Communications: electrical – External condition vehicle-mounted indicator or alarm
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-30
2001-07-17
Hofsass, Jeffery (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
External condition vehicle-mounted indicator or alarm
C340S905000, C340S907000, C340S916000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06262673
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
This invention generally relates to a roadway warning system, and more specifically relates to such a system that includes a transmitter for transmitting a signal regarding the status of a visual traffic directing device.
2. Background Art
Various systems and devices are used to direct traffic and to regulate the flow of traffic through intersections. Such systems typically use visual indicators such as lights and/or signs to communicate instructions to drivers of vehicles approaching intersections. For example, a typical traffic light includes a green light that tells a driver to proceed through the intersection, a yellow light that tells a driver that the light is about to turn red, and a red light that tells a driver to stop before reaching the intersection.
Present visual indicators generally work well. However, their reliance on the human visual sense is problematic because vehicle drivers are often inattentive, distracted, or are otherwise unaware of the message communicated by the visual indicators. Many intersection accidents result from the ineffectiveness of the reliance on the visual sense. Currently in the United States, operators are involved in approximately 1.8 million intersection accidents per year causing over 500,000 injuries of which approximately 7,000 involve fatalities.
Several different warning systems have existed that warn drivers of the status of visual traffic directing devices, such as traffic lights. Examples of such systems include U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,432 to Oliva et al., issued Jan. 14, 1997; U.S. Pat. No. 5,748,006 to Hochstein, issued Jul. 21, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 5,635,920 to Pogue et al., issued Jun. 3, 1997; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,629 to Hochstein, issued May 27, 1997, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Such systems have typically been complicated in operation and have not been sufficiently effective in warning drivers of upcoming traffic lights or other visual traffic directing devices.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
According to the present invention, a roadway warning system includes a visual traffic directing device that is at a first status for a first status time period and that is at a second status for a second status time period. The visual traffic directing device is visible to a vehicle approaching the visual traffic directing device. A transmitter transmits a signal for a first signal time period, and a receiver mounted on the vehicle receives the signal. An indicator connected to the receiver indicates that the visual traffic directing device is either at the first status or is about to change to the first status so that a driver of the vehicle is warned of the present or future status of the visual traffic directing device. In one embodiment, the first signal time period begins a predetermined time before the first status time period begins.
The signal zone may be such that a vehicle approaching the intersection will exit the signal zone before reaching the intersection. Also, the signal zone may be such that the vehicle will enter the signal zone before the traffic directing device becomes visible to a driver of the vehicle. In one embodiment, an audio message indicating the status of the visual traffic directing device continues until either the transmitter stops emitting the signal, the vehicle leaves the signal zone, the first signal time period ends, or mute control is activated. The warning system may easily be adapted for use in multi-directional intersections.
The present invention also includes a method of warning a driver of a vehicle about the status of a visual traffic directing device. The method includes transmitting a directional radio signal beginning at a predetermined time before the traffic directing device changes to a status, receiving the signal if the vehicle is approaching the traffic directing device from a first direction, and indicating that the visual traffic directing device is at the status or that the visual traffic directing device is about to change to the status by an audio message that is capable of being heard by the driver of the vehicle so that a driver of the vehicle is warned of the present or future status of the visual traffic directing device.
The present invention may be easily implemented with existing components in a simple manner and it should be inexpensive to manufacture. With the present invention, a driver of a vehicle may receive notice of a red light well in advance of having to stop. If the audio message continues until the mute control is activated by a driver, the driver will continue to be warned until the driver comes to a conscious awareness of the present or future status of the traffic light.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
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patent: 5594432 (1997-01-01), Oliva et al.
patent: 5633629 (1997-05-01), Hochstein
patent: 5635920 (1997-06-01), Pogue et al.
patent: 5784006 (1998-07-01), Hochstein
patent: 5940010 (1999-08-01), Sasaki et al.
patent: 6087962 (2000-07-01), Rojas
Hofsass Jeffery
Schmeiser Olsen & Watts
Tang Son
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