A traffic light control system which includes two-way communications between a moving emergency vehicle approaching a busy intersection with one or more traffic lights, arranged so that the traffic light control apparatus has stored therein preset patterns of response that temporarily preempt the usual operation of the traffic light and instead provides the most effective method of routing the vehicle through the intersection while redirecting general traffic. As part of the invention, the traffic light control mechanism returns acknowledgement of receipt of instructions to the emergency vehicle. The stored preset traffic patterns may in one embodiment be responsive to human intervention from a dispatching center or to time-of-day conditions. The stored traffic patterns in still another embodiment may be arranged to include a plurality of coordinated intersections. In still another embodiment, the traffic light control apparatus may be operated under control of data or voice transmitted from the emergency vehicle's regular two-way voice communications system to a central, attended control station.
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 096,295 filed Sept. 9, 1987, now abandoned which is a continuation of Ser. No. 783,408 filed Oct. 28, 1985, now abandoned.
An emergency traffic signal device comprising a plurality of elongated display units that are affixed to the traffic signal around the three traffic lights thereon and comprise arrays of LEDs capable of displaying graphic directional instructions in the form of moving chevrons or arrows that indicate the need to move laterally to the side of the road in response to preemptive signals detected by a controller. The display units are mounted on channel-shaped bodies to be retrofitted to the signal, or are installed as original equipment on new signals, preferably in a continuous band around the traffic lights. Alternatively, message display panels, also responsive to the controller, are applied to one or both of the upper and lower sides of the traffic signal, and additional arrays of LEDs are provided in the positions of two of the traffic lights to emit standard color lights during normal operation and to display graphic directional symbols in response to emergency signals.
A local traffic signal controller (3) is interfaced to a conventional pager (16) to provide for centralized control of the traffic signals controlled by the local controller. The central controller (7) may use the existing pager infrastructure (12) to provide for the transfer of program control information to local controllers. A two-way pager may be utilized to provide for the return of information from the local traffic signal controller. Such return information may include indications of lamp failures, traffic pattern information and other status or traffic related information.
A traffic light remote control system comprising a plurality of traffic lights each situated at a single road intersection and having a green light, a yellow light, and a red light constituting an array of racing lights. Associated therewith is a programmable logic controller connected to each of the traffic lights of the single road intersection and adapted to flash each of the array of racing lights thereof only upon the receipt of an activation signal with an accompanying unique code associated therewith. Also included is a cellular transceiver connected to the programmable logic controller with a modem connected therebetween. The modem and cellular transceiver serve to communicate signals over a unique cellular line with a unique phone number dedicated to the plurality of traffic lights of the single intersection. Next provided is a mobile actuator unit including an activation button for transmitting the activation signal upon the depression thereof and a phone number and code entering mechanism for providing a phone number and associated code. A cellular transceiver is provided for communicating signals over a unique cellular line associated with a unique phone number upon the receipt thereof. Finally, a microcontroller is adapted to transmit the activation signal, a phone number and associated code to the transceiver upon the depression of the activation button.
For qualification for traffic preemption an area is defined and if the vehicle is in the area it can obtain preemption. The vehicle's position is determined, in one embodiment, by use of differential GPS.
There is provided a system and method for controlling at least one traffic light having a vehicle having a transmitter and a receiver for transmitting and receiving traffic control signals, and a control unit for processing traffic control signals; and a traffic control module having a transmitter and a receiver for transmitting and receiving traffic control signals, a control unit for processing traffic control signals, traffic light control logic for controlling the at least one traffic light, and means to connect to the at least one traffic light; wherein the traffic control signals control the flow of traffic about the at least one traffic light enabling a vehicle to travel from a present location to a destination passing through intersections at which traffic flow is controlled by the at least one traffic light; and also including means for controlling at least one traffic light on a selected optimal route in response to the traffic control signals.
