Adaptive stop sign and intersection traffic control system

• US 10,403,142 B1
• Filed: 06/28/2018
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Greg Douglas Shuff
• Original Assignee: Greg Douglas Shuff
• Inventors: Shuff, Greg Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Montoya, Oschta I
• Application Number:
  US16/022,428
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20084 Artificial neural networks [ANN]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30108 Industrial image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0004 Industrial image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19632 Camera support structures, e.g. attachment means, poles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/07 Controlling traffic signals
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/097 Supervising of traffic control systems, e.g. by giving an alarm if two crossing streets have green light simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3208 organic, e.g. using organic light-emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/10 Supporting structures directly fixed to the ground H02S20/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/38 Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

An adaptive stop sign including a stop sign plate and at least one light indicator. The stop sign plate is divided into a plurality of sections. The adaptive stop sign is connected to a traffic signal control system (TSCS). In an active mode, the adaptive stop sign works as a traffic control signal and the TSCS switches on the at least one light indicator according to a traffic control signal. In an inactive mode, the adaptive stop sign works as a normal sign and the TSCS switches off the at least one light indicator.

Claims

1. An adaptive stop sign, comprising:

a stop sign plate, wherein the stop sign plate is divided into a plurality of sections;

at least one light indicator;

a traffic signal control system (TSCS);

wherein, in an active mode the adaptive stop sign works as a traffic control signal and the TSCS switches on the at least one light indicator according to a traffic control signal;

wherein, in an inactive mode the adaptive stop sign works as a normal sign and the TSCS switches off the at least one light indicator;

wherein, the plurality of sections include a top section, a center section and p bottom section;

wherein, the at least one light indicator includes at least one red light indicator, at least one yellow light indicator, and at least one green light indicator;

wherein an imaginary top boundary line separates the top section and the center section;

An imaginary bottom boundary line separates the center section from the bottom section;

the top section is provided with the at least one red light indicator;

the center section is provided with the at least one yellow light indicator;

the bottom section is provided with the at least one green light indicator;

a word STOP is embedded in the center section between the imaginary top boundary line and the imaginary bottom boundary line;

wherein, in the inactive mode the TSCS switches off the at least one red light indicator, the at least one yellow light indicator, and the at least one green light indicator, and only the word STOP is visible;

wherein the at least one red light indicator includes a plurality of red light emitting diode (LED) lights, the at least one yellow light indicator includes a plurality of yellow LED lights and the at least one green light indicator includes a plurality of green LED lights;

further comprising an intelligent adaptive stop light monitoring camera mounted above the stop sign plate to continuously monitor the red LED lights, the yellow LED lights and the green LED lights provided in the top section, the center section and the bottom section respectively for lighting malfunction or timing malfunction;

wherein in case of detecting the lighting malfunction or the timing malfunction, the intelligent adaptive stop light monitoring camera sends a malfunctioning signal indicating the condition of malfunctioning of the adaptive stop sign to the TSCS, and in-turn transmits a malfunction code to a control signal monitoring center for resolution.

2. The adaptive stop sign according to claim 1, wherein in a condition of malfunctioning of the adaptive stop sign, the TSCS switches the adaptive stop sign to work in the inactive mode.

3. The adaptive stop sign according to claim 1, further comprising an intelligent security camera mounted above the stop sign plate to continuously observe a rear side of the adaptive stop sign for detecting a security breach including vandalism, spray painting or damage to a circuitry mounted on the rear side of the adaptive stop sign;

wherein the intelligent security camera is provided with a neural network module configured to detect and recognize the security breach and send a security breach code to the TSCS and in-turn transmit the security breach code to a control signal monitoring center for resolution.

4. The adaptive stop sign according to claim 1, further comprising a support pole, wherein the stop sign plate is mounted on the support pole;

wherein all electrical power wiring, traffic signal control wiring, light monitoring camera wiring, and security camera wiring is enclosed within the support pole.

5. The adaptive stop sign according to claim 4, further comprising a plurality of pedestrian signs provided on sides of the support pole, wherein the TSCS controls the plurality of pedestrian signals in synchronization with the traffic control signal.

6. The adaptive stop sign according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of red LED lights, the plurality of yellow LED lights and the plurality of green LED lights provided at sides forming boundaries of the stop sign plate are disposed at edges of the stop sign plate.

7. The adaptive stop sign according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of red LED lights, the plurality of yellow LED lights and the plurality of green LED lights are provided in form of LED light strips with wide angle patterns of light distribution with a concentration of light power directed from edges of the stop sign plate to directly in a front direction of the adaptive stop sign, and vary in brightness in accordance with sunlight;

wherein the light emitting diode light strips are clearly visible from a distance of at least 300 feet.

8. The adaptive stop sign according to claim 7, wherein each LED light strip includes a flexible plastic material affixed with LED lights;

wherein the flexible plastic material, containing the LED lights are colored or painted to match the stop sign background color depending on where on the sign the LED light strip is mounted.

9. The adaptive stop sign according to claim 1, further comprising an Organic light emitting diode (OLED) transparent flat panel display affixed on the stop sign plate such that the word STOP is clearly visible through the OLED transparent flat panel display when the display is in an off state;

when the OLED transparent flat panel display is in an on state, the OLED display works as a traffic signal display;

wherein to display a red light of the traffic control signal corresponding to a stop signal, a top part of the OLED display covering the top section is activated to display red color, a center part of the OLED display covering the center section and a bottom part of the OLED display covering the bottom section are activated to display black or gray color;

wherein to display a yellow light of the traffic control signal corresponding to a ready signal, the center part of the OLED display covering the center section is activated to display yellow color, the top part of the OLED display covering the top section and the bottom part of the OLED display covering the bottom section are activated to display black or gray color;

wherein to display a green light of the traffic control signal corresponding to a go signal, the bottom part covering the bottom section is activated to display green color, the top part of the OLED display covering the top section and the center part of the OLED display covering the center section are activated to display black or gray color.

10. The adaptive stop sign according to claim 9, wherein the OLED transparent flat panel display goes into the off state when the adaptive stop sign is in the inactive mode.

11. The adaptive stop sign according to claim 9, further comprising a solar panel installed on top of the adaptive stop sign, wherein the solar panel provides the electric power for the OLED transparent flat panel display and the plurality of LED lights.

12. The adaptive stop sign according to claim 9, further comprising a solar panel installed on the pole of the adaptive stop sign, wherein the solar panel provides the electric power for the OLED transparent flat panel display and the plurality of LED lights.

13. The adaptive stop sign according to claim 1, wherein the at least one red light indicator is a red LED light module affixed on the top section, the at least one yellow indicator is a yellow LED light module affixed on the center section, and the at least one green light indicator is a green LED light module affixed on the bottom section;

wherein the red LED light module, the yellow LED light module and the green LED light module are rectangular or circular in shape.

14. The adaptive stop sign according to claim 1, wherein the TSCS is attached to a rear end of the stop sign plate and the TSCS activates the plurality of LED lights in a proper sequence and time to allow traffic flow through an intersection;

wherein the TSCS comprises two independent hardware platforms, each independent hardware platform has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a time clock to determine the time and sequence of the LED lights, changing from GREEN to YELLOW to RED, and then to GREEN to continue a cycle;

wherein the two independent hardware platforms include a first independent hardware platform working as a main controlling unit and a second independent platform working as a backup control unit;

in case of a failure of the first independent hardware platform, the second independent hardware platform starts working as the main control unit, and a malfunction signal code is forwarded to a central monitoring station for resolution.

15. The adaptive stop sign according to claim 1, further comprising a traffic flow sensor system (TFSS) module located on the rear of the stop sign plate and integrated into the TSCS to enhance the signal timing by detecting a vehicle presence, speed of the vehicles, a heading direction of the vehicles, location of the vehicles, a turn signal status of the vehicles, a type of the vehicles, a size of the vehicles and a number of the vehicles in a traffic lane;

wherein the TFSS module is integrated with the TSCS by hard wire or via a wireless communication link.

16. The adaptive stop sign according to claim 15, wherein the TFSS module comprises a plurality of sensors including a first camera for detecting vehicle data including the vehicle presence, the number of the vehicles, the location of the vehicles, the type of the vehicles, the size of the vehicles and the turn signal status of the vehicles;

wherein the vehicle data is used to control the traffic signal sequence and timing;

wherein the TSCS uses the vehicle data to dynamically control the traffic signal sequence and timing.

17. The adaptive stop sign according to claim 16, wherein the TFSS module further comprises a second camera, wherein the first camera and the second camera are focused on a same space to provide a three-dimensional sensing of the vehicles to determine a part of the vehicle data including the speed of the vehicles, the heading direction of the vehicles and an estimated time each vehicle will take to reach the intersection;

wherein, the second camera is an EO or an IR camera.

18. The adaptive stop sign according to claim 17, wherein the TFSS module further comprises a radar for detecting the vehicle data including the vehicle presence, the location of the vehicles, the speed of the vehicles, and an estimated time each vehicle will take to reach the intersection.

19. The adaptive stop sign according to claim 15, wherein the TFSS module further comprises a lidar for detecting the vehicle data including the vehicle presence, the location of the vehicles, the speed of the vehicles, and an estimated time each vehicle will take to reach the intersection.

20. The adaptive stop sign according to claim 15, wherein the TFSS module further comprises environmental sensors to detect a weather condition data including rain, snow, fog, and blowing sand;

wherein the TSCS uses the weather condition data to control an illumination of the plurality of LED lights and to enable a vision processing unit to detect, recognize and analyze the vehicle data including the vehicle presence, the number of vehicles, the type of the vehicles, the location of the vehicles, the speed of the vehicles and the expected time to reach the intersection for each vehicle.

21. The adaptive stop sign according to claim 1, wherein at least three red LED lights are provided at edges of the traffic-side of the sign along the periphery of the top section and are pointing perpendicular to the flow of traffic;

wherein at least three yellow LED lights are provided at edges of the traffic side along the periphery of the center section and are pointing perpendicular to the flow of traffic; and

at least three green LED lights are provided at edges of the traffic side along the periphery of the bottom section and are pointing perpendicular to the flow of traffic.

22. The adaptive stop sign according to claim 1, wherein the stop sign plate is an octagonal stop sign plate.

23. An intersection traffic control system comprising:

a plurality of adaptive stop signs installed at an intersection;

each adaptive stop sign comprises

a stop sign plate, wherein the stop sign plate is divided into a plurality of sections, at least one light indicator,

wherein, the adaptive stop sign is connected to a traffic signal control system (TSCS), wherein, in an active mode the adaptive stop sign works as a traffic control signal and the TSCS switches on the at least one light indicator according to a traffic control signal, and wherein, in an inactive mode the adaptive stop sign works as a normal sign and the TSCS switches off the at least one light indicator;

wherein the TSCS of one of the adaptive stop sign works as a master TSCS for the intersection traffic control system and the TSCS of all other of the adaptive stop signs works as slave TSCSs for the intersection traffic control system;

wherein all the TSCSs includes a Master/Slave switch allowing the master TSCS to control a timing of the at least one light indicators for the plurality of adaptive stop signs;

wherein each TSCS includes a transmitter and a receiver;

wherein the master TSCS transmits a signal code to implement a change of signal to the slave TSCSs and the slave TSCSs transmits confirmation signal codes to the master TSCS to acknowledge and verify a light change;

wherein, the plurality of sections include a top section, a center section and a bottom section;

wherein, the at least one light indicator includes at least one red light indicator, at least one yellow light indicator, and at least one green light indicator;

an imaginary top boundary line separates the top section and the center section;

an imaginary bottom boundary line separates the center section from the bottom section;

the top section is provided with the at least one red light indicator;

the center section is provided with the at least one yellow light indicator;

the bottom section is provided with the at least one green light indicator; and

a word STOP is embedded in the center section between the top boundary line and the bottom boundary line;

wherein the at least one red light indicator includes a plurality of red light emitting diode (LED) lights, the at least one yellow light indicator includes a plurality of yellow LED lights and the at least one green light indicator includes a plurality of green LED lights;

wherein the TSCS is configured to communicate with other intersections, a central traffic network, emergency vehicles, and autonomous vehicles;

wherein the communication is at least one selected from the group consisting of a Bluetooth communication, a Wi-Fi communication, a cell phone network communication, a wired communication, and an optic fiber communication.

24. The intersection traffic control system according to claim 23, wherein, in case the master TSCS does not receive the confirmation signal codes from the slave TSCS or receivers a slave TSCS malfunction signal, the master TSCS initiates a shut-down sequence, sending the plurality of adaptive stop signs to work in the inactive mode and a malfunction signal code is forwarded to a central monitoring station for resolution.

25. The intersection traffic control system according to claim 23, further comprising a remote-control unit for testing and verifying operations of the intersection control system remotely.

26. The intersection traffic control system according to claim 23, further comprising a remote-control unit for manually controlling the signal lights.