Light activated vehicle sensor with flashing light and pulsing sound alarm

• US 5,005,004 A
• Filed: 10/21/1988
• Issued: 04/02/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael P. Udofot
• Original Assignee: Michael P. Udofot
• Inventors: Udofot, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Orsino, Joseph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jackson, Jill
• Application Number:
  US07/260,597
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 340/600, 340/942, 340/432, 340/474, 340/468, 340/932, 340/902, 250/206.1, 250/214 AL, 250/214 D, 250/214 R, 362/802, 362/72, 362/61
• US Class Current: 340/600
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• 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: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/941 using an optical detector H03K17/968 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

An audible warning tone and a flashing optical signal are generated by a personal portable signalling apparatus when it detects the approach of a lighted moving vehicle. The flashing optical signal also alerts the operator of the moving vehicle of the presence of the user of the personal portable signalling apparatus. A housing is provided to optically isolate the receiving and transmitting portions of the optical apparatus.

Claims

1. A light activated signaling system for detecting the presence of a lighted moving vehicle and signaling the presence of the signaling system to the operator of the moving vehicle and for indicating the presence of the moving vehicle to the operator of the signaling system comprising:

a power supply for powering said system, said power supply having a positive supply terminal and a ground potential terminal;

light detector means responsive to light projected by said moving vehicle, for generating a light detection signal in response to the reception of light projected from said moving vehicle;

first oscillator means having an on state and an off state, connected to said power supply and also coupled to said light detector means for generating first repetitive power pulses at a first frequency, during said on state in response to said light detection signal, and not generating said repetitive power pulses, during said off state representative of the absence of said light detection signal,

light source means connected to said first oscillator means for converting said first repetitive power pulses to light pulses and for projecting said light pulses toward said moving vehicle;

second oscillator means coupled to said first oscillator means for generating second power pulses at a second fixed frequency higher than said first frequency, in response to said on state,

said second oscillator means operating during the one state of said first oscillator means and not operating during said off state;

audio transducer means coupled to said second oscillator means for converting said second power pulses to sound energy,

wherein said light detector means comprises,

a photo resistive detector (CDS) connected in series with a variable resistor (R₁) across said power supply terminal (+3,gnd) the junction between said photo-resistive detector and said variable resistor defining a control node, wherein said first oscillator means comprises

a first npn transistor (TR₁) having a base, a collector and an emitter;

a second npn transistor (TR₂) having a base, a collector and an emitter, said emitter being connected to said positive supply terminal (+3V);

a bias resistor (R₂) connected between said base of said first transistor and said control node for supplying a bias current to said first transistor when said photo-resistive detector is illuminated;

a base supply resistor (R₃) connected between said collector of said first transistor and said base of said second transistor for supplying current to the base of second transistor (TR₂);

a series connected timing resistor (R₄) connected to a timing capacitor (C₁) forming a feed base path connected between said base of said first transistor (TR₁) and said collector of said second transistor (TTR₂), whereby said first repetitive power pulses are produced at said first frequency, whereby said first frequency is proportional to the time constant of said feedback path, at said collector of said second transistor (TR₁₀) when said photo-resistive detector biases said first transistor TR₁ into conduction.

2. A light activated signaling system for detecting the presence of a lighted moving vehicle and signaling the presence of the signaling system to the operator of the moving vehicle and for indicating the presence of the moving vehicle to the operator of the signaling system comprising:

a power supply for powering said system, said power supply having a positive supply terminal and a ground potential terminal;

light detector means responsive to light projected by said moving vehicle, for generating a light detection signal in response to the reception of light projected from said moving vehicle;

first oscillator means having an on state and an off state, connected to said power supply and also coupled to said light detector means for generating first repetitive power pulses at a first frequency, during said on state in response to said light detection signal, and not generating said repetitive power pulses, during said off state representative of the absence of said light detection signal,

light source means connected to said first oscillator means for converting said first repetitive power pulses to light pulses and for projecting said light pulses toward said moving vehicle;

second oscillator means coupled to said first oscillator means for generating second power pulses at a second fixed frequency higher than said first frequency, in response to said on state,

said second oscillator means operating during the one state of said first oscillator means and not operating during said off state;

audio transducer means coupled to said second oscillator means for converting said second power pulses to sound energy,

wherein said light detector means comprises,

a photo resistive detector (CDS) connected in series with a variable resistor (R₁) across said power supply terminals (+3,gnd) the junction between said photo-resistive detector and said variable resistor defining a control node, wherein said second oscillator means comprises,

a third transistor (TR₃), having a base, a collector, and an emitter, said emitter being connected to ground potential;

a fourth transistor (TR₄), having a base, a collector, and an emitter, said emitter being connected to said positive supply terminal (+3V);

a fifth transistor (TR₅), having a base, a collector, and an emitter, said collector being connected to said positive supply terminal (+3V);

a connection to said first oscillator means, whereby bias current is supplied to said base of said third transistor when said first oscillator is in the on state;

a timing capacitor (C₂) connected between said base of said third transistor and ground potential terminal for supplying feedback to said third transistor;

a connection between said collector of said third transistor and said base of said fourth transistor for switching said fifth transistor into conduction at a rate set by said timing resistor (R₅) and said timing capacitor (C₂) which defines said second frequency.

3. A light activated signaling system for detecting the presence of a lighted moving vehicle and signaling the presence of the signaling system to the operator of the moving vehicle and for indicating the presence of the moving vehicle to the operator of the signaling system comprising:

a photo-resistive light sensor (CDS) having first and second leads, said first lead being connected to a positive supply (Vcc);

a first resistor (R₁) having first and second leads, said first lead being connected to said second lead of said photo-resistive sensor;

a second resistor (R₂) having first and second leads, said first lead being connected to second lead of said first resistor, said second lead being connected to ground potential;

a first NPN transistor having a base, an emitter, and a collector, said emitter being connected to ground, said base being connected to said second lead of said first resistor (R₁);

a third resistor (R₃) having first and second leads, said first lead being connected to said base of said first transistor;

a first capacitor (C₁) having a first and a second lead, said second lead being connected to said second lead of said third resistor (R₃);

a second PNP transistor (T₂) having a base, a collector, and an emitter, said base being connected to said collector of said first transistor, said collector being connected to said first lead of said first capacitor;

a third NPN transistor (T₃) having a base, a collector and an emitter, said emitter being connected to ground potential;

a fourth resistor (R₄) having a first lead and having a second lead, said first lead being connected to said first lead of said first capacitor said second lead being connected said base of said third transistor;

a second capacitor (C₂) having first and second leads, said first lead being connected to said base of third transistor;

a fourth transistor having a base, an emitter and a collector, said collector being connected to said second lead of second capacitor, said base being connected to said collector of said third transistor, said emitter being connected to said emitter of said fourth transistor.

4. A light activated signaling system for detecting the presence of a lighted moving vehicle and signaling the presence of the signaling system to the operator of the moving vehicle and for indicating the presence of the moving vehicle to the operator of the signaling system comprising:

a power supply for powering said system, said power supply having a positive supply terminal and a ground potential terminal;

light detector means responsive to light projected by said moving vehicle, for generating a light detection signal in response to the reception of light projected from said moving vehicle;

first oscillator means having an on state and an off state, connected to said power supply and also coupled to said light detector means for generating first repetitive power pulses at a first frequency, during said on state in response to said light detection signal, and not generating said repetitive power pulses, during said off state representative of the absence of said light detection signal,

light source means connected to said first oscillator means for converting said first repetitive power pulses to light pulses and for projecting said light pulses toward said moving vehicle;

second oscillator means coupled to said first oscillator means for generating second power pulses at a second fixed frequency higher than said first frequency, in response to said on state,

said second oscillator means operating during the on state of said first oscillator means and not operating during said off state;

audio transducer means coupled to said second oscillator means for converting said second power pulses to sound energy,

wherein said light detector means comprises,

a photo resistive detector (CDS) connected in series with a variable resistor (R₁) across said power supply terminals (+3,gnd) the junction between said photo-resistive detector and said variable resistor defining a control node;

wherein said first oscillator means comprises, a first npn transistor (TR₁) having a base, a collector and an emitter;

a second npn transistor (TR₂) having a base, a collector and an emitter, said emitter being connected to a positive supply (+3V);

a bias resistor (R₂) connected between said base of said first transistor and said control node for supplying a bias current to said first transistor when said photo-resistive detector is illuminated;

a base supply resistor (R₃) connected between said collector of said first transistor and said base of said second transistor for supplying current to the base of second transistor (TR₂);

a series connected timing resistor (R₄) connected to a timing capacitor (C₁) forming a feed back path connected between said base of said first transistor (TR₁) and said collector of said second transistor (TR₂), whereby said first repetitive power pulses are produced at said first frequency, whereby said first frequency is proportional to the time constant of said feedback path, at said collector of said second transistor (TR₂) when said photo-resistive detector biases said first transistor TR₁ into conduction;

housing means for isolating said light detection means from said light source means.

5. A light activated signaling system for detecting the presence of a light moving vehicle and signaling the presence of the signaling system to the operator of the moving vehicle and for indicating the presence of the moving vehicle to the operator of the signaling system comprising:

a power supply for powering said system, said power supply having a positive supply terminal and ground potential terminal;

light detector means responsive to light projected by said moving vehicle, for generating a light detection signal in response to the reception of light projected from said moving vehicle;

first oscillator means having an on state and an off state, connected to said power supply and also coupled to said light detector means for generating first repetitive power pulses at a first frequency, during said on state in response to said light detection signals, and not generating said repetitive power pulses, during said off state representative of the absence of said light detection signal,

light source means connected to said first oscillator means for converting said first repetitive power pulses to light pulses and for projecting said light pulses toward said moving vehicle;

second oscillator means coupled to said first oscillator means for generating second power pulses at a second fixed frequency higher than said first frequency, in response to said on state,

said second oscillator means operating during the on state of said first oscillator means and not operating during said off state;

audio transducer means coupled to said second oscillator means for converting said second power pulses to sound energy,

wherein said light detector means comprises,

a photo resistive detector (CDS) connected in series with a variable resistor (R₁) across said power supply terminals (+3,gnd) the junction between said photo-resistive detector and said variable resistor defining a control node,

wherein said second oscillator means comprises, a third transistor (TR₃), having a base, a collector, and an emitter, said emitter being connected to ground potential;

a fourth transistor (TR₄), having a base, a collector, and an emitter, said emitter being connected to said positive supply (+3V);

a fifth transistor (TR₅), having a base, a collector, and an emitter, said collector being connected to said positive supply (+3V);

a connection to said first oscillator means, whereby bias current is supplied to said base of said third transistor when said first oscillator is in the on state;

a timing capacitor (C₂) connected between said base of said third transistor and ground potential terminal for supplying feedback to said third transistor;

a connection between said collector of said third transistor and said base of said fourth transistor for switching said fifth transistor into conduction at a rate set by said timing resistor (R₅) and said timing capacitor (C₂) which defines said second frequency;

housing means for isolating said light detection means from said light source means.