Reflectivity measuring apparatus and method

• US 6,407,674 B1
• Filed: 09/07/1999
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Philip Anthony Gallagher
• Original Assignee: Philip Anthony Gallagher
• Inventors: Gallagher, Philip Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US09/380,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20020063638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 340/905, 340/901, 340/904, 340/988, 340/425.5, 356/445, 356/446, 356/447, 356/448
• US Class Current: 340/905
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 11/005 Testing of reflective surfaces, e.g. mirrors

Abstract

This invention relates to reflectivity measuring apparatus. This invention provides reflectivity measuring apparatus for assessing the integrity of road markings including a light source, a light sensor and a processing means, the apparatus being mounted on a vehicle such that, in use, the light source illuminates a reflective surface on a road marking, and wherein the light sensor detects any reflected light and the data signal is received by the processing means, the processing means processes the data to provide information on the reflectivity of a said reflective surface. In another aspect of the invention there is provided a computer controlled process for determining the integrity of light reflective road markings, the computer being programmed to carry out the steps of getting data on the reflectance levels of road markings; calibrating the data by multiplying the data with a predetermined calibration factor; and determining whether the road marking meets a predetermined acceptable reflectance level.

Claims

1. A reflectivity measuring apparatus for testing the integrity of reflective road or pavement markings, the apparatus including a light source, a light sensor and a processing means, the apparatus being mountable on a vehicle such that, in use, the light source illuminates a reflective surface on a reflective road marking, a plurality of light sensors are provided to cover a wide field of view, each said light sensor detecting any reflected light from a different area of road and providing a data signal to the processing means representing the reflectivity of each said area of road, and wherein the light sensors detect any reflected light and the data signal is received by the processing means, the processing means processes the data to provide information on the reflectivity of a said reflective surface on the road marking, and further including a visual display means associated with and controllable by the processing means to provide an indication of the location of the road markings relative to the vehicle to the vehicle operator to enable the vehicle operator to maintain the moving vehicle in an appropriate position and normal traveling speed during use of the apparatus.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 further providing a locating means for determining the location of a road marking.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of said light sources and the plurality of light sensors provide simultaneous testing of a plurality of said road markings.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a predetermined acceptable reflectance level for the road marking is obtained as a reference reflectance level against which each said road marker being tested is compared by the processing means.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a tagging means for identifying said road markings that do not meet the predetermined acceptable reflectance level.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the tagging means includes a paint capsule dispenser activatable by the processing means.

7. A computer controlled process for determining the integrity of reflective road or pavement markings, the computer being programmed to carry out the steps of:

a. getting data on measured reflectance levels of road markings;

b. calibrating the data by multiplying the data with a predetermined calibration factor;

c. determining whether a road marking meets a predetermined acceptable reflectance level; and

d. determining the location of the road markings relative to a moving vehicle from which the measured reflectance levels are being taken and providing a visual display means associated with and controllable by the processing means to provide an indication of the location of the road marking relative to the vehicle to enable the vehicle operator to maintain the moving vehicle in an appropriate position and normal traveling speed during use of the apparatus.

8. The process of claim 7 including the step of filtering the data by calculating an average reflectance level from a set of sampled data.

9. The process of claim 7 including the step of activating a road marker tagging means to tag a said road marker if it is determined as having a reflectivity level which does not meet the predetermined acceptable reflectance level.

10. The process of claim 7 including the step of determining the location of any missing road markers by recognizing patterns in existing road marker locations and comparing with information on the spacing of known valid road markers.

11. The process of claim 7 including the further step of converting data to a format for presentation in either a graphical or numerical form, viewable either in real time on a computer monitor or printed.