5019 results about "Traffic signal" patented technology

Provided is a system for identifying vehicles of traffic violators, the system having elements that include: a video camera for providing, in real-time, a video signal that represents plural sequential video image frames (either perceptually continuous video, such as 30 frames per second, or non-perceptually continuous video, such as 1-2 fps); a traffic violation detector (e.g., a radar gun, an in-ground loop, a pair of self-powered wireless transponders or transmitters, a camera-based speed detection system, or any other speed sensor) that provides a trigger signal (e.g., based on vehicle speed and detection of the state of a traffic signal); a video recorder that receives the video signal provided by the camera and records the video signal in a buffer until receipt of a trigger signal, at which point at least a portion of the video signal stored in the buffer is preserved for recording and direct real-time storage of the video signal to a hard drive, or other high-capacity storage medium, commences. As a result, the video signal is preserved during a pre-programmable sliding (or rolling) time interval prior to provision of the trigger signal.

A lane-level vehicle routing and navigation apparatus includes a simulation module that performs microsimulation of individual vehicles in a traffic stream, and a lane-level optimizer that evaluates conditions along the candidate paths from an origin to a destination as determined by the simulation module, and determines recommended lane-level maneuvers along the candidate paths. A link-level optimizer may determines the candidate paths based on link travel times determined by the simulation module. The simulation may be based on real-time traffic condition data. Recommended candidate paths may be provided to delivery or service or emergency response vehicles, or used for evacuation planning, or to route vehicles such as garbage or postal trucks, or snowplows. Corresponding methods also may be used for traffic planning and management, including determining, based on microsimulation, at least one of (a) altered road geometry, (b) altered traffic signal settings, such as traffic signal timing, or (c) road pricing.

A method and system is described where a plurality of position reference devices use short-range wireless communication protocols to transmit positioning assistance data to nearby mobile devices, and the mobile devices use the assistance data to model errors and re-calibrate their positioning systems. The short-range communication methods include NFC, RFID, Bluetooth®, short-range 802.11, Wi-Fi Direct, and high frequency focused beams such as 60 GHz. The position reference devices are passive or active NFC tags, passive or active RFID tags, other devices that include such tags as their components, Bluetooth®-enabled devices, 60 GHz-enabled devices, and 802.11 access points that can lower their transmit power. The reference devices are located at various indoor and outdoor locations such as smart posters, kiosks, ATM machines, malls, store checkout counters, store security gates, wireless access points, cellular base-stations, tollbooths, traffic lights, and street lamp posts.

The present invention includes a number of embodiments for improving vehicle situational awareness at intersections. A first embodiment may comprise a lens fitted at the top of the windshield or outside the vehicle, for refracting the light to the driver, so the driver may more easily see signals, signage and other features of an intersection, as well as other traffic. A second embodiment of the invention is used as an aid to prompt the driver that a light has changed. In a third embodiment, the light change sensor may be combined with other vehicle status information. As the car comes to a stop, the route guidance system may determine if the vehicle is at or in the vicinity of an intersection. Depending on the route guidance database, the system may also know whether or not there are traffic lights at the intersection. Using the vehicle's on board forward-looking radar sensor, the system may then determine if it is first in line at the intersection. In a fourth embodiment the system may be part of a portable after-market routing device. In a fifth embodiment the system, either portable or fixed, may be used to detect changes in the intensity of the brake lights of the vehicle ahead.

An emergency vehicle traffic light preemption system for preemption of traffic lights at an intersection to allow safe passage of emergency vehicles. The system includes a real-time status monitor of an intersection which is relayed to a control module for transmission to emergency vehicles as well as to a central dispatch office. The system also provides for audio warnings at an intersection to protect pedestrians who may not be in a position to see visual warnings or for various reasons cannot hear the approach of emergency vehicles. A transponder mounted on an emergency vehicle provides autonomous control so the vehicle operator can attend to getting to an emergency and not be concerned with the operation of the system. Activation of a priority-code (i.e. Code-3) situation provides communications with each intersection being approached by an emergency vehicle and indicates whether the intersection is preempted or if there is any conflict with other approaching emergency vehicles. On-board diagnostics handle various information including heading, speed, and acceleration sent to a control module which is transmitted to an intersection and which also simultaneously receives information regarding the status of an intersection. Real-time communications and operations software allow central and remote monitoring, logging, and command of intersections and vehicles.

An emergency vehicle warning device and a vehicle warning system method for notifying a person (and plural) in a moving vehicle (and plural), an approaching emergency vehicle (and plural), including a transmitter for transmitting an emergency signal from an emergency vehicle and a receiver embedded in a siren and light vehicle warning device located near or attached to a traffic signal, and the receiving vehicle warning devise emits lights and loud siren sounds, which alert driver(s) of moving vehicle(s) and pedestrian(s), that the emergency vehicle(s) are approaching a nearby intersection; and the Emergency vehicle warning system comprising a transmitting means located in an emergency vehicle for transmitting an emergency signal indicating that the emergency vehicle(s) are approaching the intersection that is activated or starts and continues signaling when emergency vehicle(s) are on the move nearby in emergency conditions, a receiving means located in a siren and light vehicle warning device, such device located near or attached to a traffic signaling device or light, such receiving means for receiving the emergency signal from the transmitting means, and an alert means triggered by the receiving means to alert the driver of the moving vehicle(s) that the emergency vehicle(s) are approaching.

An area mixed traffic self-adapting signal coordinated control method relates to the technical field of the automatic control, wherein the vehicle information for entering the control junction is detected through a detector, and the vehicle information is transmitted to the traffic signal controller; the traffic signal controller performs the preheating on the traffic flow data, while the area coordinated control computer analyzes the traffic flow operation state of each inlet section of the junction, to perform the realtime analysis forecast, provides the optimized traffic signal project timing parameters to the traffic signal controller. The method of the invention divided the city road net into a plurality of subareas, adopts the layer net working to coordinated control the duration time of the traffic light at each junction, advances the traffic capacity, prevents the traffic congestion, reduces the off gas, ensures the traffic safety.

Embodiments describe new mechanisms for signalized intersection control. Embodiments expand inputs beyond traditional traffic control methods to include awareness of agency policies for signalized control, industry standardized calculations for traffic control parameters, geometric awareness of the roadway and/or intersection, and/or input of vehicle trajectory data relative to this intersection geometry. In certain embodiments, these new inputs facilitate a real-time, future-state trajectory modeling of the phase timing and sequencing options for signalized intersection control. Phase selection and timing can be improved or otherwise optimized based upon modeling the signal's future state impact on arriving vehicle trajectories. This improvement or optimization can be performed to reduce or minimize the cost basis of a user definable objective function.

A computer network including: at least one switch connecting at least one edge device to the remainder of the network, said at least one switch including: snooping apparatus using DHCP to monitor the signal traffic through the switch to or from the each edge device to determine, without changing the traffic signals, for each edge device, the MAC address, the IP address, and the port of the switch to which it is connected, and a dynamic table within said switch of, for each edge device, the MAC address, the IP address, and the port which it is connected, the contents of the table being provided by said snooping apparatus

A computerized monitoring system and corresponding method of monitoring the status and health of a blowout preventer. The system includes a graphics display at which a graphical user interface (GUI) displays the health of various sealing elements and control systems by way of “traffic light” indicators. The health indicators are evaluated, by the monitoring system, based on a risk profile for each of the indicated elements and control systems. The risk profiles are evaluated based on inputs such as measurement inputs, feedback signals, mechanical positions, diagnostic results, drilling conditions, and other status information of the blowout preventer at a given time and based on levels of redundancy and levels of deviation from normal conditions. The GUI includes recent history of changes in operating condition, and alarm indications such as poor health, along with the times of those events.

A safety system determines a correspondence between a vehicle and an upcoming traffic signal, and predicts a state of the traffic signal when the vehicle is expected to reach the signal's location. Based on proximity to the signal and speed of the vehicle, the system provides a warning if it determines that the vehicle is likely to proceed contrary to the signal (e.g., a driver is likely to run a red light). The warning is issued to the vehicle about to illegally enter the intersection, to other nearby vehicles and pedestrians, and to the traffic signal itself.

The loading dock traffic automation and inventory control system of the present invention automates the loading dock area by controlling a truck control notification automation system, traffic signal dock lights, loading dock spot light, loading dock fan and dock leveler. The manually operated control panel is energized or de-energized with full automation by the movement of the overhead dock door. The device includes a control panel enclosure mounted on the interior wall of the building next to the loading dock door. One control panel enclosure can service one or two loading dock doors.

The inventive signal incorporates an intelligent diagnosis module inside a light emitting diode (LED) signal, such as an LED traffic signal. The inventive signal can self-extinguish or send a signal through its communication port at the end of its useful life when the LEDs are no longer providing the required light output. Additionally, the inventive signal sends a signal to increase the current as the LEDs degrade to ensure the light output is above a threshold minimum.

An improved apparatus for controlling a traffic signal at an intersection includes a signal controller having an artificial intelligence based situational analyzer. The signal controller receives vehicle data related to the speed and position of vehicles approaching the intersection, and optionally time and ambient condition data. If the artificial intelligence based situational analyzer predicts a signal violation, operation of the traffic signal is modified to reduce the probability of a vehicular collision.

Traffic information, including traffic flow information and traffic incident information, obtained through a traffic management system for providing and facilitating the exchange of traffic information between a remote location and a vehicle may be presented to a user on a user display in the vehicle. In one embodiment, traffic information provided to a vehicle navigation device is refined by comparing the average speed of the vehicle against the average speed of other vehicles traveling along the same road. In another embodiment, the operation of a traffic signal is controlled based, in part, on the current traffic flow and distance from the traffic signal to alleviate traffic congestion.

When the vehicle approaches an intersection, traffic signals located at the intersection are displayed on an intersection view, a traffic signal to be considered is displayed in a manner so as to be identifiable from the other traffic signals, arrows in the same directions as those of arrow signals for the traffic signal to be considered are displayed; and an arrow corresponding to an arrow signal permitting the vehicle to proceed in the direction of a guidance route is displayed in a manner so as to be identifiable from the other arrows.

There is provided yellow and red illumination systems, including a semiconductor light emitter, and a luminescent material. The systems have an emission falling within the respective ITE red and yellow color bins having specified color coordinates on the CIE chromaticity diagram. The luminescent material may include one or more phosphors. The illumination systems may be used as the red and yellow lights of a traffic light or an automotive display.

The present invention discloses a system which alerts vehicle drivers to avoid intersection vehicle collision, said system comprises of

• a plurality of vehicles containing a vehicle mount or portable collision avoidance device, the device having;
• a vehicle speed compare-tore CPU,
• a vehicle travel direction and vehicle location detection circuitry,
• a first and a secondary warning alarm circuitry, and
• an RF transceiver for receiving traffic signal light condition information from a broadcasting station which includes a traffic lights ID number, at least one traffic light condition signal at acquisition time.

The vehicle collision avoidance device generate a first warning alarm signal to warn the driver if the driver is not in compliance with the traffic light condition, if the driver becomes none responsive to the first warning alarm signal, the collision avoidance device transmits a secondary warring alarm signal(s) to other vehicle drivers the presence of an intersection vehicle collision condition.