Road traffic control system with alternating nonstop traffic flow
First Claim
1. A method for controlling city traffic with reduced stopping in at least one nonstop lane of at least one designated road, comprising the steps of:
- (A) establishing a centrally controlled signal progression system along said road by(A1) installing a plurality of signal emitting fixtures disposed along said road, each adapted to alternately emit one of three signals,(A2) installing a plurality of local control means, each one interconnected with one of said fixtures, for switching said fixtures to create three strings of said three signals following one another along said road;
a first string comprising a first number of consecutive fixtures emitting the first one of said three signals, a second string comprising a second number of consecutive fixtures emitting the second one of said three signals, and a third string comprising a third number of consecutive fixtures emitting the third one of said three signals, said three string of signals marking three distinct zones, a travel zone, a vacate zone, and a transition zone following one another along said road in repeated sequences,(A3) installing central control means for generating control signals in cycles forwarded through interconnections to each said local control means for prompting them to perform step by step switching operations in each cycle in unison inducing a forward step in each said local control means for progressing the position of each said fixture in said signal progression system by one step in each cycle, causing each signal to jump from each said fixture to the next in each step thereby effecting each zone to move in increments with the progression of said signals,(A4) designating said travel zones for vehicular traffic steadily moving exclusively within said travel zones in said nonstop lane including intersections,(B) permitting the entry of vehicles into said nonstop lane only in periods when the next signal emitting fixture in forward direction prompted by said local control means to emit the signal of said travel zones whereby preventing the development of congestion and maintaining a steady flow on said nonstop lane.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The central version of the road traffic control system maintains nonstop flow of traffic on selected lanes of fastroads (1A, 1B, 1C, 4A, 4B, 4C, 31A, 31B, 31C, 32A, 32B, 32C) all the time by grouping the vehicles in closed columns in moving travel zones alternating with empty zones, marked by fixtures (6) emitting zone marker signals controlled by central processor (7). Columns of vehicles are grouped in travel zones (21A, 21B, 33A, 33B) alternating with empty (vacate) zones (211, 331), and are laid out in a centrally controlled grid pattern of fastroads (1A, 1B, 4A, 4B, 31A, 31B, 32A, 32B). The control system guides the moving travel zones through the empty zones of the cross roads without stopping. In local version having light traffic, stopping is reduced and quasi-nonstop traffic flow is introduced on locally controlled crossings (41, 42) by sensor ( 45A, 45B, 46A, 64B, 46C) controlled traffic lights operated by local processor (47).
79 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for controlling city traffic with reduced stopping in at least one nonstop lane of at least one designated road, comprising the steps of:
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(A) establishing a centrally controlled signal progression system along said road by (A1) installing a plurality of signal emitting fixtures disposed along said road, each adapted to alternately emit one of three signals, (A2) installing a plurality of local control means, each one interconnected with one of said fixtures, for switching said fixtures to create three strings of said three signals following one another along said road;
a first string comprising a first number of consecutive fixtures emitting the first one of said three signals, a second string comprising a second number of consecutive fixtures emitting the second one of said three signals, and a third string comprising a third number of consecutive fixtures emitting the third one of said three signals, said three string of signals marking three distinct zones, a travel zone, a vacate zone, and a transition zone following one another along said road in repeated sequences,(A3) installing central control means for generating control signals in cycles forwarded through interconnections to each said local control means for prompting them to perform step by step switching operations in each cycle in unison inducing a forward step in each said local control means for progressing the position of each said fixture in said signal progression system by one step in each cycle, causing each signal to jump from each said fixture to the next in each step thereby effecting each zone to move in increments with the progression of said signals, (A4) designating said travel zones for vehicular traffic steadily moving exclusively within said travel zones in said nonstop lane including intersections, (B) permitting the entry of vehicles into said nonstop lane only in periods when the next signal emitting fixture in forward direction prompted by said local control means to emit the signal of said travel zones whereby preventing the development of congestion and maintaining a steady flow on said nonstop lane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. In a road traffic control system of the type having local control means for controlling vehicular traffic at a crossing of a first street and a second street and signal lights arranged at said crossing, facing each approach, adapted for emitting alternately red, green, and yellow light, controlled by said local control means responding to sensor input, comprising:
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first, second, and third sensor means adapted for generating input signal each transmitted through an interconnection to said local control means via an amplifier when triggered by a passing vehicle, said first sensor means being accommodated on said first street, said second sensor means on said second street, one on each approach along said streets before said crossing, and said third sensor means being accommodated within said crossing, said first sensor means being adapted to generate input signal amplified by its amplifier, transmitted through said interconnection to said local control means when triggered by the passing of a first vehicle on said first street prompting said local control means to switch said signal lights to green for said first street, interlock circuit means connected to said local control means and adapted to be activated by said first sensor means via its amplifier, for preventing a change in said signal light output until said third sensor means within said crossing being triggered by the passing of said first vehicle through said crossing, releasing said interlock circuit means, said second sensor means adapted to generate input signal amplified by its amplifier, transmitted to said local control means through said interconnection when triggered by the passing of a second vehicle on said second street prompting said local control means to switch said signal lights to green for said second street, interlock circuit means connected to said local control means and adapted to be activated by said second sensor means via its amplifier, for preventing a change in said signal light output until said third sensor means within said crossing being triggered by the passing of said second vehicle through said crossing, releasing said interlock circuit means, timer means for executing an operating period after each switching of the orientation of said signal lights from one street to the other for releasing said interlock circuit means after a preset time delay elapsed whereby unnecessary stopping of said vehicles being avoided while uninterrupted traffic generally maintained.
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Specification