Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
A circuit arrangement for controlling and modifying central control information commands in a traffic signal system comprising: a central control station for transmitting central control information commands and at least one intersection device for receiving the central control information commands, and signal generators connected to said intersection device; an evaluation circuit in said intersection device for evaluating the central control information commands and emitting command signals for controlling the signal generators in response thereto; a command recognition circuit connected to receive the same central control information commands as said evaluation circuit and responsive to overlapping control information commands to produce an output signal; local control information commands input means for receiving local control information commands concerning the traffic conditions at the intersection; and a control circuit connected between said evaluation circuit and said signal generators and connected to said command recognition circuit and to said local control information commands input means and responsive to the output signal from said command recognition circuit to block operation of said signal generators in response to the overlapping control information commands transmitted by said central station and to permit operation of said signal generators in accordance with the local control information commands supplied to said intersection device, including means for operating said signal generators in accordance with said local control information commands.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
218 words
A circuit arrangement for controlling and modifying central control information commands in a traffic signal system comprising: a central control station for transmitting central control information commands and at least one intersection device for receiving the central control information commands, and signal generators connected to said intersection device; an evaluation circuit in said intersection device for evaluating the central control information commands and emitting command signals for controlling the signal generators in response thereto; a command recognition circuit connected to receive the same central control information commands as said evaluation circuit and responsive to overlapping control information commands to produce an output signal; local control information commands input means for receiving local control information commands concerning the traffic conditions at the intersection; and a control circuit connected between said evaluation circuit and said signal generators and connected to said command recognition circuit and to said local control information commands input means and responsive to the output signal from said command recognition circuit to block operation of said signal generators in response to the overlapping control information commands transmitted by said central station and to permit operation of said signal generators in accordance with the local control information commands supplied to said intersection device, including means for operating said signal generators in accordance with said local control information commands.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The circuit arrangement of claim 1, wherein said local control information commands input means comprises: traffic detector means connected to said control circuit for providing traffic flow information thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The circuit arrangement of claim 2, and further comprising: logic means in said local control information commands input means connected to said command recognition circuit and to said traffic detector means and to said control circuit for logically linking output signals from said command recognition circuit and local control information commands.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The circuit arrangement of claim 3, and further comprising: inhibiting means connected between said command recognition circuit and said local control information commands input means, and said evaluation circuit, for disabling operation of said evaluation circuit in response to specific control information or combinations of control information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The circuit arrangement of claim 4, wherein said inhibiting means comprises: an EXCLUSIVE OR gate having inputs connected to said local control information commands input means and an output; and an AND gate including inputs connected to said EXCLUSIVE OR gate and said command recognition circuit, and an output connected to said evaluation circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The circuit arrangement of claim 1, wherein said evaluation circuit comprises: a pair of bistable circuits for receiving respective control information commands.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The circuit arrangement of claim 1, wherein: said traffic signal system operates on a time division multiplex basis and includes a plurality of said circuit arrangements each comprising an input demultiplexer including first and second ouputs connected to said evaluation circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The circuit arrangement of claim 7, wherein: said command recognition circuit comprises an AND gate having inputs connected to respective first and second outputs of said demultiplexer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
142 words
In a method of modifying central control information commands forming signal programs, which includes the steps of transmitting the central control information commands from a central station to an intersection device of a traffic signal system which controls traffic signal generators connected thereto, and by transmitting local control information commands obtained from traffic information from an area whose traffic flow is controlled by the signal generators, the improvement comprising the steps of: transmitting control information commands from the central station to the intersection device with periods of overlapping control information commands, said periods defining permission time for controlling said signal generators only by said local control information commands; and detecting such periods of overlapping control information commands; and transferring operational control of said traffic signal generators from said control information commands transmitted from said central station to said local control information commands.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
142 words
In a method of modifying central control information commands forming signal programs, which includes the steps of transmitting the central control information commands from a central station to an intersection device of a traffic signal system which controls traffic signal generators connected thereto, and by transmitting local control information commands obtained from traffic information from an area whose traffic flow is controlled by the signal generators, the improvement comprising the steps of: transmitting control information commands from the central station to the intersection device with periods of overlapping control information commands, said periods defining permission time for controlling said signal generators only by said local control information commands; and detecting such periods of overlapping control information commands; and transferring operational control of said traffic signal generators from said control information commands transmitted from said central station to said local control information commands.