Traffic Signal Split Control for Coordinated Right-Turn Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing traffic control systems face inefficiencies in managing traffic flow at intersections with designated travel lanes, particularly when extending or shortening signaling times for right-turning vehicles, which can disrupt system control and worsen congestion.
Innovation Solution
A signal control apparatus and method that detects the number of vehicles staying in designated lanes, determining whether to extend or shorten signaling times while maintaining offset settings across multiple intersections, thereby optimizing traffic flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If signaling time of green light is extended or shortened to clear vehicles from designated lanes, then the efficiency of sweeping out vehicles is improved, but the cycle length changes and system control using offset is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter being adjusted from signaling time (which affects cycle length) to split (the distribution of green light time among different directions within a fixed cycle). This allows extending or shortening green light signaling time for specific directions while maintaining the overall cycle length constant, thus clearing vehicles efficiently without disrupting system control stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the split of green light signaling time for different directions based on real-time vehicle detection data. When vehicles are detected in designated lanes, the green light time for those directions is extended within the fixed cycle, creating a dynamic response to traffic conditions while preserving the overall system control framework.
2Stability of the object's composition
If signaling time of other signal colors is adjusted to maintain cycle length, then system control is maintained, but congestion may worsen when other signal colors are not properly selected
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly adjusting all signal colors to maintain cycle length, the patent applies local quality by selectively adjusting only the green light signaling time for directions with detected vehicles. Other signal colors remain unchanged, ensuring that traffic flow efficiency is improved locally where needed without causing unnecessary congestion from inappropriate adjustments elsewhere.
3Productivity
If green light signaling time is extended for right-turning vehicles, then right-turn traffic efficiency is improved, but the cycle length increases and disrupts coordinated control with adjacent intersections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes from adjusting signaling time (which extends cycle length) to adjusting split (the proportion of green light time within a fixed cycle). This allows right-turn green light time to be extended based on detected vehicles while the overall cycle length remains constant, maintaining coordinated control with adjacent intersections while improving right-turn efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A signal control apparatus is connected to a plurality of traffic signals located on a road with a plurality of intersections having travel lanes with designated traffic classifications. The signal control apparatus comprises: means for detecting the number of vehicles staying in the travel lane or lanes of the same traffic classification among the travel lanes of the plurality of intersections; means for determining whether or not to extend or reduce signaling time for permitting traffic of the traffic classification of the travel lane or lanes based on the number of vehicles staying in the travel lane or lanes of the same traffic classification at the plurality of intersections and means for adjusting split of the plurality of traffic signals based on a result of the determination so as to extend or reduce the signaling time.