The present invention relates to a system and a method for monitoring a pedestrian crossing, also called a pedestrian crosswalk or a crosswalk.

Technical background of the invention

Pedestrian crossings are sections of roadways that are intended or designed for pedestrians to cross one or more lanes of traffic. Pedestrian crossings are, by their nature, places where pedestrian traffic comes into contact with other traffic participants, such as vehicles, so that a complex traffic situation may occur. On a roadway, pedestrian crossings may be indicated, for example, by traffic lights and/or markings of the solid, standard, continental, dashed, zebra and/or ladder type.

Document US 2010 039 291 Al discloses a wireless

communication system for and between a monitored pedestrian crosswalk, which alerts an operator of an approaching vehicle to the presence of a pedestrian on the crosswalk.

Summary of the invention

The present invention provides a system according to claim 1 and to a method according to claim 9.

According to one aspect, therefore, the invention provides a system for monitoring a pedestrian crossing provided, comprising: a vehicle sensor device configured to sense a vehicle in a vicinity of the pedestrian crossing; a

determination device configured to determine at least one movement property of the sensed vehicle; a notification device for providing information to the pedestrian crossing, and in particular to one or more pedestrians at or near the pedestrian crossing; and a controller, with which the notification device is controllable to provide the

information based on the at least one movement property determined for the sensed vehicle.

According to another aspect, the invention provides a method for monitoring a pedestrian crossing is provided, comprising the steps:

sensing a vehicle in a vicinity of the pedestrian crossing;

determining at least one movement property of the sensed vehicle; and

providing information to a location at or near the pedestrian crossing, and in particular to one or more pedestrians at or near the pedestrian crossing, based on the at least one movement property determined for the sensed vehicle .

The vehicle may, for example, be a road vehicle, such as a car or a truck, or a rail vehicle, such as a tram or a train. The vehicle may be a self-powered vehicle or a vehicle driven by human or horse power, such as a bicycle, a coach, a rickshaw etc.

According to an embodiment, the vicinity of the pedestrian crossing comprises a stretch or extent of a roadway extending to and/or approaching the pedestrian crossing. In this regard, the roadway typically comprises one or more traffic lanes for traffic which may travel in the same general direction or in generally opposite directions. The stretch or extent of the roadway comprising the vicinity of the

pedestrian crossing within which vehicles are sensed by the vehicle sensor device preferably has a length in the range of 5 to 500 meters and more preferably in the range of 10 to 100 meters in each direction in which traffic may approach the pedestrian crossing on the roadway. One or more sidewalks or footpaths or bicycle paths bordering such a stretch of roadway may be comprised within the vicinity of the

pedestrian crossing.

According to an embodiment, a location near the pedestrian crossing to information may be provided (e.g. by the

notification device) preferably comprises a location within a distance of about 20 meters, and more preferably within a distance of about 5 to 10 meters from the pedestrian

crossing. A location at the pedestrian crossing may be understood as a location on or immediately adjacent to the pedestrian crossing.

According to an embodiment, the determining of the at least one movement property by the determination device may in particular be based on the sensing performed by the vehicle sensor device. For example, the at least one movement property may be determined based on measurement signals produced by the vehicle sensor device as part of the sensing process .

According to an embodiment, the at least one movement property of a sensed vehicle may include a speed, a direction of travel or orientation, an acceleration, a momentum, and/or an angular momentum of the vehicle. According to an embodiment, the step of providing the information preferably comprises broadcasting, transmitting or presenting the information in such a way that it is readily appreciable to the human sensory apparatus, such that pedestrians may receive and interpret the provided

information without the need for any special equipment.

Advantages of the invention

The present invention provides a system and method for providing information to pedestrians to inform them about the traffic situation at a pedestrian crossing, thereby

increasing the awareness of the pedestrians about the traffic situation. In this way, a more efficient and a more

appropriate behavior of the pedestrians in a particular traffic situation may be achieved, which may in turn provide for a safer and optimized pedestrian crossing.

Preferably, the controller is configured to start providing the information to the pedestrian crossing, by controlling the notification device, in the event (and preferably only in the event) that at least one condition is met or that several conditions are met. Such conditions may comprise any or all of the following: a speed determined for the sensed vehicle being larger than a preset speed threshold value, a distance determined for the sensed vehicle being smaller than a preset distance threshold value and/or a direction determined for the sensed vehicle being within a preset range.

Advantageous embodiments and variants are provided by the dependent claims as well as by the description, taking the figures into account. According to an embodiment, the vehicle sensor device is a radar-based vehicle sensor device. That is, the sensor device may comprise a device which emits electromagnetic radiation and receives electromagnetic radiation reflected by objects, e.g. vehicles to be sensed. Radar-based vehicle sensor devices have the advantage that they are comparatively unaffected by environmental conditions, such as poor

visibility (e.g. at night) or bad weather conditions (e.g. fog, rain, smog or snow) .

If the vehicle sensor device is a radar-based vehicle sensor device, the determination device may determine the at least one movement property of the sensed vehicle by analyzing and comparing the electromagnetic radiation emitted and received by the radar-based vehicle sensor device. The determination device may be integrated with the vehicle sensor device, especially with the radar-based vehicle sensor device, or with the controller.

The vehicle sensor device may also be a lidar-based sensor device. That is, the vehicle sensor device may comprise a device adapted to measure distances by illuminating a target, e.g. a vehicle, with a laser and analyzing the reflected light. The vehicle sensor device may also comprise or consist of a video camera and/or be based on ultrasound and/or other detection methods.

According to an embodiment, the notification device comprises or consists of a loudspeaker for providing the information in or as an acoustic signal. In this way, the notification may also reach pedestrians with impaired vision or pedestrians that are focusing their eyes on other objects such as a smartphone. The information, for example, inform the

pedestrians of an approaching vehicle, by the fact that the acoustic signal may is emitted in the form of an alarm sound, or by the content of the acoustic signal, e.g. a verbal warning .

According to an embodiment, the notification device comprises or consists of a display device for providing the information in or as an optical signal or visual signal. In this way, the notification may also reach pedestrians with impaired hearing. In addition, a noise level at or near the pedestrian crossing may be reduced if the notification device is adapted to emit only light.

According to an embodiment, the system comprises a pedestrian sensor device configured to sense pedestrians at or near the pedestrian crossing. The pedestrian sensor device may comprise or consist of a radar sensor, an infrared light based sensor and/or a video camera and/or a photo sensor.

The controller may be configured to control the notification device to provide the information in the event (and

preferably only in the event) that at least one pedestrian is sensed at or near the pedestrian crossing, especially on the sidewalk or footpath near the pedestrian crossing or on the pedestrian crossing itself. In this way, unnecessary

providing of the information can be reduced, resulting in reduced power consumption and reduced emissions by the system.

According to an embodiment, the at least one movement property determined by the determination device comprises direction data indicating a determined direction of movement of the sensed vehicle. The controller may be configured to control the notification device to provide the information in the event that the direction data indicates that the sensed vehicle is moving towards the pedestrian crossing. In this way, unnecessary providing of the information can be reduced, resulting in reduced power consumption and reduced emissions by the system.

According to an embodiment, the at least one movement property determined by the determination device comprises speed data indicating a determined speed of the sensed vehicle. The controller may be configured to control the notification device to provide the information in the event that the determined speed exceeds a predefined speed

threshold value.

As noted above, the vicinity of the pedestrian crossing within which a vehicle is sensed preferably comprises a stretch or an extent of a roadway which extends to or approaches the pedestrian crossing and upon which vehicles may travel.

According to an embodiment, the method of the invention comprises sensing a pedestrian at or near the pedestrian crossing, wherein the information is provided in the event, preferably only in the event, that at least one pedestrian is sensed at or near the pedestrian crossing.

According to an embodiment, the at least one movement property comprises direction data indicating a determined direction of movement of the sensed vehicle, and the

information is provided in the event, preferably only in the event, that the direction data indicates that the sensed vehicle is moving towards the pedestrian crossing.

According to an embodiment, the at least one movement property comprises speed data indicating a determined speed of the sensed vehicle, and the information is provided in the event, preferably only in the event, that the determined speed exceeds a predefined speed threshold value.

Brief description of the figures

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the

following description taken in conjunction with the

accompanying drawings. The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments which are specified in the schematic figures of the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic block diagram illustrating a system 10 for monitoring a pedestrian crossing according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic block diagram illustrating a system 110 for monitoring a pedestrian crossing according to a further embodiment of the

invention;

Fig. 3 shows a schematic traffic scene illustrating a system 210 for monitoring a pedestrian crossing according to yet another embodiment of the invention; Fig. 4 shows a schematic block diagram illustrating a system 310 for monitoring a pedestrian crossing according to yet a further embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 shows a schematic block diagram illustrating a possible power supply design of the system according to the invention; and

Fig. 6 shows a schematic flow diagram illustrating a

method for monitoring a pedestrian crossing according to still another embodiment of the invention .

In all figures, the same - or functionally the same - elements and devices are, if nothing to the contrary is explicitly indicated, given the same reference signs. The numbering especially of method steps is carried out for the sake of improved intelligibility and is not intended, if nothing to the contrary is explicitly indicated, to indicate a specific order in time. In particular, several method steps could be performed simultaneously.

Detailed description of embodiments

Fig. 1 shows a schematic block diagram illustrating a system 10 for monitoring a pedestrian crossing according to an embodiment of the invention.

The system 10 comprises a vehicle sensor device 12 configured to sense a vehicle in the vicinity of the pedestrian

crossing. In particular, the vehicle sensor device 12 may be a radar-based sensor device or a lidar-based sensor device. The system 10 further comprises a determination device 14 configured to determine at least one movement property of the sensed vehicle and a notification device 16, with which information is configured to be provided at or near the pedestrian crossing and in particular to pedestrians at or near the pedestrian crossing. A controller 18 is provided in the system 10. With the controller 18, the notification device 16 is controllable to provide the information to the pedestrian crossing based on the at least one movement property determined for the sensed vehicle. In a simple variant, the controller 18 is configured to control the notification device 16 to provide the information if it is determined that the vehicle is moving, and especially moving in a direction towards the pedestrian crossing.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic block diagram illustrating a system 110 for monitoring a pedestrian crossing 1 according to another embodiment of the invention. For the discussion of Fig. 2, reference will be made also to the features in Fig. 3, which shows a schematic traffic scene illustrating a system 210 according to another embodiment of the invention. The system 110 in Fig. 2 is a variant of the system 10 shown in Fig. 1. The system 210 in Fig. 3 is a variant of the system 110 shown in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 3, a pedestrian crossing 1 is depicted which extends across a section of a roadway 2 on which a vehicle 3 travels. The roadway 2 is bordered on both sides by a sidewalk 7. The pedestrian crossing 1 is marked with stripes on the surface of the roadway 2. Two sections 8 of the sidewalk 7 which are adjacent to the pedestrian crossing are indicated in Fig. 3. Two traffic light support structures 134 are provided adjacent to the pedestrian crossing. At each traffic light support structure 134 a pedestrian traffic light 130 and a vehicle traffic light 132 are shown, one for each direction of moving along the roadway 2 and of crossing the pedestrian crossing 1, respectively, for illustrative purposes.

The system 110 comprises at least one radar-based vehicle sensor device 112 for sensing the vehicle 3. In the

system 210 of the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, two radar-based sensor devices 112 are provided, with each mounted on a respective traffic light support structure 134.

A determination device 114 of the system 110 is configured to compare and analyze radar signals emitted and received by the radar-based vehicle sensor device 112 and to determine, from the analyzed radar signals, at least one movement property of the sensed vehicle 3. Preferably, the determination device 114 is integrated with the radar-based vehicle sensor device 112 as one body.

As notification device 116 of the system 110 comprises a loudspeaker 120 and a display device 122. According to the system 210 shown in Fig. 3, one loudspeaker 120 and one display device 122 each are disposed on the two traffic light support structures 134, respectively. The notification device 116 is configured to be controllable by a

controller 118 of the system 110 based on the at least one movement property determined for the sensed vehicle 3. The controller 118 may, for example, be disposed within one of the traffic light support structures 134, below the ground, or in a separated structure. The controller 118, the vehicle sensor device 112 and/or the determination device 114 and/or the notification device 116 may be connected to each other for data transfer by wires or wirelessly, e.g. by radio signals, or both.

The loudspeaker 120 may be configured to emit, when

controlled by the controller 118, a non-verbal alarm sound such as a siren, a clicking noise or a humming noise.

Alternatively or additionally, the controller 118 may be configured to control the loudspeaker 120 to emit a

prerecorded or a computer-generated speech which may be based on the at least one movement property determined for the sensed vehicle 3. For example, the controller 118 may control the loudspeaker 120 to emit speech based on the direction data determined for the sensed vehicle 3, e.g. "watch out to your left".

Providing the information according to the system 110 comprises the emitting of light by the display device 120 and/or the emitting of sound and/or speech by the

loudspeaker 122.

The vehicle sensor device 112 and the determination

device 114 are configured to determine at least one movement property consisting of or comprising at least direction data and speed data of the sensed vehicle 3. The direction data indicates a determined direction of movement of the sensed vehicle 3. The speed data indicates a speed determined for the sensed vehicle 3.

In the system 110, the controller 118 is configured to control the notification device 116 to provide the

information in the event that the speed determined for the sensed vehicle 3 exceeds a predefined speed threshold value provided to the controller 118. The predefined speed threshold value may be programmed into a non-transitory memory of the controller 118. The predefined speed threshold may be changeable by an authorized user. In other words, in the system 110 the current speed of the sensed vehicle 3 being larger than the predefined speed threshold value is a condition for the controller 118 of the system 110 for controlling the notification device 116 to provide the information, e.g. to the sensed pedestrian.

The controller 118 is further configured to control the notification device 116 to provide the information in the event that the direction data determined for the sensed vehicle 3 indicates that the sensed vehicle 3 is moving towards the pedestrian crossing 1. For this, a relative position and orientation of the radar-based vehicle sensor device 112 and at least the pedestrian crossing 1 may be provided to the controller 118. That the direction data indicates that the sensed vehicle 3 is moving towards the pedestrian crossing 1 is in other words a condition for the controller 118 to control the notification device 116 to provide the information.

The system 110 further comprises a pedestrian sensor

device 124. In Fig. 3, one pedestrian sensor device 124 of the system 210 is shown provided at each of the traffic light support structures 134. The pedestrian sensor device 124 may consist of or comprise a radar sensor and/or a camera and/or an infrared sensor. The pedestrian sensor device 124 is configured to sense a pedestrian at or near the pedestrian crossing 1, in particular on the pedestrian crossing 1 itself or on the sidewalk 7, preferably in a region 8 bordering the pedestrian crossing 1 of the sidewalk 7. The controller 118 is configured to control the notification device 116 to provide the information in the event that at least one pedestrian is sensed at or near the pedestrian crossing 1, in particular on the pedestrian crossing 1 or on the sidewalk 7, preferably within the region 8 bordering a pedestrian crossing 1. In other words, the sensing of at least one pedestrian at or near the pedestrian crossing 1 is a condition for the controller 118 to control the

notification device to provide the information. In addition, based on data provided by the pedestrian sensor device 124, a vehicle warning device 226 may be controlled by the

controller 118 to provide a visual warning to approaching vehicle operators and/or to the vicinity of the pedestrian crossing 1.

Although Fig. 2 shows one of each and Fig. 3 shows two of each radar-based vehicle sensor devices 112, loudspeakers 120, display devices 122 and pedestrian sensor devices 124, it should be understood that this is for illustrative purposes and that the system 110 and/or the system 210 may comprise one of each, two of each, three or four or more of each device, also independently from each other, depending e.g. on geometric and structural properties of the location and traffic situation the system 110, 210 is intended for.

According to the system 110, the direction data indicating that the sensed vehicle 3 is moving towards the pedestrian crossing 1, the speed data indicating that the speed

determined for the sensed vehicle 3 exceeds the predefined speed threshold value and the sensing of at least one pedestrian at or near the pedestrian crossing 1 together constitute a sufficient condition for the controller 118 to control the notification device 116 to provide the

information .

The display device 120 may be provided separate from the pedestrian traffic light 130 and is preferably oriented towards a sidewalk 7 adjacent to the pedestrian crossing 1 and away from the pedestrian crossing 1. In this way, the chances are increased that pedestrians waiting on the sidewalk 7 to cross the pedestrian crossing 1 notice the light emitted from the display device 122 and that vehicles 3 moving on the roadway 2 are not affected by the emitted light .

Fig. 4 shows a schematic block diagram illustrating a system 310 for monitoring a pedestrian crossing 1 according to yet a further embodiment of the present invention. The system 310 in Fig. 4 is a variant of the system 110 in Fig. 2.

A controller 218 of the system 210 is provided integrated with a determination device instead of the separate

controller 118 and determination device 116 of the system 110. The controller 218 of the system 210 in Fig. 4 is connected or connectable, via DC electric power lines 245, to a DC power source 244 and to a first switch 240 and a second switch 242 controllable by the controller 218 via data lines 248. The controller 218 is connected or connectable, via interface signal lines 247, with the radar-based vehicle sensor device (s) 112 and the pedestrian sensor device (s) 124.

If the first switch 240 is set to a closed position, the display device 120 and the loudspeaker 122 are supplied with electric power. In the system 210, the loudspeaker 122 and the display device 120 are configured to provide fixed visual or acoustic signals, respectively, if supplied with electric power. Alternatively, the controller 218 may be provided with a power line communication unit (PLC unit) with which the display device 120 and the loudspeaker 122 are controllable to emit a variety of visual/acoustic signals, either based on data stored in an internal memory of the display device 120 and/or the loudspeaker 122 or stored within the controller 218. Although in Fig. 4 the display device 120 and the loudspeaker 122 are both activated or deactivated using a single first switch 240, alternatively they may also be controlled, i.e. activated or deactivated, separately from each other by the controller 218.

The second switch 242 is adapted to, in a closed position, supply a vehicle warning device 226 with electric power from the DC power source 244. The vehicle warning device 226 is adapted to provide a warning to the vicinity of the

pedestrian crossing 1, and in particular to an operator of a vehicle 3 within the vicinity. For example, a warning may be provided which indicates that a pedestrian is at or near the pedestrian crossing, based, for example, on a data signal from the pedestrian sensor device 124. In a simple design variant, the vehicle warning device 226 comprises or consists of at least one display device oriented towards the roadway 2.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic block diagram illustrating a possible power supply structure of the system according to the present invention. In Fig. 5, a controller 318 is shown that comprises an internal power converter 346. The

controller 318 receives electric power over an alternating current, AC, or a direct current, DC, electric power line 345 from an external, AC or DC power source 344, respectively. The internal power converter 346 is adapted to convert a part or all of the received electric power to a direct current, DC, electric power. The DC electric power is supplied by the controller 318 over electric power lines 313 to the vehicle sensor device (s) 112, to the pedestrian sensor device (s) 124 and/or to the notification device 116. The controller 318 is usable or adaptable to be used in any of the systems 10, 110, 210 according to the invention. The internal power converter 346 of the controller 318 and the external AC power source 344 may be used in combination with any of the controllers 18, 118, 218 described above.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic flow diagram illustrating a method for monitoring a pedestrian crossing 1 according to still another embodiment of the invention. The method is suitable for use with any of the systems 10; 110; 210described above and may be specifically adapted to such a use. In particular, the method may be adapted according to all described variants and modifications of the system of the invention.

In a step S01, a vehicle 3 in the vicinity of the pedestrian crossing 1 is sensed. In a step S02, at least one movement property is determined for the sensed vehicle 3, especially calculated. In a step S03, information is provided at or near the pedestrian crossing 1, based on the at least one movement property determined for the sensed vehicle 3. As described above with respect to the systems according to the present invention, the step of providing information may be started in the event that one or several conditions are met.

The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described in the foregoing but may be modified and adapted in various ways without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present invention .

REFERENCE SIGNS

1 pedestrian crossing

2 roadway

3 vehicle

7 sidewalk

8 section of the sidewalk

10 system for monitoring a pedestrian crossing

12 vehicle sensor device

14 determination device

16 notification device

18 controller

110 system for monitoring a pedestrian crossing

112 radar-based vehicle sensor device

114 determination device

116 notification device

118 controller

120 loudspeaker

122 display device

124 pedestrian sensor device

130 pedestrian traffic light

132 vehicle traffic light

134 traffic light support structure

210 system for monitoring a pedestrian crossing

218 controller

226 vehicle warning device

240 first switch

242 second switch

244 external power source

245 electric power lines

247 interface signal lines

248 data lines

310 system for monitoring a pedestrian crossing

318 controller

313 DC electric power lines

344 external power source

345 electric power line

346 internal power converter