Communications: electrical – External condition vehicle-mounted indicator or alarm – Transmitter in another vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-08
2001-05-15
Lee, Benjamin C. (Department: 2736)
Communications: electrical
External condition vehicle-mounted indicator or alarm
Transmitter in another vehicle
C340S433000, C340S431000, C340S539230, C340S870030
Reexamination Certificate
active
06232887
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to warning systems, and more particularly, to a warning system that, for example, may be used by railroad personnel to warn of oncoming traffic. The invention is not limited, however, to use by railroad personnel. Indeed, the present invention, as will be described herein has broader applications. For example, the invention may likewise be utilized by aviation personnel to direct air traffic to the appropriate gates, or, to warn of oncoming or approaching air traffic. In sum, the invention may be utilized by individuals which require or benefit from the receipt of information in remote locations for warning or other use.
2. Background Art
Railroad warning systems have long been known in the art. One conventional warning system comprises a combination flashing light and crossing gates. These lights and gates are placed along the intersection of the railroad and either a roadway or a pedestrian walkway. Thus, such systems warn oncoming traffic on the roadway and pedestrians in close proximity to the walkway, through light and audio signals, as well as by way of a physical blockade.
While such systems are generally effective for traffic and pedestrians near such roadways and walkways, they are not very useful away from such crossings. Indeed, railroad workers often perform maintenance and repair work away from and, in turn, outside the range of conventional railroad warning systems. Accordingly, the railroad workers must rely on a separate railroad worker who performs a look-out function by watching the tracks, and signaling to the other railroad workers of oncoming trains.
While a warning system based on a railroad worker watching the tracks may be operational, such a system does have several drawbacks. In part, it is possible that the worker that is performing the lookout function becomes distracted and fails to recognize an oncoming train. In addition, the worker performing the lookout function, may use his judgement as to when to warn the workers, and the improper exercise of judgement can expose the remaining workers to an increased risk of danger. Lastly, in noisy and busy areas, the lookout worker may not be able to get the attention of railroad workers to warn them. Thus, in many instances the lookout worker still exposes the other railroad workers to unacceptably high dangers.
In addition, it is often necessary to transmit to the railroad worker certain information when in the field. Currently, the information is relayed via a two way radio or via a portable telephone, which activate with a ring or other loud noise. While such systems are at times successful in relaying information to the worker in the field, it is often difficult for the worker to receive the information, or to even acknowledge that information is being sent to him. Indeed, often due to loud conditions and increased commotion and traffic, the worker may never hear the activation signal, and may never know that someone is trying to reach the worker by telephone or by two way radio. Thus, it may become necessary to send another worker to the remote site with the necessary information, which may cause time delays and which may expose the additional worker to injury at the remote site.
In other settings, such as in an airport setting, it is necessary not only to warn ground traffic control workers on the airport tarmac, but it may also be necessary to send information to such ground traffic control workers. Conventionally, the workers receive instructions by way of two-way radios, telephones or visual signaling from the control tower. Such instructions may comprise, for example, gate assignments or aircraft taxi directions for particular aircraft. Often, however, it is difficult for such workers to receive the warnings or the information due to the excessive noise, and excessively distracting conditions. As such, the user is often unable to receive the information when the information is needed. By not receiving the information in a timely manner, the overall safety and operation of the airport can be compromised.
Thus, it is an object of the invention to warn workers in remote sites of oncoming danger, such as, oncoming railroad traffic.
It is a further object of the invention to signal workers at remote sites and to transmit information to such workers.
Further objects of the invention will become apparent in light of the present disclosure and claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention comprises a warning system for warning a user of an approaching vehicle, wherein the approaching vehicle activates a signal transmitter. In particular, the system comprises at least one transmitter and at least one receiver positioned remotely from the transmitter. The receiver includes means for receiving the signal from a signal transmitter and means associated with the receiving means for transmitting at least one signal component. The receiver comprises means for receiving the at least one signal component, means associated with the receiving means for processing the at least one signal component and means associated with the processing means for alerting a user as to an approaching vehicle.
In a preferred embodiment, the transmitter is associated with the approaching vehicle. In another such embodiment, the at least one signal component transmitted by the transmitter comprises at least three signal components. The first of the at least three signal components comprising a warning signal to indicate an approaching vehicle. The second of the at least three signal components comprising an informational signal having information pertaining to at least one of the following:
direction of the vehicle, speed of the vehicle, and approach speed of the vehicle. The third of the at least three signal components comprising a ping signal, which ping signal serves to verify communication between the receiver and the transmitter.
In a preferred embodiment, the alerting means comprises at least one of a visual, an audio or a tactile alert.
In another preferred embodiment, the receiver comprises a receiver box positioned remotely from the transmitter, a pager receiver positioned remotely from the transmitter or a safety receiver system positioned remotely from the transmitter. In an embodiment, the safety receiver system further comprises at least one of a vest and a helmet. In such an embodiment, the tactile alert comprises a vibrating member positionable against a user, the visual alert comprises an alphanumeric display unit associated with the vest and the audio alert comprises means for playing a stored voice message and at least one headphone associated with the playing means and positioned within the helmet.
In another preferred embodiment, system further includes means for coordinating the transmitter and the receiver to minimize the instances of false signals.
The coordinating means comprises unique identifier associated with the at least one receiver, means associated with the transmitting means for processing the signal component to include the unique identifier of the at least one receiver prior to transmission thereof and means associated with the processing means of the receiver for analyzing the received at least one signal component to determine if the received at least one signal component was directed to the receiver. In turn, the analyzing means determines as to whether to process the at least one signal component. In such a preferred embodiment, the system further includes means for resetting the processing means of the transmitter.
In another such embodiment, the system further includes means for storing the desired unique identifier for each of the at least one receiver associated with the transmitting means. In such an embodiment, the storing means comprises an input device and a storage medium associated with the processing means and with the input device.
The invention further comprises a method for warning of an oncoming vehicle, wherein the oncoming vehicle triggers a sensor which activates a vehicle signal transmitter
Factor & Partners
Lee Benjamin C.
LandOfFree
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