SIMULTANEOUSLY ILLUMINATING TRAFFIC LIGHT SIGNALS AT DIFFERENT RANGES

• US 20150228189A1
• Filed: 08/21/2013
• Published: 08/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BrightWay Vision Ltd.
• Original Assignee: BrightWay Vision Ltd.
• Inventors: Grauer, Yoav, David, Ofer, Levi, Eyal, Garten, Haim, Krelboim, Alon, Lifshits, Sharon, Sheich, Oren, David, Ya'ara, Katz, Yan
• Granted Patent: US 9,620,010 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/07 Controlling traffic signals
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/081 Plural intersections under common control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights

Abstract

A method of controlling a traffic light having at least two distinguishable light signals is provided herein. The method may include the following steps: obtaining a lighting pattern that determines an order of turning “on” and turning “off” said light signals over time; and illuminating the light signals based on the lighting pattern, such that over at least one period of time, a first light of the at least two distinguishable light signals is visible from a first distance range from the traffic light and a second light of the at least two distinguishable light signals is visible from a second distance range from the traffic light, wherein the first and the second distance ranges are non-overlapping.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a traffic light having at least two distinguishable light signals, said method comprising:

obtaining a lighting pattern that determines an order of turning “

on” and

turning “

off”

said light signals over time; and

illuminating the light signals based on the lighting pattern, such that over at least one period of time, a first light of the at least two distinguishable light signals is visible from a first distance range from the traffic light and a second light of the at least two distinguishable light signals is visible from a second distance range from the traffic light,

wherein the first and the second distance ranges are non-overlapping.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising obtaining road characteristics indicative of physical properties and topography of the road near the traffic light and updating the lighting pattern accordingly.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising obtaining traffic regulatory data indicative of traffic regulations in force near the traffic light and updating the lighting pattern accordingly.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising repeatedly updating the lighting pattern based on parameters changing over time relating to the traffic near the traffic light.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the road characteristics comprise at least one:

road allowed vehicle speed in the premises, actual vehicle speed, road layout, road condition, road topography, weather conditions, and traffic density.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the traffic regulatory data comprise at least one of:

upper limit of speed, right of way near the traffic light, and number of lanes per road.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first light signal is green and the second light signal is red.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lighting pattern includes at least one period of time in which the different ranges include three ranges wherein the ranges which are nearer and farther from the traffic light are of the first light signal and wherein the ranges that is between the two other ranges is of the second light signal.

9. A system for controlling a traffic light having at least two distinguishable light signals, said system comprising:

a controller configured to obtain a lighting pattern that determines an order of turning “

on” and

turning “

off”

said light signals over time; and

an illuminators array configured to illuminate the light signals based on the lighting pattern, such that over at least one period of time, a first light of the at least two distinguishable light signals is visible from a first distance range from the traffic light and a second light of the at least two distinguishable light signals is visible from a second distance range from the traffic light,

wherein the first and the second distance ranges are non-overlapping.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to obtain road characteristics indicative of physical properties and topography of the road near the traffic light and updating the lighting pattern accordingly.

11. The system according to claim 9, the controller is further configured to obtain traffic regulatory data indicative of traffic regulations in force near the traffic light and updating the lighting pattern accordingly.

12. The system according to claim 9, the controller is further configured to repeatedly update the lighting pattern based on parameters changing over time relating to the traffic near the traffic light.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein the road characteristics comprise at least one:

road allowed vehicle speed in the premises, actual vehicle speed, road layout, road condition, road topography, weather conditions, and traffic density.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein the traffic regulatory data comprise at least one of:

upper limit of speed, right of way near the traffic light, and number of lanes per road.

15. The system according to claim 9, wherein the first light signal is green and the second light signal is red.

16. The system according to claim 9, wherein the lighting pattern includes at least one period of time in which the different ranges include three ranges wherein the ranges which are nearer and farther from the traffic light are of the first light signal and wherein the ranges that is between the two other ranges is of the second light signal.