Sequenced vehicular traffic guiding system

• US 8,564,456 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2012
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James R. Selevan
• Original Assignee: James R. Selevan
• Inventors: Selevan, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T
• Assistant Examiner(s): NWUGO, OJIAKO K
• Application Number:
  US13/440,930
• Publication Number:
  US 20120256765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 340984-985
• US Class Current: 340/907
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/07 Controlling traffic signals
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights

Abstract

A system for marking a route, path or boundary. The system may comprise a plurality of modules, each of which comprises a signaling device, a radiofrequency apparatus and control circuitry. Such modules are positionable in an array which marks the route, path or boundary. When positioned in the array, the modules undergo radiofrequency communication with one another and the control circuitry causes the signaling devices of the modules to emit warning signals in sequence from a first-positioned module of the array to a last-positioned module of the array.

Claims

1. A system for marking a route, path or boundary, said system comprising:

a plurality of modules, each module comprising a signaling device, a radiofrequency apparatus and a control circuitry;

the modules being positionable in an array which marks a route, path or boundary;

whereby the modules positioned in the array will undergo radiofrequency communication with one another and the control circuitry will cause the signaling devices of the modules to emit warning signals in sequence from a first-positioned module of the array to a last-positioned module of the array;

wherein the control circuits are operative to automatically transmit radiofrequency signals from one module to the next, without required reference to a common reference signal, such that the modules determine their sequential order in the array and emit signals in that self-determined sequential order.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the radiofrequency communication between the modules is wireless.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the signaling devices emit visible warning signals.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein the signaling devices emit warning signals which are not visible but which may be received and sensed by apparatus operative to receive and sense said warning signals.

5. A system according to claim 4 further comprising apparatus operative to receive and sense said warning signals.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein the signaling devices comprise light emitters which emit flashes or periods of light.

7. A system according to claim 1 wherein the signaling devices comprise devices selected from the group of:

incandescent lamps;

light emitting diodes;

discharge tubes;

stroboscopic lights;

fluorescent lights;

light emitters that emit visible light;

light emitters that emit light which is not visible but which is detectable by a sensor, infrared lights, ultraviolet lights;

microwave emitters and radio frequency emitters.

8. A system according to claim 1 wherein each module further comprises a power source.

9. A system according to claim 8 wherein each module comprises a power source selected from:

batteries;

photovoltaic cells;

wind energy; and

thermal energy.

10. A system according to claim 1 wherein the control circuits comprise a mesh network.

11. A system according to claim 1 wherein the control circuits comprise position-determining apparatus selected from:

proximity sensors;

global positioning receivers and RFID devices to facilitate determination of the respective positions of modules in the array.

12. A system according to claim 1 wherein the control circuits are operative to determine when a module of the array becomes missing or non-functional and to allow a replacement module to assume that identified module'"'"'s position in the array.

13. A system according to claim 1 wherein the control circuits are adapted to allow some of the modules within the array to be grouped in one or more subsets and to thereafter cause the signaling devices on the modules within each subset to emit warning signals that are simultaneous or otherwise different from warning signals emitted by other modules that are not within that subset.

14. A system according to claim 1 wherein the modules are adapted to emit warning signals which can be viewed or received and sensed from one vantage point but not from another vantage point.

15. A system according to claim 14 wherein the warning signals can be viewed or received and sensed by traffic traveling in a first direction but not by traffic traveling in a second direction that is substantially opposite the first direction.

16. A system according to claim 14 wherein the signal emitters emit flashes or periods of light and wherein the modules comprise baffles which cause the emitted flashes or periods of light to be viewed or received and sensed from one vantage point but not from another vantage point.

17. A method for marking a route, path or boundary, said method comprising the steps of:

A) obtaining or providing a system which comprises a plurality of modules, each module comprising a signaling device, a radiofrequency apparatus and control circuitry, wherein the modules are positionable in an array which marks a route, path or boundary and wherein the control circuits of the modules are operative, when the modules are positioned in said array, to transmit radiofrequency signals from one module to the next, without required reference to a common reference signal, such that the modules emit warning signals in a sequence from a first module of the array to a last module of the array;

B) positioning modules of the system in an array which marks a route, path or boundary; and

,

C) actuating and causing the modules to communicate with one another via the radiofrequency apparatus and to emit said signals in sequence from a first module of the array to a last module of the array.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the route, path or boundary is selected from:

highways;

roads;

detours;

temporary airfields;

runways;

landing zones;

nautical channels;

aircraft routes;

traffic regions and vehicular traffic routes or patterns.

19. A method according to claim 17 wherein the modules are constructed such that the emitted flashes or periods of light are visible or received and sensed from one vantage point but not another and wherein Step B comprises positioning the modules so that the emitted signals viewed or received and sensed by traffic traveling in one direction but not by traffic traveling in another direction.