Railroad crossing traffic warning system apparatus and method therefore
First Claim
1. A railroad crossing traffic warning system for alerting a motorist approaching a railroad crossing over a railroad track to the presence of an oncoming railroad train, said warning system comprising:
- (a) a train detection sensor for detecting an oncoming train and for producing a train detection signal in response to the presence of an oncoming train, said train detection sensor being positioned adjacent to the railroad track at a predetermined distance from the railroad crossing;
(b) a controller unit for receiving the train detection signal from said train detection sensor, said controller unit comprising;
(i) microprocessor means for processing the train detection signal of said detection sensor,(ii) sensor signal interface means for interfacing the train detection signal of said detection sensor with said microprocessor means,(iii) means for controlling said means for alerting the motorist, said controlling means being operationally connected to said microprocessor means and to said alerting means,(iv) battery means for supplying operational power to said microprocessor means; and
(c) means for alerting the motorist to the presence of an oncoming railroad train such that the motorist may take cautionary or evasive action before the arrival of an oncoming train at the railroad crossing, said alerting means being coupled to and controlled by said controller unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A railroad crossing traffic warning system for alerting a motorist approaching a railroad crossing to the presence of an oncoming train. The system comprises a series of magnetometer sensor probes buried in the right-of way adjacent to a railroad track at predetermined distances from the railroad crossing. These sensors provide a signal to a controller unit when the presence of a train is sensed. The controller unit first determines the speed at which the oncoming train is traveling and the time it will take for the train to reach the crossing and then activates an improved warning apparatus at a predetermined amount of time before the train reaches the crossing. The improved warning apparatus comprises an X-shaped railroad crossing warning sign or "crossbuck" having a plurality of light emitting diodes ("LED") or the like mounted on the across the center thereof, a plurality of strobe lights, and a train direction indicator comprising a plurality of lamps which are lighted sequentially to indicate the direction in which the oncoming train is traveling. The system may be powered by a rechargeable battery which may be recharged by a solar panel array allowing the system to be utilized at crossings located in rural areas where a source of AC electrical power is not readily available
86 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A railroad crossing traffic warning system for alerting a motorist approaching a railroad crossing over a railroad track to the presence of an oncoming railroad train, said warning system comprising:
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(a) a train detection sensor for detecting an oncoming train and for producing a train detection signal in response to the presence of an oncoming train, said train detection sensor being positioned adjacent to the railroad track at a predetermined distance from the railroad crossing; (b) a controller unit for receiving the train detection signal from said train detection sensor, said controller unit comprising; (i) microprocessor means for processing the train detection signal of said detection sensor, (ii) sensor signal interface means for interfacing the train detection signal of said detection sensor with said microprocessor means, (iii) means for controlling said means for alerting the motorist, said controlling means being operationally connected to said microprocessor means and to said alerting means, (iv) battery means for supplying operational power to said microprocessor means; and (c) means for alerting the motorist to the presence of an oncoming railroad train such that the motorist may take cautionary or evasive action before the arrival of an oncoming train at the railroad crossing, said alerting means being coupled to and controlled by said controller unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A railroad crossing traffic warning system for alerting a motorist at a railroad crossing over a railroad track to the presence of an oncoming train, said warning system comprising:
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(a) a first train detection magnetometer for detecting an oncoming train and for producing a first train detection signal in response to the presence of an oncoming train, said first train detection magnetometer being positioned adjacent to the railroad track at a first predetermined distance from the railroad crossing; (b) a second train detection magnetometer for detecting an oncoming train and for producing a second train detection signal in response to the presence of an oncoming train, said second train detection magnetometer being positioned adjacent to the railroad track at a second predetermined distance from the railroad crossing; (b) a controller unit for receiving said first train detection signal from said first train detection magnetometer and said second train detection signal from said second train detection magnetometer, said controller unit comprising; (i) microprocessor means for processing the first train detection signal of said first train detection magnetometer and the second train detection signal of said second train detection magnetometer, said microprocessor means comparing said first and second train detection signals to determine a speed and which an oncoming train is traveling; (ii) magnetometer signal interface means for interfacing the first train detection signal of said first train detection magnetometer and the second train detection signal of said second train detection magnetometer with said microprocessor means; (ii) means for controlling said means for alerting the motorist, said controlling means being operationally connected to said microprocessor means and to said alerting means; (iii) battery means for supplying operational power to said microprocessor means; and (c) means for alerting the motorist to the presence of an oncoming railroad train such that the motorist may take cautionary or evasive action before the arrival of an oncoming train at the railroad crossing, said alerting means being coupled to and controlled by said controller unit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for warming a motorist at a railroad crossing of the presence of an oncoming railroad train, said warning method comprising:
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(a) detecting the presence of an oncoming train at first and second predetermined distances from the railroad crossing; (b) determining the time required for an oncoming train to reach the railroad crossing; (c) detecting the presence of an oncoming train at a third predetermined distance from the railroad crossing; and (d) activating means for alerting the motorist to the presence of an oncoming train when the presence of an oncoming train is detected at said third predetermined distance from the railroad crossing. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. An apparatus for warning a motorist at a railroad crossing of the presence of an oncoming train comprising:
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(a) a support means; (b) an X-shaped railroad crossing warning sign mounted on said support means, said warning sign having a reflector means for reflecting the lights of an oncoming automobile and a plurality of lighting means, said plurality of lighting means forming an X-shape; (c) a strobe light; (d) a train direction indicator means, said train direction indicator means including a plurality of lamps placed adjacent to each other in a line;
said plurality of lamps lighted sequentially to indicate the direction in which an oncoming train is traveling; and(e) an audible warning means mounted on said supporting means for providing an audible output signal. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A railroad crossing traffic warning system having apparatus for detecting the presence of a train in a railroad crossing and activating a means for alerting a motorist, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a transmitter for transmitting an infrared light beam diagonally across the railroad crossing; (b) a receiver for receiving said infrared light beam, said receiver producing a train not present signal in response to receiving said infrared light beam; (c) a controller means, said controller means for receiving the train not present signal from said receiver.
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32. A railroad crossing traffic warning system for alerting a motorist at a railroad crossing over a railroad track to the presence of an oncoming train, said warning system comprising:
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(a) a first train detection sensor for detecting an oncoming train and for producing a first train detection signal in response to the presence of an oncoming train, said first train detection sensor being positioned adjacent to the railroad track at a first predetermined distance from the railroad crossing; (b) a second train detection sensor for detecting an oncoming train and for producing a second train detection signal in response to the presence of an oncoming train, said second train detection sensor being positioned adjacent to the railroad track at a second predetermined distance from the railroad crossing; (b) a controller unit for receiving said first train detection signal from said first train detection sensor and said second train detection signal from said second train detection sensor; and (c) a backup train detection sensor for detecting an oncoming train and for producing a backup train detection signal in response to the presence of an oncoming train, said backup train detection sensor being positioned adjacent to the railroad track at a third predetermined distance from the railroad crossing, said backup train detection signal provided to said controller unit. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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Specification