LIGHTING SYSTEM WITH TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT CAPABILITIES
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for controlling traffic signalling, comprising:
- providing a traffic light with a visible-light source emitting visible light and having a function of actuating alternately at least two different traffic signal states for traffic signalling;
driving the visible-light source to emit light in a traffic signal state in a predetermined mode, with visible light in the predetermined mode being emitted so as to be visible to an unaided human eye;
receiving a reflection/backscatter of the emitted visible light from an object;
identifying at least one of a presence and a position of the object as a function of the reflection/backscatter received and of the predetermined mode; and
controlling said traffic signal states actuated by the visible-light source as a function of the at least one of the presence and the position of the object.
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Abstract
The present lighting system adds detection capabilities to perceive the presence and measure the velocity of objects such as automobiles, trucks, pedestrian and other users, to lighting modules for transportation applications like traffic signal, pedestrian control, rails signal, street light, message board and speed monitoring board. For example, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) has the capability to be used as lighting source for illumination as a first function and also be pulsed or modulated as a source for the detection sub-system as a second function.
124 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for controlling traffic signalling, comprising:
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providing a traffic light with a visible-light source emitting visible light and having a function of actuating alternately at least two different traffic signal states for traffic signalling; driving the visible-light source to emit light in a traffic signal state in a predetermined mode, with visible light in the predetermined mode being emitted so as to be visible to an unaided human eye; receiving a reflection/backscatter of the emitted visible light from an object; identifying at least one of a presence and a position of the object as a function of the reflection/backscatter received and of the predetermined mode; and controlling said traffic signal states actuated by the visible-light source as a function of the at least one of the presence and the position of the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A traffic-signal lighting system comprising:
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a light source emitting visible light and having a function of emitting visible light in an illumination mode for actuation alternately at least two traffic signal states; a source controller for driving the light source into emitting one of the traffic signal states in a predetermined mode with visible light in the predetermined mode being emitted such that the light source maintains said function of emitting traffic signals visible to an unaided human eye in the environment while being driven by the source controller; an optical detector adapted to detect the visible light as reflected/backscattered by an object to produce detection data; and a data/signal processor for receiving detection data from the optical detector, the data/signal processor producing a data output associated to the object as a function of the predetermined mode and the detection data, and for commanding the light source into controlling said traffic signal states as a function of the data output. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification