Traffic sign and arrangement in connection with traffic sign

Abstract

A traffic sign includes a lighting means (4) to direct attention to the traffic sign (1) and a control unit (5). The control unit (5) includes a control device (6) for controlling the lighting means (4) and a command unit (7) which is arranged to give a command to the control device (6) to control the lighting means (4) on. The command unit (7) can be arranged to give the control device (6) a command to control the lighting device (4) on at a certain time of the day for a certain time period.

Description

[0001] Traffic sign and arrangement in connection with traffic sign

[0002] Background of the invention

[0003] The invention relates to a traffic sign and particularly to an arrangement in connection with the traffic sign and a method for controlling the traffic sign.

[0004] Brief description of the invention

[0005] An object of the invention is to develop a novel kind of a traffic sign, an arrangement in connection with the traffic sign and a method for controlling the traffic sign. The arrangement according to the invention is characterised by what is disclosed in the independent claims. Some embodiments of the invention are dis- closed in the dependent claims.

[0006] In the present invention, the traffic sign includes a lighting means to di- rect attention to the traffic sign and a control unit. The control unit includes a con- trol device for controlling the lighting means and a command unit which is ar- ranged to give a command to the control device to control the lighting means on. The command unit can be arranged to give the control device a command to control the lighting device on at a certain time of the day for a certain time period. Thus, a road user’s attention can be directed to the traffic sign at a moment when it is ex- tremely important to be able to communicate the message of the traffic sign to the road user. Typically, traffic signs are totally static, whereby the road user can get numb by their message and will not change their behaviour in any way. For exam- ple, deer typically move at a certain time of the day, that is e.g. in the twilight hours. By means of the present arrangement, the traffic sign can be lighted when e.g. the risk of deer appearing on the road is at its greatest and keep the traffic sign un- lighted at other times. This draws the road user’s attention at a time when the mes- sage of the sign is particularly important.

[0007] According to an embodiment, the command unit comprises a timer unit to form the command given to the control unit. By means of the timer unit, the light- ing means can be controlled on and off at desired times in a simple manner.

[0008] According to an embodiment, the control unit comprises an inlet for re- ceiving an external control command. Hence, the lighting means of the traffic sign can be controlled on and off by remote control, that is, the operation of the traffic sign is controllable from e.g. a traffic control centre.

[0009] According to an embodiment, the lighting means is arranged to blink when it is controlled on. Then, the road user’s attention is drawn effectively and reliably. According to an embodiment, the traffic sign further comprises a signal- ling unit which is arranged to give an additional attention sign at the same time as the lighting means is controlled on. The additional signalling unit increases the vis- ibility of the traffic sign even further e.g. in daylight time.

[0010] Furthermore, here is presented an arrangement in connection with the traffic sign. The arrangement comprises the traffic sign, the lighting means in con- nection with the traffic sign, the control unit for controlling the lighting means and the command unit which is arranged to give a command to the control device to control the lighting means on. Such an arrangement provides equal impacts and benefits as described above in connection with the traffic sign.

[0011] According to an embodiment, the arrangement includes a motion sen- sor which is arranged to give the control device a command to control the lighting means on as a response for sensing a motion. Then, it is possible to observe e.g. the motion of a deer in the vicinity of the traffic sign. In such a situation, it is very im- portant to draw the road user’s attention. By means of the present arrangement, it is thus possible to control the lighting means of the traffic sign on when the danger situation is unfortunately possible.

[0012] According to an embodiment, the arrangement includes a control unit into which the data of the motion sensor is arranged to be conveyed and which control unit is arranged to convey the data of the motion sensor to an external server. Hence, the information on e.g. the motions of a deer can be transmitted to e.g. the traffic centre server. Via this, it is further possible to convey a warning to road users e.g. by means of the media.

[0013] According to an embodiment, the arrangement further comprises a sig- nalling unit which is arranged to give an additional attention sign at the same time as the lighting means is controlled on. The additional signalling unit increases the visibility of the traffic sign even further e.g. in daylight time.

[0014] According to an embodiment, the arrangement further comprises a var- ying speed limitation traffic sign which is arranged to show a lower speed limit at the same time as the lighting means is controlled on. In this way, the road users can be guided to act in a safer way when a danger is imminent.

[0015] Brief description of the drawings

[0016] The invention is now described in closer detail in connection with some embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017] Figure 1 is a schematic view of a traffic sign and an arrangement in con- nection with the traffic sign. Detailed description of the invention

[0018] Figure 1 shows a traffic sign 1. The traffic sign 1 includes a sign part 2. The traffic sign 1 can also comprise all other parts shown in Figure 1 which are mechanically either directly or via some other part in contact with the sign part 2, that is, all other parts and devices show in Figure 1 except the external server and the motion sensor. On the other hand, the traffic sign 1 can only comprise the sign part 2 and the arrangement in connection with the traffic sign can then comprise one, several or even all parts or devices shown in Figure 1.

[0019] In Figure 1, the sign part 2 is triangular. The sign part 2 can also be of another shape, such as round, quadrangular or polygonal. The sign part 2 can thus be a warning sign, prohibition and restriction sign, order sign, informative sign etc.

[0020] The sign part 2 is fastened to a pole 3. A lighting means 4 is arranged to light the sign part 2. The lighting part 4 can be e.g. a LED light or some other light suitable for lighting the sign part 2. If the front surface of the sign part 2 is trans- parent to light, the lighting means 4 can be arranged inside the sign part. If needed, it is also possible to arrange the lighting means outside the sign part 2 e.g. on its edge or on its front side to light the front surface of the sign part 2. Furthermore, the lighting means 4 can form a pattern or a part of it on the front surface of the sign part 2. The lighting means 4 is arranged to focus the attention to the traffic sign 1.

[0021] In connection with the sign part 2, there is a control unit 5. The control unit 5 includes a control device 6 for controlling the lighting means 4 and a com- mand unit 7 which gives control commands to the control device 6. The command unit 7 is arranged to give the control device 6 a command to control the lighting device 4 on at a certain time of the day for a certain time period. The lighting means 4 can be e.g. controlled on when the dusk starts and off after 1-3 hours. When con- trolled on, the lighting means 4 can be arranged to produce even light or, when controlled on, the lighting means 4 can then arrange to blink.

[0022] Electric power supply is arranged to the control unit 5. If there is e.g. a light fixture in connection with the pole 3, it is possible to arrange the electric power supply to the control unit 5 from the same source as the electric power sup- ply of the light fixture. If the traffic sign is located e.g. far away from a power distribution network, it is possible to form the electric power supply e.g. by utilising a battery 17 and / or a solar cell 18.

[0023] It is not necessary that the control unit 5 is a physical unit, then it only consists of the control device 6 and the command unit 7. On the other hand, the control device 6 and the command unit 7 can be integrated into the same unit. Thus, the control unit 5, the control device 6 and the command unit 7 can all be functional units which can be physically integrated or separate. The control unit 5, the control device 6 and the command unit 7 can alone or together comprise memory, proces- sors etc.

[0024] The command unit 7 can comprise a timer unit 8. The timer unit 8 can be used to program the lighting means 4 to turn on and turn off at desired times of the day or e.g. six months or 12 months.

[0025] The on and off control command of the lighting means 4 can also be pro- duced by means of an external server 9. The external server 9 can be connected e.g. to a first input 10 of the control unit 5 by a wired or a wireless data transfer connection 11. Then, the lighting means 4 can by controlled by remote control.

[0026] In connection with the pole 3 around it is arranged a signalling unit 12. The signalling unit 12 can be arranged above or below the sign part 2. The signal- ling unit 12 can comprise a lighting means, such as a LED light or another light suit- able for the purpose. The signalling unit 12 can be connected to the control device 6 of the control unit 5, whereby the signalling unit 12 can be arranged to give an additional attention sign at the same time as the lighting means 4 is controlled on. The additional attention sign of the signalling unit 12 can be given e.g. by turning the lighting means of the signalling unit 12 on to blink.

[0027] The arrangements shown in Figure 1 also includes a motion sensor 13. The motion sensor 13 can be e.g. an 1R sensor or a thermographic camera or some other suitable motion-sensing sensor. The motion sensor 13 can be connected to a second input 19 of the control unit 5 by a wired or a wireless data transfer connec- tion 14. When the motion sensor 13 senses motion, it can give the control device 6 a command to control the lighting means 4 on.

[0028] In addition to sensing motion, the motion sensor 13 can also be ar- ranged to identify a moving target. Then, the motion sensor 13 can be arranged to operate e.g. such that, if the motion sensor 13 identifies the moving target as a hu- man, the motion sensor 13 does not give the control command of turning the light- ing means 4 on. Instead if the motion sensor 13 identifies the moving target as a deer, it gives the control command of controlling the lighting means 4 on.

[0029] The control system 5 can convey the data from the motion sensor 13 via the data transfer connection 11 to the external server 9. The data transfer connec- tion 11 is also thus connected to an output of the control unit 5. From the external server 9, the observation data of the motion sensor 13 can be conveyed further to e.g. the media.

[0030] In addition to or instead of connecting the motion sensor 13 to the con- trol unit 5 via the data transfer connection 14, it can be connected to the signalling unit 12 via a wired or wireless data transfer connection 15. Then, the signalling unit 12 can give the attention signal either at the same time as the lighting means 4 and dependent on the control signal of the lighting means 4 or then the signalling unit 12 can give the attention signal independently from the control of the lighting means 4 solely as the response to the motion sensor 13 sensing the motion.

[0031] Such an embodiment is also possible where the signalling unit 12 forms the traffic sign and the lighting means of the signalling unit 12 is the lighting means for lighting the traffic sign. The lighting means of the signalling unit 12 can be con- trolled on solely by the signal of the motion sensor 13. The signalling unit 12 can also include a control device for controlling the lighting means and a command unit which is arranged to give a command to the control device to control the lighting means on at a certain time of the day for a certain time period.

[0032] Furthermore, the lighting means of the signalling unit 12 can be the only lighting means of the traffic sign to be turned on e.g. in the daytime. The lighting means of the signalling unit 12 can be turned on in the daytime either solely based on the data of the motion sensor 13 or then based on all data supplied to the control unit 5. Therefore, such an embodiment is possible where the traffic sign does not include the lighting means designated by reference number 4 in Figure 1 at all. Then, the signalling unit 12 can be the lighting means for directing the attention to the traffic sign. The signalling unit 12 can include the control unit 5. The battery 17 and / or the solar cell 18 can be connected to the signalling unit 12. Similarly, the external server 9 and the motion sensor 13 can be connected to the signalling unit.

[0033] The signalling unit 12 can also include means for producing an audio signal. Hence, the signalling unit 12 can be controlled to produce sound if desired. For example, when the motion sensor 13 senses a deer, the signalling unit 12 can be controlled to produce sound that frightens or disturbs deer, whereby it is possi- ble to prevent the deer from ending up on the road. The signalling unit 12 can also described with the term effect signal capsule.

[0034] Typically, the deer are frightened or disturbed by people speaking. Thus, the signalling unit 12 can produce recorded speaking of people as the audio signal when the signalling unit 12 is desired to produce sound that frightens or dis- turbs deer. For example in connection with a T-junction, a deer fence can be formed such that it breaks. Then on both sides of the breaking point at the end of the deer fence, it is possible to arrange the motion sensor 13 that identifies a deer. The iden- tification data of the motion sensor 13 can be conveyed by radio in connection with the T-junction to the signalling unit 12 located e.g. in the traffic sign, which signal- ling unit starts to play e.g. a recording of people speaking. The deer hears the sound that frightens or disturbs it from a direction that is dangerous for it and other road users and avoids entering the area which would cause it and other danger from its presence.

[0035] The signalling unit 12 can be arranged either in connection with the traffic sign 1 or then the signalling unit 12 can be arranged on its own to a suitable pole. It is also possible to form such an arrangement where there in connection with the signalling unit 12 is no traffic sign 1, its lighting means 4 and control ar- rangements related to the lighting means 4. Then, the signalling unit 12 can be e.g. a unit producing an audio signal, in connection with which, there are the above de- scribed devices, such as the motion sensors 13, for sensing deer.

[0036] Furthermore, the arrangement can include in addition to the first traffic sign 1 at least one second traffic sign 1’. The second traffic sign 1’ is provided with a second lighting means 4’. The structure of the second lighting means 4’ can be e.g. equivalent to that of the above described signalling unit 12.

[0037] The second lighting means 4’ can be connected to the external server 9 by a data transfer connection 20 and / or connected to the control unit 5 by a data transfer connection 21 and / or connected to the signalling unit 12 by a data transfer connection 22. The lighting means to draw attention to the first traffic sign 1 can be functional connected to the second lighting means 4’.

[0038] Thus, e.g. the following action is possible. The motion sensor 13 senses a deer and controls the lighting means of the first traffic sign 1 on. This data, that is, there was need to control the lighting means in question on is conveyed to the second lighting means 4’ to control it on. The second traffic sign 1’ can be e.g. about one kilometre away in the longitudinal direction of the road to warn the road users who come from the opposite direction in relation to the first traffic sign 1. Then, their attention is drawn in good time to the second sign 1’ that can be e.g. a traffic sign warning them of danger of deer.

[0039] There can be several lighting means 4’. Several consecutive second lighting means 4’ can be linked together and to arrange to give the road users the warning sign even for a long stretch of the road. The arrangements shown in 1 can also include a projector 23. The pro- jector 23 can be installed e.g. at the end of the pole 3. The projector 23 can project e.g. a pattern 24 and / or a text e.g. on the road surface or then e.g. on a board 25 installed at the side of the road. The pattern 24 can be e.g. a traffic sign and the text can be e.g. an information text, such as “Hunting underway”.

[0040] The projector 23 can be controlled on if desired by the control unit 5 in the same manner as described in connection with the other devices controlled to turn on. Then, the projector 23 can form a lighting means for directing the attention to the traffic sign. The traffic sign can be a separate traffic sign, or a traffic sign pro- jected by the projector 23 e.g. onto the board 25. The pattern and / or the text pro- jected by the projector 23 can be arranged e.g. to flash or rotate such that the at- tention impact of the projector 23 is as effective as possible.

[0041] Furthermore, one or more of the lighting means 4, the signalling unit 12, the projector 23 and the second lighting means 4’ can be controlled on by an exter- nal command. The police or the emergency authorities or a hunting party can con- trol or request for turning on if needed. The turning on can be implemented e.g. from the control centre via the server 9. Or an authority or a party having received access can e.g. have a mobile application by which the turning on control can be implemented via the server 9. If desired, the lighting means 4, 4’, the projector 23 and the signalling units 12 can also be provided with means which can turn them on locally. The possibility of turning on can be arranged e.g. to depend on the con- trol command coming from close enough. The control switch enabling turning on can also be a physical control switch arranged to the lighting means or the signal- ling unit.

[0042] Figure 1 further shows schematically by as dashed line a variable speed limit traffic sign 16. The speed limit traffic sign 16 in question is installed in con- nection with the pole 3. The speed limit traffic sign 16 can be connected to the con- trol device 6. The speed limit traffic sign 16 can be arranged to show a lower speed limit at the same time as the lighting means 4 is controlled on. When the lighting means 4 has not been controlled on, it can be assumed that the situation is normal and the speed limit traffic sign 16 can show a higher speed limit.

[0043] Those skilled in the art will find it obvious that, as technology advances, the basic idea of the invention can be implemented in many different ways. The invention and its embodiments are thus not restricted to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims

8Claims1. A traffic sign, characterised in that the traffic sign (1) includes a lighting means (4) for directing the attention to the traffic sign (1) and a control unit (5), which control unit (5) includes a control device (6) for controlling the lighting means and a command unit (7) which arranged to give the control device (6) a command to control the lighting device (4) on.

2. A traffic sign according to claim 1, characterised in that the command unit (7) is arranged to give the control device (6) a command to control the lighting means (4) on at a certain time of the day for a certain time period.

3. A traffic sign according to claim lor2, characterised in that the command unit (7) comprises a timer unit (8) for forming the command given to the control device (6).

4. A traffic sign according to any one of the preceding claims, char- acterised in that the control unit (5) comprises an input (10, 19) for receiving an external control command.

5. A traffic sign according to any one of the preceding claims, char- acterised in that the lighting means (4) is arranged to blink when controlled on.

6. A traffic sign according to any one of the preceding claims, char- acterised in that the traffic sign (1) further comprises a signalling unit (12) which is arranged to give an additional attention sign at the same time as the light- ing means (4) is controlled on.

7. A traffic sign according to claim 6, characterised in that the signalling unit (12) is arranged to produce an audio signal.

8. An arrangement in connection with a traffic sign, character- ised in that the arrangement comprises at least a first traffic sign, a lighting means (4) in connection with the first traffic sign, a control device (6) for controlling the lighting means and a command unit (7) arranged to give the control device (6) a command to control the lighting device (4) on at a certain time of the day for a certain time period.

9. An arrangement according to claim 8, characterised in that the arrangement includes a motion sensor (13) which is as a response to sensing9 the motion arranged to give a command to the control device (6) to control the lighting means (4) on.

10. An arrangement according to claim 9, characterised in that the arrangement includes a control unit (5) to which the data from the motion sen- sor (13) is arranged to be conveyed and which control unit (5) is arranged to trans- mit the data from the motion sensor (13) to an external server (9).

11. An arrangement according to any one of claims 8-10, charac- terised in that the arrangement further comprises an additional signalling unit (12) which is arranged to give an additional attention sign at the same time as the lighting means (4) is controlled on.

12. An arrangement according to claim 11, characterised in that the signalling unit (12) is arranged to produce an audio signal.

13. An arrangement according to any one of claims 8-12, charac- terised in that the arrangement comprises at least one second traffic sign (1’) and a second lighting means (4’) in connection with the second traffic sign (1’) for directing the attention to the second traffic sign (1’), whereby the lighting means (4) in connection with the first traffic sign (1) and the second lighting means (4’) are functionally connected together.

14. An arrangement according to one of claims 8-13, characterised in that the arrangement comprises a projector (23) for directing the atten- tion to the traffic sign (1).

15. An arrangement according to any one of claims 8-14, charac- terised in that the arrangement further comprises a variable speed limit traffic sign (16) which is arranged to show a lower speed limit as the same time as the lighting means (4) is controlled on.

16. A method for controlling a traffic sign, in connection with which traf- fic sign (1) there is at least one lighting means (4) to light the traffic sign and, in which method, a control command is given to control the lighting means (4) on and, as a response to the control command, the lighting means (4) is controlled on at a specific time of the day for a specific duration.

17. A method according to claim 16, in which in connection with the traffic sign (1) there is a motion sensor (13), whereby the motion sensor (13) senses a motion and, as a response to sensing the motion, is given a control com- mand to control the lighting means (4) on.1018. A method according to claim 17, in which the data from the motion sensor (13) is conveyed to a control unit (5) and the data is conveyed to an external server (9).

19. A method according to any one of claims 16-18, in which in connec- tion with the traffic sign (1) there is a signalling unit (12), whereby the signalling unit (12) gives an additional attention sign at the same time as the lighting means (4) is controlled on.

20. A method according to claim 19, in which the signalling unit (12) produces an audio signal.

21. A method according to any one of claims 16-20, in which to the traf- fic sign (1) is functionally connected at least one second traffic sign (1’), in connec- tion with which second traffic sign (1’) there is a lighting means (4’) for directing attention to the second traffic sign (1’), whereby when the lighting means (4) in connection with the first traffic sign (1) is controlled on, the second lighting means (4’) is controlled on.

22. A method according to any one of claims 16-21, in which in connec- tion with the traffic sign (1) there is also a variable speed limit traffic sign (16) which is arranged to show a lower speed limit at the same time as the lighting means (4) is controlled on.

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