Traffic light violation indicator

• US 7,274,307 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2005
• Issued: 09/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PDK Technologies
• Original Assignee: PDK Technologies
• Inventors: Jenner, Denny, Karamanos, Kevin, Povey, Philip F.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US11/183,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20070013552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 340/907, 340/929, 340/930, 340/931, 340/932.1, 340/927, 340/815.4, 340/815.45, 340/815.66, 340/815.78, 362/269, 362/555, 362/84, 362/371, 362/800, 362/802
• US Class Current: 340/907
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0175 by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights

Abstract

Provided is a signal violation indicator for signaling the phasing of a vehicular control signal. The vehicular control signal may have a control circuit including at least a first traffic lamp and a second traffic lamp. The signal violation indicator comprises a light assembly and a base assembly. The light assembly included a first light source in data communication with the control circuit and a second light source concentrically mounted about the first light source and in data communication with the control circuit. The base assembly is connected to the light assembly and may be mounted adjacent to the vehicular control signal. The base assembly is configured to allow for selective directional control or aiming of the light assembly. The signal violation indicator is configured such that the first and second light sources are alternately activated in coordination with phasing of respective ones of the first and second traffic lamps.

Claims

1. A signal violation indicator for signaling the phasing of a vehicular control signal having a control circuit including at least a first traffic lamp and a second traffic lamp, the signal violation indicator comprising:

a light assembly, including;

a first light source in data communication with the control circuit; and

a second light source concentrically mounted about the first light source and being in data communication with the control circuit; and

a base assembly connected to the light assembly and being mounted adjacent to the vehicular control signal, the base assembly being configured to allow for selective directional control of the light assembly;

wherein the signal violation indicator is configured such that the first and second light sources are alternately activated in coordination with phasing of respective ones of the first and second traffic lamps.

2. The signal violation indicator of claim 1 wherein the first light source has a circular shaped lens and the second light source has an annular shaped lens circumscribing the first light source.

3. The signal violation indicator of claim 1 wherein the light assembly includes a tubular light housing with the first and second light sources being mounted therewithin.

4. The signal violation indicator of claim 1 wherein the vehicular control signal includes a control cabinet, the base assembly further comprising:

an electronic module configured to be mounted adjacent to the control cabinet and conductively connecting the first and second light sources to the control circuit.

5. The signal violation indicator of claim 4 wherein the electronic module comprises:

a pod member mounted within the light assembly; and

a circuit board affixed to the pod member and having light-emitting-diodes mounted thereon for illuminating the first and second light sources.

6. The signal violation indicator of claim 4 wherein the electronic module is pre-wired to be connectable to the control circuit.

7. The signal violation indicator of claim 1 wherein the base assembly is configured as a ball joint for directional aiming of the light assembly over a field of view.

8. The signal violation indicator of claim 7 wherein the ball joint comprises:

an inner socket portion affixed to the base housing;

an outer socket portion mateable to the inner socket portion such that the inner and outer socket portions collectively form a socket; and

a ball portion configured to be complementary to the socket and slidably contained therewithin the socket, the ball portion being rigidly affixed to the light housing.

9. The signal violation indicator of claim 1 wherein the base assembly is configured as an articulated swivel for directional aiming of the light assembly over a field of view.

10. The signal violation indicator of claim 9 wherein the articulated swivel comprises:

a base housing;

a base swivel arm extending from the base housing and defining a base axis about which the base swivel arm is selectively rotatable;

a housing swivel arm extending from the light housing and connected to the base swivel arm and being selectively rotatable about a housing axis;

wherein the housing axis is oriented orthogonally relative to the base axis.

11. The signal violation indicator of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second light sources is illuminated with light-emitting-diodes.

12. The signal violation indicator of claim 1 wherein the first and second traffic lamps have red and yellow lenses, respectively.

13. The signal violation indicator of claim 1 wherein the light housing is cylindrically shaped.

14. The signal violation indicator of claim 1 wherein the light housing is conically shaped.

15. A signal violation indicator for signaling the phasing of a vehicular control signal having a control circuit including at least a first and a second traffic lamp and a control cabinet, the signal violation indicator comprising:

a light assembly, including;

an elongate tubular light housing having a cylindrical shape;

a first light source in data communication with the control circuit, the first light source having a circular shaped lens; and

a second light source having an annular shaped lens circumscribing the first light source, the first and second light sources being coaxially mounted within the light housing and being configured to be alternately activated in coordination with phasing of respective ones of the first and second traffic lamps;

an electronic module conductively connecting the first and second light sources to the control circuit, the electronic module comprising;

a pod member mounted within the light assembly; and

a circuit board mounted within the pod member and having light-emitting-diodes mounted thereon for illuminating the first and second light sources; and

a base assembly connected to the light assembly and being mounted adjacent to the vehicular control signal, the base assembly including;

a base housing configured to be mounted on the control cabinet; and

a ball joint configured to allow for directional aiming of the light assembly, the ball joint comprising;

an inner socket portion affixed to the base housing;

an outer socket portion mateable to the inner socket portion such that the inner and outer socket portions collectively form a socket;

a ball portion slidably captured within the socket and being rigidly affixed to the light housing; and

a pair of ball joint tensioners extending through the inner and outer socket portions and being configured to clamp the ball portion within the socket.

16. The signal violation indicator of claim 15 wherein:

the light housing is comprised of inner and outer housing portions;

the inner housing portion being mounted to the ball portion and having the electronic module mounted therewithin;

the outer housing portion being disposed in abutting contact with the inner housing portion and having the lenses of the first and second light sources disposed at a free end of the outer housing portion.

17. The signal violation indicator of claim 15 further including a secondary mounting member affixed to the base assembly and having a curved mounted surface.

18. The signal violation indicator of claim 15 wherein the electronic module is pre-wired to be connectable to the control circuit.

19. The signal violation indicator of claim 15 wherein the first and second traffic lamps have red and yellow lenses, respectively.

20. The signal violation indicator of claim 15 wherein the pod member is formed of plastic.