CHANGEABLE-MESSAGE SIGNS

THREE TYPES OF CHANGEABLE MESSAGE SIGNS ARE DESCRIBED. THE LAMP MATRIX IS A LOW-VOLTAGE, LONG-LIFE LAMP WITH A VERY BRIGHT SPOTLIGNT THAT CAN BE REGULATED; THE MESSAGE UNIT CAN BE ADJUSTED FOR DIFFEERENT SIZES AND FOR FLASH TYPE MESSAGES. THE TWO BASIC SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING THE ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS WITHIN MATRIX SIGNS ARE BRIEFLY DISCUSSED - THE UMF AND ICUM APPROACHES. THE DRUM SIGN IS LIMITED BY THE NUMBER OF MESSAGES THAT CAN BE CONTROLLED ON ONE DRUM OR A GROUP OF DRUMS. REGULAR MAINTEANCE IS REQUIRED FOR THE MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF THE SIGN, GEAR-DRIVE MOTORS, AND THE HEATERS IN WINTER. LEGENDS CAN BE REFLECTORIZED, HOWEVER, AND THE BACKGROUND AND COLOR OF EACH MESSAGE CAN VARY. THE BLANK-OUT SIGN PROVIDES ONE MESSAGE OR NO MESSAGE ON A SINGLE SIGN FACE WITH A PAINTED MESSAGE. THE LIGHTING FLOURESCENT TUBES OR NEON TUBES--STRUCTURE COMBINED WITH ITS SIMPLE CONSTRUCTION AND LOW COST OFFER SEVERAL ADVANTAGES.

• Record URL:
  • https://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/sr/sr129/129-007.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309020530
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Corporate Authors:

  Highway Research Board

  2101 Constitution Avenue, NW
  Washington, DC    20418
• Authors:
  • Hart, Irwin
• Conference:
  • Conference on the Changeable-Message Concept of Traffic Control
  • Date: 1971-7-15 to 1971-7-16
• Publication Date: 1972

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Pagination: p. 26-28
• Monograph Title: THE CHANGEABLE-MESSAGE CONCEPT OF TRAFFIC CONTROL
• Serial:
  • Highway Research Board Special Report
  • Issue Number: 129
  • Publisher: Highway Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Costs; Lighting; Maintenance; Variable message signs
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00226391
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309020530
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 3 1973 12:00AM