JP2012113585A - Traffic signal acoustic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control sounds in accordance with actual traffic volume in a traffic signal acoustic apparatus.SOLUTION: On the basis of a predicted reachable traffic flow, vehicle speed, or number of stagnant vehicles acquired from a signal control device 30, a traffic signal acoustic apparatus 60 changes an output volume Vn of sounds to be outputted for guiding the handicapped in sight walking on a crosswalk while a pedestrian signal 40 is green. Specifically, on the basis of the acquired predicted reachable traffic flow, vehicle speed, or number of stagnant vehicles, an index value Cn representing a level of noise caused by traffic vehicles is calculated and a reference volume Vs is multiplied by the index value Cn, thereby determining the next volume Vn.

Description

  The present invention relates to an acoustic device for traffic signals.

  A traffic signal sound device (hereinafter referred to as “traffic signal device”) that safely guides visually impaired persons walking on a pedestrian crossing by causing a predetermined sound to be output when the pedestrian traffic light is displayed in blue at an intersection where a plurality of roads intersect. In many cases, an “additional device” is installed. However, this additional device has a problem in that the sound output is noisy to the residents in the neighborhood during nighttime periods when the traffic volume is low. Therefore, in order to solve this problem, a technique is known in which the output volume at night is silenced by utilizing the fact that the number of blinking lights (flicker) of the traffic light for pedestrians is different between daytime and nighttime (for example, , See Patent Document 1). In addition, this technique can be applied to reduce the output volume at night.

JP 2000-36095 A

  However, the above-described conventional technology is a technology for specifying a time zone by some method and changing the sound output volume according to the specified time zone. In this method, there is a difference between the noise due to the actual traffic volume and the sound output volume. That is, for example, even when the traffic volume temporarily increases at night, the output volume remains low, and the sound is difficult to be heard by visually impaired persons. In addition, a method for solving the problem by another method is desired instead of the volume level.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to enable sound control according to actual traffic volume in a traffic signal acoustic device.

The first form for solving the above problem is
Profile signal control that receives information on outflow traffic flow at other intersections, predicts arrival traffic flow at its own intersection, changes signal control parameters of its own intersection based on the predicted arrival traffic flow, and controls signals at its own intersection A traffic signal acoustic device installed at an intersection where a signal control device is installed,
Obtaining means for obtaining information of the predicted traffic flow at the intersection from the signal control device;
Using the information of the predicted arrival traffic flow acquired by the acquisition means, acoustic adjustment means for adjusting the volume and / or pitch of the sound to be output;
Is an audio device for a traffic signal device.

  According to the first aspect, in the traffic signal acoustic device, the volume and / or sound of the sound to be output using the predicted traffic flow information of the own intersection acquired from the signal control device that performs profile signal control. Adjust the height. That is, the volume and / or pitch of the sound to be output is changed according to the actual traffic volume at the intersection. Thereby, appropriate acoustic control corresponding to temporary increase or decrease in traffic becomes possible. Further, since the predicted arrival traffic flow of the own intersection calculated for use in signal control in the signal control device is used, acoustic control according to actual traffic can be easily configured.

As a second form, the traffic signal acoustic device of the first form,
It further comprises speed information acquisition means for acquiring speed information of a vehicle passing through its own intersection,
The acoustic control means performs the adjustment using the information on the predicted arrival traffic flow and the speed information acquired by the speed information acquisition means.
You may comprise the audio apparatus for traffic signals.

  According to the second aspect, the traffic signal acoustic device adjusts the volume and / or pitch of the sound to be output by using the predicted arrival traffic flow information and the speed information of the vehicle passing through the intersection. To do. Thereby, more appropriate acoustic control according to the actual traffic at the intersection is possible.

As a third form, the traffic signal acoustic device of the second form,
The acoustic adjustment means calculates an index value by performing a predetermined index value calculation operation determined to calculate an index value of noise caused by a traffic vehicle, using the predicted arrival traffic flow information and the speed information. Having index value calculation means, and determining the degree of adjustment according to the calculated index value;
You may comprise the audio apparatus for traffic signals.

  According to the third aspect, in the traffic signal acoustic device, the degree of adjustment of the volume and / or pitch of the sound to be output according to the index value calculated using the predicted arrival traffic flow information and the speed information To decide. Thereby, step-by-step acoustic control according to the level of noise caused by the traffic vehicle is possible.

As a fourth form, the traffic signal acoustic device of the third form,
The index value calculation means calculates the index value related to each route of the own intersection,
The acoustic adjustment means determines the degree of adjustment according to an index value that satisfies a predetermined adverse condition among the index values related to each of the respective routes at the intersection.
You may comprise the audio apparatus for traffic signals.

  According to the fourth aspect, the traffic signal acoustic device outputs the sound volume and / or the sound to be output according to the index value satisfying a predetermined adverse condition among the index values related to the respective directions of the own intersection. Determine the degree of pitch adjustment.

As a fifth embodiment, the traffic signal acoustic device of the first to fourth embodiments,
The signal control device is a device that predicts the predicted arrival traffic flow in time series,
The acoustic adjustment means performs the adjustment using information on the predicted arrival traffic flow during a scheduled period in which the pedestrian signal is a progress indication.
You may comprise the audio apparatus for traffic signals.

  According to the fifth aspect, the traffic signal acoustic device is a predicted arrival traffic flow during a scheduled period in which a pedestrian signal is displayed as a progress among predicted arrival traffic flows predicted in time series by the signal control device. Is used to adjust the volume and / or pitch of the output sound.

The top view of the intersection where the acoustic device for traffic signals (additional device) was installed. An example of the current floor plan. The function block diagram of the signal control apparatus and the sound apparatus (addition apparatus) for traffic signals. Data configuration example of traffic data. The data structural example of signal control data. The data structural example of index value calculation data. The data structural example of volume control data. The flowchart of an acoustic control process.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Example of installation at an intersection]
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an intersection where an audio device for traffic signals (hereinafter referred to as “additional device”) according to the present invention is installed. This intersection is a cross intersection where two roads intersect, and a vehicle traffic signal 10 and a vehicle detector 20 for vehicles entering the intersection are installed on each of the four routes. In addition, a pedestrian crossing 1 is provided in each of the four directions, and a pedestrian traffic light 40 and a speaker 50 for pedestrians of the pedestrian crossing 1 are installed at both ends of each pedestrian crossing 1. Yes. Furthermore, a signal control device 30 that controls traffic signals at the intersection is installed, and an additional device 60 that guides visually impaired persons walking along the pedestrian crossing 1 by sound.

  The vehicle traffic signal 10 is installed on an upper part of a pillar installed on the roadside so as to face a traffic vehicle to be controlled, and the signal display is controlled by the signal control device 30.

  The vehicle detector 20 is, for example, an ultrasonic type or an optical type, and is installed on an upper part of a pillar installed on the road side so as to overlook the road to be detected from above, and there is a vehicle passing through the installation position. Sense. The sensing signal from the vehicle sensor 20 is output to the signal control device 30 as needed.

  The pedestrian traffic light 40 is installed on an upper part of a pillar installed on the road side so as to face a pedestrian to be controlled, and the signal display is controlled by the signal control device 30.

  The speaker 50 is installed in the vicinity of the pedestrian traffic light 40 and outputs a predetermined sound under the control of the additional device 60.

  The signal control device 30 is installed, for example, below or near any pillar to which the vehicle traffic signal 10 is attached, and performs overall control of traffic signals at the own intersection. Specifically, profile signal control is performed to control traffic signals at the own intersection by transmitting and receiving outflow traffic information to and from the signal control device 30 at the adjacent intersection.

  The additional device 60 is installed, for example, below or near any of the pillars to which the pedestrian traffic signal 40 is attached. While the pedestrian traffic signal 40 displays the progress indication, the corresponding device 50 By outputting a predetermined sound, a visually handicapped person walking on the pedestrian crossing 1 is guided. The additional device 60 may be built in the signal control device 30.

[Present]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the presenting level table of this intersection. In FIG. 2, a solid line arrow indicates a flow line of a vehicle to which right of passage is given, and a dotted line arrow indicates a flow line of a pedestrian to which right of right is given. At this intersection, the current indication 1φ that gives the right of traffic to one road (main road) (vehicles and pedestrians) and the current right that gives the right to pass traffic (vehicles and pedestrians) of the other road (secondary road). Two display control is performed in which the display 2φ is displayed alternately. Note that FIG. 2 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to the two indications, and a multiple indication method of three indications or more is also possible.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating functional configurations of the signal control device 30 and the additional device 60. As shown in FIG. 3, the signal control device 30 is functionally configured to include a processing unit 310, a communication unit 320, and a storage unit 330.

  The processing unit 310 is realized by an arithmetic device such as a CPU, for example, and instructs each unit constituting the signal control device 30 based on a program and data stored in the storage unit 330, a detection signal from the vehicle detector 20, and the like. And data transfer and overall control of the signal control device 30. The processing unit 310 performs signal control processing according to the signal control program 331.

  In the signal control process, the vehicle speed in each direction of the own intersection is calculated based on the detection signal from the vehicle detector 20.

  Moreover, the traffic signal of the self-intersection is controlled by transmitting / receiving the information of the outflow traffic flow with the signal control device 30 of the adjacent intersection. Specifically, based on the predicted outflow traffic flow of the adjacent intersection received from the signal control device 30 of the adjacent intersection and the calculated vehicle speed or the preset vehicle speed and the intersection distance, the arrival traffic of the own intersection Predict the flow. In other words, the predicted outflow traffic flow from the adjacent intersection to the own intersection is delayed by the required time from the adjacent intersection to the own intersection to obtain the predicted arrival traffic flow to the own intersection. In the present embodiment, since the intersections of the four ways shown in FIG. 1 are targeted, adjacent intersections exist in each of the four ways. Accordingly, the processing unit 310 predicts the arrival traffic flow for each route. In addition, it is possible to make predictions up to a maximum of 6 routes, not limited to 4 routes.

  Then, based on the predicted arrival traffic flow and signal control parameters, the number of stays (number of queues) and predicted outflow traffic flow in each direction of the intersection is calculated, and the predicted outflow traffic flow in each direction is calculated as It transmits to the signal control apparatus 30 of the adjacent intersection ahead of the route.

  Here, the predicted outflow traffic flow is the number of outflows at each time of a predetermined time interval (for example, 1 second interval) in a predetermined prediction period (for example, 200 seconds from the current time to 200 seconds after). Is the time-series data for which is calculated. The predicted arrival traffic flow is time series data of the number of arrivals at each predetermined time interval in a predetermined prediction period, similarly to the predicted outflow traffic flow.

  Data relating to traffic at the own intersection is stored as traffic data 333. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of the traffic data 333. According to FIG. 4, the traffic data 333 stores the predicted arrival traffic flow, the predicted outflow traffic flow, the vehicle speed, and the number of stays for each route of the intersection.

  The signal control parameter is stored as signal control data 334. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data configuration of the signal control data 334. According to FIG. 5, the signal control data 334 stores a cycle length, a split, and an offset.

  The communication unit 320 is realized by, for example, a wireless or wired communication device such as an SS wireless device, and performs communication with an external device such as the additional device 60 or the signal control device 30 at an adjacent intersection. The communication unit 320 may be configured by separate communication devices that communicate with the additional device 60 and the signal control device 30 at the adjacent intersection. If the communication protocol is common, the additional device 60 may be configured as a single device. And it is good also as a structure which switches and communicates with each of the signal control apparatus 30 of an adjacent intersection.

  The storage unit 330 is realized by a storage device such as a hard disk, a ROM, or a RAM, and stores a system program for the processing unit 310 to control the signal control device 30 in an integrated manner, a program and data for realizing various functions, and the like. In addition to being stored, it is used as a work area for the processing unit 310 and temporarily stores the calculation results executed by the processing unit 310 according to various programs. In the present embodiment, the storage unit 330 stores a signal control program 331 as a program, and stores current floor data 332, traffic data 333, and signal control data 334 as data.

  Further, according to FIG. 3, the additional device 60 is functionally configured to include a processing unit 610, a lighting state detection unit 620, a communication unit 630, and a storage unit 640.

  The processing unit 610 is realized by an arithmetic device such as a CPU, for example, and performs instructions and data transfer to each unit constituting the additional device 60 based on a program, data, and the like stored in the storage unit 640. Perform overall control.

  The processing unit 610 performs acoustic control processing according to the acoustic control program 641. In this sound control process, the pedestrian traffic light 40 outputs a predetermined sound from the corresponding speaker 50 during the green light according to the current floor of the own intersection and the signal control parameter.

  For example, when the traffic signal is controlled at the crossing intersection shown in FIG. 1 according to the current floor plan shown in FIG. A predetermined sound is output from the speaker 50 of the pedestrian crossing 1 that crosses the road, and the speaker 50 of the pedestrian crossing 1 that crosses the main road during the period of the floor number 6 in which the traffic light 40 for pedestrians on the secondary road is displayed in blue. A predetermined sound is output. At this time, a different sound is output for each traveling direction.

  Here, the current floor of the intersection is stored as current floor data 645, which is the current floor data 332 acquired from the signal control device 30. The signal control parameter is stored as signal control data 646, which is signal control data 334 acquired from the signal control device 30 as needed. Also, multiple types of sound data (sound data) output from the speaker 50 are stored as the sound DB 642.

At this time, the sound output volume Vn output from the speaker 50 is determined according to the following equation (1).

In Expression (1), “Vs” is a predetermined reference volume Vs. “Cn” is an index value representing the degree of noise at the intersection, and is given by the following equation (2a) when there is a traffic jam, and is given by the following equation (2b) otherwise.

  In the above equations (2a) and (2b), “Tn” is the current traffic volume T, and “Ts” is the reference traffic volume T. “Jn” is the current staying number J, and “Js” is the reference staying number J. “Sn” is the current vehicle speed S, and “Ss” is the reference vehicle speed S.

  Here, the traffic volume T is a value based on the predicted arrival traffic flow of the own intersection acquired from the signal control device 30, and specifically, a predetermined determination target period (for example, up to 5 minutes after the current time). The average number of vehicles reached. The staying number J is the staying number (queue number) acquired from the signal control device 30. The vehicle speed S is a value based on the vehicle speed acquired from the signal control device 30, and specifically, an average speed for a predetermined period (for example, 5 minutes). The reference traffic volume Ts, the reference staying number Js, and the reference vehicle speed Ss are, for example, values at the time of installation of the additional device 60 or at a predetermined timing designated by the administrator, and may be set to arbitrary values. good.

Here, whether or not the intersection is congested is determined from a determination value G given by the following equation (3).

  That is, if the determination value G is “1” or more, it is determined that “when there is a traffic jam”, the index value Cn is calculated from the equation (2a), and if the determination value G is less than “1”, “not when there is a traffic jam”. The index value Cn is calculated from the equation (2b).

  At this time, the index value Cn is calculated for each route of the own intersection. Then, a value satisfying a predetermined adverse condition (here, the maximum value) is selected from these index values Cn, and the next volume Vn is set according to the equation (1) using the selected maximum index value Cn. calculate.

  Further, it is determined whether or not the calculated next volume Vn is within a range from a predetermined lower limit volume Vmin to an upper limit volume Vmax. If the calculated next volume Vn is out of the range, the lower limit volume Vmin or the upper limit volume is set to be within this range. Correct to Vmax. That is, if the next volume Vn is lower than the lower limit volume Vmi, the next volume Vn is changed to the lower limit volume Vmin, and if the next volume Vn exceeds the upper limit volume Vmax, the next volume Vn is changed to the upper limit volume Vmax.

  Here, the data related to the calculation of the index value Cn is stored as the index value calculation data 643, and the data related to the sound output volume is stored as the volume control data 644.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data configuration of the index value calculation data 643. According to FIG. 6, the index value calculation data 643 includes the reference traffic volume Ts, the reference vehicle speed Ss, the reference staying number Js, the current traffic volume Tn, the current vehicle speed Sn, the current staying number Jn, and the index. The value Cn is stored.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the volume control data 644. As shown in FIG. According to FIG. 7, the volume control data 644 stores a reference volume Vs, a lower limit volume Vmin, an upper limit volume Vmax, and a next volume Vn.

  The lighting state detection unit 620 detects the lighting state (lighting, blinking, and extinguishing) of each lamp color of each pedestrian traffic light 40 based on the drive signal of the pedestrian traffic light 40, and the detection result is obtained as needed. The data is output to the processing unit 610.

  The communication unit 630 is realized by, for example, a wireless or wired communication device such as an SS wireless device, and performs communication with an external device such as the signal control device 30.

  The storage unit 640 is realized by a storage device such as a hard disk, a ROM, or a RAM, and stores a system program for the processing unit 610 to control the additional device 60 in an integrated manner, a program and data for realizing various functions, and the like. In addition, it is used as a work area for the processing unit 610 and temporarily stores calculation results executed by the processing unit 610 according to various programs. In the present embodiment, an acoustic control program 641 is stored as a program in the storage unit 640, and acquired from the acoustic DB 642, index value calculation data 643, volume control data 644, and signal control device 30 as data. As the obtained data, the presenting table data 645 and the signal control data 646 are stored.

[Process flow]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of the acoustic control process executed in the additional device 60. This process is realized by the processing unit 610 executing the acoustic control program 641.

  According to FIG. 8, the processing unit 610 first sets (initially sets) a reference traffic volume Ts, a reference vehicle speed Ss, and a reference staying number Js (step A1). Then, if it is the timing immediately before the next pedestrian traffic light 40 is turned on in blue (step A3: YES), iterative processing (loop A) is performed for each of the routes at the intersection.

  In loop A, the predicted arrival traffic flow data is acquired from the signal control device 30, and the current traffic volume Tn of the target route is calculated (step A5). Further, the vehicle speed data is acquired from the signal control device 30, and the current vehicle speed Sn is calculated (step A7). Moreover, the data of the staying number is acquired from the signal control device 30, and the current staying number Jn is calculated (step A9).

  Next, the determination value G defined by the expression (3) is calculated (step A11). If the determination value G is “1” or more (step A13: YES), the target route is determined to be “congested”, The index value Cn is calculated according to the equation (2a) (step A15). On the other hand, if the determination value G is less than “1” (step A13: NO), it is determined that the target route is “not a traffic jam”, and the index value Cn is calculated according to the equation (2b) (step A17). Loop A is performed in this way.

  When the index value Cn of each route is calculated by performing the iterative process (loop A) for all the routes at the intersection, the largest one is selected from the calculated index values Cn of each route Then, the next volume Vn is calculated according to the equation (1) using the selected maximum index value Cn (step A21).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the calculated next volume Vn is within the range from the lower limit volume Vmin to the upper limit volume Vmax, and if it is out of the range, correction is made to be within this range (step A23).

  When the next blue lighting timing of the pedestrian traffic light 40 is reached (step A25: YES), sound output from the corresponding speaker 50 is started at the determined next volume Vn (step A27). Thereafter, when it is time to end blue lighting of the pedestrian traffic light 40 (timing to shift to blinking blue) (step A29: YES), the sound output is ended (step A31). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not to end this process. If it does not end (step A33: NO), the process returns to step A3, and if it ends (step A33: YWS), this process ends.

[Action / Effect]
Thus, according to the present embodiment, the additional device 60 crosses when the traffic light 40 for pedestrians is a green signal based on the predicted arrival traffic flow, the vehicle speed, and the number of stays acquired from the signal control device 30. The sound output volume Vn to be output for guiding a visually handicapped person who crosses the sidewalk 1 is changed. Specifically, an index value Cn representing the degree of noise caused by a traffic vehicle is calculated based on the acquired predicted arrival traffic flow, vehicle speed, and the number of staying vehicles, and the reference volume Vs is multiplied by this index value Cn. The next volume Vn is determined. Thereby, appropriate acoustic control according to the level of noise caused by actual traffic becomes possible.

[Modification]
The application of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that the application can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

(A) Sound pitch For example, instead of the sound output volume V, the sound frequency (pitch) F may be changed. Since the sound is more easily transmitted as the frequency F is higher, the sound frequency F is increased as the noise is larger. Specifically, in the above-described embodiment, this can be realized by replacing “volume V” with “frequency F”. That is, similarly to the calculation formula (1) for the output volume Vn, the next frequency Fn is determined by multiplying the reference frequency Fs by the index value Cn. Then, the processing unit 610 performs frequency conversion processing on predetermined acoustic data and outputs the result from the speaker 50. Of course, the frequency-specific acoustic data may be stored as the acoustic DB 642 and read from here. However, the frequency F is changed within the range of human audible frequencies. Further, both the volume V and the frequency (pitch) F may be changed.

(B) Current traffic volume Tn
Further, the current traffic volume Tn used for calculating the index value Cn may be based on the predicted arrival traffic flow in the scheduled period in which the pedestrian traffic light 40 is next displayed in blue. Specifically, the maximum value of the predicted arrivals at each time in the scheduled period in which the next pedestrian traffic light 40 is displayed in blue, or the average value of the predicted arrivals in this scheduled period. Alternatively, the index value Cn is calculated for each time in the scheduled period in which the pedestrian traffic light 40 is next displayed in blue using the corresponding predicted arrival number, and among the calculated index values Cn for each time, a predetermined bad The index value Cn that satisfies the condition may be used as the index value Cn for the route.

(C) Index value Cn
In addition, the index value Cn given by the equations (2a) and (2b) is converted into a traffic volume T, a staying number J, and a vehicle speed S according to the intersection configuration such as the number of road lanes, the speed limit, and whether or not the road is a main road. It may be given by using any one or two of them. For example, the index value Cn may be given by the following equation (4).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vehicle traffic light, 20 Vehicle detector, 30 Signal control apparatus 1 Crosswalk 40 Pedestrian traffic light, 50 Speaker 60 Traffic signal sound device (additional device)

Claims (5)

Profile signal control that receives information on outflow traffic flow at other intersections, predicts arrival traffic flow at its own intersection, changes signal control parameters of its own intersection based on the predicted arrival traffic flow, and controls signals at its own intersection A traffic signal acoustic device installed at an intersection where a signal control device is installed,
Obtaining means for obtaining information of the predicted traffic flow at the intersection from the signal control device;
Using the information of the predicted arrival traffic flow acquired by the acquisition means, acoustic adjustment means for adjusting the volume and / or pitch of the sound to be output;
An audio device for traffic signals. It further comprises speed information acquisition means for acquiring speed information of a vehicle passing through its own intersection,
The acoustic control means performs the adjustment using the information on the predicted arrival traffic flow and the speed information acquired by the speed information acquisition means.
The acoustic device for traffic signals according to claim 1. The acoustic adjustment means calculates an index value by performing a predetermined index value calculation operation determined to calculate an index value of noise caused by a traffic vehicle, using the predicted arrival traffic flow information and the speed information. Having index value calculation means, and determining the degree of adjustment according to the calculated index value;
The traffic signal acoustic device according to claim 2. The index value calculation means calculates the index value related to each route of the own intersection,
The acoustic adjustment means determines the degree of adjustment according to an index value that satisfies a predetermined adverse condition among the index values related to each of the respective routes at the intersection.
The traffic signal acoustic device according to claim 3. The signal control device is a device that predicts the predicted arrival traffic flow in time series,
The acoustic adjustment means performs the adjustment using information on the predicted arrival traffic flow during a scheduled period in which the pedestrian signal is a progress indication.
The traffic signal acoustic device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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