The microphone is used to sense a specific sound wave. The control unit is electrically connected to the traffic sign and used to control the traffic sign. The processing unit is electrically connected to the microphone and the control. Unit, wherein when the microphone senses the specific sound wave, the processing unit determines the distance of a sound wave source by the decibel of the volume of the specific sound wave, and determines the path of the sound wave source by the frequency of the specific sound wave Direction and speed. The processing unit is further used to calculate a cumulative travel distance of the sound wave source toward the intersection according to the distance, direction and speed of the sound wave source. When the sound wave source needs a predetermined distance to reach the intersection, the The control unit can generate a control signal according to the calculation result of the processing unit, and the traffic signal adjusts the signal according to the control signal so that the vehicle of the sound wave source can directly pass through the intersection.

In an embodiment of the traffic sign auxiliary device of the present invention, the specific sound wave is the sound wave emitted when an ambulance whistle.

In an embodiment of the traffic sign auxiliary device of the present invention, the specific sound wave is the sound wave emitted by the fire truck when it whispers.

In an embodiment of the traffic sign auxiliary device of the present invention, the specific sound wave is a sound wave emitted by a police car when a siren is sounded.

In an embodiment of the traffic sign auxiliary device of the present invention, the microphone is a directional microphone.

In an embodiment of the traffic sign auxiliary device of the present invention, the traffic sign auxiliary device further includes a plurality of microphones, which are respectively arranged at all traffic signs at an intersection, and all traffic signs are separately The control unit is electrically connected, and the microphones on all traffic signs are electrically connected to the processing unit.

In an embodiment of the traffic sign auxiliary device of the present invention, the processing unit has a sampling frequency to determine the number of times the frequency of the specific sound wave is sampled per unit time, and the sampling frequency can be adjusted.

The auxiliary method for traffic signs of the present invention includes: providing a microphone to sense a specific sound wave; when the microphone senses the specific sound wave, judging the distance of a sound wave source according to the decibels of the volume of the specific sound wave, and according to the specific sound wave. The frequency of the specific sound wave determines the direction and speed of the sound wave source, and further calculates a cumulative travel distance of the sound wave source toward the intersection based on the distance, direction and speed of the sound wave source; and when the sound wave source reaches the intersection yet When a predetermined distance is required, control the traffic signal to adjust the signal so that the vehicle of the sound wave source can directly pass through the intersection.

Compared with the prior art, the traffic signal auxiliary device and method of the present invention determine the distance, direction and speed of the sound wave source by using the decibel and frequency of the specific sound wave, and further use the sound wave source in the vehicle (such as an ambulance). And fire trucks, etc.) when arriving at a predetermined distance before the intersection, adjust the traffic sign so that the vehicle of the sound wave source can directly pass through the intersection. The present invention is suitable for traffic signs and does not require the installation of a rated vehicle on the vehicle of the sound wave source. The device can adjust the traffic signal at the correct time by performing calculations based on the decibel and frequency of the specific sound wave. Therefore, the traffic signal auxiliary device and method of the present invention can enable working vehicles such as ambulances and fire trucks to quickly pass through intersections.

10: Traffic signal auxiliary device

12: Microphone

14: Control unit

16: processing unit

200: Traffic signal

220: Junction

300: Ambulance

302: Specific Sound Wave

400: flow chart

401 to 403: steps

ID: initial distance

D: Cumulative driving distance

PD: predetermined distance

f,f’: frequency

Vo: rate

Vo1: the first sampling rate

Vo2: second sampling rate

Vo3: third sampling rate

T5, T6: time point

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the traffic sign assisting device of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows the traffic sign auxiliary device of the present invention installed on the traffic sign and a working vehicle going all the way Schematic diagram of the mouth.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the speed calculation curve of the sampling working vehicle of the traffic sign auxiliary device of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a flow chart of the traffic sign assistance method of the present invention.

Please refer to Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram of the traffic sign assisting device of the present invention. The traffic sign auxiliary device 10 of the present invention is suitable for a traffic sign 200. The traffic sign auxiliary device 10 includes a microphone 12, a control unit 14 and a processing unit 16. The microphone 12 is used to sense a specific sound wave. In this embodiment, the microphone 12 is used to sense the sound waves of the horns of the ambulance. In other embodiments, the microphone 12 can also be used to sense the sirens of the fire trucks and police cars. The present invention is not limited to this sound wave. Preferably, the microphone 12 is a directional microphone, and the control unit 14 is electrically connected to the traffic sign 200 and used to control the traffic sign 200. For example, the control unit 14 can adjust the light signal of the traffic sign 200 and the duration of the light signal. . The processing unit 16 is electrically connected to the microphone 12 and the control unit 14. Wherein, when the microphone 12 senses the specific sound wave, the processing unit 16 determines the distance of a sound wave source of the specific sound wave by the decibel of the volume of the specific sound wave, and determines the specific sound wave by the frequency of the specific sound wave. The direction and speed of the sound wave source of the sound wave. Furthermore, the processing unit 16 is further used to calculate a cumulative travel distance D of the sound wave source toward the intersection of the specific sound wave according to the distance, direction and speed of the sound wave source. When the sound wave source is still a predetermined distance PD away from the intersection, the control unit 14 can generate a control signal according to the calculation result of the processing unit 16, and the traffic signal 200 can adjust the signal according to the control signal (for example, adjust the control signal of the traffic signal). The light signal and the duration of the light signal), so that the vehicle (such as an ambulance) of the sound wave source can directly pass through an intersection.

Please refer to Figure 2. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the traffic sign assisting device of the present invention installed on a traffic sign and a working vehicle heading to an intersection. For example, the traffic sign auxiliary device 10 of the present invention is installed in a traffic sign 200, the traffic sign 200 is installed around an intersection 220, and the traffic sign 200 is used to display whether the road connecting the intersection 220 is open for traffic. Please also refer to Figure 1 as a traffic sign assist When the microphone 12 of the device 10 senses a specific sound wave 302 emitted by the whistle of an ambulance 300, the processing unit 16 of the traffic signal auxiliary device 10 first determines the distance of the ambulance 300 by the decibel of the volume of the specific sound wave 302 The traffic sign 200 has an initial distance ID, and the frequency of the specific sound wave 302 determines that the ambulance 300 is traveling in the direction of the traffic sign 200 at a speed Vo. The direction in which the ambulance 300 travels can be sensed by the microphone 12 being a directional microphone. It should be noted that the ambulance 300 does not always travel on the road at the speed Vo, and the travel speed of the ambulance 300 continues to be Variable, that is, the frequency of the specific sound wave 302 sensed by the microphone 12 is also constantly changing. Therefore, the traffic sign assisting device 10 needs to sample the frequency of the specific sound wave 302 regularly to calculate the speed of the ambulance 300 to further calculate the ambulance. A cumulative travel distance D of the vehicle 300. In this embodiment, the predetermined distance PD is 100 meters, and the initial distance ID is 250 meters, and the present invention is not limited to this. When the traffic sign assisting device 10 calculates that the cumulative travel distance of the ambulance 300 is 150 meters (that is, the ambulance 300 has reached the position of the predetermined distance PD from the traffic sign 200), the control unit 14 can generate a control signal, and the traffic The signal 200 adjusts the traffic signal light signal according to the control signal, so that the continuous green light of the ambulance 300 driving direction signal, so that the ambulance 300 can directly pass the intersection 220, and the ambulance 300 has passed the intersection after being sensed After 220, the control unit 14 no longer generates the control signal until the microphone 12 senses the specific sound wave 302 next time.

，假設第一次取樣時，麥克風12感測到特定聲波302的頻率f’=1050(Hz)，代入公式為

，可以計算出第一取樣速率Vo1為17(m/sec)，並進一步計算出在第一取樣的期間內累積行駛距離為 17(m/sec)×0.1(sec)=1.7公尺。接著再進行第二次取樣，假設第二次取樣時，麥克風12感測到特定聲波302的頻率f’=1040(Hz)，代入公式為

1040，可以計算出第二取樣速率Vo2為13.6(m/sec)，並進一步計算出在第二取樣的期間內累積行駛距離為[13.6(m/sec)×0.1(sec)]+1.7=1.36+1.7=3.06公尺。接著再進行第三次取樣，假設第三次取樣時，麥克風12感測到特定聲波302的頻率f’=1070(Hz)，代入公式為

，可以計算出第三取樣速率Vo3為23.8(m/sec)，並進一步計算出在第三取樣的期間內累積行駛距離為[23.8(m/sec)×0.1(sec)]+3.06=2.38+3.06=5.44公尺。依據上述計算結果，處理單元16持續取樣計算救護車300的累積行駛距離D，當救護車300的累積行駛距離D為150公尺時，控制單元14可產生一控制訊號，交通號誌200依據該控制訊號以調整交通號誌的燈號。 The calculation process performed by the processing unit 16 of the traffic sign auxiliary device 10 is as follows: For example, suppose that the frequency of the specific sound wave 302 when the ambulance 300 is whistling is f=1000 (Hz), and the current climatic conditions wave in the air medium The travel speed V=340 (m/sec), and the sampling time interval of the processing unit 16 is 0.1 seconds, the predetermined distance PD is 100 meters, and the initial distance ID is 250 meters. Therefore, it is necessary when the cumulative travel distance of the ambulance is 150 meters. When the ruler is measured, the control unit 14 can generate a control signal. According to Doppler's formula

, Assuming that the microphone 12 senses the frequency f'=1050 (Hz) of the specific sound wave 302 during the first sampling, it is substituted into the formula as

, The first sampling rate Vo1 can be calculated to be 17 (m/sec), and the cumulative travel distance during the first sampling period can be calculated to be 17 (m/sec)×0.1(sec)=1.7 meters. Then a second sampling is performed. Assuming that during the second sampling, the microphone 12 senses the frequency f'=1040 (Hz) of the specific sound wave 302, which is substituted into the formula as

1040, the second sampling rate Vo2 can be calculated to be 13.6 (m/sec), and the cumulative travel distance during the second sampling period can be calculated to be [13.6 (m/sec) × 0.1 (sec)] +1.7=1.36 +1.7=3.06 meters. Then perform the third sampling. Assuming that during the third sampling, the microphone 12 senses the frequency f'=1070 (Hz) of the specific sound wave 302, which is substituted into the formula as

, It can be calculated that the third sampling rate Vo3 is 23.8(m/sec), and the cumulative travel distance during the third sampling period can be calculated as [23.8(m/sec)×0.1(sec)]+3.06=2.38+ 3.06=5.44 meters. According to the above calculation results, the processing unit 16 continues to sample and calculate the cumulative travel distance D of the ambulance 300. When the cumulative travel distance D of the ambulance 300 is 150 meters, the control unit 14 can generate a control signal, and the traffic sign 200 is based on the Control the signal to adjust the traffic signal light signal.

Please refer to FIG. 3, which is a schematic diagram of the speed calculation curve of the sampling working vehicle of the traffic sign auxiliary device of the present invention. Among them, the upper graph is the speed Vo of the ambulance 300 at different times, and the lower graph is the time point when the processing unit 16 samples the speed Vo of the ambulance 300. In this embodiment, the sampling frequency is 10 (times/sec). According to the above calculation, the first sampling rate Vo1 is 17 (m/sec). In other words, the processing unit 16 determines the rate Vo of the ambulance 300 from the first sampling to the second sampling of 0.1 seconds as the visual It is a fixed rate (that is, the first sampling rate Vo1), and the cumulative travel distance of the ambulance 300 within 0.1 seconds is calculated according to this fixed rate. In this embodiment, the processing unit 16 samples once every 0.1 seconds, but the present invention is not limited to this. When the road around the intersection 220 makes the speed of the ambulance 300 change too much, the traffic sign auxiliary device 10 of the present invention also You can set to sample once every 0.05 seconds (ie, the sampling frequency is 20 (times/second)). For example, in the graph below Figure 3, at the time point T5 of the sixth sampling and the time point of the seventh sampling The rate change of the ambulance 300 between T6 is too large, so the sampling rate calculated by the processing unit 16 cannot truly reflect the rate of the ambulance 300, resulting in sampling distortion. Accordingly, the present invention provides The signal auxiliary device 10 can set different sampling frequencies to avoid sampling distortion of the processing unit 16.

According to the above configuration, the traffic sign auxiliary device 10 of the present invention is suitable for the traffic sign 200. When the microphone 12 senses a specific sound wave, the traffic sign auxiliary device 10 can determine whether the wave source of the specific sound wave is heading toward the traffic sign. At a predetermined distance from the traffic signal 200, the control unit 14 generates a control signal to control the traffic signal 200 so that the vehicle that emits the specific sound wave can directly pass through the intersection, so that certain work vehicles that need to pass through quickly Not only can the whistle let other passers-by give way, but also the traffic signal light signal to direct other passers-by. According to this, the traffic sign auxiliary device of the present invention can make ambulances, fire trucks and other working vehicles Pass the intersection quickly.

Preferably, the traffic sign auxiliary device 10 may further include a plurality of microphones 12 (not shown in the figure), which are respectively arranged at the intersection 220 and other traffic signs (for example, an intersection usually has 4 traffic signs), and the intersection All traffic signs of 220 are electrically connected to the control unit 14 respectively. In other words, each traffic sign of the intersection 220 is provided with a microphone 12 (for example, a directional microphone) electrically connected to the processing unit 16. According to the above configuration, if the intersection 220 has 4 traffic signs, the 4 traffic signs are respectively provided with 4 sets of directional microphones to sense and receive specific sound waves in the pointing direction, and the processing unit 16 can be based on these directional signals. The difference between specific sound waves sensed by the microphone is used to determine the location and direction of the sound wave source. In addition, in this embodiment, the control unit 14 is electrically connected to multiple traffic signs, so the generated control signal must be adjusted so that the road in the direction of the sound wave source can be directly passed (green light), and roads in other directions are not passable ( red light).

In addition, the specific sound wave exemplified in this embodiment is the sound wave emitted when an ambulance whistle, but the present invention is not limited to this. The specific sound wave may also be a sound wave emitted by a fire truck or a police car when whistling. Please refer to Table 1 below (refer to Article 35 of the Disaster Prevention and Rescue Law and the Ministry of the Interior Word No. 1000821213).

It can be seen from the content of Table 1 that the whistling sound of different working vehicles can be judged by the low frequency/high frequency and the conversion time. That is, the traffic sign auxiliary device 10 of the present invention can be determined by the low frequency/high frequency and conversion of specific sound waves. Time determines the type of vehicle of the sound wave source, and further decides whether to adjust the traffic signal so that the vehicle directly passes through the intersection. For example, considering that when police cars sound their sirens, they are sometimes used to hunt down prisoners. If the traffic signal is set, only the prisoner's vehicle can pass through the intersection quickly. Therefore, the traffic signal auxiliary device 10 can be set to only detect fire trucks. And the whistle of the ambulance, that is, the traffic signal auxiliary device 10 adjusts the traffic signal only when the fire truck and ambulance are close to the predetermined distance PD so that these vehicles can pass directly through the intersection. The traffic signal auxiliary device 10 is paired with Other whistles' working vehicles will not respond.

Please refer to Fig. 4, which is a flowchart 400 of the traffic sign assisting method of the present invention. The flow of the traffic sign assisting method of the present invention is as follows: Step 410: Provide a microphone to sense a specific sound wave; Step 420: When the microphone senses the specific sound wave, judge according to the volume of the specific sound wave in decibels Find out the distance of a sound wave source, and judge the sound wave source's distance according to the frequency of the specific sound wave The direction and speed of travel, and further calculate a cumulative travel distance of the sound wave source toward the intersection based on the distance of the sound wave source; and step 430: When the sound wave source reaches a predetermined distance from the intersection, control the traffic sign In order to adjust the sign so that the vehicle of the sound wave source can pass directly through the intersection.

On the other hand, the traffic signal assistance method of the present invention is not limited to the above steps, and other steps can also be added between the above steps. Furthermore, the steps of the traffic signal assistance method of the present invention are not limited to the above sequence.

Compared with the prior art, the traffic signal auxiliary device and method of the present invention determine the distance, direction and speed of the sound wave source by using the decibel and frequency of the specific sound wave, and further use the sound wave source in the vehicle (such as an ambulance). And fire trucks, etc.) when arriving at a predetermined distance before the intersection, adjust the traffic sign so that the vehicle of the sound wave source can directly pass through the intersection. The present invention is suitable for traffic signs and does not require the installation of a rated vehicle on the vehicle of the sound wave source. The device can adjust the traffic signal at the correct time by performing calculations based on the decibel and frequency of the specific sound wave. Therefore, the traffic signal auxiliary device and method of the present invention can enable working vehicles such as ambulances and fire trucks to quickly pass through intersections.

The foregoing descriptions are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, and all equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the scope of the patent application of the present invention shall fall within the scope of the present invention.

10: Traffic signal auxiliary device

12: Microphone

14: Control unit

16: processing unit

200: Traffic signal

Claims (11)

A traffic sign auxiliary device for a traffic sign, the traffic sign is arranged around an intersection, the traffic sign auxiliary device includes: a microphone for sensing a specific sound wave; a control unit, electrical connection The traffic signal is used to control the traffic signal; and a processing unit is electrically connected to the microphone and the control unit, wherein the processing unit has a sampling frequency to determine the number of times the frequency of the specific sound wave is sampled per unit time, the The sampling frequency can be adjusted, and a sampling time interval can be calculated according to the sampling frequency; wherein when the microphone senses the specific sound wave, the processing unit determines a sound wave source distance based on the decibel of the specific sound wave volume An initial distance of the traffic sign, and the travel direction and speed of the sound wave source are determined by the frequency of the specific sound wave. When the travel direction of the sound wave source is toward the traffic sign, the processing unit is further used to determine the travel direction and speed of the sound wave source according to the traffic sign. The speed of the sound wave source and the sampling time interval calculate a cumulative travel distance of the sound wave source toward the traffic sign; where the initial distance of the sound wave source from the traffic sign minus the cumulative travel distance is equal to or less than the When the sound wave source is a predetermined distance from the traffic signal, the control unit can generate a control signal according to the calculation result of the processing unit, and the traffic signal can adjust the signal according to the control signal so that the vehicle of the sound wave source can Go straight through the intersection. The traffic signal auxiliary device according to claim 1, wherein the specific sound wave is a sound wave emitted when an ambulance whistle. The traffic sign auxiliary device according to claim 1, wherein the specific sound wave is a sound wave emitted by a fire truck when it whispers. The traffic sign assisting device according to claim 1, wherein the specific sound wave is a sound wave emitted by a police car when a sirens is sounded. The traffic sign auxiliary device according to claim 1, wherein the microphone is a directional microphone. The traffic signal auxiliary device according to claim 1, wherein the traffic signal auxiliary device further includes a plurality of microphones, which are respectively arranged at all traffic signs at the intersection, and all traffic signs are electrically connected to the control unit, and The microphones on all traffic signs are electrically connected to the processing unit. A traffic sign auxiliary method for a traffic sign, the traffic sign is set around an intersection, the traffic sign auxiliary method includes: providing a microphone to sense a specific sound wave; providing a sampling frequency to determine the unit The number of times the frequency of the specific sound wave is sampled in a time, the sampling frequency can be adjusted, and a sampling time interval is calculated according to the sampling frequency; when the microphone senses the specific sound wave, it is based on the volume of the specific sound wave in decibels Determine the initial distance between a sound wave source and the traffic sign, and determine the direction and speed of the sound wave source based on the frequency of the specific sound wave. When the direction of the sound wave source is toward the traffic sign, and further According to the speed of the sound wave source and the sampling time interval, a cumulative travel distance of the sound wave source toward the traffic sign is calculated; and when the initial distance of the sound wave source from the traffic sign minus the cumulative travel distance is equal to or When it is less than a predetermined distance from the sound wave source to the traffic signal, the traffic signal is controlled to adjust the signal so that the vehicle of the sound wave source can directly pass the intersection. The traffic signal assistance method according to claim 7, wherein the specific sound wave is a sound wave emitted when an ambulance whistle. The method for assisting traffic signs according to claim 7, wherein the specific sound wave is a sound wave emitted when a fire truck honks. The method for assisting traffic signs according to claim 7, wherein the specific sound wave is a sound wave emitted by a police car when a sirens is sounded. The method for assisting traffic signs according to claim 7, wherein the microphone is a directional microphone.

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