Vehicle traffic signal transmission notification system for a driver

• US 8,599,040 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2011
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Colin M. Malaska
• Original Assignee: Colin M. Malaska
• Inventors: Malaska, Colin M.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFSASS, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US13/199,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20130063281A1
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 340/901, 340/902, 340/903, 340/904, 340/905, 340/911, 340/916, 340933-943
• US Class Current: 340/905
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element

Abstract

A system, device and method for notifying a vehicle driver of the condition of an upcoming vehicle traffic signal is described. The system includes a transmitter; transmission circuitry operably coupled to a vehicle traffic signal controller and operably coupled to the transmitter; wherein the transmission circuitry receives information associated with vehicle traffic signal status from the vehicle traffic signal controller, and causes the transmitter to transmit a non-visual and non-audible signal including information associated with the vehicle traffic signal status; a mobile receiver unit including a receiver to receive the transmitted non-visual signal; and a communication mechanism coupled to the mobile receiver unit to communicate information associated with the vehicle traffic signal status to a driver or user.

Claims

1. A vehicle traffic signal notification system comprising:

a receiver including circuitry configured to activate transmission circuitry upon receipt of a signal from an approaching vehicle, the transmission circuitry operably coupled to a vehicle traffic signal controller and operably coupled to a transmitter, the transmitter including at least one directional antenna;

wherein the transmission circuitry is configured to receive information associated with vehicle traffic signal status from the vehicle traffic signal controller, and configured to cause the transmitter to transmit a non-visual and non-audible signal including information associated with the vehicle traffic signal status.

2. The vehicle traffic notification system of claim 1, further comprising:

a mobile receiver unit including a receiver to receive the transmitted non-visual and non-audible signal including information associated with the vehicle traffic signal status; and

a communication mechanism coupled to the mobile receiver unit including circuitry to communicate information indicative of the vehicle traffic signal status to a user.

3. The vehicle traffic signal notification system of claim 1, further comprising:

detection circuitry operably coupled to the vehicle traffic signal controller to detect a vehicle approaching a vehicle traffic signal.

4. The vehicle traffic signal notification system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is selected from the group consisting of a radio frequency transmitter, an AM radio frequency transmitter, a FM radio frequency transmitter, an ultrasonic frequency transmitter and a microwave frequency transmitter.

5. The vehicle traffic signal notification system of claim 2, wherein the communication mechanism is operably connected to an audio speaker to communicate an audible signal to the user.

6. The vehicle traffic signal notification system of claim 2, wherein the communication mechanism includes a display to communicate a visible signal to the user.

7. The vehicle traffic signal notification system of claim 2, wherein the communication mechanism includes an audio speaker to communicate an audible signal to the user, and a display to communicate a visible signal to the user.

8. The vehicle traffic signal notification system of claim 6, wherein the display includes a heads-up-display.

9. The vehicle traffic signal notification system of claim 2, wherein the communication mechanism is operably connected to an audio speaker to communicate an audible signal to the user;

and to a display to communicate a visible signal to the user; and

to a haptic mechanism to communicate a haptically-perceptible signal to the user.

10. A vehicle, comprising:

a receiver unit including an antenna to receive a transmitted non-visual and non-audible vehicle traffic status signal including information associated with the vehicle traffic signal status;

circuitry to process the received non-visual and non-audible vehicle traffic signal status signal;

circuitry configured to process information associated with a location and speed of the vehicle; and

a communication mechanism coupled to the receiver unit to determine, based on the information regarding the location and speed of the vehicle, a time in which to communicate information indicative of the vehicle traffic signal status to a user.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the receiver unit includes a directional antenna.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the receiver unit comprises a receiver unit selected from the group consisting of a radio frequency receiver, a FM radio frequency receiver, an AM radio frequency receiver, an ultrasonic frequency receiver, and a microwave frequency receiver.

13. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the communication mechanism is operably connected to an audio speaker to communicate an audible signal indicative of the vehicle traffic signal status to a user.

14. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the communication mechanism includes a display to communicate a visible signal indicative of the vehicle traffic signal status to a user.

15. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the communication mechanism is operably connected to an audio speaker to communicate audible signal indicative of the vehicle traffic signal status to a user, and a display to communicate a visible signal indicative of the vehicle traffic signal status to a user.

16. A method of notifying a vehicle driver of a vehicle traffic signal status, comprising:

transmitting, using a directional antenna toward the vehicle, a non-visual and non-audible signal including information associated with the vehicle traffic signal status.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the non-visual and non-audible signal including information associated with the vehicle traffic signal status is selected from the group consisting of a radio frequency signal, an ultrasonic frequency signal, and a microwave frequency signal.

18. A method of receiving information associated with a vehicle traffic signal status, comprising:

receiving, using a directional antenna, a non-visual and non-audible signal including information associated with the vehicle traffic signal status;

receiving information associated with a location and speed of a vehicle;

determining a time remaining until the vehicle must stop, and communicating information indicative of the vehicle traffic signal status to a user at a time based on the received information associated with the location and speed of the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the non-visual and non-audible signal including information associated with the vehicle traffic signal status includes a signal selected from the group consisting of a radio frequency signal, an ultrasonic frequency signal, and a microwave frequency signal.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the communicating includes communicating an audible signal indicative of the vehicle traffic signal status to the user.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the communicating includes displaying a visible signal indicative of the vehicle traffic signal status to the user.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the communicating includes communicating an audible signal indicative of the vehicle traffic signal status to the user, and a displaying a visible signal indicative of the vehicle traffic signal status to the user.