Traffic Control Device for Dynamic Bus Priority

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing traffic control systems require pre-registration of an operation diagram for public vehicles, making it complicated to implement priority control for temporary or irregular buses.

Innovation Solution

A traffic control system that acquires vehicle information, including an operation diagram, from the vehicle in real-time, allowing for dynamic determination of delays and generation of control signals to adjust traffic light timing for timely passage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If pre-registration of operation diagram is required in the central unit, then the priority control can be implemented for scheduled vehicles, but the procedure becomes complicated and temporary buses cannot be quickly applied

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepriority control implementationVSAvoidregistration procedure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The operation diagram is extracted from the central unit's pre-registered data and relocated to the vehicle itself. The vehicle now carries its own operation diagram, eliminating the need for central unit pre-registration and simplifying the system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The vehicle serves itself by carrying its own operation diagram and providing it to the traffic control device when needed. This self-service approach eliminates dependency on central unit pre-registration and enables immediate priority control application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If pre-registration of operation diagram is required, then scheduled vehicles can receive priority control, but temporary buses cannot be quickly applied

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepriority control application speedVSAvoidvehicle type flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from static pre-registered operation diagrams to dynamic real-time acquisition. The traffic control device acquires operation diagrams from vehicles in real-time, enabling rapid adaptation to both scheduled and temporary bus routes without system reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The traffic control device is designed to accept operation diagrams from any vehicle type, whether scheduled or temporary. The universal acquisition mechanism handles diverse vehicle routes and schedules uniformly, enabling quick application of priority control to temporary buses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If real-time acquisition of vehicle information is performed, then no pre-registration is needed, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle registrationVSAvoidinformation acquisition system
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A communication interface acts as an intermediary between the vehicle and traffic control device. This interface standardizes the real-time information acquisition process, handling the complexity of data transmission and processing while maintaining ease of vehicle operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4006868B1Traffic control device and traffic light
Publication Date: 2025.01.22 KOITO ELECTRIC IND LTD
  • EP4006868B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4006868B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4006868B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

[Solving Means] A traffic control device according to an embodiment of the present invention is a traffic control device that controls a traffic light installed on a route of a vehicle running on the basis of an operation diagram, including: an acquisition unit; a determination unit; and a signal generation unit. The acquisition unit acquires, from the vehicle, vehicle information including information regarding the operation diagram and a current position of the vehicle. The determination unit calculates, on the basis of the vehicle information, an estimated time of arrival at the traffic light, and determines whether or not the estimated time is on a scheduled time. The signal generation unit generates, where it is determined that the estimated time is delayed from the scheduled time, a control signal for causing the traffic light to execute signal control for preferentially causing the vehicle to pass therethrough.