Communications: electrical – Visual indication – Using light emitting diodes
Reexamination Certificate
2002-09-25
2004-07-13
Pope, Daryl (Department: 2832)
Communications: electrical
Visual indication
Using light emitting diodes
C340S907000, C340S332000, C340S331000, C340S815650, C340S815690, C040S541000, C040S550000, C040S557000, C116S06300T
Reexamination Certificate
active
06762689
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to traffic signal display devices, to systems including such devices, and to methods of generating signals using those devices. More particularly, in a first embodiment thereof, the present invention relates to a unitary traffic signal display apparatus which is able to change the display thereof, and which is thereby able to display any of the controlled sequence of selected signals. The apparatus hereof is capable of modifying its display either by changing color, or by changing the display to any one of a plurality of other signals, depending on the electronic input to the apparatus.
2. Description of the Background Art
Traffic signal lamps, to give signals to drivers on the road, have conventionally used a separate individual lamp for each color to be displayed. Most standard traffic signal devices in use today have three lamps, one each for green, yellow and red. When turning arrows are added, it is not uncommon for a signal device to include four or more different lamps in the assembly. By way of example, one conventional traffic signal assembly might include a green lamp, an amber lamp, a red lamp, an amber turning arrow, and a green turning arrow.
This conventional arrangement is large and cumbersome, may require strong wires to hold it suspended due to its weight, and may consume a lot of power to operate.
A number of different devices are brown for providing traffic signalling devices which incorporate light emitting diodes (LEDs). Examples of some of the known devices include U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,287 to Borenstein U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,629 to Hochstein, U.S. Pat. No. 5,936,599 to Reymond, U.S. Pat. No. 6,054,932 to Gartner et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,613 to Schaffer.
Although the known devices have some utility for their intended purposes, a need still exists in the art for an improved traffic signal display apparatus. In particular, there is a need for an improved traffic signal display apparatus, in which a single, compact display unit is selectively operable to display any of the current signals and directional arrows in any of the three standard colors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved traffic signal display apparatus, in which a single, compact display unit is selectively operable to display a sequence of colored signals. The display apparatus hereof is able to send out any one of a plurality of different output displays, depending on the selected input signal.
A traffic signal display apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention includes a circuit board or other substrate. The LEDs are arranged in a selected grouping on the substrate, to form predetermined shapes or symbols.
Optionally, the bicolor bopolar LEDs may be grouped into two or more zones or patterns, which may each be independently powered, as desired, to form one or more of a plurality of symbols.
The traffic signal display apparatus may also include a circuit for selectively routing electricity to the zones.
When electricity is fed into the array via the first input pathway, the bicolor bipolar LEDs display a first color, which may be green. When electricity is fed into the array via the second input pathway, the bicolor bipolar LEDs display a second color, which may be red. When electricity is fed into the array via both of the first and second input pathways, the bicolor bipolar LEDs effectively display a third color, which may be amber.
The second embodiment thereof, the present invention relates to a traffic signal display system including the display apparatus and a controller for controlling the operation of the apparatus.
Using the system of the present invention, the controller operates the traffic signal display apparatus by powering the inputs thereto. The system and apparatus according to the present invention allows a single display unit to sequentially display the three commonly used traffic colors, i.e., green, amber and red. In addition, the same unit can be selectively powered to display a left arrow in any of the above colors, a right arrow in any of the above colors, or a combination of a straight arrow and either a left or right tarn arrow.
In an example of one possible alternative visual display, an apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention may be made to display a pedestrian crossing symbol, or a “Don't Walk” symbol. Other types of symbols may also be made according to the present invention. Again, any one of these alternative symbols can be made in a variety of colors, and can be made either solid or flying.
Any of the displays possible with the apparatus of the present invention may be made to be steadily illuminated, or alternatively, may be made to show a flashing display by interrupting the current flow thereto.
The present invention also relates to a method of generating a sequence of traffic signals, using the described apparatus.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for generating a series of traffic signals over time.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for generating a sequence of colored signals from a single traffic signal display apparatus, by sending different signals thereto.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a traffic signal display system including a display apparatus and a controller for operating same.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a single traffic signal display apparatus capable of generating any one of a plurality of different visual outputs, by selectively powering inputs thereto.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the reader is referred to the following detailed description, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description and in the drawings, like numbers refer to like parts.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4929936 (1990-05-01), Friedman et al.
patent: 5136287 (1992-08-01), Borenstein
patent: 5612794 (1997-03-01), Brandestini et al.
patent: 5633629 (1997-05-01), Hochstein
patent: 5936599 (1999-08-01), Reymond
patent: 6054932 (2000-04-01), Gartner et al.
patent: 6072407 (2000-06-01), Shin
patent: 6283613 (2001-09-01), Schaffer
patent: 6489937 (2002-12-01), Ruvinsky
Blackman William D.
Carrier Joseph P.
Carrier Blackman & Associates P.C.
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