Pedestrian warning method and system of traffic intersection signal lamp

Abstract

The invention relates to a pedestrian warning method of a traffic intersection signal lamp. The method comprises the following steps: arranging a human body sensing device for sensing whether pedestrians exist in a pedestrian waiting area; and when sensing that the pedestrian exists in the pedestrian waiting area, controlling the working states of the pedestrian warning lamps of the plurality of traffic signal lamps according to the arrangement position of the human body sensing device and the traffic signal lamp information of the plurality of traffic signal lamps at the intersection. The invention also provides a system for realizing the method. According to the invention, the probability of traffic accidents can be reduced while the priority of the right of way of pedestrians is guaranteed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of traffic safety, and in particular to a pedestrian warning method and system for traffic intersection signal lights. Background Art

[0002] Based on the principle of pedestrian right of way, pedestrians have the right of way when using the crossing at a traffic intersection, and other vehicles must give pedestrians priority.

[0003] Currently, traffic lights at intersections lack pedestrian warning lights. When approaching an intersection or turning left or right, drivers may fail to notice pedestrians crossing the intersection if their vision is obscured by other vehicles or the A-pillars on the left or right sides of the windshield, or if visibility is poor due to weather or nighttime conditions. When a pedestrian is spotted crossing the intersection, drivers often need to brake and stop immediately, potentially causing a collision with the vehicle behind them. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a pedestrian warning method and system for traffic intersection signal lights, which can remind drivers that pedestrians are crossing the traffic intersection, allowing drivers to react in advance to reduce speed and stop before the pedestrian crosswalk.

[0005] An embodiment of the present invention provides a pedestrian warning method for traffic lights at a traffic intersection, which is executed on a controller and includes: receiving sensing information from a human body sensing device; determining whether there are pedestrians in a pedestrian waiting area based on the received sensing information; and when it is determined that there are pedestrians in the pedestrian waiting area, controlling the operating states of the pedestrian warning lights of the multiple traffic lights at the intersection based on the setting position of the human body sensing device and the status information of the vehicle traffic light of the multiple traffic lights at the intersection, wherein the operating states include a lit state and an unlit state.

[0006] An embodiment of the present invention also provides a pedestrian warning system for traffic intersection signal lights, the system comprising: a controller; a human body sensing device for sensing whether there are pedestrians in a pedestrian waiting area; a plurality of traffic lights arranged at the intersection corresponding to different vehicle directions at the intersection, wherein the controller is used to receive sensing information from the human body sensing device; the controller is also used to determine whether there are pedestrians in the pedestrian waiting area based on the received sensing information; and when it is determined that there are pedestrians in the pedestrian waiting area, the operating status of the pedestrian warning lights of the plurality of traffic lights is controlled according to the setting position of the human body sensing device and the status information of the vehicle signal lights of the plurality of traffic lights.

[0007] Compared with the existing technology, the pedestrian warning method and system for traffic intersection signal lights provided by the present invention can effectively reduce the probability of traffic accidents and improve traffic safety under the principle of pedestrian right of way priority. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1 FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a pedestrian warning system for traffic intersection signal lights according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0009] Figure 2 FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a traffic light according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] Figure 3 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a traffic intersection according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 4 FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a pedestrian warning method using traffic lights at traffic intersections according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Description of main component symbols

[0013]

[0014] The following specific embodiments will further illustrate the present invention in conjunction with the above-mentioned drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] To facilitate understanding and implementation of the present invention by those skilled in the art, the present invention is further described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that can be implemented in a variety of specific forms. Those skilled in the art can utilize the details described in these or other embodiments, as well as other applicable structural, logical, and electrical variations, to implement the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0016] This specification provides various embodiments to illustrate the technical features of various implementations of the present invention. The configurations of the components in the embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the present invention. The repetition of reference numerals in the figures in the embodiments is for simplification and does not indicate a correlation between the different embodiments. Identical component numbers used in the figures and the specification represent identical or similar components. The illustrations in this specification are simplified and not drawn to exact scale.

[0017] Furthermore, in describing some embodiments of the present invention, the specification describes the method and / or program of the present invention in a specific order of steps. However, since the method and program are not necessarily implemented according to the specific order of steps described, they are not limited to the specific order of steps described. A person skilled in the art of the present invention will know that other orders are also possible implementation methods. Therefore, the specific order of steps described in the specification is not used to limit the scope of the patent application. Furthermore, the scope of the patent application for the method and / or program of the present invention is not limited to the order of execution steps written therein, and a person skilled in the art of the present invention will understand that adjusting the order of execution steps does not deviate from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0018] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. The terms used herein in the specification of the present invention are intended solely for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the related listed items. Some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0019] See also Figure 1 , shown is a block diagram of a pedestrian warning system for traffic intersection signals according to one embodiment of the present invention. The pedestrian warning system includes a human body sensing device 101, a controller 102, and a traffic signal light 103, all located at the intersection. Human body sensing device 101, controller 102, and traffic signal light 103 can communicate with each other via wired or wireless communication.

[0020] The human body sensing device 101 is used to detect pedestrian movement information near traffic intersections. In practical applications, the human body sensing device 101 can be a passive infrared sensor or a millimeter wave radar. The human body sensing device 101 can be used to implement real-time monitoring of pedestrian crossing behavior near traffic intersections.

[0021] It should be noted that, at a traffic intersection, depending on the direction of vehicle travel, multiple human body sensing devices 101 and traffic lights 103 may be provided, and the human body sensing devices 101 and the traffic lights 103 are provided in a one-to-one correspondence. That is, one human body sensing device 101 is provided for each vehicle travel direction, and the human body sensing device 101 corresponds to one traffic light 103. In one embodiment, the human body sensing device 101 may be provided on the lamp post where the corresponding traffic light 103 is provided. In different embodiments, the human body sensing device 101 may also be provided separately on a mounting pole. The specific location may be set according to the application, and is not limited here.

[0022] The controller 102 is configured to control the operating state of the traffic light 103 based on detected pedestrian movement information. Specifically, the human body sensing device 101 generates signals of varying potentials when it senses pedestrian movement. These signals are converted into digital signals by an A / D converter and transmitted to the controller 102 as pedestrian movement information. Based on the received pedestrian movement information, the controller 102 determines the pedestrian's current location and direction of movement.

[0023] See also Figure 2 , which is a schematic diagram of a traffic light 103 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] The traffic light 103 includes a vehicle traffic light 1031 and a pedestrian warning light 1032. When vehicles are allowed to pass, the controller 102 controls the vehicle traffic light 1031 to illuminate green; when vehicles are prohibited from passing, the controller 102 controls the vehicle traffic light 1031 to illuminate red. The controller 102 also determines whether to illuminate the pedestrian warning light 1032 based on pedestrian movement information received from the human body sensing device 101 and the current phase of the vehicle traffic light 1031. When the pedestrian warning light 1032 illuminates, it indicates that a pedestrian is currently or about to cross the intersection.

[0025] by Figure 3 Take the intersection shown as an example. When a human sensor device installed in Area B detects a pedestrian waiting to cross the intersection to Area A, if the traffic lights 103b and 103d in the same direction (north-south) are green and the traffic lights 103a and 103c in the other direction (east-west) are red, the pedestrian warning light on traffic sign 103b is controlled to illuminate. The illuminated pedestrian warning light on traffic sign 103b not only alerts northbound vehicles waiting to turn right to the west, but also southbound vehicles waiting to turn left to the west. In another embodiment, the pedestrian warning light on traffic sign 103a can also be controlled to illuminate simultaneously.

[0026] Similarly, when the human body sensing device installed in area A detects a pedestrian waiting to cross the intersection to area B, if the traffic lights 103b and 103d in the same direction (north-south direction) are green and the traffic lights 103a and 103c in the other direction (east-west direction) are red, the pedestrian warning light of the traffic light 103a is controlled to be lit.

[0027] Likewise Figure 3 As shown in the example, since the human body sensing devices installed in areas C and D do not detect pedestrians, the traffic lights 103c and 103d installed in areas C and D do not need to light up the pedestrian warning lights, that is, the pedestrian warning lights are off.

[0028] Similarly, when the human body sensing device in zone C or D detects a pedestrian waiting to cross the intersection to the opposite north-south direction, and the traffic lights 103b and 103d in the same direction (north-south direction) are green, and the traffic lights 103a and 103c in the other direction (east-west direction) are red, the pedestrian warning lights of the traffic lights 103c and 103d in zones C and D are controlled to light up, which is used to warn vehicles in the south waiting to turn right to the east, and also to warn vehicles in the north waiting to turn left to the east.

[0029] See also Figure 4 , which is a flow chart of a pedestrian warning method for a traffic intersection signal light according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 In the pedestrian warning system. Specifically, Figure 1 The controller 102 in is executed.

[0030] In this embodiment, the pedestrian warning method of the traffic intersection signal light includes the following steps:

[0031] Step S101: receiving sensing information from a human body sensing device.

[0032] Specifically, the human body sensing device includes a passive infrared sensor, a millimeter wave radar, or any other sensing device that can be used to detect moving objects.

[0033] In this embodiment, the human body sensing device is used to sense whether there is a pedestrian in the pedestrian waiting area and send a sensing signal to the controller 102 .

[0034] Step S102: Determine whether there are pedestrians in the pedestrian waiting area based on the received sensing information.

[0035] The controller 102 determines whether there are pedestrians in the pedestrian waiting area based on the received sensing information. If it is determined that there are pedestrians in the pedestrian waiting area, step S103 is executed; if it is determined that there are no pedestrians in the pedestrian waiting area, step S101 is continued.

[0036] Step S103 controls the operating states of the pedestrian warning lights of the multiple traffic lights according to the location of the human body sensing device and the status information of the vehicle and vehicle signs of the multiple traffic lights at the intersection. The operating states of the pedestrian warning lights include on and off.

[0037] First, based on the location of the human body sensing device, a first traffic light among multiple traffic lights corresponding to the human body sensing device can be determined. Next, based on the status information of the vehicle traffic lights of the multiple traffic lights, a first direction related to the current traffic direction at the intersection can be determined. Finally, the pedestrian warning light of the first traffic light is controlled to be illuminated. Simultaneously, the pedestrian warning light of a second traffic light among the multiple traffic lights, which is located along the first direction and on the opposite side of the intersection from the first traffic light, is controlled to be illuminated. The pedestrian warning lights of the remaining traffic lights are all controlled to be off.

[0038] Again Figure 3 For example, when a human body sensing device located in Area B senses a pedestrian in the pedestrian waiting area, it obtains status information for the vehicle traffic lights of multiple traffic lights 103a, 103b, 103c, and 103d. When the vehicle traffic lights of traffic lights 103b and 103d are green, the first direction associated with the direction of vehicle traffic at the intersection is determined to be north-south. At this point, the pedestrian warning light of traffic light 103b corresponding to Area B is controlled to illuminate. Simultaneously, the pedestrian warning light of traffic light 103a, located on the opposite side of the intersection from traffic light 103b, along the north-south direction, is controlled to illuminate. The pedestrian warning lights of the remaining traffic lights 103c and 103d are controlled to be off.

[0039] In summary, the present invention's pedestrian warning method and system for traffic intersection signals utilizes human body sensing devices for pedestrian detection at intersections. By using pedestrian warning lights, drivers' intuitive reaction time is reduced, thereby reducing pedestrian traffic accidents. It also reduces rear-end collisions caused by vehicles braking suddenly to yield to pedestrians, preventing them from reacting in time.

[0040] It is worth noting that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that the technical solutions of the present invention may be modified or replaced by equivalents without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention.

Claims

1. A pedestrian warning method for a traffic intersection signal light, the method being executed in a controller, characterized in that: The method comprises: receiving sensing information from a human body sensing device; Determine whether there are pedestrians in the pedestrian waiting area based on the received sensing information; as well as When it is determined that there are pedestrians in the pedestrian waiting area, the working states of the pedestrian warning lights of the multiple traffic lights are controlled according to the setting position of the human body sensing device and the status information of the vehicle warning lights of the multiple traffic lights at the intersection, wherein the working states include a lighting state and an off state.

2. The pedestrian warning method of traffic intersection signal lights according to claim 1, characterized in that: The plurality of traffic lights are arranged corresponding to different vehicle travel directions at the intersection.

3. The pedestrian warning method of traffic intersection signal lights according to claim 1, characterized in that: The human body sensing device includes a passive infrared sensor and a millimeter wave radar.

4. The pedestrian warning method of traffic intersection signal lights according to claim 1, characterized in that: The controlling the working states of the pedestrian warning lights of the plurality of traffic lights according to the setting position of the human body sensing device and the state information of the vehicle warning lights of the plurality of traffic lights at the intersection further comprises: determining, according to the setting position of the human body sensing device, a first traffic light among the plurality of traffic lights corresponding to the human body sensing device; determining a first direction related to a current traffic flow direction at the intersection based on status information of the vehicle signal lights of the plurality of traffic signal lights; Controlling the pedestrian warning light of the first traffic light to be in an on state; as well as The pedestrian warning light of a second traffic light located along the first direction and on the opposite side of the intersection from the first traffic light is controlled to be in a lighting state.

5. The pedestrian warning method of traffic intersection signal lights according to claim 4, characterized in that: The controlling the working states of the pedestrian warning lights of the plurality of traffic lights according to the setting position of the human body sensing device and the state information of the vehicle warning lights of the plurality of traffic lights at the intersection further comprises: The pedestrian warning lights of the traffic lights other than the first traffic light and the second traffic light are controlled to be in an off state.

6. A pedestrian warning system for traffic intersection signal lights, characterized in that: The system comprises: Controller; A human body sensing device for sensing whether there are pedestrians in the pedestrian waiting area; A plurality of traffic lights are arranged at the intersection corresponding to different directions of vehicle travel at the intersection, wherein the controller is used to receive the sensing information of the human body sensing device; The controller is also used to determine whether there are pedestrians in the pedestrian waiting area based on the received sensing information; and when it is determined that there are pedestrians in the pedestrian waiting area, control the working status of the pedestrian warning lights of the multiple traffic lights based on the setting position of the human body sensing device and the status information of the vehicle signal lights of the multiple traffic lights.

7. The pedestrian warning system for traffic intersection signal lights according to claim 6, characterized in that: The working state of the pedestrian warning light includes a lighting state and an off state.

8. The pedestrian warning system for traffic intersection signal lights as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that: The human body sensing device includes a passive infrared sensor and a millimeter wave radar.

9. The pedestrian warning system for traffic intersection signal lights as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that: The controller is further configured to determine a first traffic light corresponding to the human body sensing device among the plurality of traffic lights based on a setting position of the human body sensing device; and determine a first direction related to a current traffic flow direction at the intersection based on state information of a vehicle flow signal light of the plurality of traffic lights; Control the working state of the pedestrian warning light of the first traffic light to be lit; and control the working state of the pedestrian warning light of the second traffic light among the multiple traffic lights, which is along the first direction and is set on the opposite side of the intersection as the first traffic light, to be lit.

10. The pedestrian warning system for traffic intersection signal lights as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that: The controller is further used to control the working state of the pedestrian warning lights of the traffic lights other than the first traffic light and the second traffic light to be off.

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