Automated traffic control system

• US 7,333,029 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2006
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Juanita I. Hammett
• Original Assignee: Juanita I. Hammett
• Inventors: Hammett, Juanita I.
• Primary Examiner(s): La; Anh V.
• Application Number:
  US11/358,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20060197683A1
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 340/908, 340/908.1, 340/539.1, 340/907, 340/925, 340/926, 340/905, 340/321, 340/691.6, 340/691.3, 340/693.5, 406/10, 406/06, 348/149, 116/63.R, 116/63.P
• US Class Current: 340/908
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/08 according to detected number or speed of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights

Abstract

The invention emulates the actions and decisions of flagmen to control and to expedite traffic along a single lane past construction. The invention has two portable traffic signal light units with arms. One unit has a computer that controls the system, three video cameras, and two way radio communication. The other unit has three video cameras and radio communication to the unit. A remote control is also provided for starting and stopping the system along with a manual override of the system. A coding feature restricts starting, and stopping the system to users of the remote control. The system also protects itself against vandalism and functions during periods of obscured vision.

Claims

1. A system to regulate vehicular traffic moving in opposite directions upon a single lane of travel past an obstacle in an efficient manner without collisions, comprising:

a master unit having a computer, at least one camera, at least two colored lights, an arm, an antenna, a battery, and a housing;

a slave unit having at least one camera, at least two colored lights, an arm, an antenna in communication with said master unit, a battery, and a housing;

a remote control having an antenna in communication with said master unit and one or more batteries;

means to provide electrical power to said master unit and said slave unit; and

,

said computer using images from said cameras decides which of said arms to raise and which of said lights to illuminate.

2. The traffic regulating system of claim 1 further comprising:

said housing of said master unit having a slot proximate to said arm to permit elevation of said arm and at least one microphone; and

,

said housing of said slave unit having a slot proximate to said arm to permit elevation of said arm and at least one microphone.

3. The traffic regulating system of claim 1 wherein said cameras are one of video or digital.

4. The traffic regulating system of claim 3 further comprising:

said cameras having lighting to illuminate vehicles.

5. The traffic regulating system of claim 4 wherein said lighting is one of diode, lighting, or strobe.

6. The traffic regulating system of claim 1 further comprising:

said computer having machine vision to identify license plates upon vehicles and vehicles;

said machine vision allowing said computer to count and to match images from said master unit and said slave unit, and said computer accounts for vehicles that enter and exit the travel lane; and

,

a timer mechanism that controls traffic when said computer fails.

7. The traffic regulating system of claim 6 further comprising:

said computer comparing images of vehicles against a list of vehicles sought by law enforcement.

8. A system to regulate vehicular traffic moving in opposite directions upon a single lane of travel, or travel lane, past an obstacle comprising:

a master unit having a computer;

a slave unit;

a remote control for said master unit wherein entering a first code starts said master unit, said computer, and said slave unit;

entering a second code secures said master unit, said computer, and said slave unit; and

entering a third code stops said master unit, said computer, and said slave unit; and

,

said computer selecting when traffic may enter the travel lane, determining which direction of traffic may first enter the travel lane, calculating the volume of traffic relative to said master unit and to said slave unit, adjusting the timing and direction of traffic in the travel lane based upon volume of traffic measured in real time, and, accounting for vehicles that exit and enter from within the travel lane.

9. The traffic regulating system of claim 8 further comprising:

said master unit and said slave unit having machine vision in cooperation with cameras and lighting to identify license plates upon vehicles and vehicles for comparison by said computer.

10. The traffic regulating system of claim 8 further comprising:

said master unit having at least two colored lights, at least one camera, a housing, an arm extending from said housing, an antenna, and a battery and said computer; and

,

said slave unit having at least two colored lights, at least one camera, a housing, an arm extending from said housing, an antenna, and a battery.