Traffic signal device for driver/pedestrian/cyclist advisory message screen at signalized intersections

• US 9,153,128 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2014
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Holzmac, LLC
• Original Assignee: Holzmac, LLC
• Inventors: Holzwanger, Mark, Mackey, John, Liu, Xianghong Henry, Cohen, Steven, Holzwanger, Harry, Guensler, Randall
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): BURGDORF, STEPHEN R
• Application Number:
  US14/184,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20150154860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 340/905, 340/907, 340/928, 340/929, 340/944
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096 provided with indicators in which a mark progresses showing the time elapsed, e.g. of green phase
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0967 Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968

Abstract

An encrypted traffic signal device controller (TSDC) and an Electronic Variable Message Sign (EVMS) at intersection roadways and related traffic intersections where the invention system is installed at traffic light intersections which will be triggered at the red light sequence where vehicles/pedestrian/cyclists are stopped. After the traffic light turns red, the time delay of the red light will trigger an audio and visual public announcement which will be of assistance to the driver and enable the driver to pay attention to the announcement without being concerned about diverting the driver'"'"'s attention from driving the vehicle since the vehicle is stopped at a red light and the driver can devote his attention to reading the information provided.

Claims

1. A system located at a traffic light intersection having a pedestrian signal displaying at different periods of time at least a WALK sign and a DON'"'"'T WALK sign, the pedestrian signal affixed to a pole, a traffic signal displaying at different periods of time at least a red light and a green light, the traffic signal affixed to a support structure, and a traffic signal controller within a traffic signal controller cabinet, and used in conjunction with a group selected from a vehicle driver, a pedestrian and a cyclist respectively arriving at, stopping at and departing from the traffic light intersection, the system comprising:

a. a pedestrian advisory message screen (PAMS) displaying encrypted advisory information selected from the group consisting of advertisements, public announcements, emergency announcements, and a visual countdown to display the amount of time remaining before the next pedestrian WALK sign is illuminated (individually and collectively referred to as advisory PAMS information), the advisory PAMS information is displayed only when the pedestrian DON'"'"'T WALK sign is illuminated, the pedestrian advisory message screen is affixed to the pole onto which the pedestrian signal is affixed;

b. an electronic variable message screen (EVMS) displaying encrypted advisory information selected from the group consisting of advertisements, public announcements, emergency announcements, and a visual countdown to display the amount of time remaining before the next green light is illuminated (individually and collectively referred to as advisory EVMS information), the advisory EVMS information is displayed only when the red light on traffic signal is illuminated, the electronic variable message screen is affixed the support structure onto which the traffic signal is affixed;

c. a signal data retriever device integrated with the traffic signal controller, both the signal data retriever device and the traffic signal controller retained in the traffic signal controller cabinet, the signal data retriever device captures a real-time status of when the WALK sign is illuminated and when the DON'"'"'T WALK sign is illuminated at the pedestrian signal and when the red light is illuminated and when the green light is illuminated at the traffic signal from the traffic signal controller;

d. a central content server collects

(i) alternative information data in text form and images form from the group consisting of;

government agencies, traffic conditions at the traffic light intersection and traffic conditional at locations at distances away from the traffic light intersection, amber alerts, public emergencies and private sector alerts and

(ii) alternative information image content from the group consisting of;

government agencies, traffic conditions at traffic light intersections and traffic conditional at locations at distances away from the traffic light intersections, amber alerts, public emergencies, private sector alerts;

both alternative information data in text form and alternative information image content (referred to as central content server data), is wirelessly transmitted to traffic signal data controller (TSDC), the TSDC encrypts the central content server data and then wirelessly transmits the encrypted central content server data to the pedestrian advisory message screen and to the electronic variable message screen as advisory PAMS information and advisory EVMS information;

e. the pedestrian advisory message screen is turned on for a PAMS activation period beginning after a time delay after the pedestrian DON'"'"'T WALK sign is illuminated and ending before the pedestrian WALK sign is illuminated, and the pedestrian advisory message screen is turned off before the pedestrian WALK sign is illuminated and the pedestrian advisory message screen remains blank until after the time delay after the pedestrian DON'"'"'T WALK sign is illuminated, the pedestrian advisory message screen displaying the advisory PAMS information during the PAMS activation period;

f. the electronic variable message screen is turned on for an EVMS activation period beginning after a time delay after the red light on the traffic signal is illuminated and ending before the green light on the traffic signal is illuminated, and the electronic variable message screen is turned off before the green light on the traffic signal is illuminated and the electronic variable message screen remains blank until after the time delay after the red light on the traffic signal is illuminated, the electronic variable message screen displaying the advisory EVMS information during the EVMS activation period;

g. the pedestrian advisory message screen, the electronic variable message screen, and the signal data retriever device are all in separate locations to provide advisory information and are independent of any traffic control system; and

h. the electronic variable message sign at the traffic light intersection includes a Doppler device which functions as a speed detector to detect a vehicle traveling at excess speed so that the vehicle cannot come to a full stop when the vehicle approaches the traffic light intersection and the Doppler device prevents the electronic variable message sign from displaying the advisory EVMS information so that drivers in other vehicles will not be distracted by the advisory EVMS information and can avoid a crash with the vehicle traveling at excess speed.

2. The system located at a traffic light intersection in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

the signal data retriever device installed within the traffic signal controller cabinet and integrated with the traffic signal data controller wirelessly enables the traffic signal data controller to send advisory information selected from the group consisting of encrypted advisory PAMS information and encrypted advisory EVMS information to a portable electronic device selected from the group consisting of smart phones, cellular phones, mobile phones, portable computers, tablets, a WiFi receiving device and a blue tooth receiving device having a compatible software application in the portable electronic device.

3. The system located at a traffic light intersection in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a. the advisory PAMS information is selected from the group consisting of encrypted visual information displayed on the pedestrian advisory message screen and encrypted audio information from an acoustic transmission member incorporated with the pedestrian advisory message screen;

b. the advisory EVMS information is selected from the group consisting of encrypted visual information displayed on the electronic variable message screen and encrypted audio information from an acoustic transmission member incorporated with the electronic variable message screen; and

c. the collected server data is selected from the group consisting of encrypted visual information displayed on the pedestrian advisory message screen, and encrypted audio information from an acoustic transmission member incorporated with the pedestrian advisory message screen, encrypted visual information displayed on the electronic variable message screen and encrypted audio information from an acoustic transmission member incorporated with the electronic variable message screen.

4. The system located at a traffic light intersection in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

the advisory PAMS information is selected from the group consisting of encrypted visual information displayed on the pedestrian advisory message screen and encrypted audio information from an acoustic transmission member incorporated with the pedestrian advisory message screen.

5. The system located at a traffic light intersection in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

the advisory EVMS information is selected from the group consisting of encrypted visual information displayed on the electronic variable message screen and encrypted audio information from an acoustic transmission member incorporated with the electronic variable message screen.

6. A system located at a traffic light intersection having a pedestrian signal displaying at different periods of time at least a WALK sign and a DON'"'"'T WALK sign, the pedestrian signal affixed to a support structure, a traffic signal displaying at different periods of time at least a red light and a green light, the traffic signal affixed to a support structure, and a traffic signal controller within a traffic signal controller cabinet, and used in conjunction with a group selected from a vehicle driver, a pedestrian and a cyclist respectively arriving at, stopping at and departing from the traffic light intersection, the system comprising:

a. a pedestrian advisory message screen (PAMS) displaying advisory information selected from the group consisting of advertisements, public announcements, emergency announcements, and a visual countdown to display the amount of time remaining before the next pedestrian WALK sign is illuminated (individually and collectively referred to as advisory PAMS information), the advisory PAMS information is displayed only when the pedestrian DON'"'"'T WALK sign is illuminated, the pedestrian advisory message screen is affixed to a structure at a location which enables a WALK or DON'"'"'T WALK image and the pedestrian advisory message screen to be simultaneously seen;

b. an electronic variable message screen (EVMS) displaying advisory information selected from the group consisting of advertisements, public announcements, emergency announcements, and a visual countdown to display the amount of time remaining before the next green light is illuminated (individually and collectively referred to as advisory EVMS information), the advisory EVMS information is displayed only when the red light on the traffic signal is illuminated, the electronic variable message screen is affixed to a support structure which enables an un-blocked red light or green and the electronic variable message screen to be simultaneously seen;

c. a signal data retriever device integrated with the traffic signal controller, both the signal data retriever device and the traffic signal controller retained in the traffic signal controller cabinet, the signal data retriever device captures a real-time status of when the WALK sign is illuminated and when the DON'"'"'T WALK sign is illuminated at the pedestrian signal and when the red light is illuminated and when the green light is illuminated at the traffic signal from the traffic signal controller,

d. a central content server collects

(i) alternative information date in text form from the group consisting of;

government agencies, traffic conditions at the traffic light intersection and traffic conditional at locations at distances away from the traffic light intersection, amber alerts, public emergencies and emergencies, private sector alerts and

(ii) alternative information image content from the group consisting of;

government agencies, traffic conditions at traffic light intersections and traffic conditional at locations at distances away from the traffic light intersections, amber alerts, public emergencies, private sector alerts;

both alternative information data in text form and alternative information image content (referred to as central content server data), is wirelessly transmitted to a traffic signal data controller (TSDC), the TSDC encrypted central content server data and then wirelessly transmits the encrypted central content server data to the pedestrian advisory message screen and to the electronic variable message screen as advisory PAMS information and advisory EVMS information;

e. the pedestrian advisory message screen is turned on for a PAMS activation period beginning after a time delay after the pedestrian DON'"'"'T WALK sign is illuminated and ending before the pedestrian WALK sign is illuminated, and the pedestrian advisory message screen is turned off before the pedestrian WALK sign is illuminated and the pedestrian advisory message screen remains blank until after the time delay after the pedestrian DON'"'"'T WALK sign is illuminated, the pedestrian advisory message screen displaying the advisory PAMS information during the PAMS activation period;

f. the electronic variable message screen is turned on for an EVMS activation period beginning after a time delay after the red light on the traffic signal is illuminated and ending before the green light on the traffic signal is illuminated, and the electronic variable message screen is turned off before the green light on the traffic signal is illuminated and the electronic variable message screen remains blank until after the time delay after the red light on the traffic signal is illuminated, the electronic variable message screen displaying the advisory EVMS information during the EVMS activation period;

g. the pedestrian advisory message screen, the electronic variable message screen, and the signal data retriever device are all independent of any traffic control system; and

h. the electronic variable message sign at the traffic light intersection includes a Doppler device which functions as a speed detector to detect a vehicle traveling at excess speed so that the vehicle cannot come to a full stop when the vehicle approaches the traffic light intersection and the Doppler device prevents the electronic variable message sign from displaying the advisory EVMS information so that drivers in other vehicles will not be distracted by the advisory EVMS information and can avoid a crash with the vehicle traveling at excess speed; and

i. the signal data retriever device installed within the traffic signal controller cabinet and integrated with the traffic signal data controller wirelessly enables the traffic signal data controller to send advisory information selected from the group consisting advisory PAMS information and advisory EVMS information to a portable electronic device selected from the group consisting of smart phones, cellular phones, mobile phones, portable computers, tablets, a WiFi receiving device and a blue tooth receiving device having a compatible software application in the portable electronic device.

7. The system located at a traffic light intersection in accordance with claim 6, further comprising:

a. the advisory PAMS information is selected from the group consisting of visual information displayed on the pedestrian advisory message screen and audio information from an acoustic transmission member incorporated with the pedestrian advisory message screen;

b. the advisory EVMS information is selected from the group consisting of visual information displayed on the electronic variable message screen and audio information from an acoustic transmission member incorporated with the electronic variable message screen; and

c. the collected server data is selected from the group consisting of visual information displayed on the pedestrian advisory message screen, and audio information from an acoustic transmission member incorporated with the pedestrian advisory message screen, visual information displayed on the electronic variable message screen and audio information from an acoustic transmission member incorporated with the electronic variable message screen.

8. The system located at a traffic light intersection in accordance with claim 6, further comprising:

the advisory PAMS information is selected from the group consisting of visual information displayed on the pedestrian advisory message screen and audio information from an acoustic transmission member incorporated with the pedestrian advisory message screen.

9. The system located at a traffic light intersection in accordance with claim 6, further comprising:

the advisory EVMS information is selected from the group consisting of visual information displayed on the electronic variable message screen and audio information from an acoustic transmission member incorporated with the electronic variable message screen.