Patent Publication Number: US-2004051651-A1

Title: Traffic light signal monitoring system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] This invention relates to traffic light signal monitoring systems, and more particularly, to systems used by traffic enforcement personnel to determine whether drivers and pedestrians are complying with traffic laws.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0004] In many municipalities, traffic enforcement personnel routinely monitor traffic around traffic light signals for compliance with local traffic laws. In order to catch violators, traffic enforcement personnel are required to simultaneously monitor the illumination sequences of the green, amber and red lights on the traffic light signal and the movement of motor vehicles and pedestrians in the intersection. In order to issue citations to violators, the traffic enforcement personnel must know when the red light is illuminated and see the violation.  
       [0005] One drawback with simultaneously monitoring the illumination of the lights on the traffic light signal and the motor vehicle traffic is that the traffic enforcement personnel must be positioned near the intersection. Normally, the traffic enforcement personnel is positioned in front of or upstream from the traffic light signal so that the light signal may be seen. When a violation occurs, the traffic enforcement personnel must quickly enter or cross traffic in the intersection to pursue the violator.  
       [0006] Another drawback with simultaneously monitoring the illumination of the traffic light signal and the motor vehicle traffic is that other traffic infractions are missed. For example, if traffic enforcement personnel are continuously looking at the traffic light signal, he or she is unable to watch motor vehicles traveling through the intersection for other violations, such as operating a vehicle with defective equipment.  
       [0007] What is needed is a traffic light monitoring system that enables traffic enforcement personnel to simultaneously monitor the flow of traffic through an intersection and watch for other violators from a remote location.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a traffic light signal monitoring system.  
       [0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide such a system that allows traffic enforcement personnel to simultaneously monitor the traffic light signal for violations and to watch for other violations near or around the intersection.  
       [0010] It is a further object of the invention to provide such a system that allows the traffic enforcement personnel to be remotely located from the intersection.  
       [0011] These and other objects of the present invention are met by a traffic light monitoring system that enables traffic enforcement personnel to monitor traffic light signal infractions while positioned at a distant or remote location from the intersection where they would otherwise not be able to see the color of the traffic light signal. The system, which is designed to be installed with existing traffic signal control systems, includes a distribution switch mounted inside the controller cabinet normally located adjacent to the intersection. The distribution switch is connected to the amber light circuits on each traffic light signal. During use, a traffic enforcement personnel operates the distribution switch to select the amber light circuit for a specific traffic light signal for monitoring in the intersection.  
       [0012] Connected to the distribution switch is a simple relay, hereinafter called a transmitter activator/isolation device, that is coupled to a wireless communication means. The transmitter activator/isolation device acts to isolate the traffic light signal circuits from the wireless communication means, and to match their voltages for activation. In the preferred embodiment, the wireless communication means is a radio transmitter designed to communicate short distances (up to 1,000 feet) with a remote radio receiver carried by the traffic enforcement personnel. During use, the transmitter activator/isolation device is activated only when the amber light circuit on the selected traffic signal light is activated. The radio transmitter is coupled to a tone generator that produces a tone that is broadcast to the remote radio receiver. No audible tone is broadcast when the light signal&#39;s red or green light circuits are activated or when the amber light circuit is off.  
       [0013] After the desired traffic signal light is selected, the traffic enforcement personnel positioned at a remote location near the intersection are able to watch traffic travel through the intersection without looking directly at the selected traffic signal. When the light signal&#39;s amber light circuit is activated, the audible tone is broadcast for approximately four seconds which informs the traffic enforcement personnel that his or her attention must be drawn to the traffic light signal to detect violators. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0014]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a four way intersection controlled by a traffic signal controller programmed for controlling four directions.  
     [0015]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the components used in the system.  
     [0016]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the manual switch and relay.  
     [0017]FIG. 4 is a block diagram view of the system. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)  
     [0018] There is shown in the accompanying Figs. a traffic light monitoring system  10  and method that enables traffic enforcement personnel  90  to monitor the movement of traffic through an intersection  80  controlled by traffic signal lights  60  A-H for traffic light signal infractions while positioned at a distant location from the intersection  80  where they would otherwise not be able to see the color of a desired traffic light signal  60 . During use, traffic enforcement personnel  90  are able to watch traffic travel through the intersection  80  without constantly viewing a specific traffic light signal  60 . When the amber light circuit  61  on a monitored traffic light signal  60  is activated, a signal is transmitted to the traffic enforcement personnel  90  informing him to view the traffic light signal  60  and watch for violators.  
     [0019] The system  10  is designed to be used with an existing traffic light control circuit  75  located in the cabinet  70  located on a curb or sidewalk  82  adjacent to the intersection  80 . The system  10 , shown more specifically in FIGS.  2 - 4 , includes a distribution switch  30  connected to the amber light circuits  61  A-H for the traffic light signals  60  A-H around the intersection  80 . In the preferred embodiment, the distribution switch  30  includes a turn knob  32  that enables the user to select one specific traffic light signal  60  A-H to monitor. The system  10  also includes a transmitter activation/isolation device  40  connected to the distribution switch  30  that is activated when the amber light circuit  61  A-H on a selected traffic light signal  60  A-H is activated.  
     [0020] The transmitter activation/isolation device  40  is connected to a wireless radio transmitter  52  capable of transmitting a radio signal for a relatively short distance to a radio receiver  54  carried by the traffic enforcement personnel  90 . Coupled to the wireless radio transmitter  52  is a tone generator  50  that automatically generates a constant audible tone. The output port on the tone generator  50  is connected to the microphone&#39;s input port on the transmitter  52 .  
     [0021] During use, traffic enforcement personnel  90  positioned at a distant or remote location near the intersection  80  are able to watch traffic travel around the intersection  80  without looking directly at the traffic light signal  60 E. In FIG. 1, the traffic enforcement personnel  90  is shown located downstream from the intersection  80 . When the amber light circuit  61 E on the monitored traffic light signal  60 E is activated, the audible tone is broadcast for approximately four seconds that informs the traffic enforcement personnel  90  that his or her attention must be drawn to the intersection  80  to watch for violations.  
     [0022] As shown in FIG. 3, the distribution switch  30  includes a plurality of input ports  31  A-H that are connected to the amber light circuits  61  A-H on the traffic light signals  60  A-H operating on the intersection  80 . The distribution switch  30  includes a turn knob  32  that enables the traffic enforcement personnel  90  to manually select a particular traffic light signal  60  A-H to monitor. The tone generator  50 , connected to the transmitter  52 , is designed to produce a pleasant audio tone when one of the amber light circuits  61  A-H is activated.  
     [0023] The remote radio receiver  54  carried by the traffic enforcement personnel  90  includes an on-off switch  55 , a speaker  56 , a volume control  57 , an optional LED light  58 , and an optional ear-plug connector  59 .  
     [0024] In compliance with the statute, the invention described herein has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, since the means and construction shown, is comprised only of the preferred embodiments for putting the invention into effect. The invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the amended claims, appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.