Traffic signaling system

• US 3,916,374 A
• Filed: 09/03/1974
• Issued: 10/28/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Peter Drebinger, Peter Wenter
• Original Assignee: Peter Drebinger, Peter Wenter
• Inventors: Wenter, Peter, Drebinger, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Habecker, Thomas B.
• Application Number:
  US05/502,492
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• Field of Search: 340/40
• US Class Current: 340/909
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/07 Controlling traffic signals
• 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 traffic signaling system having a plurality of independent signal groups which can be actuated by means of control orders, in which incompatible signal groups are coupled with each other, taking into account desired protective periods, with the independent signal groups being responsive to control orders supplied thereto, each signal group being so coupled with incompatible signal groups that upon supplying an order signal to a signal group, actuation of such signal group will take place only when protective time periods have been completed at each incompatible signal group.

Claims

1. A traffic signaling system having a plurality of independent signal groups which can be actuated by means of control orders, in which incompatible signal groups are coupled with each other, taking into account desired protective periods, comprising a plurality of independent signal groups responsive to control orders supplied thereto, each signal group including means for controlling the signal lights of the group, and means, including a timer, responsive to an order signal for producing protective time signals, in the form of release/blocking signals and control signals, in predetermined time relation to the received order signal, said control signals being supplied to the lightcontrolling means of such signal group, storer means for the respective release/blocking signals, adapted to supply release/blocking signals to respective incompatible signal groups of the system, and an AND coupling operatively disposed ahead of said order-responsive means, to one input of which the order signals are supplied, and to other inputs of which respective storers of incompatible signal groups are operatively connected for supplying corresponding release/blocking signals thereto, whereby an order signal is supplied to said order-responsive means only when release signals are simultaneously present therewith at said AND coupling.

2. A signaling system according to claim 1, wherein said order-responsive means includes a bistable storer which is responsive to orders present at the output of said AND coupling, which bistable storer is connected to said timer for activating the latter at each change in its storage condition, said timer being operative to supply signals at fixed time intervals following activation thereof, to a programming field forming a part of said signal producing means, the outputs of which supply said release/blocking and control signals.

3. A signaling system according to claim 2, wherein said programming field includes a programming of the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'red-green'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' signals, whereby the time of change of a signal group to another signal condition, after flipping of the bistable storer into the particular position can be freely determined by corresponding programming thereof in the programming field.

4. A signaling system according to claim 2, wherein said programming field includes a programming of the transitional phases, taking place during the change of a signal condition, whereby the duration of such transitional phases can be determined by corresponding programming thereof in the programming field.

5. A signaling system according to claim 2, comprising in further combination, a second bistable storer operatively connected to said first bistable storer and, responsive to a condition change in the latter, to block the input of the same for a predetermined period of time as determined by a signal supplied by the programming field.

6. A signaling system according to claim 2, wherein the release signal storers respectively comprise bistable flip-flop members, the inputs of each of which are connected with said bistable storer, as well as with outputs of the timer, over respective program tracks of the programming field.

7. A signaling system according to claim 1, wherein the control order for the setting of said bistable storer comprises an order from a central traffic computer, from the signal plan storer of a control device, or from a traffic-dependent control.

8. A signaling system according to claim 1, wherein the control order for the setting of the bistable storer comprises a release signal of another light signal group.

9. A signaling system according to claim 1, wherein the programming field is in the form of a matrix on a conductor plate.

10. A signaling system according to claim 9, wherein the matrix is provided with conductor paths forming a time raster on one side of said conductor plate and programming tracks, in the form of conductor paths, are provided on the other side of the conductor plate, with the conductor paths on one side extending transversely to the conductor paths on the other side, whereby the programming can be effected by connecting conductor paths on opposite sides at selected intersection points therebetween, by means of members which can be inserted through openings in the plate at such intersection points.

11. A signaling system according to claim 3, wherein said programming field includes a programming of the transitional phases, taking place during the change of a signal condition, whereby the duration of such transitional phases can be determined by corresponding programming thereof in the programming field.

12. A signaling system according to claim 11, comprising in further combination, a second bistable storer operatively connected to said first bistable storer and, responsive to a condition change in the latter, to block the input of the same for a predetermined period of time as determined by a signal supplied by the programming field.

13. A signaling system according to claim 12, wherein the release signal storers respectively comprise bistable flip-flop members, the inputs of each of which are connected with said first bistable storer, as well as with outputs of the timer, over respective program tracks of the programming field.

14. A signaling system according to claim 13, wherein the programming field is in the form of a matrix on a conductor plate.

15. A signaling system according to claim 14, wherein the matrix is provided with conductor paths forming a time raster on one side of said conductor plate and programming tracks, in the form of conductor paths, are provided on the other side of the conductor plate, with the conductor paths on one side extending transversely to the conductor paths on the other side, whereby the programming can be effected by connecting conductor paths on opposite sides at selected intersection points therebetween, by means of members which can be inserted through openings in the plate at such intersection points.