Simultaneously illuminating traffic light signals at different ranges

A system for controlling a traffic light for vehicles at a junction, the traffic light having at least two distinguishable light signals, said system comprising:

• a controller configured to obtain a lighting pattern of the traffic light that determines an order of turning “on” and turning “off” said light signals of the traffic light from a proceed signal to a stop signal at fixed or variable intervals over time;
• an array of range-controlled illuminators associated with the traffic light, configured to illuminate the light signals based on the lighting pattern, such that over at least one period of time, a first light of the at least two distinguishable light signals is visible from a first distance range from the traffic light and a second light of the at least two distinguishable light signals is visible from a second distance range from the traffic light;
• wherein
• the controller is further configured to repeatedly update the lighting pattern based on parameters changing over time relating to the traffic near the traffic light,
• wherein the first and the second distance ranges are non-overlapping, and
• wherein the first and the second distance ranges are determined and the lighting pattern is repeatedly updated according to estimated stopping distances of the vehicles with respect to the junction for given road characteristics and/or traffic regulations.

A method of controlling a traffic light for vehicles at a junction, the traffic light having at least three distinguishable light signals, said method comprising:

• obtaining a lighting pattern of the traffic light that determines an order of turning “on” and turning “off” said light signals of the traffic light over time;
• illuminating the light signals by at least one illuminator associated with the traffic light, based on the lighting pattern, such that over at least one period of time, a first light of the at least three distinguishable light signals is visible from a first distance range from the traffic light, a second light of the at least three distinguishable light signals is visible from a second distance range from the traffic light and a third light of the at least three distinguishable light signals is visible from a third distance range from the traffic light;
• and
• repeatedly updating the lighting pattern based on parameters changing over time relating to the traffic near the traffic light,
• wherein the first, the second and the third distance ranges are non-overlapping, and
• wherein the first, the second and the third distance ranges are determined and are repeatedly
• updated according to estimated stopping distances of the vehicles with respect to the junction for given road characteristics and/or traffic regulations.