Traffic control device transmitter, receiver, relay and display system

• US 6,747,574 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2001
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dane C. Butzer, George L. Butzer
• Original Assignee: Dane C. Butzer, George L. Butzer
• Inventors: Butzer, Dane C., Butzer, George L.
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V.
• Application Number:
  US10/028,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20030095043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 340/907, 340/908, 340/905, 340/539.13, 340/5.8, 701/117, 701/211
• US Class Current: 340/907
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights

Abstract

A traffic control device information display system. This system includes a receiver that receives information from a traffic control device transmitter for a traffic control device, a processor that processes the information to determine identification information and location information for the traffic control device, and a display that displays the identification information and the location information to an operator. The display highlights traffic control devices for which an error is detected in the location information. This error could be, for example, a reported location that does not match a proper location or a missing reported location, thereby indicating that the traffic control device may have been improperly moved or knocked down. The system can be provided in a vehicle or in a central office.

Claims

1. A traffic control device information display system, comprising:

a receiver that receives information from a traffic control device transmitter for a traffic control device;

a processor that processes the information to determine identification information and location information for the traffic control device; and

a display that displays the identification information and the location information to an operator;

wherein displayed information for the traffic control device indicates if an error is detected in the location information for the traffic control device, thereby indicating that the traffic control device may have been improperly moved or knocked down.

2. The traffic control device information display system according to claim 1, wherein the processor also determines state information for the traffic control device from the received information;

and

wherein the display also displays the state information to the operator.

3. The traffic control device information display system according to claim 1, wherein the processor also determines status information for the traffic control device from the received information;

and

wherein the display also displays the status information to the operator.

4. The traffic control device information display system according to claim 1, wherein the system is mounted inside a vehicle.

5. The traffic control device information display system according to claim 4, wherein the display is a heads-up display that projects the identification information and the location information onto the vehicle'"'"'s windshield.

6. The traffic control device information display system according to claim 4, wherein the display is a CRT or an LCD display.

7. The traffic control device information display system according to claim 1, wherein the system is located in a central office.

8. The traffic control device information display system according to claim 7, further comprising a wireless remote control device for wireless remote control of the traffic control device from the central office.

9. The traffic control device information display system according to claim 1, wherein the displayed information indicates that the error is detected trough highlighting.

10. The traffic control device information display system according to claim 1, wherein the error is that the location information does not match a proper location for the traffic control device.

11. The traffic control device information display system according to claim 1, wherein the error is that the location information is missing.

12. The traffic control device information display system according to claim 1, wherein the receiver further receives additional information from plural additional traffic control device transmitters for plural additional traffic control devices;

wherein the processor further processes the additional information to determine additional identification information and additional location information for the plural additional traffic control devices;

wherein the display further displays at least some of the additional identification information and the additional location information to the operator; and

wherein displayed information for one or more of the plural additional traffic control devices indicates if one or more errors are detected in the location information for those traffic control devices, thereby indicating that the traffic control devices may have been improperly moved or knocked down.

13. A method of displaying traffic control device information, comprising the steps of:

receiving information from a traffic control device transmitter for a traffic control device;

processing the information to determine identification information and location information for the traffic control device; and

displaying the identification information and the location information to an operator;

wherein displayed information for the traffic control device indicates if an error is detected in the location information for the traffic control device, thereby indicating that the traffic control device may have been improperly moved or knocked down.

14. The method of displaying traffic control device information according to claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

determining state information for the traffic control device from the received information; and

displaying the state information to the operator.

15. The method of displaying traffic control device information according to claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

determining status information for the traffic control device from the received information; and

displaying the status information to the operator.

16. The method of displaying traffic control device information according to claim 13, wherein the identification information and the location information are displayed in a vehicle.

17. The method of displaying traffic control device information according to claim 16, wherein the display is a heads-up display that projects the identification information and the location information onto the vehicle'"'"'s windshield.

18. The method of displaying traffic control device information according to claim 16, wherein the display is a CRT or an LCD display.

19. The method of displaying traffic control device information according to claim 13, wherein the identification information and the location information are displayed in a central office.

20. The method of displaying traffic control device information according to claim 19, further comprising the step of controlling the traffic control device from the central office using wireless remote control.

21. The method of displaying traffic control device information according to claim 13, wherein the displayed information indicates that the error is detected through highlighting.

22. The method of displaying traffic control device information according to claim 13, wherein the error is that the location information does not match a proper location for the traffic control device.

23. The method of displaying traffic control device information according to claim 13, wherein the error is that the location information is missing.

24. The method of displaying traffic control device information according to claim 13, wherein the receiving step further receives additional information from plural additional traffic control device transmitters for plural additional traffic control devices;

wherein processing step further processes the additional information to determine additional identification information and additional location information for the additional traffic control devices;

wherein the display further displays at least some of the additional identification information and the additional location information to the operator; and

wherein displayed information for the plural additional traffic control devices indicates if one or more errors are detected in the location information for those traffic control devices, thereby indicating that the traffic control devices may have been improperly moved or knocked down.