Traffic control method and apparatus

• US 7,551,104 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2001
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Welping Meng
• Original Assignee: Welping Meng
• Inventors: Meng, Welping
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope; Daryl C
• Application Number:
  US10/486,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20040204819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,868 Days
• Field of Search: 340/906, 340/907, 340/909, 340/916, 340/917, 340/924, 340/925, 701/117, 701/118
• US Class Current: 340/907
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/08 according to detected number or speed of vehicles

Abstract

A method called as a time-differential-ratio method and its apparatus used for intersection traffic control that differentially operates on the traffic so as to change pass-permit direction with traffic status in time is disclosed. The method includes the steps of starting, timing, vehicle-requesting, extra-moving, ratio-moving, and recycling. Unlike a common control method called as macro-estimate control method that forces changeable traffic to follow a given period and direction turn order to pass, which causes lots of stops and wait, a differential operations on the traffic are integrated with a common ratio control method and walker signals. It shows the operating features and the effective characteristic of both micro-time control and macro ratio control, which lets a vehicle arriving first pass first conditionally, is good for real-time arbitrary traffic pattern control, and leads to great reduction of stops and wait. The apparatus needed for the method includes sensing/detecting apparatuses and processing apparatus.

Claims

1. A method of controlling traffic at an intersection, comprising the steps of:

controlling traffic at the intersection initially by an adjustable ratio move technique;

determining the direction of a first vehicle at a predetermined distance from the intersection by providing a first vehicle permit in a first direction to the first vehicle to allow the vehicle to pass through the intersection;

determining the a motion parameter of the first vehicle from the intersection;

transmitting the motion parameters including the distance to a controller;

extending the first vehicle permit based on motion parameters of the first vehicle.

2. A method of controlling traffic at an intersection as in claim 1, wherein the method includes the step of ending the first permit to the first vehicle and providing a second vehicle permit in a second direction to a second vehicle to allow the second vehicle to pass to the intersection based upon the motion parameters obtained from the first vehicle.

3. A method of controlling traffic at an intersection as in claim 1, wherein the first vehicle permit includes move time.

4. A method of controlling traffic at an intersection as in claim 1, wherein the first vehicle permit includes watch time.

5. A method of controlling traffic at an intersection as in claim 1, wherein the first vehicle permit includes clean time.

6. A method of controlling traffic at an intersection as in claim 1, wherein the method includes the step of calculating a walker permit based upon the first vehicle permit.

7. A method of controlling traffic at an intersection as in claim 1, wherein the method includes the step of extending the first vehicle permit when no vehicle is detected from the second direction.

8. A method of controlling traffic at an intersection as in claim 1, wherein the motion parameter includes including the distance to the first vehicle.

9. A method of controlling traffic including vehicle traffic and walker traffic at an intersection, comprising the steps of:

controlling traffic at the intersection initially by an adjustable ratio move technique;

obtaining a motion parameter of a first vehicle traveling in a first direction approaching the intersection;

determining the direction of a first vehicle at a predetermined distance from the intersection by providing a first vehicle permit in a first direction to the first vehicle to allow the vehicle to pass through the intersection;

obtaining a walker request in a second direction for the walker traffic to cross the intersection;

transmitting the motion parameter of the first vehicle to a controller;

transmitting the walker request of the walker traffic to the controller;

determining if the first vehicle permit is to be extended based upon the motion parameter of the first vehicle;

obtaining a walker permit based upon whether or not the first vehicle permit is extended.

10. A method of controlling traffic including vehicle traffic and walker traffic at an intersection as in claim 9, wherein the walker permit is displayed to the walker traffic.

11. A method of controlling traffic including vehicle traffic and walker traffic at an intersection as in claim 9, wherein the first vehicle permit is displayed to the first vehicle.

12. A system of controlling traffic at an intersection, comprising:

a controller for controlling traffic at the intersection initially by an adjustable ratio move technique;

a detection device for determining the direction of a first vehicle at a predetermined distance from the intersection by providing a first vehicle permit in a first direction to the first vehicle to allow the vehicle to pass through the intersection;

the detection device determining the a motion parameter of the first vehicle from the intersection;

the detection device transmitting the motion parameters including the distance to a controller;

the controller extending the first vehicle permit based on motion parameters of the first vehicle.

13. A system of controlling traffic at an intersection as in claim 12, wherein the controller ends the first permit to the first vehicle and provides a second vehicle permit in a second direction to a second vehicle to allow the second vehicle to pass to the intersection based upon the motion parameters obtained from the first vehicle.

14. A system of controlling traffic at an intersection as in claim 12, wherein the first vehicle permit includes move time.

15. A system of controlling traffic at an intersection as in claim 12, wherein the first vehicle permit includes watch time.

16. A system of controlling traffic at an intersection as in claim 12, wherein the first vehicle permit includes clean time.

17. A system of controlling traffic at an intersection as in claim 12, wherein the controller calculates a walker permit based upon the first vehicle permit.

18. A system of controlling traffic at an intersection as in claim 12, wherein the controller extends the first vehicle permit when no vehicle is detected from the second direction.

19. A system of controlling traffic at an intersection as in claim 12, wherein the motion parameter includes including the distance to the first vehicle.