Method and system for improved traffic signage

• US 8,350,723 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2010
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guesswhat LLC
• Original Assignee: Guesswhat LLC
• Inventors: Serex, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US12/696,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20110187558A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 340/905, 3405721-5728
• US Class Current: 340/905
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 31/001 Electric control of rotation speed
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09623 Systems involving the acquisition of information from passive traffic signs by means mounted on the vehicle G08G1/0967 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096758 where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element

Abstract

An improved traffic sign is discussed. The traffic sign includes an RFID tag configured to transmit a traffic information to a vehicle-mounted receiver. The traffic information can be associated with a priority. The receiver can be in communication with a vehicle-mounted display, wherein the display displays information selected from received traffic information based on priority, time of receipt, and relevance.

Claims

1. A traffic sign, comprising:

a polarized road reflector configured to reflect non-visible light to a vehicle-mounted sensor module, wherein

the polarization of the road reflector conveys traffic information, and

the sensor module is in communication with a vehicle-mounted display, wherein the display displays information selected from received traffic information based on time of receipt, and relevance.

2. The traffic sign of claim 1, wherein the polarization of the road reflector conveys a binary word.

3. The traffic sign of claim 2, wherein the binary word is converted to the traffic information by the sensor module via a look-up table accessible to the vehicle-mounted display.

4. The traffic sign of claim 1, wherein the road reflector reflects non-visible light projected by a vehicle-mounted light source.

5. The traffic sign of claim 1, wherein the traffic information is associated with a priority, and the display further selects information for display based on priority.

6. The traffic sign of claim 1, wherein the traffic information is a speed limit associated with a portion of road.

7. The traffic sign of claim 6, wherein the traffic information is removed from the display after at least one of:

passage of a specified period of time, passage of a specified distance by the sensor, and receipt of a higher priority traffic information.

8. The traffic sign of claim 1, wherein the traffic sign is portable and the traffic information is associated with a high priority overriding previously received traffic information displayed by the vehicle-mounted display.

9. The traffic sign of claim 1, further comprising:

a visible portion conveying the traffic information visible to a driver of a vehicle.

10. A method, comprising:

sensing a polarized reflection from a proximate polarized road reflector, wherein the polarization of the reflector conveys traffic information;

parsing the polarized reflection into a traffic information;

displaying the traffic information based on, in part, a time of receipt and relevance.

11. The method of 10, further comprising:

transmitting a non-visible light.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

a sensor module for detecting non-visible light reflected from a polarized road reflector, wherein the polarization of the road reflector conveys traffic information;

a display is communication with the sensor module, wherein the display displays information selected from received traffic information based on time of receipt, and relevance.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the polarization of the road reflector conveys a binary word.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the binary word is converted to the traffic information by the sensor module via a look-up table accessible to the display.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the traffic information is associated with a priority, and the display further selects information for display based on priority.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the traffic information is a speed limit associated with a portion of road.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the traffic information is removed from the display after at least one of:

passage of a specified period of time, passage of a specified distance by the sensor, and receipt of a higher priority traffic information.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the sensor module is mounted to a vehicle chassis and the display is integrated into a vehicle dashboard.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

a non-visible light source for projecting the non-visible light;

a battery for powering the non-visible light source, the sensor module and the display, wherein the non-visible light source, the sensor module, the display, and the battery are contained in a portable package.

20. A method, comprising:

receiving a traffic information transmitted from an RFID tag;

verifying an integrity of the traffic information by executing a validation routine on the traffic information;

parsing the traffic information, wherein the traffic information includes an applicable speed limit;

displaying the traffic information to a driver of a vehicle.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the traffic information is received responsive to transmitting a receiver request.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the validation routine is a cyclic redundancy check.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

transmitting an authentication code and a request for traffic management information;

receiving a traffic management information transmitted from the RFID tag.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the traffic information includes a look up table entry identifier and parsing the traffic information further includes, reading the applicable speed limit from the look up table entry associated with the identifier.