US3613074A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gap reduction through use of detectors
Assignee: EAGLE SIGNAL CONTROLS CORP A CORP OF DE
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Filing: 1969-06-19
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Granted: 1971-10-12
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Expires: 1989-06-19
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed an apparatus and method for controlling a traffic signal means for alternately allocating ''''go'''' and ''''stop'''' signals to at least a first and second conflicting traffic lane wherein the first traffic lane has vehicle detection means associated therewith for detecting vehicles in the first phase, the second traffic lane has at least a first and second detection means associated therewith for detecting vehicles in the second traffic lane, a first circuit means coupled to the vehicle detection means for developing a signal upon detection of a vehicle by the vehicle detection means; and, timing circuit means coupled to the first circuit means for deactivating the first detection means of the second traffic lane at a predetermined period of time after a signal is developed by the first circuit means in response to the detection of a vehicle by the vehicle detection means.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank W Hill
- 👤 William W Huppert
- 👤 James J Vandemore
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:11
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/07; G08G1/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
In a traffic control system for alternately allocating go and stop signals to at least a first and second conflicting traffic lane, said first traffic lane having vehicle detection means associated therewith for detecting vehicles in said first traffic lane; said second traffic lane having at least a first and second detections means associated therewith for, when activated, detecting vehicles in said second traffic lane; the combination with said vehicle detection means comprising: first circuit means coupled to said vehicle detection means for developing a signal upon detection of a vehicle by said vehicle detection means; means for activating said first and second detection means; second circuit means coupled to said first and second detection means for developing a control signal upon detection of a vehicle by either of said first or second detection means; and, timing circuit means coupled to said first detection means for deactivating said first detection means at the end of a predetermined period of time after a said signal is developed by said first circuit means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
In a traffic control system for alternately allocating go and stop signals to at least a first and second conflicting traffic lane, said first traffic lane having vehicle detection means associated therewith for detecting vehicles in said first traffic lane; said second traffic lane having at least a first and second detections means associated therewith for, when activated, detecting vehicles in said second traffic lane; the combination with said vehicle detection means comprising: first circuit means coupled to said vehicle detection means for developing a signal upon detection of a vehicle by said vehicle detection means; means for activating said first and second detection means; second circuit means coupled to said first and second detection means for developing a control signal upon detection of a vehicle by either of said first or second detection means; and, timing circuit means coupled to said first detection means for deactivating said first detection means at the end of a predetermined period of time after a said signal is developed by said first circuit means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second detection means are generally situated along a line extending substantially parallel to the axis of said second traffic lane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 including circuit means for maintaining said second detection means in an activated condition for a said predetermined period of time after a signal is provided by said first circuit means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein the space between said first and said second detection means is less than 12 feet so that when said first and second detection means are activated, a continuous control signal is developed by said second circuit means upon passage of traffic from said first to said second detection means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination set forth in claim 3 including a third detection means associated with said second traffic lane for detecting vehicles in said second lane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said first, second, and third detection means are spaced substantially linearly with respect to each other so that a zone of influence defined by the activated detection means reduces linearly upon deactivation of said second and third detection means respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said first, second, and third detection means are spaced substantially with respect to each other so that a zone of influence defined by the activated detection means reduces exponentially upon deactivation of said second and third detection means respectively.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said first, second, and third detection means are generally located along a line extending substantially parallel with the axis of said second traffic lane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The combination set forth in claim 5 including circuit means coupled to said third detection means for deactivating said third detection means at a third predetermined period of time after a said signal is provided by said first circuit means upon actuation of said vehicle detection means of said first traffic lane.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said timing circuit means is coupled to said first and said second detection means for deenergizing said first and said second detection means at a first and second predetermined period of time, respectively, after a said signal is provided by said first circuit means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
120 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said timing circuit means includes generator circuit means for, upon receipt of a said signal from said first circuit means, developing a timing signal which increases in value with respect to time; and comparator circuit means having a first and second condition and an output circuit means for deactivating said first detection means when said comparator circuit means is actuated to said second condition; said comparator circuit means for monitoring said timing signal developed by said generator circuit means so that when timing signal attains a predetermined level said comparator circuit means is actuated from said first condition to said second condition to thereby cause said first detection means to become deactivated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
The combination set forth in claim 11 wherein said output circuit means of said comparator circuit means includes an electronic control means being normally conductive, and upon actuation of said comparator circuit means from said first condition to said second condition, said electronic control means becomes nonconductive to thereby deactivate said first deTection means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for activating said first and second detection means includes scanner circuit means for selectively activating said first and said second detection means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
61 words
The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said first detection means includes a sensing means for detecting the presence of traffic situated within a first predetermined area within said second traffic lane; and said second detection means includes a sensing means for detecting the presence of traffic situated situated a second predetermined area being larger than said first predetermined area.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
282 words
A method of controlling the operation of a traffic signal means for allocating go and stop signals to at least a first and second conflicting traffic lane by utilizing vehicle detection means associated with said first traffic lane, first and second detection means associated with said second traffic lane, first circuit means coupled to said vehicle detection means and comprising the steps of: a. activating said traffic signal means to display a stop signal in one of said traffic lanes and a go signal in the other one of said traffic lanes; b. activating said first, second and vehicle detection means; c. detecting traffic in one of said traffic lanes with said vehicle detection means; d. developing a signal with said first circuit means in response to a said detection of traffic by said vehicle detection means; e. detecting traffic in the other of said traffic lanes with said first and second detection means; f. developing control signals with said first and second detection means in response to the detection of a vehicle by said first and said second detection means, respectively; g. applying said control signals developed by said first and said second detection means to a said traffic signal means to thereby allocate said go and stop signals to said traffic lanes; h. deactivating said first detection means at a predetermined period of time after a said signal is developed by said first circuit means so that at a said predetermined period of time after a signal is developed by said first circuit means the first detection means becomes ineffective in controlling the operation of a said traffic signal means in allocating go and stop signals to said traffic lanes.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
282 words
A method of controlling the operation of a traffic signal means for allocating go and stop signals to at least a first and second conflicting traffic lane by utilizing vehicle detection means associated with said first traffic lane, first and second detection means associated with said second traffic lane, first circuit means coupled to said vehicle detection means and comprising the steps of: a. activating said traffic signal means to display a stop signal in one of said traffic lanes and a go signal in the other one of said traffic lanes; b. activating said first, second and vehicle detection means; c. detecting traffic in one of said traffic lanes with said vehicle detection means; d. developing a signal with said first circuit means in response to a said detection of traffic by said vehicle detection means; e. detecting traffic in the other of said traffic lanes with said first and second detection means; f. developing control signals with said first and second detection means in response to the detection of a vehicle by said first and said second detection means, respectively; g. applying said control signals developed by said first and said second detection means to a said traffic signal means to thereby allocate said go and stop signals to said traffic lanes; h. deactivating said first detection means at a predetermined period of time after a said signal is developed by said first circuit means so that at a said predetermined period of time after a signal is developed by said first circuit means the first detection means becomes ineffective in controlling the operation of a said traffic signal means in allocating go and stop signals to said traffic lanes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
89 words
A method of controlling the operation of a traffic signal means as set forth in claim 15 including the additional step of deactivating said second detection means at a second predetermined period of time after a signal is developed by said first circuit means so that at said second predetermined period of time after a signal is developed by said first circuit means, the second detection means becomes ineffective in controlling the operation of a said traffic signal means in allocating go and stop signals to said traffic lanes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of controlling the operation of a traffic signal means as set forth in claim 15 including the additional step of reactivating said first detection means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method of controlling the operation of a traffic signal means as set forth in claim 16 including the additional step of reactivating said first and said second detection means.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
245 words
A method of controlling the operation of a traffic signal means for allocating go and stop signals to at least a first and second conflicting traffic lane by utilizing vehicle detection means associated with said first traffic lane, N detection means associated with said second traffic lane, first circuit means coupled to said vehicle detection means, and N circuit means each respectively coupled to one of said N detection means and comprising the steps of: a. activating said traffic signal means to display a stop signal to one of said traffic lanes and a go signal to the other one of said traffic lanes; b. activating said vehicle detection means and said N detection means; c. detecting traffic in one of said traffic lanes with said vEhicle detection means; d. developing a signal with said first circuit means in response to a said detection of traffic by said vehicle detection means; e. detecting traffic in the other of said traffic lanes with said N detection means; f. developing control signals with said N circuit means in response to the detection of a vehicle by any of said N detection means; g. applying said control signals developed by said N circuit means to a said traffic signal means to thereby allocate said go and stop signals to said traffic lanes; and, h. deactivating one of said N detection means at a predetermined period of time after a said signal is developed by said first circuit means.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
245 words
A method of controlling the operation of a traffic signal means for allocating go and stop signals to at least a first and second conflicting traffic lane by utilizing vehicle detection means associated with said first traffic lane, N detection means associated with said second traffic lane, first circuit means coupled to said vehicle detection means, and N circuit means each respectively coupled to one of said N detection means and comprising the steps of: a. activating said traffic signal means to display a stop signal to one of said traffic lanes and a go signal to the other one of said traffic lanes; b. activating said vehicle detection means and said N detection means; c. detecting traffic in one of said traffic lanes with said vEhicle detection means; d. developing a signal with said first circuit means in response to a said detection of traffic by said vehicle detection means; e. detecting traffic in the other of said traffic lanes with said N detection means; f. developing control signals with said N circuit means in response to the detection of a vehicle by any of said N detection means; g. applying said control signals developed by said N circuit means to a said traffic signal means to thereby allocate said go and stop signals to said traffic lanes; and, h. deactivating one of said N detection means at a predetermined period of time after a said signal is developed by said first circuit means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method of controlling the operation of a traffic signal means as set forth in claim 19 including the additional steps of sequentially deactivating the others of said N circuit means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of controlling the operation of a traffic signal means as set forth in claim 19 including the additional steps of sequentially deactivating N-1 of the others of said N circuit means.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of controlling the operation of a traffic signal means for allocating go and stop signals to at least a first and second conflicting traffic lane by utilizing at least first and second detection means associated with one of said traffic lanes and means for allocating a go signal periodically to vehicles in a second lane intersecting said one lane and comprising the steps of: a. positioning said first and second detection means generally along a line parallel to the axis of said one traffic lane; b. activating said first and second detection means; c. developing periodic control signals for activating a go signal in said second lane; d. developing control signals with said first and second detection means in response to the detection of a vehicle by said first and second detection means; e. applying said control signals to said traffic control means to thereby allocate said go and stop signals to said traffic lanes; f. deactivating said first detection means at a predetermined time after each development of said first-mentioned control signals so that said first detection means is ineffective in controlling the operation of a said traffic signal means in allocating go and stop signals to said traffic lanes.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of controlling the operation of a traffic signal means for allocating go and stop signals to at least a first and second conflicting traffic lane by utilizing at least first and second detection means associated with one of said traffic lanes and means for allocating a go signal periodically to vehicles in a second lane intersecting said one lane and comprising the steps of: a. positioning said first and second detection means generally along a line parallel to the axis of said one traffic lane; b. activating said first and second detection means; c. developing periodic control signals for activating a go signal in said second lane; d. developing control signals with said first and second detection means in response to the detection of a vehicle by said first and second detection means; e. applying said control signals to said traffic control means to thereby allocate said go and stop signals to said traffic lanes; f. deactivating said first detection means at a predetermined time after each development of said first-mentioned control signals so that said first detection means is ineffective in controlling the operation of a said traffic signal means in allocating go and stop signals to said traffic lanes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB1076926A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-11 | 1975-04-12 | 1975-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-11 | 1979-04-12 | 1979-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-11 | 1983-04-12 | 1983-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |