WO2006109918A1

WO2006109918A1 - Vehicle traffic signal lamp

Info

Publication number: WO2006109918A1
Application number: PCT/KR2005/003972
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sun-Ja Choi
Original assignee: Han, Kyoung-Su
Priority date: 2005-04-11
Filing date: 2005-11-24
Publication date: 2006-10-19

Abstract

The present invention discloses a traffic signal lamp for vehicles, with an LED (light emitting diode) signal lamp, turn signal unit and transition time display unit. The LED signal lamp displays red, green and yellow signals in turn, turn signals, and the time left to the transition of the LED signal lamp. The traffic signal lamp of the present invention discloses at least; a traffic sign control signal input unit to input each of sustain time intervals of red, green, and yellow signals; a memory unit to store reference time intervals and minimal time intervals of red, green, and yellow signals; microprocessor to output control signals for red, green, and yellow LED signals, time left to the next transition, turning sign for a given time interval according to the time intervals of red, green and yellow signals received from the said traffic sign control signal input unit; a display unit to display LED control signals, time left to the next transition, and turn signals received from the said microprocessor. The said memory unit further stores minimal sustain time intervals of red and green signals, and the said microprocessor also evaluates appropriate time intervals for each sign by comparing the red and green signal sustain time intervals received from the said traffic sign control signal input unit with the said minimal time intervals of red and green signals. Furthermore, the said traffic sign control signal input unit also discloses a mode switch to set a uniform mode or a non-uniform mode. When signals for red, green sign from the said traffic sign control signal input unit are not supplied for a given time, the sustain time for the red and green signals are set to the said reference time intervals.

Description

Description VEHICLE TRAFFIC SIGNAL LAMP

Technical Field

[1] The present invention discloses a traffic signal lamp for vehicles, with an LED

(light emitting diode) signal lamp, turn signal unit and transition time display unit. The said LED signal lamp displays red, green and yellow signals in turn, the said turn signal unit displays left- turn and right- turn signals, and the said transition time display unit displays the time left to the transition of the said LED signal lamp.

[2] Furthermore, the vehicle traffic signal lamp of the present invention is capable of adjusting time intervals between each operation after checking whether the time of operation is appropriate. The vehicle traffic signal lamp of the present invention also discloses a uniform mode and a non-uniform mode to adjust signal sustain times to suit varying traffic conditions. Background Art

[3] Conventional traffic signal lamps consist of 3 lamps of red, green and yellow at each lane, where only one of the signal lamps needs to be on at a time, always leaving the remaining lamps unused.

[4] Moreover, conventional traffic signal lamps do not include a display function for time left to the next transition, only displaying red, green, and yellow lights and turn signals which do not enable the drivers to predict the time left for each signal. This causes increased traffic accidents from drivers trying to make a turn or get through signals.

[5] Some conventional traffic signal lamps include a display function for time left to the next transition for yellow lights as well as red and green signals. However, they can also cause traffic accidents from drivers trying to get through the yellow signal.

[6] Hence, a traffic signal lamp with an LED (light emitting diode) signal lamp, turn signal unit and transition time display unit, comprising display function for time left to the next transition for red and green lights except yellow light, is needed.

[7] Moreover, the conventional traffic signal lamps comprise separate red, green and yellow signals with respective control wiring for each, making installation and maintenance difficult. Conventional traffic signal lamps are heavy consisting of multi- lamps and have sometimes caused serious accidents by falling onto vehicles on the road. Such disadvantages of conventional traffic signal lamps make it necessary to invent traffic signal lamps which are easy to install and maintain, light weight, and energy efficient.

[8] As a prior art of the invention, Korean Utility Model 20-0201107 (pub. 01 November 2000) discloses a control change over device for traffic signal control unit to keep traffic smooth without aid from traffic police or external equipment under malfunction conditions, containing a signal detection unit to detect existence of signal output from conventional traffic signal control units, and a malfunction detection unit which detects malfunction from the signal output from conventional traffic signal control units, which lets it automatically control traffic signaling based upon the condition before the trouble. This prior art has the disadvantage that the traffic signal lamps continuously operate for the improperly set initial time interval. It has no coun- termeasure for unexpected traffic jams to adjust signal sustain time according to the traffic condition with uniform mode and non-uniform mode.

[9] Another prior art of the invention, Korean Patent Application 2001-0068069 (pub.

13 July 2001) discloses a device to visually guide the moment of transition of traffic sign to detect timing intervals from the connected traffic sign, comprising display panel to display direction of turn and the time left for the given sign, a detector unit to scan and detect traffic sign transition control signals applied to traffic sign, control unit to generate control signal for the said display panel by calculating the cycle interval of the said traffic sign transition control signals applied to traffic sign, and memory to store traffic sign cycle interval data calculated by the control unit. This prior art also has the disadvantage that the traffic signal lamps continuously operate as set even when initial time intervals are set improperly.

[10] Such a disadvantage of prior art makes it necessary for traffic signal lamps to have a variable time interval function to adjust to optimal time intervals by evaluating the proper time setting, and to have a uniform mode and a non-uniform mode to adjust signal sustain time according to the traffic condition.

[11] It is also necessary to invent traffic signal lamps which are easy to install and maintain, light weight, and energy efficient by containing one LED signal unit, turn signal unit, and transition time display unit. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[12] The object of the present invention is to offer a traffic signal lamp capable of adjusting time intervals between each operation after checking whether the time of operation is appropriate, and which comprises a uniform mode and a non-uniform mode to adjust signal sustain times according to the traffic condition.

[13] Another object of the present invention is to offer a traffic signal lamp which comprises one LED signal unit, turn signal unit and transition time display unit.

[14] Another object of the present invention is to offer a traffic signal lamp, which is easy to install and maintain, light weight, and energy efficient. [15] A further object of the present invention is to offer a traffic signal lamp for vehicles with an LED (light emitting diode) signal lamp, turn signal unit, and transition time display unit, comprising display function for time left to the next transition for red and green lights except yellow light. Technical Solution

[16] To solve the problems mentioned above, the traffic signal lamp of the present invention discloses; a traffic sign control signal input unit to input each of sustain time intervals of red, green, and yellow signals; a memory unit to store reference time intervals and minimal time intervals of red, green, and yellow signals; microprocessor to output control signals for red, green, and yellow signals, time left to the next transition, turning sign for given time interval according to the time intervals of red, green and yellow signals received from the said traffic sign control signal input unit; a display unit to display red, green, and yellow signals, time left to the next transition, and turning sign signals received from the said microprocessor.

[17] The said microprocessor also evaluates appropriate time intervals for each sign comparing the sustain time intervals of red, green signals from the said traffic sign control signal input unit with the said minimal time intervals of red, green signals.

[18] The said traffic sign control signal input unit also discloses a uniform mode to operate sustain time of red, green signals in uniform time intervals according to a preset time, and a non-uniform mode to operate varying sustain times of red and green signals according to varying preset sustain time data for set time intervals.

[19] When signals for red, green sign from the said traffic sign control signal input unit are not supplied for a given time, the sustain time for the signals are set to the said reference time intervals.

[20] To accomplish the said object of the present invention, the method for operation of said traffic signal lamp for vehicles with an LED (light emitting diode) signal lamp, turn signal unit, and transition time display unit which displays time left to the next transition, comprises: initializing step to initialize flag, I/O ports, and watch dog timer; data input step to input sustain time data for the red and green sign; evaluation step to evaluate if the set sustain time intervals for each of red, green, yellow and turn signals are within appropriate time intervals; color signal checking step for the microprocessor checks the flags for each of red, green, and yellow signal, and when one of said flag is set, sets the first watch dog timer to the signal sustain time; turn signal checking step which sets the second watch dog timer to the turn signal sustain time when it detects the set turn flag; and signal output step which down counts the first watch dog timer and the second watch dog timer and outputs LED control signal to the color signal lamp for the color flag set until the first watch dog timer and the second watch dog timer stop, and outputs turn signal when the turn display flag is set.

[21] It further comprises: a turn signal setting step which sets the second watch dog timer to the turn signal sustain time if none of the flags for red, green, or yellow signals are set in the color signal checking step, and the turn signal flag is set upon checking whether it is; and a turn signal output step which down counts the second watch dog timer and outputs turn signal until the second watch dog timer stops.

[22] In the said data input step, if no red or green signal sustain time is input for a set period, then the red or green signal sustain time is set to be standard values read from the memory unit.

[23] In the said evaluation step, minimal sustain times for red and green signals according to the width of road are read from the memory unit and compared to the input sustain time intervals for the green signal sustain time received from the traffic control signal input part, and if the input sustain time intervals for the red and green signal sustain time received from the traffic control signal input part are shorter than minimal sustain times for red and green signals, then an error signal is output.

[24] To solve another problem mentioned above, a method of operating the traffic signal lamp of the present invention comprises the steps of: initializing I/O ports and watch dog timers; storing data regarding red and green signal sustain time input temporally sequentially into the memory unit; data loading which reads in the next operation data from the memory; evaluating last data which determines whether the data read in the data loading step is the last data; color signal checking which if it is not the last step, and one of the red, green, or yellow signal flags is set, then sets the first watch dog timer to be the signal sustain time of color signal for which the flag is set; turn signal checking which if the turn signal flag is set, then sets the second watch dog timer to be the signal sustain time of turn signal; outputting signal which down counts the first watch dog timer and the second watch dog timer and outputs LED control signal to the color signal lamp for the color flag set until the first watch dog timer and the second watch dog timer stop, and outputs turn signal when the turn display flag is set.

[25] It further comprises: a turn signal setting step which sets the second watch dog timer to the turn signal sustain time if none of the flags for red, green, or yellow signals are set in the color signal checking step, and the turn signal flag is set upon checking whether it is; and a turn signal output step which down counts the second watch dog timer and outputs turn signal until the second watch dog timer stops.

Advantageous Effects

[26] The present invention discloses a traffic signal lamp for vehicles which has a variable time interval function to adjust to optimal time intervals by evaluating the proper time setting, and it has a uniform mode and a non-uniform mode to adjust signal sustain times to suit varying traffic conditions.

[27] The present invention provides a traffic signal lamp which is easy to install and maintain, light weight, low cost, and energy efficient by containing one LED signal unit, turn signal unit, and transition time display unit. It creates a better driving environment for drivers.

[28] The present invention provides all of the red, green and yellow signals as conventional traffic signal lamps do, with only one circular lamp displaying the red, green, and yellow signals. It does not cause confusion as conventional signals, and is energy efficient because the signal lamp uses LED.

[29] Furthermore, unlike conventional traffic signal lamps with transition time display units, the transition time display unit of the present invention displays the remaining time left for only the red and green signals and not for the yellow signal. Thus accidents caused by displaying the remaining time left for the yellow signal in the conventional traffic signal can be avoided.

[30] The traffic signal lamp of the present invention has shades to diminish light reflection while each of the transparent covers are flat which avoids pileup of snow or other foreign matters. Furthermore, since the shape of the signal light is round and not oval, the signal stands out more sharply with less light diffusion, and makes it easier for the driver to see the signal light. Brief Description of the Drawings

[31] Figure 1 is a block diagram to describe an embodiment of the vehicle traffic signal lamp of the present invention.

[32] Figure 2 is a flow chart to describe the uniform mode of control process of the vehicle traffic signal lamp of the present invention.

[33] Figure 3 is a flow chart to describe the non-uniform mode of control process of the vehicle traffic signal lamp of the present invention.

[34] Figure 4 is an embodiment of the vehicle traffic signal lamp of the present invention.

[35] Figure 5 is an example showing the circular signal lighting of the signal lamp in

Figure 1.

[36] Figure 6 is another embodiment of the vehicle traffic signal lamp of the present invention.

[37] Figure 7 shows a housing structure for the time indication unit and circular signal lamp unit of the vehicle traffic signal lamp of the present invention in Figure 6.

[38] Figure 8 shows a housing structure for the turn indication unit of the vehicle traffic signal lamp of the present invention in Figure 6. [39] Figure 9 shows an example of an exploded diagram of a housing structure for the time indication unit and the circular signal lamp unit of the vehicle traffic signal lamp of the present invention.

[40] Figure 10 shows an example of an exploded diagram of a housing structure for the turn indication unit of the vehicle traffic signal lamp of the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[41] The configuration of vehicle traffic signal lamp of the present invention will be more clearly explained with reference to the attached drawings and description in detail here after. However, the present invention is not limited within the scope of the embodiments described, which are presented for those with ordinary knowledge in the field to understand the invention more clearly. The teachings of the present invention are only defined by the claims. Hereafter, the same numbered elements are identical throughout this disclosure of the present invention.

[42] Figure 1 is a block diagram of an example of a configuration of the vehicle traffic signal lamp of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the present invention comprises a signal lamp control signal input unit (100), a microprocessor (200), a memory unit (300), a signal drive unit (400), and a signal indication unit (500).

[43] The signal drive unit (400) comprises a circular signal lamp LED drive unit (420), a turn indication LED drive unit (440), a time indication unit (460), and the indication unit includes a circular signal lamp (520), a turn indication unit (540), and a time indication unit (560).

[44] The signal lamp control signal input unit (100) inputs a red signal sustain time, a green signal sustain time, turn indication sustain time, an operation initiation/stop signal, etc.

[45] The signal lamp control signal input unit (100) includes a key input unit with an operation initiation/halt switch (not shown in the figure), and mode switches (not shown in the figure) (120).

[46] The signal lamp control signal input unit (100) can be an internal or external type, and may also have user interface.

[47] The initiation/halt switch is the switch to initialize or halt the operation of traffic lights.

[48] A mode switch is the switch to select between uniform mode or non-uniform mode.

A uniform mode is a mode which allows the vehicle traffic signal lamp operate uniformly according to a preset time interval after setting up the red signal sustain time and the green signal sustain time.

[49] A non-uniform mode sets up red signal sustain time data and green signal sustain time data which varies the red signal time and green signal time of a vehicle traffic signal lamp during a time period, so as to vary the operation of the vehicle traffic signal lamp in a non-uniform mode according to preset time data.

[50] The microprocessor (200) saves red signal sustain time and the green signal sustain time into the memory unit (300), which are received from the signal lamp control signal input unit (100).

[51] After receiving the operation start signal from the signal lamp control signal input unit (100), the microprocessor(200) reads the red signal sustain time, the green signal sustain time, and turn sustain time from the memory unit (300), and then outputs control signals for red, green, and yellow lamps to circular signal lamp LED drive unit (420) of signal drive unit (400) for a given time interval and outputs sustain times of red and green signals to the time indication drive unit (460) of signal drive unit (400). The microprocessor (200) also outputs turn indication signal to the turn indication LED drive unit (440) of the signal drive unit (400).

[52] The microprocessor (200) also comprises watch dog timers (220) and counters

(240).

[53] The watch dog timers (220) detects the ending point of the sustain time intervals for red, green, yellow and turn signals. The watch dog timers (220) consist of the first watch dog timer to detect the ending point of the sustain time intervals for red, green, yellow, and the second watch dog timer to detect the ending point of the sustain time intervals for turn sign.

[54] The counter (240) is a down counter to count the time left to the next transition of a red signal or a green signal, and outputs to time indication drive unit (460).

[55] The memory unit (300) initially stores reference signal sustain time for red, green, yellow, and turn signals, and then user input sustain time for red, green, yellow, and turn signals are stored. The said reference signal sustain time for red, green, yellow, and turn signals is used when the user defined sustain time for each sign is not input. Also minimal signal sustain time for red, green, yellow, and turn signals are stored to evaluate the appropriateness of user input sustain time for each sign.

[56] The signal drive unit (400) receives circular signal lamp control signals, turn indication control signals, and time indication control signals from the microprocessor (200) and drives circular signal lamp unit (520), turn indication unit (540), and time indication unit (560).

[57] The circular signal lamp LED drive unit (420) receives circular signal lamp control signal from the microprocessor (200) and drives red, green and yellow LED of circular signal lamp unit (520) according to the given signal.

[58] The turn indication drive unit (440) receives turn indication drive signal from the microprocessor (200) and drives LED of turn indication unit (540) according to the given signal. [59] The time indication drive unit (460) receives time indication drive signal from the microprocessor (200) and drives the time indication unit (560) made up of 7 segments according to the given signal.

[60] Figure 2 is a flow chart in uniform mode of control process of a vehicle traffic signal lamp of the present invention. It describes the control process for the case when the mode switch of key input unit (120) is set to uniform mode.

[61] First, the microprocessor (200) initializes flags, I/O ports, watch dog timers, and counters (SlOO). During initialization, the green signal flag is set, while the red and yellow signal flags are cleared. Also input are the width of road where the traffic lamps are used, the signal for turn, etc. Then data regarding sustain time for each of red, green, yellow and turn signal are input (S 120).

[62] If the data of sustain time for each of red, green, yellow and turn signal are not input during a set time period, then sustain time data for each signal is set to the reference time intervals read from the memory unit (300). Next, the microprocessor (200) evaluates if the set sustain time intervals for each of red, green, yellow and turn signals are within appropriate time intervals (S 130). In this evaluation process, minimal interval time data according to the width of road are read from the memory unit (300) and compared to the input sustain time intervals for each of red, green, yellow and turn signals, respectively. As a result of the process, when the input sustain time intervals for each of red, green, yellow and turn signals are smaller than the minimal red signal sustain time, an error signal is output and it returns to the input step (S 140).

[63] When the operation start/stop switch is set to stop position, the microprocessor

(200) detects it as an interrupt (S 150), and stops the process (S390).

[64] The microprocessor (200) checks the flags for each of red, green and yellow signal

(S 160), and when the one of said flag is set, the first watch dog timer is set to the signal sustain time (S 170), and sets counter to a given value.

[65] When the microprocessor (200) detects the set turn flag (S 180), the first watch dog timer is set to the signal sustain time (S 190). After the said step, the microprocessor (200) down counts the first watch dog timer, the second watch dog timer and counters (S200), and outputs each signal (S210), and outputs LED control signal to the circular signal lamp (420) for the color flag set, when the red signal flag or green signal flag is set except yellow signal flag, outputs data from the counter or the first watch dog timer to time display unit (560), and to turn display unit (540) when the turn flag is set.

[66] Next, the microprocessor (200) detects timer interrupt from the second watch dog timer (S220), and resets turn signal flag by the interrupt input.

[67] When the microprocessor (200) checks timer interrupt from the first watch dog timer (S240), the process returns to count down step (S200) when there's no interrupt input.

[68] When the microprocessor (200) detects timer interrupt from the first watch dog timer, the microprocessor (200) resets current color signal flag and sets the next color flag (S250), then the process returns to the interrupt check step (S 150).

[69] When there's no interrupt in the interrupt check step (S 150), and none of red, green and yellow flag is set in the flag checking step (S 160), the microprocessor checks for the turn flag (S270). If turn flag is not set the procedure ends, and if the flag is set the microprocessor (200) sets the second watch dog timer to the turn sustain time (S280), down counts the second watch dog timer (S290), and outputs the turn signal (S300).

[70] When the microprocessor (200) detects timer interrupt from the second watch dog timer (S310), the microprocessor (200) resets current turn signal flag (S320), then the process returns to checking procedure for interrupt (S150).

[71] When the microprocessor (200) detects no timer interrupt from the second watch dog timer and there's no interrupt input, the process goes back to count down step (S290).

[72] Figure 3 is a flow chart in non-uniform mode of control process of a vehicle traffic signal lamp of the present invention. It is the control process for the case when the mode switch of key input unit (120) is set to non-uniform mode.

[73] First, the microprocessor (200) initializes flags, I/O ports, watch dog timers, and counters (S405). During initialization, the green signal flag is set, while the red and yellow signal flags are cleared. It also inputs the width of road where the traffic lamps are used, the signal for turn, etc.

[74] Whether data input is finished is determined (S410), and if it is not finished, data regarding the red signal sustain time, green signal sustain time, yellow signal sustain time, and turn signal sustain time are temporally sequentially input and stored (S420) into the memory unit (300). After the data input step, right after the final data in the memory unit, an end data is input. While the data are input, the microprocessor (200) may evaluate if the set sustain time intervals for each of red, green, yellow and turn signals are within appropriate time intervals as in Figure 2.

[75] When the operation start/stop switch is set to the stop position, the microprocessor

(200) detects it as an interrupt (S430), and stops the process (S650).

[76] If interrupt is not detected, the processor reads out the next operation data from the memory unit (S440). When the read out data is the said last data, the process ends (S650). If the data is the last data, the microprocessor (200) checks the flags for each of red, green and yellow signal (S460), and when one of said flag is set, sets the first watch dog timer to the signal sustain time(S470), and sets counter into a given value.

[77] When the microprocessor (200) detects the set turn flag (S480), the second watch dog timer is set to the signal sustain time (S490). [78] After the said step, the microprocessor (200) down counts the first watch dog timer, the second watch dog timer and counters(S500), and outputs each signal(S510), and outputs LED control signal to the circular signal lamp LED drive unit (420) for the color flag set, when the red signal flag or green signal flag is set except for the yellow signal flag, and outputs data from the counter or the first watch dog timer to the time display unit, and to the turn display unit when the turn flag is set.

[79] Next, the microprocessor (200) detects timer interrupt from the second watch dog timer(S520), and resets turn signal flag by the interrupt input.

[80] When the microprocessor(200) checks for timer interrupt arising from the first watch dog timer(S540) running out, and there's no interrupt input, the process goes back to count down step(S500).

[81] When the microprocessor(200) detects timer interrupt arising from the first watch dog timer running out, the microprocessor (200) resets current color signal flag and sets the next color flag(S550), then the process goes back to checking procedure for interrupt(S450).

[82] When there's no interrupt in the interrupt check step(S450), and none of the red, green and yellow flag are set in the flag checking step (S460), the microprocessor checks for the turn flag(S570). If the turn flag is not set the procedure ends, and if the flag is set the microprocessor (200) sets the second watch dog timer to the turn sustain time (S580), down counts the second watch dog timer(S590), and outputs the turn signal(S600).

[83] When the microprocessor (200) detects timer interrupt from the second watch dog timer (S610), the microprocessor (200) resets the current turn signal flag (S620), then the process goes back to the checking procedure for interrupt(S450).

[84] When the microprocessor (200) detects no timer interrupt from the second watch dog timer and there's no interrupt input, the process goes back to count down step (S590).

[85] Although Figure 3 does not illustrate it, the present invention can be arranged to proceed into uniform mode after finishing the non-uniform mode process.

[86] Figure 4 is an embodiment for a vehicle traffic signal lamp of the present invention, comprising turn signal display unit, circular traffic signal unit, and time display unit.

[87] Figure 5 is an example showing signal lighting in circular signal lamp of Figure 1.

The figure shows an embodiment of the present invention which displays red, green and yellow signals through an LED circular signal lamp unit.

[88] Figure 6 is another embodiment for a vehicle traffic signal lamp of the present invention.

[89] Figure 7 is an embodiment of a housing structure for indication unit and circular signal lamp unit of vehicle traffic signal lamp of the present invention.

[90] Figure 8 is an embodiment of a housing unit for a turn indication unit of a vehicle traffic signal lamp of the present invention.

[91] The housing for time display unit and circular signal lamp unit of the present invention is formed as one piece, while the housing for the turn signal display unit is formed as a separate piece. In Figure 6, turn signal display unit is located on the right side of time display unit and circular signal lamp unit, but may be arranged to be on the left, upper or lower side of time display unit and circular signal lamp unit.

[92] Figure 9 is an embodiment of an exploded view of a housing structure for a circular signal lamp unit of a vehicle traffic signal lamp of the present invention, comprising circular signal lamp unit, a circular signal shade (610), a plain cover (670), circular signal lamp unit mount unit (680), time indication unit mount unit (690), the first housing unit (700), time display shade (620), the first indication window cover unit (630), a circular signal indication window (640), a time indication window (650), a transparent cover for a circular signal (660), a transparent cover for a time indication window (670), a circular signal lamp unit mount (680), time indication unit mount (690), and the first housing unit (700).

[93] The circular signal shade (610) is installed over the circular signal indication window (640) of the first indication window cover unit (630), together with time display shade (620) on the front side of the traffic signal lamp, to make the displayed lights visible in bright conditions and to prevent the circular signal indication window (640) from snow or rain.

[94] The time display shade (620) makes the displayed time visible in bright conditions, and prevents the circular signal indication window (640) from snow or rain, and is installed together with time display shade (620) on the front side of the traffic signal lamp over time indication window (650) of the first indication window cover unit (630).

[95] The first indication window cover unit (630) is installed in front of the first housing unit (700), to cover the front side of the traffic signal lamp.

[96] The first indication window cover unit (630) is comprised of a circular signal indication window (640) and a time indication window (650), and each of the said shades (610,620) are mounted on the upper side of the each window (640,650).

[97] The circular signal indication window (640) is an opening for the circular signal lamp unit (520), covered with a transparent cover (660). Each of red, green and yellow signal can be seen through the circular signal indication window (640).

[98] The time indication window (650) is an opening for the time display unit (560), covered with transparent cover(670), so remaining time can be seen through circular signal indication window (650). [99] The circular signal transparent cover (660) is installed over the circular signal indication window (640), and a rubber packing is mounted between the transparent cover (660) and the circular signal indication window (640) for water proofing.

[100] The time signal transparent cover (670) is installed over the time signal time indication window (650), and a rubber packing is mounted between the transparent cover (670) and the time signal indication window (650) for water proofing.

[101] For the circular signal transparent cover (660) and the time signal transparent cover

(670), tempered glass, acrylic resin, and poly carbonate can be used, and also can be in the shape of a non-spherical lens, and when necessary another non-spherical lens can be inserted between the circular signal transparent cover (660) and the circular signal lamp unit (520), or time signal transparent cover (670) and the time display unit(560).

[102] The circular signal lamp unit (520) is mounted inside of the circular signal lamp unit mount departments (680), to dissipate heat from the LED, and to prevent control unit comprising microprocessor (200), memory unit(300), and signal driver(400) from malfunctioning due to heat.

[103] Time indication units (560) made up of segments are mounted inside the time indication unit mount (690) which dissipates the heat from these segments, preventing the malfunction of the control unit comprising microprocessor(200), memory unit(300), and signal driver(400) due to heat.

[104] Material which dissipate heat, such as aluminum is used for the circular signal lamp unit mount departments (680) and time indication unit mount (690).

[105] The first housing unit (700) is installed on the backside of a vehicle traffic signal lamp so that is installed at the back of the first indication window cover unit (630). Between the first housing unit (700) and circular signal lamp unit mount unit (680) with time indication unit mount(690), the control unit comprising microprocessor (200), memory unit(300), signal driver(400) is installed. It has a wire path for the control wires which are waterproofed with rubber packing.

[106] The circular signal shade (610), time display shade (620), first indication window cover unit (630) and the first housing unit (700) can be made of plastics or metals.

[107] Figure 10 is an embodiment of an exploded view of a housing structure for a turn indication unit of a vehicle traffic signal lamp of the present invention, comprising a turn indication shade (810), the second indication window cover unit (820), a turn indication window (830), a transparent cover for a turn indication (840), turn indication unit mount unit (850), and a second housing unit (860).

[108] The turn display shade (810) makes the displayed turn signal visible in bright conditions, and prevents the turn indication window (830) from snow or rain, and is installed on the front side of the traffic signal lamp over the turn indication window (830) of the second indication window cover unit (820). [109] The second indication window cover unit (820) is installed in front of the second housing unit (860), to cover the front side of the traffic signal lamp.

[110] The second indication window cover unit (820) is comprised of a turn signal indication window (830) and the turn indication shades (810) are installed at the upper side of turn indication windows (830).

[I l l] The turn indication window(830) is an opening for turn indication unit(540), covered with transparent cover(840), so the turn signal can be seen through turn indication window(830).

[112] The transparent cover for the turn signal (840) is installed over turn indication window (830), and a rubber packing is mounted between transparent cover (840) and turn indication window(830) for water proofing.

[113] For the circular transparent cover (840), tempered glass, acrylic resin, and poly carbonate can be used, and also can be in the shape of non-spherical lens, and when necessary, another non-spherical lens can be inserted between the transparent cover (840) and turn indication unit (540).

[114] The turn indication unit mount department (850) has turn indication unit composed of LEDs (540) mounted inside, and it dissipates heat from the LEDs, and to prevent control unit comprising signal driver(400) from malfunctioning due to heat. Material which dissipate heat, such as aluminum can be used for the turn indication unit mount (850).

[115] The second housing unit (860) is installed on the backside of a vehicle traffic signal lamp, behind the second indication window cover unit (820). Between the second housing unit (860) and the turn indication unit mount (850), the control unit comprising signal driver (400) is installed. The second housing unit (860) has a wire path for the control wires which are waterproofed with rubber packing.

[116] The turn indication shades (810), the second indication window cover unit (820), and the second housing unit (860) can be made of plastics or metals.

[117] The present invention is not limited to the description and figures, and it is obviously possible for those with ordinary knowledge in the field to render more variations and embodiments within the scope of the claims. Industrial Applicability

[118] The present invention discloses a traffic signal lamp for vehicles, with an LED

(light emitting diode) signal lamp, turn signal unit and transition time display unit. The said LED signal lamp displays red, green and yellow signals in turn, the said turn signal unit displays left- turn and right- turn signals, and the said transition time display unit displays the time left to the transition of the said LED signal lamp. Moreover the traffic signal lamp of the present invention is easy to install and maintain, light weight, and energy efficient.

Claims

[1] A traffic signal lamp for vehicles, with an LED(light emitting diode) signal lamp, turn signal unit and transition time display unit comprising at least: a traffic sign control signal input unit to input each of sustain time intervals of red, green and yellow signals; a memory unit to store reference time intervals of red, green and yellow signals and minimal time intervals of red, green and yellow signals; a microprocessor to output control signals for red, green and yellow signals, for given time interval according to the time intervals of red, green and yellow signals received from the said traffic sign control signal input unit, and to output time left to the next transition, and turn signal; a display unit to display red, green and yellow signals, time left to the next transition, turning sign by the signals from the said microprocessor; the said microprocessor evaluating appropriate time intervals for each sign comparing the sustain time intervals of red, green signals from the said traffic sign control signal input unit with the said minimal time intervals of red, green signals; the said traffic sign control signal input unit comprising a uniform mode to operate sustain time of red and green signals in uniform time intervals according to each preset times for the red and green signals after sustain time of red and green signals are set, and a non-uniform mode to operate varying sustain times of red and green signals according to varying preset sustain time data for a given time interval after varying sustain times of red and green signals are set for a given time interval.

[2] The microprocessor according to claim 1, wherein the sustain time for the red and green signals are set to the reference time intervals, when signals for red and green signs from the said traffic sign control signal input unit are not supplied for a given time.

[3] A method to operate a traffic signal lamp for vehicles, with an LED (light emitting diode) signal lamp, turn signal unit, and transition time display unit comprising: an initializing step to initialize flag, VO ports, and watch dog timer; a data input step to input sustain time data for the red and green sign; an evaluation step to evaluate whether the set sustain time intervals for each of red, green, yellow and turn signals are within appropriate time intervals; a color flag checking step which checks the flags for each of red, green and yellow signal, and when one of the flag is set, sets the first watch dog timer to the signal sustain time, and sets the counter into a given value; a turn flag checking step which detects the set turn flag, and sets the second watch dog timer to the signal sustain time; and a signal output step which down counts the first watch dog timer and the second watch dog timer and outputs LED control signal to the circular signal lamp for the color flag set, and turn signal if a turn signal flag is set, until the first watch dog timer and the second watch dog timer run out.

[4] A method to operate a traffic signal lamp for vehicles according to claim 3 which further comprises: a turn signal setting step which when none of the red, green and yellow flag is set in the color flag checking step, it determines whether a turn flag is set, it sets the second watch dog timer to the turn sustain time; and a turn signal output step which down counts the second watch dog timer and outputs the turn signal until the second watch dog timer stops.

[5] A method to operate a traffic signal lamp for vehicles according to claim 3 wherein when the data of sustain time for each of red, green, yellow and turn are not input in the data input step, then sustain time data for each signal is set to the reference time intervals read from the memory unit.

[6] A method to operate a traffic signal lamp for vehicles according to claim 3 wherein in the evaluation step, minimal sustain times for red and green signals according to the width of road are read from a memory unit and compared to input sustain time intervals for the green signal sustain time received from the traffic control signal input unit, and if the input sustain time intervals for the red and green signal sustain time received from the traffic control signal input unit are shorter than minimal sustain times for red and green signals, then an error signal is output.

[7] A method to operate a traffic signal lamp for vehicles, with an LED (light emitting diode) signal lamp, turn signal unit and transition time display unit comprising at least: an initializing step to initialize flag, I/O ports, and watch dog timers; a data storing step which stores data regarding red and green signal sustain time temporally sequentially into the memory unit; a data loading step which reads in the next operation data from the memory; a final data evaluation step which determines whether the data read in the data loading step is the last data; a color flag checking step which if it is not the last step, and one of the red, green, or yellow signal flags is set, then sets the first watch dog timer to be the signal sustain time of color signal for which the flag is set; a turn signal checking step which if the torn signal flag is set, then sets the second watch dog timer to be the signal sustain time of turn signal; and a signal output step which down counts the first watch dog timer and the second watch dog timer and outputs LED control signal to the color signal lamp for the color flag set until the first watch dog timer and the second watch dog timer stop, and outputs turn signal when the turn display flag is set.

[8] A method to operate a traffic signal lamp for vehicles according to claim 7 which further comprises: a turn signal setting step which sets the second watch dog timer to the turn signal sustain time if none of the flags for red, green, or yellow signals are set in the color signal checking step, and the turn signal flag is set upon checking whether it is; and a turn signal output step which down counts the second watch dog timer and outputs turn signal until the second watch dog timer stops.