ES1056581U - Traffic lights for pedestrians autosensing. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Pedestrian traffic light with automatic detection, which is specially designed for areas with low lighting, where there may be difficulties for drivers in the sense of viewing pedestrians trying to cross the road through a pedestrian crossing, it is characterized by the corresponding column and at an appropriate height level, incorporates at least one sensor capable of detecting the presence of pedestrians in the access area to the corresponding passage, sensor that controls the power circuit of a light source, located in the upper area of the traffic light, duly oriented towards the pedestrian crossing and intended for the temporary lighting of the latter, specifically during a scheduled time, of reasonable amplitude for pedestrians to cross the road. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

Traffic light for pedestrians with detection automatic

Object of the invention

The present invention relates to a device which has been specially designed to reduce the accident rate at certain crosswalks, especially in those found in areas with low lighting environmental, as often happens in peripheral areas of cities, towns crossed by county roads, and general any area where pedestrian traffic is necessary and the Visibility for drivers is low.

The object of the invention is to increase substantially the luminosity in the crosswalk, for a perfect display of the latter, but only in those moments when the crosswalk is being used, in order to maintain a low energy consumption destined to illumination.

Background of the invention

As is evident, in those crosswalks in which the ambient lighting is low, this is because the frequency of use of such steps by pedestrians is also low, so that the level of use of the area does not justify a high degree of lighting and energy consumption that this entails.

This lack of good lighting, which brings low visibility for drivers in front of pedestrians usually lacking reflective clothing, it also brings the use of intermittent traffic lights, such as mere signals as a precaution, that due to its homogeneity or permanence in the signal they tend to lose their effectiveness over time, so that Regular drivers in the area in question get used to the traffic light intermittent situation and end up not repairing the same.

All this brings with it a high risk of accidents for pedestrians, which can be run over by a motor vehicle due to poor visibility conditions for The driver of the latter.

Description of the invention

The traffic light proposed by the invention has been conceived and structured in order to fully resolve The problem described above was satisfactory, without a appreciable increase in energy consumption.

To do this and more specifically the traffic light of The invention focuses its characteristics on incorporation into same of a pedestrian presence sensor, which acts on a detection zone corresponding to the input of said step of pedestrians, so that when said sensor detects the presence of a pedestrian, and consequently the crossing situation that immediately it will occur, causes the feeding of a bulb luminous properly established also on the own traffic light, preferably at the upper extremity thereof, causing the illumination of the crosswalk for a while preset for this purpose, the right one for the pedestrian to have time to cross the road, so that the crossing takes out in conditions of optimal lighting for pedestrians and, in Consequently, with a minimum risk of accidents caused by accidents.

As a complement to the structure described and according to another feature of the invention, the traffic light also incorporates a photocell, responsible for detecting the degree of ambient lighting, which also acts on the power circuit of the above-mentioned light bulb, of so that it only allows the ignition of the latter when the ambient light conditions require it, such as preventing the device from working during the day, when the luminosity is full.

In addition, it is planned that the aforementioned sensor also act on the intermittent traffic light itself, by example temporarily increasing its brightness, to notify the drivers that the step utilization is taking place of pedestrians, signaling that can optionally be enhanced with the existence on the road of a transverse alignment of also signaling lights, which perfectly define where The crosswalk begins.

Description of the drawings

To complement the description that is being performing and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical realization of it, is accompanied as part member of that description, a set of drawings where with illustrative and non-limiting nature, what has been represented next:

Figure 1.- Shows a representation perspective schematic of a crosswalk equipped with traffic light with automatic detection that is the object of the present invention

Figure 2.- Shows, also a representation schematic but now in plan, of the same set of the figure previous.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

In the figures outlined it has been referenced with (1) the road, with (2) the sidewalks and with (3) the crosswalk, to both sides of which two columns (4) are established in the case of figure 1 in which the road is bidirectional, being able to there is only one column (4) when the roadway (1) is unidirectional, as in the case of figure 2.

Well, according to the invention, the column (4) incorporates sensors (5), for example one or two heights, which will act on a detection zone (6) near the start of the crosswalk (3), so that when a pedestrian (7) is located in this area (6) is detected by the sensor (5), who sends a signal to a light bulb (8), which turns on by lighting the crosswalk (3), for the time necessary for the Pedestrian (7) crossing. In this sense it is planned that column (4) of the traffic light has an upper bending (4 '). oriented towards the middle zone of the crosswalk (3) and at whose free end the light bulb (8) is placed, which improves the conditions of illumination.

To prevent the light bulb (8) from turning on during the day. specifically when there is good brightness and no there is the problem of visibility for motorists (9), on the column itself (4), also at a height level suitable, a photocell (10) is established that detects the degree of ambient brightness, allowing or not the power supply of the light bulb (8), depending on whether or not this is necessary by the conditions of natural ambient lighting.

Finally, the sensor (5) also acts on a intermittent traffic light (11), obviously oriented towards conductors (9), simply making it work when going to produce the crossing of a pedestrian (7), or by changing its intensity light or any other parameter, when said traffic light flashing works permanently. In addition to intermittent traffic light actuation (11), the sensor (5) can also activate the feeding of a plurality of lights (12) located in transverse alignment immediately before the passage of pedestrians (3), as seen especially in figure 2.

In this way a combined effect is achieved, on the one hand, greatly enhance the lighting of the pedestrian crossing (3) during times when it is being used, so that the visibility conditions of the drivers are optimal without a significant increase in consumption of energy from the point of view of lighting, and on the other hand duly alert drivers that the crosswalk or is being used or will be immediately, so that extreme attention, thus drastically reducing the risk of accidents

Claims (3)

1. Pedestrian traffic light with automatic detection, which being specially designed for areas with low lighting, where there may be difficulties for drivers in the sense of visualizing pedestrians trying to cross the road through a crosswalk, is characterized by the corresponding column and at an appropriate height level, incorporates at least one sensor capable of detecting the presence of pedestrians in the access area to the corresponding passage, a sensor that controls the power circuit of a light source, located in the upper area of the traffic light, properly oriented towards the pedestrian crossing and destined to the temporary lighting of the latter, specifically during a scheduled time, of reasonable amplitude for pedestrians to cross the road. 2. Pedestrian traffic light with automatic detection, according to claim 1, characterized in that it also incorporates a photocell that controls the degree of ambient lighting at all times, interfering said photocell in the power circuit of the light source, in order to prevent the lighting of this last before the signals received by the pedestrian presence sensor, when the ambient brightness is also high, for example during the day. 3. Pedestrian traffic light with automatic detection, according to previous claims, characterized in that said sensor detecting the presence of pedestrians next to the corresponding passage of the roadway, acts simultaneously on an intermittent traffic light, causing the lighting or the change in brightness in the same , while, optionally, it also acts on a transverse alignment of lights established on the roadway defining the crosswalk.