Traffic Safety Integrated System, Particularly in Low Visibility Conditions and Method of Use of Same
First Claim
1. A traffic safety integrated system, particularly in low visibility conditions, for use on a site (2) of a road, railway, airport, harbor or the like, wherein said site has road markings and/or signs (3), which system comprises at least one light-emitting device (4) for generating at least one light beam (5), characterized in that it comprises means (6) for controlling said at least one device (4) for generating said at least one beam (5), said device having such a predetermined relative position with respect to said site (2), as to selectively interact with the road markings and/or signs (3) and to make said beam (5) only visible to the drivers driving over said site (2) in a predetermined drive direction, and not to drivers driving in the opposite direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated system for traffic safety (1), particularly in low visibility conditions, for use on a site (2) of a road, railway, airport, harbor or the like, which comprises road markings and/or signs (3). The system (1) comprises at least one light-emitting device (4) for generating at least one light beam (5). One feature of the invention is that it comprises means (6) for controlling the light-emitting device (4) to generate the beam (5). The device has such a predetermined relative position with respect to said site (2) as to selectively interact with the road markings and/or signs (3) and to make the beam (5) only visible to the drivers that drive over the site (2) in a predetermined drive direction, and not to those who drive in the opposite direction. An integrated method for traffic safety, in conditions and sites as described above, including the steps of providing road markings and/or signs (3) on a road site (2) (step a), providing at least one light-emitting device (4) for emitting at least one light beam (5) (step b), emitting the beam (5) (step c) and conforming and orienting it toward the site (2) to selectively hit the road markings and/or signs (3) thereon (step d).
29 Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A traffic safety integrated system, particularly in low visibility conditions, for use on a site (2) of a road, railway, airport, harbor or the like, wherein said site has road markings and/or signs (3), which system comprises at least one light-emitting device (4) for generating at least one light beam (5), characterized in that it comprises means (6) for controlling said at least one device (4) for generating said at least one beam (5), said device having such a predetermined relative position with respect to said site (2), as to selectively interact with the road markings and/or signs (3) and to make said beam (5) only visible to the drivers driving over said site (2) in a predetermined drive direction, and not to drivers driving in the opposite direction.
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1-1. A traffic safety integrated system, particularly in low visibility conditions, for use on a site (2) of a road, railway, airport, harbor or the like, wherein said site has road markings and/or signs (3), which system comprises at least one light-emitting device (4) for generating at least one light beam (5), characterized in that it comprises means (6) for controlling said at least one device (4) for generating said at least one beam (5), said device having such a predetermined relative position with respect to said site (2), as to selectively interact with the road markings and/or signs (3) and to make said beam (5) only visible to the drivers driving over said site (2) in a predetermined drive direction, and not to drivers driving in the opposite direction.
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2-2. System as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said at least one light-emitting device (4) includes at least one projector (4).
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3-3. System as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said at least one projector (7) comprises at least one semiconductor source (8).
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4-4. System as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that said control means (6) comprise at least one microprocessor control unit (9) for controlling said at least one projector (7) and/or said semiconductor source (8).
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5-5. System as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that said semiconductor source (8) is of the visible light-emitting laser type.
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6-6. System as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that said semiconductor source (8) is of the visible light-emitting LED type.
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7-7. System as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said projector (7) comprises optical and/or electronic means (10) for generating images (11) in space or over a substantially flat surface.
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8-8. System as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that said optical and/or electronic means (10) comprise an electronic card (12).
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9-9. System as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said projector (2) has light diffusing means (13), selected from the group consisting of lenses, prisms, mirrors, LCD electron mirrors, micromirrors.
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10-10. System as claimed in claim 9, characterized in said light diffusing means (13) comprise at least one diffractive lens (14).
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11-11. System as claimed in claim 10 and 4, characterized in that said microprocessor control unit (9) comprises adjustment means, for adjusting the distance (L) of said diffractive lens (14) to said semiconductor source (8), to change the size (I) of said at least one light beam (5) and/or of said projected images (11).
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12-12. System as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that said images (11) include monochromatic, polychromatic and/or holographic images, possibly having a variable configuration.
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13-13. System as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that said images (11) comprise alphanumeric characters.
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14-14. System as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (15) for supplying power to said light-emitting device (4).
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15-15. System as claimed in claim 14, characterized in said power supply means (15) comprise at least one battery.
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16-16. System as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means for securing said light-emitting device (4) to a support structure (16).
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17-17. System as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that said support structure (16) is selected from the group consisting of a tripod, a guardrail, a highway panel, a maintenance or rescue vehicle.
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18-18. System as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said relative position is defined by the vector distance between said device and the beam projection area.
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19-19. System as claimed in claim 18 characterized said distance comprises a length and a relative angle.
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20-20. A method of use of the traffic safety integrated system on a site (2) of a road, railway, airport, harbor or the like, particularly in low visibility conditions, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the method includes at least the following steps:
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a) providing road markings and/or signs (3) on a road site (2);
b) providing at least one light-emitting device (4) for generating at least one light beam (5);
c) emitting said at least one light beam (5);
d) controlling said at least one light beam (5) to conform and orient it toward said site (2), said device having such a predetermined relative position with respect to said site (2) as to selectively interact with the road markings and/or signs (3) and to make said beam (5) only visible to the drivers that drive over said site (2) in a predetermined drive direction, and not to those who drive in the opposite direction.
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Specification