US3582876A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Traffic responsive control system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-03-18
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Granted: 1971-06-01
•
Expires: 1988-03-18
Abstract
Abstract In order to provide efficient and safe traffic control at a signal intersection, a system is shown for operating the signal sequence according to detection of the approach, presence and passage of vehicles relative to the intersection. Each approach lane to the intersection is provided with traffic detector, such as an induction loop detector for sensing the presence of an automobile within a circumscribed area. Utilizing this detection feature to its fullest extent, logic circuitry is described responsive to the information generated by the loop detectors and operating the signals, for providing directional traffic flow primarily in accordance with the instantaneous, clear space available within the intersection and protection against conflicting signal indications. Additionally, the circuitry in its preferred form is modulized to provide a separate control unit for each direction of traffic, which units may be conveniently interconnected for providing a wide variety of intersection control functions.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Urbaniak
- 👤 Howard Carmack
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 21:44
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/07; G08G1/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
904 words
A system for controlling traffic through an intersection having at least first and second approaches thereto, wherein the traffic in said first approach is characterized by vehicles exhibiting a substantial magnetizable mass, comprising in combination: first detector means associated with the first approach characterized by an electromagnetic sensor productive of an electromagnetic field within a region of the first approach proximate the intersection and being responsive to such vehicles within said field to assume its actuated condition, and having a rest condition and an actuated condition and being responsive to the presence of traffic in the first approach to assume its actuated condition; second detector means associated with the second approach characterized by having a rest condition and an actuated Condition and being responsive to the presence of traffic in the second approach to assume its actuated condition; first detector controlled switching means operatively connected to said first detector means and having first and second modes, said first switching means being responsive to said first detector means in its rest condition to assume its first mode and being responsive to said first detector means in its actuated condition to assume its second mode; second detector controlled switching means operatively connected to said second detector means and having first and second modes, said second switching means being responsive to said second detector means in its rest condition to assume its first mode and being responsive to said second detector means in its actuated condition to assume its second mode; supervisory circuit means operatively connected to said first and second switching means and having first and second states, said supervisory circuit means being responsive to said first switching means in its second mode to assume its first state and being responsive to said second switching means in its second mode and said first switching means in its first mode to assume its second state; first traffic signal means characterized by having mutually exclusive stop and proceed traffic directory conditions and positioned to indicate its condition to traffic in the first approach, said first signal means operatively connected to said supervisory circuit means together with said first switching means and being responsive to said supervisory switching means in its first state and said first switching means in its second mode to assume its proceed condition and responsive to said supervisory circuit means in its second state to assume its stop condition; second traffic signal means characterized by having mutually exclusive stop and proceed traffic directory conditions and positioned to indicate its condition to traffic in the second approach, said second signal means operatively connected to said supervisory circuit means together with said second switching means and being responsive to said supervisory circuit means in its second state and said second switching means in its second mode to assume its proceed condition and responsive to said supervisory circuit means in its first state to assume its stop condition; first prevent switching means operatively connected to said first and second switching means and said supervisory circuit means and having a normal mode and a disabling mode, said first switching means responsive to said prevent switching means in its disabling mode to assume and remain in its first mode, said prevent switching means being responsive to said supervisory circuit means in its second state and said second switching means in its second mode to assume its disabling mode; first time out switching means operatively connected to said first and prevent switching means, said time out switching means responsive to said first switching means in its second mode to actuate said prevent switching means to its disabling mode after a preselected time interval with said supervisory circuit means in its first state and said second switching means in its second mode; second prevent switching means and second time out switching means operatively connected to said second switching means and said supervisory circuit means, said second prevent switching means having a normal mode and a disabling mode, said second switching means responsive to said second prevent switching means in its disabling mode to assume and remain in its first mode, said second prevent switching means responsive to said second time out switching means to assume its disabling mode after a preselected time interval with said supervisory circuit means in its second state and said second switching means in its second mode; advance detector means having a rest condition and an actuated condition and being characterized by an electromagnetic sensor productivE of an electromagnetic field and responsive to the presence of such vehicles within said field to assume its actuated condition, said advance detector means positioned to arrange its field within said approach adjacent the field of said first detector on the side thereof opposite the intersection to respond to such vehicles approaching the intersection prior to the response of said first detector means; and advance timer switching means operatively connected to aforesaid first switching means and said advance detector means and having a normal state and a disabling state, said first switching means being responsive to said advance detector means in its actuated condition and said advance timer switching means in its normal state to assume its second mode, said advance timer switching means being responsive to said first switching means in its first mode to assume its normal state and responsive to said first switching means being in its second mode for a preselected time interval to assume its disabling state.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
904 words
A system for controlling traffic through an intersection having at least first and second approaches thereto, wherein the traffic in said first approach is characterized by vehicles exhibiting a substantial magnetizable mass, comprising in combination: first detector means associated with the first approach characterized by an electromagnetic sensor productive of an electromagnetic field within a region of the first approach proximate the intersection and being responsive to such vehicles within said field to assume its actuated condition, and having a rest condition and an actuated condition and being responsive to the presence of traffic in the first approach to assume its actuated condition; second detector means associated with the second approach characterized by having a rest condition and an actuated Condition and being responsive to the presence of traffic in the second approach to assume its actuated condition; first detector controlled switching means operatively connected to said first detector means and having first and second modes, said first switching means being responsive to said first detector means in its rest condition to assume its first mode and being responsive to said first detector means in its actuated condition to assume its second mode; second detector controlled switching means operatively connected to said second detector means and having first and second modes, said second switching means being responsive to said second detector means in its rest condition to assume its first mode and being responsive to said second detector means in its actuated condition to assume its second mode; supervisory circuit means operatively connected to said first and second switching means and having first and second states, said supervisory circuit means being responsive to said first switching means in its second mode to assume its first state and being responsive to said second switching means in its second mode and said first switching means in its first mode to assume its second state; first traffic signal means characterized by having mutually exclusive stop and proceed traffic directory conditions and positioned to indicate its condition to traffic in the first approach, said first signal means operatively connected to said supervisory circuit means together with said first switching means and being responsive to said supervisory switching means in its first state and said first switching means in its second mode to assume its proceed condition and responsive to said supervisory circuit means in its second state to assume its stop condition; second traffic signal means characterized by having mutually exclusive stop and proceed traffic directory conditions and positioned to indicate its condition to traffic in the second approach, said second signal means operatively connected to said supervisory circuit means together with said second switching means and being responsive to said supervisory circuit means in its second state and said second switching means in its second mode to assume its proceed condition and responsive to said supervisory circuit means in its first state to assume its stop condition; first prevent switching means operatively connected to said first and second switching means and said supervisory circuit means and having a normal mode and a disabling mode, said first switching means responsive to said prevent switching means in its disabling mode to assume and remain in its first mode, said prevent switching means being responsive to said supervisory circuit means in its second state and said second switching means in its second mode to assume its disabling mode; first time out switching means operatively connected to said first and prevent switching means, said time out switching means responsive to said first switching means in its second mode to actuate said prevent switching means to its disabling mode after a preselected time interval with said supervisory circuit means in its first state and said second switching means in its second mode; second prevent switching means and second time out switching means operatively connected to said second switching means and said supervisory circuit means, said second prevent switching means having a normal mode and a disabling mode, said second switching means responsive to said second prevent switching means in its disabling mode to assume and remain in its first mode, said second prevent switching means responsive to said second time out switching means to assume its disabling mode after a preselected time interval with said supervisory circuit means in its second state and said second switching means in its second mode; advance detector means having a rest condition and an actuated condition and being characterized by an electromagnetic sensor productivE of an electromagnetic field and responsive to the presence of such vehicles within said field to assume its actuated condition, said advance detector means positioned to arrange its field within said approach adjacent the field of said first detector on the side thereof opposite the intersection to respond to such vehicles approaching the intersection prior to the response of said first detector means; and advance timer switching means operatively connected to aforesaid first switching means and said advance detector means and having a normal state and a disabling state, said first switching means being responsive to said advance detector means in its actuated condition and said advance timer switching means in its normal state to assume its second mode, said advance timer switching means being responsive to said first switching means in its first mode to assume its normal state and responsive to said first switching means being in its second mode for a preselected time interval to assume its disabling state.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
702 words
A system for controlling traffic through an intersection having at least first and second approaches thereto, wherein the traffic in the second approach is composed of pedestrians, comprising in combination: first detector means associated with the first approach characterized by having a rest condition and an actuated condition and being responsive to the presence of traffic in the first approach to assume its actuated condition; second detector means associated with the second approach characterized by a manually operated switch disposed for operation by the pedestrians and responsive to such operation to momentarily assume its activated condition and having a rest condition and an actuated condition and being responsive to the presence of traffic in the second approach to assume its actuated condition; first detector controlled switching means operatively connected to said first detector means hand having first and second modes, said first switching means being responsive to said first detector means in its rest condition to assume its first mode and being responsive to said first detector means in its actuated condition to assume its second mode; second detector controlled switching means operatively connected to said second detector means and having first and second modes, said second switching means being responsive to said second detector means in its rest condition to assume its first mode and being responsive to said second detector means in its actuated condition to assume its second mode; supervisory circuit means operatively connected to said first and second switching means and having first and second states, said supervisory circuit means being responsive to said first switching means in its second mode to assume its first state and being responsive to said second switching means in its second mode and said first switching means in its first mode to assume its second state; first traffic signal means characterized by having mutually exclusive stop and proceed traffic directory conditions and positioned to indicate its condition to traffic in the first approach, said first signal means operatively connected to said supervisory circuit means together with said first switching means and being responsive to said supervisory switching means in its first state and said first switching means in its second mode to assume its proceed condition and responsive to said supervisory circuit means in its second state to assume its stop condition; second traffic signal means characterized by having mutually exclusive stop and proceed traffic directory conditions and positioned to indicate its condition to traffic in the second approach, said second signal means operatively connected to said supervisory circuit means together with said second switching means and being responsive to said supervisory circuit means in its second state and said second switching means in its second mode to assume its proceed condition and responsive to sAid supervisory circuit means in its first state to assume its stop condition; first prevent switching means operatively connected to said first and second switching means and said supervisory circuit means and having a normal mode and a disabling mode, said first switching means responsive to said prevent switching means in its disabling mode to assume and remain in its first mode, said prevent switching means being responsive to said supervisory circuit means in its second state and said second switching means in its second mode to assume its disabling mode; first time out switching means operatively connected to said first and prevent switching means, said time out switching means responsive to said first switching means in its second mode to actuate said prevent switching means to its disabling mode after a preselected time interval with said supervisory circuit means in its first state and said second switching means in its second mode; and a pedestrian timer switching means operatively connected between said second detector means and second switching means and having a normal state and an actuated state, said pedestrian timer switching means operative in its normal state to maintain said second switching means in its first mode and operative in its timing state to activate said second switching means to its second mode for a preselected time interval, said pedestrian timer switching means responsive to said second detector means being momentarily in its activated condition to assume its timing state until termination of said interval.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
702 words
A system for controlling traffic through an intersection having at least first and second approaches thereto, wherein the traffic in the second approach is composed of pedestrians, comprising in combination: first detector means associated with the first approach characterized by having a rest condition and an actuated condition and being responsive to the presence of traffic in the first approach to assume its actuated condition; second detector means associated with the second approach characterized by a manually operated switch disposed for operation by the pedestrians and responsive to such operation to momentarily assume its activated condition and having a rest condition and an actuated condition and being responsive to the presence of traffic in the second approach to assume its actuated condition; first detector controlled switching means operatively connected to said first detector means hand having first and second modes, said first switching means being responsive to said first detector means in its rest condition to assume its first mode and being responsive to said first detector means in its actuated condition to assume its second mode; second detector controlled switching means operatively connected to said second detector means and having first and second modes, said second switching means being responsive to said second detector means in its rest condition to assume its first mode and being responsive to said second detector means in its actuated condition to assume its second mode; supervisory circuit means operatively connected to said first and second switching means and having first and second states, said supervisory circuit means being responsive to said first switching means in its second mode to assume its first state and being responsive to said second switching means in its second mode and said first switching means in its first mode to assume its second state; first traffic signal means characterized by having mutually exclusive stop and proceed traffic directory conditions and positioned to indicate its condition to traffic in the first approach, said first signal means operatively connected to said supervisory circuit means together with said first switching means and being responsive to said supervisory switching means in its first state and said first switching means in its second mode to assume its proceed condition and responsive to said supervisory circuit means in its second state to assume its stop condition; second traffic signal means characterized by having mutually exclusive stop and proceed traffic directory conditions and positioned to indicate its condition to traffic in the second approach, said second signal means operatively connected to said supervisory circuit means together with said second switching means and being responsive to said supervisory circuit means in its second state and said second switching means in its second mode to assume its proceed condition and responsive to sAid supervisory circuit means in its first state to assume its stop condition; first prevent switching means operatively connected to said first and second switching means and said supervisory circuit means and having a normal mode and a disabling mode, said first switching means responsive to said prevent switching means in its disabling mode to assume and remain in its first mode, said prevent switching means being responsive to said supervisory circuit means in its second state and said second switching means in its second mode to assume its disabling mode; first time out switching means operatively connected to said first and prevent switching means, said time out switching means responsive to said first switching means in its second mode to actuate said prevent switching means to its disabling mode after a preselected time interval with said supervisory circuit means in its first state and said second switching means in its second mode; and a pedestrian timer switching means operatively connected between said second detector means and second switching means and having a normal state and an actuated state, said pedestrian timer switching means operative in its normal state to maintain said second switching means in its first mode and operative in its timing state to activate said second switching means to its second mode for a preselected time interval, said pedestrian timer switching means responsive to said second detector means being momentarily in its activated condition to assume its timing state until termination of said interval.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
86 words
A system as defined in claim 2, further comprising prevent timer switching means operatively connected between said second detector means and said pedestrian timer switching means and having a normal mode and a disabling mode, said prevent timer switching means operative in said normal mode to permit said pedestrian timer switching means to assume its normal and timing states in aforesaid response to said second detector means and operative in its disabling mode to render said pedestrian timer switching means nonresponsive to said second detector means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
570 words
A control unit for use in a traffic control system having a traffic detector associated with one approach to an intersection and productive of an electrical signal in response to traffic therein and an electrically operated traffic signal having separate proceed, caution and stop conditions also associated with such approach and electrical control means for regulating traffic associated with another approach to the intersection productive of an electrical signal indicating its instant mode of operation and reception of a source of operating power, wherein the control unit comprises; a detector input adapted to be connected to the detector for receiving the electrical signal therefrom, a first electrical power input adapted to receive a controlled source of electrical power; a second electrical power input adapted to receive a continuous source of electrical power; a release input adapted to be connected to the control means for receiving the electrical signal indicative of the instant operational mode thereof; an electrical power output adapted to be connected to the control means unit for providing the controlled source of power therefor; traffic signal proceed, caution and stop outputs adapted to be connected to the traffic signals for providing electrical signals separately actuating its proceed, caution and stop conditions; detector controlled switching means having first and second modes and being connected to said detector input, and said first power input, said detector controlled switching means being responsive to said detector input to assume its first or second modes in response to the electrical signal appearing thereat; supervisory circuit means having first and second states and being connected to said detector controlled switching means, said first electrical power input, said release input, said eleCtrical power output and said traffic signal proceed and caution outputs, said supervisory circuit means being responsive to said detector controlled switching means in its second mode to assume its first state and being responsive to said detector controlled switching means in its first mode and the controlled source of power appearing at said first power input and the electrical signal appearing at said release input to assume its second state, said electrical power output being responsive to said supervisory circuit means in its second mode and the controlled source of power appearing at said first power input to provide the controlled source of power for the control means, said traffic signal proceed output being responsive to said supervisory circuit means in its first state and said detector controlled switching means in its second mode, and the controlled source of power appearing at the said first power input to provide the electrical signal for actuating the traffic signal to its proceed condition; and caution timer switching means having a normal and an actuated state and being connected to said supervisory circuit means, said detector controlled switching means, said second power input, said traffic signal caution output and stop output, said caution timer switching means being responsive to said supervisory circuit means in its first state and said detector controlled switching means in its second mode and the controlled source of power appearing at said first power input to assume its actuated state being responsive to said detector controlled switching means resuming its first mode to assume its normal state after a preselected interval, said traffic signal caution output being responsive to said caution timer switching means in its normal state to provide the electrical signal for actuating the traffic signal to its stop condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
570 words
A control unit for use in a traffic control system having a traffic detector associated with one approach to an intersection and productive of an electrical signal in response to traffic therein and an electrically operated traffic signal having separate proceed, caution and stop conditions also associated with such approach and electrical control means for regulating traffic associated with another approach to the intersection productive of an electrical signal indicating its instant mode of operation and reception of a source of operating power, wherein the control unit comprises; a detector input adapted to be connected to the detector for receiving the electrical signal therefrom, a first electrical power input adapted to receive a controlled source of electrical power; a second electrical power input adapted to receive a continuous source of electrical power; a release input adapted to be connected to the control means for receiving the electrical signal indicative of the instant operational mode thereof; an electrical power output adapted to be connected to the control means unit for providing the controlled source of power therefor; traffic signal proceed, caution and stop outputs adapted to be connected to the traffic signals for providing electrical signals separately actuating its proceed, caution and stop conditions; detector controlled switching means having first and second modes and being connected to said detector input, and said first power input, said detector controlled switching means being responsive to said detector input to assume its first or second modes in response to the electrical signal appearing thereat; supervisory circuit means having first and second states and being connected to said detector controlled switching means, said first electrical power input, said release input, said eleCtrical power output and said traffic signal proceed and caution outputs, said supervisory circuit means being responsive to said detector controlled switching means in its second mode to assume its first state and being responsive to said detector controlled switching means in its first mode and the controlled source of power appearing at said first power input and the electrical signal appearing at said release input to assume its second state, said electrical power output being responsive to said supervisory circuit means in its second mode and the controlled source of power appearing at said first power input to provide the controlled source of power for the control means, said traffic signal proceed output being responsive to said supervisory circuit means in its first state and said detector controlled switching means in its second mode, and the controlled source of power appearing at the said first power input to provide the electrical signal for actuating the traffic signal to its proceed condition; and caution timer switching means having a normal and an actuated state and being connected to said supervisory circuit means, said detector controlled switching means, said second power input, said traffic signal caution output and stop output, said caution timer switching means being responsive to said supervisory circuit means in its first state and said detector controlled switching means in its second mode and the controlled source of power appearing at said first power input to assume its actuated state being responsive to said detector controlled switching means resuming its first mode to assume its normal state after a preselected interval, said traffic signal caution output being responsive to said caution timer switching means in its normal state to provide the electrical signal for actuating the traffic signal to its stop condition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
100 words
In a system as defined in claim 4, wherein the control means is receptive to an electrical signal indicating the instant operational mode of the control unit and the control unit further comprises; a rest output adapted to be connected to the control means, said rest output being connected to said detector controlled switching means and said caution timer switching means and being responsive to said detector controlled switching means in its second mode or said caution timer switching means in its actuated state to provide the electrical signal at said rest output indicating the mode of the control unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
93 words
In a system as defined in claim 4, the control unit further comprising; a prevent switching means connected to said detector controlled switching means, said supervisory circuit means and said release input and having a normal mode and a disabling mode, said detector controlled switching means being responsive to said prevent switching means in its disabling mode to assume and remain in its first mode, said prevent switching means responsive to said supervisory circuit means in its second state and the electrical signal appearing at said release input to assume its actuated mode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
81 words
In a system as defined in claim 4, the control unit further comprising; time out switching means connected to said detector controlled switching means and said prevent switching means, said prevent switching means being responsive to said time out switching means and said detector controlled switching means in its second mode and said supervisory circuit means in its first state and the presence of the electrical signal at said release input for a preselected time interval to assume its disabling mode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
In a system as defined in claim 4, wherein said supervisory circuit means is responsive to said caution time switching means being in its actuated state to remain in its first state.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
In a system as defined in claim 6, the control unit as defined, wherein said prevent switching means is responsive to said caution timer switching means in its actuated state and said detector controlled switching means in Its first mode to assume its disabling mode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
171 words
In a system as defined in claim 4, further characterized by an additional traffic detector associated with the first named approach and productive of an electrical signal indicative of traffic conditions therein in advance of the first named detector, and the control unit further comprising; an advance detector input adapted to be connected to the addition detector for receiving the electrical signal therefrom; and advance timer switching means having a normal state and a disabling state and being connected to said advance detector input and said detector controlled switching means, said detector controlled switching means being responsive to the electrical signal appearing at said advance detector input when said advance timer switching means is in its normal state to assume its first and second modes, said advance timer switching means being responsive to said detector controlled switching means being in its second mode for a preselected time interval to assume its disabling state and being responsive to said detector controlled switching means in its first mode to assume its normal state.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
152 words
In a system as defined in claim 5, further characterized by the traffic in the first named approach being composed of pedestrians and the detector being a manually operated switch providing the electrical signal therefor, pedestrian timer switching means connected to said detector input and said detector controlled switching means and having a normal state and an actuated state, said detector controlled switching means being responsive to said pedestrian timer switching means in its actuated state to assume its second mode for a preselected time interval, said pedestrian timer switching means being responsive to the electrical signal appearing at said detector input and the source of power at said second power input to assume and remain in its actuated state and being responsive to said supervisory circuit means being in its first state and said detector controlled switching means being in its second mode for said interval to assume its normal state.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
94 words
In a system as defined in claim 11, the control unit further comprising; prevent timer switching means connected between said detector input and said pedestrian timer switching means and having a normal mode and a disabling mode, said pedestrian timer switching means being responsive to said detector input, said prevent timer switching means further being connected to said second power input and said caution timer switching means and being responsive to said second power input and said caution timer switching means in its actuated state to assume its disabling mode for a preselected interval.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-31 | 1974-11-30 | 1975-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-31 | 1978-11-30 | 1979-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-31 | 1982-11-30 | 1983-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |