Warning light system for alerting pedestrians and passenger vehicle operators of an approaching emergency vehicle

• US 6,980,125 B1
• Filed: 04/09/2004
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John Barber
• Original Assignee: John Barber
• Inventors: Barber, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C
• Application Number:
  US10/822,011
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 340/917, 340/906, 340/907, 340/331, 340/332, 340/902, 340/905, 116/63.R
• US Class Current: 340/917
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/07 Controlling traffic signals
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle

Abstract

A warning light system for a traffic intersection for alerting pedestrians and operators of passenger vehicles to the approach of an emergency vehicle. The warning light system is activated only by sounds in the range of frequencies which are emitted by the siren of an emergency vehicle. The warning light system has a warning light assembly having a control unit, and also has an audio sensor unit. The warning light assembly has a blue light and a white light, which flash alternately and repeatedly, after receipt of an audio signal by the audio sensor unit from the siren of an emergency vehicle, and processing of that signal by the control unit. The lights of the warning light assembly continuously flash until the sound emitted from the siren is no longer detectable by the audio sensor.

Claims

1. A warning light for alerting pedestrians and passenger vehicle operators of an approaching emergency vehicle, for mounting on a traffic light pole, comprising:

a warning light housing having a front surface and two substantially rectangular openings which extend fully through the front surface of the warning light housing, a white light and blue light within the housing, the white light visible through one of the rectangular openings and the blue light visible through the other of the rectangular openings;

an audio sensor unit, for detecting ambient sound at the warning light housing;

a frequency discriminator, for analyzing the ambient sound detected by the audio sensor unit, and providing an isolated signal of frequencies associated with emergency vehicle sirens; and

a control unit for alternatively flashing the white and blue lights when the isolated signal indicates the significant presence of frequencies associated with emergency vehicle sirens, for warning pedestrians and passenger vehicle operators of the approach of emergency vehicles.

2. The warning light as recited in claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the warning light housing has an anchor extending therefrom for attachment to the traffic light pole.

3. The warning light as recited in claim 2, further comprising a comparator and a reference supply, the compoarator comparing the isolated signal to the reference supply for producing an output used by the control unit to initiate the flashing of the white and blue lights when the isolated signal exceeds a threshold value set by the reference supply.

4. The warning light as recited in claim 3, further comprising an audio sensor housing having a front surface aligned with the front surface of the warning light housing, and an upper surface that is attached to the lower surface of the warning light housing, wherein the front surface of the audio sensor housing has an aperture, and wherein ambient sounds enter the sound sensor through said aperture.