RADIATION SENSITIVE TRAFFIC WARNING SYSTEM

• US 3,739,179 A
• Filed: 01/07/1971
• Issued: 06/12/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Iniz I. Krekow
• Original Assignee: Iniz I. Krekow
• Inventors: Krekow, Iniz I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stolwein, Walter
• Application Number:
  US05/104,570
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 250/221,222,216,202,234,214D 94/1.5 340/52 180/79.1 350/293,299,97
• US Class Current: 250/216
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0237 circuits concerning the atmospheric environment meteorology G01W
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0244 using reflecting strips
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/075 Ramp control

Abstract

A traffic warning system for warning vehicles in the event of an attempt to enter a traffic lane in the wrong direction or crossing over a center line which will emit a loud signal as from the vehicle horn in which a reflective surface disposed on the center line and as seen by a vehicle crossing the center line and on any lane as seen by a vehicle attempting to proceed in the wrong direction in that lane which will reflect a collimated light projected by the vehicle and returned thereto through a discriminator which is coupled to the vehicle horn and a similar warning system which alerts vehicles as they are changing lanes proceeding in the correct direction whereby a reflective surface reflects the same collimated light in a different duty cycle which is passed through the discriminator sounding a soft alarm, such as a bell.

Claims

1. A traffic warning system for warning vehicles traveling in the wrong direction comprising:

a collimated light source attached to said vehicle and positioned for impingement of light upon the surface over which the vehicle is traveling;

a plurality of reflectors disposed on said surface, said reflectors each having a geometry for reflecting said impinging light back toward said vehicle when said vehicle is traveling in the wrong direction;

said plurality of reflectors each comprising first and second reflecting surfaces and a deflecting surface, said first and second reflecting surfaces and deflecting surface having an asymmetrical geometry for varying the duty cycle of the reflected light dependent upon the direction of light impingement thereon;

sensing means located on said vehicle for sensing the reflections of said impinging light; and

indicating means coupled to said sensing means.