Traffic signal devices and methods of using the same

• US 20070115139A1
• Filed: 11/15/2006
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emergency Traffic Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Emergency Traffic Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Witte, Edward, Wilkerson, Glenn
• Granted Patent: US 7,586,421 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/909
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/07 Controlling traffic signals

Abstract

A traffic control system and device is provided. The traffic control system of the instant invention permits two-way communication between a plurality of traffic signal devices. Each traffic signal device locally controls the state of the traffic signals, while communication between the traffic signal devices is used to synchronize the internal timers or clocks of the plurality of traffic control devices.

Claims

1. A traffic signal system, comprising:

a first traffic signal device, including a first communications device and a first plurality of lights;

a second traffic signal device, including a second communications device and a second plurality of lights;

said first traffic signal device running a first program for controlling said first plurality of lights in a particular sequence based on a first clock defined in said first traffic signal device;

said second traffic signal device running a second program for controlling said second plurality of lights in a particular sequence based on a second clock defined in said second traffic signal device;

said first traffic signal device communicating with said second traffic signal device to synchronize said second clock with said first clock; and

said second traffic signal device periodically communicating information back to said first traffic signal device.

2. The traffic signal system of claim 1, wherein said first traffic signal device periodically communicates with said second traffic signal device to periodically synchronize said second clock with said first clock.

3. The traffic signal system of claim 2, wherein said first traffic signal device communicates with said second traffic signal device at least once per minute in order to periodically synchronize said second clock with said first clock.

4. The traffic signal system of claim 2, wherein said first traffic signal device provides additionally communicates information to said second traffic signal device choosing said second program.

5. The traffic signal system of claim 2, wherein said first traffic signal device operates as a server device and said second traffic signal device operates as a client device.

6. The traffic signal system of claim 2, wherein said first program is chosen from a plurality of possible programs stored in said first traffic signal device and said second program is chosen from a plurality of possible programs stored in said second traffic signal device.

7. The traffic signal system of claim 6, wherein said first program and said second program are chosen to be the same program.

8. The traffic signal system of claim 6, wherein at least one of said first program and said second program is stored in at least one of said first traffic signal device and said second traffic signal device by communicating with an external device, prior to running said at least one of said first program and said second program.

9. The traffic signal system of claim 6, wherein at least one of said first program and said second program is selected using a physical key.

10. The traffic signal system of claim 2, wherein said first traffic signal device periodically queries said second traffic signal device.

11. The traffic signal system of claim 10, wherein said first traffic signal device periodically requests the network identity of said second traffic signal device.

12. The traffic signal system of claim 10, wherein, if said second traffic signal device fails to respond to a query by said first traffic signal device, said first traffic signal device causes the traffic signal system to enter a cautionary state.

13. The traffic signal system of claim 10, wherein, if said first traffic signal device fails to query said second traffic signal device after a predetermined period of time, said second traffic signal device causes the traffic signal system to enter a cautionary state.

14. The traffic signal system of claim 2, further including:

at least a third traffic signal device, including a third communications device and a third plurality of lights;

said third traffic signal device running a third program for controlling said third plurality of lights in a particular sequence based on a third clock defined in said first traffic signal device;

said first traffic signal device additionally communicating with said third traffic signal device to synchronize said third clock with said first clock.

15. The traffic signal system of claim 14, wherein said first traffic signal device, said second traffic signal device and said third traffic signal are part of a local area network.

16. The traffic signal system of claim 15, wherein said first traffic signal device acts as a server device and said second traffic signal and said third traffic signal act as client devices.

17. The traffic signal system of claim 16, wherein said server device informs said client devices of the program to be run in said client devices.

18. The traffic signal system of claim 15, wherein said first traffic signal device periodically queries said second and third traffic signal devices.

19. The traffic signal system of claim 18, wherein, if said first traffic signal device fails to query said second traffic signal device or said third traffic signal device for a predetermined period of time, one of said second traffic signal device and said third traffic signal device causes the traffic signal system to enter a cautionary state.

20. The traffic signal system of claim 18, wherein, if at least two of said traffic signal devices fail to respond to said query, said first device causes the traffic signal system to enter a cautionary state.

21. The traffic signal system of claim 2, wherein said first traffic signal and said second traffic signal are portable.

22. The traffic signal system of claim 21, wherein said first traffic signal and said second traffic signal include a solar power source.

23. A traffic signal system, comprising:

a first traffic signal device, including a first communications device and a first plurality of lights;

a second traffic signal device, including a second communications device and a second plurality of lights;

said first traffic signal device running a first program for controlling said first plurality of lights in a particular sequence;

said second traffic signal device running a second program for controlling said second plurality of lights in a particular sequence;

said first traffic signal device and said second traffic device being part of a network;

each of said first traffic signal device and said second traffic signal device being assigned a unique network address; and

said first traffic signal device periodically querying said second traffic signal device using said second traffic signal device'"'"'s unique network address.

24. The traffic signal system of claim 23, further including:

at least a third traffic signal device, including a third communications device and a third plurality of lights, said

third traffic signal device additionally being assigned a unique network address;

said first traffic signal device additionally periodically querying said at least a third traffic signal device using its unique network address; and

said first traffic signal device causing the traffic signal system to enter a cautionary state if at least two traffic signal devices on the network fail to respond to a query.

25. The traffic signal system of claim 24, wherein said first traffic signal device, said second traffic signal device and said at least a third traffic signal device are portable.

26. The traffic signal system of claim 24, wherein said first traffic signal device, said second traffic signal device and said at least a third traffic signal device include a solar power source.

27. A temporary traffic signal device, comprising:

a head portion including a plurality of lights visible therethrough;

a base portion for supporting the temporary traffic signal device;

a trunk portion located between said head portion and said base portion; and

said head portion, said trunk portion and said base portion having a unitary construction formed from plastic during an injection molding process.

28. The temporary traffic signal device of claim 27, further including a controller for controlling the operation of the lights in a precise sequence, said controller including a communication device.

29. The temporary traffic signal device of claim 28, wherein said controller is formed as a removable module, which can be readily plugged in to and removed from the temporary traffic signal device.

30. The temporary traffic signal device of claim 29, wherein each of the plurality of lights is part of an individual light module which can be readily plugged in to and removed from the temporary traffic signal.

31. The temporary traffic signal device of claim 30, wherein each light module includes a printed circuit board including a plurality of LEDs mounted thereon.

32. The temporary traffic signal device of claim 28, wherein a plurality of programs of operation are pre-stored in said controller.

33. The temporary traffic signal device of claim 32, wherein the particular program of operation is selected using information received via said communication device.

34. The temporary traffic signal device of claim 32 wherein the sequence of operation of each program is governed by a clock in said controller and said clock is periodically synchronized with an external clock via said communication device.

35. The temporary traffic signal device of claim 32, wherein additional programs can be stored in said controller from an external source via said communication device.

36. The temporary traffic signal device of claim 27 including a solar power source.

37. The temporary traffic signal device of claim 29, wherein said controller module is standardized such that it can be replaced by a controller module from another temporary traffic signal device.

38. The temporary traffic signal device of claim 29, wherein said controller is able to form a network with at least one additional temporary traffic signal device.

39. The temporary traffic signal device of claim 34, wherein said clock is periodically synchronized with a clock from another temporary traffic signal device.

40. A method of setting up a temporary traffic signal system, comprising:

initializing a first traffic signal device by selecting a first program of operation of the first traffic signal device, the first program of operation running according to a first clock in the first traffic signal device;

initializing at least a second traffic signal device in communication with the first traffic signal device, the at least a second traffic signal device running a second program of operation according to a second clock in the second traffic signal device;

with the first traffic signal device, periodically synchronizing the first clock with the second clock; and

periodically communicating information from the second traffic signal device to the first traffic signal device.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the second program of operation is chosen based on information communicated from the first traffic signal device to the at least a second traffic signal device.

42. The method of claim 40, including the steps of:

periodically querying the at least a second traffic signal device with the first traffic signal device; and

setting the system to a cautionary state if the first traffic signal device fails to query the at least a second traffic signal device after a predetermined time period.

43. The method of claim 42, including the step of:

setting the system to a cautionary state if the at least a second traffic signal device fails to respond to a plurality of queries from the first traffic device.

44. The method of claim 40, including the steps of:

initializing a third traffic signal device in communication with at least the first traffic signal device, the third traffic signal device running a third program of operation according to a third clock in the third traffic signal device;

initializing at least a fourth traffic signal device in communication with at least the first traffic signal device, the at least a fourth traffic signal device running a fourth program of operation according to a foruth clock in the fourth traffic signal device;

periodically querying the at least a second traffic signal device, the third traffic signal device and the at least a fourth traffic signal device with the first traffic signal device; and

setting the system to a cautionary state if at least two traffic signal devices fail to respond to a predetermined number of queries.

45. The method of claim 40, wherein the bodies of the first traffic signal device and the at least a second traffic signal device are formed as-unitary structures of injection molded plastic.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the first program is run by a first modular controller and the second program is run by the second modular controller, the first modular controller being interchangeable with the second modular controller.