Traffic Signals and Related Methods

• US 20120140075A1
• Filed: 12/05/2011
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas Ward Cunningham
• Original Assignee: Thomas Ward Cunningham
• Inventors: Cunningham, Thomas W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,620,011 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096 provided with indicators in which a mark progresses showing the time elapsed, e.g. of green phase

Abstract

Traffic signals include displays and controllers for displaying information relating to the general condition of the traffic signal. The information can include a time remaining in seconds until the next change in the general condition. Traffic signal systems are adaptable to facilitate passage of emergency vehicles through intersections, including traffic signal systems with flat panel screens. The displays can be flat panel screens displaying information in multiple information formats.

Claims

1. A traffic signal system comprising:

at least one flat panel screen; and

at least one controller configured to operate the at least one flat panel screen to display at least first and second information sections;

wherein the controller is configured to display traffic signal information in different information formats in the first and second information sections.

2. The traffic signal system of claim 1, wherein the different information formats include at least two of numerical, textual and graphical formats.

3. The traffic signal system of claim 1, wherein the different information formats include at least two different graphical formats

4. The traffic signal system of claim 1, wherein one of the information formats includes a plurality of numbers indicating a time remaining in seconds until a next change in a general condition of the traffic signal.

5. The traffic signal system of claim 4, wherein the at least one controller is configured to display a pause count with the plurality of numbers before the traffic signal turns green.

6. The traffic signal system of claim 5, wherein the at least one controller is configured to indicate the pause count in at least one of:

negative seconds, a freeze at zero, and a reset number of positive seconds.

7. The traffic signal system of claim 1, wherein one of the information formats includes a virtual traffic light depicting a general condition of the traffic signal.

8. The traffic signal system of claim 1, wherein one of the information formats includes red, yellow and green rectangles in separate areas of a corresponding information section depending on a general condition of the traffic signal.

9. The traffic signal system of claim 1, wherein one of the information formats includes a solid color filling a majority of its information section, the solid color corresponding to a general condition of the traffic signal.

10. The traffic signal system of claim 1, wherein one of the information formats includes at least one of a text, numerical and graphical format and a color thereof corresponds to a general condition of the traffic signal.

11. The traffic signal system of claim 1, wherein one of the information formats includes at least one of a text, numerical and graphical format and a color thereof contrasts with a background color in a corresponding information section.

12. The traffic signal system of claim 1, wherein one of the information formats includes at least one of a text or numerical format and a height thereof is greater than approximately 8 inches.

13. The traffic signal system of claim 1, wherein one of the information formats includes at least one of a text or numerical format and a height thereof is greater than approximately 12 inches.

14. The traffic signal system of claim 1, wherein one of the information formats includes a directional arrow.

15. The traffic signal system of claim 1, wherein one of the information formats includes a plurality of numbers indicating a speed of a vehicle approaching the intersection, based on vehicle speed information received by the at least one controller.

16. The traffic signal system of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is configured to operate the at least one flat panel screen to display a third information section with traffic information in a different information format than the first and second information sections.

17. The traffic signal system of claim 1, wherein the information formats include at least a graphical representation of a traffic light and a plurality of numbers indicating a time remaining in seconds until a next change in a general condition of the traffic signal.

18. The traffic signal system of claim 1, further comprising a separate traffic light, the at least one controller being configured to operate the at least one flat panel screen in coordination with the separate traffic light.

19. The traffic signal system of claim 1, wherein the at least one flat panel screen is at least one of:

shaped with display surfaces facing at least two different travel directions; and

shaped with a non-rectangular display surface.

20. The traffic signal system of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is configured to adjust the time remaining until the next change in the general condition of the traffic signal to facilitate passage of an emergency vehicle and display a visual indication in one of the information sections of an emergency condition.

21. The traffic signal system of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is configured to adjust the visibility of the at least one flat panel screen by at least one of:

adjusting a shade associated with the at least one flat panel screen; and

adjusting a display intensity of the at least one flat panel screen.

22. A traffic signal system for an intersection, the traffic signal system comprising:

a plurality of traffic signals directed to a plurality of lanes approaching the intersection from a plurality of directions, the plurality of lanes including a plurality of lanes approaching the intersection from the same direction; and

at least one controller configured to operate the traffic signals;

wherein the controller is configured to change general conditions of the traffic signals to facilitate passage of an emergency vehicle, and when the plurality of lanes approaching the intersection from the same direction are in a direction of emergency vehicle travel, to maintain or change the general condition of only a portion of such traffic signals to green to facilitate the passage of the emergency vehicle.

23. The traffic signal system of claim 22, further comprising at least one flat panel screen displaying at least one of the plurality of traffic signals.

24. The traffic signal system of claim 23, wherein the controller is configured to display a visual indication in one of the information sections of an emergency condition on the at least one flat panel screen while the general conditions of the traffic signals are being changed to facilitate passage of the emergency vehicle.

25. The traffic signal system of claim 22, wherein the controller is configured to communicate with a control device carried by the emergency vehicle, the control device allowing a user to specify which of the plurality of travel lanes in the direction of emergency vehicle travel are to have the traffic signals maintained or changed to green.

26. A traffic signal system comprising:

a display device; and

at least one controller configured to operate the display device to display at least a plurality of numbers indicating a time remaining in seconds until a next change in a general condition of a traffic signal.

27. The traffic signal system of claim 26, wherein the traffic signal is displayed by the controller on the display device.

28. The traffic signal of claim 26, wherein the traffic signal is separate from the display device.

29. The traffic signal system of claim 26, wherein the at least one controller is configured to display a pause count with the plurality of numbers before the traffic signal turns green.

30. The traffic signal system of claim 29, wherein the at least one controller is configured to indicate the pause count in at least one of:

negative seconds, a freeze at zero, and a reset number of positive seconds.

31. The traffic signal system of claim 26, further comprising a red light camera for automatically capturing an image of a vehicle violating the traffic signal.

32. The traffic signal system of claim 26, wherein the at least one controller is configured to display a plurality of numbers indicating a speed of a vehicle approaching the intersection, based on vehicle speed information received by the at least one controller.

33. The traffic signal system of claim 32, further comprising at least one speed camera for capturing an image of a vehicle violating a speed limit.

34. The traffic signal system of claim 26, wherein the at least one controller is configured to reduce the time remaining until the next change in the general condition of the traffic signal if greater than a predetermined time to facilitate passage of an emergency vehicle, the predetermined time being less than approximately 301 seconds.