RED ALERT SYSTEM

• US 20130076539A1
• Filed: 09/28/2011
• Published: 03/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Janis Runiks, John Zonkoski
• Original Assignee: John Zonkoski
• Inventors: Runiks, Janis, Zonkoski, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,659,446 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/933
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/006 Portable traffic signalling devices G08B5/004 takes precedence; emergency signalling devices to be placed on roads or vehicles B60Q7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights

Abstract

Embodiments of a system and method are described. These embodiments may be designed to provide alert to a law enforcement officer monitoring a signalized roadway intersection. In particular, the embodiments comprise a transmitting unit installed in an intersection control cabinet and a radio frequency (RF) remote receiving unit. The transmitting unit comprises at least one cable harness, an on board power supply, a switching circuit, a first central processing unit, and a radio frequency (RF) transmitter. The RF remote receiving unit comprises an internal antenna, a second central processing unit, a battery pack, a power jack and a receiver switch. The RF remote receiving unit alerts the law enforcement officer on the at least one traffic signal information corresponding to red-light-running in a signalized roadway intersection. The at least one traffic signal information is imparted to the law enforcement officer utilizing at least one signal indicator.

Claims

1. An automated traffic enforcement system for providing alert to a law enforcement officer in a signalized roadway intersection, the system comprising:

a transmitting unit installed in an intersection control cabinet, the transmitting unit comprising;

at least one cable harness connected to a power supply voltage terminal, the at least one cable harness attached to eight phase drive signals, the eight phase drive signals being preset at a primary voltage level;

an on board power supply adaptable to drive the transmitting unit, the on board power supply being connected to the power supply voltage terminal;

a switching circuit connected to the eight phase drive signals, the switching circuit being configured to convert the primary voltage level of the eight phase drive signals to a secondary voltage level;

a first central processing unit (CPU) to convert the secondary voltage level to a digital code utilizing a first software means installed thereon via a first interface connector, the digital code configured to include at least one traffic signal information;

a radio frequency (RF) transmitter adaptable to transmit the digital code to an external antenna; and

a transmitter switch configured to operatively select at least one signal frequency; and

a radio frequency (RF) remote receiving unit designed to impart the at least one traffic signal information to the law enforcement officer, the RF remote receiving unit comprising;

an internal antenna adaptable to receive the digital code transmitted by the external antenna;

a second central processing unit (CPU) assembled to receive the digital code from the internal antenna, the second CPU configured to decode the digital code utilizing a second software means installed thereon via a second interface connector, the second CPU configured to send the at least one traffic signal information to at least one signal indicator through a plurality of signal drivers;

a battery pack operative to power the RF remote receiving unit, the battery pack being configured to indicate power level through a light emitting diode (LED) indicator attached thereon;

a power jack operative to recharge the RF remote receiving unit utilizing an external power adaptor; and

a receiver switch adaptable to match the at least one signal frequency selected by the transmitter switch;

whereby the RF remote receiving unit alerts the law enforcement officer on the at least one traffic signal information corresponding to red-light-running in a signalized roadway intersection.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the eight phase drive signals are used to drive amber and red lights.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one traffic signal information may include display information of amber light and red light in a traffic signal.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one signal indicator may be selected from a group consisting of a visual display section, an on board speaker, a head phone jack and a buzzer.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the visual display section includes a plurality of amber LEDs and a red LED to indicate the at least one traffic signal information.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the on board speaker and the head phone jack are designed to generate a plurality of tones to alert the law enforcement officer about the display of amber light and red light in the traffic signal.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein the buzzer is designed to alert the law enforcement officer about the display of red light in the traffic signal.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the second software means is compatible with the first software means.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter switch is configured to prevent cross-talk between two signalized roadway intersections.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the power supply voltage terminal may be at a voltage level of 24V A/C.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the primary voltage level may be at a voltage level of 110 V A/C.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the RF remote receiving unit is portable.

13. A method for reducing traffic violations in a signalized roadway intersection utilizing an automated traffic enforcement system, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) installing a transmitting unit in an intersection control cabinet;

(b) connecting at least one cable harness to a power supply voltage terminal;

(c) connecting at least one cable harness to an eight phase drive signals, the eight phase drive signals being preset at a primary voltage level;

(d) connecting an on board power supply to the power supply voltage terminal through the at least one cable harness;

(e) connecting a switching circuit to the eight phase drive signals;

(f) converting the primary voltage level of the eight phase drive signals to a secondary voltage level by the switching circuit;

(g) converting the secondary voltage level into a digital code by a first central processing unit (CPU) utilizing a first software means installed thereon;

(h) transmitting the digital code from the first central processing unit (CPU) to an external antenna;

(i) receiving the digital code by an internal antenna of a radio frequency remote receiving unit;

(j) sending the digital code to a second central processing unit (CPU);

(k) decoding the digital code by the second central processing unit (CPU) utilizing a second software means via a second interface connector;

(l) generating at least one traffic signal information by the second central processing unit (CPU); and

(m) sending the at least one traffic signal information to at least one signal indicator through a plurality of signal drivers by the second central processing unit (CPU).

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the eight phase drive signals are used to drive amber and red lights.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the second software means is compatible with the first software means.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the power supply voltage terminal may be at a voltage level of 24V A/C.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the primary voltage level may be at a voltage level of 110 V A/C.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the RF remote receiving unit is portable.