JP2002312889A - Automobile traffic signal system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make an emergency automobile preferentially pass an intersection by excluding general automobiles and pedestrians from the intersection. SOLUTION: An entrance receiver 2 is provided before the intersection; and when an emergency automobile 5 approaches the intersection while transmitting a signal from a transmitter 6, the entrance receiver captures this signal to send an interruption signal to a signal control part 7. The signal control part switches the normal mode to the emergency mode to switch traffic light for the lane of the emergency automobile to blue and switch that for the other lanes to red at input of the interruption signal though ordinarily performing control in the normal mode of cyclically switching traffic light to red, blue, and yellow by a timer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a signal system which enables emergency vehicles (fire engines, ambulances, police cars, etc.) to pass quickly and safely at intersections.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An emergency vehicle runs while turning on a red rotating light and sounding a siren to draw attention of other vehicles and pedestrians. However, many drivers enter an intersection without noticing the emergency vehicle, and a collision accident occurs between the emergency vehicle and a general vehicle, and an emergency vehicle often gets stuck at a crowded intersection.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to eliminate ordinary vehicles and pedestrians from an intersection when an emergency vehicle passes through the intersection so that the emergency vehicle can be passed preferentially.

[0004]

An automobile traffic signal system according to the present invention includes a signal control unit for controlling a signal lamp,
It has a transmitter mounted on the emergency vehicle and an ingress receiver installed just before the intersection, which receives a signal from the transmitter when the emergency vehicle passes nearby and sends an interrupt signal to the signal control unit. Upon receiving the interrupt signal, the signal control unit switches the control of the signal lamp from the normal mode to the emergency mode, and the signal of the lane of the emergency vehicle turns blue and the signal of the other lanes turns red.

[0005] In the traffic signal system of the present invention,
When an emergency vehicle approaches the intersection while sending a signal from the transmitter, the approach receiver catches the signal in front of the intersection,
Sends an interrupt signal to the signal control unit. The signal controller is usually
The signal lights are controlled in the normal mode in which the red, blue, and yellow lights are alternately switched. However, when an interrupt signal is input, the mode is switched to the emergency mode. In this way, vehicles in other lanes are prevented from entering the intersection. Therefore, the emergency vehicle can pass through the intersection smoothly and safely.
According to the present invention, in the emergency mode, not all traffic lights at the intersection are turned red, but only the lanes of the emergency vehicle. By doing so, the emergency car does not get stuck in the car waiting for the traffic light.

[0006] As the transceiver, any of a radio transceiver, an infrared transceiver, and an ultrasonic transceiver using radio waves, infrared rays, and ultrasonic waves as media can be used. Two sets of transmitting / receiving apparatuses of different types may be used to prevent malfunction due to noise or the like.

[0007] To return the signal lights to the normal control mode after the emergency vehicle exits the intersection, a timer may be used. However, an exit receiver is installed after the intersection, and the emergency vehicle is located near the intersection. Upon passing, the exit receiver receives a signal from the transmitter, sends a return signal to the signal control unit, and upon receiving the return signal, the signal control unit switches from the emergency mode to the normal mode, so that the operation is reliable ( Claim 2).

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. 1, signal lamps 1a to 1d arranged at four corners of an intersection are conventional ones and have three colors of red, blue and yellow. The approach receivers 2a to 2d are installed before the intersection, for example, at a position of about 100 m. Exit receiver 3 immediately after leaving the intersection
a to 3d are installed. Entry and exit receivers are provided for each lane. These receivers are supported by columns or the like standing beside the road.

A transmitter 6 is mounted on the emergency vehicle 5. The output of the transmitter is set to the minimum necessary so that the receiver receives the signal from the onboard transmitter 6 only when the emergency vehicle passes by the entering or leaving receivers 2 and 3. Here, not only an infrared transceiver but also an ultrasonic transceiver is used in combination to prevent malfunction due to noise or the like. Near the intersection, a signal control unit 7 for controlling the signal light 1 is placed.

The operation of the signal is shown in the block diagram of FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In normal times, the signal control unit 7 controls the normal mode (S4 in FIG. 3), and the signal lights are regularly switched in the order of red, blue, and yellow. Now
It is assumed that the emergency vehicle 5 comes to the intersection from the lower part of FIG. When the emergency vehicle passes near the entry receiver 2a, the entry receiver 2a receives an output signal from the onboard transmitter 6 and sends an interrupt signal to the signal control unit 7 (see FIG. 2). Upon receiving the interrupt signal, the signal control unit 7 immediately switches the control from the normal mode to the emergency mode.
(S1, S2). When entering the emergency mode, the traffic lights 1b to 1d maintain the state of red if it has been red, and immediately switch from yellow to red if it has been blue.
On the other hand, the signal 1a in front of the emergency vehicle is switched to blue if it is red, and if it is red, it waits for all other signals to become red.

Thus, by the time the emergency vehicle 5 reaches the intersection, the signal 1a in front of the emergency vehicle is blue and the other signals 1b to 1d are red, and the emergency vehicle is in the direction desired by the intersection (ie, , Go straight or turn left or right). It should be noted that vehicles in the same lane of the emergency vehicle can also pass through the intersection.

When an emergency vehicle approaches, it is conceivable that all traffic lights at the intersection are turned red. However, in this case, a vehicle running in front of the emergency vehicle stops at a red light and the emergency vehicle stops. This is because it blocks traffic.

When the emergency vehicle 5 passes through the intersection, the corresponding exit receiver (3a for straight ahead, 3 for left turn)
d, in the case of a right turn, 3b) receives a signal from the onboard transmitter 6 and sends a return signal to the signal control unit 7 (see FIG. 2). Then, the signal control unit 7 switches the control from the emergency mode to the normal mode (S3, S4 in FIG. 3). As a result, the signal light 1
Will switch to red, blue, and yellow, as before.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an intersection provided with an automobile traffic signal system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an automobile traffic signal system.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vehicle traffic signal system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Signal light 2 Ingress receiver 3 Exit receiver 5 Emergency car 6 Transmitter 7 Signal control part

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A signal control unit for controlling a signal light, a transmitter mounted on an emergency vehicle, and a signal control unit installed in front of an intersection. When the emergency vehicle passes by, a signal is received from the transmitter. An entry receiver for sending an interrupt signal to the signal control unit, and upon receiving the interrupt signal, the signal control unit switches the control of the signal lamp from the normal mode to the emergency mode, the signal of the emergency vehicle lane is blue, and the other lanes Traffic light system where the traffic light turns red. 2. It is installed just after the intersection, and when an emergency vehicle passes nearby, it receives a signal from the transmitter,
The vehicle traffic signal system according to claim 1, further comprising an exit receiver for sending a return signal to the signal control unit, wherein the signal control unit switches from the emergency mode to the normal mode upon receiving the return signal.