Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Traffic analysis or control of surface vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-24
2002-07-09
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Traffic analysis or control of surface vehicle
C340S905000, C340S988000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06418371
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a traffic guidance system for controlling, guiding and/or optimizing traffic movements, wherein a sensor is provided for detecting the momentary traffic situation.
Traffic guidance systems of the kind under discussion are known from practice. For example, a light signal system, whose signal sequence is controlled by automobiles traveling over a magnetic induction loop, already represents a small-scale traffic guidance system, wherein the magnetic induction loop serves as a sensor.
Furthermore, variable speed limit signs are known from practice, wherein the sensor arrangement may be formed by acoustical or optical ultrasonic motion signalers, or infrared motion signalers, or even by light barriers.
In dense traffic networks, there exists the general problem that in most cases the traffic flow in a certain location is dependent on the traffic flow in other locations. If the traffic flow is to be improved as a whole, it will therefore be necessary to influence the traffic likewise in these other locations. In this instance, traffic guidance systems or traffic signs will have to be coordinated as a whole and be interdependent in a certain way.
Normally, these interdependencies are to be determined by expensive, mathematical examinations and simulations, and must then be applied to the coordination of the traffic signs. To this end different steps are necessary. The traffic volume or the traffic situation and the traffic conditions must be detected via sensors in certain locations. These results are then used as a decision basis in a logic process, which supplies instructions for controlling the traffic signs.
The foregoing control of a light signal system at an individual traffic node or intersection, or at a road junction represents the simplest case of application. At such a traffic intersection, all light signal systems are controlled in dependence on one another. In the costliest application, groups of many traffic signs are switched interdependently. In this process, a plurality of nodes or intersections is involved. For such a networking, it is common to use traffic guidance computers, which are provided in a central traffic routing point. For larger or denser traffic spaces, the mathematical treatment or process control of the traffic control is so expensive that only large computers are still in a position of processing the resultant enormous quantities of traffic data and to perform the control within the scope of mathematical traffic models that have so far been very expensive.
The central traffic control in traffic routing points necessitates numerous and extensive telecommunications links between the traffic signs and a traffic routing point. As is known from the traffic theory, an independent control of individual traffic signs at connected traffic intersections or sections of a traffic route may however barely improve the traffic situation. In the past, is has been possible to significantly improve the interrelated traffic situation of major traffic spaces—for example, in cities—only with the aid of the described, expensive control with central traffic routing points.
For an effective traffic control, it continues to be necessary that nearly every vehicle in the traffic be considered in the control. Problematic is the use of sensors as have been employed so far in the form of induction loops that are to be crossed, motion signalers, or light barriers, in that their recording capacity is restricted to a narrowly predetermined spatial area, namely, for example, the arrangement area of the induction loop that is to be crossed, or the detectable solid angle of the motion signalers or the range covered by the light barrier. On the other hand, the known sensors are problematic, in that they permit a reliable detection of automobiles only in moving traffic. However, if heavy traffic has already caused a jam, in which the automobiles are stopped, both induction loops and motion signalers, as well as a light barrier will not be able to detect a further increase in the number of automobiles in the observed traffic space or in the jam. The same situation will result, when vehicles are stopped at a light signal system.
From this follows that in particular at times of an already jamming traffic, it is not possible to receive exact data concerning the number of vehicles involved. Consequently, in most cases, the inaccurate or incomplete data will not permit a precise traffic control. Instead, the limits of conventional traffic guidance systems are reached with a therefrom-resulting collapse of the traffic.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to describe a traffic guidance system of the initially described kind, which enables an effective control of traffic movements even in the case of a heavy traffic volume.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above and other objects and advantages of the invention are achieved by the provision of a traffic guidance system for controlling, guiding, and/or optimizing traffic movements along a roadway, comprising a transmitter carried by each of a plurality of roadway users for actively transmitting a signal irrespective of the state of movement of the user. Also, a sensor is mounted at a fixed location along the roadway for receiving the signals from the transmitters and processing the signals in a decentralized manner at the location where they are received to determine the number of participating roadway users and enable an effective control of traffic movements. Preferably, the traffic guidance system of the invention is configured such that the sensor comprises a radio receiver, and/or a receiver for optical signals, and/or a receiver for acoustical signals emitted by the roadway users.
To begin with, it has been recognized in accordance with the invention that a traffic guidance system is not limited to conventional types of detection. In a further manner according to the invention, the sensor is designed and constructed such that it comprises a radio receiver, and/or a receiver for optical signals, and/or a receiver for acoustical signals, for radio signals, and/or optical signals, and/or acoustical signals, which are actively emitted by road users. With that, limits of conventional types of detection are overcome, since detection of automobiles or other road users is not dependent on their state of movement. Instead, the detection principle of the present invention makes it possible to reliably detect all vehicles, even when same are stopped at a light signal system or in a jam. Furthermore, the spatially narrow detection range, as exists, for example, in the case of a light barrier system, is considerably extended. In a simple manner, it is possible to predetermine the detected spatial area respectively by the configuration of the receiver or the spatial reception coverage.
Consequently, the traffic guidance system of the present invention makes it possible to detect substantially more exact data concerning the number of participating road users. From this results a considerably more representative data base for a traffic guidance system than has been possible with conventional traffic guidance systems. In particular, an accurate data acquisition is possible even in a stopped traffic.
Therefore, the traffic guidance system of the present invention describes a system, which enables an effective control of traffic movements, even in a heavy traffic volume.
As regards a particular simple configuration of the traffic guidance system, it would be possible to associate the sensor to a traffic sign, preferably a light signal system. In a cost-favorable manner, this would make separate sensor carriers unnecessary, such as, for example, carrier poles.
To ensure a reliable detection of the road users, it would be possible to associate to the road users radio transmitters, and/or optical signal transmitters, and/or acoustical signal transmitters for emitting the radio signals and/or optical signals and/or acoustical signals. In this instance, it would be possible to associate the transmit
Alston & Bird LLP
Marc-Coleman Marthe Y.
Mitsubishi International GmbH
LandOfFree
Traffic guidance system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Traffic guidance system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Traffic guidance system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2863033