Traffic signal provided with information broadcasting function in regard to currently indicating content

Abstract

To solve such a problem that a number of walk support systems for visually handicapped persons, aged persons and so forth are invented and introduced thereinto, but pedestrian signals by which among those, the visually handicapped persons can obtain currently indicating situations by sound are spread in use only by about 10% of the whole systems, and thus there is a real situation where even 80% of these systems stop serving in the midnight and early morning due to measures against noise; and on the other hand, these systems are not always conveniently and readily safe systems for the visually handicapped persons that are difficult to recognize a small picture plane and to carry out an operation, while having a risk where a defensive reaction to a fall is delayed when being operated by one hand while holding a white stick since the walk support systems by sound are developed on the assumption that most systems each use a smartphone.SOLUTION: Improvement is made by broadcasting currently indicating information of optical indicators such as traffic signals and so forth, using analog type FM weak radio waves in a FM radio broadcasting band where anybody can immediately get information for free when power is turned on.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information providing system using an analog radio wave transmitter in the FM radio broadcast band that allows the broadcast content to be easily heard in voice simply by turning on the power and adjusting the frequency if one has an FM radio. By adding it to an information display device (hereinafter referred to as a conventional signal device) that appeals visually through optical displays such as pedestrian traffic signals, level crossing warning devices, or display devices that notify the approach of a train at a station or along a track with poor visibility, or warning displays related to operating devices in a factory, etc., to smoothly maintain social order or support human safety, it relates to a combination for making a signal device (hereinafter referred to as a new type signal device) that has a function of broadcasting the display content and auxiliary information related thereto using analog weak radio waves in the FM radio broadcast band.

[0002] The basic configuration of the present invention consists of a recording and playback control circuit that receives, analyzes, and selects and plays back pre-recorded voice data or voice data received and stored via the network as voice data related to the display content of the signal device, based on the power supply, display control signal, and display information output from a lighting control circuit, an optical display control circuit, etc. (hereinafter referred to as a display control circuit) in a conventional signal device, and a transmission circuit that receives the played-back voice data and broadcasts it as an analog weak radio wave in the FM radio broadcast band (hereinafter referred to as an analog FM weak radio wave transmission circuit). It would be even better if it were equipped with functions such as a function for grasping the broadcast state, a function for receiving and analyzing a digital signal and converting its content into analog voice for broadcasting, and a digital interface for future function expansion as described later.

[0003] Since the antenna included in the analog FM weak radio wave transmission circuit can select directivity or non-directivity depending on the installation purpose and type of the signal device, or the installation location and characteristics of the user, etc., it is necessary to select it comprehensively considering cases such as avoiding misrecognition of the direction of the information recipient due to the arrival of radio waves and the need to provide information universally to the surroundings.

[0004] The display information of traffic signal lights, especially pedestrian signal lights, is crucial information related to the safety of visually impaired persons (hereinafter referred to as visually impaired persons following the indication of the All Japan Confederation of Organizations of the Visually Impaired). Therefore, in case important broadcasts are not being made, an alarm should be sounded to detect this, or an alarm function with an FM radio reception function may be provided to monitor whether information is actually being transmitted and notify the central control room etc. via the network.

[0005] Even for conventionally installed signal lights, if the power supply, control signals, etc. output from the display control circuit can be easily extracted, the circuit after extracting the power supply and control signals described in Paragraph 0002 can be added as a device for retrofitting inside and outside the housing of the conventional signal light (hereinafter referred to as a retrofitting transmitter), and it can be easily made into a new type of signal light.

[0006] For conventionally installed signal lights where it is difficult to extract power supply, control signals, etc. from the display control circuit, a part of the circuit described in Paragraph 0002, that is, a recording and playback control circuit that selectively plays back pre-recorded voice data or voice data received and stored via the network as voice data related to the display content of the signal light, an analog FM weak radio wave transmission circuit that receives and broadcasts the played-back voice data, in addition to the same basic circuit configuration as described above, a power supply unit with a function of self-power generation and power storage by commercial power supply or solar panels, a camera unit that captures the display image of the conventional signal light information display unit in real time, and a circuit that outputs a control signal for analyzing the video and passing it to the recording and playback control circuit and the analog FM weak radio wave transmission circuit. As long as a small device (hereinafter referred to as a retrofitting control signal output and transmission device) can be installed at a position where the display situation can be seen, the function of a new type of signal light can be provided regardless of the manufacturer or circuit structure.

[0007] Not only limited to the display information, for a wide range of related information, if a multi-transmitter is used, various information held by the recording and playback control circuit can be broadcast at different frequencies. Therefore, it is advisable to announce in advance the broadcast frequencies for basic display information and related information, etc. Taking the disadvantage that the reach of weak radio waves is short as an advantage, the transmitters are installed so that radio wave interference between adjacent transmitters does not occur. When interference cannot be avoided, a backup frequency should also be announced to receive the target information and avoid confusion.

[0008] Regarding the broadcast frequencies to be announced in advance, it is also possible to avoid mutual interference by unifying them nationwide, or by dividing them into north-south and east-west directions, or for railway-related matters, by allocating them for up and down trains.

[0009] Here, FM refers to a modulation method in which the analog signal information to be transmitted is transmitted by an electric wave that changes the frequency of the carrier wave. An FM radio is a radio receiver that can be listened to by anyone by simply tuning to the frequency of the analog radio wave being broadcast in the FM radio band, or a high-function mobile phone terminal equipped with the function of receiving and listening to the analog radio wave being broadcast in the FM radio band (mainly a multi-functional mobile phone centered on screen operation, and some have the function of listening to the broadcast content of FM radio as digital data via the Internet, but few can directly receive FM radio waves. Hereinafter referred to as a smartphone).

[0010] As used herein, the FM radio broadcast band refers to the band that includes the 76.1 MHz to 94.9 MHz band, which is so-called wide FM band (FM supplementary broadcast band, or Japanese band) that expands and operates in addition to the conventional FM broadcast band in Japan, and the 108 MHz band assuming transmission to conventional TV audio receivers and FM radios brought in from overseas. However, when this transmitter is used as a complementary function for a wireless telephone system for voice assistance for visually impaired persons or a radio microphone wireless telephone system for hearing aid assistance for hearing impaired persons (hereinafter referred to as assistive radio microphone) due to requests from the administration or society, the frequency of the assistive radio microphone system defined in the lower frequency band near the wide FM band shall also be included on the premise of obtaining prior use approval and conducting interference avoidance tests, etc.

[0011] As used herein, the weak radio wave refers to a significantly weak radio wave as defined in Article 4, Paragraph 1 of the Radio Law, and refers to a radio station whose electric field strength 3 meters away from the radio equipment defined in Article 6 of the Enforcement Regulations of the Radio Law is below the value defined for each frequency. In the FM radio broadcast band, the value is 500 microvolts or less per meter. However, in order to avoid interference with adjacent transmitters or shorten the radio wave reach distance, it may also be an appropriately weaker radio wave or a radio wave whose transmission range is limited by a directional antenna.

[0012] As used herein, the transmitter refers to a radio station that uses a significantly weak radio wave as defined in Article 4, Paragraph 1 of the Radio Law, and refers to a transmitter that does not fall under the category of a specific low-power radio station whose use, radio wave type, frequency band, and its antenna power are defined in Article 6 of the Enforcement Regulations of the Radio Law and requires a technical standard conformity certificate. However, in order to improve the reliability during deployment and avoid inadvertently violating the law such as falling under Article 110 of the Radio Law, it is better to conduct measurements by a specialized testing organization in advance and obtain a weak radio conformity mark (ELP mark, weak radio equipment performance certificate, and performance certificate label).

[0013] For the FM radio broadcast band weak radio wave transmitter of the present invention assumed to be operated overseas, it shall comply with the laws of that country, use the FM radio broadcast band weak radio wave used in that country, and have a specification that does not require complicated procedures in advance.

[0014] Although the individual circuits of the present invention do not include any remarkable new technologies and thus do not require large-scale new development investments, miniaturized devices that perform analog processing as a function while performing digital processing internally have been developed and put into use even with conventional circuit concepts due to technological advancements. By combining these devices with each other and further combining them with an analog FM weak radio wave transmission circuit not found in conventional signal lights, a new concept of a new type of signal light can be created. Regarding the parts that need to be safely operated, it is a new technology that enables development as a new type of signal light by adding digital communication and a digital management system.

[0015] Similar inventions using conventional technologies mainly involve using relatively large-output weak radio waves defined as specific small electric power wireless stations for the purpose of expanding the radio wave reach, i.e., the reception range, improving the reliability, broadcasting in a frequency band avoiding the broadcast band that can be received by general-use radio receivers, using digital-type radio waves in pursuit of the benefits of two-way communication, or information providing systems using radio waves subjected to encryption processing to avoid eavesdropping and emphasize confidentiality. There was no conventional signal light that used analog weak radio waves in the FM radio band for the notification broadcast of signal display-related information, which is a conventional technology.

[0016] For example, there is a voice assist system for visually impaired people that uses the FM-formatted (in a broad sense) weak radio waves of Paragraph 0015 (Technical Conditions of Advisory No. 114 of the Telecommunications Technology Council's reply on September 25, 2000, and Tsukuba Technical College Technical Report 8 on Voice Assist Systems in March 2001). However, the wireless device used in this system is defined as a specific low-power radio station that requires prior equipment review and application, and its operating cost requires a power source to cover the required power compared to a weak radio wave station, resulting in high costs. Also, its frequency band is near the lower outer side of the FM radio band that anyone can easily listen to, so it cannot be received by general FM radios on the market and is not accepted by users. The number of operating stations peaked at 5 in 2002 and decreased to 0 in 2014. (General Incorporated Association of Radio Industries and Businesses, Radio Industry Yearbook 2015, Radio Industry Survey Statistics)

[0017] The present invention aims to construct a system centered around a new type of traffic signal that enables anyone to easily and inexpensively listen to relevant information in voice form by effectively utilizing analog radio waves, which are pointed out to have a small amount of information transmission and low confidentiality, as radio waves that anyone can easily listen to, effectively utilizing weak radio waves, which are regarded with concern regarding ensuring short reach distance and reception sensitivity, as a means for providing spot information targeted only at people who listen at close range, and effectively utilizing a radio receiver that cannot perform two-way communication, such as a smartphone, as an inexpensive and easily accessible information receiving device.

[0018] In particular, for visually impaired persons who use pedestrian traffic signals or crosswalks at intersections, they are forced to use smartphones, which are difficult to visually recognize and operate in order to obtain walking assistance information provided in digital format. They have to search for small signs whose installation locations are difficult to identify and take pictures with the camera part of the smartphone, press switches located in difficult-to-identify positions, require terminal devices with special specifications designed with new concepts, need dedicated terminals that are expensive to purchase and maintain, assume the use of terminals that cannot use general-purpose dry batteries in case of unexpected battery depletion, require highly functional white canes and multifunctional glasses with special specifications, need a large number of IC tags, and cannot be easily received by FM radio. This not only requires a large amount of capital investment in equipment on the part of the system developers and deployers, but also cannot be said to be an invention that anyone can easily use on the part of the information users. (Patent Documents 1 to 21, and Non-Patent Documents 1 to 10)

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0019]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Patent Document 5

Patent Document 6

Patent Document 7

Patent Document 8

Patent Document 9

[0020] [Non-Patent Document 1] Homepage of the National Police Agency and Prefectural Police, Publicity on Advanced PICS in Reiwa 3 [Non-Patent Document 2] Evening Edition of the Yomiuri Shimbun on April 2, 2005, Leave Road Guidance to the IC

Non-Patent Document 3

Non-Patent Document 4

Non-Patent Document 5

Non-Patent Document 6

Non-Patent Document 7

Non-Patent Document 8

Non-Patent Document 9

Non-Patent Document 10

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0021] The most urgent problem to be improved is to ensure the safety of so-called information disadvantaged people.

[0022] The information-poor here refers to people who have difficulty obtaining or understanding information that is useful to them, such as those who have difficulty recognizing the various signs, traffic lights, warning signs, and other displays and scenery that are overflowing in society due to a visual impairment, those who do not own a smartphone or are unable to use it to its full potential because of the purchase and maintenance costs or the frequent battery drain caused by the constant internal digital processing, those who have difficulty operating the small screen or find the device too heavy to carry around all the time, those who have difficulty understanding the meaning of smartphones due to differences in the language they use, and also those who have difficulty obtaining information on their own smartphones during large-scale disasters due to disruptions to digital communication lines.

[0023] In Japan, the number of visually impaired people is estimated at over 300,000 out of the estimated 3.3 million physically disabled people (Monthly Population Estimates Report by the Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, 2001, and Survey on the Actual Situation of Physically Disabled Children and Adults by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in the same year, and Survey on the Actual Situation of Physically Disabled People by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, 2006), but this is the number of people who hold a certificate for the physically disabled based on the Welfare of the Physically Disabled Act. According to a survey conducted by the Japan Ophthalmological Society using American standards and published in September 2009, if the total number of people with a better visual acuity of 0.1 to 0.5 (approximately 1.45 million people with low vision) and those with a better visual acuity of 0.1 or less (approximately 190,000 people who are blind) are defined as visually impaired, then 1.64 million people, equivalent to twice the population of Fukui prefecture, are inconvenienced by visual impairment.

[0024] What directly affects the safety of the daily lives of these visually impaired people is the importance and necessity of implementing measures to prevent falls when crossing roads and railway crossings, as well as in places with steps, such as railway platforms and stairs.

[0025] On the other hand, although we live in an age where smartphones are rapidly becoming more widespread and their functions are improving, making it easy to access various information and make payments, there are still 12 million traditional landline telephone contracts, commonly collectively referred to as "black telephones" (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Results of 2021 Telecommunications Usage Trends Survey), and the reality is that 80 to 90 percent of households with elderly heads use landlines despite owning a smartphone.

[0026] To understand the actual situations faced by these people, interviews were conducted with visually impaired groups (such as social welfare corporations in Shinjuku Ward and those in Chiba Prefecture) from July to November 2022. As a result, it was found that almost all of the proposed systems require screen operations and assume the use of smartphones or dedicated digital reception devices, which are very inconvenient for visually impaired people and also impose maintenance costs. There are concerns and inconveniences regarding prior personal information registration and downloading of dedicated apps. As described in Non-Patent Document 5, operating a smartphone with the other hand while holding a white cane not only distracts attention to the surroundings but also poses a great danger as the reaction time is delayed in case of a fall. Therefore, reports were obtained indicating that they would rather not use such systems if possible.

[0027] Furthermore, the most urgent requests in this interview were that the sound of the acoustic signal device for visually impaired people has been cut off at night due to noise countermeasures, and there has also been a reduction in the engine noise and tire noise of automobiles. Since crossing the road is a life-threatening act for visually impaired people, there was a request to quickly develop and introduce a system that can identify the color of the signal in front of them without using an inconvenient smartphone.

[0028] In addition, although smartphones have a high battery consumption rate, in many cases, the screen display for visually impaired people makes it difficult to check the remaining battery level. There are concerns about the battery running out, and in the case where the battery runs out on the way, there are also reports of inconveniences and anxieties that general-purpose batteries sold at nearby convenience stores cannot be used.

[0029] Although smartphones have become more user-friendly for information-disadvantaged people who are not good at screen operations due to the improved voice input accuracy, it is still difficult to speak in a crowded place. Also, even when using earphones to avoid the dangerous behavior of operating a smartphone while walking or holding a smartphone to the ear with one hand, which is also dangerous for healthy people, there are reports that inexpensive general-purpose plug-type earphones cannot be directly inserted and the burden of carrying a heavy smartphone cannot be ignored.

[0030] As described above, as long as the use of smartphones or dedicated receiving devices is a prerequisite for information provision to information disadvantaged groups such as visually impaired people, those who are not good at handling smartphones, those who do not own a smartphone for various reasons, or those who own a smartphone but do not use it, it is understood that it will not become widespread.

[0031] That is, it is necessary to develop an information provision system that uses a receiver that can be easily, safely, and inexpensively used by information disadvantaged groups, and at the same time develop simple devices that do not require construction work, complicated control, and high maintenance and operation costs for operators during deployment. Otherwise, it will not be a truly meaningful system for information disadvantaged groups. Therefore, it is an important issue that needs to be promptly addressed to develop and provide a simple system that does not require the use of smartphones or dedicated digital receiving devices.

[0032] As a result of the hearing, there are also many hopes for obtaining information through a familiar radio that can be driven for a long time with a general-purpose battery, and information can be heard without troublesome operations as long as the power is turned on and the frequency is adjusted. The preset function of the receiving frequency is well-developed and provided at a low price. It was also found that the introduction of an FM radio utilization system for information disadvantaged groups has received certain evaluation and expectations.

[0033] Considering these comprehensively, as described in item 0024 above, it became clear that it is urgent to develop and introduce an information provision system that is easy to use and highly effective for ensuring the safety of walking and moving, which is considered to be the most familiar and dangerous in the daily life of information disadvantaged groups. Therefore, the signal display status when visually impaired people walk on the road was investigated again.

[0034] Among various traffic signals, there are approximately 207,000 road traffic signals nationwide (as of the end of Reiwa 4, stock number on the homepage of the National Police Agency). This is the total number of signals for vehicles and pedestrians. Except for 10,184 signals for separated pedestrian and vehicle areas (less than 5% of the total, as of the end of March 2023), the total number of pedestrian signals cannot be determined. From the publicly available data of 1.27 million vehicle lights and 1.04 million pedestrian lights (as of the end of March 2023), the total number of pedestrian signals cannot be calculated either. However, among the pedestrian signals, 21,000 are equipped with additional devices for visually impaired people, such as making some sound during the green time (as of the end of March 2023). Among these, 4,577 use a chime or the like to notify crosswalk users of the start of the green signal. 844 provide voice information about the signal status, crosswalk start time, etc. by detecting terminal devices held by crosswalk users or white canes with reflective sheets attached (as of the end of March 2023, from the homepage of the Traffic Bureau of the National Police Agency). The number of signals with a device that provides the signal status, etc. by voice is 534, which is 2.2% of the pedestrian signals with additional devices (the same).

[0035] From the actual situation of signal installation, it can be seen that there are very few pedestrian signals that can give a sense of security to visually impaired people when crossing the road. Even fewer signals make some sound during the green time. Moreover, due to noise countermeasures for the neighborhood, about 80% of these acoustic devices, for example, are inoperative from 8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. the next morning. So, in reality, visually impaired people cross silent crosswalks with fear.

[0036] To put it simply, visually impaired people cannot move at night, and crossing roads where it is difficult to detect the approach of the latest cars with quiet engine and tire contact sounds is a life-threatening act.

[0037] In the system of the present invention, the display information and road guidance of the new signal can be heard on the FM radio regardless of late at night or early in the morning. By using earphones, there is no need to worry about others at all. Also, for the signal installer, there will be no noise complaints from the neighborhood.

[0038] Regarding large intersections equipped with pedestrian traffic lights, a new system using digital short-distance communication technology has been developed and put into use under the leadership of the National Police Agency. It boasts high functionality such as being able to control traffic signals on the vehicle side and extend the green signal display time for pedestrians by operating a smartphone. However, in addition to the need to pre-install software on the smartphone and input personal information, when visually impaired people operate the small screen of the smartphone, it is inevitable that there are difficulties in screen recognition and a sense of resistance to voice input in public. Therefore, the degree of demand from visually impaired users, who are the users, is not high. Furthermore, there are many points to be improved, such as the high cost incurred by the installation side. As a result, the number of installations nationwide has deviated greatly from the deployment plan of 2,000 locations in fiscal 2021, which was 138 units (at the end of March 2021) and increased to 464 units (as of July 2023, announced by the National Police Agency) in two years, and the smooth expansion of installations has not gone far.

[0039] The digital short-distance communication system used in this system employs a complex and confidential communication procedure to achieve two-way communication assuming the use of a smartphone. Therefore, general radios cannot receive and listen to that information. However, if we focus on operating it as a simple information-providing system for the display content and dispense with the two-way communication function, it should become a system that is easy to use as a simple broadcast system.

[0040] Specifically, if a 2.4GHz band digital reception circuit corresponding to the communication protocol in advance and an analysis circuit for converting it into analog audio data can be incorporated into the new type of traffic signal of the present invention or a retrofitted transmitter for improving the function of the conventional traffic signal into a new type of traffic signal, or a retrofitted control signal output and transmission device, relevant information can be easily heard on the FM radio even at intersections of the new system.

[0041] Moreover, it is essential that there should never be another tragic accident where a visually impaired person, being confused by the sounding of the level crossing alarm, walks right up to just before crossing the level crossing without knowing their position inside or outside the level crossing, and then turns back only to be hit by a train and lose their life. If, after grasping and analyzing the display information of the level crossing alarm, a post-attached transmitter or a post-attached control signal output and transmission device with pre-recorded position information at various locations inside and outside the level crossing is installed in advance, one can determine their position from the broadcast content of the nearest transmitter and safely evacuate outside the level crossing.

[0042] As an extended application of the present invention, based on the signal installation location, by broadcasting in the languages of various countries at a pre-informed frequency, it is possible to provide a tourism guidance function and a life support function for the rapidly increasing inbound tourism these days.

[0043] Also, in the event of a large-scale disaster, a new type of signal device or a post-attached transmitter or a post-attached control signal output and transmission device is equipped with a power generation and storage function using solar cells. Then, triggered by an earthquake detection by a vibration sensor or the like, the recorded content in various languages or the recorded content updated via the network immediately before is broadcast at the pre-announced country-specific frequency about the nearest evacuation site and the route thereto. Even if the digital communication environment in the disaster area is complex, relevant information can be obtained.

[0044] The FM radio on the receiving side is a conventional technology information receiver that has been stably used for a long time. In addition to reliability and economy, since it does not go through a data processing process, it can receive for a long time with an inexpensive general-purpose battery.

[0045] Using the FM radio as a receiving terminal for the display information and related information of the new type of signal device has the effect of increasing the deployment density of FM radio receivers. Considering the period when AM radio broadcasting is shifting to FM radio broadcasting, usually while listening to music and news, when necessary, just by tuning to the pre-informed frequency, one can listen to useful information, which can enhance the evaluation and dependence on the FM radio and strengthen the significance of the FM broadcasting network as an information-providing infrastructure.

[0046] If the motivation for obtaining information such as walking assistance by FM radio increases, not only optical displays but also general road signs that are dangerous for visually impaired people to overlook will, after being explained in paragraph 006, the attached type control signal output and transmission device has a power generation and power storage function up to a broadcasting function, so it can also be diverted as a constant broadcasting device for fixed messages.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0047] As a result of direct interviews with information-disadvantaged people such as visually impaired people, as described in paragraphs 0026 to 0033, when providing traffic signal display information and related information to information-disadvantaged people wirelessly, instead of using a general smartphone as an information receiving terminal, the present invention is characterized by using an FM radio that can be easily and safely used or a smartphone equipped with a function to directly receive analog radio waves in the FM radio broadcast band as the receiving terminal.

[0048] That is, without using digital type radio waves or radio waves with added encryption processing that require complex and expensive smartphones or dedicated devices in the interface part between the information providing side system and the information receiving side, analog radio waves in the FM radio broadcast band (excluding important broadcast frequencies such as emergency broadcasts) that have already been constructed and safely operated as a general social infrastructure and that anyone can easily listen to information are used.

[0049] Also, its transmission output is not a relatively large output within weak radio waves in a broad sense that corresponds to specific low-power radio in the prior application's similar patents, but rather an extremely weak radio wave as described in paragraph 0011, enabling the provision of spot information directed at an extremely narrow area and avoiding overlapping of the receiving area, and enabling relatively free installation and deployment.

[0050] In recent years, FM radios used as a receiving device on one side have been widened, and with the inexpensive development and introduction of small-sized frequency preset ICs, it has become possible to listen to music programs, information programs, and during large-scale disasters, to listen to emergency news, and to receive the relevant channel with one touch when you want to listen to the display information and related information of traffic lights.

[0051] By using an FM radio with good sound quality and a much lower unit price compared to smartphones in the present invention, it can also contribute to the maintenance and development of FM radio broadcasting, which is becoming increasingly important, such as the outage of AM radio waves and the shift of programs to the wide FM broadcast band.

Effects of the Invention

[0052] If the new traffic light according to the present invention, or a retrofitted transmitter or a retrofitted control signal output and transmission device is added to a conventional traffic light to achieve the same functions as the new traffic light, it will help visually impaired people, numbering 1.64 million in the Japan Ophthalmological Society, to easily obtain information when using crosswalks and railway crossings, thereby alleviating the fear of being involved in an accident, and by knowing the display information of the pedestrian signal at the crosswalk, rear-end collisions can be avoided. At railway crossings, when the alarm sounds, it is possible to grasp one's position inside or outside the crossing, so that being run over can be avoided. Thus, it can greatly contribute to the avoidance of actual accidents and tragedies.

[0053] Regarding the new intersection signal system using digital short-range communication technology developed and introduced under the leadership of the National Police Agency, if the new traffic light of the present invention or a retrofitted transmitter or a retrofitted control signal output and transmission device for improving the functions of a conventional traffic light to a new traffic light is provided with a 2.4GHz band digital receiving circuit corresponding to its communication protocol and an analysis circuit for converting it into analog audio data, it will also be possible to easily listen to relevant information on an FM radio in the new intersection signal system.

[0054] The present invention does not use digital wireless that requires dedicated receivers or protocol analysis for reception and playback of received content. Instead, it uses analog wireless in the FM radio band that anyone can receive. As long as there is an FM radio, anyone, including information-disadvantaged people, can easily listen to information. During train rides, etc., public broadcasts such as disasters and entertainment can be listened to, eliminating the need to separately have any kind of receiving terminal just to listen to information such as safe walking support.

[0055] The present invention makes use of the weakness of weak radio waves that can only reach a narrow range as a strength for radio waves used for information transmission in a narrow area. Since it is not subject to any special regulations during radio wave emission, it is easy to install and deploy, and can easily broadcast information specialized for the immediate vicinity of the receiver.

[0056] In addition to this, it is beneficial as a contribution to the infrastructure for providing related information, as a contribution to maintaining the FM radio broadcast system, and as a complementary function for the communication infrastructure during large-scale disasters.

[0057] When using this device as a guidance system for foreigners, if the broadcast frequency or channel for each country is determined and announced in advance, there is an effect that the display content such as Japanese-specific signals, warning lights, or internal illumination tourism guidance lights can be broadcast in the language of that country with the content pre-recorded.

[0058] Since the radio waves used are weak radio waves, if the radio wave output related to the receivable range is set or installed so as not to overlap with the adjacent devices of this device, there is an advantage that the minimum function can be provided by advertising at least one type of frequency in advance across the country. For example, if several channels are set and announced in advance, information regarding walking support, tourism guidance, dangerous locations, or nearby evacuation locations during disasters can also be broadcast in various languages by country.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0059]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0060] By utilizing smartphones, whose performance has improved dramatically in recent years, the convenience of various controls, payments, and information acquisition has been greatly enhanced through the installation of a large number of developed and provided application software. However, most of these are premised on the use by young people with a high level of understanding of the system or healthy people without visual or fingertip function impairments.

[0061] As a result of conducting hearings on problems related to information-disadvantaged groups such as visually impaired people and the elderly, systems that require the use of smartphones or dedicated devices to enjoy walking assistance and information acquisition convenience are very difficult to accept. However, since there may be cases where walking is necessary no matter how dangerous it is, it was found that there are many opinions that a simple system that can at least understand the display content of traffic lights is desired.

[0062] Therefore, we started constructing a system that anyone can listen to the display content of traffic lights and related information for free with simple operations as long as they have an FM radio, and analyzed the prior art. However, for the purpose of ensuring the reliability of communication, a system that uses a specific low-power broadcasting facility or radio waves with an output higher than that, and assumes a frequency in the normal radio broadcast band so as not to affect existing FM broadcasts was not found.

[0063] The present invention was devised to provide information as an FM radio broadcast using extremely weak radio waves with a very small output, which no one has paid much attention to due to the vulnerability of its output, for a system that is widely deployed.

[0064] If traffic light manufacturers improve and manufacture and sell the new traffic lights of the present invention, not only will it be accepted by information-disadvantaged groups including visually impaired people, but it may also result in differentiation from other companies' products.

Embodiment

[0065] Number 1 in Fig. 2-1 is an image of a conventional signal. Fig. 2-2 shows an example in which the retrofit transmitter described in item 2 and item 0005 of Fig. 1 of the present invention is incorporated into the housing of the conventional signal of number 1, and an antenna for analog FM weak radio wave transmission is attached facing outside the housing to form a new signal.

[0066] Fig. 3-1 shows an example in which a control signal and power are extended from the control box numbered 16 to the conventional signal to add a retrofit transmitter. Fig. 3-2 shows, as described in item 0006, a power supply unit with a self-power generation and power storage function using a commercial power supply or a solar panel, a camera unit that captures the display image of the conventional signal information display unit in real time, and a circuit that outputs a control signal for analyzing the video and passing it to a recording and playback control circuit and an analog FM weak radio wave transmission circuit. An example of adding a retrofit control signal output and transmission device to improve the specifications equivalent to those of a new signal.

[0067] Fig. 4 shows an installation example at a level crossing. Multiple retrofit transmitters described in item 0005 are installed inside and outside the railway level crossing. This is an installation and operation image conceived so that when the level crossing alarm sounds, visually impaired people can be informed of their position and quickly and accurately guided outside the level crossing.

[0068] Fig. 4-1 shows an operation mode of informing visually impaired people walking inside the level crossing of train approaching information by aspect, such as from which direction the train is coming, whether a new train is coming from another direction even after the train has passed, etc., which can be immediately confirmed by a luminous arrow display for sighted people.

[0069] Figure 4-2 shows recordings with different contents in advance to indicate the position of a person walking inside the level crossing. For example, in 14a, it is recorded that it is a location 5 meters from the A-side gate inside the level crossing structure going from the A side to the B side. In 14b, it is recorded that it is the center of the level crossing with a width of 20 meters. In 14c, it is recorded that it is a location 5 meters from the B-side gate inside the level crossing structure going from the A side to the B side. If recordings are made at locations close to these and broadcast with upward-directional antennas respectively, when the alarm sounds, visually impaired people walking inside the level crossing can know where they are currently and which exit is closer. This is an example.

[0070] Figure 5 shows an example where a retrofit transmitter is installed on the approaching train signal inside the railway station building.

[0071] Figure 6 shows the content where the retrofit transmitter of the present invention receives and analyzes the digital-type radio wave of a new system using the digital short-distance communication technology developed and put into use under the leadership of the National Police Agency, and then rebroadcasts it as voice with analog FM weak radio waves. It is an image of safely crossing the crosswalk while listening to it on an FM radio. In the original system, operation with a smartphone is essential, and in some cases, one hand may be occupied for operation. However, if information can be heard on an FM radio, a small and lightweight FM radio can be put into the chest pocket and listened to with earphones, which is safe. Also, if a wiring extension is made on the crosswalk and a retrofit transmitting unit is buried, one can walk while being guided by the voice, so there is less worry about greatly deviating from the crosswalk. Moreover, if information such as the length of the crosswalk and the length of the green signal is also included in the broadcast content, it will be even more pleasing.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0072] 1 Conventional signal 2 Circuit configuration of the retrofit transmitter 3 Circuit configuration of the retrofit control signal output and transmission device 4 Camera unit 5 Power supply output from the display control circuit of the conventional signal 6 Solar cell and electromotive force wiring 7 Control signal output from the display control circuit of the conventional signal Control signal generated as a result of image analysis within the 8-camera unit 9 Voltage regulation and power storage device for power supply from a solar cell or a display control board of a conventional traffic signal 10 Recording / playback control circuit and transmission frequency control circuit 11 Interface terminal for expansion 12 Analog FM weak radio wave transmission circuit 13 Control circuit that receives digital broadcasts, analyzes protocols, and extracts analog audio 14 Antenna for FM transmission 15 FM weak radio wave image during transmission 16 Traffic signal control box 20 FM radio

Claims

1. An information display device called a traffic signal that appeals to the vision through optical display to smooth social order or support human safety. It receives and analyzes the power supply, display control signal, and display information output from its lighting control circuit, optical display control circuit, etc., or reads the display information with a camera and analyzes its video to generate control signals and display information, and broadcasts the pre-recorded voice data or the voice data received and stored via the network as analog weak radio waves in the FM radio broadcast band as voice data related to the display content of the traffic signal.

2. 2. The traffic signal according to claim 1, further comprising a function of receiving and analyzing digital radio in the 2.4 GHz band and rebroadcasting it as weak radio waves in the FM radio broadcast band as analog voice.

Images