Light fixture with object detection system

• US 5,945,925 A
• Filed: 05/30/1997
• Issued: 08/31/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edwards Systems Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Edwards Systems Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Budnovitch, William F.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US08/866,892
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 340/567, 340/552-554, 340/942-943, 340/932.2, 340/691, 340/815.76, 340/815.65, 340/691.1, 340/691.3, 367/93-94, 250/DIG. 1, 250/342, 250/353, 362/276, 362/802
• US Class Current: 340/932.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas

Abstract

A light fixture with a detection system includes a sensor subsystem with vehicle and personnel sensors. The detection system also includes an indicator/display subsystem with empty space, moving vehicle and personnel present indicators. The detection system further includes a control subsystem mounted in the light fixture and connected to the sensor and indicator subsystems for actuating the indicators in response to the signal inputs from the sensors. Applications of the detection system in parking structures and industrial facilities are disclosed.

Claims

1. A status and hazard detection system for a parking space and a light fixture mounted in proximity thereto, which includes:

(a) a detection subsystem including;

(1) a vehicle detector mounted on the fixture and directed at the parking space; and

(2) a personnel detector mounted on the fixture and directed at the vicinity of the parking space;

(b) an indicator subsystem including;

(1) an empty space indicator having an on condition indicating the absence of a vehicle in the parking space and an off condition;

(2) a personnel indicator having an on condition indicating the presence of a person in the vicinity of the parking space and an off condition; and

(3) a moving vehicle indicator having an on condition indicating the presence of a moving vehicle in the vicinity of the parking space and an off condition; and

(c) a control subsystem connected to said detector subsystem and said indicator subsystem, said control subsystem including;

(1) memory means for storing a plurality of conditions corresponding to status and hazards associated with said parking space; and

(2) switching means for switching said indicators between on and off conditions thereof in response to said status and hazards associated with the parking space.

2. The detection system according to claim 1, which includes:

(a) said moving vehicle indicator in its condition having a flashing condition indicating the presence of a moving vehicle in the vicinity of the parking space.

3. A status and hazard detection system for a parking space and a light fixture mounted in proximity thereto, which includes:

(a) a sensor subsystem mounted on the light fixture and including;

(1) an object sensor directed to the vicinity of the parking space for detecting an object in the vicinity of the parking space;

(2) an approaching vehicle sensor for detecting an approaching vehicle;

(b) an indicator subsystem including;

(1) a laser beam light source for projecting a directional laser light beam from the light fixture; and

(2) a reflector mounted in the vicinity of the parking space; and

(c) a control subsystem connected to the sensor subsystem and the display subsystem, said control subsystem including;

(1) distance finding means associated with said approaching vehicle detector for finding a distance of said oncoming vehicle from the light fixture; and

(2) switch means for switching between a pulsating condition in which said light source means emits a pulsating beam in response to a first distance of said oncoming vehicle from the light fixture and a second condition causing said light source means to emit a continuous beam in response to said oncoming vehicle being located a second, shorter distance to the parking space.

4. A detection system for a light fixture, which includes:

(a) a sensor subsystem mounted on the light fixture and including a motion sensor;

(b) an indicator subsystem mounted on the light fixture and including an indicator having on and off conditions;

(c) a control subsystem connected to the sensor and indicator subsystems and including switching means for switching said indicator between its on and off conditions in response to an input from said sensor subsystem;

(d) said indicator comprising an open space indicator light indicating an open space in proximity to the light fixture; and

(e) a motion indicator light indicating a moving object in the vicinity of a light fixture.

5. A detection system for a light fixture, which includes:

(a) a sensor subsystem mounted on the light fixture and including a motion sensor;

(b) an indicator subsystem mounted on the light fixture and including an indicator having on and off conditions;

(c) a control subsystem connected to the sensor and indicator subsystems and including switching means for switching said indicator between its on and off conditions in response to an input from said sensor subsystem;

(d) said indicator subsystem including a laser light source mounted on the fixture for emitting a laser light beam; and

(e) a reflector mounted in the path of said laser light beam.

6. The detection system according to claim 5, which includes:

(a) said control subsystem having a warning condition causing said laser light source to emit a pulsating beam.

7. The detection system according to claim 6 wherein said control subsystem includes:

(a) a stop condition emitting a continuous laser light beam from said laser light source.