Traffic light collision avoidance system
First Claim
1. A collision avoidance system for a first traffic signal having a current light phase equal to one of the set consisting of at least red and green and a second traffic signal having a current light phase equal to one of the set consisting of at least red and green, comprising:
- at least one violation prediction image capturing device;
a plurality of violation prediction images showing at least one vehicle approaching said first traffic signal, said violation prediction images derived from an output of said violation prediction image capturing device;
a violation prediction unit, responsive to said plurality of violation prediction images and indication of said current first traffic signal light phase, for generating at least one violation prediction for said at least one vehicle approaching said first traffic signal, said violation prediction indicating a likelihood that said at least one vehicle approaching said first traffic signal will violate an upcoming red light phase of said first traffic signal, and wherein said violation prediction unit is further operable to generate said violation prediction in the event that said at least one vehicle crosses a virtual violation line maintained by said violation prediction unit;
a collision avoidance unit, responsive to said violation prediction, for asserting at least one violation predicted signal coupled to said second traffic signal; and
a traffic light controller f or said second traffic signal, for controlling said second traffic signal responsive to said violation predicted signal in order to prevent traffic approaching said second traffic signal from entering said intersection.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A collision avoidance system and method for a traffic intersection having a traffic light, which selectively extends the duration of a red light cycle to prevent traffic from entering the intersection during a red light violation. Output from one or more violation prediction image capturing devices is used to provide images showing one or more vehicles approaching the intersection. A violation prediction unit, which is also coupled to a signal reflecting a current light phase of the first traffic signal, receives and processes vehicle location information derived from the images to generate violation predictions for the vehicles approaching the intersection. The violation prediction indicates a likelihood that an associated vehicle will violate an upcoming red light phase of the traffic signal. In response to the violation prediction, a violation predicted signal is provided to a traffic signal controlling traffic intersecting with the predicted violator. That traffic signal then preempts a transition to a green light phase, thus extending a current red traffic light phase and thereby preventing traffic from entering the intersection during the predicted red light violation.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A collision avoidance system for a first traffic signal having a current light phase equal to one of the set consisting of at least red and green and a second traffic signal having a current light phase equal to one of the set consisting of at least red and green, comprising:
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at least one violation prediction image capturing device;
a plurality of violation prediction images showing at least one vehicle approaching said first traffic signal, said violation prediction images derived from an output of said violation prediction image capturing device;
a violation prediction unit, responsive to said plurality of violation prediction images and indication of said current first traffic signal light phase, for generating at least one violation prediction for said at least one vehicle approaching said first traffic signal, said violation prediction indicating a likelihood that said at least one vehicle approaching said first traffic signal will violate an upcoming red light phase of said first traffic signal, and wherein said violation prediction unit is further operable to generate said violation prediction in the event that said at least one vehicle crosses a virtual violation line maintained by said violation prediction unit;
a collision avoidance unit, responsive to said violation prediction, for asserting at least one violation predicted signal coupled to said second traffic signal; and
a traffic light controller f or said second traffic signal, for controlling said second traffic signal responsive to said violation predicted signal in order to prevent traffic approaching said second traffic signal from entering said intersection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of collision avoidance for a first traffic signal having a current light phase equal to one of the set consisting of at least red and green and a second traffic signal having a current light phase equal to one of the set consisting of at least red and green, comprising:
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capturing a plurality of violation prediction images, said violation prediction images showing at least one vehicle approaching said first traffic signal, said violation prediction images derived from an output of a violation prediction image capturing device;
maintaining at least one virtual violation line;
generating, responsive to said plurality of violation prediction images and indication of said current first traffic signal light phase, at least one violation prediction for said at least one vehicle approaching said first traffic signal, said violation prediction indicating a likelihood that said at least one vehicle approaching said first traffic signal will violate an upcoming red light phase of said first traffic signal, and wherein said generating includes generating said violation prediction in the event that said at least one vehicle crosses said virtual violation line;
asserting, responsive to said violation prediction, at least one violation predicted signal coupled to said second traffic signal; and
controlling, responsive to said violation predicted signal, said second traffic signal in order to prevent traffic approaching said second traffic signal from entering said intersection. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
determining at least one vehicle location associated with said at least one vehicle; and
wherein said generating said at least one violation prediction is responsive to said at least one vehicle location.
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24. The method of claim 18, further comprising:
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determining a time remaining in a current yellow light phase; and
wherein said generating said at least one violation prediction is responsive to said time remaining in said current yellow light phase.
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25. The method of claim 18, further comprising:
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determining a current speed for said at least one vehicle; and
wherein said generating said at least one violation prediction is responsive to said current speed of said at least one vehicle.
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26. The method of claim 18, wherein said generating said at least one violation prediction further comprises determining a current acceleration for said at least one vehicle.
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27. The method of claim 18, wherein said generating said at least one violation prediction further comprises computing a time remaining before said at least one vehicle enters said traffic intersection.
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28. The method of claim 27, wherein said generating said at least one violation prediction further comprises calculating a rate of deceleration required for said at least one vehicle to stop within said time remaining before said vehicle enters said traffic intersection.
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29. The method of claim 28 wherein said generating said at least one violation prediction further comprises determining whether said required deceleration is larger than a specified deceleration limit value, and if so, updating a violation prediction value for the current frame to indicate that a violation is predicted.
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30. The method of claim 18, wherein said maintaining said virtual violation line includes maintaining said virtual violation line as part of a representation of said intersection.
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31. The method of claim 30, further comprising maintaining said virtual violation line at a location beyond an actual stop line within a respective lane of said representation of said intersection.
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32. The method of claim 18, further comprising generating said violation prediction in the event that said vehicle crosses said virtual violation line after coming to a stop prior to said virtual violation line.
Specification