Traffic signal control for emergency vehicles
First Claim
1. Traffic signal light control system for emergency vehicles comprising:
- at least one traffic signal light for directing traffic through a street intersection;
at least one emergency vehicle having a driver and a vehicle identity code;
emergency vehicle traffic control apparatus disposed in said emergency vehicle;
traffic signal light control apparatus disposed in the vicinity of said traffic signal light for controlling it;
two-way radio communications link which includes a vehicle radio receiver-transmitter in the emergency vehicle connected with the emergency vehicle traffic control apparatus, and a fixed radio receiver-transmitter disposed in the vicinity of said traffic signal light, operatively connected with the traffic signal light control apparatus, both receivers and transmitters using the same frequency, operatively connecting said emergency vehicle traffic control apparatus with said traffic signal light control apparatus;
an emergency vehicle control disposed in said emergency vehicle having means for operatively engaging said emergency vehicle traffic control apparatus, and keyboard means for transmitting to said traffic signal light control apparatus a first command which includes the vehicle'"'"'s identity code, and a request for a driver-selected branch of ingress and egress of the intersection;
said signal control apparatus including a central processing unit and electronic memory for storing said first command, and for storing at least one selected signal pattern being responsive to said first command and a control program stored in said electronic memory, said signal control apparatus being responsive to said first command from said emergency vehicle to the traffic control apparatus for activating said selected signal pattern for guiding the emergency vehicle through the intersection through said driver-selected branch of ingress and egress.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A traffic light control system which includes two-way communications between a moving emergency vehicle approaching a busy intersection with one or more traffic lights, arranged so that the traffic light control apparatus has stored therein preset patterns of response that temporarily preempt the usual operation of the traffic light and instead provides the most effective method of routing the vehicle through the intersection while redirecting general traffic. As part of the invention, the traffic light control mechanism returns acknowledgement of receipt of instructions to the emergency vehicle. The stored preset traffic patterns may in one embodiment be responsive to human intervention from a dispatching center or to time-of-day conditions. The stored traffic patterns in still another embodiment may be arranged to include a plurality of coordinated intersections. In still another embodiment, the traffic light control apparatus may be operated under control of data or voice transmitted from the emergency vehicle'"'"'s regular two-way voice communications system to a central, attended control station.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. Traffic signal light control system for emergency vehicles comprising:
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at least one traffic signal light for directing traffic through a street intersection; at least one emergency vehicle having a driver and a vehicle identity code; emergency vehicle traffic control apparatus disposed in said emergency vehicle; traffic signal light control apparatus disposed in the vicinity of said traffic signal light for controlling it; two-way radio communications link which includes a vehicle radio receiver-transmitter in the emergency vehicle connected with the emergency vehicle traffic control apparatus, and a fixed radio receiver-transmitter disposed in the vicinity of said traffic signal light, operatively connected with the traffic signal light control apparatus, both receivers and transmitters using the same frequency, operatively connecting said emergency vehicle traffic control apparatus with said traffic signal light control apparatus; an emergency vehicle control disposed in said emergency vehicle having means for operatively engaging said emergency vehicle traffic control apparatus, and keyboard means for transmitting to said traffic signal light control apparatus a first command which includes the vehicle'"'"'s identity code, and a request for a driver-selected branch of ingress and egress of the intersection; said signal control apparatus including a central processing unit and electronic memory for storing said first command, and for storing at least one selected signal pattern being responsive to said first command and a control program stored in said electronic memory, said signal control apparatus being responsive to said first command from said emergency vehicle to the traffic control apparatus for activating said selected signal pattern for guiding the emergency vehicle through the intersection through said driver-selected branch of ingress and egress. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Traffic signal light control system for emergency vehicles comprising:
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at least one signal light disposed proximal to at least one street intersection; at least one emergency vehicle having a driver and an identity code and a two-way vehicle radio receiver-transmitter; an emergency vehicle control console disposed in the emergency vehicle in operative engagement with the vehicle receiver-transmitter, having keys for transmitting a first command including the vehicle identity, and a requested direction of ingress and egress of said intersection; signal control apparatus associated with the intersection, in operative engagement with the signal light, which includes a regular signal control, and an emergency signal control having a memory bank for storing said first command and at least one selected signal pattern, a signal two-way radio receiver-transmitter responsive to a said first command, which includes said branch of ingress and egress to the intersection, and a vehicle identity code, from the emergency vehicle for disengaging the regular signal control and engaging the emergency signal control to operate the signal in accordance with said selected signal pattern for guiding the emergency vehicle through the intersection through said driver-selected branch of ingress and egress. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification