AN INFORMATION BOARD CONSTRUCT FOR INTERSECTION CONTROL Technical Field

The present invention relates to an information board which enables the vehicles to run without stopping or waiting by informing drivers of the status of the traffic light at an intersection from a certain distance.

In particularly the present invention relates to an information board which minimizes the possibility of drivers to get caught the red light and prevents the vehicles that have the right of way from waiting at the red light by improving the control at the intersections. State of the Art

Today, the passing sequences and times are determined and loaded to an intersection control card by an employee via the intersection control systems at the intersections. Thereafter the intersection control card enables the lights to turn on according to the previously loaded data. The signaling systems used in the world rely on moving the vehicles arrived at an intersection according to the lights at the intersection. For example you arrive at the intersection which is on your route during driving. Here, if you coincide with the red light depending on your chance you stop, but if the light is green you run. Accordingly, all drivers arrive at an intersection and then move according to the light status.

Various signaling systems are used in order to regulate the passing sequence at the intersections. These systems consist of electronical equipment and software and there is one signaling box at each intersection. In the equipment contained in this box an intersection control card, pole cards which send the light information to the poles and a slot card to which all cards are attached are present.

In the state of the art the signalized intersections are controlled by such equipment. There are various systems worldwide in order to minimize waiting periods at the intersections. The most known are:

1 -The systems which can be adjusted according to the date and time: With this method the lights are adjusted according the number of vehicles counted previously. For example since the numbers of vehicles are greater at 8.00 a.m., 12.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m. in the main roads the period of green lights of the main roads were increased. Thus, vehicle congestion at the intersections can be minimized. 2-The system counting the vehicles: Periods of light is changed instantaneously by counting the number of vehicles which arrives at the intersection. Thus, the length of queue is shortened by providing longer green light periods for more dense parts of the intersection.

3-Green wave: In this system the periods of lights of the intersections on a particular route are adjusted relative to each other. There is a constant speed value in this system. For example if you drive with a speed of 50 km you coincide with the green light at the next intersection. In the green wave system the green light can be coincided only when driving with a speed that is predetermined and not changed instantaneously at successive intersections on a certain route.

The biggest drawback of the existing systems is that the driver does not have any information about the status of the intersection before arriving at the intersection. In the state of the art the intersection control systems and the vehicles are not aware of each other in all intersection control systems. In some systems called full traffic-adapted the vehicles are counted before arriving at the intersection. Namely, the intersection control system knows that a vehicle is coming but the vehicle does not know the status of the intersection. Thus the vehicles enter the intersection without having information and they generally get caught the red light at the intersection. Some applications have been encountered during researches in the literature. One of them is the patent application with publication no.TR 200400307 titled "A smart intersection control device". The abstract of the invention is as follows: "The present invention relates to the intersection control devices which enable the traffic lights to turn on according to the predetermined values or difference of instant passage intensity at the intersection during the navigation of the pedestrians and motor vehicles on the road that is assigned for them and accordingly which provides a safe traffic flow, wherein the traffic lights are located at intersections resulting from the convergence of road parts or formed by a fork on the road, or are located at separated road parts, characterized in that they regulate the traffic flow at the intersection by changing the period of the light (green/red/yellow) which goes on during the pedestrian and traffic flow at the intersection between predetermined lower and upper time values using information recorded in PCL memory (Programmable Logic Controller) or intensity information obtained from the sensors at the intersection." A similar one is the utility model application with the publication number TR 201001169 entitled "A smart traffic signaling system". The abstract of the invention is as follows: This system is a "Smart Traffic Signaling System", wherein this system detects the traffic intensity by sensors and adjusts operation mode and timing of the traffic lights appropriately. The system changes to a flash mode when the traffic intensity is low or when there is no vehicle entry whereas the system changes to green operation mode when the traffic intensity is increased. A control circuit calculates the green period for the arms simultaneously, then increases or reduces the time automatically. The system put the vehicles entering the intersection and the pedestrians pressing the button in an order and stored the same, thereby causing the green light to turn on in that order. The system detects the arms in which there is no vehicle and does not cause the green light to turn on for these arms. The system changes the traffic lights to flash mode or causes the green light to turn on for the arm in the direction in which incoming vehicles are present by detecting the emergency vehicles and the incoming direction thereof.

However as seen in the examples above the intersection control system controls the traffic lights according to the number of vehicles which will enter the intersection. But the vehicles are not aware of the status of the intersection. Thus it is clear that there is a need in this subject.

As a consequence because of the above-mentioned drawbacks there is a need for the development in the respective technical field relating to an information board in which the intersection control system is aware of the vehicles approaching the intersection and moving vehicles are aware of the status of the intersection.

The Object of the Invention

The present invention relates to an intersection information board which meets the above- mentioned needs, eliminates all drawbacks and provides additional advantages.

The main object of the invention is to shorten travel time and to prevent congestion seen at intersections by reducing the stopping and waiting periods of the vehicles.

Another object of the invention is to save fuel and to thereby reduce toxic gas emission by reducing the stopping and waiting periods. A further object of the invention to determine the flow speed of local traffic, to prevent unnecessary speeding up in local traffic and to reduce traffic accidents by providing a homogenous distribution of total number of moving vehicles over the road surface and preventing the increase of distances between the vehicles at the intersections.

The information board embodiment of the invention will both save fuel and prevent the accidents from taking place at the intersections by reducing the stopping time of the vehicles at the intersections. There will be significant decrease in the accident ratios by overcoming the stop-and-go problem at the intersections. In addition drivers will be avoided to exceed the local traffic speed limits and as they will know how many kilometers they have to drive within the local traffic speed limits to complete the intersection passage within the green period they will know that they will coincide with the red light when they drive faster than this speed value and they will lower their speeds to the value written on the information board. Because they will know that they will coincide with the red light at the intersection when they drive faster than the speed value written on the information board.

A similar object of the invention is that the vehicles having right of way (Fire trucks - Ambulance- Police-Official Cars - Optionally Public Transport Vehicles) will be determined from a certain distance to the intersection via the information board and while they approach to the intersection, the intersection will be adjusted according to the passage of the vehicles having right of way. For example the green light will be allowed in the direction in which an ambulance comes while the other arms will be kept waiting at the red light and the ambulance will pass the intersection without stopping. Thus, the vehicles having right of way will not be waited at the intersection and emergency intervention time will be reduced. In addition noise pollution (siren sounds) in streets and roads will be eliminated.

With our invention in contrast to the green wave system drivers are informed about the speed value in order to coincide with the green light irrespective of their approaching direction to the intersection without the proviso of successive intersection or a certain route. Namely, the drivers know the status of the intersection and move accordingly. Thereby drivers can drive without stopping at the red light at any intersection in the city.

To achieve the above-mentioned objects the present invention is an information board construct which improves the controlling by reporting the status of the traffic light which is approached by drivers at that moment to the drivers in advance, minimizes the possibility of drivers to get caught the red light and prevents the vehicles that have the right of way from stopping at the red light at the intersections, wherein the information board comprises: • a management control unit which manages and controls all the lights at an intersection according to a signal plan, which signal plan comprises the information about which light pole will turn on in which color for how many seconds and on which date and time;

· an information board which is in communication with said management control unit and which informs drivers of the latest status of the intersection by obtaining data from the management control unit;

• communication members which provide data exchange between the management control unit, the information board and the vehicles that have the right of way.

In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the present invention comprises:

- a traffic control center which sends the information such as speed value required to coincide with the green light at the intersection to be allocated to the driver and/or the light still going on at the intersection and/or the remaining time to turn off the light to the information board directly in the form of data via said management control unit performing respective calculations on the basis of the signal plan,

a signaling device of said management control unit which includes an intersection control module managing all the traffic lights at the intersection according to the signal plan and calculating the speed value required to coincide with the green light at the intersection,

- a screen of the information board which reflects instantaneously the speed value required to coincide with the green light at the intersection and/or the color of light still going on at the intersection and/or the remaining time to turn off the light in seconds to the drivers who are driving on their way,

- a board control module of the information board which calculates the speed required to run the green light without stopping according to the signal plan transmitted by said management control unit via communication members,

a communication member of the information board which sends the information of the speed value required to coincide with the green light at the intersection and/or the light still going on at the intersection and/or the remaining time to turn off the light to the displaying members in the vehicles getting close to the intersection from each arm and/or to the phones of the passengers in the vehicles by using gps-gprs-mobile options.

In the present invention said communication member may be a radiofrequency, wired, wireless or a mobile/GSM, GPRS and GPS communication system. The method of controlling the intersection is characterized in that:

a- the management control unit manages all lights at the intersection according to the signal plan comprising the information about which light pole will turn on in which color for how many seconds and on which date and time;

b- the information board informs drivers of the latest status of the intersection by communicating with said management control unit via the communication members and by obtaining data from the management control unit;

If there is a signaling device in the system step b is characterized in that:

the intersection control module calculates the speed information which enables drivers to run the green light without stopping according to the signal plan,

the intersection control module sends the information about the speed value required to coincide with the green light at the intersection and/or the color of light still going on at the intersection and/or the remaining time to turn off the light to in seconds to the information board via the communication members,

said information board displays the information about the speed value required to coincide with the green light at the intersection and/or the color of light still going on at the intersection and/or the remaining time to turn off the light to in seconds on the screen, or transmits the same to the drivers via the communication members.

If there are signaling device and board control module in the system, step b is characterized in that:

said intersection control module sends the signal plan to the board control module via the communication members,

said board control module calculates the speed information which enables drivers to run the green light without stopping according to the signal plan and the distance to the intersection loaded previously, said information board displays the information about the speed value required to coincide with the green light at the intersection and/or the color of light still going on at the intersection and/or the remaining time to turn off the light to in seconds on the screen, or transmits the same to the drivers via the communication members. In the preferred embodiments of the invention said signal plan is loaded to the intersection control module by a signaling operator, or from the traffic control center via communication members remotely and instantaneously. Said information in the method is provided by reflecting to the information board screen or by sending to the displaying members in the vehicles getting close to the intersection from each arm and/or to the phones of the passengers in the vehicles by the information board using gps-gprs-mobile options. In the method of controlling the intersection when the vehicles which include the communication members and have the right of way pass close to the information board construct:

• the communication member installed in the vehicles having the right of way sends signal to the communication member of the information board,

· the communication members contained in the information board sends the information about the vehicle having the right of way to the signaling device,

• the signaling device enables the green light to turn on before the vehicles having the right of way arrive the intersection depending on the information of vehicle having the right of way obtained from the information board.

The structural and characteristic features and advantages of the invention will be understood more clearly with respect to the figures provided below and the detailed description provided by referring to these figures and thus an evaluation should be made by taking into consideration these figures and the detailed description.

Drawings Which Helps Understanding of the Invention

Figure 1 is a schematic view of the elements of the information board construct according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the elements of an alternative application of the information board construct according to the invention.

Figure 3 is a schematic view of the elements of an alternative application of the information board construct according to the invention.

Figure 4 is a schematic view of the elements of an alternative application of the information board construct according to the invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the information board according to the invention. Figure 6 is a view of an alternative embodiment of the information board according to the invention.

Figure 7 is a drawing in which the position of the information board construct of the invention on the intersection.

The drawings do not need to be scaled and unnecessary details which are not needed in order to understand the present invention may be omitted. Moreover the elements which are substantially identical or which have substantially identical functions are denoted with same number.

Description of the Reference Numbers

100. Information board construct

10. Management control unit

11. Signaling device

11.1. Intersection control module

12. Traffic control center

20. Information board

21. Board control module

22. Screen

30. Communication member

40. Vehicle having right of way

Detailed Description of the Invention

In this detailed description the preferred embodiments of the information board construct (100) of the invention is described only for better understanding of the subject matter and without any limitation.

The present invention is an information board construct (100) which is located at waysides for establishing control and relates to the fact that the information board (20) and the management control unit (10) communicate with each other. Information about mean speed value required to allow drivers to continue driving without stopping at the red light at the intersection is provided by the information board (20) via a screen (22) prior to a certain distance from the lights. The elements and functions of the information board construct (100) of the invention are as follows: Management control unit (10): This can be a signaling device (1 1 ) and/or a traffic control center (12) in the preferred embodiments of the invention. This is a unit which manages and controls all the lights at the intersection according to a signal plan. The signal plan comprises the information about which light pole will turn on in which color for how many seconds and on which date and time. It comprises a communication member (30).

Signaling device (11): This is located to the intersection about which the information board

(20) will provide information. It comprises an intersection control module (1 1 .1 ). The intersection control module (1 1 .1 ) is an electronic circuit board consisting of electronic circuits and microchips which manage all lights at the intersection. A signaling operator enters the signal plan to the intersection control module (1 1 .1 ) as data. The signal plan may be loaded to the intersection control module (1 1 .1 ) by a signaling operator, or from a traffic control center (12) via communication members (30) remotely and instantaneously. The intersection control module (1 1 .1 ) sends the information about which light pole will turn on in which color on which time according to previously or instantaneously loaded signal plan to the poles and causes the traffic lights to turn on. In the preferred embodiments the intersection control module (1 1 .1 ) may also send the signal plan to the board control module

(21 ) via the communication member (30). Thus the screens (22) on the road inform drivers of the latest status of the intersection. Figure 1 is a schematic view of the elements of the information board construct (100). In the embodiment of Figure 1 the intersection control module (1 1 .1 ) sends the signal plan to the board control module (21 ). The board control module (21 ) calculates the speed value required to coincide with the green light and allows drivers to see this value on the screen (22). Traffic control center (12): The signal plans of all intersections are managed from these centers and in the alternative embodiments the signal plan may be loaded to the signaling device (1 1 ) remotely. In the embodiments which do not contain a signaling device (1 1 ) the traffic control center (12) performs calculations relating to the information which will be given to the drivers via the signal plan, about speed value required to coincide with the green light at the intersection, the light still going on and the remaining time to turn off the light and sends them directly to the information board (20) in the form of data. In the embodiment of Figure 3 the traffic control center (12) calculates the speed value required to coincide with the green light and sends this information to the information board (20) as data. Then, the information board (20) writes this information on the screen (22) and allows the drives to see it. Information board (20): The information board (20) is located on the roads connecting to the intersection at a distance of 400-500 m from the intersection about which it will provide information. It comprises a board control module (21 ), a screen (22) and a communication member (30). The board control module (21 ) calculates the speed value which allows the drivers to run the green light without stopping according to the signal plan transmitted by the intersection control module (1 1 .1 ) contained in the signaling device (1 1 ) via the communication members (30) and also by using the pre-loaded information about the distance to the traffic lights and reflects said speed information to the screen (22) for the drivers driving on the road. In the embodiment of Figure 2 the information board (20) calculates the speed value which allows drivers to run the green light without stopping according to the signal plan transmitted by the intersection control module (1 1 .1 ) contained in the signaling device (1 1 ) via the communication members (30) and also by using the preloaded information about the distance to the traffic lights and reflects said speed information to the screen (22) for the drivers driving on the road.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention the information board (20) consists of a screen (22) and a communication member (30). In this case the speed information which is to be reflected to the screen (22) is calculated by the intersection control module (1 1 .1 ) and is transmitted to the information board (20) via the communication members (30), thereby reflecting on the screen (22). Figure 4 is a schematic view of said alternative embodiment.

In the embodiments which do not contain a signaling device (1 1 ), the information board (20) receives the information which will be given to the drivers via the signal plan, about the speed value required to coincide with the green light at the intersection, the light still going on and the remaining time to turn off the light directly from the traffic control center (12) via the communication members (30) and transmits the same to the drivers. Namely, the information that the red light goes on at that moment and there are 25 seconds left for the green light to turn on can be transmitted to the driver via the screen (22) in addition to the speed value required to coincide with the green light. The speed value reflected to the screen (22) does not exceed the maximum speed limit determined by the traffic rules. Said screen (22) is preferably illuminated with led lights. Figure 3 is a schematic view of said alternative embodiment. Figures 5 and 6 show the alternative applications of the information board (20).

As applies to all alternative embodiments of the information board (20) the information board (20) provides information for the drivers via the screen (22) and also provides information by sending data to the displaying members in the vehicles getting close to the intersection from each arm and/or to the phones of the passengers in the vehicles by using gps-gprs-mobile options.

Communication member (30): The communication member (30) provides data exchange between the signaling device (1 1 ), the information board (20) and the vehicles having right of way (40). When the vehicles having right of way (40) such as police-ambulance-fire trucks- official cars or public transport vehicles pass close to the information board (20) the communication members (30) thereon communicate with the communication member (30) contained in the information board (20). The information that the vehicles having right of way (40) approach to the intersection is transmitted to the management control unit (10) by the information board (20) via the communication members (30). Thus, the lights at the intersection turn to green and the intersection becomes ready before the vehicle having right of way (40) arrives at the intersection. In this preferred embodiment of the invention the so-called communication member (30) is a RF (radiofrequency) communication system. Communication is provided by RF receiver and transmitter modules. In another preferred embodiment of the invention various communication systems may be used. Among these are wired, wireless, mobile/GSM, GPRS and GPS communication systems.

Drivers see the screens (22) located on the right or left side of the road when they approach to the intersection with a distance of 400 or 500 m. In these screens (22) optionally warnings such as the speed value required to coincide with the green light, instant light information at the intersection and/or the countdown time for the light going on, may be provided. For example when driving on the road if 50 km/hour is seen on the screens (22) located at waysides, then the information board construct (100) allows coinciding with the green light and driving without stopping when the speed value is set to 50 km/hour. Said speed value changes continuously depending on the remaining time to turn off the green light. Thereby, drivers know the status of the intersection and move accordingly. Thus, they can drive without stopping at the red light at any intersection in the city.

Another function of the system is that the information board (20) may report the vehicles having right of way (40) to the management control unit (10). When the vehicle having right of way (40) passes close to the information board (20) the communication member (30) attached to the vehicles having right of way (40) will provide communication by sending a signal to the communication member (30) of the information board (20) and then the information board (20) sends the information about the vehicle having right of way (40) to the management control unit (10). Thus the green light will be caused to turn on until the vehicles having right of way (40) arrive at the intersection and thereby the vehicles having right of way (40) will pass without waiting. In the alternative embodiments of the invention the information board construct (100) sends the information of the speed value required to coincide with the green light at the intersection, instant light information and the remaining time to turn off the light at the intersection to the displaying members in the vehicles getting close to the intersection from each arm and/or to the phones of the passengers in the vehicles by using gps-gprs-mobile options. Thus drivers can be reached by alternative information.

The invention may reflect the information of speed value which allows the vehicles coming from all arms connecting to the intersection to coincide with the green light at the intersection to the information board (20) screens (22) to be located in each of the roads towards the intersection from all directions without limiting the number of roads connecting to the intersection. Thus it is possible for the vehicles in all arms to pass the intersection without waiting. Figure 5 is a view showing the position of the information board construct (100) on the intersection.