Portable multi-function roadway barrier

• US 9,489,841 B1
• Filed: 02/02/2016
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James Damian Huggins
• Original Assignee: James Damian Huggins
• Inventors: Huggins, James Damian
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US15/013,107
• Time in Patent Office: 280 Days
• Field of Search: 340/935, 340/908, 340/908.1, 340/473, 116/63.P
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 7/00 Arrangement or adaptation of portable emergency signal devices on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 13/02 free-standing; portable, e.g. for guarding open manholes E01F9/688 takes precedence; Portable signs or signals specially adapted for fitting to portable barriers
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/615 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/619 with reflectors; with means for keeping reflectors clean
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/654 in the form of three-dimensional bodies, e.g. cones; capable of assuming three-dimensional form, e.g. by inflation or erection to form a geometric body
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/688 Free-standing bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/056 with provision for distinguishing direction of travel
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0955 transportable

Abstract

A roadway barrier is provided for detecting a dangerous traffic condition. The roadway barrier includes a control module comprising at least one processor, a computer readable storage medium, and executable instructions stored on the computer readable storage medium; a display in communication with the control module; and at least one sensor oriented to measure data related to an approaching vehicle. The roadway barrier is positioned adjacent a safety zone such that the at least one sensor is oriented in a direction to detect traffic approaching the adjacent safety zone. The control module receives data from the at least one sensor related to a speed and direction of an approaching vehicle and determines, based on a speed, distance, predetermined reactionary response times, road surface drag factors and direction of the vehicle whether the stopping distance of the vehicle is estimated to be capable of stopping prior to entering the safety zone.

Claims

1. A roadway barrier comprising:

a control module comprising at least one processor, a computer readable storage medium, and executable instructions stored on the computer readable storage medium;

a display including a dynamic display panel housed within a case, the display in communication with the control module;

at least one sensor in communication with the control module for measuring data related to at least a speed, distance, and direction of a vehicle, the sensor selected from the group consisting of radar, LIDAR, or a camera, the at least one sensor oriented to measure data related to an approaching vehicle;

wherein the roadway barrier is positioned adjacent a safety zone such that the at least one sensor is oriented in a direction to detect traffic approaching the adjacent safety zone;

wherein the control module receives data from the at least one sensor related to a speed and direction of an approaching vehicle and determines, based on a speed, distance, and direction of the vehicle whether the vehicle is estimated to enter the safety zone adjacent the portable roadway barrier; and

wherein when the control module determines that an approaching vehicle will enter the safety zone adjacent the portable roadway barrier, the control module activates a visual alert on the display towards a driver of the approaching vehicle.

2. The portable roadway barrier of claim 1, further comprising:

a detachable reflective panel including a reflective design hingedly attached to the case of the display,

wherein in a deployed configuration the reflective design of the reflective panel is displayed in a direction of an approaching vehicle, and

wherein in a closed configuration the reflective panel is folded about the hinge such that the reflective panel substantially covers the display of the portable roadway barrier.

3. The portable roadway barrier of claim 2, further comprising a collapsible base for supporting the portable roadway barrier.

4. The portable roadway barrier of claim 1, further comprising a mount formed on the case of the display configured to attach the display to an existing roadway barrier.

5. The portable roadway barrier of claim 1 further comprising:

a camera having a field of view oriented toward traffic approaching the portable roadway barrier, and

an algorithm on the control module for detecting one or more roadway markings and approaching vehicles within the field of view of the camera and determining whether the approaching vehicle is estimated to enter the safety zone based on a path of an approaching vehicle relative to the one or more roadway markings.

6. The portable roadway barrier of claim 1, further comprising:

an ambient conditions sensor for measuring data related to weather conditions, wherein the control module further determines whether the approaching vehicle is estimated to enter the safety zone based on measured weather conditions.

7. The portable roadway barrier of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors are attached to the case of the display within a sensor housing.

8. The portable roadway barrier of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors and the control module are affixed to an emergency vehicle in proximity to the portable roadway barrier.

9. The portable roadway barrier of claim 1, wherein the display is affixed to an exterior of the emergency vehicle.

10. The portable roadway barrier of claim 1, further comprising a speaker in communication with the control module, wherein when the control module determines that the vehicle is estimated to enter the safety zone adjacent the portable roadway barrier an audible alert is emitted from the speaker.

11. The portable roadway barrier of claim 1 further comprising:

a second sensor oriented towards the safety zone such that the second sensor collects data related to a position of one or more objects in proximity to the roadway barrier, the one or more objects selected from the group consisting of one or more traffic barriers, one or more vehicles, one or more people, or roadway markings;

wherein the control module further receives data related to a position of the one or more objects in proximity to the roadway barrier and further determines, based on a position of the one or more objects in proximity to the roadway barrier whether the vehicle is estimated to collide with the one or more objects in proximity to the roadway barrier.

12. The roadway barrier of claim 1, wherein the control module determines whether an approaching vehicle poses a hazard based on a speed of the approaching vehicle relative to a known speed limit of the road.

13. The roadway barrier of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one sensor is mounted to a stationary emergency response vehicle, the stationary emergency response vehicle located in proximity to the roadway barrier and within the safety zone;

the control module receives data from the at least one sensor mounted to the stationary emergency response vehicle related to a speed and direction of an approaching vehicle and determines, based on a speed, distance, and direction of the vehicle whether the vehicle is estimated to pass within an unsafe distance from the stationary emergency response vehicle.

14. The roadway barrier of claim 1 wherein the processor of the control further determines whether the vehicle is estimated to enter the safety zone based on environmental factors stored on the computer readable storage medium of the controller, the environmental factors selected from the group consisting of an estimated coefficient of friction and driver reaction time.

15. A method of detecting an unsafe traffic condition comprising:

providing a safety zone adjacent a roadway;

providing a roadway barrier adjacent the safety zone, the roadway barrier including;

one or more sensors for detecting data related to a speed and direction of a vehicle approaching the safety zone and

a display including a dynamic display panel oriented towards a driver of an approaching vehicle;

transmitting the data related to an approaching vehicle to a control module in communication with the one or more sensors of the roadway barrier;

determining whether the approaching vehicle will enter the safety zone based on the detected speed and direction of the approaching vehicle; and

creating an alert on the display in response to a determination that the approaching vehicle will enter the safety zone, the alert displayed towards the driver of the approaching vehicle.

16. A portable roadway barrier comprising:

a dynamic display panel including a case and a display for providing a visual alert, the case including a hinge attached along an edge of the case;

a reflective panel attached to the hinge of the case of the dynamic display panel;

a collapsible base for supporting the dynamic display panel and the attached reflective panel;

a speaker positioned within, attached to, or adjacent the dynamic display panel; and

one or more sensors adjacent the portable roadway barrier for detecting a speed and direction of an approaching vehicle, the one or more sensors selected from the group consisting of radar, LIDAR, or a camera;

a control module in communication with the one or more sensors, the control module comprising at least one processor, a computer readable storage medium, and executable instructions stored on the computer readable storage medium;

wherein in a portable configuration the reflective panel folds adjacent to the display of the dynamic display panel, and in a deployed configuration the dynamic display panel and reflective panel provide a reflective barrier panel and directional/messaging visual display panel to an oncoming vehicle; and

wherein when the portable roadway barrier is in a deployed configuration;

one or more sensors affixed to the portable roadway barrier determine that the speed and direction of the oncoming vehicle pose a hazard, an audible and visual alert is emitted by the speaker and the dynamic display panel to alert a person in proximity to the portable barrier that a hazardous condition exists.