Help and/or risk signaling means for the traffic of vehicles and pedestrians using a short range infrared or electromagnetic signaling system

• US 6,861,959 B1
• Filed: 10/27/1999
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Signaletics SL
• Original Assignee: Jose Maria Minguella Llobet, Ruben Horacio Gaggioli De Mauro
• Inventors: Argnieri, Miguel Angel, Gaggioli De Mauro, Ruben Horacio, Torres Sabate, Armengol, Minguella Llobet, Jose Maria
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US10/129,027
• Time in Patent Office: 1,952 Days
• Field of Search: 340/944, 340/901, 340/905, 340/988, 340/989, 340/991, 701/209, 701/213
• US Class Current: 340/944
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09675 where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/163 involving continuous checking
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

The present invention incorporates fixed radio beacons (TX-F), mobile and portable radio beacons (TX-M), together with vehicle receiver units (RX-M) and/or receiver units (RX-P) carried by pedestrians for all types of warning and assistance messages, or both or either with mobile transceivers (TX/RX-M) for motor cars and other transceivers (TX/RX-P) for pedestrians, the latter for transmitting and receiving similar warning and assistance messages, all being controlled by an operations center (CO) and which has a services network, with elements which are fixed, mobile or portable (SM).

Claims

1. A signaling system for communicating traffic information comprising:

(a) a plurality of radio beacons selected from a group consisting of fixed (TX-F) and portable (TX-M) radio beacons;

(b) a plurality of vehicle-installed mobile transceiver (TX/RX-M) for receipt of traffic information concerning hazardous areas or conditions;

(c) a plurality of user-carried transceiver (TX/RX-P) for receipt of traffic information concerning hazardous areas or conditions;

(d) an operations center for control of said vehicle-installed mobile transceivers and said user-carried transceivers comprising a services network comprising fixed and portable elements;

wherein said signaling system comprises AVI (automatic vehicle identification) technology for identifying and recording time of data received or transmitted by the transceivers;

wherein said AVI technology comprises transmitter elements having

(a) operating frequencies authorized for AVI applications selected from a group consisting of 900-928 MHz;

2.45 GHz and 5.8 GHz;

(b) a voltage supply selected from a group consisting of batteries having a life of 10 years and solar cells;

(c) a range selected from a group consisting of up to 10 meters for installation at fixed locations and up to 100 meters for portable installation;

(d) electronic features selected from a group consisting of adapted AVI technology, surface technology (SAW), EPROM, EEPROM, ROM, and RAM memories having a storage capacity of at least 1024 bits;

(e) a permissible temperature range comprising a standard operating temperature of from −

40 degree C. to 85 degree C. and storage temperature from −

55 degree C. to −

125 degree C.; and

(f) a resistance to weather conditions.

2. The signalling system according to claim 1 wherein said AVI technology comprises RFID (radio frequency identification) technology using radio frequency transponders and tags.

3. The signalling system according to claim 2 wherein said tags comprise Type I read-only passive tags.

4. The signalling system according to claim 2 wherein said tags comprise Type II active smart tags containing partially-fixed information and partially-recordable information communicated by an external control element.

5. The signalling system according to claim 2 wherein said tags comprise Type III active smart cards with RF transponder tags having more advanced functions and greater storage capacity than Type II smart tags.

6. The signalling system according to claim 1 wherein said AVI technology is installed on vehicles using the system.

7. The signalling system according to claim 1 further comprising tags installed at fixed locations alongside or underneath a road using the system.

8. The signalling system according to claim 1 wherein said AVI technology comprises receiver elements having

(a) operating frequencies authorized for AVI applications selected from a group consisting of 900-928 MHz;

2.45 GHz and 5.8 GHz;

(b) a voltage supply of 10-16 VDC supplied by a vehicle battery or portable batteries;

(c) a reception rate for scanning up to 50 tags per second;

(d) adapted AVI technology;

(e) a permissible temperature range comprising an operating temperature from 0°

C. to 50°

C. and a storage temperature from −

20°

C. to 70°

C.; and

(f) a resistance to weather conditions encountered on board a vehicle or when held by a pedestrian.

9. The signalling system according to claim 1 wherein each radio beacon comprises a fixed transmitter having a transmission terminal in a fixed element on a roadside post or a wall or embedded in a road for transmitting continuous short-range radio beaconing signals for pickup by radio beacon receivers and by said transceivers, said transmitter comprising a transmitter unit, an antenna, a self-contained power supply, and a weather condition sensor, said transmitter transmitting alert or assistance messages according to weather conditions to permit modifying speed warnings in accordance with the weather conditions.

10. The signalling system according to claim 1 further comprising a portable transmitter installed on a non-permanent stand for temporary signalling warning and help messages in an occasional or pre-programmed fashion at locations where hazard or assistance exists, said transmitter comprising a transmitter unit, an antenna, a self-contained battery power pack, a fastener, and a support.

11. The signalling system according to claim 1 wherein each vehicle-installed mobile transceiver comprises a reception terminal installed in a motor vehicle for receipt of signals broadcast by the radio beacons and communication of said signals to a vehicle driver by means of audible or visible warnings, said reception terminal comprising a loudspeaker, a repeat-last-message button, warning message filtering buttons, an alphanumeric display, assistance message filtering buttons, programmable function buttons, an antenna connection, a power supply connection, said reception terminal being capable of receiving various alert and assistance messages, filtering different categories of messages, repeating a message last received, storing current data, and being programmable for user and special functions by authorized personnel.

12. The signalling system according to claim 1 wherein each user-carried transceiver comprises a reception terminal carried by a user for receipt of signals broadcast by the radio beacons and communication of said signals to the user by means of audible or visual warnings, said reception terminal comprising a loudspeaker, an antenna, programmable function buttons, an alphanumeric display, warning message filtering buttons, assistance message filtering buttons, and a last-message-repeat button, said reception terminal being capable of receiving various alert and assistance messages, filtering different categories of messages, repeating a message last received, storing current data, and being programmable for user and special functions by authorized personnel.

13. The signalling system according to claim 1 wherein each vehicle-installed mobile transceiver comprises a receiver and a transmitter for receiving signals broadcast by the radio beacons, communication of said signals to a vehicle driver by means of audible or visual warnings, and communication of said signals to third parties, said transceiver comprising a loudspeaker, a repeat-last-message button, warning message filtering buttons, an alphanumeric display, assistance message filtering buttons, programmable function buttons, an S.O.S. button, an antenna connection, a power supply connection, an airbag device connection, and specific warning transmission buttons, said transceiver being capable of receiving various alert and assistance messages, filtering different categories of messages, repeating a message last received, transmitting an S.O.S. signal and specific alert messages, storing current data, and being programmable for user and special functions by authorized personnel.

14. The signalling system according to claim 1 wherein each user-carried transceiver comprises a receiver and a transmitter for receiving signals broadcast by the radio beacons, communication of said signals to the user by means of audible or visual warnings, and communication of said signals to nearby users, said transceiver comprising a loudspeaker, an antenna, programmable function buttons, an alphanumeric display, warning message filtering buttons, assistance message filtering buttons, a repeat-last-message button, and an S.O.S. button, said transceiver being capable of receiving various alert and assistance messages, filtering different categories of messages, repeating a message last received, transmitting an S.O.S. signal and an AEP message, storing current data, and being programmable for user and special functions by authorized personnel.

15. The signalling system according to claim 1 wherein said operation center comprises an operations base for maintenance and control of components of a radio beacon services network, reprogramming, specific signal transmission to selected remote beacon services networks, said operations base comprising antennas for transmission and reception of various warning and assistance messages, remote and local programming of radio beacons, programming of user functions and special functions by authorized personnel, the radio beacon services network comprising fixed elements installed along a road and associated mobile elements, transmitters, maintenance and control components based on fixed or portable devices for use from a mobile unit or maintenance helicopter, the operations base comprising an antenna, an alphanumeric display, function programming buttons and function supervision functions for local and remote programming of radio beacons, user functions and special functions by authorized personnel, supervision of radio beacon status, and transmission and reception of various warning and assistance messages.