Autonomous vehicle dual traffic reflector detector with wireless transmissions

• US 10,539,964 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2018
• Issued: 01/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Easton Scientific, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Easton Scientific, Inc.
• Inventors: Minorics, Richard T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bousono, Orlando
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tang, Son M
• Application Number:
  US15/998,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20190171221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 701301
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/28 for indicating front of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/48 Active triangulation systems, i.e. using the transmission and reflection of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9316 combined with communication equipment with other vehicles or with base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9329 cooperating with reflectors or transponders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4811 common to transmitter and receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0214 in accordance with safety or protection criteria, e.g. avoiding hazardous areas monitoring the location of vehicles within a certain area, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas, in traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/13
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0234 using optical markers or beacons optical beacons per se G01S1/70
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/163 involving continuous checking
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/46 for vehicle-to-vehicle communication [V2V]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/00 Network topologies

Abstract

An autonomous vehicle dual traffic reflector device for detecting a second vehicle by a first vehicle includes an outer array having a plurality of colored light receiving-light transmitting lens, positioned in an arcuate arrangement having at least one focal point and the outer array having at least two caution-colored lenses; and an inner array positioned inside the outer array and between it and a focal point of the at least one focal point of side outer array, the inner array positioned to receive light passing into the device through at least one lens and reflecting the light out of the device through at least one different lens. Information and communication symbols are included on one or more lenses and may be reflected to a receiving vehicle to add site-specific information. A connected wireless communication component has one or more of: (i) a receiver for receiving information from a central control base via satellite; (ii) a transmitter for transmitting information to a central control base via satellite; (iii) a receiver for receiving information from an autonomous vehicle via wireless transmission; (iv) a transmitter for transmitting information to an autonomous vehicle via wireless transmission. A vehicles guidance system is included.

Claims

1. An autonomous vehicle dual traffic reflector device for detecting a second autonomous vehicle by a first autonomous vehicle, which comprises:

a) an outer array, the outer array having a plurality of light receiving-light transmitting lens, the outer array positioned in an arcuate arrangement having at least one focal point and the outer array having at least two lenses selected from a group consisting of caution-colored lenses, colored lenses, clear lenses and combinations thereof;

b) an inner array of reflective mirrors positioned inside the outer array and between the outer array and a focal point of the at least one focal point of side outer array, the inner array positioned to receive light passing into the device through at least one lens and reflecting the light out of the device through at least one different lens, the different lens being at least one of the at least two lenses; and

c) a wireless communication component with a power source, the component being located at and connected to the device, and selected from a group consisting of;

(i) a receiver for receiving information from a central control base via satellite;

(ii) a transmitter for transmitting information to the central control base via satellite;

(iii) a receiver for receiving information from the second autonomous vehicle via wireless transmission;

(iv) a transmitter for transmitting information to the first autonomous vehicle via wireless transmission; and

(v) any combination thereof;

further, whereas when the first autonomous vehicle and the second autonomous vehicle are traveling toward one another in opposite directions and a light beam from the first autonomous vehicle enters the autonomous vehicle dual traffic reflector device and reflects therein to be transmitted in a recognized light to the second autonomous vehicle, a second autonomous vehicle sensor relays angle and distance information to its computer to make necessary lane adjustments to avoid vehicle collision, and when a wireless communication is sent or received from the first autonomous vehicle, that wireless communication is recognized, interpreted and acted upon by the second autonomous vehicle.

2. The reflector device of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication component with the power source further includes at least one light connected thereto for activation to signal a message through the outer array.

3. The reflector device of claim 1 wherein the arcuate arrangement is selected from a group consisting of sinusoidal, arc of fixed radius, arc of varying radius, circle and polygon.

4. The reflector device of claim 1 wherein there are at least four lenses, each being in a different plane from the others.

5. The reflector device of claim 1 wherein there are at three to twelve reflectors in the inner array, each in a different plane from the others.

6. The reflector device of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication component includes all of:

(i) the receiver for receiving information from the central control base via satellite;

(ii) the transmitter for transmitting information to the central control base via satellite;

(iii) the receiver for receiving information from the second autonomous vehicle via wireless transmission;

(iv) the transmitter for transmitting information to the first autonomous vehicle via wireless transmission, and the wireless communication component receives messages from either of the autonomous vehicles and sends it to the central control base and vice versa.

7. The reflector device of claim 1 wherein the reflectors are selected from a group consisting of flat reflectors, curved reflectors and combinations thereof.

8. The reflector device of claim 1 wherein the power source is selected from a group consisting of solar panels, wind generators, batteries, grid power, and combinations thereof.

9. The reflector device of claim 1 wherein the arcuate arrangement of the outer array is circular and the at least two lenses are colored selected from a color group consisting of red, orange, yellow and combinations thereof.

10. An autonomous vehicle dual traffic reflector detector guidance system, which comprises:

a) a plurality of autonomous vehicles including a first autonomous vehicle and a second autonomous vehicle, each of the plurality of autonomous vehicles having a forward projecting light that includes vectors of light beams directed away from a lane of travel and light receiving sensors that recognize caution-colored light, including angle and distance, and including computer adjustment to lane positioning;

b) a plurality of roadways having at least two lanes of travel, including a first lane for travel in a first direction and a second lane for travel in a second direction, the second direction being opposite the first direction, the roadways further including side areas outside of the first lane and the second lane;

c) a plurality of autonomous vehicle dual traffic reflector devices for detecting the second autonomous vehicle by the first autonomous vehicle located along the side areas of the plurality of roadways wherein each of the devices include;

i) an outer array, the outer array having a plurality of light receiving-light transmitting lens, the outer array positioned in an arcuate arrangement having at least one focal point and the outer array having at least two lenses selected from a group consisting of caution-colored lenses, colored lenses, clear lenses and combinations thereof;

ii) an inner array of reflective mirrors positioned inside the outer array and between the outer array and a focal point of the at least one focal point of side outer array, the inner array positioned to receive light passing into the device through at least one lens and reflecting the light out of the device through at least one different lens, the different lens being at least one of the at least two lenses; and

iii) a wireless communication component with a power source, the component being located at and connected to each of the devices, and selected from a group consisting of;

(i) a receiver for receiving information from a central control base via satellite;

(ii) a transmitter for transmitting information to the central control base via satellite;

(iii) a receiver for receiving information from the second autonomous vehicle via wireless transmission;

(iv) a transmitter for transmitting information to the first autonomous vehicle via wireless transmission; and

(v) any combination thereof;

further, whereas when the first autonomous vehicle and the second autonomous vehicle are traveling toward one another in opposite directions and a light beam from the first autonomous vehicle enters the autonomous vehicle dual traffic reflector device and reflects therein to be transmitted in a recognized light to the second autonomous vehicle, a second autonomous vehicle sensor relays angle and distance information to its computer to make necessary lane adjustments to avoid vehicle collision, and when a wireless communication is sent or received from the first autonomous vehicle, that communication is recognized, interpreted and acted upon by the second autonomous vehicle.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the plurality of autonomous vehicle include a computer that, at least in part, travels in conjunction with a satellite GPS guidance system in coordination with the autonomous vehicle dual traffic reflector detector system.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the wireless communication component with the power source further includes at least one light connected thereto for activation to signal a message through the outer array.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the arcuate arrangement is selected from a group consisting of sinusoidal, arc of fixed radius, arc of varying radius, circle and polygon.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein there are at least four lenses, each being in a different plane from each other.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein there are at least three to twelve reflectors in the inner array, each in a different plane from each other.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the wireless communication component includes all of:

(i) the receiver for receiving information from the central control base via satellite;

(ii) the transmitter for transmitting information to the central control base via satellite;

(iii) the receiver for receiving information from the second autonomous vehicle via wireless transmission;

(iv) the transmitter for transmitting information to the first autonomous vehicle via wireless transmission, and the wireless communication component receives messages from either of the autonomous vehicles and sends it to the central control base and vice versa.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein the reflectors are selected from a group consisting of flat reflectors, curved reflectors and combinations thereof.

18. The system of claim 10 wherein the power source is selected from a group consisting of solar panels, wind generators, batteries, grid power, and combinations thereof.

19. The system of claim 10 wherein the power source is a wired power source to a grid and includes a transformer.

20. The system of claim 10 wherein the arcuate arrangement of the outer array is circular and the at least two lenses are colored selected from a color group consisting of red, orange, yellow and combinations thereof.