System, method and apparatus for manual control of a traffic light

• US 7,733,242 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2008
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: City of Clearwater
• Original Assignee: City of Clearwater
• Inventors: Bertels, Paul, Patni, Himanshu
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland; Donnie L
• Application Number:
  US12/056,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20090243885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 340/926, 340/930, 340/931
• US Class Current: 340/926
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/07 Controlling traffic signals

Abstract

An application for a traffic control system includes an enclosure for containing the traffic control system that has an access door with a lock for controlling access to the enclosure through the access door. The traffic control system has an automatic mode of operation and a manual mode of operation, whereas the traffic control system automatically transitions a state of a plurality of traffic lights when in the automatic mode of operation and cycles the state of the plurality of traffic lights in response to a change signal when in the manual mode of operation. An automatic mode activation switch is housed within the enclosure. Activation of the automatic mode activation switch changes the state of the traffic control system from the automatic mode of operation into the manual mode of operation. A watchdog timer is coupled to the traffic control system, The watchdog timer is reset when the automatic mode activation switch is operated and in response to the change signal. If the watchdog timer expires, the traffic control system switches to the automatic mode of operation.

Claims

1. A traffic control system comprising:

an enclosure for containing the traffic control system;

an access door on the enclosure;

a lock controlling access to the enclosure through the access door;

an automatic mode of operation and a manual mode of operation, whereas the traffic control system automatically transitions a state of a plurality of traffic lights when in the automatic mode of operation and cycles the state of the plurality of traffic lights in response to a change signal when in the manual mode of operation;

an automatic mode activation switch within the enclosure, activation of the automatic mode activation switch changing the state of the traffic control system from the automatic mode of operation into the manual mode of operation; and

a watchdog timer operatively coupled to the traffic control system, the watchdog timer is reset when the automatic mode activation switch is operated;

the watchdog timer is also reset in response to the change signal;

whereas upon expiration of the watchdog timer, the traffic control system switches to the automatic mode of operation.

2. The traffic control system of claim 1, wherein the change signal is from a wired control panel connected to the traffic control system.

3. The traffic control system of claim 1, wherein the change signal is from a wireless control, the wireless control transmits a wireless signal to a wireless receiver connected to the traffic control system and the wireless receiver generates the change signal to the traffic control system for sequencing the state of the plurality of traffic lights.

4. The traffic control system of claim 3, wherein the the watchdog timer is reset upon receipt of the wireless signal.

5. The traffic control system of claim 3, wherein the the watchdog timer is reset upon receipt of the wireless signal only if the watchdog timer has not expired.

6. A method of controlling traffic comprising:

unlocking an enclosure of a traffic control system;

changing an operating mode of the traffic control system from an automatic mode of operation to a manual mode of operation, the changing of the operating mode of the traffic control system also starting a watchdog timer;

operating a traffic control device connected to the traffic control system to cycle a plurality of traffic lights, said operation of the traffic control device also resetting the watchdog timer;

if the watchdog timer expires, changing the mode of operation of the traffic control system from the manual mode of operation back into the automatic mode of operation.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the traffic control device is a switch connected to the traffic control system by wires.

8. The traffic control system of claim 6, wherein the traffic control device is a switch connected to a wireless transmitter, the wireless transmitter sends a wireless signal to a wireless receiver and the wireless receiver is operatively connected to the traffic control system for cycling the plurality of traffic lights.

9. The traffic control system of claim 8, wherein said operation of the traffic control device resets the watchdog timer upon receipt of the wireless signal.

10. The traffic control system of claim 8, wherein said operation of the traffic control device resets the watchdog timer upon receipt of the wireless signal only if the watchdog timer has not expired.

11. The traffic control system of claim 6, wherein the watchdog timer is implemented in a timer circuit that is operatively coupled to the traffic control system.

12. The traffic control system of claim 6, wherein the watchdog timer is implemented as firmware within the traffic control system.

13. A traffic control system comprising:

an enclosure for containing the traffic control system;

an access door on the enclosure;

a lock controlling access to the enclosure through the access door;

an automatic mode of operation and a manual mode of operation, whereas the traffic control system automatically cycles a state of a plurality of traffic lights when in the automatic mode of operation and cycles the state of the plurality of traffic lights in response to a change signal when in the manual mode of operation;

a means for activating the manual mode, means for activating the manual mode housed within the enclosure behind the access door;

a watchdog timer, the watchdog timer reset when the automatic mode activation switch is operated;

the watchdog timer is also reset in response to the change signal;

a wireless transmitter, the wireless transmitter transmitting a wireless change signal responsive to activation of a control on the wireless transmitter; and

a wireless receiver operatively coupled to the traffic control system, the wireless receiver configured to receive the wireless change signal and responsive to the wireless change signal, sending the change signal to the traffic control system and resetting the watchdog timer;

whereas upon expiration of the watchdog timer, the traffic control system switches to the automatic mode of operation.

14. The traffic control system of claim 13, wherein the control on the wireless transmitter is a push button switch.

15. The traffic control system of claim 13, wherein the wireless receiver resets the watchdog timer upon receipt of the wireless signal only if the watchdog timer has not expired.