Modular upgradable solid state light source for traffic control

• US 6,426,704 B1
• Filed: 08/17/2000
• Issued: 07/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Light Vision Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: General Signal Technology Corp. (SPX Corporation)
• Inventors: Hutchison, Michael C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US09/640,430
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.4, 340/815.43, 340/815.45, 340/815.49, 340/815.5, 340/815.57, 340/815.73, 340/815.76, 340/815.77, 340/907, 340/908, 340/693.5
• US Class Current: 340/693.5
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/00 Lighting devices intended for fixed installation F21S9/00, F21S10/00 take precedence; using a string or strip of light sources F21S4/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/02 for roads, paths or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A modular solid state light apparatus ideally suited for use in traffic control signals. Current state of the art solid state signals are sealed units which fit into existing signal cases once the primary lens and incandescent bulb, and sometimes even the incandescent reflector, are removed. The modular system replaces the entire case with a custom case designed to accommodate current and future features at approximately {fraction (1/10)} the present cost of a stand alone system. These upgrade features include but are not limited to vehicle preemption, electronically steerable beam, predictive failure analysis, various power supplies, LED arrays in various colors, optical alignment tools used for installation, video camera, in car Telematics, video loop detection, red light running, various communications links, infrared sensors to sense people and vehicles under fog, rain smoke, and other adverse visual conditions, chemical ‘sniffers’, automobile emission monitoring, and adaptive control. The modular traffic functions are adapted to be selectively added and upgraded over the life of the signal, and permitting easy service thereof.

Claims

1. A modular traffic control light, comprising:

a main housing having a cavity therein;

a modular solid state light source coupled to said housing and generating light, said light source being selectively connectable within and selectively removable from within said main housing, said modular solid state light source adapted to control automobile traffic, and

a modular device operating in conjunction with said solid state light source also being selectively connectable within and selectively removable from within said housing without necessitating the removal of hardware, wherein both said solid state light source and said modular device are adapted to be selectively interchanged from said main housing to facilitate repair and upgrades of said modular traffic control light.

2. The modular traffic control light as specified in claim 1, wherein said modular device comprises a modem adapted to facilitate communications of data between said traffic control light and a remote communication device.

3. The modular traffic control light as specified in claim 1, wherein said modular device comprises a power supply adapted to power said modular solid state light source.

4. The modular traffic control light as specified in claim 1, wherein said solid state light source comprises an array of LEDs each adapted to generate an individual light output.

5. The modular traffic control light as specified in claim 4, wherein said light source generates light selected from the colors of:

green, yellow, red, white and orange.

6. The modular traffic control light as specified in claim 5, wherein said modular device comprises control electronics functionally coupled to said solid state light source and adapted to selectively and individually control the intensity of each said LEDs.

7. The modular traffic control light as specified in claim 6, wherein said modular solid state LED light source collectively produces said light at an intensity meeting Depart of Transportation (DOT) intensity requirements.

8. The modular traffic control light as specified in claim 1, wherein said modular solid state light source is coupled to a new surface of said housing.

9. The modular traffic control light as specified in claim 1, wherein said modular device comprises an optical assembly.

10. The modular traffic control light as specified in claim 1, wherein said optical assembly comprises a fresnel lens.

11. The modular traffic control light as specified in claim 1 wherein said modular solid state light source includes a heat sink.

12. The modular traffic control light as specified in claim 1, wherein said LED array is coupled to said heat sink.

13. The modular traffic control light as specified in claim 1, wherein said modular device comprises a light diffuser.

14. The modular traffic control light as specified in claim 1, wherein said modular device is selected from the group of devices comprising:

a pre-emption device, a chemical sniffer, a video loop detector, an adaptive control device, a red light running (RLR) device, a in-car telematic, an IR sensor, and a video camera.

15. A modular traffic control light, comprising:

a main housing having a cavity therein;

a modular solid state light source coupled to said housing and generating light, said light source being selectively connectable within and selectively removable from within said main housing, said modular solid state light source adapted to control automobile traffic; and

a modular device operating in conjunction with said solid state light source also being selectively connectable within and selectively removable from within said housing without necessitating the removal of other devices of the traffic control light.

16. The modular traffic control light as specified in claim 15, wherein the modular device can be selectively connectable within and selectively removable from within said main housing without necessitating the removal of the solid state light source.