RU2644072C1 - Method and device for alerting vehicle drivers - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: detection of a pedestrian or a cyclist is carried out at the signal of the traffic sensors installed at the beginning of the corridor formed by the enclosing structures. Alert of the vehicle drivers is carried out in advance by the activation of a contour illumination on the control unit receiving the signal from the traffic sensors. Contour illumination is activated on the enclosing structures of the pedestrian crossing or cycle track zone and a semi arch with pedestrian crossing signs installed.

EFFECT: traffic safety when pedestrians or cyclists cross an unregulated pedestrian crossing or cycle track.

7 cl, 3 dwg

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to information and warning methods and devices for notifying drivers of vehicles about the presence of pedestrians and animals at pedestrian crossings or about the presence of cyclists near the intersection of the carriageway and bicycle path and can be used in road construction.

State of the art

The prior art warning device for unregulated pedestrian crossing ([1] patent of the Russian Federation for utility model No. 135829, IPC G08G 1/095, publ. 12/20/2013) containing a control unit to which a motion sensor and a call button are connected, which are sources signals to turn on the device in alert mode. The radio communication tool built into the control unit is connected to the antenna and provides synchronization of the inclusion of several similar devices over the air. Device parameters are set using a laptop computer with a radio modem connected to it. At least one information board located above the traffic lane, made of two matrices of identical LEDs, designed to form a stylized image of a person and background, controlled independently in such a way that four modes of board illumination are connected to the control circuits of the control unit. The information board has fastening means, a matrix of LEDs in the form of a person and a background matrix. The control unit is, for example, a microprocessor or microcontroller device that allows you to close and / or open the electrical network according to a given algorithm, synchronize with a similar unit or units via a short-range radio channel, and perform wireless parameter settings using a laptop computer with a radio modem. The motion sensor is a device that allows you to determine the proximity of a pedestrian to a pedestrian crossing and transmit a signal to the control unit to enable alert mode. The call button allows you to enable the notification mode manually or to extend the operation of the device in this mode. The power source may be an electrical network and / or a device capable of generating or storing electrical energy.

The disadvantages of this system are the lack of the ability to ensure that the pedestrian movement sensor fixes on the approaches to the pedestrian crossing zone, for example, when approaching, along the side of the road in the “dead zone” of the sensor; extremely low time remaining for the reaction of the driver when the device is triggered; lack of informative marking of the borders of the danger zone “pedestrian crossing / roadbed”.

The closest analogue of the claimed invention, selected for the prototype, a method for notifying drivers of pedestrians at a pedestrian crossing ([2] RF patent for invention No. 2506368, IPC E01F 9/00, publ. 10.02.2014), including pedestrian lighting, is known from the level of technician. transition when a pedestrian presence sensor is triggered at a pedestrian crossing. Lighting a pedestrian crossing is carried out by visible, regardless of the time of day, light using an LED spotlight. The luminous flux is passed through a stencil frame that imitates the “Zebra” marking when passing through it a luminous flux on the surface of a pedestrian crossing. Carry out additional alerts to drivers using at least one window that simulates a traffic signal facing the approaching vehicle.

The disadvantages of this known method is the ability to accept the inclusion of a searchlight and light flux as faulty street lighting, requiring additional mass training for both drivers and pedestrians and the lack of sufficient time for the driver to make a decision to reduce speed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The tasks to be solved by the claimed invention is directed are:

1. Guaranteed and advance (at least 3 seconds) warning drivers about the presence of pedestrians in the pedestrian crossing zone or cyclists in the area of the bike path and their intention to cross the road and thereby provide time for the driver’s reaction.

2. Providing a comprehensive view of the driver about the presence on the roadway of a pedestrian crossing or bicycle path and its boundaries.

3. Avoid crossing the road outside the designated area. The technical result is to increase traffic safety during

pedestrians or cyclists crossing unregulated pedestrian crossings or bicycle paths, reducing driver fatigue, saving electrical energy consumed by the device, raising awareness of drivers on the roads, increasing the information content of the road infrastructure itself.

The problem is solved, and the technical result is achieved through a method of notifying drivers of vehicles, including detecting an object in a pedestrian crossing area or a bicycle path, notifying drivers of vehicles about the presence of an object in a pedestrian crossing or bicycle path, and the object is detected by a sensor signal movements established at the beginning of the corridor formed by enclosing structures; Notification of vehicle drivers is carried out in advance by activating a contour light by a signal from a control unit receiving a signal from motion sensors, while contour light is activated on the building envelope of a pedestrian crossing zone or a bicycle path and a semi-arch with established signs for a pedestrian crossing or bicycle path; while the driver is provided with a guaranteed time period of at least 3-5 seconds. for the reaction, due to the corridor formed by the enclosing structures.

The technical result is also achieved due to the fact that the contour illumination of the building envelope works continuously, and the contour illumination of the half-arch with the installed signs lights up at the moment the object appears in the pedestrian crossing or bicycle path.

The technical result is also achieved due to the fact that the contour illumination of the semi-arches with the installed signs works continuously, and the contour illumination of the building envelopes lights up when the object appears in the pedestrian crossing or bicycle path.

The technical result is also achieved due to the fact that the contour illumination of the building envelope works continuously, and the contour illumination of the half-arch with the installed signs lights up when the object appears in the pedestrian crossing or bicycle path in a blinking mode.

The technical result is also achieved due to the fact that the contour lighting of the enclosing structures and the contour illumination of the semi-arch with the installed signs works constantly, and when the object appears in the pedestrian crossing or bicycle path, it turns on in a blinking mode.

The method is implemented by a device for alerting drivers of vehicles, comprising a control unit, motion sensors, a power source, an alert element for vehicles, while the motion sensors are installed at the beginning of the corridor formed by the enclosing structures; the vehicle warning element is made in the form of contour lighting of the enclosing structures of the pedestrian crossing zone or bicycle path and half-arch with the installed signs of the pedestrian crossing or bicycle path; at the same time, a tactile tile and at least one button for forced activation of contour lighting are additionally installed in the corridor. An electric network and / or a device capable of generating or storing electric energy can be used as a power source.

The claimed tasks are solved by:

1. The presence of pedestrian corridors in the pedestrian crossing area, equipped with motion sensors, which ensures a time interval of 3-5 seconds from the appearance of a pedestrian in the pedestrian crossing zone and its exit directly onto the roadway;

2. Contour illumination of the fences of the pedestrian crossing zone, metal poles and signs with a luminous wire.

By an object is meant a pedestrian, cyclist, or any kind of animal, if this invention is implemented in an area of moving or migrating animals.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In FIG. 1 schematically shows a fragment of the carriageway with two lanes in the forward and reverse directions and with an installed warning device.

In FIG. 2 is a section 1-1 of FIG. one.

In FIG. 3 is a section 2-2 of FIG. one.

The positions indicated in the figures:

1 - metal support ("semi-arch"); 2 - pedestrian crossing sign 5.19.1 or 5.19.2; 3 - enclosing structure; 4 - motion sensor; 5 - button for forced activation of the system; 6 - a control unit with a controller and built-in radio communication means for interacting with a control unit of a similar device installed on the side of the carriageway of the oncoming traffic direction; 7 - power source; 8 - contour lighting; 9 - a corridor formed by walling; 10 - tactile tiles.

The implementation of the invention

The vehicle driver warning device comprises a control unit (6) with a controller and built-in radio communication means (or any other contact or wire method) for interacting with a control unit of a similar device installed on the side of the carriageway of the oncoming traffic direction. Motion sensors (4) connected to the control unit (6) are installed at the beginning of the corridor (9) formed by the enclosing structures (3). The device also contains warning elements of vehicles made in the form of contour lights (8). Contour lighting (8) is installed on the building envelope (3) of the pedestrian crossing zone, as well as on the semi-arch (1) with the signs (2) installed. The claimed design can also be used for cycle paths and in areas of haul or migration of animals of various kinds. In the interests of sedentary groups of people (for example, in wheelchairs), the invention initially envisaged equipping the pedestrian corridor with tactile tiles (10) and buttons for activating the system (5). The whole device operates due to a power source (7), which can be used as an electric network and / or a device capable of generating or accumulating electric energy (for example, solar cells and energy storage batteries). Contour lighting can be made in the form of a luminous wire and / or a luminous LED strip, or another light source, such as reflective reflectors, etc.

The device is implemented by a method of alerting drivers of vehicles, including detecting an object in a pedestrian crossing zone or a bicycle path, notifying drivers of vehicles of the presence of an object in a pedestrian crossing zone or a bicycle path. By an object is meant a pedestrian, cyclist, or any kind of animal, if this invention is implemented in an area of moving or migrating animals. Object detection is carried out by the signal of motion sensors installed at the beginning of the corridor formed by the building envelope. Notification of drivers of vehicles is carried out in advance by activating the contour lights on the signal of the control unit receiving the signal from the motion sensors, while the contour lights are activated on the enclosing structures of the pedestrian crossing zone or bicycle path and half-arch with the signs of the pedestrian crossing or bicycle path set. At the same time, the driver is provided with a guaranteed time period of at least 3-5 seconds for the reaction, due to the corridor formed by the enclosing structures.

There are many possible options for the operation of contour lighting, for example:

- the contour lighting of the building envelopes works constantly, and the contour lighting of the semi-arch with the installed signs lights up at the moment the object appears in the pedestrian crossing or bicycle path;

- the contour illumination of the semi-arch with the installed signs works constantly, and the contour illumination of the building envelope lights up when the object appears in the pedestrian crossing or bicycle path;

- the contour lighting of the building envelopes works constantly, and the contour lighting of the semi-arch with the installed signs lights up at the moment the object appears in the pedestrian crossing or bicycle path in a blinking mode;

- the contour light of the building envelope and the contour light of the semi-arch with the signs installed works constantly, and when the object appears in the pedestrian crossing or bicycle path, it turns on in a blinking mode.

All these signs affect the improvement of traffic safety when pedestrians or cyclists cross an unregulated pedestrian crossing or bike path, reduce driver fatigue, save electrical energy consumed by the device, increase driver awareness on the roads.

An example implementation of the invention.

To illustrate the operation of the device, in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 shows a fragment of the carriageway with two lanes in the forward and reverse directions and with two installed devices. When you turn on the device is in an inactive state. The appearance of an object, in this case a pedestrian, in the pedestrian crossing zone is detected by motion sensors (4) installed at the beginning of the corridor (9) formed by the walling (3). Information from the sensors arrives at the control unit (6), which leads to the activation of the contour lighting (8) of the half-arch (1) with the signs (2) and the entire pedestrian crossing area made by a luminous wire that provides a clear and unambiguous picture regardless of weather conditions and time of day. The active time of the device is adjusted directly during installation based on actual need. The design of the pedestrian corridor prevents the intersection of the roadway outside the borders of the pedestrian crossing and provides at least 3-5 seconds of time from the appearance of the pedestrian in the transition zone, respectively, the activation of the system and its exit onto the roadway. Along with this, the original design of contour lighting, the color scheme, together with the technical characteristics of the luminous wire, provide a comprehensive view of the presence of a pedestrian crossing ahead, its borders and the presence of a pedestrian on it, while eliminating the possible acceptance of the device as an advertising design that works with road interruptions lighting, etc. In the interests of sedentary groups of people (for example, in wheelchairs), the utility model initially provides for equipping the pedestrian corridor with tactile tiles and system activation buttons (5). The device is powered by a power source (7), made on the basis of solar panels and batteries, ensuring the operation of the device at night and cloud. Also, the sensors (7) are triggered by the appearance of fog or smoke in the air, including lighting to improve the visibility of signs and the pedestrian crossing.

In general, the totality of new elements and measures added to the elements of the existing road infrastructure leads to an increase in the period of time for which the pedestrian (or other object crossing the pedestrian crossing) reaches the danger zone of the road and puts his life and the life of the driver at risk, to 3-5 seconds, which allows all road users to recognize the need to increase attention to what is happening and make a timely, right decision on their future actions. This allows you to significantly increase safety and comfort while in the zone of intersection of automobile and pedestrian paths of movement, both for drivers of vehicles and for pedestrians, people with disabilities and people moving on microtransports (bicycles, scooters, etc.), and reduce accident rate in areas of unregulated pedestrian crossings, in general.

At the same time, the claimed invention can be integrated into standard GOST solutions for unregulated pedestrian crossings, which may also include elements not specified in this application, for example, a flashing yellow traffic light specifically above the pedestrian crossing sign, etc.

Claims (13)

1. A method of notifying drivers of vehicles, including detecting an object in a pedestrian crossing zone or a bicycle path, notifying drivers of vehicles of the presence of an object in a pedestrian crossing zone or a bicycle path, characterized in that - the detection of the object is carried out by the signal of motion sensors installed at the beginning of the corridor formed by the enclosing structures; - warning drivers of vehicles is carried out in advance by activating the contour lights on the signal of the control unit receiving the signal from the motion sensors, while the contour lights are activated on the enclosing structures of the pedestrian crossing zone or bicycle lane and half-arches with the established signs of the crosswalk or bicycle lane; - at the same time, the driver is provided with a guaranteed time period of at least 3-5 seconds for the reaction, due to the corridor formed by the enclosing structures. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the contour illumination of the enclosing structures works continuously, and the contour illumination of the half-arch with the installed signs lights up at the moment the object appears in the pedestrian crossing or bicycle path. 3. The method according to p. 1, characterized in that the contour illumination of the semi-arches with the installed signs works continuously, and the contour illumination of the building envelopes lights up when the object appears in the pedestrian crossing or bicycle path. 4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the contour illumination of the building envelope works continuously, and the contour illumination of the half-arch with the installed signs lights up when the object appears in the pedestrian crossing or bicycle path in a blinking mode. 5. The method according to p. 1, characterized in that the contour lighting of the building envelope and the contour lighting of the semi-arch with the signs installed works continuously, and when the object appears in the pedestrian crossing or bicycle path, it turns on in a blinking mode. 6. A device for alerting drivers of vehicles, comprising a control unit, motion sensors, a power source, an alert element for vehicles, characterized in that - motion sensors are installed at the beginning of the corridor formed by walling, - the vehicle warning element is made in the form of contour lighting of the enclosing structures of the pedestrian crossing zone or bicycle path and half-arch with the installed signs of the pedestrian crossing or bicycle path, - at the same time, a tactile tile and at least one button for activating contour lighting are additionally installed in the corridor. 7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that an electric network and / or a device capable of generating or storing electric energy can be used as a power source.

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