REFLECTIVITY MEASURING APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 20020063638A1
• Filed: 09/07/1999
• Published: 05/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philip Anthony Gallagher
• Original Assignee: Philip Anthony Gallagher
• Inventors: GALLAGHER, PHILIP ANTHONY
• Granted Patent: US 6,407,674 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/905
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 11/005 Testing of reflective surfaces, e.g. mirrors

Abstract

This invention relates to reflectivity measuring apparatus. This invention provides reflectivity measuring apparatus for assessing the integrity of road markings including a light source. a light sensor and a processing means, the apparatus being mounted on a vehicle such that, in use, the light source illuminates a reflective surface on a road marking, and wherein the light sensor detects any reflected light and the data signal is received by the processing means, the processing means processes the data to provide information on the reflectivity of a said reflective surface. In another aspect of the invention there is provided a computer controlled process for determining the integrity of light reflective road markings, the computer being programmed to carry out the steps of getting data on the reflectance levels of road markings; calibrating the data by multiplying the data with a predetermined calibration factor; and determining whether the road marking

Claims

1. A reflectivity measuring apparatus for testing the integrity of road markings including a light source, a light sensor and a processing means, the apparatus being mounted on a vehicle such that, in use, the light source illuminates a reflective surface on a road marking, and wherein the light sensor detects any reflected light and the data signal is received by the processing means, the processing means processes the data to provide information on the reflectivity of a said reflective surface.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 further providing a locating means for determining the location of a road marking.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the location means is a global positioning system or a vehicle gearbox revolution sensor.

4. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a plurality of light sensors are provided to cover a wide field of view, each said light sensor detecting any reflected light from a different area of road and providing a data signal to the processing means representing the reflectivity of each said area of road.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising an audio and/or visual means to provide an indication of the location of the said road markings relative to the said vehicle.

6. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a plurality of said light sources and a plurality of said light sensors provide simultaneous testing of a plurality of said road markings.

7. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the light source and the light sensor are adjustable.

8. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the light sensor is mounted in front of a corresponding said light source.

9. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the processing means stores data measured on the reflectance level and location of each said road marking tested.

10. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a predetermined acceptable reflectance level for the road marking is obtained as a reference reflectance level against which each said road marker being tested is compared by the processing means.

11. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the processing means is a computer.

12. An apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising a tagging means for identifying said road markings that do not meet the predetermined acceptable reflectance level.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the tagging means includes a paint capsule dispenser activatable by the processing means.

14. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the said road markings are raised pavement markers with at least one reflective surface.

16. The process of claim 15 including the step of filtering the data by calculating an average reflectance level from a set of sampled data.

17. The process of claim 16 including the step of getting data from a vehicle gearbox revolution sensor and determining the distance travelled from the start position of the road marking test so as to determine the location of each road marking.

18. The process of claim 17 including the step of activating a road marker tagging means to tag a said road marker if it is determined as having a reflectivity level which does not meet the predetermined acceptable reflectance level.

19. The process of claim 18 including the step of storing on any suitable medium the location and reflectivity level of each road marker.

20. The process of claim 19 including the step of determining the location of any missing road markers by recognising patterns in existing road marker locations and with being provided with information on the spacing of known valid road markers.

21. The process of any one of the preceding claims including the further step of converting data to a format for presentation in either a graphical or numerical form, and be viewed in real time on a monitor or in printed form.

15. A computer controlled process for determining the integrity of reflective road markings, the computer being programmed to carry out the steps of:

a. getting data on the reflectance levels of road markings;

b. calibrating the data by multiplying the data with a predetermined calibration factor; and

c. determining whether the road marking meets a predetermined acceptable reflectance level.