Apparatus for displaying the remaining time of a traffic light
A traffic light indicator warns the motorists and pedestrians of the remaining before the traffic light changes through a visual and pictorial display defined within the light indicators of the traffic light structure. One or more light indicators are programmed to display a selected pattern of diminishing light portions within the area of the light selected indicators, gradually expanding a no-light zone with the passage of seconds remaining before the traffic light changes.
1. A traffic light device, comprising:
a signal structure having a circular red stop light indicator, a circular green passage light indicator, and a circular yellow caution light indicator; and
a count down indicator means coupled to at least one circular light indicator for pictorially displaying through a diminishing illumination of portions of said at least one circular light indicator the time remaining until traffic light changes, which is conducted in accordance with a pre-selected pattern, wherein said at least one circular light indicator has a circumference and a discreet area, and wherein the pre-selected pattern includes a plurality of segments defined within the discreet area of the circular light indicator, and wherein the controls means control sequential extinguishing of illumination in an increasing number of segments.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein a last to be illuminated segment is provided with an arc having a color corresponding to a color of the next to be illuminated traffic light.
3. A traffic light device, comprising:
a signal structure having a circular red stop light indicator, a circular green passage light indicator, and a circular yellow caution light indicator; and
a count down indicator means coupled to at least one circular light indicator for pictorially displaying through a diminishing illumination of portions of said at least one circular light indicator the time remaining until traffic light changes, which is conducted in accordance with a pre-selected pattern, wherein the pre-selected pattern includes a normally-illuminated outer band formed about the circumference of the circular light indicator and a zone of diminishing illumination defined between said outer band and a center of the circular light indicator.
4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the zone of diminishing illumination is programmable to increase starting from the outer band and expanding towards the center of the circular light indicator.
5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the pre-selected pattern includes a normally-illuminated center portion and an outer band defined between the center portion and outer circumference, said outer band being programmable to change color from a first color corresponding to a current cycle of the traffic light operation to a second color corresponding to the next cycle of the traffic light operation.
6. The device of claim 3 , wherein the zone of diminishing illumination is programmable to increase in a non-radial pattern.
7. A traffic light device, comprising:
a signal structure having a circular red stop light indicator, a circular green passage light indicator, and a circular yellow caution light indicator; and
a count down indicator means coupled to any or all selected of the circular light indicators for pictorially displaying through a diminishing illumination of portions of said any or all selected of the circular light indicators the time remaining until traffic light changes, wherein diminishing illumination of portions of said any or all selected of the circular light indicators is conducted in accordance with a pre-selected pattern, and wherein the pre-selected pattern includes a normally-illuminated center portion and an outer band defined between the center portion and outer circumference, said outer band being divided into two parts, one part of which is normally illuminated, and the second part of which forms a pattern of diminishing light illumination.
8. A traffic light device, comprising:
a signal structure having a circular red stop light indicator, a circular green passage light indicator, and a circular yellow caution light indicator; and
a count down indicator means coupled to at least one circular light indicator for pictorially displaying through a diminishing illumination of portions of said at least one circular light indicator the time remaining until traffic light changes, said count down indicator means comprising a microprocessor for generating and controlling a pattern of illumination of said at least one light indicator, wherein the pre-selected pattern includes a plurality of segments defined by the area of the circular light indicator, and wherein the pre-selected pattern further includes diminishing number of illuminated segments expanding in a clockwise direction.
9. A traffic light device, comprising:
a signal structure having a circular red stop light indicator, a circular green passage light indicator, and a circular yellow caution light indicator; and
a count down indicator means coupled to at least one circular light indicator for pictorially displaying through a diminishing illumination of portions of said at least one circular light indicator the time remaining until traffic light changes, said count down indicator means comprising a microprocessor for generating and controlling a pattern of illumination of said at least one light indicator, wherein the pre-selected pattern includes a normally-illuminated outer band formed about the circumference of the circular light indicator and a portion of diminishing illumination defined between said outer band and a center of the circular light indicator.
10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the portion of diminishing illumination is programmable to increase starting from the outer band and expanding towards the center of the circular light indicator.
11. A traffic light device, comprising:
a signal structure having a circular red stop light indicator, a circular green passage light indicator, and a circular yellow caution light indicator; and
a count down indicator means coupled to at least one circular light indicator for pictorially displaying through a diminishing illumination of portions of said at least one circular light indicator the time remaining until traffic light changes, said count down indicator means comprising a microprocessor for generating and controlling a pattern of illumination of said at least one light indicator, wherein the pre-selected pattern includes a normally-illuminated center portion and an outer band defined between the center portion and outer circumference, said outer band being programmable to change color from a first color corresponding to a current cycle of the traffic light operation to a second color corresponding to the next cycle of the traffic light operation.
12. A method of controlling a traffic flow, comprising the steps of:
providing a traffic light structure having a red stop light indicator, a green passage light indicator, and a yellow caution light indicator; and
providing a count down indicator means coupled to at least one light indicator for pictorially displaying through a diminishing illumination of portions of said at least one light indicator the time remaining until traffic light changes;
programming a selected display pattern of diminishing illumination for said at least one light indicator; and
causing said at least one light indicator follow the selected pattern by gradually expanding a zone of extinguished illumination within said at least one light indicator, thereby warning the public of the time remaining until traffic light changes.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising a step of programming a display pattern by dividing the area of the indicator light into a plurality of segments and then causing an increasing number pf segments to become non-illuminated.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the pre-selected pattern includes a step of forming a normally-illuminated outer band about the outer periphery of said at least one light indicator and defining a portion of diminishing illumination between said outer band and a center of said at least one light indicator.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the portion of diminishing illumination is programmed to increase starting from the outer band and expanding towards the center of the circular light indicator.
16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of forming the selected pattern includes a step of defining a normally-illuminated center portion and an outer band defined between the center portion and outer circumference, said outer band being programmable to change color from a first color corresponding to a current cycle of the traffic light operation to a second color corresponding to the next cycle of the traffic light operation.
17. The method of claim 12 , wherein said at least one light indicator includes a yellow color indicator.
18. The method of claim 12 , wherein said at least one light indicator has a circular configuration.
19. The method of claim 12 , wherein said at least one light indicator has a rectangular configuration.