| Full Text |
FORM-2
THE PATENTSACT.1970
(39 of 1970)
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(Section 10)
CMS TRAFFIC SYSTEMS LIMITED,
Plot No.155, Sector 2, Millenium Business Park,
Mahape M.I.D. C,
Navi Mumbai-400 701, Maharashtra State, India
An Indian Company registered under the
Provisions of the Companies Act, 1956
The following specification particularly describes and ascertains tfre nature of this
invention and the manner in which it is to be performed : - J M|
This invention relates to a wireless system for controlling Road Traffic Signaling system.
Rapid urbanisation has led to increase in no. of vehicles and this has resulted in heavy congestion on the road at all major intersection. A Traffic Signal Controller does the function of providing free and safe passage to each vehicle. To achieve mis Traffic Controllers are installed connected with traffic lights mounted on strategically place poles. The invention relates to making mis connectivity wireless. This is achieved by cost effective methods and to solve this X is ensured mat the maximum number of vehicles are kept moving in a given road network. To achieve this there has to be effective and reliable communications from Traffic Controller installed at individual junctions.
In the present day scenario given the city wide application cost using cable and/or using available PSTN lines is very high and has been the major cost factor for the communication sub system used in Traffic Controller and Management.
One of the cost-effective methods of transmitting data between controllers could be through wireless communication system, considering that the volume of communication is bare minimum. The module being developed can also provide for communication link.
The system envisaged include usage of RF modules interfaced to the controllers. These modules shall operate at frequency approved by relevant authority. The average distances required for mis shall be in the range of 150 - 200mtrs. The RF module shall be transmitting at low power.
-2-
The present signaling system uses Traffic Signal Controller interconnected with the signal heads through copper cable. The controller is located at the kerb side and the poles are spread around die junction on all approaching to ensure proper visibility to the road user ITiis necessities kying of inter connecting cable across the carriageway. This can be done either through overhead routing or underground routing.
Standard practice has been to lay the cable underground through ducting across the carriageway and trenching along the kerb side. This activity involves high level of labour and also disruption of Traffic Trenching along the kerb side inconveniences public at large. Also this activity involves obtaining clearances and permission for digging from controlling authorities. The job is time consuming and labour intensive.
Dae to repeated underground activity of several utilities there is high possibility of underground cable getting damaged. The repair of damaged cable again involves permission from authorities and finite time delays. Hie repair activity also involves digging and their by causing inconvenience to public and road user. Also cost of cable is also a consideration. It is object of the present invention to provide wireless system for controlling the road traffic signaling.
The system will consist of one RF Master Controller & several RF Slave Controllers. The number of Slave Controller shall depend on the junction geometry and number of links that the vehicles use. The data / control information flow between the master and slave shall be achieved through RF modules. The RF Slave Controller electronics shall be housed in a proper cabinet, which can be mounted on the same pole as the Traffic lights. One such cabinet shall have arrangements to also house the Master Controller electronics. This can be powered either by DC power or AC maim power. The cabinets described above shall be also including the power dTS¥%l&&bmcs filr the traffic lights. To ensure proper implementation each of this cabinet has capacity to drive 8 signal groups. Each of this signal groups can be designated to control either vehicular / pedestrian traffic
3
In case of DC version each of this units shall be powered through independent set of solar panel battery and DC - DC converter. On load side, LED Retrofit will be used as a load.
In case of AC version each of the slave shall have AC version, each Slave will have AC input & its SMPS.
The Master Controller is programmable and shall have complete data related to the timings, group configuration, conflict table, and detector channels among other control parameters. For vehicular group, each group lines are configured as first line green, second line amber & third red. For pedestrian group, same lines are configured as green line for "do cross" lamp, Amber for wait lamps & Red for "don't cross" lamps.
In order to cater for dynamic assignment of timings, detectors are used to sense number of vehicles on the road or register Pedestrian demand to cross the road. To enable this 8 detector channels connections are provided to each slave. Each detector channel can be configured as a vehicle or pedestrian detector. This depends upon the configuration of a group. Thus each detector channel is associated with a group.
The system also provides for sensing of errors, faults. A major fault mat can occur
is related to Conflict at the junction. To enable this a special conflict monitoring data is
available in the Master Controller. The conflict can occur as any two of the three Red,
Amber, and (keen occurring simultaneously. This is termed as Intra Group Conflict.
. In case of inter group conflict green lights corresponding to conflicting movement-
of vehicle come on simultaneously. The Conflict Monitoring matrix and associated
circuitry in the system is capable of detecting faults as described above, hi case such a
fault is sensed all the associated Slave Connector shall go into fallback mode.
Note:- Flow-charts & block diagrams are given herewith for more detail or clarity.
4
Accordingly me present invention provides a wireless system for controlling road traffic signaling comprises of a RF Master (Primary) Controller consisting of central processing unit (CPU), data memory for storage of data „ code memory , Real Time cloek(RTC), watchdog to supervise the operation of CPU, Serial memory to store the ID , LED indications for activity & status , serial interfece for RF transreceiver & interfece with me number of slave (Secondary) controller with which mis Master Controller is housed in same cabinet LCD-keyboard interfece, and Police panel interfece. the said Steve (Secondary) Controller consisting of code memory to store the program code, data memory to store the Traffic parameters, serial EPROM to Store the Slave Id. RF Module for RF communication interfece, watchdog to supervise the overall operation of the firmware, detector input channel to monitor the loop detector and pedestrian inputs. RS232 interfece to communicate with the said Master; a driver Controller interfaced to the said Slave Controller CPU and logic to illuminate signal lights: the said signal can be Incandescent lamps or LEDs or Fluorescent tube or Gas Discharge display, or any such display devices which is illuminated on power or on incident light (which can be termed as retro reflective); a communication interfece provided to the said master and Slave Controller to create data streams as per protocol.
Now the invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein
Figure 1 shows schematic diagram of wireless system for controlling road traffic signaling according to invention.
Figure 2 shows block diagram of Master (Primary) controller wiih^RJF
transreceiver shown in figure 1.
Figure 3 shows block diagram of slave (secondary ) controller shown in figure 1.
Figure 4 shows block diagram of lamp driver of traffic signal lamps.
Figure 5 shows perspective view of wireless traffic lamp signal according to invention.
5
£
7
8
9
The technology thus developed can be utilised to have remote control application on:
a) Manual control to police panel.
b) Data communication between junction tor syncronisation of green times.
c) Use of solar power to eliminate use of cables all together.
Now referring figures 1 to 5, the system consists of the following components :-1) Master (Primary) controller with RF transreceiver It keeps all the timing parameters & other information required to switch the signal lamps in proper sequence to provide safely the right of way to the road users (i.e. motorist) from all arms of a junction (common area used by road user) on time sharing basis.
2) Engineer fascia also known as Hand held terminal (HHT)
It is used to program the traffic parameters & other info . It is also used to check the current status. The system shall be configured by data entry or programming of the firmware complete in respect of handling the junction timing, conveying right of way to the road user. This shall also include the safety parameter like Conflict Monitoring to avoid display of conflicting movements of vehicle and / or pedestrians. The safety parameter shall include monitoring of both the hardware and software.
3)Policepanel
It is used to put the junction or Slave Controllers in emergency mode like lamps off or all red or flash or manual operation.
4) Slave (Secondary) controllers (max 8) with RF transreceiver & signal lamps driver for AC & DC lamp loads. These are used to switch signal lamps as per instructions from Master Controller.
5) Signal lamps (collection of a Green ,amber & red signal lamps together is called a group) with maximum 8 groups driven by a single secondary controller. The drive circuitry will be housed
a
inside Slave Controller . In case of DC version(Solar), each Slave will have its own Solar Panel,
Battery & DC-DC Converter. Each of the Slave shall be capable of driving 8 set of RED- AMBER
-GREEN Lights. Battery requirement shall be calculated as per site requirement, can be housed
inside Slave Controller Box. This shall minimize cable power loss due to proximity of Source &
load .In case of AC version, each Slave shall have its power converter and other related circuitry
housed in the same cabinet The Lamp heads can be either of the following;
Incandescent lamps
LED's
Fluorescent tube
Gas Discharge display
Or any such display devices which is illuminated on power or on incident light (which
can be termed as retro reflective)
6) Power supply for logic in primary controller
7) Power supply for logic in secondary controller
8) Power supply to drive signal lamps
The power to the system can be either 230 V AC, Battery power backed up by Solar Panel or UPS.
Master (Primary) Controller is the main component of the system. It consists of central processing unit (CPU), data memory for storage of data , code memory , Real Time clock (RTC), watchdog to supervise the operation of CPU , Serial memory to tore'the ID ,"LED indications for activity & status , serial interface for RF transreceiver & interface with slave pole controller with which this master Controller is housed in same cabinet on the, LCD-keyboard interface, Police panel interface.
The Slave (Secondary) Controller consists of code memory to store the program code, data memory to store the Traffic parameters, serial EPROM to store the Slave Id. RF Module for RF communication interface, watchdog To supervise the overall operation of the firmware, detector input channel. To monitor the loop detector and pedestrian inputs. RS232 interface to communicate with the master.
12
The module consists of three parts: CPU& Logic Drive Control Communication interface
CPU & Logic:
This part of the module carried out the major function of the Traffic Controller. The traffic related data is stored in memory. The data required for control of timing, assignments of phase, signal groups etc is entered through a Hand Held Terminal (HHT) and used by the firmware to carry out control functions. The data so generated is transmitted to the slave module through communication interface. The system shall be configure by data entry or programming of the firm ware complete in respect of handling the junction timing, conveying right of way to the road user. This shall also include the safety parameter like
Conflict Monitoring to avoid display of conflicting movements of vehicle and/ or pedestrians. The safety parameter shall include monitoring of both the hardware and software.
The programming information consists of line configuration, conflict table, detector
channels and any such feature mat may be required for the control and management of the
traffic
Driver Control:
The output of the CPU unit and logic is interfaced to the drive circuitry onboard. This drive circuitry is utilised to illuminate signal lights. This signal lights can be either of the following: Incandescent lamps LEDs
Fluorescent tube Gas Discharge display Or
any such display devices which is illuminated on power or on incident light (which can be termed as retro reflective)
13
Communication Interface:
The control data generated by the CPU is presented to this module. The primary function of this module is to create data streams as per protocol and transmit the same. The data received at the slave end is used to control the lights connected to it secondary controller consists of data memory to store the data received from master,code memory, serial memory, Real time clock, lamp Driving & feedback circuits for conflict & lamp monitoring .Slave Controller function as mutually exclusive device. The functionality of this is controlled by the data transmitted by the Master Controller. The parametric data so received is stored in non-volatile memory. This controller consist of on board micro controller, drive circuit and sensing circuit for illumination of light indications. The slave communicates the number of lights illuminated at any given instance during the phase back to the Master. This data is used by Master Controller to handle Conflict Monitoring.
The drive circuitry will be housed inside Slave Controller. In case of DC version (Solar), each Slave will have its own Solar Panel, Battery & DC-DC Converter. Each of the Slave shall be capable of driving 8 set of RED_ AMBER GREEN Lights. Battery requirement shall be calculated as per site requirement, can be housed inside Slave
controller Box. This shall minimises cable power loss due to proximity of source & load .In case of AC version, each Slave shall have it's power converter and other related circuitry housed in the same cabinet.
Advantages of your invention.
No permission from controlling authority required for large-scale digging.
No disruption of Traffic or inconveniences to public.
Shorter installation time required.
Time and cost reduction
Upgradation due to change injunction geometric do not need additional cable, digging, labour.
Reliability of interconnectivity between controller and signal heads.
Possibility of damage to other utilities due to signaling work is eliminated.
14
WE CLAIM:-
1. Wireless system for controlling road traffic signaling comprising a RF Master
(Primary) Controller consisting of central processing unit (CPU), data memory for storage of
date, code memory, Real Time cJock(RTC), watchdog to supervise the operation of CPU,
Serial memory to stole the ID, LED indications for activity & status, serial interface for RF
transreceiver & interface with the number of slave (secondary) controller with which mis
master Controller is housed in same cabinet, LCD-keyboard interface, and Police panel
interface.; the said Slave (Secondary) Controller consisting of code memory to store the
program code, data memory to store the Traffic parameters, serial EPROM to Store the Slave Id,
RF Module for RF communication interface, watchdog to supervise the overall operation of the
firmware, detector input channel to monitor the loop detector and pedestrian inputs,. RS232
interface to communicate with the said master; a driver Controller interfaced to the said slave
controller CPU and logic to illuminate signal lights: the said signal is Incandescent temps or
LEDs or Fluorescent tube or Gas Discharge display Or any such display devices which is
illuminated on power or on incident light (which can be termed as retro reflective); and a
communication interface provided to the said master and Slave Controller to create data streams
as per protocol;
2. wireless system as claimed in claim 1 where in said Master Controller inter face with
maximum of eight Slave Controllers; wherein each slave will drive. 8 groups i.e. 24 lines;
3. wire less system as claimed in claims 1 & 2 where in said slaves controller are provided on each slave poles having traffic lamps and said Master Controller is mounted on the said slave pole;
4. wireless system for controlling road traffic signaling as claimed in claims 1 to 3 and as here in substantially described with reference to figures of accompanying drawings.
Dated mis 14* Day of January, 2002
(MDBHATE) AGENT FOR APPLICANT
15
|