Road-Marking System

• US 20080216367A1
• Filed: 08/18/2004
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Van Der Poel, Lucas Leo Desiree
• Application Number:
  US10/570,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20080216367A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 40/541
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/30 Arrangements interacting with transmitters or receivers otherwise than by visible means, e.g. using radar reflectors or radio transmitters E01F11/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/559 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/167 by electrophoresis

Abstract

The road-marking system for influencing the distance between vehicles (6, 6′, . . . ) traveling over a roadway (10) comprises: a plurality of road-marking units (3; 3′, 3″, . . . ; 4, 4′, . . . ), the road-marking units being provided with light means for emitting or reflecting light in the direction of a driver of the vehicle (6, 6′, . . . ). In operation, a set of the road-marking units (4, 4′, . . . ) is in an active state, while the remainder of the road-marking units (3; 3′, 3″, . . . ) is in an inactive state. The distance between the active road-marking units (4, 4′, . . . ) in the set is indicative of the desired distance between the vehicles (6, 6′, . . . ). Preferably, the light emitted or reflected by the set of active road-marking units (4, 4′, . . . ) is tuned in response to conditions during the day or during the night.

Claims

1. A road-marking system for influencing the distance between vehicles (6, 6′

, . . . ) traveling over a roadway (10), comprising;

a plurality of road-marking units (3;

3′

, 3″

, . . . ;

4, 4′

, . . . ),

the road-marking units (3;

3′

, 3″

, . . . ;

4, 4′

, . . . ) being provided with light means for emitting or reflecting light in the direction of a driver of the vehicle (6, 6′

, . . . ),

a set of the road-marking units (4, 4′

, . . . ), of which in operation a part is in an active state while the remainder of the road-marking units (3;

3′

, 3″

, . . . ) is in an inactive state,

the distance between the active road-marking units (4, 4′

, . . . ) in the set being indicative of the desired distance between the vehicles (6, 6′

, . . . ).

2. A road-marking system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the set of active road-marking units (4, 4′

, . . . ) is in the active state intermittently.

3. A road-marking system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the light emitted or reflected by the set of active road-marking units (4, 4′

, . . . ) is tuned in response to conditions during the day or during the night.

4. A road-marking system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the road-marking units (3;

3′

, 3″

, . . . ;

4, 4′

, . . . ) are shaped as chevrons.

5. A road-marking system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the light means for emitting light comprises a light-emitting diode.

6. A road-marking system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the light means for emitting light is formed by an end portion of an optical fiber.

7. A road-marking system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the light means for reflecting light comprises a reflective electrophoretic display device.

8. A road-marking system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the road-marking units (3;

3′

, 3″

, . . . ;

4, 4′

, . . . ) are provided in the surface of the roadway.

9. A road-marking system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the road-marking units (3;

3′

, 3″

, . . . ;

4, 4′

, . . . ) are provided on one side or on either side of the roadway (10).