System and method for providing traffic congestion relief using dynamic lighted road lane markings
First Claim
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1. A system for dynamically modifying lane configurations on a road segment, comprising:
- a plurality of dynamic lane markers disposed along the road segment that includes a beginning section, a beginning transition section, a main section, an ending transition section, and an ending section, arranged in that order along a travel direction of the road segment, the dynamic lane markers being arranged as a plurality of first rows of the dynamic lane markers and a plurality of second rows of the dynamic lane markers in the beginning transition section, the main section and the ending transition section, each of the plurality of first rows of the dynamic lane markers extending in the travel direction of the road segment and being spaced sequentially apart from each other in a widthwise direction of the road segment to represent a first number of first lanes each having a respective lane width, each of the plurality of second rows of the dynamic lane markers extending in the travel direction of the road segment and being spaced sequentially apart from each other in the widthwise direction of the road segment to represent a second number of second lanes each having a respective lane width that is less than the respective lane width of a narrowest one of the first lanes, the second number of second lanes being greater than the first number of first lanes, and the first and second rows of the dynamic lane markers are alternately positioned in the widthwise direction of the road segment;
a plurality of shoulder lane markers disposed along the road segment, the shoulder lane markers being arranged as a first shoulder marker that separates a first shoulder of the road segment and a travel area of the road segment, and a second shoulder marker that separates a second shoulder of the road segment and the travel area of the road segment, with the first and second rows of the dynamic lane markers being between the first shoulder marker and the second shoulder marker, the first shoulder marker and the second shoulder marker are spaced from each other in the widthwise direction of the road segment to define a first travel area width at an initial portion of the beginning section and a second travel area width, greater than the first travel area width, at a remaining portion of the beginning section such that the second travel area width continues from the remaining portion of the beginning section, throughout the beginning transition section, the main section and the ending transition section and for at least a portion of the ending section adjacent to the ending transition section, and the first travel area width exists at an ending portion of the ending section;
a plurality of beginning transitional dynamic lane markers disposed along the beginning transition section and extending in the travel direction of the road segment to form a plurality of beginning transitional rows of the beginning transitional dynamic lane markers that extend transverse with respect to the travel direction of the road segment and transverse to the first and second lanes to represent a plurality of beginning transitional lanes each having a beginning transitional width that decreases along the direction of travel from a boundary of the beginning section and the beginning transition section to a boundary of the beginning transition section and the main section;
a plurality of ending transitional dynamic lane markers disposed along the ending transition section and extending in the travel direction of the road segment to form a plurality of ending transitional rows of the ending transitional dynamic lane markers that extend transverse with respect to the travel direction of the road segment and transverse to the first and second lanes to represent a plurality of ending transitional lanes each having an ending transitional width that increases along the direction of travel from a boundary of the main section and the ending transitional section to a boundary of the ending transition section and the ending section; and
a controller configured to determine whether a condition pertaining to the road segment exists, and in response to existence of the condition, control energization of the beginning transitional dynamic lane markers to define the beginning transitional lanes, control energization of the plurality of second rows of the dynamic lane markers to represent the second number of second lanes, and control energization of the ending transitional dynamic lane makers to define the ending transitional lanes;
the controller being further configured to, in response to the existence of the condition, control signs disposed along the road segment to provide traffic directing information relating to the beginning transitional lanes, the second number of second lanes and the ending transitional lanes; and
the controller being further configured to, in response to an absence of the condition, de-energize the beginning transitional dynamic lane markers, de-energize the plurality of second rows of the dynamic lane markers and control energization of the plurality of first rows of the dynamic lane markers to represent the first number of first lanes.
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Abstract
A system and method for providing increased traffic carrying capacity of a road, such as a highway, by modifying an existing roadway from, for example, four lanes to five lanes, to create an additional travel lane. The system and method dynamically changes the width of travel lanes using, for example, embedded pavement lights, or other lighting arrangements, in lieu of traditional painted lane lines. As traffic volumes increase and speeds decrease along the road, an intelligent transport system (ITS) sends a congestion signal to the overhead lane controls and dynamic message signs (DMS) along the entire road segment of interest. The posted speed limits are changed, and the lane markings are controlled to dynamically increase the number of lanes in the road segment to five, for example, of narrower widths until traffic volumes reduce and the number of lanes can be returned to four, for example, with normal speed limits.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A system for dynamically modifying lane configurations on a road segment, comprising:
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a plurality of dynamic lane markers disposed along the road segment that includes a beginning section, a beginning transition section, a main section, an ending transition section, and an ending section, arranged in that order along a travel direction of the road segment, the dynamic lane markers being arranged as a plurality of first rows of the dynamic lane markers and a plurality of second rows of the dynamic lane markers in the beginning transition section, the main section and the ending transition section, each of the plurality of first rows of the dynamic lane markers extending in the travel direction of the road segment and being spaced sequentially apart from each other in a widthwise direction of the road segment to represent a first number of first lanes each having a respective lane width, each of the plurality of second rows of the dynamic lane markers extending in the travel direction of the road segment and being spaced sequentially apart from each other in the widthwise direction of the road segment to represent a second number of second lanes each having a respective lane width that is less than the respective lane width of a narrowest one of the first lanes, the second number of second lanes being greater than the first number of first lanes, and the first and second rows of the dynamic lane markers are alternately positioned in the widthwise direction of the road segment; a plurality of shoulder lane markers disposed along the road segment, the shoulder lane markers being arranged as a first shoulder marker that separates a first shoulder of the road segment and a travel area of the road segment, and a second shoulder marker that separates a second shoulder of the road segment and the travel area of the road segment, with the first and second rows of the dynamic lane markers being between the first shoulder marker and the second shoulder marker, the first shoulder marker and the second shoulder marker are spaced from each other in the widthwise direction of the road segment to define a first travel area width at an initial portion of the beginning section and a second travel area width, greater than the first travel area width, at a remaining portion of the beginning section such that the second travel area width continues from the remaining portion of the beginning section, throughout the beginning transition section, the main section and the ending transition section and for at least a portion of the ending section adjacent to the ending transition section, and the first travel area width exists at an ending portion of the ending section; a plurality of beginning transitional dynamic lane markers disposed along the beginning transition section and extending in the travel direction of the road segment to form a plurality of beginning transitional rows of the beginning transitional dynamic lane markers that extend transverse with respect to the travel direction of the road segment and transverse to the first and second lanes to represent a plurality of beginning transitional lanes each having a beginning transitional width that decreases along the direction of travel from a boundary of the beginning section and the beginning transition section to a boundary of the beginning transition section and the main section; a plurality of ending transitional dynamic lane markers disposed along the ending transition section and extending in the travel direction of the road segment to form a plurality of ending transitional rows of the ending transitional dynamic lane markers that extend transverse with respect to the travel direction of the road segment and transverse to the first and second lanes to represent a plurality of ending transitional lanes each having an ending transitional width that increases along the direction of travel from a boundary of the main section and the ending transitional section to a boundary of the ending transition section and the ending section; and a controller configured to determine whether a condition pertaining to the road segment exists, and in response to existence of the condition, control energization of the beginning transitional dynamic lane markers to define the beginning transitional lanes, control energization of the plurality of second rows of the dynamic lane markers to represent the second number of second lanes, and control energization of the ending transitional dynamic lane makers to define the ending transitional lanes; the controller being further configured to, in response to the existence of the condition, control signs disposed along the road segment to provide traffic directing information relating to the beginning transitional lanes, the second number of second lanes and the ending transitional lanes; and the controller being further configured to, in response to an absence of the condition, de-energize the beginning transitional dynamic lane markers, de-energize the plurality of second rows of the dynamic lane markers and control energization of the plurality of first rows of the dynamic lane markers to represent the first number of first lanes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeJames A. Soltesz
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Original AssigneeJames A. Soltesz
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InventorsSoltesz, James A, Guckert, John Wes
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Primary Examiner(s)HUNNINGS, TRAVIS R
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Application NumberUS15/094,446Time in Patent Office179 DaysField of SearchNoneUS Class Current1/1CPC Class CodesG08G 1/0145 for active traffic flow con...G08G 1/08 according to detected numbe...
