Emergency flashing light mechanism

• US 6,556,148 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2002
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Christ G. Ellis
• Original Assignee: Christ G. Ellis
• Inventors: Ellis, Christ G.
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US10/038,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20020126022A1
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 340/990, 340/901, 340/906, 340/907, 340/917, 342/24, 180/167
• US Class Current: 340/990
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/061 with electronic detecting or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/068 Sticks for blind persons
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/865 Combination of radar systems with lidar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 Combination of radar systems with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/88 Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9316 combined with communication equipment with other vehicles or with base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9318 Controlling the steering
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93185 Controlling the brakes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9319 Controlling the accelerator
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9322 using additional data, e.g. driver condition, road state or weather data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93272 in the back of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93274 on the side of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9329 cooperating with reflectors or transponders
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 to a central station ; Indicators in a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/006 using audible presentation of the information

Abstract

An emergency flashing light mechanism includes one or more emergency flashing lights, a processor, a transmitter, and a receiver. The emergency light flashing mechanisms can exchange information with the vehicles, pedestrians and other components of a traffic complex via their respective transmitters and receivers. The emergency flashing light mechanisms can process such information and override control lights having red, yellow and green lights. The emergency flashing lights can selectively respond to emergency vehicles.

Claims

1. A traffic light mechanism for a traffic complex, wherein the traffic complex includes components, wherein the components include vehicles, pedestrians and control light mechanisms, wherein said control light mechanism comprises red, yellow, and green lights, wherein the traffic light mechanism comprises:

a) an emergency flashing light processor;

b) an emergency flashing light transmitter in communication with at least one component of the traffic complex;

c) an emergency flashing light receiver in communication with at least one component of the traffic complex;

d) an emergency flashing light operating in response to information received from at least one component of the traffic complex and wherein the emergency flashing light mechanism can override an operation of at least one component of the traffic complex; and

e) a video surveillance mechanism, wherein the emergency flashing light mechanism is in communication with the video surveillance mechanism, and wherein said video surveillance mechanism may zoom in on a particular location based on information received from said components of the traffic complex.

2. The traffic light mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the emergency flashing light mechanism is in communication with a vehicle.

3. The traffic light mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the emergency flashing light mechanism is in communication with a pedestrian.

4. The traffic light mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the emergency flashing light mechanism is in communication with a control light mechanism.

6. The traffic light mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the emergency flashing light mechanism is in communication with a visual text indicator.

7. The traffic light mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the emergency flashing light mechanism is in communication with a public address speaker.

8. The traffic light mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the emergency flashing light mechanism is in communication with at least one component of the traffic complex via radar.

9. The traffic light mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the emergency flashing light mechanism is in communication with at least one component of the traffic complex via a global positioning system.

10. The traffic light mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the vehicles include emergency vehicles, and wherein the emergency flashing light mechanism selectively responds to said emergency vehicles.

11. The traffic light mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the vehicles have priorities assigned thereto, wherein the emergency flashing light mechanism includes a predetermined protocol for said vehicles having said priorities.

12. The traffic light mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the vehicles have identification numbers, and wherein the emergency flashing light mechanism receives and processes said identification numbers.

13. The traffic light mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the emergency flashing light mechanism is in communication with a vehicle of the traffic complex via radar.

14. The traffic light mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the emergency flashing light mechanism is in communication with a vehicle of the traffic complex via a global positioning system.

15. The traffic light mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the emergency flashing light mechanism is in communication with a pedestrian of the traffic complex via radar.

16. The traffic light mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the emergency flashing light mechanism is in communication with a pedestrian of the traffic complex via a global positioning system.

20. The traffic light mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the emergency flashing light mechanism is in communication with the control light mechanism and with a vehicle, and wherein the emergency light mechanism controls the red light of the control light mechanism in response to a communication from said vehicle.

5. A traffic light mechanism for a traffic complex, wherein the traffic complex includes components, wherein the components include vehicles, pedestrians and control light mechanisms, wherein said control light mechanism comprises red, yellow, and green lights, wherein the traffic light mechanism comprises:

a) an emergency flashing light processor;

b) an emergency flashing light transmitter in communication with at least one component of the traffic complex;

c) an emergency flashing light receiver in communication with at least one component of the traffic complex;

d) an emergency flashing light operating in response to information received from at least one component of the traffic complex and wherein the emergency flashing light mechanism can override an operation of at least one component of the traffic complex; and

e) an emission sensor mechanism, wherein the emergency flashing light mechanism is in communication with the emission sensor mechanism.

17. A traffic light mechanism for a traffic complex, wherein the traffic complex includes components, wherein the components include vehicles, pedestrians and control light mechanisms, wherein said control light mechanism comprises red, yellow, and green lights, wherein the traffic light mechanism comprises:

a) an emergency flashing light processor;

b) an emergency flashing light transmitter in communication with at least one component of the traffic complex;

c) an emergency flashing light receiver in communication with at least one component of the traffic complex;

d) an emergency flashing light operating in response to information received from at least one component of the traffic complex and wherein the emergency flashing light mechanism can override an operation of at least one component of the traffic complex; and

e) wherein the emergency flashing light mechanism is in communication with a vehicle of the traffic complex, and wherein the emergency flashing light mechanism controls the vehicle.

18. A traffic light mechanism for a traffic complex, wherein the traffic complex includes components, wherein the components include vehicles, pedestrians and control light mechanisms, wherein said control light mechanism comprises red, yellow, and green lights, wherein the traffic light mechanism comprises:

a) an emergency flashing light processor;

b) an emergency flashing light transmitter in communication with at least one component of the traffic complex;

c) an emergency flashing light receiver in communication with at least one component of the traffic complex;

d) an emergency flashing light operating in response to information received from at least one component of the traffic complex and wherein the emergency flashing light mechanism can override an operation of at least one component of the traffic complex; and

e) wherein the emergency flashing light mechanism is in communication with a vehicle of the traffic complex, and wherein the emergency flashing light mechanism controls an anti-skid system of the vehicle.

19. A traffic light mechanism for a traffic complex, wherein the traffic complex includes components, wherein the components include vehicles, pedestrians and control light mechanisms, wherein said control light mechanism comprises red, yellow, and green lights, wherein the traffic light mechanism comprises:

a) an emergency flashing light processor;

b) an emergency flashing light transmitter in communication with at least one component of the traffic complex;

c) an emergency flashing light receiver in communication with at least one component of the traffic complex;

d) an emergency flashing light operating in response to information received from at least one component of the traffic complex and wherein the emergency flashing light mechanism can override an operation of at least one component of the traffic complex; and

e) wherein the emergency flashing light mechanism is in communication with a vehicle of the traffic complex, and wherein the emergency flashing light mechanism controls pre-collision safety restraints of a vehicle.

21. A traffic light mechanism for a traffic complex, wherein the traffic complex includes components, wherein the components include vehicles, pedestrians and control light mechanisms, wherein said control light mechanism comprises red, yellow, and green lights, wherein the traffic light mechanism comprises:

a) an emergency flashing light processor, wherein the emergency flashing light processor receives and processes information on the location, speed and direction of vehicles;

b) an emergency flashing light transmitter in communication with at least one component of the traffic complex;

c) an emergency flashing light receiver in communication with at least one component of the traffic complex;

d) an emergency flashing light operating in response to information received from at least one component of the traffic complex and wherein the emergency flashing light mechanism can override an operation of at least one component of the traffic complex; and

e) a global positioning satellite mechanism for receiving information on surroundings of the emergency flashing light mechanism including said information on the location, speed and direction of vehicles whereby information can be sent to said vehicles; and

further comprising at least one of the vehicles, wherein said vehicle includes a mechanism permitting the emergency flashing light mechanism to take control of the vehicle whereby the vehicle may be remotely driven to a position where harm is less likely to occur to occupants of the vehicle.

22. A traffic light mechanism for a traffic complex, wherein the traffic complex includes components, wherein the components include vehicles, pedestrians and control light mechanisms, wherein said control light mechanism comprises red, yellow, and green lights, wherein the traffic light mechanism comprises:

a) a processor, wherein the processor receives and processes information on the number of vehicles;

b) a transmitter in communication with at least one component of the traffic complex;

c) a receiver in communication with at least one component of the traffic complex;

d) a light operating in response to information received from at least one component of the traffic complex and wherein the traffic light mechanism can override an operation of at least one component of the traffic complex; and

e) an emissions sensor in communication with the processor, wherein the traffic light mechanism processes information on relationships between the number of vehicles and levels of emissions for a given time period.

23. A traffic light mechanism for a traffic complex according to claim 22, wherein, in response to processing information on relationships between the number of vehicles and the levels of emissions for a given time period, said traffic light mechanism preempts said control light mechanism to regulate a flow of vehicles.