IP Library › Granted Patent US 12682751
Granted Patent B2
US 12682751 · App. 18/783,045 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Systems for signaling protected turns at a traffic intersection

Inventor: Brad Cross (McLeansboro, IL)
Assignee: STC Inc.
G08G1/087G08G1/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12682751
App. No.
18/783,045
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for system for controlling a traffic grid, the system comprising a traffic grid including a first roadway and a second roadway, the second roadway crossing the first roadway at an intersection; a special transit lane included within at least one of the first roadway and the second roadway, the special transit lane being configured to share both personal vehicular traffic and special vehicular traffic; a detector configured to detect the presence of a special vehicle within a detection zone, which detection zone is formed within the special transit lane in a predetermined area proximate to the intersection; and a signal light proximate to the intersection configured to control traffic traveling through the intersection, the signal light having a controller; wherein the controller controls the signal light to operate in a first mode of operation based, at least in part, on a detection of a special vehicle by the detector within the detection zone.

Claims (60)

1 . A system for controlling traffic within a traffic grid, the system comprising:

a traffic grid including a first roadway and a second roadway, the second roadway crossing the first roadway at an intersection;

a first lane included within the first roadway;

a second lane included within the first roadway,

a third lane included within the first roadway;

a first signal light proximate to the intersection configured to control traffic in the first lane traveling into the intersection;

a second signal light proximate to the intersection configured to control traffic in the second lane traveling into the intersection;

a third signal light proximate to the intersection configured to control traffic in the third lane traveling into the intersection, the first signal light, second signal light, and third signal light being controlled by a controller;

a first detector detecting a presence of a first target vehicle within a first detection zone in the first lane;

a second detector detecting a presence of a second target vehicle within a second detection zone in the second lane;

wherein traffic in the first lane, traffic in the second lane, and traffic in the third lane are travelling in the same direction;

wherein traffic in the first lane turning a first direction through the intersection and onto the second roadway will intersect the route of traffic in the second lane and the third lane traveling straight through the intersection;

wherein traffic in the third lane turning a second direction opposing the first direction through the intersection and onto the second roadway will intersect the route of traffic in the second lane traveling straight through the intersection and the route of traffic in the first lane traveling straight through the intersection;

wherein the controller sequentially alters the first signal light, the second signal light, and the third signal light from:

a) a first mode of operation where traffic in the first lane, the second lane, and the third lane are stopped, to

b) a second mode of operation where traffic in the first lane is instructed to turn the first direction and traffic in the second lane and traffic in the third lane are instructed to remain stopped, to

c) a third mode of operation where traffic in the third lane is instructed to turn the second direction and traffic in the second lane and traffic in the first lane are instructed to remain stopped, to

d) a fourth mode of operation where traffic in the first lane, the second lane, and the third lane are all instructed to proceed straight through the intersection.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first target vehicle is a mass transit vehicle.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the second target vehicle is a bicycle.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first target vehicle is autonomous.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first target vehicle is the first target vehicle because of its type and the time of day.

6 . A system for controlling traffic within a traffic grid, the system comprising:

a traffic grid including a first roadway and a second roadway, the second roadway crossing the first roadway at an intersection;

a first lane included within the first roadway;

a second lane included within the first roadway,

a third lane included within the first roadway;

at least one signal light proximate to the intersection configured to control traffic in the first lane traveling into the intersection, the second lane traveling into the intersection, and the third lane traveling into the intersection, the at least one signal light being controlled by a controller;

at least one detector detecting a presence of a first target vehicle within a first detection zone in the first lane and detecting a presence of a second target vehicle within a second detection zone in the second lane;

wherein traffic in the first lane, traffic in the second lane, and traffic in the third lane are travelling in the same direction;

wherein traffic in the first lane turning a first direction through the intersection and onto the second roadway will intersect the route of traffic in the second lane and the third lane traveling straight through the intersection;

wherein traffic in the third lane turning a second direction opposing the first direction through the intersection and onto the second roadway will intersect the route of traffic in the second lane traveling straight through the intersection and the route of traffic in the first lane traveling straight through the intersection;

wherein the controller sequentially alters the at least one signal light from:

a) a first mode of operation where traffic in the first lane, the second lane, and the third lane are stopped, to

b) a second mode of operation where traffic in the first lane is instructed to turn the first direction and traffic in the second lane and traffic in the third lane are instructed to remain stopped, to

c) a third mode of operation where traffic in the third lane is instructed to turn the second direction and traffic in the second lane and traffic in the first lane are instructed to remain stopped, to

d) a fourth mode of operation where traffic in the first lane, the second lane, and the third lane are all instructed to proceed straight through the intersection.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the first target vehicle is a mass transit vehicle.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the second target vehicle is a bicycle.

9 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the first target vehicle is autonomous.

10 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the first target vehicle is the first target vehicle because of its type and the time of day.

11 . A system for controlling traffic within a traffic grid, the system comprising:

a traffic grid including a first roadway and a second roadway, the second roadway crossing the first roadway at an intersection;

a first lane included within the first roadway;

a second lane included within the first roadway,

a third lane included within the first roadway;

at least one signal light proximate to the intersection configured to control traffic in the first lane traveling into the intersection, the second lane traveling into the intersection, and the third lane traveling into the intersection, the at least one signal light being controlled by a controller;

at least one detector detecting a presence of a first target vehicle within a first detection zone in the first lane and detecting a presence of a second target vehicle within a second detection zone in the second lane;

wherein traffic in the first lane, traffic in the second lane, and traffic in the third lane are travelling in the same direction;

wherein traffic in the first lane turning a first direction through the intersection and onto the second roadway will intersect the route of traffic in the second lane and the third lane traveling straight through the intersection;

wherein traffic in the third lane turning a second direction opposing the first direction through the intersection and onto the second roadway will intersect the route of traffic in the second lane traveling straight through the intersection and the route of traffic in the first lane traveling straight through the intersection;

wherein the controller sequentially alters the at least one signal light from:

a) a first mode of operation where traffic in the first lane, the second lane, and the third lane are stopped, to

b) a second mode of operation where traffic in the first lane is instructed to turn the first direction and proceed straight through the intersection and traffic in the second lane and traffic in the third lane are instructed to remain stopped, to

c) a third mode of operation where traffic in the third lane is instructed to turn the second direction and proceed straight through the intersection and traffic in the second lane and traffic in the first lane are instructed to remain stopped, to

d) a fourth mode of operation where traffic in the second lane is instructed to proceed straight through the intersection.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the first target vehicle is a mass transit vehicle.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the second target vehicle is a bicycle.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the first target vehicle is autonomous.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the first target vehicle is the first target vehicle because of its type and the time of day.