JP7559623B2 - Traffic light information output device, traffic light information output method, and traffic light information output program - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a technology that outputs traffic light information that estimates the timing at which a traffic light installed at an intersection will change color.

The traffic light control device switches the light color (green, yellow, red, etc.) of each traffic light installed at an intersection based on the set signal control parameters. As is well known, the signal control parameters stipulate the traffic light light cycle (the duration of one period), split (the proportion of green lights), offset (the time to shift the start timing of the green light relative to the reference intersection), etc.

There is also a device that outputs traffic light information (e.g., remaining green time and remaining red time) that estimates the timing at which the light signals of traffic lights installed at intersections will change to vehicles traveling on the road (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The device described in Patent Document 1 determines the timing at which the lighting state of each light signal of a traffic light changes by using a current sensor to detect the current flowing through the power supply line that supplies the power to turn on that light signal. The device described in Patent Document 1 generates traffic light information based on the timing at which the lighting state of each light signal changes.

JP 2020-135283 A

However, in Patent Document 1, a current sensor is assigned to each power supply line of the traffic light's light color signal, and these current sensors are connected. Therefore, when applying the device of Patent Document 1, many current sensors are required. In addition, the device described in Patent Document 1 must be provided with a processing circuit (e.g., an A/D conversion circuit) for each current sensor to process the output of that current sensor.

These factors made the device in Patent Document 1 larger in size and increased the cost of building a system that used this device.

The objective of this invention is to provide technology that can reduce the size of a device that outputs signal information that estimates the timing at which a traffic light installed at an intersection will change color, and that can reduce the costs involved in building the system.

To achieve the above objective, the signal information output device of this invention is configured as shown below.

A memory unit is installed at an intersection and stores transition patterns of the light signal states for multiple traffic lights that have different light signal switching timings set by a signal control device. Traffic lights with different light signal switching timings set by a signal control device are traffic lights in which the light signal switching timings set by the signal control device are not synchronized, such as a traffic light for vehicles on a main road and a traffic light for vehicles on a secondary road. Vehicle traffic lights and pedestrian traffic lights are also traffic lights in which the light signal switching timings set by the signal control device are different.

A power supply line is assigned to the signal control device to supply power to turn on the light color signal, and multiple current sensors that detect the current flowing through the assigned power supply line are connected to the connection section. The current sensor detects, for example, the current flowing through the power supply line passed through the core. In other words, the current sensor detects the current flowing through the power supply line sandwiched between the cores.

The connection section is also connected to a current sensor that is assigned multiple power supply lines that supply power to multiple light color signals that are turned on by the signal control device during non-overlapping time periods. That is, the connection section is connected to a current sensor that has the assigned multiple power supply lines passing through its core. A current sensor that is assigned multiple power supply lines can detect whether or not a current is flowing through any of the power supply lines, but cannot detect which power supply lines are flowing and which are not.

However, when the current sensor detects that current is flowing in one of the power supply lines, the transition pattern of the light signal state can be used to determine which power supply line the current is flowing in. The traffic light information generation unit estimates the timing at which the traffic light control device will transition the light signal state of the traffic light installed at the intersection using the transition pattern stored in the memory unit and the detection results of the multiple current sensors, and generates traffic light information based on this estimation result. The traffic light information is information that indicates, for example, the remaining green light time and the remaining red light time. The output unit outputs the traffic light information generated by the traffic light information generation unit.

In this way, by allocating multiple power supply lines to the current sensor, the number of current sensors required is reduced, and the number of processing circuits that process the output of the current sensors is also reduced. This makes it possible to reduce the size and cost of the device that outputs signal information that estimates the timing at which the light color of traffic lights installed at intersections will be changed.

Also, for example, the multiple power supply lines assigned to a current sensor may have the same color light signal that supplies power. For example, a power supply line that supplies power to the green light signal of a vehicle traffic signal on a main road and a power supply line that supplies power to the green light signal of a vehicle traffic signal on a secondary road may be assigned to the same current sensor. Also, a power supply line that supplies power to the yellow light signal of a vehicle traffic signal on a road and a power supply line that supplies power to the yellow light signal of a vehicle traffic signal on a secondary road may be assigned to a current sensor.

Also, for example, the multiple power supply lines assigned to the current sensor may be configured to not include a combination of power supply lines that supply power to a light color signal in which the timing at which the light is switched from the on state to the off state by the signal control device is the same as the timing at which the light is switched from the off state to the on state.

Also, for example, the power supply line that supplies power to the red light signal of one of the traffic lights may be configured to have no current sensor assigned to it.

This invention makes it possible to miniaturize devices that output traffic light information that estimates the timing at which traffic lights installed at intersections will change color, and to reduce the costs involved in building the system.

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of an intersection to which a traffic light information output device according to this embodiment is applied, and FIG. 1B is a schematic external view of a traffic light for vehicles installed at the intersection. 2 is a diagram showing the connection relationship between a signal information output device, a signal control device, a signal junction box, and a traffic light. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the stages of the light color signals of the traffic lights installed at the intersection shown in FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a signal information output device. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the signal information output device. 11 is a schematic diagram of an intersection to which a signal information output device according to a second modification is applied. FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the color signal phase of a traffic light installed at the intersection shown in FIG. 6. A diagram showing the connection relationship between a signal information output device, a signal control device, a signal junction box, and a traffic light in the second modified example.

The following describes an embodiment of the invention.

＜1. Application examples＞
Fig. 1(A) is a schematic diagram of an intersection to which a traffic light information output device according to this example is applied, and Fig. 1(B) is a schematic external view of a traffic light for vehicles installed at the intersection. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the connection relationship between the traffic light information output device, the traffic light control device, the traffic light junction box, and the traffic light.

The intersection shown in FIG. 1(A) is a crossroad where a main road and a secondary road intersect. Here, in FIG. 1(A), the road on which vehicles travel left and right is called the main road, and the road on which vehicles travel up and down is called the secondary road. Vehicle traffic lights 51 (51a, 51b) installed at the intersection display current signals to vehicles entering the intersection from the main road. Vehicle traffic lights 52 (52a, 52b) installed at the intersection display current signals to vehicles entering the intersection from the secondary road. In this example, each vehicle traffic light 51, 52 has four light colors: green, yellow, red, and a right turn arrow, as shown in FIG. 1(B).

As is well known, the signal control device 2 controls the switching of the light color signals of the vehicle traffic lights 51, 52 based on the set signal control parameters. In this example, the signal control device 2 synchronizes the light color signals of the vehicle traffic lights 51 (51a, 51b) on the main road. The signal control device 2 also synchronizes the light color signals of the vehicle traffic lights 52 (52a, 52b) on the secondary road.

The signal control device 2 connects power supply lines 71a, 71b, 72a, 72b, 73a, 73b, 74, and 75, which supply the power required to turn on each light color signal to the vehicle traffic signals 51 and 52, to the signal connection box 3. In addition, the vehicle traffic signals 51 and 52 are equipped with a lighting circuit (not shown) that turns on each light color signal using the power supplied from the signal control device 2.

The signal connection box 3 branches the power supply line 71a and connects it to the green light signal lighting circuit of the vehicle traffic signals 51a and 51b that are synchronously turned on. In other words, the signal control device 2 supplies the power required to turn on the green light signal to the vehicle traffic signals 51a and 51b via the power supply line 71a.

The signal connection box 3 branches the power supply line 71b and connects it to the lighting circuit for the green light signals of the vehicle traffic signals 52a and 52b that are synchronously turned on. In other words, the signal control device 2 supplies the power necessary to turn on the green light signals of the vehicle traffic signals 52a and 52b via the power supply line 71b.

The signal connection box 3 branches the power supply line 72a and connects it to the yellow light signal lighting circuit of the vehicle traffic signals 51a and 51b that are synchronously turned on. In other words, the signal control device 2 supplies the power required to turn on the yellow light signal to the vehicle traffic signals 51a and 51b via the power supply line 72a.

The signal connection box 3 branches the power supply line 72b and connects it to the yellow light signal lighting circuit of the vehicle traffic lights 52a and 52b that are synchronously turned on. In other words, the signal control device 2 supplies the power required to turn on the yellow light signal to the vehicle traffic lights 52a and 52b via the power supply line 72b.

The signal connection box 3 branches off the power supply line 73a and connects it to the lighting circuit of the right turn arrow light color signal of the vehicle traffic lights 51a and 51b that are synchronously turned on. In other words, the signal control device 2 supplies the power required to turn on the right turn arrow light color signal to the vehicle traffic lights 51a and 51b via the power supply line 73a.

The signal connection box 3 branches off the power supply line 73b and connects it to the lighting circuit of the right turn arrow light color signal of the vehicle traffic lights 52a and 52b that are synchronously turned on. In other words, the signal control device 2 supplies the power required to turn on the right turn arrow light color signal to the vehicle traffic lights 52a and 52b via the power supply line 73b.

The signal connection box 3 branches the power supply line 74 and connects it to the red light signal lighting circuit of the vehicle traffic signals 51a and 51b that are synchronously turned on. In other words, the signal control device 2 supplies the power required to turn on the red light signal to the vehicle traffic signals 51a and 51b via the power supply line 74.

The signal connection box 3 branches the power supply line 75 and connects it to the red light signal lighting circuit of the vehicle traffic signals 52a and 52b that are synchronously turned on. In other words, the signal control device 2 supplies the power required to turn on the red light signal to the vehicle traffic signals 52a and 52b via the power supply line 75.

The signal control device 2 supplies power to the light color signals that are turned on at the vehicle traffic signals 51 and 52, and does not supply power to the light color signals that are not turned on (turned off).

In this example, five current sensors 61 to 65 are connected to the signal information output device 1, as shown in FIG. 2.

Power supply lines 71a and 71b pass through the core of the current sensor 61. The current sensor 61 detects and outputs the current flowing through the power supply line 71a or the power supply line 71b. The current sensor 61 cannot distinguish between the current flowing through the power supply line 71a and the power supply line 71b.

The power supply line 71a is used to supply the power required to turn on the green light signals of the vehicle traffic signals 51a and 51b, and the power supply line 71b is used to supply the power required to turn on the green light signals of the vehicle traffic signals 52a and 52b. The signal control device 2 does not turn on the blue light signals of the vehicle traffic signals 51a and 51b and the blue light signals of the vehicle traffic signals 52a and 52b at the same time. In other words, the power supply lines 71a and 71b, which supply the power required to turn on the blue light signals of the vehicle traffic signals 51 and 52 that are not turned on at the same time, are passed through the core of the current sensor 61.

Power supply lines 72a and 72b pass through the core of the current sensor 62. The current sensor 62 detects and outputs the current flowing through the power supply line 72a or the power supply line 72b. The current sensor 62 cannot distinguish between the current flowing through the power supply line 72a and the power supply line 72b.

The power supply line 72a is used to supply the power required to turn on the yellow light signals of the vehicle traffic signals 51a and 51b, and the power supply line 72b is used to supply the power required to turn on the yellow light signals of the vehicle traffic signals 52a and 52b. The signal control device 2 does not turn on the yellow light signals of the vehicle traffic signals 51a and 51b and the yellow light signals of the vehicle traffic signals 52a and 52b at the same time. In other words, the power supply lines 72a and 72b, which supply the power required to turn on the yellow light signals of the vehicle traffic signals 51 and 52 that are not turned on at the same time, are passed through the core of the current sensor 62.

Power supply lines 73a and 73b pass through the core of the current sensor 63. The current sensor 63 detects and outputs the current flowing through the power supply line 73a or the power supply line 73b. The current sensor 63 cannot distinguish between the current flowing through the power supply line 73a and the power supply line 73b.

The power supply line 73a is used to supply the power required to turn on the right turn arrow light signals of the vehicle traffic signals 51a and 51b, and the power supply line 73b is used to supply the power required to turn on the right turn arrow light signals of the vehicle traffic signals 52a and 52b. The signal control device 2 does not simultaneously turn on the right turn arrow light signals of the vehicle traffic signals 51a and 51b and the right turn arrow light signals of the vehicle traffic signals 52a and 52b. In other words, the power supply lines 73a and 73b, which supply the power required to turn on the right turn arrow light signals of the vehicle traffic signals 51 and 52 that are not turned on simultaneously by the signal control device 2, are passed through the core of the current sensor 63.

A power supply line 74 is passed through the core of the current sensor 64. The current sensor 64 detects and outputs the current flowing through the power supply line 74. A power supply line 75 is passed through the core of the current sensor 65. The current sensor 65 detects and outputs the current flowing through the power supply line 75. The power supply line 74 is used to supply the power required to turn on the red light signals of the vehicle traffic lights 51a and 51b, and the power supply line 75 is used to supply the power required to turn on the red light signals of the vehicle traffic lights 52a and 52b. The signal control device 2 may turn on the red light signals of the vehicle traffic lights 51a and 51b and the red light signals of the vehicle traffic lights 52a and 52b simultaneously.

The signal control device 2 may simultaneously turn on the red light signals of the vehicle traffic signals 51 and 52. When the red light signals of the vehicle traffic signals 51 and 52 are turned on simultaneously, this is called a full red time.

Figure 3 is a diagram of the light color signal display stages of the traffic lights installed at the intersection shown in Figure 1. The signal control device 2 transitions the light color signal states of the vehicle traffic lights 51 and 52 in the order of the stages 1 to 10 shown in Figure 3.

Step 1 is a step where the vehicle traffic lights 51a and 51b are green and the vehicle traffic lights 52a and 52b are red. Step 2 is a step where the vehicle traffic lights 51a and 51b are yellow and the vehicle traffic lights 52a and 52b are red. Step 3 is a step where the vehicle traffic lights 51a and 51b are right turn arrow signals and the vehicle traffic lights 52a and 52b are red. When the vehicle traffic lights 51a and 51b are right turn arrow signals, the red light (red light color signal) is also turned on. Step 4 is a step where the vehicle traffic lights 51a and 51b are yellow and the vehicle traffic lights 52a and 52b are red. Step 5 is a step where the vehicle traffic lights 51a, 51b, 52a, and 52b are red.

Step 6 is a step where the vehicle traffic lights 51a and 51b are red and the vehicle traffic lights 52a and 52b are green. Step 7 is a step where the vehicle traffic lights 51a and 51b are red and the vehicle traffic lights 52a and 52b are yellow. Step 8 is a step where the vehicle traffic lights 51a and 51b are red and the vehicle traffic lights 52a and 52b are right turn arrow signals. When the vehicle traffic lights 52a and 52b are right turn arrow signals, the red lights (red light signals) are also turned on. Step 9 is a step where the vehicle traffic lights 51a and 51b are red and the vehicle traffic lights 52a and 52b are yellow. Step 10 is a step where the vehicle traffic lights 51a, 51b, 52a, and 52b are red.

The signal control device 2 also determines the times t1 to t10 for each of stage steps 1 to 10 using signal control parameters.

The traffic light information output device 1 processes the output of the current sensors 61-65 and determines the combination of the current sensors 61-65 whose cores are connected to the power supply lines 71a, 71b, 72a, 72b, 73a, 73b, 74, 75 that supply power to turn on the light color signal. The traffic light information output device 1 detects the timing when the combination of the current sensors 61-65 whose cores are connected to the power supply lines 71a, 71b, 72a, 72b, 73a, 73b, 74, 75 that supply power to turn on the light color signal changes as the timing when the step changes.

The signal information output device 1 also determines the current stair step based on the combination of current sensors 61-65, whose cores are connected to the power supply lines 71a, 71b, 72a, 72b, 73a, 73b, 74, and 75 that supply power to turn on the light color signal.

However, in this example, the combination of current sensors 61 to 65 in which the power supply lines 71a, 71b, 72a, 72b, 73a, 73b, 74, and 75 that supply power to turn on the light signal are passed through the core may be the same in multiple stage steps. For example, stage step 2 and stage step 4 have the same combination of current sensors 61 to 65 in which the power supply lines 71a, 71b, 72a, 72b, 73a, 73b, 74, and 75 that supply power to turn on the light signal are passed through the core. In this case, the signal information output device 1 determines whether the current time is stage step 2 or stage step 4 by, for example, determining whether the red light signal of the vehicle traffic light 51 was on or off in the immediately previous stage step. Whether the red light signal of the vehicle traffic light 51 was on or off can be determined from the output of the current sensor 64.

Furthermore, the combination of current sensors 61-65 in which the power supply lines 71a, 71b, 72a, 72b, 73a, 73b, 74, 75 that supply power to turn on the light signals are passed through the cores of the same combination of step 7 and step 9 current sensors. In this case, the signal information output device 1 determines whether the current time is step 7 or step 9 by, for example, determining whether the red light signal of the vehicle traffic light 52 was on or off at the immediately previous step. Whether the red light signal of the vehicle traffic light 52 was on or off can be determined from the output of the current sensor 65.

As described above, the traffic light information output device 1 in this example can determine the timing at which the staircase step changes. Therefore, the traffic light information output device 1 can generate traffic light information based on the timing at which the staircase step changes. The traffic light information referred to here is the remaining green time of the traffic light 51 for vehicles, the remaining right turn arrow time of the traffic light 51 for vehicles, the remaining red time of the traffic light 51 for vehicles, the remaining green time of the traffic light 52 for vehicles, the remaining right turn arrow time of the traffic light 52 for vehicles, the remaining red time of the traffic light 52 for vehicles, etc.

In addition, for the current sensors 61-63, two power supply lines are passed through the core, so the number of current sensors 61-65 connected to the signal information output device 1 can be reduced. Furthermore, the signal information output device 1 can reduce the number of processing circuits that process the output of the current sensors 61-65. This makes it possible to reduce the size of the signal information output device 1 and the costs involved in building the system.

2. Configuration example
4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main parts of the traffic signal information output device of this example. The traffic signal information output device 1 of this example includes a control unit 11, a connection section 12, an output section 13, and a storage section 14.

The control unit 11 controls the operation of each part of the main body of the signal information output device 1. The control unit 11 also has a timing detection unit 11a, a stage determination unit 11b, and a signal information generation unit 11c. The timing detection unit 11a, the stage determination unit 11b, and the signal information generation unit 11c of the control unit 11 will be described later.

Current sensors 61 to 65 are connected to connection unit 12. Connection unit 12 has an A/D conversion circuit (not shown) for each of current sensors 61 to 65 that converts the output signal (analog signal) of the current sensor 61 to 65 into a digital signal.

A transmitting device (not shown), such as a beacon or a wireless transmitter, is connected to the output unit 13. The output unit 13 outputs the generated signal information to the connected transmitting device. Notification of the signal information to the vehicle is performed using this transmitting device.

The memory unit 14 stores transition patterns in which the state of the light signals of the vehicle traffic lights 51, 52 transitions. The signal control device 2 switches the state of the light signals of the vehicle traffic lights 51, 52 based on the signal control parameters set. That is, the state of the light signals of the vehicle traffic lights 51, 52 is transitioned by the signal control device 2. The transition patterns stored in the memory unit 14 may be generated by estimating signal information. That is, the transition patterns may be signal control parameters, or may be patterns in which some of the signal control parameters are missing.

Next, we will explain the timing detection unit 11a, the stage determination unit 11b, and the signal information generation unit 11c that the control unit 11 has.

The timing detection unit 11a detects a change in the combination of the current sensors 61 to 65, through which the power supply lines 71a, 71b, 72a, 72b, 73a, 73b, 74, and 75 that supply power to turn on the vehicle traffic signals 51 and 52, pass as the timing of a change in the step.

The stage determination unit 11b determines the stage step at that time based on the combination of current sensors 61-65 whose cores are connected to the power supply lines 71a, 71b, 72a, 72b, 73a, 73b, 74, 75 that supply power to turn on the light color signal to the vehicle traffic lights 51, 52. In determining this stage step, the stage determination unit 11b may also use the combination of current sensors 61-65 whose cores are connected to the power supply lines 71a, 71b, 72a, 72b, 73a, 73b, 74, 75 that supplied power to turn on the light color signal to the vehicle traffic lights 51, 52 in the previous stage step. The signal information generation unit 11c generates signal information using the timing at which the stage step changed detected by the timing detection unit 11a, the current stage step determined by the stage determination unit 11b, and the transition pattern stored in the memory unit 14.

<3. Operation example>
5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the traffic light information output device of this example. The traffic light information output device 1 of this example detects the current sensors 61 to 65 through which the power supply lines 71a, 71b, 72a, 72b, 73a, 73b, 74, and 75 that supply power to turn on the light color signal are passed through the core (s1). The traffic light information output device 1 judges whether the combination of the current sensors 61 to 65 detected in s1 is different from the previous combination (s2). If the traffic light information output device 1 judges in s2 that the combination of the current sensors 61 to 65 is the same as the previous combination, it returns to s1. If the traffic light information output device 1 judges in s2 that the combination of the current sensors 61 to 65 is different from the previous combination, it obtains the timing at which the current sensors 61 to 65 through which the power supply lines 71a, 71b, 72a, 72b, 73a, 73b, 74, and 75 that supply power to turn on the light color signal are passed through the core as the change time of the step (s3). The timing detector 11a performs the processes s1 to s3.

The signal information output device 1 determines the currently switched stair step based on the combination of the current sensors 61-65 detected in s1 (s4). In s4, if the currently switched stair step cannot be determined based on the combination of the current sensors 61-65 detected in s1 alone, the determination is made using the combination of the current sensors 61-65 in the immediately preceding stair step. The stair step determination unit 11b performs the process related to s4.

Note that in s4, it may be determined that the step is one step further from the previous step.

The traffic light information output device 1 determines whether traffic light information needs to be generated (s5). The traffic light information output device 1 is set with the stage step for which traffic light information needs to be generated according to the start timing, and the type of traffic light information (remaining green time on the main road side, remaining green time on the secondary road side, remaining right turn arrow time on the main road side, remaining right turn arrow time on the secondary road side, etc.).

When the traffic signal information output device 1 determines in s5 that it is not necessary to generate traffic signal information, it returns to s1. When the traffic signal information output device 1 determines in s5 that it is necessary to generate traffic signal information, it generates traffic signal information (s6). When generating traffic signal information in s6, the traffic signal information output device 1 uses the transition pattern stored in the storage unit 14. The traffic signal information generating unit 11c performs the processes related to s5 and s6.

The signal information output device 1 outputs the signal information generated in s6 at the output unit 13 (s7) and returns to s1.

In this way, the traffic signal information output device 1 can determine the timing at which the staircase step changes, and generate traffic signal information based on this timing. Also, for the current sensors 61-63, two power supply lines are passed through the core, so the number of current sensors 61-65 connected to the traffic signal information output device 1 can be reduced. Also, the traffic signal information output device 1 can reduce the number of processing circuits that process the output of the current sensors 61-65. This makes it possible to reduce the size of the traffic signal information output device 1 and the costs involved in building the system.

4. Modifications
Modification 1
2, either the current sensor 64 or the current sensor 65 may be omitted. This configuration can further reduce the number of current sensors connected to the signal information output device 1. In addition, the signal information output device 1 can reduce the number of processing circuits that process the output of the current sensors.

Modification 2
6 is a schematic diagram of an intersection to which a traffic light information output device according to Modification 2 is applied. In Modification 2, the intersection is provided with pedestrian traffic lights 55 (55a to 55d) and 56 (56a to 56d) in addition to vehicle traffic lights 51 and 52.

Figure 7 is a diagram of the light color signal display stages for the traffic lights installed at the intersection shown in Figure 6. The signal control device 2A transitions the light color signal states of the vehicle traffic lights 51 and 52 and the pedestrian traffic lights 55 and 56 in the order of the stages 1 to 14 shown in Figure 7.

Step 1 shown in FIG. 7 is a step where the vehicle traffic light 51 is a green light, the vehicle traffic light 52 is a red light, the pedestrian traffic light 55 is a green light, and the pedestrian traffic light 56 is a red light. Step 2 is a step where the vehicle traffic light 51 is a green light, the vehicle traffic light 52 is a red light, the pedestrian traffic light 55 is a flashing green light, and the pedestrian traffic light 56 is a red light. Step 3 is a step where the vehicle traffic light 51 is a green light, the vehicle traffic light 52 is a red light, the pedestrian traffic light 55 is a red light, and the pedestrian traffic light 56 is a red light. Step 4 is a step where the vehicle traffic light 51 is a yellow light, the vehicle traffic light 52 is a red light, the pedestrian traffic light 55 is a red light, and the pedestrian traffic light 56 is a red light. Step 5 is a step where the vehicle traffic light 51 is a right turn arrow signal, the vehicle traffic light 52 is a red signal, the pedestrian traffic light 55 is a red signal, and the pedestrian traffic light 56 is a red signal. When the vehicle traffic light 51 is a right turn arrow signal, the red signal is also turned on. Step 6 is a step where the vehicle traffic light 51 is a yellow signal, the vehicle traffic light 52 is a red signal, the pedestrian traffic light 55 is a red signal, and the pedestrian traffic light 56 is a red signal. Step 7 is a step where the vehicle traffic light 51, the vehicle traffic light 52, the pedestrian traffic light 55, and the pedestrian traffic light 56 are red signals.

Step 8 is a step where the vehicle traffic light 51 is a red light, the vehicle traffic light 52 is a green light, the pedestrian traffic light 55 is a red light, and the pedestrian traffic light 56 is a green light. Step 9 is a step where the vehicle traffic light 51 is a red light, the vehicle traffic light 52 is a green light, the pedestrian traffic light 55 is a red light, and the pedestrian traffic light 56 is a flashing green light. Step 10 is a step where the vehicle traffic light 51 is a red light, the vehicle traffic light 52 is a green light, the pedestrian traffic light 55 is a red light, and the pedestrian traffic light 56 is a red light. Step 11 is a step where the vehicle traffic light 51 is a red light, the vehicle traffic light 52 is a yellow light, the pedestrian traffic light 55 is a red light, and the pedestrian traffic light 56 is a red light. Step 12 is a step where the vehicle traffic light 51 is a red light, the vehicle traffic light 52 is a right turn arrow signal, the pedestrian traffic light 55 is a red light, and the pedestrian traffic light 56 is a red light. When the vehicle traffic light 52 is a right turn arrow signal, the red light is also turned on. Step 13 is a step where the vehicle traffic light 51 is a red light, the vehicle traffic light 52 is a yellow light, the pedestrian traffic light 55 is a red light, and the pedestrian traffic light 56 is a red light. Step 14 is a step where the vehicle traffic light 51, the vehicle traffic light 52, the pedestrian traffic light 55, and the pedestrian traffic light 56 are red lights.

In addition, the signal control device 2A determines the times t1 to t14 for each of the step steps 1 to 14 using the signal control parameters.

In this example, the signal control device 2A supplies power to the vehicle traffic lights 51 and 52 to turn on the green light signals through the power supply lines 71a, 71b, 72a, 72b, 73a, 73b, 74, and 75, as in the above example. The signal control device 2A also supplies power to turn on or blink the green light of the pedestrian traffic light 55 (55a to 55d) through the power supply line 76a. The signal control device 2A also supplies power to turn on or blink the green light of the pedestrian traffic light 56 (56a to 56d) through the power supply line 76b. The signal control device 2A also supplies power to turn on or blink the red light of the pedestrian traffic light 55 (55a to 55d) through the power supply line 77. The signal control device 2A also supplies power to turn on the red light of the pedestrian traffic light 56 (56a to 56d) through the power supply line 78.

As shown in FIG. 8, power supply lines 71a, 71b, 72a, 72b, 73a, 73b, 74, 75, 76a, 76b, 77, and 78 are branched at signal connection box 3A and connected to the light signals of the corresponding traffic lights (vehicle traffic lights 51 and 52 and pedestrian traffic lights 55 and 56).

In addition to the current sensors 61-65 of the above example, three current sensors 66-68 are connected to the signal information output device 1A of this modified example 1. Power supply lines 76a and 76b pass through the core of current sensor 66. Power supply line 77 passes through the core of current sensor 67. Power supply line 78 passes through the core of current sensor 68.

The traffic light information output device 1A of this modified example 2 processes the outputs of the eight connected current sensors 61-68 and determines the combination of current sensors 61-68 whose cores are connected to the power supply lines that supply power to turn on the light color signals for the traffic lights 51, 52, 55, and 56. This allows the traffic light information output device 1A of modified example 2 to determine the start timing of each of the staircase steps 1-14 shown in Figure 7.

As a result, the number of current sensors 61 to 65 connected to the signal information output device 1A in this example can be reduced, and the processing circuits that process the outputs of the current sensors 61 to 65 can be reduced. This makes it possible to reduce the size of the signal information output device 1 and the costs involved in building the system.

Modification 3
In the above-described modified example 2, one or both of the current sensors 67 and 68 may be omitted. This configuration can further reduce the number of current sensors connected to the signal information output device 1A. In addition, the signal information output device 1A can reduce the number of processing circuits that process the output of the current sensors.

Modification 4
In the above example, the power supply lines 71a and 71b are passed through the core of the current sensor 61, and the power supply lines 73a and 73b are passed through the core of the current sensor 63. However, the power supply lines 71a, 71b, 73a, and 73b may be passed through the core of the current sensor 61. With this configuration, the current sensor 63 can be made unnecessary.

Therefore, the number of current sensors connected to the signal information output device 1, 1A can be further reduced. In addition, the signal information output device 1, 1A can further reduce the processing circuitry that processes the output of the current sensors.

Modification 5
In the above-described second modified example, the power supply lines 72a, 72b are passed through the core of the current sensor 62, and the power supply lines 76a, 76b are passed through the core of the current sensor 66. However, the power supply lines 72a, 72b, 76a, 76b may be passed through the core of the current sensor 62. With this configuration, the current sensor 66 can be made unnecessary.

Therefore, the number of current sensors connected to the signal information output device 1, 1A can be further reduced. In addition, the signal information output device 1, 1A can further reduce the processing circuitry that processes the output of the current sensors.

The signal information output devices 1 and 1A described in the above-mentioned modified examples 1 to 5 also execute the process shown in FIG. 5.

In addition, in order to allow the signal information output device 1, 1A to accurately determine the timing at which the signal control device 2, 2A switches the step, it is preferable to configure the power supply lines that supply power to light color signals that are turned off and turned on at the same timing (for example, the green light of traffic light 51 and the yellow light of traffic light 51) not to pass through the core of the same current sensor.

Note that this invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and in the implementation stage, the components can be modified to a degree that does not deviate from the gist of the invention. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining multiple components disclosed in the above-described embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all of the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, components from different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

Furthermore, the correspondence between the configuration according to the present invention and the configuration according to the above-described embodiment can be described as follows.
<Additional Notes>
A memory unit (14) that stores transition patterns of the state of a light color signal for a plurality of traffic lights (51, 52) that are installed at an intersection and have different timings for switching the light color signal by a signal control device (2);
a connection section (12) to which a plurality of current sensors (61 to 65) are connected, the current sensors (61 to 65) being assigned to power supply lines (71a, 71b, 72a, 72b, 73a, 73b, 74, 75) that supply power for turning on the light color signal to the signal control device (2), and detecting currents flowing through the assigned power supply lines (71a, 71b, 72a, 72b, 73a, 73b, 74, 75);
a signal information generating unit (11c) that estimates a timing at which the signal control device (2) will transition the state of a light color signal of the traffic lights (51, 52) installed at the intersection, using the transition pattern stored in the memory unit (12) and the detection results of the plurality of current sensors (61 to 65), and generates signal information based on the estimation result;
an output unit (13) that outputs the signal information generated by the signal information generation unit (11c);
The signal information output device (1) is connected to the connection section (12) and has the current sensors (61 to 63) assigned to the power supply lines (71a, 71b), (72a, 72b), (73a, 73b)) that supply power to a plurality of light color signals that are turned on by the signal control device (2) during non-overlapping time periods.

1, 1A...signal information output device 2, 2A...signal control device 3, 3A...signal connection box 11...control unit 11a...timing detection unit 11b...stage judgment unit 11c...signal information generation unit 12...connection unit 13...output unit 14...memory unit 51 (51a, 51b), 52 (52a, 52b)...vehicle traffic light 55 (55a to 55d), 56 (56a to 56d)...pedestrian traffic light 61 to 68...current sensor 71a, 71b, 72a, 72b, 73a, 73b, 74, 75, 76a, 76b, 77, 78...power supply line

Claims (8)

A storage unit that stores transition patterns of a state of a light color signal for a plurality of traffic lights installed at an intersection and having different timings for switching the light color signal by a signal control device;
a connection section to which a plurality of current sensors are connected, the connection section being assigned to a power supply line that supplies power for turning on the light color signal by the signal control device, the connection section detecting a current flowing through the assigned power supply line;
a signal information generating unit that estimates a timing at which the signal control device will transition the state of the light color signal of the traffic light installed at the intersection, using the transition pattern stored in the storage unit and the detection results of the multiple current sensors, and generates signal information based on the estimation result;
an output unit that outputs the signal information generated by the signal information generation unit,
A signal information output device in which the current sensor is connected to the connection section, and a plurality of power supply lines are assigned to supply power to a plurality of light color signals that are turned on by the signal control device during non-overlapping time periods. The signal information output device according to claim 1, wherein the current sensor detects the current flowing through the power supply line passing through the core. The signal information output device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of power supply lines assigned to the current sensor have the same color of the light color signal that supplies power. The signal information output device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the multiple power supply lines assigned to the current sensor do not include a combination of power supply lines that supply power to the light color signal in which the timing at which the light is switched from the on state to the off state by the signal control device is the same as the timing at which the light is switched from the off state to the on state. The signal information output device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the current sensor is not assigned to a power supply line that supplies power to the red light signal of any of the traffic lights. The signal information output device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the traffic lights include a traffic light for vehicles and a traffic light for pedestrians. a memory unit that stores transition patterns of states of light color signals for a plurality of traffic lights installed at an intersection and having different timings for switching the light color signals by a signal control device; and a connection unit to which a plurality of current sensors that are assigned to a power supply line that supplies power for turning on the light color signals by the signal control device and that detect currents flowing through the assigned power supply line are connected,
A control unit of the signal information output device, in which the current sensor is connected to the connection unit, and a plurality of the power supply lines are assigned to supply power to a plurality of the light color signals that are turned on by the signal control device during time periods that do not overlap,
a signal information generating step of estimating a timing at which the signal control device will transition the state of the light color signal of the traffic light installed at the intersection, using the transition pattern stored in the storage unit and the detection results of the multiple current sensors, and generating signal information based on the estimation result;
an output step of outputting the signal information generated in the signal information generating step. a memory unit that stores transition patterns of states of light color signals for a plurality of traffic lights installed at an intersection and having different timings for switching the light color signals by a signal control device; and a connection unit to which a plurality of current sensors that are assigned to a power supply line that supplies power for turning on the light color signals by the signal control device and that detect currents flowing through the assigned power supply line are connected,
The connection unit is connected to the current sensor, to which a plurality of power supply lines are assigned to supply power to a plurality of light color signals that are turned on by the signal control device during non-overlapping time periods.
a signal information generating step of estimating a timing at which the signal control device will transition the state of the light color signal of the traffic light installed at the intersection, using the transition pattern stored in the storage unit and the detection results of the multiple current sensors, and generating signal information based on the estimation result;
and an output step of outputting the traffic light information generated in the traffic light information generating step.

Images