JP5998019B2 - Signal controller - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a pedestrian traffic signal and a traffic signal controller for controlling a vehicle traffic signal related to a pedestrian crossing.

  Conventionally, a push button type traffic signal controller is often installed on a pedestrian crossing installed on a single road. This push button type traffic signal controller usually gives the right of traffic to the vehicle traffic (vehicle blue), and gives the right of traffic to the pedestrian when there is a crossing request from the push button box (pedestrian blue) ) Signal control method (pedestrian recall method) (Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-133585 A

  By the way, the pedestrian recall method is usually very dangerous because the pedestrian side usually has a red light, so the pedestrian often starts to cross the pedestrian crossing without waiting for a green light. Therefore, in recent years, on pedestrian crossings where pedestrian traffic is relatively high and vehicle traffic is low, pedestrians are usually given access (blue for pedestrians), and vehicles approaching the pedestrian crossing are detected by the vehicle detector. In this case, a pedestrian priority signal control method (vehicle recall method) is also implemented, such as giving the vehicle a right to pass (vehicle blue).

  However, the pedestrian traffic volume and the vehicle traffic volume vary depending on the day of the week and the time zone, and the appropriate signal control method varies depending on the traffic volume. That is, when the pedestrian traffic volume is large and the vehicle traffic volume is small, the vehicle recall method is suitable, and when the vehicle traffic volume is large and the pedestrian traffic volume is small, the pedestrian recall method is suitable. Therefore, if the recall method is fixed depending on the day of the week or the time zone, a reverse effect may occur.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said situation, The place made into the objective is to enable it to implement the pedestrian priority signal control in a pedestrian crossing flexibly.

The first invention for solving the above-described problems is
Based on the detection result of a pedestrian sensor for detecting a pedestrian passing through a pedestrian crossing and the detection result of a vehicle sensor for detecting a vehicle passing through a road provided with the pedestrian crossing, A signal controller for controlling a pedestrian traffic light and a vehicle traffic light related to the pedestrian crossing,
The traffic signal for the pedestrian and the traffic signal for the vehicle are provided so that the right of passage is given to the pedestrian crossing side at a normal time and the right of passage is given to the road side when the detection result of the vehicle detector satisfies a predetermined vehicle recall condition. A signal control means for judging whether to execute signal control of a vehicle recall method for controlling the vehicle based on a detection result of the pedestrian sensor,
It is a signal controller provided with.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, as a control for a pedestrian traffic signal and a vehicle traffic signal for a pedestrian crossing provided on a road, a vehicle recall type signal control is executed based on a detection result of a pedestrian detector. It is determined whether or not. Thereby, for example, when the pedestrian traffic volume based on the detection result of the pedestrian sensor is “large”, the pedestrian priority signal control such as executing the vehicle recall type signal control can be performed flexibly. It becomes possible.

As a second invention, the signal controller of the first invention,
In addition to the vehicle recall method, the signal control means a) a fixed-cycle method for controlling the pedestrian traffic light and the vehicle traffic light so as to alternately give the right of passage to the pedestrian crossing side and the road side And b) controlling the pedestrian traffic signal and the vehicle traffic signal so that the right of passage is given to the road side in a normal state and the right of passage is given to the pedestrian crossing side when a predetermined pedestrian recall condition is satisfied. One method is selected from a plurality of methods including at least one or both of the pedestrian recall methods based on the detection result of the pedestrian sensor, and the signal control of the one method is executed. To
A signal controller may be configured.

  According to the second invention, in addition to the vehicle recall method, based on the detection result of the pedestrian detector from a plurality of methods including at least one of the periodic method and the pedestrian recall method or both. Thus, the signal control of the one method selected is executed. As a result, for example, a pedestrian that uses the vehicle recall method when the pedestrian traffic volume based on the detection result of the pedestrian sensor is “high”, and uses the fixed-cycle method or the pedestrian recall method when it is “low”. It is possible to implement priority signal control on a case-by-case basis.

Further, as a third invention, the signal controller of the second invention,
The signal control means, when the detection result of the pedestrian sensor continues and a predetermined continuation condition indicating that there is a predetermined traffic volume, satisfies the predetermined continuation condition, the vehicle recall method as a signal control method of the next signal control cycle Select
A signal controller may be configured.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, when the detection result of the pedestrian detector continues and the predetermined continuation condition indicating that there is a predetermined traffic volume is satisfied, the vehicle recall method is used as the control method of the next signal control cycle. Is selected. That is, when there is a certain amount of pedestrian traffic, a pedestrian priority vehicle recall system is implemented.

Moreover, as 4th invention, it is the signal controller of 3rd invention,
The signal control means satisfies the continuation condition when a traffic volume based on a detection result of the pedestrian sensor continuously satisfies a predetermined threshold condition during a past predetermined number of signal control cycles including the present. To judge,
A signal controller may be configured.

  According to the fourth invention, as the continuation condition, it is determined that the traffic volume based on the detection result of the pedestrian sensor continuously satisfies the predetermined threshold condition during the past predetermined number of signal control cycles including the present. Is done.

The fifth aspect of the invention is a signal controller of the third aspect of the invention,
The signal control means determines that the continuation condition is satisfied when the detection result of the pedestrian detector at the timing of the blue display end of the pedestrian traffic light in the current signal control cycle is detected,
A signal controller may be configured.

  According to the fifth invention, as the continuation condition, if the detection result of the pedestrian detector at the end of the blue display of the pedestrian traffic light in the current signal control cycle is detected, it is determined that the continuation condition is satisfied. The next signal control cycle becomes the vehicle recall system.

Installation example of traffic signal control system. The function block diagram of a signal controller. The data structural example of an automatic switching setting table. The data structural example of a control pattern setting table. The flowchart of a signal control process.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the applicable embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this.

[overall structure]
FIG. 1 is an installation example of the traffic signal control system 1 of the present embodiment. The traffic signal control system 1 is installed in a pedestrian crossing 3 provided so as to cross a road, and controls traffic signals in the pedestrian crossing 3. The traffic signal control system 1 includes a vehicle traffic signal 10, a pedestrian traffic signal 20, a push button box 30, a vehicle detector 40, a pedestrian sensor 50, and a signal controller 60, and a vehicle. The traffic signal 10, the pedestrian traffic signal 20, the push button box 30, the vehicle sensor 40, and the pedestrian sensor 50 are connected to the signal controller 60 so as to be communicable by wired or wireless communication. Yes.

  The vehicle traffic signal 10 is installed on an upper part of a pillar or the like installed on the road side so as to face vehicle traffic traveling on the road. The signal display of the vehicle traffic signal 10 is controlled by the signal controller 60.

  The pedestrian traffic light 20 is installed on the upper side of pillars and the like installed on both sides of the pedestrian crossing 3 so as to face a pedestrian passing the pedestrian crossing 3. The signal display of the pedestrian traffic light 20 is controlled by the signal controller 60.

  The push button box 30 is installed in a lower part of a pillar or the like installed on the roadside in the vicinity of the pedestrian crossing 3, and a pedestrian who wants to cross the pedestrian crossing inputs a crossing request by pressing the push button. A crossing request signal from the push button box 30 is output to the signal controller 60.

  The vehicle detector 40 is installed at an upper part of a pillar or the like installed on the road side so as to look down on the road in front of the pedestrian crossing 3 from above, and senses a vehicle entering the pedestrian crossing. The vehicle detector 40 is, for example, an ultrasonic type or an optical type, and a detection signal from the vehicle detector 40 is output to the signal controller 60 as needed.

  The pedestrian detector 50 is installed on an upper part of a pillar or the like installed at the end of the pedestrian crossing 3 so as to overlook the pedestrian crossing 3 from above, and detects a pedestrian passing through the pedestrian crossing 3. To do. The pedestrian sensor 50 is, for example, an image type, and a detection signal from the pedestrian sensor 50 is output to the signal controller 60 as needed. A method using a so-called human sensor may be used.

  The signal controller 60 is installed, for example, in a column or the like to which the vehicle signal device 10 or the pedestrian signal device 20 is attached, and controls traffic signals on the pedestrian crossing 3. In particular, in the present embodiment, the signal control method is switched to one of the vehicle recall method, the pedestrian recall method, and the fixed period method based on the detection result by the pedestrian sensor 50.

  The vehicle recall system is a system that normally gives a right of traffic to pedestrian traffic (pedestrian blue) and temporarily gives the right of traffic to the vehicle traffic when the vehicle is detected by the vehicle detector 40. The pedestrian recall method is a method that normally gives the right of traffic to vehicle traffic (vehicle blue), and temporarily gives the right of traffic to pedestrian traffic when a push button box 30 requests a pedestrian to cross. is there. The fixed cycle method is a method in which right of passage is given alternately to pedestrian traffic and vehicle traffic.

[Function configuration]
FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram of the signal controller 60. According to FIG. 2, the signal controller 60 includes an operation unit 110, a timing unit 120, a processing unit 200, and a storage unit 300 as functional units for realizing the present embodiment. It is good also as providing other function parts, such as these communication parts and a display part.

  The operation unit 110 is realized by an input device such as a button switch or a touch panel, for example, and outputs an operation signal according to the operation of the administrator of the traffic signal control system 1 to the processing unit 200. The timer 120 measures the current time and the elapsed time from the specified timing, and outputs the measured current time and elapsed time to the processing unit 200.

  The processing unit 200 is realized by, for example, an arithmetic device such as a CPU, and is based on programs and data stored in the storage unit 300, detection signals from the vehicle detector 40, the pedestrian detector 50, the push button box 30, and the like. Instructions and data transfer to each part constituting the signal controller 60 are performed, and overall control of the signal controller 60 is performed. The processing unit 200 includes a signal control unit 210, a control method switching unit 220, a control pattern selection unit 230, and a pedestrian occupation rate calculation unit 240, and performs signal control processing according to the signal control program 310 ( (See FIG. 5).

  The signal control unit 210 controls lighting / extinguishing of the vehicle traffic signal 10 and the pedestrian traffic signal 20 in accordance with the signal control method determined by the control method switching unit 220. At this time, the switching to the determined signal control method is, for example, the start timing of the signal control cycle.

  The control method switching unit 220 determines the next signal control method according to the current time and the pedestrian occupation rate calculated by the pedestrian occupation rate calculation unit 240. At this time, the determination of the signal control method is, for example, the timing immediately before the end of each signal control cycle. Specifically, referring to the automatic switching setting table 320, it is determined whether or not the current time is a time zone determined to switch the signal control method.

  FIG. 3 is a data configuration example of the automatic switching setting table 320. According to FIG. 3, the automatic switching setting table 320 stores the execution / non-execution of the switching of the signal control method in association with each time zone dividing one day.

  If it is not the automatic switching time zone of the signal control method, the signal control method is determined as the fixed cycle method. On the other hand, in the automatic switching time zone of the signal control method, the signal control method is switched according to the pedestrian occupation rate. That is, it is determined whether or not the pedestrian occupation rate satisfies a predetermined continuation condition.

  The continuation condition is a condition that prescribes a state in which a state where there is a lot of pedestrian traffic is continued. A) Walking in the blue period of the pedestrian in each of the past N consecutive signal control cycles including the current signal control cycle The occupant occupancy is continuously greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold (threshold condition), and b) the detection result of the pedestrian sensor 50 is detected at the end of pedestrian blue in the current signal control cycle ( Continuous condition). If the continuation condition is satisfied, the signal control method for the next signal control cycle is determined as the vehicle recall method.

  On the other hand, when the continuation condition is not satisfied, the signal control method is a pedestrian recall method or a fixed cycle method. That is, if the a) threshold condition is not satisfied among the continuation conditions, the signal control method is determined as the pedestrian recall method. If a) the threshold condition is satisfied but b) the continuous condition is not satisfied, the signal control method is determined as the fixed cycle method.

  The control pattern selection unit 230 refers to the control pattern setting table 330 on the basis of the pedestrian occupation rate calculated by the pedestrian occupation rate calculation unit 240 and selects the control pattern of the current signal control method. The control pattern is data (signal control parameter) that defines the length of the signal control cycle, the time (split) of each step (step) in the current step, the offset, and the like. It is remembered.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of the control pattern setting table 330. According to FIG. 4, the control pattern setting table 330 stores a pedestrian occupation rate and a control pattern in association with each signal control method. A control pattern is a signal control parameter that defines the length of the signal control cycle, the time of each step, an offset, etc., and multiple control patterns are prepared in advance according to the combination of the signal control method and the pedestrian occupation rate. And stored as control pattern data 340.

  The pedestrian occupation rate calculation unit 240 calculates the amount of pedestrian traffic passing through the pedestrian crossing based on the detection result of the pedestrian detector 50. A known method can be used as the calculation method. For example, if the number of pedestrians detected from the pedestrian sensor 50 is output as a detection signal, the ratio of the number of detected persons to the area of the pedestrian crossing to be detected may be calculated as the pedestrian occupation rate. The ratio of the number of persons perceived during the past fixed time may be calculated as the pedestrian occupation ratio. If the presence / absence of pedestrians, not the number of people, is a detection signal, the ratio during the past fixed time may be calculated as the pedestrian occupation rate. The calculated pedestrian occupation rate is accumulated and stored as pedestrian occupation rate data 350 in association with the time.

  The storage unit 300 is realized by a storage device such as a hard disk, a ROM, or a RAM. The storage unit 300 stores a system program, data, and the like for the processing unit 200 to control the signal controller 60 in an integrated manner. Used as a work area, calculation results executed by the processing unit 200 according to various programs, sensing signals from the vehicle detector 40 and the pedestrian detector 50, and the like are temporarily stored. In the present embodiment, a signal control program 310, an automatic switching setting table 320, a control pattern setting table 330, control pattern data 340, and pedestrian occupancy data 350 are stored.

[Process flow]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining signal control processing.
First, the control method switching unit 220 determines whether or not the current time is a time zone for switching the signal control method, and if it is not an automatic switching time zone (step A1: NO), the signal control method is changed to a fixed period. The method is determined (step A3).

  On the other hand, if it is the automatic switching time zone of the signal control method (step A1: YES), it is subsequently determined whether or not the continuation condition is satisfied. That is, first, it is determined whether or not the threshold condition is satisfied, that is, the pedestrian occupation during the pedestrian blue period in each of the past consecutive N times (N ≧ 2) signal control cycles including the current signal control cycle. It is determined whether or not the rate is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. If all of the rates are equal to or greater than the threshold, it is determined that the threshold condition is satisfied.

  If the threshold condition is not satisfied (step A5: NO), the signal control method is determined as the pedestrian recall method (step A17). And the control pattern selection part 230 selects the control pattern according to the pedestrian occupation rate. In the next signal control cycle, the signal control unit 210 performs signal control in the pedestrian recall method (step A19).

  If the threshold condition is satisfied (step A5: YES), it is subsequently determined whether or not the continuous condition is satisfied (step A7). That is, if the detection result of the pedestrian detector 50 at the end of pedestrian blue in the current signal control cycle is detected (or the number of detected persons is one or more), it is determined that the continuous condition is satisfied.

  If the continuous condition is satisfied (step A7: YES), the signal control method is determined as the vehicle recall method (step A9). And the control pattern selection part 230 selects the control pattern according to the pedestrian occupation rate. In the next signal control cycle, the signal control unit 210 performs signal control in the vehicle recall method (step A11).

  If the continuous condition is not satisfied (step A7: NO), the signal control method is determined as the fixed cycle method (step A13). And the control pattern selection part 230 selects the control pattern according to the pedestrian occupation rate. In the next signal control cycle, the signal control unit 210 performs signal control in a fixed cycle method (step A15). Then, it returns to step A1 and repeats the same process.

[Function and effect]
As described above, the traffic signal control system 1 of the present embodiment is installed in the pedestrian crossing 3 based on the detection result of the pedestrian sensor 50 that is installed in the pedestrian crossing 3 and detects a pedestrian passing through the pedestrian crossing 3. The signal control system for the vehicle traffic signal 10 and the pedestrian traffic signal 20 is switched. That is, when the detection result of the pedestrian sensor 50 satisfies the continuation condition that the pedestrian traffic volume is considered to be continued, the vehicle recall method is used, and otherwise, the pedestrian recall method is used. Alternatively, a fixed cycle method is used.

  Thereby, the signal control of a pedestrian priority in a pedestrian crossing can be switched flexibly by switching to a signal control system according to a pedestrian traffic volume.

  It should be noted that embodiments to which the present invention can be applied are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can of course be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, in the embodiment described above, one of the three methods of the pedestrian recall method and the fixed cycle method is selected as the signal control method, in addition to the vehicle recall method. Only one of them may be used, or another signal control method such as a flash method may be added.

  Moreover, although the example of FIG. 5 was demonstrated as switching conditions of a pedestrian recall system and a fixed period system, it is good also as the reverse. That is, steps A13 to A15 and steps A17 to A19 may be reversed.

  Moreover, although the case where the pedestrian occupation ratio is equal to or greater than the threshold value has been described as the threshold condition, the threshold value can be appropriately changed. For example, it is good also as changing with a time slot | zone or a day of the week. The threshold value may be lowered and set based on a state where the pedestrian traffic volume can be regarded as “present”.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Traffic signal control system 10 Vehicle traffic light, 20 Pedestrian traffic light, 30 Pushbutton box 40 Vehicle detector, 50 Pedestrian detector 60 Signal control device 110 Operation part, 120 Timekeeping part 200 Processing part 210 Signal control part, 220 Control method switching unit 230 Control pattern selection unit, 240 Pedestrian occupation rate calculation unit 30 Storage unit 310 Signal control program 320 Automatic switching setting table, 330 Control pattern setting table 340 Control pattern data, 350 Pedestrian occupation rate data 3 Pedestrian crossing

Claims (5)

Based on the detection result of a pedestrian sensor for detecting a pedestrian passing through a pedestrian crossing and the detection result of a vehicle sensor for detecting a vehicle passing through a road provided with the pedestrian crossing, A signal controller for controlling a pedestrian traffic light and a vehicle traffic light related to the pedestrian crossing,
The traffic signal for the pedestrian and the traffic signal for the vehicle are provided so that the right of passage is given to the pedestrian crossing side at a normal time and the right of passage is given to the road side when the detection result of the vehicle detector satisfies a predetermined vehicle recall condition. A signal control means for judging whether to execute signal control of a vehicle recall method for controlling the vehicle based on a detection result of the pedestrian sensor,
A signal controller equipped with. In addition to the vehicle recall method, the signal control means a) a fixed-cycle method for controlling the pedestrian traffic light and the vehicle traffic light so as to alternately give the right of passage to the pedestrian crossing side and the road side And b) controlling the pedestrian traffic signal and the vehicle traffic signal so that the right of passage is given to the road side in a normal state and the right of passage is given to the pedestrian crossing side when a predetermined pedestrian recall condition is satisfied. One method is selected from a plurality of methods including at least one or both of the pedestrian recall methods based on the detection result of the pedestrian sensor, and the signal control of the one method is executed. To
The signal controller according to claim 1. The signal control means, when the detection result of the pedestrian sensor continues and a predetermined continuation condition indicating that there is a predetermined traffic volume, satisfies the predetermined continuation condition, the vehicle recall method as a signal control method of the next signal control cycle Select
The signal controller according to claim 2. The signal control means satisfies the continuation condition when a traffic volume based on a detection result of the pedestrian sensor continuously satisfies a predetermined threshold condition during a past predetermined number of signal control cycles including the present. To judge,
The signal controller according to claim 3. The signal control means determines that the continuation condition is satisfied when the detection result of the pedestrian detector at the timing of the blue display end of the pedestrian traffic light in the current signal control cycle is detected,
The signal controller according to claim 3.

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