Traffic regulation system

• US 7,764,193 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2007
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Chen, Ga-Lane
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mahase; Pameshanand
• Application Number:
  US11/923,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20080122653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 340/907
• US Class Current: 340/907
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/07 Controlling traffic signals

Abstract

A traffic regulation system (100) includes a first traffic light (110) for controlling traffic in a first direction, a second traffic light (120) for controlling traffic in a second direction intersecting the first direction, an infrared light detector (130) for receiving an infrared light signal transmitted from a pedestrian proceeding in the second direction on a pedestrian crossing and producing a corresponding feedback signal associated with the infrared light signal, and a control unit (160) for receiving the feedback signal from the infrared light detector and instructing the first traffic light and the second traffic light to signal the pedestrian to proceed in the second direction.

Claims

1. A traffic regulation system, comprising:

a first traffic light for controlling traffic in a first direction;

a second traffic light for controlling traffic in a second direction intersecting the first direction;

an infrared light detector comprising a camera module and a processor, the camera module configured for receiving an infrared light signal transmitted from a pedestrian proceeding in the second direction on a pedestrian crossing, the camera module comprising a holder, a barrel threadedly engaged with the holder, an infrared glass cover on the barrel, a lens arranged in the barrel, and an image pickup module mounted in the holder, and the processor configured for processing the infrared light signal and producing a corresponding feedback signal associated with the infrared light signal and transmitting the feedback signal; and

a control unit for receiving the feedback signal from the infrared light detector and instructing the first traffic light and the second traffic light to signal the pedestrian to proceed in the second direction.

2. The traffic regulation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first traffic light has a red traffic light, a green traffic light, and a yellow traffic light.

3. The traffic regulation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second traffic light has a red traffic light, a green traffic light, and a yellow traffic light.

4. The traffic regulation system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first infrared light transmitter for arrangement on the pedestrian who is on the pedestrian crossing for sending out the infrared light signal.

5. The traffic regulation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lens is arranged between the infrared glass cover and the image pickup module.

6. The traffic regulation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the camera module further comprises an infrared passband filter arranged between the lens and the image pickup module.

7. The traffic regulation system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the infrared passband filter includes a plurality of oxide layers.

8. The traffic regulation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the camera module further comprises a transparent cover arranged on the image pickup module.

9. The traffic regulation system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the transparent cover is made of an infrared glass.

10. The traffic regulation system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a second infrared light transmitter for sending out an infrared light signal to an infrared receiver set on a vehicle running in the first direction to cause the vehicle to pull up during a time period when the infrared light detector receives the infrared light signal transmitted from the pedestrian proceeding in the second direction on the pedestrian crossing.

11. A traffic regulation system, comprising:

a first traffic light for controlling traffic in a first direction;

a second traffic light for controlling traffic in a second direction intersecting the first direction;

an infrared light detector for receiving a first infrared light signal transmitted from a pedestrian proceeding in the second direction on a pedestrian crossing and producing a corresponding feedback signal associated with the first infrared light signal;

an infrared light transmitter for sending out a second infrared light signal to a vehicle running in the first direction to cause the vehicle to pull up during a time period when the infrared light detector receives the first infrared light signal transmitted from the pedestrian proceeding in the second direction on the pedestrian crossing; and

a control unit for receiving the feedback signal from the infrared light detector and instructing the first traffic light and the second traffic light to signal the pedestrian to proceed in the second direction.

12. The traffic regulation system as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a first infrared light transmitter for arrangement on the pedestrian who is on the pedestrian crossing for sending out the first infrared light signal.

13. The traffic regulation system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the infrared light detector comprises a camera module configured for receiving the first infrared light signal and a processor configured for processing the first infrared light signal and producing a feedback signal and transmitting the feedback signal to the control unit.

14. The traffic regulation system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the camera module comprises a holder, a barrel threadedly engaged with the holder, an infrared glass cover on the barrel, a lens arranged in the barrel, and an image pickup module mounted in the holder.

15. A traffic regulation system, comprising:

a first traffic light for controlling traffic in a first direction;

a second traffic light for controlling traffic in a second direction intersecting the first direction;

an infrared light detector comprising a camera module and a processor, the camera module configured for receiving an infrared light signal transmitted from a pedestrian proceeding in the second direction on a pedestrian crossing, and the processor configured for processing the infrared light signal and producing a corresponding feedback signal associated with the infrared light signal and transmitting the feedback signal; and

a control unit for receiving the feedback signal from the infrared light detector and instructing the first traffic light and the second traffic light to signal the pedestrian to proceed in the second direction.

16. The traffic regulation system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the camera module comprises a holder, a barrel threadedly engaged with the holder, an infrared glass cover on the barrel, a lens arranged in the barrel, and an image pickup module mounted in the holder.

17. The traffic regulation system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the lens is arranged between the infrared glass cover and the image pickup module.

18. The traffic regulation system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the camera module further comprises an infrared passband filter arranged between the lens and the image pickup module.