US3778762A — Monitor for detecting conflicting traffic control…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 265 words

A monitoring circuit for detecting if conflicting traffic proceed signals occur in a traffic control system and for detecting if the conflicting condition clears, said monitoring circuit comprising: a. a conflict detector coupled to the traffic control system for monitoring the traffic proceed signals and producing a conflict signal upon the occurrence of conflicting traffic proceed signals and a clear signal if the conflicting condition clears; b. a conflict storage flip-flop coupled to be set by the conflict signal from said conflict detector, said flip-flop adapted to produce a first signal when in the set state and a second signal when in the reset state; c. an interface circuit coupled to said conflict storage flipflop which upon receipt of the first signal therefrom signals the traffic control system to commence emergency operation and upon receipt of the second signal therefrom interrupts the signal from said interface circuit to allow the traffic control system to restore normal operation; d. an inverter coupled to receive the conflict and the clear signals from said conflict detector; e. a clear AND-gate having its input signals applied thereto from said conflict storage flip-flop, and from said inverter, said clear AND-gate adapted to produce an output signal when a conflicting condition clears, said AND-gate output signal coupled to reset said conflict storage flip-flop whereby normal operation of the traffic control system is restored; and f. control circuitry connected to said clear AND-gate output for selecting if said clear AND-gate output signal will be allowed to reset said conflict storage flip-flop, and if so allowing selection of at least one reset mode.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 265 words

A monitoring circuit for detecting if conflicting traffic proceed signals occur in a traffic control system and for detecting if the conflicting condition clears, said monitoring circuit comprising: a. a conflict detector coupled to the traffic control system for monitoring the traffic proceed signals and producing a conflict signal upon the occurrence of conflicting traffic proceed signals and a clear signal if the conflicting condition clears; b. a conflict storage flip-flop coupled to be set by the conflict signal from said conflict detector, said flip-flop adapted to produce a first signal when in the set state and a second signal when in the reset state; c. an interface circuit coupled to said conflict storage flipflop which upon receipt of the first signal therefrom signals the traffic control system to commence emergency operation and upon receipt of the second signal therefrom interrupts the signal from said interface circuit to allow the traffic control system to restore normal operation; d. an inverter coupled to receive the conflict and the clear signals from said conflict detector; e. a clear AND-gate having its input signals applied thereto from said conflict storage flip-flop, and from said inverter, said clear AND-gate adapted to produce an output signal when a conflicting condition clears, said AND-gate output signal coupled to reset said conflict storage flip-flop whereby normal operation of the traffic control system is restored; and f. control circuitry connected to said clear AND-gate output for selecting if said clear AND-gate output signal will be allowed to reset said conflict storage flip-flop, and if so allowing selection of at least one reset mode.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 182 words

A monitoring circuit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control circuitry comprises: a. a one-shot coupled to receive the output from said clear AND-gate and produce an output in response thereto; b. a first reset mode circuit adapted to allow said clear AND-gate output signal to reset said conflict storage flip-flop a predetermined number of times; c. a second reset mode circuit adapted to allow said clear AND-gate output signal to reset said conflict storage flip-flop an unlimited number of times; d. a reset mode selector switch coupled to said first and second reset mode circuits; and e. a reset AND-gate coupled to receive the output signal from said one shot, to receive the clear signal from said inverter, and to receive an output signal either from said first reset mode circuit or from said second reset mode circuit depending on the preselected position of said reset mode selector switch, said reset AND-gate adapted to produce a reset output signal upon simultaneous presentation of the signals received thereby, the reset output signal thereof is coupled to reset said conflict storage flip-flop.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 41 words

A monitoring circuit as claimed in claim 2 wherein said control circuitry further comprises a clear delay counter coupled to receive said clear AND-gate output signal and delay its being applied to said one-shot for an adjustable predetermined amount of time.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 37 words

A monitoring circuit as claimed in claim 2 wherein said control circuitry further comprises a lockup mode selector means coupled between said reset AND-gate and said conflict storage flip-flop for disallowing resetting of said conflict storage flip-flop.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 29 words

A monitoring circuit as claimed in claim 2 wherein said second reset mode circuit comprises means coupled to said reset mode selector switch for applying a constant signal thereto.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 120 words

A monitoring circuit as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first reset mode circuit allows said reset AND-gate to conduct once and thereafter disallows conduction thereof, said first reset mode circuit comprising: a. a second conflict flip-flop adapted to produce a first and a second output signal both of which are applied to said reset AND-gate, said second conflict flip-flop preset to produce the first output signal which allows said reset AND-gate to conduct; and b. delay means coupled to receive the reset output signal from said reset AND-gate and apply a delayed output signal to said second conFlict flip-flop which resets said second conflict flip-flop to produce its second output signal which disallows further conduction of said reset AND-gate.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 192 words

A monitoring circuit for use with a traffic control system of the type which produces visual signals in timed sequence for controlling traffic movement through an intersection, said monitoring circuit for sensing the traffic proceed signals and detecting simultaneous occurrence of the proceed signals which could cause conflicts in traffic movement, said monitoring circuit comprising: a. a plurality of optical couplers connected to the traffic control system for producing an electrically isolated output signal for each of the traffic proceed signals when they are produced by the traffic control system; b. a modifiable wiring matrix coupled to receive the output signals from said optical couplers for changeable preselecting combinations of these signals which are to be monitored for simultaneous occurrence; c. a conflict logic circuit coupled to the output signal combinations from said wiring matrix for producing an output signal upon the simultaneous occurrence of the output signals which form at least one of these combinations; and d. an optical coupler interface connected to receive the output signal from said conflict logic circuit and upon the occurrence thereof produce an electrically isolated output signal indicative of a conflict of traffic proceed signals.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 192 words

A monitoring circuit for use with a traffic control system of the type which produces visual signals in timed sequence for controlling traffic movement through an intersection, said monitoring circuit for sensing the traffic proceed signals and detecting simultaneous occurrence of the proceed signals which could cause conflicts in traffic movement, said monitoring circuit comprising: a. a plurality of optical couplers connected to the traffic control system for producing an electrically isolated output signal for each of the traffic proceed signals when they are produced by the traffic control system; b. a modifiable wiring matrix coupled to receive the output signals from said optical couplers for changeable preselecting combinations of these signals which are to be monitored for simultaneous occurrence; c. a conflict logic circuit coupled to the output signal combinations from said wiring matrix for producing an output signal upon the simultaneous occurrence of the output signals which form at least one of these combinations; and d. an optical coupler interface connected to receive the output signal from said conflict logic circuit and upon the occurrence thereof produce an electrically isolated output signal indicative of a conflict of traffic proceed signals.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 37 words

A monitoring circuit as claimed in claim 7 further including a delay means interposed between said conflict logic circuit and said optical coupler interface circuit for filtering out any momentary output signals from said conflict logic circuit.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 84 words

A monitoring circuit as claimed in claim 7 wherein said conflict logic circuit comprises: a. an AND-gate coupled to each of the output signal combinations from said wiring matrix, each of said AND-gates adapted to produce an output signal upon the simultaneous occurrence of the output signals which forms its respective combination; and b. an OR-gate coupled to receive the output signals from each of said AND-gates for producing an output signal if the output signal from any of said AND-gates is presented thereto.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 19 words

A monitoring circuit as claimed in claim 7 wherein said wiring matrix comprises a plurality of repositionable jumper wires.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-12-10	1977-06-11	1977-12-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-12-10	1981-06-11	1981-12-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-12-10	1985-06-11	1985-12-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Monitor for detecting conflicting traffic control signals

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