Traffic signal using light-emitting diodes
First Claim
Patent Images
1. a street traffic signal device for providing a high resolution signal to vehicular and pedestrian traffic comprising:
- a display support structure including a non-reflective panel member which is substantially flat;
a set of signal elements supported on said panel in a configuration corresponding to a traffic control symbol;
each of the signal elements comprising a high intensity light emitting diode element having an angle of dispersion about a central axis which is substantially perpendicular to said panel member; and
power supply means for supplying electrical power being connected with said light emitting diode elements, and light emitting diode elements generating light responsive to power being applied thereto, said power supply means includinga center tap secondary winding of a step down transformer having a first outboard tap, a second outboard tap and a center tap;
a first diode in a first conductor connected to said first outboard tap; and
a second diode in a second conductor connected to said second output tap;
said diodes being commonly oriented to selectively allow conduction in the first and the second conductor whereby the traffic control symbol formed by illuminated diodes is only perceived by traffic when the diodes are illuminated.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A traffic control device includes a housing having a display structure. The display structure includes a non-reflective support panel supporting a plurality of light emitting diode elements arranged in a configuration defining a traffic control symbol. The light emitting diode elements are high intensity limited dispersion L.E.D.'"'"'s which emit light in an attenuated angular spread about a central axis. The light emitting diode elements are supported on with their control axis generally parallel to each other and generally perpendicular to the support panel.
-
Citations
26 Claims
-
1.
a street traffic signal device for providing a high resolution signal to vehicular and pedestrian traffic comprising: -
a display support structure including a non-reflective panel member which is substantially flat; a set of signal elements supported on said panel in a configuration corresponding to a traffic control symbol; each of the signal elements comprising a high intensity light emitting diode element having an angle of dispersion about a central axis which is substantially perpendicular to said panel member; and power supply means for supplying electrical power being connected with said light emitting diode elements, and light emitting diode elements generating light responsive to power being applied thereto, said power supply means including a center tap secondary winding of a step down transformer having a first outboard tap, a second outboard tap and a center tap; a first diode in a first conductor connected to said first outboard tap; and a second diode in a second conductor connected to said second output tap; said diodes being commonly oriented to selectively allow conduction in the first and the second conductor whereby the traffic control symbol formed by illuminated diodes is only perceived by traffic when the diodes are illuminated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A high resolution traffic signal device comprising:
-
a display support structure including a flat non-reflective panel support; a first set of signal elements supported on the panel support in a configuration corresponding to a first traffic control symbol; a second set of signal elements supported on the panel support in a configuration corresponding to a second traffic control symbol; each of the signal elements comprising a high intensity light emitting diode element, and power means for supplying electrical current to said light emitting diode elements, said power means including a first supply means for transmitting electrical current connected with the light emitting diode elements of the first set of signal elements, a second supply means for transmitting electrical current connected with the light emitting diode elements of the second set of signal elements, said first and said second supply means including a center tap secondary winding of a step down transformer having a first outboard tap, a second outboard tap and a center tap; a first diode in a first conductor connected to said first outboard tap; and a second diode in a second conductor connected to said second output tap; said diodes being commonly oriented to selectively allow conduction in the first and the second conductor; and
a controller means for selectively controlling the flow of electrical current in said first and second supply means to the light emitting diode elements, whereby the controller means selectively causes the illumination of the first and second sets of signal elements to selectively make visible the first and second traffic symbols. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
-
21. A modular pedestrian traffic signal device connected to a conventional vehicular traffic signal and sharing a common supply of power comprising:
-
a housing including a substantially planar support portion; a plurality of light emitting diode elements supported on the support portion in a pattern defining a traffic control symbol, each diode element of the plurality defining the traffic control symbol being in electrical parallel with the remaining diode elements of the plurality defining the traffic control symbol and the light emitted from said diodes being directly perceivable by a pedestrian as the traffic control symbol; power supply means for transmitting electrical current being connected with the common source of power and supplying a common voltage to each of the light emitting diode elements; said light emitting diode elements being directional high-intensity limited dispersion light emitting diode elements, and emitting light primarily in the general direction of a central axis of the element responsive to application of electrical current thereto; said light emitting diode elements being positioned so that the central axis thereof are generally parallel and generally perpendicular to the substantially planar support portion for optimal visibility of the symbol; said power supply means including a controller means for selectively controlling the flow of electrical current to the light emitting diode elements, and selectively illuminating and extinguishing the light emitting diode elements to display the traffic control symbol when desired. - View Dependent Claims (22)
-
-
23. A street traffic signal device for providing a high resolution signal to vehicular and pedestrian traffic comprising:
-
a display support structure including a non-reflective panel member which is substantially flat; a set of signal elements supported on said panel in a configuration corresponding to a traffic control symbol; each of the signal elements comprising a high intensity light emitting diode element having an angle of dispersion about a central axis which is substantially perpendicular to said panel member, each diode in the set being connected in electrical parallel with every other diode in the set; and power supply means for supplying electrical power being connected with said light emitting diode elements, and light emitting diode elements generating light responsive to power being applied thereto, whereby the traffic control symbol formed by illuminated diodes is only perceived by traffic when the diodes are illuminated. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
-
Specification