Patent ID: 6072406
Filing Date: 2000-06-06
Classification: G08G

Abstract:
A traffic control apparatus for emergency vehicles for enabling control of a plurality of traffic signal lights disposed at a controlled intersection by an operator of an emergency vehicle and for disabling a conventional traffic signal light controller used for controlling the operation of the traffic signal lights comprising:a relay means for disconnecting the conventional traffic signal light controller, the relay means being responsive to a disconnect signal;a directional compass operable to generate a plurality of directional signals representative of the emergency vehicle's direction of travel in response to the vehicles direction of travel, the directional compass being disposed on the emergency vehicle;a transmitter means for transmitting the directional signals, the transmitter means being operatively connected to the directional compass and disposed on the emergency vehicle;a data receiver means for receiving and decoding the directional signals, the data receiver means being disposed at the controlled intersection;a state machine means for accepting the decoded directional signals, for generating a plurality of state signals, for generating a plurality of output signals dependent upon the decoded directional signals and the state signals, and for generating the disconnect signal; anda plurality of relay means for energizing the traffic lights responsive to the output signals.