LED warning signal light and light bar

• US 6,424,269 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2000
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Safariland LLC
• Original Assignee: 911 Emergency Products, Inc. (Safariland LLC)
• Inventors: Pederson, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US09/590,881
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.45, 340/907, 340/908, 362/249, 362/362, 362/800
• US Class Current: 340/815.45
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for signalling, marking or indicating, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/30 on the outer surface of cylindrical surfaces, e.g. rod-shaped supports having a circular or a polygonal cross section
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/38 using flashing light
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/04 by land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/042 the advertising matter being fixed on the roof of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A light emitting diode (LED) warning signal light, the warning signal light comprising an array of light sources configured on a light support and in electrical communication with a controller and a power supply, battery, or other electrical source. The warning signal light provides various colored light signals for independent use or use by an emergency vehicle. These light signals may include a stationary light, strobe light, revolving light, and an oscillating light. Additionally, the warning signal light may be capable of displaying symbols, reverse characters, or arrows. Preferably, rotating and oscillating light signals are produced by sequentially illuminating columns of LED'"'"'s on a stationary light support. However, the warning signal light may also be rotated or oscillated via mechanical means. The warning signal light may also be transportable for easy connection to a stand such as a tripod for electrical connection to a power supply as a stand-alone warning signal.

Claims

1. A multiple warning signal light for use with a motorized vehicle, the multiple warning signal light comprising:

a) a light bar having a front side with a first visible exterior surface;

b) a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged about and attached to the first visible exterior surface; and

c) a controller in electric communication with the light emitting diodes, the controller constructed and arranged to activate the light emitting diodes thereby producing more than two different types of visually distinct warning light signals, wherein the more than two different types of visually distinct warning light signals are produced simultaneously, said light emitting diodes receiving power from a power source.

2. The multiple warning signal light of claim 1, said light bar further comprising a back side having a second visible exterior surface having a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged about and attached to said second visible exterior surface.

3. The multiple warning signal light of claim 2, wherein the controller independently controls the light emitting diodes on the first visible exterior surface and second visible exterior surface for the provision of different warning light signals on the first visible exterior surface and second visible exterior surface.

4. The multiple warning signal light of claim 3, the controller having a microprocessor.

5. The multiple warning signal light of claim 4, said plurality of light emitting diodes comprising light emitting diodes of at least two different colors.

6. The multiple warning signal light of claim 5, the controller activating the light emitting diodes to create at least one of a single colored warning light signal and at least one of a multicolored warning light signal.

7. The multiple warning signal light of claim 6, the light bar constructed and arranged to be formed into a plurality of shapes.

8. The multiple warning signal light of claim 6, wherein the warning light signals are selected from the group consisting of:

a revolving light, an alternating light, an oscillating light, a flashing light, a stroboscopic light and any combinations thereof.

9. The multiple warning signal light of claim 6, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes are in the form of an array.

10. The multiple warning signal light of claim 6, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes are illuminated to create the appearance of rotation.

11. The multiple warning signal light of claim 6, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes are illuminated to create the appearance of multi-colored rotation.

12. The multiple warning signal light of claim 6, the controller activating the light emitting diodes to create a plurality of visually distinctive warning light signals.

13. The multiple warning signal light of claim 9, wherein the warning light signal is a directional indicator.

14. The multiple warning signal light of claim 6, further comprising a programmable external controller for programming said controller.

15. The multiple warning signal light of claim 6, wherein the motorized vehicle is a utility vehicle.

16. The multiple warning signal light of claim 6, wherein the motorized vehicle is an emergency vehicle.

30. The multiple warning signal light of claim 1, wherein the more than two different types of visually distinct warning light signals are produced independently of one another.

31. The multiple warning signal light of claim 1, wherein the light bar is a longitudinally extending elongate member.

17. A multiple warning signal light for use with a motorized vehicle, the multiple warning signal light comprising:

a) a light bar having a front side with a first visible exterior surface, the front side characterized as being planar;

b) a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged about and attached to the first visible exterior surface; and

c) a controller in electric communication with the light emitting diodes, the controller constructed and arranged to activate the light emitting diodes thereby producing more than two different types of visually distinct warning light signals, wherein the more than two different types of visually distinct warning light signals are produced simultaneously, said light emitting diodes receiving power from a power source.

18. The multiple warning signal light of claim 17, said light bar further comprising a back side characterized as being planar, said back side having a second visible exterior surface having a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged about and attached to the second visible exterior surface.

19. The multiple warning signal light of claim 18, wherein the controller independently controls the light emitting diodes on said first visible exterior surface and said second visible exterior surface for the provision of different warning light signals on the first visible exterior surface and second visible exterior surface.

20. The multiple warning signal light of claim 19, the controller having a microprocessor.

21. The multiple warning signal light of claim 20, said plurality of light emitting diodes comprising light emitting diodes of at least two different colors.

22. The multiple warning signal light of claim 21, the controller activating the light emitting diodes to create at least one of a single colored light signal and at least one of a multi-colored light signal.

23. A multiple warning signal light for use with a motorized vehicle, the multiple warning signal light comprising:

a) a light bar having a planar elongate front side with a first visible exterior surface;

b) a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged about and attached to the first visible exterior surface; and

c) a controller in electric communication with the light emitting diodes, the controller constructed and arranged to activate the light emitting diodes thereby producing more than two different types of visually distinct warning light signals, wherein the more than two different types of visually distinct warning light signals are produced simultaneously, said light emitting diodes receiving power from a power source.

24. The multiple warning light signal of claim 23, said light bar further comprising a planar elongate back side having a second visible exterior surface, said second visible exterior surface having a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged about and attached to the second visible exterior surface.

25. The multiple warning signal light of claim 24, wherein the controller independently controls the light emitting diodes on each of the first visible exterior surfaces and second visible exterior surface thereby providing each of the first visible exterior surface and the second visible exterior surface with at least one visually distinct warning light signal.

26. The multiple warning signal light of claim 25, the controller having a microprocessor.

27. The multiple warning signal light of claim 26, sad plurality of light emitting diodes comprising light emitting diodes of at least two different colors.

28. The multiple warning signal light of claim 27, the controller activating the light emitting diodes to create at least one of a single colored warning light signal and at least one of a multicolored warning light signal.

29. A multiple warning signal light for use with a motorized vehicle, the multiple warning signal light comprising:

a) a light bar having a front side with a visible exterior surface;

b) a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged about and attached to the visible exterior surface, said light emitting diodes being in the form of a flat array, the plurality of light emitting diodes being angled relative to the light bar such that the light output beam is horizontal; and

c) a controller in electrical communication with the light emitting diodes, the controller constructed and arranged to activate the light emitting diodes thereby producing more than two different types of visually distinctive warning light signals, wherein the more than two different types of visually distinct warning light signals are produced simultaneously, said light emitting diodes receiving power from a power source.

32. A multiple warning signal light for use with a motorized vehicle, the multiple warning signal light comprising:

a) a light bar having a front side with a first visible exterior surface;

b) a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged about and attached to the first visible exterior surface; and

c) a controller in electric communication with the light emitting diodes, the controller constructed and arranged to activate the light emitting diodes thereby producing more than two different types of visually distinct warning light signals, wherein the more than two different types of visually distinct warning light signals are produced in at least one combination, said light emitting diodes receiving power from a power source.

33. The multiple warning signal light of claim 32, said light bar further comprising a back side having a second visible exterior surface having a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged about and attached to said second visible exterior surface.

34. The multiple warning signal light of claim 33, wherein the controller independently controls the light emitting diodes on the first visible exterior surface and second visible exterior surface for the provision of different warning light signals on the first visible exterior surface and second visible exterior surface.

35. The multiple warning signal light of claim 32, the controller having a microprocessor.

36. The multiple warning signal light of claim 32, said plurality of light emitting diodes comprising light emitting diodes of at least two different colors.

37. The multiple warning signal light of claim 36, the controller activating the light emitting diodes to create at least one of a single colored warning light signal and at least one of a multi-colored warning light signal.

38. The multiple warning signal light of claim 32, the controller activating the light emitting diodes to create a plurality of visually distinctive warning light signals.

39. The multiple warning signal light of claim 32, further comprising a programmable external controller for programming said controller.

40. The multiple warning signal light of claim 32, wherein the motorized vehicle is a utility vehicle.

41. The multiple warning signal light of claim 32, wherein the motorized vehicle is an emergency vehicle.

49. The multiple warning signal light of claim 32, wherein the more than two different types of visually distinct warning light signals are produced independently of one another.

50. The multiple warning signal light of claim 32, wherein the light bar is a longitudinally extending elongate member.

42. The multiple warning signal light for use with a motorized vehicle, the multiple warning signal light comprising:

a) a light bar having a front side with a first visible exterior surface, the front side being characterized as being planar;

b) a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged about and attached to the first visible exterior surface; and

c) a controller in electric communication with the light emitting diodes, the controller constructed and arranged to activate the light emitting diodes thereby producing more than two different types of visually distinct warning light signals, wherein the more than two different types of visually distinct warning light signals are produced in at least one combination, said light emitting diodes receiving power from a power source.

43. The multiple warning signal light of claim 42, said light bar further comprising a back side characterized as being planar, said back side having a second visible exterior surface having a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged about and attached to the second visible exterior surface.

44. The multiple warning signal light of claim 43, wherein the controller independently controls the light emitting diodes on said first visible exterior surface and said second visible exterior surface for the provision of different warning light signals on the first visible exterior surface and second visible exterior surface.

45. A multiple warning signal light for use with a motorized vehicle, the multiple warning signal light comprising:

a) a light bar having a planar elongate front side with a first visible exterior surface;

b) a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged about and attached to the first visible exterior surface; and

c) a controller in electric communication with the light emitting diodes, the controller constructed and arranged to activate the light emitting diodes thereby producing more than two different types of visually distinct warning light signals, wherein the more than two different types of visually distinct warning light signals are produced in at least one combination, said light emitting diodes receiving power from a power source.

46. The multiple warning light signal of claim 45, said light bar further comprising a planar elongate back side having a second visible exterior surface, said second visible exterior surface having a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged about and attached to the second visible exterior surface.

47. The multiple warning signal light of claim 46, wherein the controller independently controls the light emitting diodes on each of the first visible exterior surface and second visible exterior surface thereby providing each of the first visible exterior surface and the second visible exterior surface with at least one visually distinct warning light signal.

48. A multiple warning signal light for use with a motorized vehicle, the multiple warning signal light comprising:

a) a light bar having a front side with a visible exterior surface;

b) a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged about and attached to the visible exterior surface, said light emitting diodes being in the form of a flat array, the plurality of light emitting diodes being angled relative to the light bar such that the light output beam is horizontal; and

c) a controller in electrical communication with the light emitting diodes, the controller constructed and arranged to activate the light emitting diodes thereby producing more than two different types of visually distinct warning light signals, wherein the more than two different types of visually distinct warning light signals are produced in at least one combination, said light emitting diodes receiving power from a power source.