CROSSROADS CONTROLLER

• US 3,815,085 A
• Filed: 10/15/1971
• Issued: 06/04/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ignace Leclercq
• Original Assignee: Ignace Leclercq
• Inventors: Leclercq, Ignace
• Primary Examiner(s): Cooper, William C.
• Application Number:
  US05/189,713
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 340/35,40,41
• US Class Current: 340/909
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/081 Plural intersections under common control

Abstract

The apparatus controls the operation of a plurality of traffic signals. The apparatus includes a programmable basic assembly and at least one implementing assembly. Each implementing assembly selectively gates electricity to the lamps of a group of signals. The basic assembly exercises control over the operation of the implementing assemblies by providing to them in parallel a plurality of time-varying, binary-valued, digital control signals, each corresponding to a different display device. Preferably, one binary value orders a green-light condition and the opposite binary value orders a not green-light condition, and each implementing assembly includes timing means responsive to transitions between light-condition orders for sequentially actuating the lamps. The time-varying digital signals respectively define a plurality of repeating digital patterns or control waveforms. The control waveforms have a common duration (i.e., the time from when a pattern in one of the control waveforms begins to when it next begins to repeat is the same for all control waveforms) that is defined by a plurality of successively occurring sub-intervals or sequences. The basic assembly includes means for independently programming the durations of the successively occurring sequences and for independently controlling in parallel the binary values of the control waveforms. Preferably, the programming means includes means for identifying which sequence is in progress and a plurality of gating means each operative during the identification of a respective one of the sequences for independently controlling in parallel the binary values of the control waveforms.

Claims

1. In a crossroads controller for controlling the operation of a plurality of traffic signal display devices, a combination comprising:

a time base circuit for generating a first signal having a substantially constant frequency;

a first counting circuit for respectively timing the durations of a plurality of successively occurring sub-intervals that together define a basic interval that repeats in cyclical manner, the circuit having an input for receiving the first signal for stepping the counter while timing each sub-interval, a plurality of inputs for receiving at the start of each subinterval presetting signals selectively coded to provide a starting count for the counting circuit, and an output, the circuit being operative to count from its starting count and upon reaching a predetermined count provide at the output an indication that timing of a sub-interval is complete;

a secOnd counting circuit for counting the complete indications, the second counting circuit stepping through a plurality of counts respectively corresponding to the plurality of subintervals and upon reaching the count corresponding to the last occurring sub-interval in each interval restepping to the count corresponding to the first sub-interval;

a decoder connected to the second counting circuit for providing an identification of which one of the sub-intervals is in progress; and

programming means including a plurality of signal coding means each associated with a different sub-interval for providing the presetting signals to the first counting circuit for the associated sub-interval and further including a plurality of signal forming means for forming in parallel a plurality of binary valued command signals each for exercising control over the operation of a different one of the display devices, each signal forming means being responsive to a serial identification of successive sub-intervals by the decoder for serially programming the binary value of the command signal it forms.

2. A combination according to claim 1, in which said programming means comprises a tabled matrix having column conductors connected to the decoder, a first plurality of line conductors, a plurality of formulating circuits connected to respective line conductors, the formulating circuits being connected to said presetting inputs of said first counting circuit, and a second plurality of line conductors for furnishing said command signals relative to a characteristic state of the traffic lights, programming being made by insertion of diode plugs at the intersections of line conductors and columns selected.

3. A combination according to claim 2, further comprising a manually operable control circuit, and a circuit for controlling the commencement of the sub-intervals and being interposed between said first counting circuit and said second counting circuit and adapted to receive a sub-interval commencement signal originating from said manually operable control circuit;

and said tabled matrix also comprising an additional line for programming the possibilities of intervention by said manually operable control circuit, said additional line being connected to said manually operable control circuit to condition the functioning of the latter.

4. A combination according to claim 1 in which said time base circuit includes means for generating a second signal having a substantially constant frequency, the frequency of which is higher than the frequency of the first signal, and said first-mentioned input of said first counter receives said first signal or said second signal so long as it has not reached said predetermined counting value.

5. A crossroads controller for controlling the operation of a plurality of sets of traffic lights, the controller comprising a basic assembly, and implementing assemblies for each of said sets;

said basic assembly comprising a first counting circuit for counting a plurality of successively occuring sub-intervals that together define a basic interval that repeats in cyclical manner, a circuit for respectively timing the duration of each sub-interval in relation to the counting of said sub-intervals by said first counting circuit, a decoder of said counting of said sub-intervals by said first counting circuit, and a programming circuit connected to the said decoder and, according to its program providing command signals of a characteristic traffic lights condition; and

said controller also comprising an inhibiting circuit responding to an external inhibition signal for zeroing said first counter and inhibiting said decoder so that said programming circuit does not provide a command signal.

6. A crossroads controller system comprising a plurality of sets of traffic lights each traffic light including a plurality of lamps, an electric power supply, a basic assembly in which a plurality of condition cycles for said lights are commanded from a basic progrAm, and implementing assemblies adapted to execute, at each set of lights, said cycles commanded by said basic assembly;

each said implementing assembly comprising a respective triac for supplying controlled current from said power supply to at least one lamp of each said set, said lamp being in series circuit relationship with said triac, said triac having the characteristic that it is energizable only if the resistance in series with it is below a predetermined maximum value, and a relay disposed in parallel with said lamp the relay having a higher resistance than the predetermined maximum and the parallel resistance presented by the relay and an operative lamp being less than the predetermined maximum whereby said relay is energized when said lamp is traversed by said current, and de-energized when said light is not being traversed by said current.

7. A crossroads controller according to claim 6 in which each relay is disposed in parallel with a red lamp, and each of said relays comprises a movable contact providing an electrical signal at a first level of voltage or at a second level of voltage according to whether said relay is energised or not.

8. A crossroads controller according to claim 7 which also comprises a safety programming matrix for opposing roads, said matrix having as conductors lines and columns of connections linked respectively with said movable contacts of said relays, the line or column conductors being connected to the associated connections through the medium of respective diodes and to a common point through the medium of other respective diodes conductive in the same direction, programming being achieved by insertion of diode plugs at selected points of intersection between said lines and columns whereby a safety signal is obtainable without active constituents in the matrix.

9. A crossroads controller according to claim 7 in which each relay comprises another moving contact connected so as to prevent illumination of the green light when said relay is energised.

10. A crossroads controller comprising a plurality of sets of traffic lights, a basic assembly in which a plurality of condition cycles for said lights are commanded by a basic program, each condition cycle being defined over an interval of time during which interval there are a succession of sub-intervals, and implementing assemblies adapted to execute, at each set of traffic lights, said cycles commanded by said basic assembly;

said controller including means for modifying the duration of sub-intervals of predetermined ones of said cycles in response to signals provided by vehicle detectors, said means comprising a call memory unit for each of said vehicle detection signals, said call memory unit having a first condition in which it is placed when it receives a vehicle detection signal at a time within one of the sub-intervals other than said predetermined sub-intervals of modifiable duration, and a second condition in which it is placed when it receives a vehicle detection signal during a time within any of said predetermined sub-intervals of modifiable duration.

11. A crossroads controller comprising a plurality of sets of traffic lights, a basic assembly in which a plurality of condition cycles for said traffic lights are commanded from a basic program, each condition cycle being defined over an interval of time during which time there are a succession of sub-intervals, implementing assemblies adapted to execute, at each set of traffic lights, said cycles commanded by said basic assembly;

an actualizing assembly adapted to provide an acceleration signal to the basic assembly, the duration of the sub-intervals being either normal or accelerated toward their end according to whether or not an acceleration signal is being provided to said basic assembly, said actualization assembly comprising means for extending the duration of main sub-intervals in progress in response to call signals originating from vehicles detectors showing passage of vehicles on the correspondIng traffic path, when there are not at the same time passage call signals on other traffic paths corresponding to said main sub-intervals.

12. A crossroads controller according to claim 11 which also comprises call memory units adapted to register call signals originating from vehicle detectors associated with traffic paths corresponding to main sub-intervals when these sub-intervals are not in progress, and blocking means for extending a main sub-intervals in progress so long as no call has been registered in the call memory units associated with main sub-intervals which are not in progress.

13. A crossroads controller according to claim 12 which also comprises means for introducing a call into said call memory unit of a selected main sub-interval when no call has been otherwise registered, and when said main sequence in progress has reached its maximum duration of extension.

14. A crossroads controller comprising a plurality of sets of traffic lights, and a basic assembly in which a plurality of condition cycles for said traffic lights are commanded in the form of elementary sub-intervals from a basic program, said basic assembly comprising means for coordinating a time point in one of said sub-intervals in relation to a synchronizing signal with a predetermined time shift, and means for modifying the magnitude of this time shift when implementing coordination, such that the duration of said coordinating sub-interval lies betweem a minimum and a maximum to allow progressive establishment of the coordination.

15. A crossroads controller comprising a plurality of sets of traffic lights, a basic assembly in which a plurality of condition cycles for said lights are commanded from a basic program, and implementing assemblies adapted to execute, at each set of traffic lights, one of said cycles commanded by said basic assembly;

said basic assembly comprising;

a time base circuit for generating normal time signals;

a circuit for counting duration of each of a plurality of successively occurring sub-intervals that together define a basic interval that repeats in cyclical manner the circuit having an input conditionally receiving said normal time signals, a plurality of inputs for presetting said duration counting circuit to starting counting values and an output providing a signal when maximum counting is reached, said signal discontinuing the arrival of said normal time signals at said input;

a circuit for counting the number of said sub-intervals, connected to the outputs of said duration counting circuit, for counting a predetermined number of duration counting circuit operations;

a decoder connected to said number counting circuit and having an output among several activated to identify a sub-interval among those which correspond to different counting values of said number counting circuit; and

a programming circuit connected to said outputs from said decoder and providing, in response thereto, on the one hand presetting signals at said presetting inputs of said duration counting circuit and on the other hand a plurality of corresponding command signals relative to a characteristic state conditions of said lights, whereby a plurality of light condition sub-intervals forming periodic cycles are furnished to said implementing assemblies.