Traffic Light LED Flicker Pattern for Vehicle Signal Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traffic lights for vehicles do not provide information on the remaining time of a traffic signal, leading to difficulties in managing traffic flow and reducing congestion and accidents, particularly in the dilemma zone where drivers struggle to stop before a red signal.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method for controlling traffic lights that use a camera in a vehicle to recognize a display signal and identify the remaining time by adding a fast cycle turn-on/off pattern or LED pattern to the traffic lights, which is not recognizable by the human eye.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If real-time traffic light information is provided through C-ITS or V2I communication, then traffic flow management is improved, but infrastructure installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the vehicle's existing camera to capture traffic light information, eliminating the need for specialized infrastructure installation. The vehicle itself serves as the data collection device, leveraging resources already present in the vehicle rather than requiring external infrastructure support.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using complex communication infrastructure, the system creates a visual copy of the traffic light state through camera imaging. The traffic light information is captured as an image and processed to extract remaining time data, replacing the need for direct electronic communication infrastructure with an optical copying approach.
2Ease of operation
If remaining time information is displayed using visible patterns, then drivers can easily perceive the information, but the traffic light appearance becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic flickering of the traffic light at frequencies invisible to the human eye to encode remaining time information. The light switches on and off in rapid cycles that cameras can detect but drivers cannot perceive, maintaining the traffic light's simple appearance while embedding information.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temporal parameters of the traffic light (flicker frequency, duty cycle) to encode remaining time information. By adjusting these parameters to frequencies beyond human perception, the system adds information without altering the visual appearance that drivers perceive.
3Loss of information
If fast cycle turn-on/off pattern is added to traffic lights, then remaining time can be encoded invisibly, but the traffic light control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic flickering control where the traffic light cycles on and off at high frequencies. This periodic action encodes remaining time information through the pattern of illumination, allowing data transmission without adding visible complexity to the traffic light display.
Solution Approach 2:
The traffic light control system dynamically adjusts the flicker frequency and pattern based on the remaining time. The control parameters are modified in real-time to match the current traffic light state, enabling flexible information encoding while maintaining control through programmed logic rather than complex hardware.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are an apparatus and method for controlling traffic lights, and more particularly, an apparatus and method for controlling traffic lights, which can provide information on the remaining time of a traffic signal. The apparatus for controlling traffic lights includes a traffic signal display controller configured to transmit a pattern control command including information related to the remaining time of a current traffic signal and traffic lights configured to display information on a traffic signal by receiving the pattern control command.