WO2007077184A1

WO2007077184A1 - Traffic light apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2007077184A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/070227
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pascual Ruiz Madrid; Giovanni Borin
Original assignee: Pascual Ruiz Madrid; Giovanni Borin
Priority date: 2006-01-02
Filing date: 2006-12-27
Publication date: 2007-07-12
Also published as: ITUD20060003A1

Abstract

Traffic light apparatus (10) comprising at least a luminous panel ( 12 ) and a plurality of light emitting diodes or LEDs (14), disposed inside the luminous panel (12) and able to emit light towards the outside of the luminous panel (12). The luminous panel ( 12 ) comprises a single front aperture (16) and the LEDs (14) are of the multicolor type and are connected to a control unit (18) able to select the color of the light to be emitted by the LEDs (14), so that from the single front aperture (16) it is possible to emit light of different specific colors, such as green, amber and red, and possibly at least another color.

Description

"TRAFFIC LIGHT APPARATUS" * * * * *

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a traffic light apparatus, comprising at least a luminous panel inside which a plurality of light emitting diodes or LEDs are disposed, able to emit towards the outside of the luminous panel a light having a determinate color, chosen from a certain number of colors. The invention is applied in the field of road traffic signals, in particular in order to regulate vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic, for example but not only in the proximity or correspondence with intersections.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traffic light apparatuses are known, each comprising a luminous panel in which a plurality of LEDs are disposed, able to emit light towards the outside of the panel, through a series of front apertures, usually three.

LEDs used in known traffic light apparatuses are suitable to emit light only in a specific color, normally green, amber or red.

In normal functioning, for regulating vehicular traffic, the traffic light apparatuses must emit light in each of the above three specific colors in a predefined sequence.

Known traffic light apparatuses therefore have three front apertures on the luminous panel, with each of which the LEDs that emit light in a specific color are respectively associated, so that through each aperture the light is emitted only in the corresponding specific color.

Moreover, the number of front apertures increases if other road signals have to be displayed, for example arrows, to allow or forbid turning, or indications for public transport vehicles or suchlike.

One purpose of the present invention is to achieve a traffic light apparatus which is very simplified with respect to the current ones, while still allowing to emit light in the usual different colors such as green, amber and red, and possibly other colors. Another purpose of the present invention is to achieve a traffic light apparatus which allows to define in a simple and programmable manner specific geometric shapes (arrows, crosses, etc . ) .

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the main claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes, a traffic light apparatus according to the present invention comprises at least a plurality of light emitting diodes or LEDs, disposed inside the luminous panel and able to emit light towards the outside of the luminous panel.

According to a characteristic of the present invention, the luminous panel comprises a single front aperture through which the LEDs, which are of the multicolor type and are connected to control means of the electronic type, are able to emit light of different specific colors, such as green, amber and red and possibly others too, advantageously according to a predefined or programmable sequence.

According to an advantageous solution, the control means comprises a microprocessor and is able to feed the LEDs individually and selectively, so as thus to allow to define specific geometric shapes (arrows, crosses, etc.) using only said front aperture.

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become clear from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- fig. 1 is a front view, partly in section, of a traffic light apparatus according to the present invention; - figs. 2 to 12 show some examples of light emission modes in the traffic light apparatus in fig. 1;

- fig. 13 shows a block diagram of a control unit of the traffic light apparatus in fig. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERENTIAL FORM OF EMBODIMENT With reference to fig. 1, a traffic light apparatus 10 according to the present invention is used to regulate vehicular or pedestrian traffic, for example in correspondence with a road junction.

The traffic light apparatus 10 comprises at least a luminous panel 12, a plurality of LEDs 14, for example 240, a front aperture 16 and a control unit 18.

The LEDs 14 are of the multicolor type, are disposed to define a matrix of pixels, for example circular or rectangular, and are connected electrically to the control unit 18.

The control unit 18 (fig. 13) comprises a microprocessor, a regulation device 22 and a communication device 24, the last two devices being connected to the microprocessor 20.

The regulation device 22 is connected to the LEDs 14 to supply them with electric feed.

The communication device 24 is able to communicate with a plant to manage and coordinate the traffic light apparatus 10 and other analogous traffic light apparatuses 10, for example via radio according to the Wi-Fi or GSM protocol, or according to the RS485 protocol.

The control unit 18 also comprises a feed device 26 able to feed the microprocessor 20, the regulation device 22 and the communication device 24.

The control unit 18 is able to feed the LEDs 14 selectively, varying the electric feed current, so as to select the color of the light to be emitted from specific colors, such as green, amber, red and possibly others. The control unit 18 is also provided with sensors to detect the environmental luminosity and, by means of the regulation device 22, it regulates the light intensity in order to optimize energy consumption.

By means of the regulation device 22, the microprocessor 20 also monitors the current absorbed by the LEDs 14 so as to allow to verify the presence of possible burnt out or non-functioning LEDs 14.

The control unit 18 is able to feed the LEDs 14 individually so as to define specific geometric shapes (figs. 1-12), characterized by a specific color and comprising, for example, a circle, an arrow, a cross or a bar, which represent determinate road signals.

In fig. 1, the LEDs 14, configured to define a circle, are suitably fed with electric current, alternately and according to a predefined sequence in order to emit light in each of the above three colors, for example in the sequence green-amber-red to obtain the traffic light function.

In fig. 2 the LEDs 14 are configured to define an arrow and are fed with electric current alternately to emit green light to allow turning, and red light to prevent it.

In figs. 3 and 4, the LEDs 14 are configured to define a bar, normally white, which can be oriented by means of the control unit 18 to assume at least three positions, vertical, horizontal or inclined by 45°, in order to regulate the traffic of public transport vehicles.

In fig. 5, the LEDs 14 are configured so that an upper part and a lower part of the LEDs 14 emit red light and a central strip emits white light, so as to represent a no entry sign.

In fig. 6, the LEDs 14 are configured to define a red cross, for example on a white background, to indicate that the underlying road lane cannot be used.

In figs. 7 to 9, other examples of the configuration of the LEDs 14 are illustrated, respectively to represent the shape of a man for use on pedestrian crossings, an arrow as a direction indicator, and a bicycle to indicate cycle tracks.

In figs. 10 to 12, three examples are shown in which the control unit 18 feeds selectively and sequentially the LEDs 14 to allow a gradual passage from one specific color to another specific color. The LEDs 14 are disposed inside the luminous panel 12 and are able to emit light towards the outside of the luminous panel 12 through the front aperture 16.

Through the sole front aperture 16, the traffic light apparatus 10 therefore allows to emit light in each of the different specific colors, also defining specific geometric shapes.

It is clear that the overall number of LEDs 14 can be other than 240.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the traffic light apparatus 10 as described heretofore, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of traffic light apparatuses, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

Claims

1. Traffic light apparatus comprising at least a luminous panel (12) and a plurality of light emitting diodes or LEDs (14), disposed inside said luminous panel (12) and able to emit light towards the outside of said luminous panel (12), characterized in that said luminous panel (12) comprises a single front aperture (16) and in that the LEDs (14) are of the multicolor type and are connected to control means (18) able to select the color of the light to be emitted by said LEDs (14), so that from said single front aperture (16) it is possible to emit light of different specific colors, such as green, amber and red, and possibly at least another color.

2. Traffic light apparatus as in claim 1, characterized in that said control means (18) is able to vary the electric feed to the LEDs (14), so as to select at least one of said specific colors.

3. Traffic light apparatus as in claim 2, characterized in that said control means (18) is able to feed said LEDs (14) so as to emit light alternately in each of said specific colors according to a predefined or programmable sequence.

4. Traffic light apparatus as in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said control means (18) is able to feed said LEDs (14) selectively and individually, so as to define specific geometric shapes characterized by a specific color.

5. Traffic light apparatus as in claim 4, characterized in that said geometric shapes comprise at least: a circle, an arrow, a cross, a bar or a human shape.

6. Traffic light apparatus as in claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said geometric shapes are able to be selectively orientated.

7. Traffic light apparatus as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said control means (18) is able to feed said LEDs (14) selectively and sequentially, so as to allow a gradual passage from one specific color to another specific color.