One way traffic signal system

Abstract

To provide a signal system for one way traffic capable of efficiently and alternately passing waiting vehicles in a one way traffic section.SOLUTION: The signal system for one-way traffic is composed of a photographing part for photographing a first intersection signal light device, a control part connected to the photographing part for calculating a lighting cycle KL1 in the first intersection signal light device from an image input from the photographing part, and the one-way traffic light device connected to the control part. The control part switches the first one way traffic light device from a red lighting KL1 to a blue lighting RL1 simultaneously with the start of the red lighting R41 of the calculated lighting cycle G41 of the first intersection signal light device L1, and starts the blue lighting G41. The green lighting GL1 of the first one-way traffic light is continued until the lighting time of the green lighting G41 becomes almost half, and the second one-way traffic light is switched from the red lighting L1 to the green lighting GL1 when almost half of the lighting time of the green lighting R42 of the first intersection signal light G42 elapses.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This relates to a one-way traffic signal system that is installed at construction sites that occupy one lane of a road near an intersection, and that guides waiting vehicles to proceed in one direction. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses a pair of one-way traffic signals that are placed at the entrances and exits of one-way traffic sections due to road construction or other reasons that occupy one lane of a road, and that alternate between green and red lights to allow waiting vehicles in the one-way traffic section to pass through in alternating directions. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-99887 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, when a pair of one-way traffic signals as described in Patent Document 1 are installed in a one-way traffic section near an intersection where road construction work is being carried out that occupies one lane, one of the one-way traffic signals may be lit red for a group of vehicles that pass through the intersection when the intersection signal lamp installed at the intersection turns green and arrives at the one-way traffic section.

[0005] In such cases, vehicles waiting at one of the one-way traffic signals may be stuck, and there may also be cases where the intersection signal light is red for vehicles passing through the one-way traffic section when the other one-way traffic signal light is green, causing vehicles waiting at the intersection signal light to be stuck.

[0006] Furthermore, if such waiting vehicles are stranded, they may reach the one-way traffic section. In this situation, even if one of the one-way traffic signals switches to green, vehicles in the opposite lane will not be able to proceed into the one-way traffic section unless the stranded vehicles pass through the intersection.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a one-way traffic signal system that allows waiting vehicles in a one-way traffic section near an intersection to pass through alternately and efficiently. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the one-way traffic signal system of the present invention is installed near an intersection where first and second intersection signal lamps installed on first and second intersecting roads, respectively, are periodically turned on and off, and the one-way traffic signal system controls the turning on and off of a one-way traffic section installed on the first road near the intersection, and includes a photographing unit that photographs the first intersection signal lamp, a control unit connected to the photographing unit and that calculates a lighting period including a red lighting period and a green lighting period of the first intersection signal lamp from an image input from the photographing unit, and a control unit connected to the control unit and that calculates the lighting period including a red lighting period and a green lighting period of the first intersection signal lamp from an image input from the photographing unit. The intersection signal light comprises first and second one-way traffic lights that alternate between red and green, and green and red, based on a lighting command from a control unit, the first and second one-way traffic lights are installed at the entrances and exits of the one-way traffic section, and the first one-way traffic light is installed closer to the intersection than the second one-way traffic light, and the control unit starts the first one-way traffic light to turn on green when the first intersection signal light starts to turn on red, and keeps the first one-way traffic light on green until approximately half the lighting time of the first intersection signal light has elapsed.

[0009] Furthermore, to achieve the above object, the one-way traffic signal system of the present invention is installed near an intersection where first and second intersection signal lamps installed on first and second intersecting roads, respectively, are periodically turned on and controlled, and the one-way traffic signal system controls the lighting of a one-way traffic section installed on the first road near the intersection, and includes a photographing unit that photographs the first intersection signal lamp, a control unit connected to the photographing unit and that calculates a lighting period including a red lighting period and a green lighting period of the first intersection signal lamp from an image input from the photographing unit, and a control unit connected to the control unit and that controls the lighting of the first intersection signal lamp to turn on red, green, and green based on a lighting command from the control unit. and first and second one-way traffic lights that alternately light up red and green, the first and second one-way traffic lights being installed at the entrances and exits of the one-way traffic section, and the first one-way traffic light being installed closer to the intersection than the second one-way traffic light, the control unit storing two consecutive calculated lighting periods as one connected cycle, starting the first one-way traffic light to light green when the first intersection signal light starts to light red in the first lighting period of the connected cycle, and continuing the green light of the first one-way traffic light until just before the first intersection signal light starts to light green in the second lighting period of the connected cycle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the one-way traffic signal system of the present invention, by synchronizing the timing of switching between red and green lights of the intersection signal lamps at the intersection with the timing of switching between red and green lights of the one-way traffic lamps, it is possible to allow waiting vehicles in the one-way traffic section near the intersection to pass alternately efficiently. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a system configuration diagram of a one-way traffic signal system installed near an intersection. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the lighting cycles of intersection signal lights and one-way traffic lights. [Figure 3]FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a photographed frame photographed by a photographing unit. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the lighting control of the first one-way traffic light. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the lighting cycles of an intersection signal lamp and a one-way traffic lamp in another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention will be described in detail based on the illustrated embodiment.

[0013] Figure 1 is a system configuration diagram of a one-way traffic signal system 1 installed near an intersection. At intersection C, where first and second roads D1 and D2 intersect, first and second intersection signal lamps L1 and L2 are installed, which control the lighting of vehicles v traveling on first and second roads D1 and D2. These first and second intersection signal lights L1, L2 are connected to a signal controller S, and lighting control is performed on the first and second intersection signal lights L1, L2 based on a lighting cycle (described later) that is stored in this signal controller S. Note that at intersection C, in addition to the first and second intersection signal lights for vehicle v, there are also intersection signal lights for pedestrians, but as the present invention is a system for automobiles, illustrations and explanations of these are omitted.

[0014] The traffic light controller S stores the lighting period K, which varies in proportion to the green and red lighting times depending on the time of day, day of the week, etc., and in which the cycle time varies, and periodically controls the signals of the first and second intersection signal lamps L1 and L2 according to these lighting periods K.

[0015] The one-way traffic signal system 1 is installed near an intersection, for example, near a construction site P that occupies one lane of a first road D1 as shown in the figure.

[0016] The one-way traffic signal system 1 is composed of a photographing unit 2 consisting of a video camera or the like that photographs the first intersection signal light L1, a control unit 3 that is connected to the photographing unit 2 and calculates the lighting period KL1 of the first intersection signal light L1 from the image input from the photographing unit 2, and a one-way traffic light 4 that is connected to the control unit 3.

[0017] The control unit 3 calculates each time period of the lighting cycle KL1 of the first intersection signal light L1 by timing the lighting time of each of the predetermined areas in the photographing frame F of the photographing unit 2 when the area changes from red to yellow to blue, i.e., the lighting time of red light RL1, yellow light YL1, and green light GL1.

[0018] The control unit 3 can then store each of these lighting times and the total time thereof as the first lighting period KL1 of the first intersection signal lamp L1, which is one cycle time.

[0019] In addition, based on the image of the second intersection signal light L2 from the photographing unit 2, the lighting period KL1 of the intersection signal light L1 can also be calculated from the lighting times of the red light RL2, yellow light YL2, and green light GL2 of the calculated second lighting period KL2.

[0020] The location for installing the photographing unit 2 is preferably on the side of the road where it does not obstruct pedestrian traffic and where the first intersection signal light L1 is included in the photographing frame. However, depending on the location for installing the photographing unit 2, there may be cases where it is in the blind spot of the first intersection signal light L1 and direct photographing is not possible.

[0021] In such a case, when controlling the lighting of the one-way traffic light 4 described later, it is possible to indirectly calculate the lighting period KL1 of the first intersection signal light L1 by photographing the second intersection signal light L2, which can be photographed directly, and using the lighting period of the second intersection signal light L2.

[0022] Furthermore, since the lighting cycle KL of the intersection signal lamp L varies depending on the time of day, etc., the lighting cycle KL stored in the control unit 3 is updated as needed. Immediately after the lighting cycle KL of the intersection signal lamp L is changed, it will temporarily lose synchronization with the one-way traffic lamp 4, but the newly calculated lighting cycle KL of the intersection signal lamp L and the lighting cycle K4 of the one-way traffic lamp 4 will become synchronized from the next lighting cycle K.

[0023] The one-way traffic light 4 is composed of first and second one-way traffic lights 41, 42 that alternate between red light R41 and green light G41, and green light G42 and red light R42 based on a lighting instruction from the control unit 3.

[0024] These first and second one-way traffic lights 41, 42 are installed at the entrance and exit of a one-way traffic section on one road D near intersection C, for example, one-way traffic section D11 which is the opposite lane of a construction site P that occupies one lane of first road D1. The first one-way traffic light 41 is installed on the intersection C side of the second one-way traffic light 42, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0025] Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the lighting periods of the first and second intersection signal lamps L1 and L2 calculated by the control unit 3, and the lighting periods K41 and K42 of the first and second one-way traffic lamps 41 and 42 that issue lighting commands.

[0026] The control unit 3 controls the lighting of the one-way traffic lights 41, 42 in accordance with the lighting cycles K41, K42 shown in Figure 2, and for the first one-way traffic light 41, at the same time as the start of red lighting RL1 of the calculated lighting cycle KL1 of the first intersection signal light L1, the control unit 3 switches from red lighting R41 to green lighting G41 and starts green lighting G41.

[0027] Then, the first intersection signal light L1 switches from red light RL1 to yellow light YL1 to green light GL1 in that order, and the green light G41 of the first one-way traffic light 41 continues to be lit for approximately half the time of the green light GL1.

[0028] For the second one-way traffic light 42 whose light is inverted from the first one-way traffic light 41, when approximately half the lighting time of the green light GL1 of the first intersection signal light L1 has elapsed, the second one-way traffic light 42 is switched from red light R42 to green light G42, and the second one-way traffic light 42 continues to be lit green G42 until the first intersection signal light L1 is switched from green light GL1 to yellow light YL1. In addition, when the control unit 3 creates the lighting period K4 of the one-way traffic light 4, in addition to photographing the first intersection signal light L1 by the photographing unit 2, it may also photograph an oncoming vehicle v1 on the first road D1 at the intersection C toward the one-way traffic section D11.

[0029] As shown in Figure 3, the first intersection signal light L1 and the vehicle v1 are photographed by the photographing unit 2 so that they appear in the same photographing frame F, and the lighting of the one-way traffic light 4 is controlled depending on whether or not the vehicle v1 is present when the first intersection signal light L1 is lit green GL1.

[0030] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the lighting control of the first one-way traffic light 41 depending on the presence or absence of an oncoming vehicle v1 in the one-way traffic section D11 at the intersection C.

[0031] After starting up the control unit 3 and calculating the lighting period KL1 of the first intersection signal lamp L1, it is determined in step ST1 based on the image of the photographed frame F whether the first intersection signal lamp L1 is lit in red RL1.

[0032] If the first intersection signal lamp L1 is not lit red RL1, step ST1 is repeated, but if it is lit red RL1, the process proceeds to step ST2. In step ST2, the first one-way traffic light 41 starts to light green G41, and the process proceeds to step ST3.

[0033] In step ST3, step ST3 is repeated until the first intersection signal lamp L1 switches from red RL1 to green GL1.

[0034] When the first intersection signal lamp L1 switches to green GL1, the process proceeds to step ST4, where it is determined whether or not a vehicle v1 is present. Vehicle v1 can travel once the first intersection signal lamp L1 switches to green GL1.

[0035] If at least one vehicle v1 continues to be detected in step ST4, the process proceeds to step ST5, and if no vehicle v1 can be detected, the process proceeds to step ST6.

[0036] In step ST5, it is determined whether half the red lighting time of the green lighting GL1 of the first intersection signal lamp L1 has elapsed. If half the green lighting time of the green lighting GL1 has not elapsed in step ST5, the process returns to step ST4.

[0037] If vehicle v1 cannot be detected in step ST4, or if half the time for turning on the green light GL1 of the first intersection signal lamp L1 has elapsed in step ST5, the process proceeds to step ST6, where the green light G41 of the first one-way traffic light 41 is terminated and switched to red light R41. After the switch, the process returns to step ST1, and the processes of steps ST1 to ST6 are repeated.

[0038] In this way, when the first intersection signal light L1 is lit green GL1 and there is no vehicle v1 present, the first one-way traffic light 41 is immediately switched from lit green G41 to lit red R41.

[0039] Because there is no vehicle v1 heading toward the one-way traffic section D11, there is no problem in turning off the green light GL1 of the first one-way traffic light 41. By immediately switching the first one-way traffic light 41 from its green light G41 to its red light R41, the lighting time of the green light G42 of the second one-way traffic light 42 can be extended.

[0040] In the lighting cycle K shown in Figure 2, when the first intersection signal light L1 is lit red RL1, the first one-way traffic light 41 starts lit green G41 because the second intersection signal light L2 is lit green GL2, allowing a vehicle v2 heading towards the one-way traffic section D11 to pass through the one-way traffic section D11.

[0041] Vehicle v1, which starts traveling when the first intersection signal light L1 turns green GL1 immediately after vehicle v2, which has passed due to the yellow light YL2 of the second intersection signal light L2, can pass through the one-way traffic section D11 without interruption.

[0042] In this way, half of the green lighting time GL1 of the first intersection signal lamp L1 is allocated to the vehicles v traveling in the up and down directions shown in FIG. 1 on the first road D1.

[0043] 5 is an explanatory diagram of the lighting period K of an intersection signal lamp L and a one-way traffic lamp 4 of another embodiment of a one-way traffic signal system 1. Two consecutive lighting periods KL of the intersection signal lamp L calculated by the control unit 3 are stored as one connection period M. As shown in the figure, the connection period M is made up of a first lighting period K01 and a second lighting period K02.

[0044] At the start of the red lighting RL1 of the first intersection signal light L1 in the first lighting cycle K01 of this coupling cycle M, the green lighting G41 of the first one-way traffic light 41 is started, and the green lighting G41 of the first one-way traffic light 41 is continued until just before the green lighting GL1 of the first intersection signal light L1 in the second lighting cycle K02 of the coupling cycle M starts.

[0045] In addition, the second one-way traffic light 42 starts its green light G42 in synchronization with the start of the green light GL1 of the first intersection signal light L1 in the second lighting cycle K02 of the coupling cycle M, and continues the green light G42 of the second one-way traffic light 42 until just before the yellow light YL1 of the first intersection signal light L1 in the second lighting cycle K02.

[0046] Compared to the lighting control based on the lighting cycle K shown in Figure 2, the lighting control based on the coupling cycle M shown in Figure 5 eliminates the lighting time of both red lights R41, R42 until the first one-way traffic light 41 switches from green light G41 to green light G42 of the second one-way traffic light 42 during the lighting time of the green light GL1 of the first intersection signal light L1, and therefore it is possible to allow more vehicles v traveling in the vertical direction shown in Figure 1 to pass through the one-way traffic section D11 by the lighting time.

[0047] In this way, with the one-way traffic signal system of the present invention, by synchronizing the switching timing of the red light RL and green light GL of the intersection signal lamp L at intersection C with the switching timing of the red light R4 and green light G4 of the one-way traffic lamp 4, it is possible to allow waiting vehicles v in the one-way traffic section D11 near the intersection to pass alternately and efficiently. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1 One-way traffic signal system 2. Filming Department 3. Control Unit 41 First one-way traffic light 42 Second one-way traffic light C intersection D road D1 First Road D11 One-way traffic section D2 Second Road F Shooting frame G41, G42, GL1, GL2 blue lights K lighting cycle L1 First intersection signal light L2 Second intersection signal lamp M connection period R41, R42, RL1, RL2 red lights S signal controller v, v1, v2 vehicles

Claims

1. A one-way traffic signal system is installed near an intersection where first and second intersection signal lamps installed on first and second intersecting roads, respectively, are periodically turned on and off, and the system controls the turning on and off of a one-way traffic section installed on the first road near the intersection, an imaging unit that images the intersection signal lamp; a control unit connected to the image capturing unit and configured to calculate a lighting period including a red lighting time and a green lighting time of the first intersection signal lamp from the image input from the image capturing unit; and first and second one-way traffic lights connected to the control unit, which alternately turn on red and green lights, and turn on green and red lights, based on a lighting command from the control unit, the first and second one-way traffic lights are installed at entrances and exits of the one-way traffic section, and the first one-way traffic light is installed closer to the intersection than the second one-way traffic light, a control unit that starts the first one-way traffic light device turning on green when the first intersection signal light device starts to turn on red, and that continues the first one-way traffic light device turning on green until approximately half of the green lighting time of the first intersection signal light device has elapsed.

2. the photographing unit photographs the first intersection signal lamp and photographs an oncoming vehicle on the first road in the one-way traffic section; 2. The one-way traffic signal system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines whether the vehicle is present or absent when the first intersection signal lamp is lit green, and changes the time for which the first one-way traffic light lamp remains lit green depending on the determination result.

3. 3. The one-way traffic signal system according to claim 2, wherein the control unit immediately switches the first one-way traffic light from green to red when the first intersection signal light is green and the vehicle is not present, and continues the green light until approximately half of the green light duration of the first intersection signal light has elapsed when the vehicle is present.

4. A one-way traffic signal system is installed near an intersection where first and second intersection signal lamps installed on first and second intersecting roads, respectively, are periodically turned on and off, and the system controls the turning on and off of a one-way traffic section installed on the first road near the intersection, an imaging unit that images the intersection signal lamp; a control unit connected to the image capturing unit and configured to calculate a lighting period including a red lighting time and a green lighting time of the first intersection signal lamp from the image input from the image capturing unit; and first and second one-way traffic lights connected to the control unit, which alternately turn on red and green lights, and turn on green and red lights, based on a lighting command from the control unit, the first and second one-way traffic lights are installed at entrances and exits of the one-way traffic section, and the first one-way traffic light is installed closer to the intersection than the second one-way traffic light, the control unit stores two consecutive lighting periods calculated as one connected period, a one-way traffic signal system, characterized in that the first one-way traffic light starts to light green when the first intersection signal light starts to light red in a first lighting period of the connecting cycle, and the first one-way traffic light continues to light green until just before the first intersection signal light starts to light green in a second lighting period of the connecting cycle.

5. 5. A one-way traffic signal system according to claim 4, wherein the second one-way traffic light starts to light green when the first intersection signal light starts to light green in the second lighting cycle, and the second one-way traffic light continues to light green until the first intersection signal light finishes lighting green in the second lighting cycle.

Images