Apparatus for prompting pedestrians
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for prompting pedestrians comprising:
- a first visual indicator means (46) responsive to a first control signal for displaying a first image of a pair of left looking eyes;
a second visual indicator means (48) responsive to a second control signal for displaying a second image of a pair of right looking eyes; and
a control means (54) connected to said first and second visual indicator means (46,48) for alternately generating said first and second control signals whereby said first and second visual indicator means alternately display said first and second images to prompt a pedestrian to look for turning vehicles.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and a method for prompting pedestrians to look and listen for turning vehicles includes an animated pictorial message formed in the image of a pair of scanning eyes (46,48) and generated by a pedestrian signal control (54) connected to a pedestrian signal display (32). The image (46,48) can be activated by a traffic control (52) or a motion detector (64) connected to the pedestrian signal control (54). A voice circuit (56) and speakers (58) connected to the pedestrian signal control (54) generate an audible message at the same time the image (46,48) is being displayed.
54 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for prompting pedestrians comprising:
-
a first visual indicator means (46) responsive to a first control signal for displaying a first image of a pair of left looking eyes; a second visual indicator means (48) responsive to a second control signal for displaying a second image of a pair of right looking eyes; and a control means (54) connected to said first and second visual indicator means (46,48) for alternately generating said first and second control signals whereby said first and second visual indicator means alternately display said first and second images to prompt a pedestrian to look for turning vehicles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16)
-
-
15. An apparatus for prompting pedestrians at a crosswalk comprising:
-
a first look visual indicator means (46) responsive to a first control signal for displaying a first image of a pair of left looking eyes; a second look visual indicator means (48) responsive to a second control signal for displaying a second image of a pair of right looking eyes; a don'"'"'t walk visual indicator means (42,44,60) responsive to a third control signal for displaying a third image representing a don'"'"'t walk message; a walk visual indicator means (50,62) responsive to a fourth control signal for displaying a fourth image representing a walk message; and a control means (54) connected to said visual indicator means (42,44,46,48, 50,60,62) for generating said third control signal whereby said don'"'"'t walk visual indicator means (42,44,60) flashes said third image to prompt a pedestrian that said don'"'"'t walk message is about to be displayed and steadily displays said third image to prompt the pedestrian not to enter a crosswalk (22), for generating said fourth control signal whereby said walk visual indicator means (50,62) displays said fourth image to prompt a pedestrian to enter the crosswalk, and for alternately generating said first and second control signals whereby said first and second look visual indicator means alternately display said first and second images to prompt the pedestrian to look for turning vehicles.
-
-
17. A method of prompting pedestrians at a crosswalk comprising the steps of:
-
a. generating a first image (46) of a pair of left looking eyes; b. generating a second image (48) of a pair of right looking eyes; and c. cyclically performing said steps a. and b. alternately during a predetermined time period to prompt a pedestrian at a crosswalk (22) to look for vehicles. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification