FORKLIFT ACTIVATED MIRROR ALERT

• US 20110260888A1
• Filed: 07/08/2011
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David A. Fossier, William Chernick
• Original Assignee: David A. Fossier, William Chernick
• Inventors: Fossier, David A., Chernick, William
• Granted Patent: US 8,905,568 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/933
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/12 using a transparent mirror or other light reflecting surface transparent to transmitted light whereby a sign, symbol, picture or other is visible only when illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/812 Signs

Abstract

A partially transparent dome minor is used to display messages generated from within the dome by a light generating system. The minor is incorporated in an apparatus for seeing and warning traffic crossing at an intersection in a commercial, industrial or other space to improve worker safety and to avoid costly damage due to collisions at the intersection. The unitary apparatus does not require sensors or other wiring external to the mirror and its supporting frame. The mirror system can also be used in commercial and retail applications for surveillance and advertising.

Claims

1. An apparatus for seeing and for warning traffic crossing at an intersection comprising:

a partially transparent dome minor having an outside surface for reflecting incident light and an inside surface for receiving light from inside the dome and passing the light through the minor;

a light producing system for illuminating the inner surface and transmitting light through the minor so that the light is visible when viewing the outside surface, the light producing system capable of displaying messages through the mirror for viewing from outside the minor;

a sensing system for identifying traffic crossing at the intersection; and

the sensing system in communication with the light producing system, such that the light producing system provides messages visible when viewing the outside surface.

2. An apparatus for seeing and for warning traffic crossing at an intersection comprising:

a partially transparent minor having a first side for reflecting incident light and a second side for receiving and passing light through the mirror;

a light producing system for illuminating the second side, passing light through the mirror so that the light is visible when viewing the first side, the light producing system capable of displaying messages through the minor;

a sensing system for identifying traffic crossing at the intersection, the sensing system able to distinguish at least one of the following in at least one direction for traffic crossing the intersection;

substantially metallic traffic;

substantially non-metallic traffic;

size of approaching traffic; and

traffic approaching the minor from traffic departing the minor; and

the sensing system comprising a logic system to determine warning messages and being in communication with the light producing system causing the light producing system to display the warning messages to traffic crossing the intersection in other directions, the warning messages visible when viewing the first side of the mirror.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 where the mirror comprises a curved reflecting surface for displaying reflected images from a plurality of directions.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 where the mirror is substantially in the shape of a spherical dome for displaying images of objects visible in the minor approaching the intersection from any direction.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 where the mirror comprises a plurality of surfaces having a plurality of curvatures.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 where the sensing system turns off the message when traffic moves away from the minor and no other traffic is approaching the mirror from the same direction.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 where the mirror is flat.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the message is turned off according to a preset period of time after the traffic is detected by the sensing system.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 further employing a sound alarm for audibly warning traffic in the vicinity of the intersection.

10. The apparatus of claim 2 where the light system comprises a laser.

11. The apparatus of claim 2 where the light system comprises at least one message board having light emitting diodes.

12. The apparatus of claim 2 where the light producing system comprises a backlit graphical overlay.

13. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising an indicator to indicate the operational status of the apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 2 where discriminators are placed on selected traffic to identify the traffic.

15. The apparatus of claim 2 where the light system displays no message if no moving traffic is detected.

16. The apparatus of claim 2 where a pass message is displayed if no traffic is detected approaching the intersection.

17. The apparatus of claim 2 comprising circuitry that receives data from the sensing system and displays at least one of the following:

type;

size;

proximity to the intersection;

speed; and

image

of traffic approaching the intersection.

18. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein all components comprising the apparatus are mounted in a single unitary package.

19. The apparatus of claim 2 where images are electronically produced outside the mirror.

20. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein images are projected from the second side of the minor onto a surface opposite the first side of the mirror.

21. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the light producing system projects messages on the second side of the mirror that are passed through the partially transparent mirror and appear to be on the first side of the mirror.

22. An apparatus for surveillance and advertising in commercial environments comprising:

a partially transparent dome minor having a first side for reflecting incident light from outside the dome and a second side for receiving and passing light from inside the dome through the mirror;

a light producing system for illuminating the second side from inside the dome minor and passing light through the minor so that the light is visible when viewing the first side, the light producing system capable of displaying images through the minor for viewing from outside the mirror; and

a sensing system for identifying the approach of a customer toward the mirror, the sensing system in communication with the light producing system causing the light producing system to provide images visible from outside the mirror, the apparatus capable of sensing customer traffic approaching the mirror and displaying a message through the minor that can be used for advertising purposes and for alerting purposes while displaying a reflection image visible in the first side of the mirror.