Patent Publication Number: US-10332393-B1

Title: Emergency traffic controller for emergency vehicles and controlling method thereof

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates in general to a controller and a controlling method thereof, and more particularly to an emergency traffic controller for emergency vehicles and a controlling method thereof. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     In an intersection, the emergency vehicles, such as police car, ambulance, fire engine, may not pass through the intersection quickly and safely due to the red traffic light. Therefore, it may delay to save people or extinguish the fire. 
     In the past, the emergency vehicles may be forced to pass through the intersection to save time. However, the car accident is frequently happened on these vehicles when passing through the red traffic light. Therefore, it is needed to invent a novel emergency traffic controller for emergency vehicles. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is directed to a novel emergency traffic controller for emergency vehicles and a controlling method thereof. When the novel emergency traffic controller is operated in an emergency mode, traffic light signs are controlled for the emergency vehicle to safely and quickly pass through the intersection. Further, the novel emergency traffic controller can be set up without modifying the structure or circuit design of the existing traffic light controller and the traffic light sign, so the novel emergency traffic controller can be adapted to any traffic light system in any country. Moreover, after the emergency vehicle passes through, the novel emergency traffic controller can return to a normal mode which will operate normally with lighting signals provided from the existing traffic light controller. 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention, an emergency traffic controller is provided. The emergency traffic controller includes an emergency controlling unit, a target redirection unit and a source selection unit. The emergency controlling unit is used for receiving an emergency message and outputting a switching signal according to the emergency message. The target redirection unit is electrically coupled to an existing traffic light controller and the emergency controlling unit. The source selection unit is electrically coupled to the traffic light controller. The target redirection unit is used for receiving a lighting signal from the existing traffic light controller through the source selection unit and working with the emergency controlling unit to transmit the lighting signal to one of a plurality of traffic light signs according to the switching signal. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention, a controlling method of an emergency traffic controller is provided. The controlling method includes the following steps. A lighting signal is received from the existing traffic light controller. An emergency message is received. A switching signal is outputted according to the emergency message. The lighting signal is transmitted to one of a plurality of traffic light signs according to the switching signal. 
     The above and other aspects of the invention will become better understood with regard to the following detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiment(s). The following description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1 and 2  show several emergency traffic controllers according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  shows the emergency traffic controller operated in the normal mode according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  shows the emergency traffic controller operated in the emergency mode according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  which shows a flowchart of a controlling method of the emergency traffic controller according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  shows another emergency traffic controller according to another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , several emergency traffic controllers  100  for an existing traffic light controller  900  according to one embodiment are shown. The existing traffic light controller  900  is used to generate four lighting signals S 1  to four sets of traffic light signs  800  respectively. In each of the traffic light signs  800 , “G” means “green”, “Y” means “yellow” and “R” means “red.” When the traffic light sign  800  turns on the green light, the vehicle is allowed to pass through the intersection; when the traffic light sign  800  turns on the red light, the vehicle is not allowed to pass through the intersection. 
     The emergency traffic controllers  100  are connected to the existing traffic light signs  800  respectively. The traffic light signs  800  can be controlled under a normal mode or an emergency mode. As shown in  FIG. 1 , in the normal mode, the traffic light signs  800  are controlled normally according to the time information. For example, the traffic light signs  800  at lanes LND, LNB turn on the green light, and the traffic light signs  800  at lanes LNA, LNC turn on the red light. Then, the traffic light signs  800  at lanes LND, LNB turn on the red light, and the traffic light signs  800  at lanes LNA, LNC turn on the green light. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , in the emergency mode, the traffic light signs  800  are controlled according to the movement of the emergency vehicle  700 , such that the emergency vehicle  700  can safely and quickly pass through the intersection. For example, referring to  FIG. 2 , the emergency vehicle  700  moves on the lane LNA. The traffic light signs  800  at lane LNA turn on the green light, and the traffic light signs  800  at lanes LNB, LNC, LND turn on the red light. As such, the emergency vehicle  700  can safely and quickly pass through the intersection. 
     In this embodiment, the emergency traffic controller  100  is disposed between the existing traffic light controller  900  and the traffic light sign  800  without modifying the structure or the circuit design of the existing traffic light controller  900  and the traffic light sign  800 . Therefore, the emergency traffic controller  100  can be adapted to any traffic light system in any country. 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 3 and 4 .  FIG. 3  shows the emergency traffic controller  100  operated in the normal mode according to one embodiment.  FIG. 4  shows the emergency traffic controller  100  operated in the emergency mode according to one embodiment. The emergency traffic controller  100  includes an emergency controlling unit  110 , a target redirection unit  120 , a source detection unit  130 , a source selection unit  140 , an emergency sensing unit  150 , a message transmitting unit  160 , a message receiving unit  170  and an emergency direction display  180 . The target redirection unit  120  is electrically connected to the traffic light sign  800  and the emergency controlling unit  110 . The source detection unit  130  is electrically connected to the existing traffic light controller  900  and the emergency controlling unit  110 . The source selection unit  140  is electrically connected to the existing traffic light controller  900 , the emergency controlling unit  110  and the source detection unit  130 . Each of the emergency controlling unit  110 , the target redirection unit  120 , the source detection unit  130 , and the source selection unit  140  may be a chip, a circuit, a circuit board, a firmware or a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a plurality of program codes. The emergency sensing unit  150  may be a camera, a sound detector, or a RFC receiver. Each of the message transmitting unit  160  and the message receiving unit  170  may be an antenna module or a transmission wire. The operation of those elements is illustrated with a flowchart. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 5 , which shows a flowchart of a controlling method of the emergency traffic controller  100  according to one embodiment. In step S 110 , the source detection unit  130  receives the lighting signal S 1  from the existing traffic light controller  900 . For example, three lines AR, AY, AG connect the existing traffic light controller  900  and the source detection unit  130 . For turning on the red light, the existing traffic light controller  900  transmits the lighting signal S 1  via the line AR. 
     Then, in step S 120 , the source detection unit  130  transforms the lighting signal S 1  to be a lighting signal S 2  having a direct-current voltage level. In one embodiment, the lighting signal S 1  may have an alternating current and the source detection unit  130  is an AC-DC converter for transforming the alternating-current to be a direct-current voltage level. Or, in one embodiment, the lighting signal S 1  may have a high voltage direct-current and the source detection unit  130  is a DC-DC shifter for transforming the high voltage direct-current to be a low voltage direct-current. Three lines DR, DY, DG connect the source detection unit  130  and the emergency controlling unit  110 . The source detection unit  130  transmits the lighting signal S 2  to the emergency controlling unit  110  via the line DR. 
     Afterwards, in step S 130 , the emergency controlling unit  110  generates a selecting signal S 3  according to the lighting signal S 2 . Three lines D 1 , D 2 , S 3  connect the emergency controlling unit  110  and the source selection unit  140 . The emergency controlling unit  110  transmits the selecting signal S 3  to the source selection unit  140  via the line D 1 . 
     Then, in step S 140 , the source selection unit  140  transmits the lighting signal S 1  according to the selecting signal S 3 . Three lines L 1 , L 2 , L 3  connect the existing traffic light controller  900  and the source selection unit  140 . The existing traffic light controller  900  transmits the lighting signal S 1  to the source selection unit  140  via the line L 1 . In this embodiment, the source selection unit  140  includes a plurality of switches SW 41 , SW 42 , SW 43 . Each of the switches SW 41 , SW 42 , SW 43  is a relay device, such as a magnetic switch. The lighting signal S 1  is transmitted to the switch SW 41 , and the selecting signal S 3  is transmitted to the switch SW 41  too. The switch SW 41  is turned on via the selecting signal S 3 , so the lighting signal S 1  can be transmitted to the target redirection unit  120  via line L 4 . 
     Next, in step S 150 , the emergency controlling unit  110  determines whether an emergency message S 4  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) is received from the emergency sensing unit  150 . The emergency sensing unit  150  is used for detecting whether there is an emergency vehicle  700  on a road. If the emergency vehicle  700  is detected, the emergency sensing unit  150  generates and transmits the emergency message S 4  to the emergency controlling unit  110 . 
     If the emergency controlling unit  110  does not receive the emergency message S 4 , then the normal mode is entered and the process proceeds to step S 160 ; if the emergency controlling unit  110  receives the emergency message S 4 , then the emergency mode is entered and the process proceeds to step S 180 . The steps S 160  and S 170  of the normal mode are illustrated via  FIG. 3 ; the steps S 180  and S 190  of the emergency mode are illustrated via  FIG. 4 . 
     In step S 160  of the normal mode, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the emergency controlling unit  110  outputs a switching signal S 5  according to the lighting signal S 2 . Three lines D 4 , D 5 , D 6  connect the emergency controlling unit  110  and the target redirection unit  120 . The emergency controlling unit  110  transmits the switching signal S 5  to the target redirection unit  120  via the line D 4 . 
     In step S 170  of the normal mode, the target redirection unit  120  transmits the lighting signal S 1  to one of the traffic light signs  800  according to the switching signal S 5 . In the present embodiment, the target redirection unit  120  includes a plurality of switches SW 21 , SW 22 , SW 23 . The lighting signal S 1  is transmitted to all of the switches SW 21 , SW 22 , SW 23 , and the switching signal S 5  is transmitted to the switch SW 21 . The switch SW 21  is turned on via the switching signal S 5 , so the lighting signal S 1  can be transmitted to the traffic light sign  800  which is used to emit the red light. As such, in the normal mode, the traffic light signs  800  can be operated according to the control of the existing traffic light controller  900 . 
     In step S 180  of the emergency mode, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the emergency controlling unit  110  outputs a switching signal S 6  according to the emergency message S 4 . The emergency controlling unit  110  transmits the switching signal S 6  to the target redirection unit  120  via the line D 6 . 
     In step S 190  of the emergency mode, the target redirection unit  120  transmits the lighting signal S 1  to one of the traffic light signs  800  according to the switching signal S 6 . The lighting signal S 1  is transmitted to all of the switches SW 21 , SW 22 , SW 23 , and the switching signal S 6  is transmitted to the switch SW 23 . The switch SW 23  is turned on via the switching signal S 6 , so the lighting signal S 1  can be transmitted to the traffic light sign  800  which is used to emit the green light. As such, in the emergency mode, the traffic light signs  800  can be operated according to the control of the emergency traffic controller  100 . 
     Moreover, referring to  FIG. 4 , when the emergency controlling unit  110  receives the emergency message S 4 , the emergency controlling unit  110  transmits the emergency message S 4  and a notification message S 7  to the message transmitting unit  160 , and then the message transmitting unit  160  transmits the emergency message S 4  and the notification message S 7  to another emergency traffic controller  100 . The notification message S 7  may include the identification of this emergency traffic controller  100  and a moving direction D 1  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) of the emergency vehicle  700 . The message receiving unit  170  of another emergency traffic controller  100  receives the emergency message S 4  and the notification message S 7  from this emergency traffic controller  100  and is operated in the emergency mode accordingly. Therefore, once one emergency traffic controller  100  detects the emergency vehicle  700 , this emergency traffic controller  100  can inform other emergency traffic controllers  100  to be operated in the emergency mode at the same time. 
     For example, referring to  FIG. 2 , the emergency traffic controller  100  located on the lane LNA detects the emergency vehicle  700  and controls the traffic light sign  800  located on the lane LNA to be turned on the green light. At the same time, the emergency traffic controller  100  located on the lane LNA informs the emergency traffic controllers  100  located on the lanes LNB, LNC, LND, and the emergency traffic controllers  100  located on the lanes LNB, LNC control the traffic light signs  800  located on the lane LNB, LNC, LND to be turned on the red light. 
     Furthermore, referring to  FIG. 2 , in the emergency mode, the emergency direction display  180  displays the moving direction D 1  of the emergency vehicle  700  according to the emergency message S 4  or the notification message S 7 . When the drivers know the moving direction D 1  of the emergency vehicle  700 , the drivers can pay attention to the emergency vehicle  700  for prevent from the car accident. 
     In another embodiment, the switches SW 41 , SW 42 , SW 43 , SW 21 , SW 22 , SW 23  can be realized by other kinds of devices. Please refer to  FIG. 6 , which shows another emergency traffic controller  200  according to another embodiment. In this embodiment, each of the switches SW 41 ′, SW 42 ′, SW 43 ′ of the source selection unit  140 ′ and each of the switches SW 21 ′, SW 22 ′, SW 23 ′ of the target redirection unit  120 ′ is a kind of transistor. The emergency traffic controller  200  can be operated in the normal mode or the emergency mode described above, and the similarities are not repeated here. 
     Base on the embodiments above, the emergency vehicle  700  can safely and quickly pass through the intersection, while the emergency traffic controller  100  or  200  is operated in the emergency mode. Further, the emergency traffic controller  100  or  200  can be set up without modifying the structure or the circuit design of the existing traffic light controller  900  and the traffic light sign  800 , so the emergency traffic controller  100  or  200  can be adapted to any traffic light system in any country. Moreover, after the emergency vehicle  700  leaves, the emergency traffic controller  100  or  200  can return to the normal mode under the same lighting signal S 1  provided from the existing traffic light controller  900 . 
     While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiment(s), it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures.