Backup traffic signal management system and method

• US 5,659,305 A
• Filed: 03/17/1995
• Issued: 08/19/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Leidos, Inc. (Leidos Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Science Applications International Corporation
• Inventors: Rains, Jack C., Sutton, Richard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US08/405,905
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 340/931, 340/906, 340/907, 340/912, 340/916, 364/436-438
• US Class Current: 340/931
• 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

An backup vehicular traffic control system employs a connector-switch including a normally-closed electrical switch connected in series between a traffic signal and a primary control system. In the event of an emergency condition, such as a failure of the primary control system and/or failure of a primary power source, or in the event of a shutdown condition, such as a shutdown of the primary control system and/or shutdown of the primary power source, a connector is manually connected to the connector-switch. The normally-closed electrical switch is opened when the connector is connected to the connector-switch, disconnecting the primary control system from the traffic signal. Also upon the connection of the connector to the connector-switch, an auxiliary control system coupled to the connector is coupled through the connector and connector-switch to the traffic signal. After being connected, the auxiliary control system assumes control of the time of operation of the traffic signal.

Claims

1. For use in a vehicular traffic control system including a traffic signal and a primary control system for energizing and controlling the timed operation of the traffic signal, a backup traffic management system, comprising:

normally-closed electrical switch means for connection in series between the traffic signal and the primary control system of the vehicular traffic control system and including means for (i) receiving electrical connector means for opening the electrical switch means and (ii) electrically connecting the electrical connector means to the traffic signal;

electrical connector means for manual connection to the normally-closed electrical switch means and for opening the normally-closed electrical switch means and disconnecting the primary control system from the traffic signal following an emergency event or a maintenance event; and

an auxiliary control system coupled to the electrical connector means, the auxiliary control system controlling time of operation of the traffic signal upon the manual connection of the electrical connector means to the normally-closed electrical switch means following the emergency event or the maintenance event.

2. The backup traffic management system of claim 1 further comprising:

cable means for connecting the electrical connector means to the auxiliary control system.

3. The backup traffic management system of claim 1 further comprising:

a secondary power source coupled to said auxiliary control system, the secondary power source comprising an energy conversion device.

4. The backup traffic management system of claim 3 comprising:

a vehicle that houses said secondary power source.

5. The backup traffic management system of claim 4 wherein said vehicle is self-propelled.

6. The backup traffic management system of claim 1 further comprising:

a transportable housing containing said auxiliary control system.

7. The backup traffic management system of claim 6 wherein said transportable housing is a hand-held housing.

8. The backup traffic management system of claim 1 wherein said primary power source is coupled to said auxiliary control system.

9. The backup traffic management system of claim 1 further comprising:

a permanent housing containing said normally-closed switch means and said primary control system.

10. The backup traffic management system of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary control system also comprises timing means for providing a timing signal, said auxiliary control system controlling said time of operation of said traffic signal in response to the timing signal.

11. The backup traffic management system of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary control system includes keypad means for inputting a code that identifies a roadway intersection at which the auxiliary control system is being utilized.

12. In a vehicular traffic control system wherein a traffic signal is controlled by a primary control system that selectively energizes the traffic signal, wherein the primary control system is coupled to a primary power source, a system for effecting traffic management in the event of a failure condition or of a shutdown condition, the system comprising:

a connector-switch including a normally-closed switch coupled between the traffic signal and the primary control system, the connector-switch being manually coupleable to a connector in the event of the emergency condition or the shutdown condition, the normally-closed switch being closed in the event the connector is decoupled from the connector-switch, and the normally-closed switch being opened by the connector in the event the connector is coupled to the connector-switch, the connector-switch coupling an auxiliary control system to the traffic signal through the connector and the connector-switch upon the coupling of the connector to the connector-switch in the event of the emergency condition or the shutdown condition.

13. An auxiliary vehicular traffic control system comprising:

a connector manually coupleable to a connector-switch in the event of an emergency condition or of a shutdown condition, the connector-switch including a normally-closed switch that couples a primary control system to a traffic signal when the normally-closed switch is closed and means for (i) receiving the connector for opening the normally-closed switch and (ii) electrically connecting the connection to the traffic signal; and

an auxiliary control system coupled to the connector, the auxiliary control system being coupled through the connector and the connector-switch to the traffic signal, in the event of the emergency condition or the shutdown condition, when the connector is manually coupled to the connector-switch, the auxiliary control system selectively energizing the traffic signal when the connector is coupled to the connector-switch.

14. The backup traffic management system of claim 13 further comprising:

cable means for connecting the connector to the auxiliary control system.

15. The backup traffic management system of claim 13 further comprising:

a secondary power source coupled to said auxiliary control system, the secondary power source comprising an energy conversion device.

16. The backup traffic management system of claim 13 further comprising:

a transportable housing containing said auxiliary control system.

17. In a vehicular traffic control system wherein a traffic signal is controlled by a primary control system coupled to a primary power source, the primary control system selectively energizing the traffic signal, a method of improving the vehicular traffic management system useable in the event of an emergency condition or a shutdown condition, comprising:

interposing electrically a connector-switch between the primary control system and the traffic signal, the primary control system being coupled through a normally-closed switch within the connector-switch to the traffic signal, the connector-switch including means for receiving a connector for opening the normally-closed switch and for electrically connecting the connector to the traffic signal; and

connecting the connector electrically connected to the auxiliary traffic management system to the connector-switch to open the normally-closed switch to decouple the primary control system from the traffic signal and to electrically connect the auxiliary traffic management system to the traffic signal.

18. The method of claim 17 including:

coupling a first end of a cable to the connector;

coupling a second end of the cable to the auxiliary traffic management system wherein the auxiliary traffic management system is detachably coupleable to the connector-switch via the cable and said connector in the event of the emergency condition or of the shutdown condition, said auxiliary control system being coupled to said traffic signal through the cable, said connector and said connector-switch in the event said connector is coupled to said connector-switch.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

coupling the auxiliary control system to a secondary power source comprising means for energizing said auxiliary traffic management system.

20. The method of claim 19 also comprising:

coupling said connector to said connector-switch; and

decoupling said traffic signal from said primary control system with said normally-closed switch within said connector-switch.

21. The method of claim 20 also further comprising:

energizing selectively the traffic signal using the auxiliary control system.

22. For use in a vehicular traffic control system including a traffic signal and a primary control system for energizing and controlling the timed operation of the traffic signal, a backup traffic signal management system, comprising:

a normally-closed switch connected in series between the traffic signal and the primary control system, the normally-closed switch including means for receiving a first connector and being openable in the event of an emergency condition or a shutdown condition so as to decouple the traffic signal from the primary control system in the event of the emergency condition or the shutdown condition and an electrical connection of the first connector to the normally-closed switch;

the first connector;

an auxiliary control system coupled to the first connector; and

a second connector coupleable to the first connector following the emergency condition or the shutdown condition, the second connector being coupled to the traffic signal, whereby the auxiliary control system is coupled to the traffic signal through the first connector and the second connector in the event the second connector is coupled to the first connector.

23. The backup traffic management system of claim 22 further comprising:

cable means for connecting the first connector to the auxiliary control system.

24. The backup traffic management system of claim 22 further comprising:

a secondary power source coupled to said auxiliary control system, the secondary power source comprising an energy storage device.