ES1304817U - ENERGY AUTONOMOUS PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC LIGHT (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Energetically autonomous pedestrian traffic light characterized in that it comprises at least one housing (4) powered by a solar panel (3) that supplies energy to the battery, circuits, communication module and at least one lamp (1) with voltages between 3 and 40 volts DC embedded inside at least one traffic light module that is attached to a mast (2), a mast with a length between 2 to 9 meters in height and 2 to 25 centimeters in diameter of the mast tube that can be completely circular or with multiple polygon-type faces, including the dodecagon and the square, the mast is raised with one end of the mast (2) fixed to the ground, this mast (2) may have a curved part and has the casing (4) attached to its surface. and also on the mast (2) it has at least one solar panel (3) fixed on its surface, the lamps (1) and housing (4) are arranged on the mast below the solar panel (3) that provides direct current energy. in ranges between 3 and 40 volts DC, with energy autonomy and disconnected from the electrical grid. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

ENERGY AUTONOMOUS PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC LIGHT

Technology Sector

It is related to electronic pedestrian traffic lights that operate in the so-called electricity and electronics sector.

Previous Technology

The road signage manual of the Colombian Ministry of Transportation indicates that one of the reasons why traffic lights are installed is to avoid accidents and conflict between pedestrians, vehicles and cyclists who want to use the roads.

This risk of accident for which the traffic light was installed wanting to protect the pedestrian or cyclist, is revived again when a traffic light that had already been installed to prevent them from being run over, is NOT WORKING because somewhere in the electrical chain there exists a failure, whether due to climate change, natural phenomena or service failures and/or attacks on the country's electrical structure. Power outages can be very short or for several hours or days; every minute of a traffic light being off is a risk of accident.

There are normal pedestrian traffic lights that serve cyclists and pedestrians, operate with conventional electricity and require wiring of hundreds of kilometers, hundreds of towers and poles between the hydroelectric plants and the site where the traffic light operates so that pedestrians, bicycles and vehicles can pass. without having conflict between them, as well as the risk of accidents, deaths and injuries. Pedestrians and cyclists are the most vulnerable road users as victims of road accidents.

If the traffic lights in Bogotá or any other city go out, this generates a multiple risk of accidents every minute in more than 1,000 intersections where pedestrians and cyclists circulate. This risk depends on the impact on the electrical fluid and the hundreds of kilometers of networks that make up the traffic. It is possible that electricity reaches every traffic light. These networks of hundreds of kilometers require expensive maintenance and the cost of electrical energy that must be paid for all the traffic lights is considerable.

Pedestrians, in addition to being vulnerable actors, many have disabilities and/or require assistance to be able to cross the intersection and even if the traffic light exists, they do not know how to use it or interpret the light signals that it emits. For example, farmers who want to cross an intersection do not know how the traffic light works and cross the road at risk of being run over without anyone explaining anything to them.

Description of the Invention

This invention that is presented is an improvement to existing technology to give it technical advantages, better use, save more lives, inform and educate pedestrians, mitigate the effects of climate change on the life and health of pedestrians and cyclists, as well as Give it the advantage that you do not have to pay again for electricity consumed by the traffic lights that already exist and can be updated to the present invention with all the advantages and utilities that the previous pedestrian traffic light technology does not have.

This autonomous pedestrian traffic light invention proposes a traffic light that can operate with energy from renewable sources such as wind, thermal, solar or electrical parts, both to update existing traffic lights and to build new traffic lights from scratch that can also detect pedestrians and talk to them, educate them, mitigating the risk of accident due to lack of energy or lack of education in the use of traffic lights, an invention that may contain, among others, the following elements and characteristics.

The invention contemplates, among others, integrating a plurality of lamps with diameters between 10 and 30 centimeters that can be completely circular or with polygon-type edges, including the dodecagon and the square, lamps that emit light in a plurality of colors, which operate at voltages between 3 Volts and 40 Volts DC in pulses or AC and that are arranged facing the roads, sidewalks or pedestrian crossings on one or more metal or plastic masts with or without arms that measure between 2 to 9 meters in height and 2 to 25 centimeters in diameter, which can be completely circular or with polygon-type edges, including the dodecagon and the square, the mast supports a solar panel and at a lower height than the solar panel are the traffic light lamps, which can be a plurality around the mast aimed at signaling towards various sides, both vehicular and pedestrian, with consumption between 1/8 of a watt and 8 watts each lamp, which are connected to an electronic circuit electrically connected to a battery that is recharged with energy from renewable sources such as be a solar panel, thermal energy, wind energy or electrical part. Also being able to operate in a hybrid manner with grid energy to charge the batteries or provide direct power to electronic components and use renewable energy to reduce consumption or serve as support when grid power fails. But without abandoning that the main purpose and the most important technical advantage that is proposed is the totally autonomous operation, reducing the consumption of the electrical network to zero and without any need to consume energy from the network.

In this invention, a plurality of lamps are used that have one or more LEDs that can emit light of one or more colors simultaneously and are organized in a Cartesian or polar matrix with spacing between LEDs in each lamp when more than one LED is used in ranges comprised from 1 millimeter to 30 centimeters and with a thickness of the LED lamp between 1 millimeter and 2 centimeters, with the energy produced by the solar panel and/or any of the other energy sources, both pedestrian traffic lights and traffic lights can operate. vehicles located on the same structure where the mast is with the solar panel or on other nearby structures providing power to other equipment.

It also contemplates one or a plurality of solar panels with ranges between 5 and 300 watts of power and 3 volts to 40 volts DC, placed on one or a plurality of masts or configurations thereof.

This invention also incorporates the electronic circuit that operates in voltage ranges from 3 Volts to 40 Volts DC, which incorporates a processor connected to a communications module that allows data sharing and coordinated operation between several devices.

The lamps have LEDs that are connected to the electronic circuit with a processor that manages turning on and off the entire lamp or some LEDs of the lamp individually in time intervals, the processor is also connected to the pins of the LEDs that activate the color emitted by each LED or groups of LEDs in time intervals, generating alphanumeric patterns or figures that change over time.

It also incorporates vibration and sound devices that can vibrate the traffic light, accessories or tiles or floor near the side of the traffic light to indicate operating times or when to pass according to the vibration pattern to the disabled.

The circuits, lamps and batteries are located inside the housing where the pedestrian or vehicle traffic light lamps are housed, or they can also be The battery and electronic circuits are located in an external metal or plastic casing connected to the solar panel, from which the power supply cables come out for the lamps located on the same mast, on an arm of the mast or on another structure. With solar energy, this pedestrian traffic light can generate Wi-Fi networks at the intersection for public internet or smart city applications to communicate data in real time.

The electronic circuits incorporate optical, infrared, CCD, lidar, touch, infrared time-of-flight sensors and also mechanical sensors that are connected to the processor which in turn is connected to audio output elements that give spoken messages. to pedestrians.

Internet communication and connectivity to inform or receive orders to or from a remote site uses technologies such as tcp ip, tcp, udp or through web services such as http to know if the system is operating well, is being subject to sabotage, is It is opening its elements through scheduled maintenance or if it is subject to theft and sabotage, etc., information that can be communicated in real time to make decisions or to communicate with other devices through IoT and technologies such as Lora, WiFi GPRS, among others.

With IoT devices, traffic lights can also send messages to mobile devices of pedestrians with disabilities informing them of the status of the traffic light and how to use it or alerts so that they can cross the road through audible, visual or vibration of the device or produced by the traffic light.

Problem posed for the development of this invention

The problem is the need for technical improvements to a traffic light that allows mitigating the risk of accidents due to lack of energy or lack of education or information of pedestrians or cyclists when using it, in addition to eliminating payment for energy consumption from the electrical network and mitigate the effects of climate change on the lives of people on the roads when energy is affected.

To solve the problem posed

A traffic light is proposed that operates with lamps with diameters between 10 and 30 centimeters that can be completely circular or with low-consumption polygon-type edges of 1/8 of a watt to 8 watts in ranges from 3 to 40 volts, between 1 millimeter to 2 centimeters wide that are fixed to a mast or arm of the mast, the mast with a diameter between 2 to 25 centimeters and a height between 2 to 9 meters, lamps connected to a circuit and a battery that is powered with renewable energy such as solar panels or other renewable sources so that the traffic light does not require energy from the electrical grid and can also communicate messages to pedestrians through sensors to detect pedestrians and audio outputs to tell them how to use the traffic light in addition to serving as the pedestrian traffic light for public access to the Internet.

Application example

In an existing pedestrian traffic light that is powered by a conventional electrical network, one or more solar panels are placed on a mast or the arm of the mast. Within the casing of existing pedestrian and/or vehicular traffic lights, the circuits are located, the small battery and lamps in the cabin for lamps according to color. If the battery and circuits do not fit in the traffic light housing behind the lamps, the battery and circuits can also be located in a plastic or metal housing secured to the mast or its arm. Sensors and audio or vibration devices that detect and speak to pedestrians can also be located in the pedestrian signal housing or a separate housing.

The solar panel or panels of 300 watts or less, produce energy for daily operation with daylight without the need for direct sun, generating 10% of their capacity at low solar luminosity, that is, 30 watts, which are enough to power all elements of the existing traffic light intersection including controller, sensors, communication elements, audio devices, lights that are very low consumption and high efficiency that are below 2 watts of consumption the most ideal so that everything can be autonomous with solar energy, since all the previously mentioned elements for an average intersection of groups consume in their entirety less than 15 watt hours with all these elements. The additional energy produced each hour in excess by the solar panel, which corresponds to 15 watts when there is low radiation or 285 watts when there is full sunlight on the panel, is accumulated in the battery for night operation, making it possible in a single hour of sunshine. radiant per day accumulate the energy for operation at night, at night the consumption decreases by half or less than half because the system reduces the luminosity of the LEDs and turns off the audio devices and sensors when notice that there are no people circulating. Therefore, the energy stored on some day of the week with good solar radiation can even be used to operate several days without sunlight with a small battery. The traffic light can send alerts when the power load is not sufficient and/or disconnect elements that are not essential to operate in basic mode without sensors, communications and sound, reducing its electrical consumption to less than 8 watts in order not to discharge the battery in the nights.

Even without a battery or with a battery in poor condition, this traffic light can operate with all its components during the hours of the day between 6 in the morning and 6 in the afternoon during the hours of greatest activity on the streets. Part of the success of this is that a 1 watt lamp replaces LED lamps that consume 10 times more, such as current technology 10 or 12 watt LED lamps that operate at 120 volts AC or incandescent lamps of more than 50 watts at 120 volts AC. . In addition, the sensors and audio elements are also very low consumption, so all the elements of the traffic light, including all its lights, consume almost the same as a single 12-watt LED lamp that operates at 120 volts AC and that to operate With solar power they would need large banks of batteries and a very large number of solar panels to ensure more than 400 watts of power each hour that an intersection with pedestrian traffic lights at 120 volts AC may require, versus an intersection of between 8 to 15 watt hours autonomously operating with energy from the sun.

This energy saving of more than 400 watts every hour for the next 100 years, becoming autonomous traffic lights with the sun, makes the pedestrian traffic light a sustainable business model that produces a return on investment by not paying energy bills in the future, while saving lives and mitigating the risk of accidents when there is no grid power, as well as positively impacting the environment and educating pedestrians and cyclists. Technical advantages and benefits provided by this invention.

Another example of application is to use it at traffic light intersections that do not have pedestrian traffic lights, placing elements such as battery, circuits, mast with or without arm, solar panel and high efficiency lights inside the vehicle traffic light compartment as well as sensors. , or house these elements in a plastic or metal casing in a variety of ways, in this way these traffic lights can be autonomous with solar energy, as a plus the rest of the system can also be installed, which although not essential is a good accessory, can talk to pedestrians even if they specifically have a traffic light for pedestrians, they can tell pedestrians and cyclists when they can cross safely and/or other information in addition to sending data to the internet or others devices all autonomous with energy from the sun and without having to invest money in buying the pedestrian part.

Another application is the implementation from scratch of pedestrian traffic lights in corners or pedestrian crossings where there are no traffic lights yet, there the same process of the previous application is repeated but a small civil work is required to install the mast with or without arm on the sidewalk. one road, with the advantage that there is no need to do any work to bring the electrical connection to the point of the traffic light, nor is it necessary to build ducts and cross the roads with cables for electrical connections and carry energy. Which saves large costs and interventions that affect vehicular traffic, thus reducing implementation costs and implementation time.

One of the advantages for maintenance is a reduction in costs by more than 50% since these traffic lights fail less and require fewer spare parts. The majority of failures and damage to traffic lights are caused by the same electrical network that due to fluctuations in ups and downs. Continuous voltage and cuts affect electronic equipment that is very expensive, while solar energy at the DC level does not make these fluctuations nor does it ever produce high voltages and therefore is more reliable, less expensive to operate and maintain.

Maintenance is even easier because the traffic light can practically speak through audio devices and say what the technical problem is that is causing it, data that can also be transmitted in real time to maintenance managers so that they can view it on their mobile devices in real time. the failures, problems or data that the traffic light sends them.

Description of the figures. Figure 1

Shows the perspective drawing of the invention implemented in a corner of a road, where a mast (2) is seen, at the top of the mast a solar panel (3), pedestrian traffic light lights (1) attached to this mast and a housing (4) in which the battery and electronic circuits are placed alternatively.

Best way to carry out the invention

This invention is made by placing a metal or plastic mast on a sidewalk or road. mast with or without arm with a height between 2 to 9 meters and 2 to 25 centimeters in diameter that can be completely circular or with polygon-type edges between them the dodecagon and the square, a panel is placed on the top of the mast or arm solar and is secured with a plurality of gripping means such as screws, pins or guides. From the solar panel, a cable is connected to the pedestrian traffic lights where the electronic circuit, audio, sensors and battery are located and in the front part the lamps that emit light in a plurality of colors are placed, which operate at voltages between 3 Volts and 40 Volts DC in pulses or AC and they are arranged facing the roads, sidewalks or pedestrian crossings. If the batteries do not fit in the traffic light housing, an external housing can be used to put batteries and circuits there. The electrical connections are made to the previously charged battery and between the components and a traffic light is ready that can operate autonomously with solar energy and with additional accessory functions such as speaking to pedestrians and transmitting information, among others. Being able to operate in an accessory but not essential manner in a hybrid manner with grid energy to charge the batteries or give direct power to the electronic components and use renewable energy to reduce consumption or serve as support when the grid power fails. But without abandoning that the main purpose and the most important technical advantage that is proposed is the totally autonomous operation, reducing the consumption of the electrical network to zero and without any need to consume energy from the network.

Claims (5)

1. Energetically autonomous pedestrian traffic light characterized in that it comprises at least one housing (4) powered by a solar panel (3) that supplies energy to the battery, circuits, communication module and at least one lamp (1) with voltages between 3 and 40 volts DC embedded inside at least one traffic light module that is attached to a mast (2), a mast with a length between 2 to 9 meters in height and 2 to 25 centimeters in diameter of the mast tube that can be completely circular or with multiple polygon-type faces, including the dodecagon and the square, the mast is raised with one end of the mast (2) fixed to the ground, this mast (2) may have a curved part and has the casing (4) attached to its surface. and also on the mast (2) it has at least one solar panel (3) fixed on its surface, the lamps (1) and housing (4) are arranged on the mast below the solar panel (3) that provides direct current energy. in ranges between 3 and 40 volts DC, with energy autonomy and disconnected from the electrical grid. 2. Energy-autonomous pedestrian traffic light that according to claim 1 is characterized in that the electronic circuit connected to a communications module allows sharing internet, data and coordinated operation between several devices, with a voltage between 3 and 40 volts DC and a total power between 1/8 of a watt and 50 watts in DC, the electronic circuits, the lamps (1) and communication modules operate autonomously, energetically with energy generated by the solar panel (3). 3. Energy-autonomous pedestrian traffic light that according to claim 1 is characterized in that the lamps comprise LEDs that are connected to the electronic circuit with a processor that manages turning on and off the entire lamp or some LEDs of the lamp individually at intervals of At the same time, the processor is also connected to the LED pins that activate the color emitted by each LED or groups of LEDs in time intervals generating alphanumeric patterns or figures that change over time. 4. Energy-autonomous pedestrian traffic light that according to claim 1 is characterized in that the circuits, lamps and batteries in another embodiment can be contained inside the traffic light module where the lamps are housed or the battery and electronic circuits can also be located in an external casing connected to the solar panel, from which the power supply cables for the lamps located on the same mast or on another structure come out. 5.

Energy autonomous pedestrian traffic light that according to claim 1 is characterized in that the electronic circuits comprise optical, infrared, CCD, lidar, infrared time-of-flight sensors and also mechanical sensors that are connected to the processor which in turn is connected to one audio output elements that gives spoken messages to pedestrians.