Traffic control malfunction management unit with per channel red enable

• US 20050138488A1
• Filed: 11/21/2003
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reno A&E
• Original Assignee: Reno Agriculture & Electronics
• Inventors: Jacobs, Allen
• Granted Patent: US 7,378,987 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/56
• 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

Abstract

A m thod and apparatus for monitoring for Red Fail faults in a traffic signal control system. Traffic control signals generated by a traffic control unit are grouped into channels. Certain channels are specified for Red Fail testing in which all lights in a given channel are inactive at the same time. Channels which are not specified are not subject to Red Fail testing, but other conflict testing can still be performed on these unselected channels.

Claims

1. A malfunction management unit for a traffic control system for monitoring traffic control signals for a Red Fail fault in which no signal is active in a given channel, the malfunction management unit having input terminals for receiving control signals grouped in channels and used to operate the traffic control lights;

monitoring means for detecting a Red Fail fault from the signals in the channels; and

channel selection means for enabling a Red Fail test on a channel specific basis.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said malfunction management unit includes a manually settable switch for enabling and disabling said channel selection means.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said malfunction management unit includes a display for indicating whether a Red Fail fault has occurred in a selected channel.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said malfunction management unit includes an output for controlling the operation of an output relay used to transfer the operation of the traffic control lights to a flashing mode of operation when a Red Fail is detected in a selected channel.

5. A method of monitoring for Red Fail faults in a traffic control system for coordinated operation of a plurality of traffic control lights;

the method comprising the steps of;

(a) providing a plurality of input terminals for receiving control signals grouped in channels and used to operate the traffic control lights;

(b) specifying those channels for which a Red Fail test is to be performed;

and

(c) monitoring the control signals in the specified channels for a Red Fail fault.

6. The method of claim 5 further including the step of controlling the operation of an output relay used to transfer the operation of the traffic control lights to a flashing mode of operation wh n a Red Fail fault is detect d in a specified channel.

7. The method of claim 5 further including the step of providing a manually settable switch for enabling and disabling the specifying means.

8. The method of claim 5 further including the step of providing a display for indicating whether a Red Fail fault has occurred in a specified channel.