Crosswalk and crossing pedestrian protection system linked to traffic lights

Abstract

The present invention relates to a crosswalk pedestrian protection system linked to traffic lights. The crosswalk pedestrian protection system linked to traffic lights, according to one aspect of the present invention, comprises: a camera unit provided to photograph a crosswalk and a pedestrian path or road adjacent to the crosswalk so as to acquire a crosswalk image by photographing the crosswalk and the pedestrian path or road; a control server which receives, from a plurality of traffic lights or a plurality of traffic light controllers, traffic light control signals for causing the traffic lights to display a blinking indication according to traffic signals including a red light, a yellow light, a green light, a U-turn signal, a left-turn signal, and a right-turn signal, and which generates and outputs a control signal for controlling road signs according to the traffic light control signals; and the road signs which are provided along the crosswalk and the pedestrian path or road adjacent to the crosswalk and blink according to the control signal output from the control server.

Description

Pedestrian protection system for crosswalks and level crossings linked to traffic lights

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology that protects pedestrians at crosswalks and level crossings by installing road markers on the road surface of crosswalks and level crossings and flashing road markers located at the stop line of the road in accordance with the signal of a traffic signal, thereby assisting drivers in recognizing the signal.

[0002] Technologies are being disclosed that help pedestrians recognize signals by changing the flashing color of existing ground lights installed at the entrance of road crosswalks according to an operating state associated with the flashing cycle of traffic signals.

[0003] Most of these existing technologies simply change the flashing color and cycle of the ground lights at the crosswalk entrance according to the traffic signal, which has limitations in that it cannot respond to emergency situations, such as when pedestrians are too slow to cross the crosswalk or when pedestrians or vehicles suddenly appear.

[0004] Furthermore, existing technologies have limitations in that they only inform pedestrians at the entrance of crosswalks whether it is safe to cross, but fail to provide signal guidance to drivers who primarily look at the road surface.

[0005] The objective of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned problem by providing a pedestrian protection system linked to a traffic signal, wherein LED road markers are mounted on both sides of the crosswalk road surface and normally light up in the same color as the traffic signal according to the traffic signal, but when a specific event (recognition of a person or object) is detected on the crosswalk or road, the LED road markers flash for several seconds with a preset lighting color and cycle, taking precedence over the traffic signal, thereby alerting drivers who have stopped at the stop line and are looking at the road surface of the crosswalk.

[0006] The objectives of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned objectives will be clearly understood from the description below.

[0007] A pedestrian protection system for a crosswalk linked with traffic lights according to one aspect of the present invention for achieving the aforementioned purpose comprises: a camera unit installed to photograph a crosswalk and a pedestrian path or road adjacent to the crosswalk and thereby acquiring a crosswalk image upon photographing; a control server that receives traffic light control signals for flashing on a traffic light according to a traffic signal including a red light, yellow light, blue light, U-turn signal, left turn signal, and right turn signal from a plurality of traffic lights or a plurality of traffic light controllers, and generates and outputs a control signal for controlling road markers according to the traffic light control signals; and road markers installed along the crosswalk and the pedestrian path or road adjacent to the crosswalk and flashing according to the control signal output from the control server.

[0008] According to the present invention, active signal guidance is possible by controlling the lighting color and lighting cycle of road markers based on whether objects near a crosswalk are recognized as well as the signal of a traffic signal.

[0009] In particular, considering that drivers' eyes tend to be directed primarily toward the road surface, it is expected that traffic accidents on crosswalks can be significantly reduced by alerting both pedestrians and drivers through road markers.

[0010] The effects of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description in the claims.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a pedestrian protection system for a crosswalk linked with a traffic signal light according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram illustrating the operation of a pedestrian protection system linked with a traffic signal light according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] A pedestrian protection system for a crosswalk linked with traffic lights according to one aspect of the present invention for achieving the aforementioned purpose comprises: a camera unit installed to photograph a crosswalk and a pedestrian path or road adjacent to the crosswalk and thereby acquiring a crosswalk image upon photographing; a control server that receives traffic light control signals for flashing on a traffic light according to a traffic signal including a red light, yellow light, blue light, U-turn signal, left turn signal, and right turn signal from a plurality of traffic lights or a plurality of traffic light controllers, and generates and outputs a control signal for controlling road markers according to the traffic light control signals; and road markers installed along the crosswalk and the pedestrian path or road adjacent to the crosswalk and flashing according to the control signal output from the control server.

[0014] The advantages and features of the present invention, and the methods for achieving them, will become clear by referring to the embodiments described below in detail together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below but may be implemented in various different forms. These embodiments are provided merely to ensure that the disclosure of the present invention is complete and to fully inform those skilled in the art of the scope of the invention, and the present invention is defined only by the claims. Meanwhile, the terms used in this specification are for describing the embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. In this specification, the singular form includes the plural form unless specifically stated otherwise in the text.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, a pedestrian protection system (1000) linked with a traffic signal light according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a camera unit (100), a control server (200), and a road sign (300).

[0016] The camera unit (100) is installed to photograph a crosswalk and a pedestrian path or road adjacent to the crosswalk, and may acquire a crosswalk image including an object of the crosswalk and the pedestrian path or road adjacent to the crosswalk by photographing the crosswalk and the pedestrian path or road adjacent to the crosswalk.

[0017] The camera unit (100) may include cameras installed in different shooting directions to photograph objects on the crosswalk and the pedestrian walkway or road adjacent to the crosswalk from different directions.

[0018] The camera unit (100) may acquire a crosswalk image by stitching images acquired from cameras based on common image regions according to a predetermined image processing technique.

[0019] Here, the acquisition of crosswalk images can be performed using existing image stitching techniques and is not a core aspect of the present invention, so a detailed explanation will be omitted.

[0020] The control server (200) receives traffic signal control signals for flashing on traffic signals according to traffic signals including red, yellow, blue, U-turn, left turn, and right turn signals from a plurality of traffic signals or a plurality of traffic signal controllers, divides a plurality of segment areas according to user input in a crosswalk image acquired from a camera unit (100), establishes associations between segments selected according to user input, groups road markers belonging to each segment area by segment area, and generates and outputs group control signals for controlling road markers by group according to the associations between segments and traffic signal control signals.

[0021] The control server (200) may include a traffic signal signal management unit (210), a segment area division unit (220), a segment area setting unit (230), an object recognition unit (240), a grouping unit (250), and a control signal generation unit (260).

[0022] The traffic signal signal management unit (210) may receive traffic signal control signals for flashing on the traffic signal lights according to traffic signals including red, yellow, blue, U-turn, left turn, and right turn signals from a plurality of traffic signal lights or a plurality of traffic signal controllers, and record the flashing states of each of the plurality of traffic signal lights by assigning an identifier to each traffic signal light to distinguish it from other traffic signal lights.

[0023]

[0024] The segment area division unit (220) may divide the crosswalk image acquired from the camera unit (100) into multiple segment areas according to user input and assign an identifier to each segment area to distinguish it from other segment areas.

[0025] The segment area division unit (220) may divide the crosswalk image acquired from the camera unit (100) into multiple segment areas by displaying the crosswalk image in the screen area and providing a user interface for generating points, lines, and closed areas for a part of the screen area according to user input, and divide the multiple segment areas according to the combination of pixels corresponding to the points, lines, and closed areas generated in the screen area according to user input to the user interface.

[0026] In another example, the segment area division unit (220) may divide a plurality of segment areas into screen areas corresponding to the crosswalk, sidewalk, and roadway, respectively, in the crosswalk image according to a predetermined image processing technique.

[0027] The segment area division unit (220) may divide the crosswalk area into multiple segment areas corresponding to the crosswalk, sidewalk, and roadway on the screen using a learning model that receives the crosswalk, sidewalk, and roadway image and detects the lines corresponding to the crosswalk, sidewalk, and roadway in the image, by being pre-trained with a learning image in which a crosswalk, sidewalk, and roadway are photographed and lines corresponding to the crosswalk, sidewalk, and roadway are labeled.

[0028] The segment area setting unit (230) may select at least one segment area among the plurality of segment areas divided by the segment area division unit (220) according to user input, and additionally select a segment area different from the selected segment area to establish an association between each selected segment area.

[0029] The segment area setting unit (230) may first select at least one segment area among the plurality of segment areas divided by the segment area division unit (220) according to user input, and additionally secondarily select a segment area different from the first selected segment area, thereby establishing an association between the first selected segment area and the second selected segment area.

[0030] Here, the association setting may be to set event detection conditions for the first selected segment area and to set action execution for the second selected segment area.

[0031] The segment area setting unit (230) may establish an association between selected segment areas by setting an action including a blinking color and a blinking cycle for a second selected segment area according to an event detection condition based on whether an object is recognized in a first selected segment area and the type of the recognized object.

[0032] Specifically, the event detection conditions may relate to whether an object, such as a vehicle, person, or thing, is recognized, whether an object is recognized within a crosswalk area, whether the type of the recognized object matches a preset type, and whether the vector resulting from the movement of the object matches a preset range of size and direction.

[0033] The action execution relates to controlling a road sign bottle for another segment area when an event detection condition is met, and may include a flashing color and flashing cycle entered by the user.

[0034] For example, the action execution may involve setting event detection conditions for the first selected segment area to speed up (or slow down) the flashing cycle of the road sign in the second selected segment area or changing the flashing color to a preset color when an object is recognized in the first selected segment area and the event detection conditions are satisfied, and setting action execution for the second selected segment area.

[0035] The object recognition unit (240) may recognize objects including vehicles, objects, and people in a crosswalk image acquired from the camera unit (100) according to a predetermined image processing technique.

[0036] Predetermined object recognition in the image may utilize existing image object recognition technology and is not a core aspect of the present invention, so a detailed explanation will be omitted.

[0037] The grouping unit (250) may group road markers (300) belonging to each of the multiple segment areas divided by the segment area division unit (220) that are pre-registered for the crosswalk and pedestrian path or road adjacent to the crosswalk captured by the camera unit (100), by assigning a segment area identifier to each segment area.

[0038] The grouping unit (250) may group multiple road sign bottles (300) belonging to each of the multiple segment areas in the crosswalk image by assigning a different identifier to each segment area.

[0039] Multiple road sign bottles (300) belonging to each segment area may be set according to user input.

[0040] The grouping unit (250) may match the identifiers for each of the multiple traffic lights recorded in the traffic light signal management unit (210) with the identifiers for each segment area of ​​the grouped road sign (300) according to user input, and group and store the traffic lights associated with the road sign (300).

[0041]

[0042] The control signal generation unit (260) may generate and output a group-specific control signal to control the road sign bars grouped in the grouping unit (250) according to pre-set conditions based on the association between segment areas set in the segment area setting unit (230) and traffic signal control signals received from the traffic signal signal management unit (210).

[0043] The control signal generation unit (260) may generate and output control signals in groups to control the road sign (300) to flash with a flashing color and flashing cycle according to the traffic signal light control signal corresponding to each segment area when the event detection condition of the association between segment areas set in the segment area setting unit (230) is not satisfied.

[0044] That is, the control signal generation unit (260) may generate and output a plurality of group-specific control signals, each of which controls the road sign (300) with a flashing cycle and flashing color corresponding to the flashing state of the traffic signal light according to a preset condition based on the traffic signal light control signal received from the traffic signal light management unit (210), so that the road sign (300) is flashed in response to the flashing state of the traffic signal light associated with the road sign (300).

[0045] When the event detection condition of the association between segment areas pre-set in the segment area setting unit (230) is satisfied, the control signal generation unit (260) may generate and output a control signal that controls the road markers to flash according to the flashing color and flashing cycle included in the action execution of the association between segment areas, prioritizing the flashing color and flashing cycle included in the action execution over the traffic signal light control signal corresponding to the segment area.

[0046] The control signal generation unit (260) may generate and output multiple group-specific control signals to control multiple road sign bottles (300) grouped by the grouping unit (250) according to the event detection conditions and action execution set for each segment area in the segment area setting unit (230).

[0047] The control signal generation unit (260) may determine whether each association satisfies the event detection condition set according to the location of the object recognized by the object recognition unit (240), and if satisfied, generate and output a plurality of group-specific control signals such that the flashing cycle and flashing color according to the action execution of each association are prioritized over the flashing cycle and flashing color corresponding to the flashing state of the traffic signal light associated with the road sign bottle (300).

[0048] That is, when the event detection condition is satisfied, a control signal may be generated and output to control the road sign bottle (300) grouped in the segment area where the association is established to operate with a flashing cycle and flashing color according to the action performed in response to the event detection condition, rather than a flashing cycle and flashing color associated with the traffic signal light.

[0049] For example, referring to FIG. 2, road markers belonging to the first segment area (2011), the second segment area (2012), and the third segment area (2013) are linked to the first traffic signal (2001), and road markers belonging to the fourth segment area (2014) and the fifth segment area (2015) are linked to the second traffic signal (2003), and an event condition based on object recognition for the second segment area (2012) and an action execution for the third segment area (2013) are pre-set so that an association between the second segment area (2012) and the third segment area (2013) can be established.

[0050] In addition, event conditions based on object recognition for the fourth segment area (2014) and the fifth segment area (2015) and the execution of an action in the third segment area (2013) are pre-set, so that the association between the fourth segment area (2014), the fifth segment area (2015), and the third segment area (2013) can be established.

[0051]

[0052] The control signal generation unit (260) can guide the vehicle to stop reliably at the stop line by generating and outputting a control signal that controls the road sign bars belonging to the first segment area (2011), the second segment area (2012), and the third segment area (2013) to flash red in correspondence with the flashing state of the first traffic signal light (2001).

[0053] The control signal generation unit (260) generates and outputs a control signal that controls the road sign bars belonging to the fourth segment area (2014) and the fifth segment area (2015) to flash green in correspondence with the flashing state of the second traffic signal light (2003), thereby allowing the green light to be visible toward the pedestrian, so as to guide the pedestrian to cross the crosswalk safely.

[0054] The control signal generation unit (260) can generate and transmit a control signal to control road sign bottles belonging to the third segment area (2013) to operate with a flashing cycle and flashing color according to the action execution when an object (3000) corresponding to a person is located in the second segment area (2012) and satisfies the event condition according to object detection.

[0055] At this time, the flashing color according to the action execution is red, the same as the flashing state of the first traffic signal light (2001), and the flashing cycle can be pre-set to be faster than the flashing state of the first traffic signal light (2001).

[0056] Accordingly, when pedestrians are crossing the crosswalk, road markers installed at the stop line adjacent to the crosswalk light up rapidly, warning drivers to pay closer attention to pedestrian safety.

[0057] Additionally, the control signal generation unit (260) can generate and output a control signal such that when the first traffic signal light (2001) changes to green and the second traffic signal light (2003) changes to red, the road markers belonging to the first segment area (2011), the second segment area (2012), and the third segment area (2013) are switched to green to guide vehicles to pass, and the road markers belonging to the fourth segment area (2014) and the fifth segment area (2015) are switched to red to warn pedestrians not to cross.

[0058] At this time, the control signal generating unit (260) can output a control signal that causes road markers belonging to the third segment area (2013) to light up green and flash at a preset period when a pedestrian, i.e., an object corresponding to a person, is recognized in the fourth segment area (2014) or the fifth segment area (2015).

[0059] Accordingly, when a pedestrian is near a crosswalk, road markers installed at the stop line adjacent to the crosswalk flash green to induce vehicles to slow down, thereby preventing traffic accidents at crosswalks.

[0060] A number of road sign bottles (300) may be installed along a crosswalk and a pedestrian walkway or road adjacent to the crosswalk, and may flash according to a control signal output from a control server.

[0061] Multiple road sign bottles (300) can be installed along the four corners corresponding to the front, back, left, and right of the crosswalk and along the road marking lines of the roadway adjacent to the crosswalk.

[0062] The road sign bottle (300) may include a communication unit (310), a control unit (320), and a flashing unit (330).

[0063] The communication unit (310) is connected to the control server (200) and can receive control signals transmitted by the control server (200) by group.

[0064] The control unit (320) may control the flashing unit (330) to light up or flash with at least one of the preset colors and a preset lighting cycle according to a control signal.

[0065] The flashing unit (330) includes lighting for preset colors and can light up or flash according to the control of the control unit (320).

[0066] According to the present invention, traffic signal recognition by pedestrians and drivers can be improved by ensuring that road markers associated with each traffic signal operate in synchronization with the operating state of the traffic signal.

[0067] Accordingly, traffic accidents can be reduced by guiding both pedestrians and drivers to obey traffic signals.

[0068] According to the present invention, depending on whether the location where an object such as a vehicle, object, or person is recognized in a crosswalk image satisfies a preset condition, the system operates with a preset flashing cycle and flashing color in priority over the operation state of the traffic signal light. In this way, the system normally guides pedestrians and drivers with signals in accordance with the traffic signal light, but when a special situation arises where an object such as a vehicle, object, or person is detected in a preset area, it can provide separate guidance with a preset flashing cycle and flashing color.

[0069] In other words, the present invention normally operates the road marker in synchronization with the traffic signal, but when specific conditions are met, such as pedestrian recognition around a crosswalk, it can actively provide a signal to warn drivers or pedestrians independently of the traffic signal.

[0070] Therefore, the benefit of further enhancing the safety of pedestrians and drivers can be expected.

[0071] Meanwhile, the blocks of the attached block diagram may be implemented as computer instructions that perform designated functions by being loaded into the processor or memory of an electronic device capable of data processing (e.g., a general-purpose computer, a specialized computer, a portable notebook computer, or a network computer). Since these computer program instructions can be stored in computer-readable memory, the functions described in the blocks of the block diagram or the steps of the flowchart may be produced as manufactured products containing means of instruction to perform them.

[0072] A person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will understand that the present invention may be implemented in other specific forms without altering its technical concept or essential features. Therefore, the embodiments described above should be understood as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims set forth below rather than by the detailed description above, and all modifications or variations derived from the claims and their equivalents should be interpreted as being included within the scope of the present invention.

[0073] The present invention relates to a technology that protects pedestrians at crosswalks and level crossings by installing road markers on the road surface of crosswalks and level crossings and flashing road markers located at the stop line of the road in accordance with the signal of a traffic signal, thereby assisting drivers in recognizing the signal.

Claims

1. A camera unit installed to photograph a crosswalk and a pedestrian walkway or road adjacent to the crosswalk, and acquiring a crosswalk image as it photographs; A control server that receives traffic signal control signals for flashing on a traffic signal according to a traffic signal including a red light, yellow light, blue light, U-turn signal, left turn signal, and right turn signal from a plurality of traffic signal lights or a plurality of traffic signal controllers, and generates and outputs a control signal for controlling road markers according to the traffic signal control signals; and A pedestrian protection system for a crosswalk linked with a traffic signal, comprising road markers installed along a crosswalk and a pedestrian walkway or road adjacent to the crosswalk, which flash according to a control signal output from the control server.

2. In Paragraph 1, The above control server is Dividing multiple segment areas in the above crosswalk image according to user input, establishing associations between selected segments according to user input, grouping road markers belonging to each segment area by segment area, and generating and outputting additional groups to control the road markers by group according to the associations between segments and the traffic signal control signals. Crossing pedestrian protection system linked to traffic signals.

3. In Paragraph 2, The above control server is A traffic signal management unit that receives traffic signal control signals for flashing on traffic signals according to traffic signals including red, yellow, blue, U-turn, left-turn, and right-turn signals from multiple traffic signals or multiple traffic signal controllers, and records the flashing states of each of the multiple traffic signals by assigning an identifier to each traffic signal to distinguish it from other traffic signals; A segment area division unit that divides the crosswalk image into multiple segment areas according to user input and assigns an identifier to each segment area to distinguish it from other segment areas; and A segment area setting unit that selects at least one segment area among a plurality of segment areas divided by the segment area division unit according to user input, additionally selects a segment area different from the selected segment area, and establishes an association relationship between each selected segment area. Crossing pedestrian protection system linked to traffic signals.

4. In Paragraph 3, The above control server is An object recognition unit that recognizes objects including vehicles, objects, and people in the above crosswalk image according to a predetermined image processing technique; A grouping unit that assigns a segment area identifier to road sign bars belonging to each of the plurality of segment areas that are pre-registered and divided by the segment area division unit, and groups them by segment area; and A control signal generation unit that generates and outputs a group-specific control signal for controlling road sign bars grouped in the grouping unit according to preset conditions based on the association between the segment areas and the traffic signal control signals; further comprising Crossing pedestrian protection system linked to traffic signals.

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