WO2003050780A1

WO2003050780A1 - Street traffic lights device

Info

Publication number: WO2003050780A1
Application number: PCT/HU2002/000056
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sándor Nagy; József PINTYE
Original assignee: Nagy Sandor; Pintye Jozsef
Priority date: 2001-12-13
Filing date: 2002-06-20
Publication date: 2003-06-19
Also published as: AU2002311498A1

Abstract

The subject of the invention is a street traffic lights control equipment operated by radio guidance, which makes it possible to set street traffic lights red, ensuring this way easy and safe crossing of certain vehicles in crossing protected with traffic lights. The equipment according to the invention consists of a radio frequency transmitter and a radio frequency receiver, and is characterized by that, a transmitter unit consisting of a blocking oscillator (1) joined by a coding unit (2), an amplifying and signal forming unit (3) furthermore an RF transmitter (4) unit joining a transmitter aerial (5) of a transmitter and a code-setting unit (7) is connected to a coding unit (2), furthermore a receiver aerial (8) of a receiver unit is connected with an RF receiver (9), which is joined by an amplitude selector (10), while a decoding unit (11) connected to a code-setting unit (14) is connected to the amplitude selector (10) and a signal transforming and control voltage producing unit (12) is connected to the decoding unit (11) and the signal transforming and control voltage producing unit (12) is connected to a control automation (13) of street traffic lights.

Description

STREET TRAFFIC LIGHTS DEVICE

The subject of the invention is a street traffic lights control equipment operated by radio guidance, which makes it possible to set street traffic lights red, ensuring this way easy and safe crossing of certain vehicles in crossings protected with traffic lights.

Nowadays accidents happen more and more frequently where the accident results from ignoring or late perception of signals of vehicles using discriminating signal or signals of railway crossings. Most of these accidents occur in road-crossings where even if there are traffic- lights it does not always facilitate crossing of this kind of vehicle, or sometime they even make it dangerous, especially in case of blinking yellow signal. These accidents have grave consequences regarding both people involved in the accidents and reaching destination of the vehicle using cUscriminating signals.

According to prior arts there are various methods for regulating traffic. Hungarian patent HU 212 524 describes a method for regulating motor vehicles and other mobile objects in road-crossings. This method regulates traffic of road crossings by street traffic lights including a programmable control unit in a way, that the inside of the junction is covered in X shape by beams issued by signals placed after the stop lines in the direction of movement registered by relays. Movements of vehicles inside the junction are registered with breaking of these beams. Depending on the traffic the minimum period of preprogrammed green light time for the vehicles coming from direction A straight and to the right and to the left will be increased by staggering time until a vehicle stays within the junction, or adding that much staggering time to the n-ώiimum length of time, so that the amount of which reaches the maximum length of time.

In case of reaching this minimum length of time automation breaks green light of direction A in spite of the existing beam-breaks and after lapse of transition period respectively after lapse of vacating period the nrinimum length of time is switched on for the next movement direction. Vehicles are registered from this other direction in a way similar to the above. In case there is no vehicle in the crossings, there is no break of beam, automation takes back free signal after lapse of minimum length of time and after the lapse of transition and vacating period and the next direction of movement is given free signal. In case during the niinimum length of time vehicles reach the crossings continuously, the equipment perceives it with the breaking of beams, and depending on the traffic it starts lengthening the green signal time of the given direction by the staggering time. It goes on like this until a vehicle is registered in the junction, or the green signal time have reached maximum length of time.

Hungarian patent HU 186 432 describes an arrangement for priority of public transport vehicles by registration. The arrangement includes a mobile transmitter with directed emission located on the vehicle and a direction-sensitive signal receiver located in the junction. The signal receiver is placed on a higher point, than the transmitter, on the street traffic lights, or next to it and its axis line of its direction characteristic intersects the horizontal path of the mobile transmitter, furthermore the signal receiver is connected electrically with the traffic lights equipment.

Utility model HU U 222 describes a radio security system to be used in junctions. The equipment is provided with radio transmitter and radio receivers. The radio transmitter is installed in the immediate vicinity of the junction, connected with its local energy supply and/or fiirnished with independent energy supply and an aerial joins the radio transmitter. The radio signal receiver is located on vehicles, preferably in the cabin, and the radio signal receiver is joined by a device producing acoustic signals.

Deficiency of currently applied methods is, that in case of vehicles using discriininating signals safe crossing of junctions is not ensured.

With working out the solution according to the invention we aim at producing a street traffic lights control by radio aerial guidance, which is capable of setting traffic lights prohibiting crossing, ensuring this way easier and safer crossing of vehicles using chscriminating signals in the crossings protected by street traffic lights. When producing the solution according to the invention we realized, that in case we produce a control system consisting of a blocking oscillator, joined by a coding grade, a code-setting unit, amplifying and signal forming unit and a transmitter consisting of RF transmitter and RF receiver, joined by an amplitude selector, furthermore a receiver connected with a decoding unit connected with a code-setting unit, which is connected to the automation of street traffic lights, then the set aim can be achieved.

The invention relates to a street traffic lights control by radio aerial guidance, which consists of a radio frequency transmitter and a radio frequency receiver, which is characterized by that, a transmitter unit consisting of a blocking oscillator joined by a coding unit, an amplifying and signal forming unit furthermore an RF transmitter unit joining a transmitter aerial of a transmitter and a code-setting unit is connected to a coding unit, furthermore a receiver aerial of a receiver unit is connected with an RF receiver, which is joined by an amplitude selector, while a decoding unit connected to a code-setting unit is connected to the amplitude selector and a signal fransforming and control voltage producing unit is connected to the decoding unit and the signal fransfoπning and control voltage producing unit is connected to a control automation of street traffic lights.

In a preferred embodiment of the equipment according to the invention, another output connector of the signal fransfoπning and control voltage producing unit is joined by a control light. The code-setting units of the transmitter unit and that of the receiver unit are preferably programmed integrated circuit or a connecting network consisting of microchips in given case a ROM.

The solution according to the invention is set forth with the enclosed figures:

Fig 1 shows the block scheme of the transmitter unit of the equipment according to the invention.

Fig 2 shows the block scheme of the receiver unit of the equipment according to the invention.

Fig 3 shows the joint arrangement of the partial units of the equipment according to the invention. Fig 1 shows the block scheme of the transmitter unit of the equipment according to the invention. It can be seen in the figure, that the transmitter unit consists of a blocking oscillator 1 joined by a coding unit 2, amplifying and signal forming unit 3 furthermore an RF transmitter 4 unit joming a transmitter aerial 5 of the transmitter. The code-setting unit 7, which sets the code emitted by the transmitter is connected to the coding unit 2. Supplying voltage for certain part units is ensured by supply source 6 of the transmitter unit. The task of the transmitter unit is to continuously provide radio frequency code signals necessary to switch over traffic lights after having switched on disci±nmating signal of vehicle.

Fig 2 shows the block scheme of the receiver unit of the equipment according to the invention. As it can be seen in the figure, the receiver aerial 8 of the receiver unit is connected with an RF receiver 9, which is joined by an amplitude selector 10. The decoding unit 11 is connected to the amplitude selector 10 and a signal fransfoirning and control voltage producing unit 12 is connected to the decoding unit 11. The signal fransfoπning and control voltage producing unit 12 has two output connectors. One of them joins the control automation 13 of the street traffic lights, the other one joins the control light 15. The receiver located at the control unit of the street traffic hghts ensures receipt of signals sent by the transmitting unit and production of suitable signals to control traffic lights.

Fig 3 shows the joint arrangement of the partial units of the equipment according to the invention, and the operation of the equipment is made known accordingly. At the switch-on of the discriminating signal supply source 6 receives voltage and under this effect supplies certain units of the equipment with the necessary voltage. Under the influence of this voltage supply blocking oscillator 1 starts operation, producing impulses in certain time period. Impulses get to coding unit 2, which produces the coded impulse sequence to be emitted on basis of the data of the code-setting unit 7. Then the coded impulse series are amplified and formed in the amplifying and signal forming unit 3 and get to the input of the RF transmitter 4, from where it perpetually emits the coded signals through the transmitter aerial 5 to every direction, which are indicated in figure 3 by an arrow. The receipt of the signals is ensured by the receiver aerial 8 connected to the RF receiver 9. The impulse series get to the amplitude selector 10 from the output of the RF receiver 9. The voltage limit value deteπnining the lowest value for impulses and noise voltages that can go through should be set on the amplitude selector 10. This can regulate the range and sensitivity of the equipment as well. If the impulses on the output of the RF receiver 9 reach respectively exceed the amplitude value set on the amplitude selector 10, that is there is a vehicle using ώscriminating signals wilhin a given distance, the impulses get from the output of the amplitude selector 10 to the decoding unit 11. After decoding the impulses get to the signal fransfoirning and control voltage producing unit 12, which on the one hand provides the necessary control signals for the control automation 13 of the traffic lights, and on the other hand provides control or operating voltage for the control light 15.

The given control signal of the control automation 13 controlling the traffic lights sets all the traffic lights in the crossings red, both that of the pedestrians' and that of the vehicles'. This way traffic stops in every direction making possible for the vehicle using chscixminating signals to cross safely from any direction. The control light 15 informs the driver of the vehicle using ώscriminating signals about the stopping of traffic, so that crossing is free and safe. After crossing of the vehicle, as soon as the vehicle using ώscriminating signals have left the junction, the traffic lights automatically return to normal function.

In a preferable application of the equipment according to the invention each vehicle using chsciijrnmating signals is furnished with transmitter unit and there is a receiver unit in each junction with traffic hghts. Furthermore each vehicle using the discriminating signal uses the same unified code. This way the same code-setting unit 17 can be used both in the receiver unit as in the transmitter unit. The transmitter unit emits the coded signals in every direction, so within a given distance around the vehicle using chscrimώating signals each traffic lights furnished with receiver unit shall change to a prohibitive sign. This way the vehicle using ώsci±riinating signals may leave the crossing in any direction, it may turn anywhere, it may cross safely the next junction in the range of the transmitter unit. In case of a possible embodiment of the solution according to the invention the control hght 15 indicating the possibility of safe crossing should be located in the junction so, that it could be seen from every direction and it should be provided with a colour respectively light, which could be well differentiated from the lights of the traffic lights. The equipment according to the invention can be used in every junction with traffic lights, the control automation 13 of which has a control input, a so-called "full red" switch, which changes to red to every direction after having received the control voltage.

The frequency used for emission is not critical, any free frequency is suitable for the transmitting of the code series from CB to URH through micro-frequencies. The emission performance of the transmitter in given case can vary between a few hundred mWs and a few Ws. Accordingly the range of the equipment is between a few hundred metres to one kilometre, which can be greatly influenced by the local conditions, location of buildings and streets, direction, the size of built-in area and whether transmitting takes place in the centre or outskirts of the city. On certain frequencies suitable for this purpose, for example on microwave fransnritting depending on direction is also possible. This case when the vehicle using discrimmating signal have left the crossing, the traffic lights could return to original function and the traffic could set off.

The RF receiver 9 of the receiver unit is tuned fix to the frequency, on which the transmitter unit of the RF transmitter 4 operates, and it is perpetually switched on. On the given frequency in the vicinity of the traffic lights it might occur, that a radio frequency emission or disturbance happens. This might cause switching on "full red" signal when emission does not originate from a vehicle using discraninating signal. In order to prevent this occurrence the code series is suitable, which can only originate from the vehicle using discritrώiating signals. To select faulty or unsuitable, in given case far away emissions the equipment is furnished with the amplitude selector 10, which can set the limit value and sensitivity can be adjusted.

Modulation applied during radio ttansnώting in the equipment is preferably AM, FM, phase or impulse modulation. The RF receiver has a demodulated base wave signal at the output, which makes possible the identification of the code after the amplitude selector 10 in the decoding unit 11. The code-setting units (7,14) of the transmitter unit and in given case that of the receiver unit are a connecting network connected according to the code, or a programmed integrated circuit, microchip for example ROM the code is preliminarily deteirnined or programmed in, and this programmed circuit is built in the transmitter respectively receiver. This way the identity of the code in the transmitter and receiver is fully granted. Application of coded chip makes possible change of code easy and safe, during which only the integrated circuits of the code-setting units of the certain transmitter and receiver units should be exchanged.

The advantage of the solution according to the invention is, that it makes possible the changing of the traffic lights to red in time in every direction, facilitating the crossing of vehicles using discriminating signal arriving at the junction in any direction. The solution according to the invention makes possible the implementation of a generally usable system, which could ensure, that each vehicle using discrirninating signals can safely cross the junction.

Claims

_t Street traffic lights control by radio aerial guidance, which consists of a radio frequency transmitter and a radio frequency receiver,

characterized by that

a transmitter unit consisting of a blocking oscillator (1) joined by a coding unit (2), an amplifying and signal foπning unit (3) furthermore an RF transmitter (4) unit joining a transmitter aerial (5) of a transmitter and a code-setting unit (7) is connected to a coding unit (2), furthermore a receiver aerial (8) of a receiver unit is connected with an RF receiver (9), which is joined by an amphtude selector (10), while a decoding unit (11) connected to a code-setting unit (14) is connected to the amplitude selector (10) and a signal fransfoπning and control voltage producing unit (12) is connected to the decoding unit (11) and the signal fransforming and control voltage producing unit (12) is connected to a control automation (13) of street traffic lights.

2. Equipment according to claim 1 characterized by that, another output connector of the signal fransforming and control voltage producing unit (12) is joined by a control light (15).

3. Equipment according to any of claims 1 or 2 characterized by that, code-setting units (7,14) of the transmitter unit and that of the receiver unit are programmed integrated circuit or a connecting network consisting of microchips in given case a ROM.