Flashing beacon having irregular Wig-Wag pattern

• US 20120306665A1
• Filed: 08/13/2012
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carmanah Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Richard D. Jones
• Inventors: Jones, Richard D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,129,540 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/907
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/617 Illuminated or wired-up posts, bollards, pillars or like upstanding bodies or structures for traffic guidance, warning or control E01F9/559 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/04 Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia

Abstract

A flashing beacon may include a signal unit, a control unit associated with the signal unit, a solar panel or collector, and an activation device that may all be mounted or otherwise positioned on a post of a roadway sign. Light units associated with the signal unit may be programmed to flash on and off in a unique wig-wag pattern. Further, a light bar may also be used with the beacon to generate an intense flash of light soon after activation of the beacon as an additional means of grabbing the attention of the operator of a vehicle.

Claims

1-8. -8. (canceled)

9. A traffic directing device that provides improved driver compliance, the device comprising:

a sign with a traffic directive fixed in a location proximate to a roadway via at least one post;

a first light unit and a second light unit both in physical proximity to the sign;

a control unit coupled to the first light unit and the second light unit; and

a solar collector that provides power to the control unit, the first light unit and the second light unit;

wherein the control unit is configured to cause the first light unit and the second light unit to generate a wig-wag pattern according to a predetermined time period, the wig-wag pattern including a plurality of first light flashes from the first light unit and a plurality of second flashes from the second light unit for each wig-wag cycle.

10. The traffic directing device of claim 9, wherein a number of the plurality of first light flashes is different from a number of the plurality of second light flashes.

11. The traffic directing device of claim 10, wherein a duration of at least one first light flash is different from a duration of a second light flash.

12. The traffic directing device of claim 10, wherein a duration of each first light flash is different from a duration of each second light flash.

13. The traffic directing device of claim 10, wherein the flashes from the first light unit and the flashes from the second light unit occur simultaneously.

14. The traffic directing device of claim 10, wherein each of the first light unit and the second light unit flashes more than sixty times per minute.

15. The traffic directing device of claim 10, wherein the traffic directive of the sign includes a crosswalk icon.

18. The traffic directing device of claim 12, wherein each of the first light unit and the second light unit flashes more than sixty times per minute.

16. The traffic directing device of claim 11, wherein each of the first light unit and the second light unit flashes more than sixty times per minute.

17. The traffic directing device of claim 11, wherein the traffic directive of the sign includes a crosswalk icon.

19. A traffic directing device that provides improved driver compliance, the device comprising:

a sign with a traffic directive that includes a crosswalk icon, the sign being fixed in a location proximate to a roadway via at least one post;

a first light unit and a second light unit both in physical proximity to the sign;

a control unit coupled to the first light unit and the second light unit; and

a solar collector that provides power to the control unit, the first light unit and the second light unit;

wherein

the control unit is configured to cause the first light unit and the second light unit to generate a wig-wag pattern according to a predetermined time period, the wig-wag pattern including a plurality of first light flashes from the first light unit and a plurality of second flashes from the second light unit for each wig-wag cycle;

a number of the plurality of first light flashes is different from a number of the plurality of second light flashes;

a duration of each first light flash is different from a duration of each second light flash with each of the first light unit and the second light unit flashes more than sixty times per minute; and

the traffic directive of the sign includes a crosswalk icon.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein each of the first light unit and the second light unit flashes more than sixty times per minute.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the traffic directive of the sign includes a crosswalk icon.

16-1. A method for controlling a traffic directing device that provides improved driver compliance, the device comprising a sign with a traffic directive, a first light unit and a second light unit both in physical proximity to the sign, a control unit coupled to the first light and the second light, and a solar collector coupled to the control unit, the first light unit and the second light unit, the method comprising:

providing power to control unit, the first light unit and the second light unit using the solar collector; and

using the control unit, causing the first light unit and the second light unit to generate a wig-wag pattern according to a predetermined time period, the wig-wag pattern including a plurality of light flashes from the first light unit and a plurality of flashes from the second light unit for each wig-wag cycle;

wherein the sign is fixed in a location proximate to a roadway via at least one post.

17-2. The method of claim 16, wherein a number of the plurality of first light flashes is different from a number of the plurality of second light flashes.

19-3. The method of claim 17, wherein a duration of each first light flash is different from a duration of each second light flash.