Traffic Signal Anomaly Reporting System

Abstract

A traffic signal anomaly notification system includes a traffic signal control device and at least one monitoring device communicatively connected to the traffic signal control device. The traffic signal control device is electrically connected to a plurality of traffic lights to sense an operating current of each of the plurality of traffic lights. The traffic signal control device has preset a plurality of reference current ranges corresponding to the plurality of traffic lights. The traffic signal control device determines whether the value of the operating current of each traffic light is within the reference current range corresponding to that traffic light. When the traffic signal control device determines that the value of the operating current of one of the plurality of traffic lights exceeds its corresponding reference current range, the traffic signal control device sends an anomaly notification, which is received and displayed by the at least one monitoring device, allowing maintenance personnel to immediately repair the abnormal traffic light.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an anomaly reporting system, and more particularly to a traffic signal anomaly reporting system. Prior Technology

[0002] To ensure smooth traffic flow in street networks, traffic signals are typically installed at intersections. These traffic signals (such as red and green lights) are usually composed of multiple light-emitting elements. These multiple light-emitting elements are connected to a traffic controller installed at the intersection via physical wiring. The traffic controller is pre-programmed with the on / off timing of these multiple light-emitting elements in each traffic signal at the intersection, so that the traffic signals can indicate whether drivers and pedestrians on different roads can pass through by changing different light colors, thus achieving the effect of traffic control.

[0003] After prolonged operation, the multiple light-emitting elements in the traffic signals may experience a decrease in brightness (or even complete failure). This can prevent pedestrians from recognizing changes in the light signals when passing through intersections with malfunctioning traffic signals, making it impossible for them to determine whether it is safe to proceed. However, traffic signal maintenance personnel will only repair the malfunctioning traffic signals after receiving reports from the public or when the intersection is already scheduled for maintenance. During the period between the malfunction of the traffic signals and the completion of repairs, traffic congestion is likely to occur at the intersection, increasing the probability of traffic accidents. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Existing traffic controllers cannot determine whether the connected traffic lights are functioning properly. When a traffic light malfunctions, maintenance is only carried out after public notification or self-discovery by maintenance personnel. This results in a prolonged period of no traffic control at the intersection where the malfunctioning traffic light is located before repairs are completed, increasing the probability of traffic accidents. Therefore, this invention proposes a traffic light malfunction notification system, comprising: A signal control device is electrically connected to a plurality of signal lights to sense the operating current of each of the plurality of signal lights. The signal control device has multiple preset reference current ranges, each corresponding to one of the plurality of signal lights. The signal control device determines whether the value of the operating current of each signal light falls within its corresponding reference current range. When the signal control device determines that the operating current of one of the plurality of signal lights exceeds its corresponding reference current range, the signal control device sends an abnormality notification. At least one monitoring device is communicatively connected to the signal control device to receive and display the anomaly notification; The signal control device includes: An input / output interface card is electrically connected to a plurality of hazard lights. The input / output interface card senses the operating current of each hazard light and calculates a detection voltage value for each hazard light based on the operating current of each hazard light; and A control module, connected to the input / output interface card and storing the plurality of reference current ranges, receives the detection voltage value of each signal lamp, calculates a detection current value for each signal lamp based on the detection voltage value, and determines whether the detection current value of each signal lamp is within the reference current range corresponding to that signal lamp. When the control module determines that the detection current value of one of the plurality of signal lamps exceeds its corresponding reference current range, the control module sends an abnormal notification for that signal lamp. The input / output interface card includes: A channel switch is electrically connected to the plurality of hazard lights to sense the operating current of each hazard light, and the channel switch outputs the operating current of one of the plurality of hazard lights; A detection circuit, electrically connected to a channel switch, receives the operating current of one of the plurality of indicator lights; the detection circuit calculates and outputs a detection voltage value corresponding to the operating current; and An interface card controller is electrically connected to the detection circuit to receive the detection voltage value. The interface card controller outputs the detection voltage value of each indicator light to the control module.

[0005] The traffic signal anomaly notification system of this invention includes a signal control device that can automatically monitor whether the operating current value of each signal light is normal (within the reference current range corresponding to each signal light). When the signal control device determines that the operating current value of one of the plurality of signal lights is abnormal, it automatically sends an anomaly notification to at least one monitoring device. The at least one monitoring device displays the anomaly notification, allowing maintenance personnel to be immediately aware of the signal light anomaly and carry out repairs promptly, thus shortening the waiting time for repairs of abnormal signal lights. Compared with previous technologies, traffic control at intersections where abnormal signal lights are located can be restored more quickly, reducing the probability of traffic accidents. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0006] Figure 1: Circuit block diagram of the traffic signal anomaly reporting system of the present invention. Figure 2: Circuit block diagram of the traffic signal anomaly reporting system of the present invention. Implementation

[0007] To gain a detailed understanding of the technical features and practical effects of the present invention, and to enable its implementation according to the invention, the following detailed description is provided with reference to the embodiments shown in the figures:

[0008] Please refer to Figure 1. The traffic signal anomaly reporting system of the present invention includes a traffic signal control device 10 and at least one monitoring device 20. The traffic signal control device 10 is communicatively connected to the at least one monitoring device 20. For example, the traffic signal control device 10 can be connected to the at least one monitoring device 20 via the Internet. The traffic signal control device 10 can be set at an intersection and electrically connected to a plurality of traffic signals at the intersection. Each traffic signal includes a plurality of traffic lights 30. In other words, the traffic signal control device 10 is electrically connected to the plurality of traffic lights 30 of each traffic signal. The monitoring device 20 is set separately from the traffic signal control device 10. For example, the monitoring device 20 can be a mobile device or a computer set up in a traffic control center.

[0009] The signal control device 10 senses an operating current I of each of the signal lights 30, and the signal control device 10 has preset multiple reference current ranges, which correspond to the multiple signal lights 30 respectively. For example, the multiple signal lights 30 are controlled by the signal control device 10 and can be controlled to start (all on) or turn off (all off). Then the operating current I of each signal light 30 is the current when each signal light is fully on or fully off. During the parameter setting stage of the signal control device 10, the user can set the current when each signal light is fully on in the signal control device 10, so that the signal control device 10 stores the multiple current ranges. For example, the multiple signal lights 30 include a red light, a green light and a yellow light. The current values ​​when the red light, the green light and the yellow light are fully on are 2 (amps) respectively, and the reference current ranges corresponding to the red light, the green light and the yellow light can be 1 to 3 amps respectively.

[0010] The signal control device 10 determines whether the value of the operating current I of each signal lamp 30 is within the reference current range corresponding to each signal lamp 30. When the signal control device 10 determines that the value of the operating current of one of the plurality of signal lamps 30 exceeds its corresponding reference current range, the signal control device 10 sends an abnormal notification S1. Specifically, as shown in FIG1, the signal control device 10 further includes an input / output interface card (I / O Card) 11 and a control module 12. The input / output interface card 11 is electrically connected to the plurality of signal lamps 30 and the control module 12. The input / output interface card 11 can control the on / off state of each signal lamp 30 according to the instructions sent by the control module 12, and each signal lamp 30 outputs its operating current I to the input / output interface card 11, so that the input / output interface card 11 calculates a detection voltage value Q1 of each signal lamp 30 based on the operating current I of each signal lamp 30.

[0011] Referring to Figure 2, in one embodiment of the present invention, the input / output interface card 11 further includes a channel switch 110, a detection circuit 111, and an interface card controller 112. The channel switch 110 is electrically connected to the plurality of hazard lights 30 to sense the operating current I of each hazard light 30. The channel switch 110 outputs the operating current I of one of the plurality of hazard lights 30. The detection circuit 111 is electrically connected to the channel switch 110 to receive the operating current I of one of the plurality of hazard lights 30. The detection circuit 111 calculates and outputs the detection voltage value Q1 corresponding to the operating current I. The interface card controller 112 is electrically connected to the detection circuit 111 to receive the detection voltage value Q1 and outputs the detection voltage value Q1 of each hazard light 30 to the control module 12.

[0012] For example, the channel switch 110 can be a multiplexer with multiple input terminals and one output terminal. The multiple input terminals are used to connect to the multiple signal lamps 30 and receive the operating current I of each signal lamp 30. The channel switch 110 can output the operating current I of one of the multiple signal lamps 30 from the output terminal according to the control of the interface card controller 112. Specifically, the interface card controller 112 is electrically connected to the channel switch 110 and continuously outputs a channel control signal S2. The channel switch 110 continuously receives the operating current I of the multiple signal lamps 30. The channel control signal S2, whenever the channel switch 110 receives the channel control signal S2, the channel switch 110 outputs the operating current I of one of the multiple signal lamps 30 according to the channel control signal S2. In other words, the channel switch 110 can form a loop with one of the multiple input terminals, the output terminal, the detection circuit 111 and the interface card controller 112 according to the channel control signal S2, so that the interface card controller 112 receives the detection voltage value Q1 of the signal lamp 30 connected to the input terminal.

[0013] For example, the multiple input terminals of the channel switch 110 are a first input terminal to a twelfth input terminal, that is, the number of multiple indicator lights connected to the channel switch 110 is twelve (a first indicator light to a twelfth indicator light). First, the interface card controller 112 outputs a first channel controller to the channel switch 110. When the channel switch 110 receives the first channel control signal, the channel switch 110 controls the first input terminal and the output terminal to form a loop, so that the interface card controller 112 receives the detection voltage value Q of the first indicator light. 1. When the interface card controller 112 receives the detection voltage value Q1 of the first indicator light, the interface card controller 112 outputs a second channel controller to the channel switch 110, and repeats this process until the interface card controller 112 receives the detection voltage value Q1 of the first to the twelfth indicator lights. The interface card controller 112 then outputs the detection voltage value Q1 of each indicator light to the control module 12. After that, the interface card controller 112 outputs the first channel control signal to the channel switch 110 again to start a new circuit control cycle.

[0014] Please refer to Figure 2 again. The detection circuit 111 includes a resistor 1110 and an analog-to-digital converter 1111. The resistor 1110 is electrically connected to the output terminal of the channel switch 110 to receive the operating current I of one of the multiple signal lamps. The operating current I of one of the multiple signal lamps is an analog current. The analog-to-digital converter 1111 is electrically connected to the resistor 1110 to sense the analog voltage generated by the analog current flowing through the resistor. The analog-to-digital converter calculates the detection voltage value Q1 corresponding to the operating current I based on the analog voltage.

[0015] The interface card controller 112 can be a microcontroller (MCU), a single-chip system, etc., and the control module 12 can be a programmable logic controller (PLC), but this invention is not limited thereto. The interface card controller 112 can be communicatively connected to the control module 12, enabling the control module 12 to receive the detection voltage value Q1 of each of the signal lamps 30. The control module 12 stores the multiple reference current segments and calculates a detection current value for each signal lamp 30 based on the detection voltage value Q1 of each signal lamp 30. The control module 12 determines whether the detected current value of each signal lamp 30 is within the reference current range corresponding to each signal lamp 30; when the control module 12 determines that the detected current value of one of the plurality of signal lamps 30 exceeds its corresponding reference current range, the control module 12 transmits the abnormal notification S1 corresponding to the signal lamp 30, and the at least one monitoring device receives and displays the abnormal notification S1 corresponding to the signal lamp 30, so maintenance personnel can go to maintain the abnormal signal lamp 30 according to the abnormal notification S1.

[0016] Furthermore, in one embodiment of the present invention, the control module 12 outputs a start signal S3 to the input / output interface card 11, causing the input / output interface card 11 to control at least one of the plurality of hazard lights 30 to start, and the control module 12 determines whether the detected current value of at least one of the plurality of hazard lights 30 is within its corresponding reference current range according to the start signal S3. Specifically, the control module 12 stores a plurality of step information, and each step information presets the on / off state of the plurality of hazard lights 30. For example, the plurality of step information includes a first step and a second step, and the plurality of hazard lights 30 includes the aforementioned red light, green light and yellow light.

[0017] In the first step, when all red lights are on and all green and yellow lights are off, the control module outputs the start signal S3 to the input / output interface card 11, causing the input / output interface card 11 to control all red lights to be on and all green and yellow lights to be off. Simultaneously, the input / output interface card 11 receives the detection voltage value Q1 of each signal light 30 and outputs the detection voltage value Q1 of each signal light 30 to the control module 12. The control module 12 calculates the detection current value of each signal light 30 based on the detection voltage value Q1 of each signal light 30. The detected current values ​​of the light and the yellow light in the first step are, for example, 2 (amps), 0 (amps) and 0 (amps) respectively. Assuming that the reference current ranges of the red light, the green light and the yellow light in the control module 12 can be 1~3 amps respectively, the control module 12 determines according to the start signal S3 that only the red light needs to be in its corresponding reference current range, and the detected current value of the red light is 2 amps (between 1~3 amps), indicating that the detected current value of the red light is normal (normal operating state), then the monitoring device 20 does not receive the abnormal notification S1.

[0018] In the second step, when all green lights are on and all red and yellow lights are off, the control module outputs the start signal S3 to the input / output interface card 11, causing the input / output interface card 11 to control all green lights to be on and all red and yellow lights to be off. Assuming that the detection current values ​​of the red, green, and yellow lights in the second step are, for example, 0 (amps), 0 (amps), and 0 (amps), the control module 12 determines, based on the start signal S3, that only the green light needs to be within its corresponding reference current range, while the detection current value of the red light is 0 amps (exceeding 1~3 amps), indicating that the detection current value of the green light is abnormal (abnormal operating state), then the control module 12 sends the abnormal notification S1 to the at least one monitoring device 20.

[0019] In addition, the signal control device 10 further includes a human-machine interface 13, which is electrically connected to the control module 12. The human-machine interface 13 also receives and displays the abnormal notification S1 corresponding to the signal light 30.

[0020] In the traffic signal anomaly notification system of the present invention, the signal control device 10 can automatically monitor whether the value of the operating current I of each signal light 30 is normal (within the reference current range corresponding to each signal light 30). When the signal control device 10 determines that the value of the operating current of one of the plurality of signal lights 30 is abnormal, the signal control device 10 automatically transmits the anomaly notification S1 to the at least one monitoring device 20. The at least one monitoring device 20 displays the anomaly notification S1, so maintenance personnel can be informed of the anomaly of the signal light 30 in time and carry out maintenance immediately, shortening the waiting time for the abnormal signal light. Compared with the prior art, the intersection where the abnormal signal light is located can restore traffic control of the signal lights more quickly, reducing the probability of traffic accidents.

[0021] In summary, this description merely illustrates the implementation methods or embodiments of the technical means employed by the present invention to solve the problem, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention patent. That is, all changes and modifications that conform to the meaning of the text of this patent application, or are equivalent to those made within the scope of this patent, are covered by the scope of this patent.

[0022] 10: Signal control device 11: Input / Output Interface Card 110: Channel Switcher 111: Detection Circuit 1110: Resistor 1111: Analog to Digital Converter 112: Interface Card Controller 12: Control Module 13: Human-Computer Interface 20: Monitoring device 30: Signal Light I: Operating current S1: Exception Notification S2: Channel control signal S3: Start Signal Q1: Detect voltage value

Claims

1. A traffic signal anomaly notification system, comprising: a traffic signal control device electrically connected to a plurality of traffic lights to sense an operating current of each of the plurality of traffic lights, the traffic signal control device having preset a plurality of reference current ranges, each of the plurality of reference current ranges corresponding to the plurality of traffic lights; the traffic signal control device determining whether the value of the operating current of each of the traffic lights is within the reference current range corresponding to each traffic light; when the traffic signal control device determines that the value of the operating current of one of the plurality of traffic lights exceeds its corresponding reference current range, the traffic signal control device transmitting an anomaly notification; and at least one monitoring device communicatively connected to the traffic signal control device to receive and display the anomaly notification; wherein, The signal control device includes: an input / output interface card electrically connected to a plurality of signal lights, the input / output interface card sensing the operating current of each signal light and calculating a detection voltage value for each signal light based on the operating current of each signal light; and a control module connected to the input / output interface card and storing the plurality of reference current ranges, the control module receiving the detection voltage values ​​of each signal light and calculating a detection current value for each signal light based on the detection voltage values ​​of each signal light, and the control module determining whether the detection current value of each signal light is within the reference current range corresponding to each signal light; when the control module determines that the detection current value of one of the plurality of signal lights exceeds its corresponding reference current range, the control module transmits an abnormal notification for that signal light; wherein, the input / output interface card includes: A channel switch, electrically connected to the plurality of hazard lights, senses the operating current of each hazard light and outputs the operating current of one of the hazard lights; a detection circuit, electrically connected to the channel switch, receives the operating current of one of the hazard lights and calculates and outputs a detection voltage value corresponding to the operating current; and an interface card controller, electrically connected to the detection circuit, receives the detection voltage value and outputs the detection voltage value of each hazard light to the control module.

2. The traffic signal anomaly reporting system as described in Request 1, wherein: The interface card controller is electrically connected to the channel switcher and continuously outputs a channel control signal. The channel switcher continuously receives the channel control signal. Whenever the channel switcher receives the channel control signal, the channel switcher outputs the operating current of one of the plurality of indicator lights according to the channel control signal.

3. The traffic signal anomaly reporting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detection circuit comprises: a resistor electrically connected to the channel switch to receive the operating current of one of the plurality of traffic lights, wherein the operating current of one of the plurality of traffic lights is an analog current; and an analog-to-digital converter electrically connected to the resistor to sense an analog voltage generated by the analog current flowing through the resistor, the analog-to-digital converter calculating the detection voltage value corresponding to the operating current based on the analog voltage.

4. The traffic signal anomaly reporting system as described in Request 1, wherein: The control module outputs a start signal to the input / output interface card, causing the input / output interface card to control at least one of the plurality of indicator lights to start, and the control module determines, based on the start signal, whether the detected current value of at least one of the plurality of indicator lights is within its corresponding reference current range.

5. The traffic signal anomaly notification system as described in claim 1, wherein the traffic signal control device further includes: a human-machine interface electrically connected to the control module, the human-machine interface also receiving and displaying the anomaly notification corresponding to the traffic signal light.

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