JPH10247295A - Road construction traffic light that automatically changes the lighting time of signal lights, such as blue, according to fluctuating traffic volume - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] (Modifications required) [Problem] In the case of restricting one-way alternate traffic by a traffic light for road construction, a green signal may be lit forever to prevent traffic congestion or no cars in the opposite direction. The lighting time is automatically changed according to the fluctuating traffic volume so that there is no traffic. An automatic vehicle sensor is installed at both ends of a road construction section or at one point in the section, and the number of vehicles passing through the vehicle sensor and the passage time interval are measured by the vehicle sensor, and the measurement results are compared for each direction. Connect and install one automatic signal switching device that automatically calculates the required signal lighting time for each direction, and automatically switch between blue and red signals in each direction according to the calculation result of the signal automatic switching device. Lighting traffic lights will be installed on both sides of the construction section or near the required entrance.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention automatically changes the lighting time of a signal light such as blue for each direction in a road construction section according to the vehicle traffic volume measured in each direction, the passage time interval, and the like. , And a traffic light for road construction.

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional traffic light for road construction, a construction contractor or the like sets a lighting time of two or three signals while observing a scale of seconds of a timer of a signal controller. The traffic light automatically switches between blue and red while the set lighting time remains unchanged for a long time. That is, in order to change the lighting time once set, the construction contractor needs to change the lighting time by some judgment while checking the timer's seconds scale again. In this conventional method, a dedicated person is required to cope with the traffic volume changing little by little with the lapse of time. The operation has been neglected,
Road traffic congestion occurs too soon, and even if you notice it, it is too late even if you manually change the signal lighting time, which is a cause that the traffic congestion is not easily resolved.

[0003] The present invention relates to an automatic measuring instrument (vehicle sensor) for separately setting the passing status of a vehicle in order to switch signals according to changes in the vehicle traffic volume in each direction. In this method, the required signal lighting time is calculated from the continuous measurement result without manual operation, and the signal for each direction is automatically switched.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to automatically measure the amount of traffic or the continuous state of the passing vehicle, an existing vehicle sensor or the like is installed next to or above the construction section or on the road surface. You can respond by doing. Various types of existing vehicle sensors are used, for example, an ultrasonic type, a photoelectric sensor type, an image processing type, a loop coil type or an ultrasonic Doppler type, and any type can be used for vehicle detection. Therefore, the measurement result is analyzed by connecting to the controller of the traffic light for road construction. Compare the results of quantifying the number of vehicles and transit time intervals measured for each direction.If the average transit time is short or the blank time after the last transit vehicle is short, the current vehicle traffic volume Determines that there is a demand for more units than can be handled within the current signal lighting time, and changes the blue signal lighting time in that direction longer. Conversely, if the average transit time interval is long or if there is a long blank time after the last transit time within the blue traffic light lighting time, the current vehicle traffic volume is less than the number that can be handled within the current blue traffic light lighting time. , And the blue signal lighting time in that direction is shortened. The judgment and the change calculation of the signal lighting time are continuously and automatically processed by a personal computer or the like in the signal automatic switching device, and the signal is automatically switched.

[Action] [Installation of vehicle detectors, etc.] Near both entrances in the construction section (total 2)
At one location) or at one location on one side, a vehicle sensor for measuring the number of passing vehicles or the passage time interval is installed. This vehicle sensor can be used, for example, existing products, and can be installed on one side of the road and measured from almost the side of the car, or installed on both sides of the road and measured from almost the side of the car There are those that measure, those that measure from the upper front of the car toward the front of the car, those that measure cars passing from above the road to below, and those that measure from the oblique front of the car toward the car, etc. The construction section will be installed with a simple structure. "Installation of traffic light for road construction" To switch the lighting of blue and red etc. at the entrance of the construction section (two places in two directions, or three places in three directions) by turning on and off alternately A traffic light for road works will be installed. Each lighting time is automatically controlled by a signal automatic switching device described later. When the construction is started, the initial values of the lighting times of the green and red traffic lights are manually set for each direction of the installed construction traffic light. The initial value of the red signal lighting time in a certain direction is set with reference to a time obtained by adding a time in which a vehicle can pass according to extension of a construction section to a blue signal lighting time in the opposite direction. "Measurement of passing vehicles, etc. by vehicle sensor" After the blue signal light was turned on, the time when the first car was confirmed by the vehicle sensor to be passed, the blue signal light lighting time has passed, or a margin of several seconds has been added Until the time passes, the number of vehicles passing by the vehicle sensor or the passing time interval between the preceding and following passing vehicles is continuously measured, and the record is sent to the automatic signal switching device. "Calculation of the number of passing vehicles" Passing detection data measured by the vehicle sensor is sent to an automatic signal switching device such as a personal computer to sort continuous data on the number of passing vehicles or passing time intervals per blue signal for each direction. "Comparison of transit time intervals" In the signal automatic switching device, the number of transit times and transit time intervals per signal immediately before or in each direction, or the number of transit times and the transit time interval for each previous signal or the same number of previous times Compare. “Change setting of signal lighting time for each direction by automatic signal switching device”
Alternatively, by comparing the average number of vehicles passed every several times between the present time and the previous time, if the fluctuation is small in both directions (for example, the fluctuation width is ±
(Within 15%), it is considered that the current traffic volume in each direction and the blue signal lighting time in each direction are almost the same, and the next green signal lighting time is not changed. Even if the blank time after the last passing vehicle in the blue signal lighting time is long in both directions (for example, 4 to 5 seconds or more), it is considered that the traffic light and the blue signal lighting time are almost matched, and the blue signal lighting is considered. Do not change the time. In the case where the average transit time interval within the blue signal lighting time is different for each direction (for example, there is a difference of 2 seconds or more), or the blank time after the last passing vehicle is different for each direction (for example, 6 seconds or more) If there is a difference), it is considered that the number of vehicles that can be handled in the current blue traffic light time and the current traffic volume are not balanced, so in the direction where the transit time interval is tight, the next The blue signal lighting time is changed to be longer, and in the opposite direction, the next blue signal lighting time is changed to be shorter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention relates to a signal automatic switching device newly constructed by a personal computer or the like, in which an existing vehicle detector is combined therewith to enhance the function of a conventional traffic signal for road construction. The connection is established in such a manner that the signal lighting time is automatically changed every moment while automatically measuring the situation such as the number of passing vehicles.

[Effects of the Invention] The present invention measures the number of vehicles passing and the transit time interval of vehicles passing through a vehicle sensor temporarily installed in a road construction section, and performs road construction in accordance with fluctuations in traffic volume and the like in each direction. The lighting time of the traffic light can be gradually changed. As a result, the signal lighting time can be gradually and automatically changed according to the fluctuation of the traffic volume in each direction, so that traffic congestion in either direction can be substantially prevented from becoming noticeably longer, and the driver for road construction can be avoided. Is greatly improved, and many effects such as reduction of the impact on the global environment are expected due to a significant decrease in the generation of exhaust gas and noise caused by traffic congestion.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a device arrangement (example in the case of one vehicle sensor).

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a device arrangement (example in a case where there are two vehicle sensors).

FIG. 3 is a bird's-eye view of device arrangement (example when the vehicle detector is installed above the road)

FIG. 4 is a bird's-eye view of device arrangement (example when vehicle detectors are installed on both sides of the road)

FIG. 5 shows a procedure for automatically changing the signal lighting time in the automatic signal switching device (an example of a procedure for changing and calculating the next signal lighting time when the result of one measurement immediately before in two directions is targeted).

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A road construction traffic light for automatically changing the lighting time of a signal light such as blue based on a result of automatically measuring a fluctuating traffic volume of a vehicle. 2. An attempt to pass in a road construction section
The traffic light for road construction according to claim 1, wherein the lighting time of the signal light such as blue is automatically changed based on the result of automatically measuring the traffic volume in one direction or three directions. 3. The lighting time of a blue or other signal light in each direction is determined based on the result of automatically measuring the number of vehicles by direction in a road construction section during the time when the blue signal light is on by a vehicle sensor. The traffic light for road works according to claim 1, wherein the traffic light automatically changes. 4. Based on the result of automatically measuring the transit time interval of a vehicle in each direction during the time when the blue traffic light is lit in the road construction section by a vehicle sensor, the blue traffic light in each direction is determined. The traffic light for road works according to claim 1, wherein the lighting time is automatically changed. 5. The result of measuring the number of vehicles passing or the time interval for each direction by an existing vehicle sensing method such as an ultrasonic type, a photoelectric sensor type, an image processing type, a loop coil type or an ultrasonic Doppler type. The traffic light for road works according to claim 1, wherein the lighting time of the signal light such as blue light in each direction is automatically changed based on the traffic light. 6. The immediately preceding blue signal 1 is selected from the result of automatically measuring the number of vehicles or passing time intervals in each traffic direction.
The traffic light for road construction according to claim 1, wherein the lighting time of the signal light for blue or the like is automatically changed based on the coefficient calculated based on the measurement data for the number of times or the number of times of the blue signal. 7. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the average passing time interval of the vehicle passing within the current blue signal lighting time is, for example, within 2 to 3 seconds, and the blank time after passing of the last vehicle is, for example, within 2 to 3 seconds. If the time is short, it is estimated that there is a demand for more vehicles than the current blue signal lighting time can handle, so the next blue signal lighting time is several seconds (for example, 2 seconds * 3 cars) for the current blue signal lighting time. = 6 seconds, etc)
Conversely, if the blank time from the last passing of the cars that passed within the current blue signal lighting time to the time equal to the blue signal lighting time is long (for example, about 4 to 5 seconds or more), , The current blue signal lighting time is too long,
2. The traffic light for road construction according to claim 1, wherein, since the demand for the number of traffic is estimated to be small, the lighting time of the next blue signal is changed to be shorter than the current lighting time of the blue signal by the blank time. 8. The average transit time interval of a vehicle passing during the blue signal lighting time for each direction is calculated for each blue signal, and the top several times from the shortest transit time interval per vehicle on that day are calculated. The average value is set as an average transit time unit per vehicle in each direction. In claim 7, when the blue signal lighting time is changed to be longer, the time obtained by multiplying the average transit time unit by several cars (for example, 3 to 4 cars) is added to the current blue signal lighting time. Change, claim 1
Road construction traffic light. 9. The measurement time of the number of vehicles passing per blue signal or the measurement of the passage time interval is a continuous time obtained by adding a few seconds as a margin to the blue signal lighting time. The traffic light for road construction according to claim 1, wherein the term "several seconds" is, for example, about 2 to 3 seconds long because the red signal is often ignored immediately after the blue signal disappears. 10. A car passing within a blue signal lighting time in that direction or within a time of adding a few seconds to the time when it is measured that the first car has passed since the blue signal light in a certain direction was turned on. The traffic light for road construction according to claim 1, wherein the traffic light time is automatically changed by measuring the number of vehicles and passing time intervals. 11. The road construction according to claim 1, wherein vehicle detectors for measuring the number of passing vehicles or the passing time interval of passing vehicles are installed at two places near both ends of the construction section or at one place in the section. Traffic light. 12. A case where the average number of passing vehicles for one or several measured blue signals is slightly smaller than the average number of passing vehicles for one or the same number of preceding blue signals (for example, ± 2. The traffic signal for road construction according to claim 1, wherein the traffic light and the blue signal lighting time substantially correspond to each other (within about 15%), so that the next blue signal lighting time is not changed. 13. In the case where the blank time after the last passing vehicle measured within the blue traffic light lighting time is long in both directions (for example, 4 to 5 seconds or more), the number less than the number of vehicles that can be cleared within the current blue traffic light lighting time. The traffic light for road construction according to claim 1, wherein the next blue traffic light lighting time is not changed in both directions because it is considered as a state. 14. If the blank time after the last passing vehicle measured within the blue signal lamp lighting time is long in both directions (for example, 4 to 5 seconds or more), the next blue signal lighting time is set to the respective blank time. The traffic light for road works according to claim 1, wherein the traffic light is changed only by shortening. 15. The required green time for each direction calculated from the measured number of passing vehicles and the passing time interval for each direction is indicated by an LED.
The traffic light for road works according to claim 1, wherein the traffic light is displayed on a window or the like, and a blue light signal lighting time for each direction can be changed by a manual operation based on a judgment made by an attendant. 16. An interval for automatically changing the signal lamp lighting time is previously set to, for example, "every 5 minutes", and based on the traffic volume measurement result during that time, the signal lighting for the next, for example, "5 minutes" The traffic light according to claim 1, wherein the time is automatically changed. 17. The traffic light for road construction according to claim 1, wherein the lighting time of a three-light traffic light of blue, orange (or yellow) and red or a two-light traffic light of blue and red is automatically switched.