US3618004A — Coordination of full actuated traffic controllers

Claim 1

Independent Claim 293 words

A coordination unit for coordinating the operation of a fullactuated traffic controller in an interconnected signalized system, said controller serving to control a traffic signal which displays go, caution and stop signals for at least two traffic phases each having associated therewith traffic detector means for detecting traffic in their respective phase and developing a go termination control signal for one phase in response to the detection of traffic in another phase, said controller having control circuit means, each associated with one of said phases; each said control circuit means including go interval terminating means for, upon receipt of a said control signal by the control circuit means associated with a second phase, terminating the display of said go signal for a first phase; said coordination unit comprising: background-cycle means for cyclically timing successive background cycles, each having a predetermined time duration; means for dividing each said background cycle into at least two timed background intervals respectively associated with each of said phases; actuatable means responsive during one of said associated background intervals for directly connecting one of said traffic detector means to an associated one of said control circuit means for the duration of said one associated background interval so that a said traffic detection responsive control signal developed by said one traffic detector means is applied to said one control circuit means only during said one associated background interval; and, actuatable means responsive during another of the said associated background intervals for directly connecting the other said traffic detector means to the other associated one of said control circuit means so that a said traffic detection responsive control signal developed by the other traffic detector means is applied to the other control circuit means only during said other associated background interval.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 293 words

A coordination unit for coordinating the operation of a fullactuated traffic controller in an interconnected signalized system, said controller serving to control a traffic signal which displays go, caution and stop signals for at least two traffic phases each having associated therewith traffic detector means for detecting traffic in their respective phase and developing a go termination control signal for one phase in response to the detection of traffic in another phase, said controller having control circuit means, each associated with one of said phases; each said control circuit means including go interval terminating means for, upon receipt of a said control signal by the control circuit means associated with a second phase, terminating the display of said go signal for a first phase; said coordination unit comprising: background-cycle means for cyclically timing successive background cycles, each having a predetermined time duration; means for dividing each said background cycle into at least two timed background intervals respectively associated with each of said phases; actuatable means responsive during one of said associated background intervals for directly connecting one of said traffic detector means to an associated one of said control circuit means for the duration of said one associated background interval so that a said traffic detection responsive control signal developed by said one traffic detector means is applied to said one control circuit means only during said one associated background interval; and, actuatable means responsive during another of the said associated background intervals for directly connecting the other said traffic detector means to the other associated one of said control circuit means so that a said traffic detection responsive control signal developed by the other traffic detector means is applied to the other control circuit means only during said other associated background interval.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 113 words

A coordination unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said dividing means divides said background cycle so as to include for each phase a second background interval which commences substantially upon termination of said first background interval; and, said coordination unit includes for each phase, actuatable memory means for storing a said go interval termination signal during an associated said second background interval, said acutatable memory means having an input circuit means for receiving a said go interval termination signal during an associated said second background interval and an output circuit means for applying said stored signal to an associated control circuit means upon termination of an associated said second background interval.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 89 words

A coordination unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein each said actuatable means includes actuatable control means having a first and second condition, said control circuit means being coupled to said background-cycle timing means for actuating each said control circuit means to said first condition during the associated said background interval and to said second condition during the remainder of the associated said background interval so that said signals developed by said traffic detector means are applied to said control circuit means only during the associated background intervals.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 32 words

A coordination unit as set forth in claim 3 wherein each said actuatable control means is connected directly between the associated said traffic detector means and the associated said control circuit means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 29 words

A coordination unit as set forth in claim 4 wherein said dividing means is adjustable for adjustably dividing said background cycle into timed background intervals of desired timed durations.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 44 words

A coordination unit as set forth in claim 5 wherein said background-cycle timing means includes a motor driven coordination dial and wherein said dividing means includes a plurality of switch actuator keys carried by said dial at preselected angularly spaced locations on said dial.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 100 words

A coordination unit as set forth in claim 2 wherein each said actuatable memory means includes an actuatable control means, for upon energization, storing a said go termination control signal; and swiTch means associated with each said actuatable control means for coupling each said actuatable control means to a voltage supply source during an associated said second background interval; and said traffic detector means, upon detection of traffic, coupling said actuatable control means to another source of potential so that said actuatable control means is energized during said second background interval upon detection of traffic by said traffic detector means.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 291 words

A coordination unit for coordinating the operation of a full-actuated traffic controller in an interconnected signalized system, said controller serving to control a traffic signal which displays go, caution and stop signals for at least two traffic phases each having associated therewith traffic detector means for detecting traffic in their respective phase and developing a go interval initiation control signal for any phase in response to the detection of traffic in such phase, said controller having phase detector input circuit means, each associated with one of said phases for, upon receipt of a said go interval initiation control signal associated with a phase developing a signal for commencing the display of said go signal for the associated phase; said coordination unit comprising: background cycle means for cyclically timing successive background intervals each having a predetermined time duration; means for dividing each said background cycle into at least two time background intervals respectively associated with each of said phases; actuatable means responsive during one of said associated background intervals for coupling one of said traffic detector means to an associated one of said phase detector input circuit means for the duration of said one associated interval so that a said go interval initiation control signal developed by said one traffic detector means is applied to said one phase detector input circuit means only during said one associated background interval; and, actuatable means responsive during the other said associated interval for coupling the other said traffic detector means to the other associated one of said phase detector input circuit means so that a said go interval initiation control signal developed by the other traffic detector means is applied to the other phase detector input circuit means only during said other associated background interval.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 291 words

A coordination unit for coordinating the operation of a full-actuated traffic controller in an interconnected signalized system, said controller serving to control a traffic signal which displays go, caution and stop signals for at least two traffic phases each having associated therewith traffic detector means for detecting traffic in their respective phase and developing a go interval initiation control signal for any phase in response to the detection of traffic in such phase, said controller having phase detector input circuit means, each associated with one of said phases for, upon receipt of a said go interval initiation control signal associated with a phase developing a signal for commencing the display of said go signal for the associated phase; said coordination unit comprising: background cycle means for cyclically timing successive background intervals each having a predetermined time duration; means for dividing each said background cycle into at least two time background intervals respectively associated with each of said phases; actuatable means responsive during one of said associated background intervals for coupling one of said traffic detector means to an associated one of said phase detector input circuit means for the duration of said one associated interval so that a said go interval initiation control signal developed by said one traffic detector means is applied to said one phase detector input circuit means only during said one associated background interval; and, actuatable means responsive during the other said associated interval for coupling the other said traffic detector means to the other associated one of said phase detector input circuit means so that a said go interval initiation control signal developed by the other traffic detector means is applied to the other phase detector input circuit means only during said other associated background interval.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 108 words

A coordination unit as set forth in claim 8 wherein said dividing means divides said background cycle so as to include for each phase a second background interval which commences substantially upon termination of said first interval; and, said coordination unit includes for each phase, actuatable memory means for storing a said control signal during an associated said second background interval, said actuatable memory means having an input circuit means for receiving a said control signal during an associated said second background interval and an output circuit means for applying said stored signal to an associated control circuit means upon termination of an associated said second background interval.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 191 words

A method of coordinating the operation of a full-actuated traffic controller which controls allocations of go, caution, and stop intervals for at least two traffic phases, each having traffic detector means associated therewith for detecting traffic and developing a signal in response to the detection of traffic, said controller including go interval actuation means associated with each phase for commencing display of a go interval signal; said method of coordination comprising the steps of: timing a background cycle having a predetermined time duration; dividing said background cycle into at least two timed background intervals respectively associated with each said phase controlled by said controller; electrically coupling one of said traffic detector means directly to one of said go interval actuating means during one of said background intervals; commencing display of a go interval signal with said one go interval actuating means; electrically decoupling said one traffic detector means from said one go interval actuating means; and, terminating display of said go interval signal with said go interval actuating means at a predetermined period of time after said one traffic detector means is electrically decoupled from said one go interval actuating means.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 191 words

A method of coordinating the operation of a full-actuated traffic controller which controls allocations of go, caution, and stop intervals for at least two traffic phases, each having traffic detector means associated therewith for detecting traffic and developing a signal in response to the detection of traffic, said controller including go interval actuation means associated with each phase for commencing display of a go interval signal; said method of coordination comprising the steps of: timing a background cycle having a predetermined time duration; dividing said background cycle into at least two timed background intervals respectively associated with each said phase controlled by said controller; electrically coupling one of said traffic detector means directly to one of said go interval actuating means during one of said background intervals; commencing display of a go interval signal with said one go interval actuating means; electrically decoupling said one traffic detector means from said one go interval actuating means; and, terminating display of said go interval signal with said go interval actuating means at a predetermined period of time after said one traffic detector means is electrically decoupled from said one go interval actuating means.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 108 words

A method of coordinating the operation of a full-actuated traffic controller as set forth in claim 10 including the additional steps of: electrically coupling the other of said traffic detector means directly to the other said go interval actuating means; commencing display of a second go interval signal with said other go interval actuating means; electrically decoupling said other traffic detector means from said other go interval actuating means; and terminating said display of a second go interval signal with said other background interval actuating means at a predetermined period of time after said other traffic detector means is electrically decoupled from said other go interval actuating means.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1974-11-01	1975-05-03	1975-11-02	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1978-11-01	1979-05-03	1979-11-02	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1982-11-01	1983-05-03	1983-11-02	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Coordination of full actuated traffic controllers

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