Traffic control system

• US 7,898,433 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2007
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Howard H. Roberts
• Original Assignee: Howard H. Roberts
• Inventors: Roberts, Howard H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen; Thomas J
• Application Number:
  US11/693,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20080238721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: 340/932, 340/933, 340/934, 340/937, 340/907, 340/908, 340/910, 340/928, 701117-119
• US Class Current: 340/932
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0104 Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions

Abstract

A system and method for moving vehicular traffic in a single lane through a control zone requires creation of a control protocol. The protocol establishes a spacing distance “s” and a speed “v” for each vehicle in the control zone. A computer then controls movement of a visible signal through the control zone in accordance with the established protocol. Electronic regulators monitor the distance “s” between the signal and the vehicle, and the system alarms when “s” becomes greater than a predetermined distance “d”.

Claims

1. A system for moving a plurality of vehicles in a single lane of traffic on a roadway through a control zone which comprises:

a sensor for determining an approach of each vehicle to a threshold of the control zone;

a plurality of signals wherein each signal moves at a distance “

s”

ahead of a corresponding one of said vehicles through the control zone for managing the movement of the corresponding vehicle at a speed “

v”

determined for each signal;

a control protocol established for each vehicle entering the control zone wherein the control protocol establishes and continuously updates a safe stopping distance “

sd” and

a distance “

d”

between consecutive ones of said signals based on the length “

l”

of the corresponding vehicle and the distance “

s”

;

a regulator for monitoring the distance “

s”

between each vehicle and the corresponding signal; and

a computer connected to the sensor for initiating the control protocol for each vehicle at the threshold, wherein the computer establishes the speed “

v”

for moving each signal, and further wherein the computer is connected to the regulator to create an alarm when the distance “

s”

creates a predetermined condition.

2. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of signals is a row of laser light emitters positioned along the lane of traffic in the control zone, and each signal is a laser beam.

3. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of signals is a row of lights positioned along the lane of traffic in the control zone and each signal is a light beam.

4. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of signals is a sequence of pop-up flags mounted on a track, wherein the track is for movement of pop-up flags through the control zone.

5. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of signals for a contiguous sequence of control protocols has a different color.

6. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein each signal is selectively activated and is dedicated to a single control protocol.

7. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein a next-in-line vehicle (subscript 2) follows a lead vehicle (subscript 1), and wherein the sensor establishes a length “

l₂”

for the next-in-line vehicle, and a safe stopping distance “

sd₂”

based on “

l₂”

for the next-in-line vehicle, wherein a next-in-line signal follows at a distance “

d₁”

behind a lead signal for the lead vehicle, wherein d₁=l₁+s₁+sd₂, and further wherein a first predetermined condition occurs when s₂=0, and a second predetermined condition occurs when d₁−

l₁−

s₁<

sd₂.

8. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of signals is mounted on the roadway.

9. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of signals is mounted above the roadway.

10. A system for moving a vehicle in a single lane of traffic on a roadway through a control zone which comprises:

a means for determining an approach of the vehicle to a threshold of the control zone;

a means for establishing a control protocol based on a length “

l”

for each vehicle, wherein the control protocol includes a spacing distance “

s”

, for spacing between the vehicle and a signal, and a speed “

v”

, for movement of the signal along the lane through the control zone;

a means for activating the signal;

a mechanism for moving the signal through the control zone in accordance with the control protocol;

a means for monitoring the distance “

s”

between the vehicle and the signal; and

a means for creating an alarm when the distance “

s”

creates a predetermined condition.

11. A system as recited in claim 10 wherein the signal is a light source in a plurality of aligned light sources and the signal is a visible, moving light indicator.

12. A system as recited in claim 10 wherein the determining means establishes a length “

l₂”

for the vehicle, and a safe stopping distance “

sd₂”

based on “

l₂”

for the vehicle, wherein the signal follows at a distance “

d₁”

behind a lead signal for a lead vehicle (subscript

     1), wherein d₁=l₁+s₁+sd₂, and further wherein a first predetermined condition occurs when s₂=0, and a second predetermined condition occurs when d₁−

l₁−

s₁<

sd₂.

13. A system as recited in claim 10 wherein signals for a contiguous sequence of control protocols each have a different color, and wherein each signal is selectively activated and is dedicated to a single control protocol.

14. A method for moving a vehicle in a single lane of traffic on a roadway through a control zone which comprises the steps of:

determining an approach of the vehicle to a threshold of the control zone;

establishing a control protocol based on a length “

l”

for each vehicle, wherein the control protocol includes a spacing distance “

s”

, for spacing between the vehicle and a signal, and a speed “

v”

, for movement of the signal along the lane through the control zone;

activating the signal to control the movement of the vehicle through the control zone;

moving the signal through the control zone with a conveyor in accordance with the control protocol;

monitoring the distance “

s”

between the vehicle and the signal; and

creating an alarm when the distance “

s”

creates a predetermined condition.

15. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein the conveyor is a plurality of aligned light sources and the signal is a visible, moving light indicator.

16. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein a next-in-line vehicle (subscript 2) follows a lead vehicle (subscript 1), and wherein the determining step is accomplished by establishing a length “

l₂”

for the next-in-line vehicle, and a safe stopping distance “

sd₂”

based on “

l₂”

for the next-in-line vehicle, wherein the moving step involves placing the signal at a distance “

d₁”

behind a lead signal for the lead vehicle, wherein d₁=l₁+s₁+sd₂, and further wherein the creating step is accomplished when a first predetermined condition occurs when s₂=0, and when a second predetermined condition occurs when d₁−

l₁−

s₁<

sd₂.