Public transportation signaling device

• US 6,621,177 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2001
• Issued: 09/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Carmanah Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stellar Technologies, LLC (DBSI Investments LP)
• Inventors: Westcott, Sean G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US10/033,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20020145540A1
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 307/12.1, 307/9.1, 307/101, 340/992, 340/993, 340/994, 323/318, 323/349, 362/464, 362/145, 362/147, 362/152, 362/431
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/123 indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, tramstransmission of navigation instructions to vehicles G08G1/0968

Abstract

A bus driver signaling device wherein a user is able to push a button to activate a light source signal at a bus stop. Pushing the button creates a light signal able to be viewed by the bus driver, thereby signaling the bus driver that a passenger is awaiting the bus driver at the bus stop.

Claims

1. A signaling device for signaling a public transportation driver for installation in a transit site, comprising:

an activation unit, containing a switch, timing circuit for energizing a light emitting diode via an intermittent pulsing lighting circuit, said intermittent pulsing lighting circuit for alternately activating and deactivating said light emitting diode for a selected period of time, and electronics for controlling electricity to a light emitting diode;

a replaceable power unit which includes one or more batteries, for supplying power to said activation unit and a signal unit and said light emitting diode; and

said signal unit including said light emitting diode positioned to point at an approaching transit driver to signal the presence of a passenger, which is powered by said replaceable power unit, and controlled by said activation unit;

wherein

said signaling device is configured for installation in a tubular post member, and when said switch in said control unit is activated by a passenger, said light emitting diode in said signal unit blinks at a rate determined by said intermittent pulsing lighting, for a period of time determined by said timing circuit.

2. The signaling device of claim 1 in which said signaling device is configured to be retrofitted in a preexisting tubular support member.

3. The signaling device of claim 1 in which said replaceable power unit is a battery pack.

4. The signaling device of claim 1 in which said activation unit, said replaceable power unit and said signal unit are in modular form and are configured for replacement of each module separately.

5. The signaling device of claim 1, wherein said power source is a battery pack located within said tubular post member.

6. The signaling device of claim 1, in which said power unit includes a solar energy collector.

7. The signaling device of claim 1 which further includes a time period selector, by which a user may determine said selected period of time for which said signal light is alternately activated and deactivated.

8. The signaling device of claim 1 which includes a sleep mode, which causes said signal light to draw power only when emitting light, and to not draw power when not emitting light.

14. The signaling device of claim 1, which further includes a Braille plate adjacent said activation unit for use by Braille readers.

9. A signaling device for signaling the presence of a passenger at a pickup location to a public transportation driver, said signaling device comprising:

a housing for housing said device, said housing mounted at said location;

a signal unit attached to said housing, said signal unit for displaying a signal to said driver when said device is activated;

a self-contained power source attached to said housing, said power source supplying power to said device; and

an activation unit for allowing a user to activate said signaling device thereby causing the display of said signal by said signal unit for a predetermined period of time.

10. The signaling device of claim 9, wherein said signal unit is a light-emitting diode.

11. The signaling device of claim 10, wherein said light-emitting diode is configured to flash on and off when activated.

12. The signaling device of claim 9, wherein said self-contained power source is a battery pack.

13. The signaling device of claim 9, wherein said activation unit is an activation button.

15. The signaling device for signaling the presence of a passenger at a pickup location to a public transportation driver, said signaling device comprising:

a housing for containing said signaling device, said housing able to be attached to said location;

a battery pack for powering said signaling device, said battery pack located within said housing;

an activation unit for allowing a passenger to activate said signaling device, said activation unit attached to said housing;

a signal unit for displaying a signal light to said driver, indicating the presence of a passenger at said pickup location to said driver, said signal unit configured to display said signal light upon activation of said activation unit by said passenger, said signal unit attaching to said housing; and

a control unit for controlling the operation of said signaling device, said control unit located within said housing, said control unit containing a timer;

wherein said control unit deactivates said signal unit after a selected interval of time, said control unit causing said signal light to flash on and off for said selected interval of time after said signal unit is actuated and in which said signal light is directed towards said driver and sized to signal said driver and not to light said pickup location.

16. The signaling device of claim 15, wherein said housing is a tubular signpost attached to a ground surface at said location.

17. The signaling device of claim 16, which further includes a tubular sign post cap in which said signal light is mounted for displaying said signal which is visible to said driver.