Solar-powered wireless crosswalk warning system

• US 7,317,405 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2004
• Issued: 01/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carmanah Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Carmanah Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Ward, Jim, Green, David Robin, Wyper, Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US10/995,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20050128105A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: 340/907, 340/908, 340/909, 340/917, 340/918, 340/925, 340/945, 340/944, 116/63.R, 362/183
• US Class Current: 340/907
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 39/10 incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. casting around inserts or for coating articles coating a surface by casting in general B05D1/30, B29C39/126 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/608 for guiding, warning or controlling traffic, e.g. delineator posts or milestones
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/617 Illuminated or wired-up posts, bollards, pillars or like upstanding bodies or structures for traffic guidance, warning or control E01F9/559 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/048 Encapsulation of modules
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0543 comprising light concentrating means of the refractive type, e.g. lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0547 comprising light concentrating means of the reflecting type, e.g. parabolic mirrors, concentrators using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/18 Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of these devices or of parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/20 Supporting structures directly fixed to an immovable object H02S20/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/38 Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1089 of discrete laminae to single face of additional lamina

Abstract

A solar-powered crosswalk warning system is disclosed. The crosswalk warning system comprises two or more crosswalk warning beacons, located on opposite sides of the road. Each beacon comprises a solar panel to recharge a battery, a battery back, a control unit to charge the battery pack during daylight hours, a communication unit to communicate to the second crosswalk beacon, a traffic signal lamp ton warn oncoming traffic, and a triggering means by which the pedestrian can activate the beacons.

Claims

1. A crosswalk warning assembly comprising:

a battery;

a solar panel to charge said battery;

a communication system adapted to transmit data to a similar companion crosswalk warning assembly and receive data from said similar companion crosswalk warning assembly;

a warning light to signal oncoming traffic; and

a manual triggering means for activating said communication system and said warning light.

2. The crosswalk assembly of claim 1 wherein said communication system and said warning light are powered by said battery.

3. The crosswalk assembly of claim 2 further comprising a control unit to manage the charging of said battery from the output of said solar panel.

4. The crosswalk assembly of claim 1 wherein said communication system is adapted to respond to activation of said manual triggering means by communicating with a similar companion crosswalk assembly.

5. The crosswalk assembly of claim 4 wherein said communication system is wireless and comprises radio receiver and transmitter means.

6. The crosswalk assembly of claim 5, further comprising a power management control unit to manage the charging of said battery from the output of said solar panel, wherein said power management control unit, said warning light and said communication system are powered by said battery.

7. The crosswalk assembly of claim 4 further comprising software for coordinating the operation of said warning light of said crosswalk assembly with the operation of a warning light of a similar companion crosswalk assembly.

8. The crosswalk assembly of claim 6 further comprising software for synchronizing the operation of said warning light of said crosswalk assembly with the operation of a warning light of a similar companion crosswalk assembly.

9. The crosswalk assembly of claim 8 wherein said software controls a feature of said operation from among the set of features comprising the timing of the flashing of the warning light, the duration of the operation of the warning light and delays between uses.

10. The crosswalk assembly of claim 2 further comprising a housing containing said communication system and said battery, said housing also supporting said solar panel.

11. The crosswalk assembly of claim 10 wherein said housing is pivotable about a horizontal axis.

12. The crosswalk assembly of claim 11 wherein said housing is pivotable about a vertical axis.

13. The crosswalk assembly of claim 10, 11 or 12 wherein said solar panel is protected from the elements by being encased in a layer of clear polymer.

14. The crosswalk assembly of claim 8 wherein activation of said triggering means causes said radio receiver and transmitter means to enter into transmit-only mode for a predetermined time.

15. The crosswalk assembly of claim 8 wherein receipt by said radio receiver and transmitter means of a master timing beacon causes said radio receiver and transmitter means to enter into receive-only mode for a predetermined time.

16. The crosswalk assembly of claim 15 wherein said control unit causes said warning light to illuminate each time a signal is received by said radio receiver and transmitter means indicating that a warning light on a similar companion crosswalk assembly has turned on or off.

17. A multiple crosswalk assembly system comprising three crosswalk assemblies as in claim 1, one of said crosswalk assemblies being located in the middle of a crosswalk and mounted on a post or suspended from overhead wires.

19. The crosswalk warning assembly of claim 8 wherein said control unit is adapted to monitor said communication system for receipt of a signal indicating that the crosswalk warning assembly is to be remotely programmed.

20. The crosswalk warning assembly of claim 9 wherein said software is programmed to cause said warning lights to flash at specified hours for a specified period of time.

18. A crosswalk assembly comprising:

a battery;

a solar panel to charge said battery;

a communication system adapted to transmit data to a similar companion crosswalk warning assembly and receive data from said similar companion crosswalk warning assembly;

a warning light to signal oncoming traffic; and

remote manual triggering and transmitting means for communicating to said communication system an activation of said manual triggering means.