TRAFFIC SIGNAL LAMP OR COUNTER WHICH COUNTS DOWN OR DISPLAYS MESSAGES USING DIFFERENT ALPHABETS
This invention relates to the electronic traffic signal lamp with LED (Light Emitting Diode) which counts down the numbers in the alphabet of the country which it is used as showing the remaining time of the traffic signal, when it lights in red, yellow and green colors and which screens the proper messages as bearing the means of light in different languages and alphabets, when it works in the flash modes.
The traffic lamps are used to arrange the vehicle and pedestrian traffic in whole world. Again, in accordance with the standard which is accepted by the whole world, the red, yellow and green lights bear the same meaning in all countries. There also is a valid standard for the size of the traffic lamps which is accepted by whole world and those sizes must be in 100 mm, 200 mm or 300 mm diameters in accordance with the cross road or passage density that they would be used.
The incandescent or halogen bulbs and LEDs (Light Emitting Diode) are used in the traffic lamps in whole world. Even though the traffic lamps with the incandescent or halogen bulbs are still used widespread, the lamps with LED are gradually preferred. Since the traffic lamps with LED have some advantages such as consuming less energy and being the lasting and sturdy systems and requiring the less maintenance, they are gradually being used in the world. The traffic lamps with incandescent or halogen bulbs consume the power between 75-100 W per hour and halogen lamps consume the power approximately 65W depending on the lamp diameter. However, the traffic lamps with LED provide the same illumination density as consuming the power between 5-25 W depending on the lamp diameter.
Current traffic signals transmitters are controlled by a central unite (cross road control device). The cross road control devices define each signal transmitter lights in how long and which order at that cross road as being programmed during the installation period.
The cross road control devices which manage the signal lamps turn to the flash mode in order to accelerate the traffic at the hours which the traffic is not dense and especially at nights. Furthermore, as the cross road control devices provide that the green signal lamps flash at the last seconds of lighting period in many countries, the drivers are informed that the lighting period is ending. When the cross road control device turns to the flash mode, while the flash is 0 (zero), the lamp's power is cut off and while it is 1 (one), the power comes back. Thus, when the flash is 0 (zero), the lamp is off and when the flash is 1 (one), the lamp is on and thus, the lamp flashes.
Recently, the counting the time down device is used with the traffic signals transmitters. The counting the time down device which shows the remaining time of the red and green lights with the same colors is gradually used. The counting down devices provide that the drivers of the vehicles and pedestrians who are waiting for the traffic lights are being more careful and do not infringe the traffic signs as informing them.
The current counting down devices are counting down with the numbers in the structure with 7 segments. Only the Latin alphabet's numbers are shown with the numbers in the structure with 7 segments. The current lamps may not count down the numbers in the different alphabet such as Arabic, Chinese and Indian. Any warning message may not be shown on the current traffic signal lamp indicators.
The indicator of the signal lamps which are developed by invention is formed by the LEDs and those LEDs are arranged as forming the dot matrix graphic area. Thanks to this dot matrix graphic area, when the invented lamps are signaling, they count down as their indicators don't have 7 segments, but show the numbers in the alphabet of the country which it is used and in the real number figures. They may screen the numbers in the alphabet and language of the countries like China, Arab, etc.
When the red signal lamp that is developed by the invention is in the flash mode, it shows the word, "STOP" in the alphabet and language of the country which it is used.
When the green signal lamp that is developed by the invention flashes at the last seconds of the lighting period, it continues to count down.
When the red signal lamp that is developed by the invention lights after the green lamp, while it is in the flash mode, it shows the word, "SLOW".
As the invention may be connected to the cross road control device through the single power line for each signal, it may also be connected to the cross road control device which uses the information line through the power. Thus, if the period information comes from the cross road control device, then it counts down as directly using this information. If there is not any period information, then it counts down as measuring how long it lights in each lighting period and transferring this information into its indicator at the next period.
The drawings which explain the purpose of the invention are attached and their explanations are as follows:
Figure 1- A sample view of the dot matrix graphic area indicator of the invention Figure 2- Establishing the real figure appearance on the invented indicator as fading the LEDs
Figure 3- Establishing the proper messages on the invented indicator as fading the
LEDs Figure 4- Inner view of the invented lamp from the side Figure 5- Unite block diagram of the invented lamp Figure 6- a) When the invented green lamp is in flash mode and the lamp is off, the showing the figures as turning on the LEDs b) When the invented green lamp is in flash mode and the lamp is on, the showing the figures as turning on the LEDs Figure 7- When the invented lamp is off, the showing the proper messages in the meaning of the light as turning on the LEDs
Figure 8- Front view of the traffic count down lamp of the present invention. Figure 9- View of a state of the traffic count down lamp of the present invention when the red indicator of the traffic signal lamp is lightning.
Figure 10- View of another state of the traffic count down lamp of the present invention when the green indicator of the traffic signal lamp is lightning.
Figure 11- View of yet another state of the traffic count down lamp of the present invention when the red indicator of the traffic signal lamp is lightning.
Figure 12- View of yet another state of the traffic count down lamp of the present invention when the green indicator of the traffic signal lamp is lightning.
Figure 13- Interior view of the traffic count down lamp of the present invention.
The detail numbers are given in the drawings and:
1- Indicator with LED
2- Red signal lamp
3- Yellow signal lamp
4- Green signal lamp 5- Remaining lighting period with the Latin letters on the indicator
6- Remaining lighting period with the Arab letters on the indicator
7- Showing the sample word, "STOP" on the red lamp
8- Showing the sample word, "STOP" on the yellow lamp
9- Showing the sample word, "SLOW" on the yellow lamp 10- Power cable connecting to the invention
11- Information cable connecting to the invention
12- Electronic circuit with microprocessor
13- Microprocessor
14- LED driver circuits 15- Memory circuits
16- Direct current power source
17- Communication circuits
18- Bridge rectifier
19- Capacitor 20- Circuits, except the unites which the capacitive power is stored in the direct current power source
21- Multi-staged keys
22- The figure displayed on green lamps, when it flashes and the lamp is off
23- The figure displayed on green lamps, when it flashes and the lamp is on
24- The message of "STOP" displayed on the red lamps, when it flashes and the lamp is off
25 - LED Indicator of the traffic count down lamp 26- Traffic count down lamp body
27 - Red LEDs 28 - Green LEDs
29- Remaining lighting period with Latin letters
30- Remaining lighting period with the Arab letters 31 - Red signal lamp
32- Yellow signal lamp
33- Green signal lamp
34- STOP message displayed in the indicator
35- GO message displayed in the indicator 36- Red signal lamp cable
37- Green signal lamp cable
38- Common grounding cable of red and green signal lamps.
39- Data line to cross control device.
40- Electronic circuit with microprocessor
The working method and unites of the invention are as follows.
The necessary power for invention is supplied by the city network. Even it works by the 22V AC, 50 Hz voltage, it may work by the 110VAC, 60 Hz voltage or 265 V, 45- 65 AC or DC universal voltages. The functions of the invention are performed by the indicator which is formed by the LEDs that are also used as the illumination element (1) and electronic circuit with microprocessor (12).
The circuit components of the electronic circuit in the invention work by the direct current (DC). In addition, the LEDs on the indicator also light on by the direct current. For this purpose, a power source which converts the network voltage into the direct current (16) is used in the invention. DC voltage which is obtained from the
DC power source (16) distributes the necessary power as connecting to both electronic circuit components and LED groups on the indicator (1).
The electronic circuit with microprocessor (12) of the invention is a single type as being independent from the color of lamp, the alphabet and language which it would show. All functions of the invention as red, green and yellow lamps and in the different languages and alphabets are programmed in the microprocessor unite (13). The function is selected with the multi-staged keys (21) which are connected to the microprocessor (13) due to the color of lamp and the country which it would be used. That is, the microprocessor (13) is informed by the multi-staged keys (21) which color the lamp is and on showing the figures and letters in which language, and it sends the correct current information to the LED drivers (14). LED drivers (14) adjust the current which goes to the LEDs on the invented indicator (1) and operates the lamp as proper for the selected function.
The red and green signal lamps which are developed by the invention shows on its indicator how long the light is on, when it is signaling. To being provided that it shows the figures as counter down, when the invention is signaling is as follows. The LEDs are placed on the indicator of invention as they form a dot matrix (1). Even the LED composition changes depending on the diameter of the lamp and density of
LED, the LEDs are composed on the indicator of all designs as they form the dot matrix graphic and the figures in the different languages and alphabets are formed (5) (6), as the LEDs which stay in the figures and letters that would be screened are off. The figures in this graphic area are not in 7 segments similar as in the current counters down, but are shown as real figure shapes which the human eyes are used to see.
The cross road device perceives the invented lamps which count down when it is signaling as defining the periodical power interruptions, when it is in the flash mode.
Another superiority of the invention is that the invented green signal lamp carries on counting down during the flash period. It shows the figure (22) as fading the LEDs in the places where the figures are being on the indicator on the points which the flash is
1, i.e. the lamp is on. It shows the figure as turning on the LEDs in the places where the figures are being on the indicator on the points which the flash is 0, i.e. the lamp and indicator are off. That is, when the lamps are flashing, it shows the remaining time of the light (22) to the drivers during the lamp is off. When the power is off, to being provided that it counts down as turning on the LEDs is as follows. In the periods which the cross road control device interrupts the power in order to flash, i.e. the flash is 0 (zero), the current to turn on the LEDs in the places where the figures are being is provided by being used the capacity energy which is loaded to the capacitor (19) in the power source.
In the traffic signal lamp of the present invention, when a traffic lamp's indicators is on, the figures or messages is displayed by turning off the LEDs places of which correspond to said figures or messages to be displayed on the indicator and when the indicator is off, the figures or messages is displayed by turning on the LEDs places of which correspond to said figures or messages to be displayed on the indicator.
Accordingly, the invented red signal lamps show the word, "STOP" in the language and alphabet of the country which it is used on its indicator (7), when the cross road control device is in the flash mode. It shows the word, "STOP" (7) as fading the LEDs in the places where the letters are being on the indicator on the points which the flash is 1, i.e. the lamp is on. It shows the word, "STOP" as turning on the LEDs in the places where the letters are being on the indicator on the points which the flash is 0, i.e. the lamp and indicator are off.
Another superiority of the invention than the current counters down that it contributes that the drivers perceive the last seconds of the light as showing the figure in the middle of the indicator at the last 10 seconds of lighting period and showing the figure in the higher place than the place which other figures are shown up to the last 10 seconds by using the dot matrix graphic area.
There are versions which one may be screwed and other one is with light socket in order to that the invention works easily with the current cross road signalization lamps. The version with the light socket is mounted fast to the current installed
systems (the system with the light socket is installed as removing the bulb in the current lamps). The version with screw which is more sturdy and trustable is available for the signalization systems which are established newly.
The present invention also related to a stand alone traffic count down lamp, which is adapted to traffic signal lamps, having an indicator with LEDs (25) and an electronic circuit with a microprocessor (40).
In figure 8, there is illustrated such a traffic count down lamp body (26). As seen from the figure, the LEDs of the indicator (25) are placed in a dot matrix structure. In this matrix structure, there are two color types of LEDs which are placed in a way that one color of LED follows other color of LED. In this preferred embodiment said LEDs are red LEDs (27) and green LEDs placed in an order of green LED, red LED, green LED and so on in the dot matrix structure. Density of the LED in said dot matrix structure may vary depending on characteristics of the different alphabets.
Said electronic circuit with microprocessor (40) provides displaying of count down figures, indicating remaining lighting time, or messages in different alphabets as the same as above. For instance, in figure 9, the remaining lighting time (29) of the green signal lamb (33) is smoothly displayed with Latin letters. As a further example, in figure 10, the remaining lighting time (30) of the red signal lamb (31) is smoothly displayed with Arabic letters.
An example to the messages displayed on the novel count down lamp is illustrated in figures 11 and 12. hi detail, figure 11 shows the display of the "STOP" message (34) of the English alphabet in the indicator when the Red signal lamp (31) is on. i the same manner, figure 12 shows the display of the "GO" message (35) of the English alphabet in the indicator when the green signal lamp (33) is on. Accordingly, these and other several messages can be displayed in the count down lamp of the present invention in the same manner.
In the traffic count down lamp of the present invention, when the indicator (25) is on, the figures or messages is displayed by turning off the LEDs places of which
correspond to said figures or messages to be displayed on the indicator (25) and when the indicator is off, the figures or messages is displayed by turning on the LEDs places of which correspond to said figures or messages to be displayed on the indicator (25).
Thanks to its electronic circuit with microprocessor (40), the traffic count down lamp of the present invention also perceives automatically that the flash mode is active by determining the periodical power interruptions when the indicators of the traffic signal lamp turns to the flash mode. Additionally, during the last 9 second of signal lightning period, it displays the count down numbers in the middle portion of the indicator and also bigger than the numbers displayed prior to the last 9 second.
As described in previous pages, the electronic circuit with microprocessor of the traffic count down lamp is similar for each lamp irrespective to the language and alphabet to be displayed and to the color of the lamp of the circuit. Therefore, it is possible to use the present invention throughout the word by simply changing the language program of the microprocessor.
As illustrated in figure 13, the count down lamp is connected to the red and green signal lamps (31, 33) of a traffic lamp via the energy cable of the red signal lamp
(36), energy cable of the green signal lamp (37) and common grounding cable of the red and green lamp (38), respectively. In this preferred embodiment, there is no connection to the yellow signal lamp (32). Accordingly, the lamp can determine the lightning period of the signal lamps to which it is connected and record the lightning times in the memory of the electronic circuit with microprocessor (40) so that, in a subsequent period, it can begin counting down from said lightning time by displaying the numbers in the indicator (25).
The count down lamp can also be connected to a cross control device via a data line (39), thus if the lightning time data is provided from the cross control device it uses the data, resulting in that the invention can easily be used with all types of cross control devices.