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Traffic merging method and means

  • US 3,941,201 A
  • Filed: 07/25/1973
  • Issued: 03/02/1976
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1972
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. The method of merging vehicles, travelling single file in each of two separate lanes, into a single lane, comprising electronically operating the vehicles in each lane to establish minimum gaps between each vehicle and the vehicle immediately ahead in the same lane, electronically changing the operation of the vehicles as the vehicles approach the merge point to form additional gaps, filling the additional gaps of one lane with the vehicles of the other lane at the merge point, the step of changing the operation including forming a signal representative of each vehicle of one lane in the other lane in a predetermined range approaching the merge point and varying the speed of each of the vehicles as if each signal formed by a vehicle just closer to the merge point or equidistant to the merge point, were a vehicle directly ahead, the step of electronically controlling the speed of the vehicle including maintaining the speed of the vehicles in one lane until it receives signals that it is too close behind another vehicle in its lane or to form an additional gap.

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