Smart signal light

• US 9,386,658 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2014
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Patent Zero, LLC
• Original Assignee: Patent Zero, LLC
• Inventors: Preta, Hans C, Allcorn, Roger, Simmons, Isaiah Monty, Simmons, William Monty, Preta, Dominic Joseph, Preta, Joseph Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): GIRMA, FEKADESELASS
• Application Number:
  US14/229,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20150279169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 340/468, 340/463, 340/464, 340/471, 340/479, 340/669, 340/815.45, 340/438, 340/431, 340/540, 340/670, 340/6.1, 455/128
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0023 the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/238 Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/125 by using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/20 Responsive to malfunctions or to light source life; for protection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Disclosed is a smart signal generator for generating a signal representing a motion. The device includes a processing device associated with a motion sensor and a signal generator and a power source. The signal generator is a light source. When the motion sensor generates data indicating the smart signal generator is slowing down, the processing device activates the signal generator which generates a motion signal. One embodiment of a motion signal is a red light.

Claims

1. A smart signal light for generating a motion signal, said smart signal light comprising:

a housing;

a power source disposed at least partially inside said housing and configured for supplying power;

a motion sensor at least partially disposed in said housing and configured for generating motion-data;

a signal generator disposed at least partially inside said housing, wherein said signal generator is electrically associated with said power source through a switching device and wherein said signal generator is configured for generating a motion signal;

a processing device disposed inside said housing wherein said processing device is electrically associated with said switching element, said motion sensor, and said power source wherein said processing device is configured to generate a control-signal in response to said wherein said motion sensor is a motion detector and wherein said motion-data indicates at least one of

(a) the smart signal light is slowing down,

(b) the smart signal light is speeding up, and

(c) the smart light is not accelerating; and

wherein said motion signal is a visual signal, said signal generator is a display device, and wherein said control signal causes said display device to generate at least one of a first visual signal indication when said motion-data indicates the smart signal light is slowing down, a second visual signal indication when said motion-data indicates the smart signal light is speeding up, and a third visual signal indication when said motion-data indicates the smart signal light is not accelerating.

2. A smart signal light for generating a motion signal as in claim 1,

wherein said control-signal is at least one of

(a) modulated so that the switching device supplies modulated power to said display device thereby causing the display device to generate a flashing visual signal,

(b) modulated to control the visual signal brightness, and

(c) configured so that the switching device supplies a predefine power amplitude to the display device thereby controlling visual signal brightness.

3. A smart signal light for generating a motion signal as in claim 1,

wherein said signal generator is at least one of

(a) a display device comprising a light source,

(b) a display device comprising at least one LED, and

(c) a display device comprising at least one LCD display.

4. A smart signal light for generating a motion signal as in claim 1, wherein said control-signal causes the display device to generate light resulting in a first motion signal color when said sensor-data indicates the smart signal light is slowing down.

5. A smart signal light for generating a motion signal as in claim 4, wherein said control-signal causes the display device to generate light resulting in a second motion signal color when said sensor-data indicates the smart signal light is not slowing down.

6. A smart signal light for generating a motion signal as in claim 4, wherein said control-signal causes the display device to generate light resulting in a second motion signal color when said sensor-data indicates the smart signal light is speeding up.

7. A smart signal light for generating a motion signal as in claim 2, wherein said signal generator further comprises a sound generator and wherein said control-signal is configured to cause said sound generator to generate an acoustical signal.

8. A smart signal light for generating a motion signal as in claim 1, wherein said processing device is one of

(a) a microchip,

(b) an ASIC, and

(c) an ASSP.

9. A smart signal light for generating a motion signal as in claim 1, wherein said housing is configured for being mechanically associated with clothes worn by a smart signal light user.

10. A smart signal light for generating a motion signal as in claim 1, wherein said housing is configured with a magnetic component configured for mechanically associating said housing with a ferromagnetic object and wherein said smart signal light is configured to perform a break light function.

11. A smart signal light for generating a motion signal, said smart signal light comprising:

a processing device, motion sensor, signal-generator and a power source wherein said processing device is electrically associated with said motion sensor and said signal-generator and wherein said power source is configured for suppling power to at least one of said processing device, said motion sensor, and said signal-generator;

wherein said motion sensor is configured for generating motion-data;

wherein said signal generator is configured for generating a motion signal wherein said motion signal comprises a visual signal;

wherein said processing device is configured for detecting said motion-data and activating said signal generator to generate said motion signal;

wherein said motion sensor is a motion detector and wherein said motion-data indicates at least one of

(a) the smart signal light is slowing down,

(b) the smart signal light is speeding up, and

(c) the smart light is not accelerating; and

wherein said signal generator is a display device and wherein said control signal causes said display device to generate at least one of

(a) a first visual indication when said motion-data indicates the smart signal light is slowing down,

(b) a second visual indication when said motion-data indicates the smart signal light is speeding up, and

(c) a third visual indication when said motion-data indicates the smart signal light is not accelerating.

12. A smart signal light for generating a motion signal as in claim 11, wherein said motion sensor is an accelerometer.

13. A smart signal light for generating a motion signal as in claim 12, further comprising a focused-motion-signal-generator configured to generate a warning signal configured to be received by a remote device and wherein said processing device is a microchip that is configured to activate said focused-motion-signal-generator based at least in part on said motion-data.

14. A smart signal light for generating a motion signal as in claim 13, wherein said focused motion signal generator is at least one of

(a) a light signal and

(b) an RF signal.

15. A smart signal light for generating a motion signal as in claim 11, further comprising an acoustical signal generator configured for generating an acoustical signal in response to said control-signal.

16. A smart signal light for generating a motion signal as in claim 11, wherein said smart signal light is portable and configured to be associated with animal.

17. A smart signal light for generating a motion signal as in claim 11, wherein said smart signal light is portable and configured to be magnetically associated with at least one of a vehicle and a trailer.

18. A portable Smart Signal Generator (SSG) configured for generating a SSG-signal, said SSG comprising:

a housing configured for housing a processing device electrically associated with a motion sensor and wherein said processing device is further electrically associated with a display device;

a power source that is one of

(a) disposed at least partially within said housing and

(b) separate from said housing and wherein said power source is electrically associated with at least one of said processing device, said motion sensor, and said display device;

wherein said processing device is configured to monitor the output-signal generated by said motion sensor and activate said display device based at least in part on said output-signal;

wherein said housing is portable and configured for being associated with at least one of a vehicle and an animal;

wherein said motion sensor is a motion detector and wherein said output-signal indicates at least one of

(a) the SSG is slowing down,

(b) the SSG is speeding up, and

(c) the SSG is not accelerating; and

wherein said processing device causes said display device to generate at least one of

(a) a first visual indication when said output-signal indicates the SSG is slowing down, a second visual indication when said output-signal indicates the SSG is speeding up, and a third visual indication when said output-signal indicates the SSG is not accelerating.

19. A portable SSG for generating a signal as in claim 18, wherein said animal is a human and wherein said display device comprises at least one of (a) at least one LED and (b) at least one LCD.

20. A portable SSG for generating a signal as in claim 19, wherein said signal is one of (a) a focused warning signal, (b) a break signal, and (c) a turn signal.