Wearable pedestrian safety radar system

• US 9,655,390 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2014
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnell A. Davis
• Original Assignee: Donnell A. Davis
• Inventors: Davis, Donnell A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B
• Application Number:
  US14/280,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20150332563A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 342 66, 342104, 342 20, 340936
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/01 with reflective or luminous safety means visible signalling arrangements G08B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/58 Velocity or trajectory determination systems; Sense-of-movement determination systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/92 for velocity measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/027 Constructional details of housings, e.g. form, type, material or ruggedness
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/04 Display arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/20 in augmented reality scenes
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/63 Scene text, e.g. street names
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/004 Reflective safety signalling devices attached on persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/006 Portable traffic signalling devices G08B5/004 takes precedence; emergency signalling devices to be placed on roads or vehicles B60Q7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells

Abstract

A wearable pedestrian safety radar system including a harness with a pocket and a portable radar speed detection and display device to be worn on the front and back of the harness by a pedestrian while on a roadway. The device includes a radar system, LED lights, a microcontroller, a proximity sensor, a camera, a strobe light, an audible alert unit and a vibration unit. The device detects a speed of an on-coming motor vehicle. If the vehicle is exceeding a predetermined speed limit, the speed is displayed on the device. If the vehicle does not slow down below the speed limit within a distance detected by the proximity sensor, the camera records the vehicle while the strobe light blinks to warn the driver of the recording. The audible alert unit and vibration unit alert the pedestrian. The system may be used to relay data to a law enforcement agency.

Claims

1. A wearable pedestrian safety radar system comprising:

a harness having a plurality of adjustable belts and a plurality of buckles, the harness having a front side and a back side, the harness configured to be worn by a pedestrian;

a pocket disposed on each of the front side and the back side, the pocket being formed of a clear plastic material;

a portable radar speed detection and display device removably disposed within the pocket, the portable radar speed detection and display device configured to detect the speed signal of an on-coming motor vehicle, convert said speed signal into a measured speed value, and display the measured speed value;

wherein the pocket of the harness is configured to allow the display to be seen by a driver of an on-coming motor vehicle;

a display case having an open front side, a solid back side, a solid continuous outer side and a compartment therein;

a transparent, protective cover configured to protect the display device from damage;

a speed detection and display board having a radar system, a plurality of light emitting diodes, and a strobe light;

wherein the radar system is disposed on the speed detection and display board, the radar system being configured to detect the speed signal of the on-coming motor vehicle;

wherein the LEDs are disposed within the speed detection and display board, the LEDs configured to display speeds detected by the radar system on the front side of the display panel, wherein upon the detection of the speed of the on-coming motor vehicle at a value exceeding the predetermined speed limit, the microcontroller sends a signal to the LED lights to display the speed of the on-coming motor vehicle;

wherein the strobe light is configured to blink to alert the driver of excess speed;

a transparent radiofrequency barrier film configured to block RF energy;

a microcontroller disposed within the compartment, the microcontroller being in operational communication with the speed detection and display board and a battery source, the microcontroller operating under control of software and data configured to convert said speed signal into the measured speed of the on-coming motor vehicle and to allow programming of a predetermined speed limit determined by US Department of Transportation speed limit signs in the area;

at least one infrared proximity sensor disposed within the compartment in operational communication with the microcontroller and the battery source, the infrared proximity sensor configured detect a distance between the oncoming motor vehicle and the pedestrian and to send a distance signal to the microcontroller when the on-coming motor vehicle is within ten feet of the pedestrian;

a camera disposed within the compartment, the camera having a flash, the camera being in operational communication with the microcontroller and the battery source, whereupon upon failure of the on-coming motor vehicle to reduce the speed below the predetermined speed limit as detected by the radar system within the distance of ten feet as detected by the infrared proximity sensor, the camera is configured to automatically record images of the motor vehicle;

a battery source disposed within a battery compartment, the battery compartment disposed within the compartment of the display case, the battery source being in operational communication with the radar system, the microcontroller, the camera, the infrared proximity sensor, the LED strobe light, and the vibration unit;

at least one solar panel disposed on top of the compartment, the solar panel in operational communication with the battery source, the solar panel configured to charge the battery source;

a vibration unit disposed within the compartment, the vibration unit being in operational communication with the microcontroller and the battery source, the vibration unit configured to vibrate to notify the pedestrian of an on-coming speeding motor vehicle;

an audible alert unit having a pair of speakers disposed within the compartment, the audible alert unit configured audibly alert the pedestrian of an on-coming speeding motor vehicle;

a micro USB port disposed within the compartment, the micro USB port configured to receive a USB cable;

wherein the portable radar speed detection and display device further comprises;

a license plate recognition application in operational communication with the microcontroller, the license plate recognition application configured to recognize and store a license plate number of the motor vehicle;

a global positioning system (GPS) module disposed within the compartment, the GPS in operational communication with the microcontroller, the GPS configured to determine and record location data;

a geolocation application in operational communication with the GPS chip and the microcontroller, the geolocation application configured to determine and record street location data;

a Bluetooth®

module disposed within the panel, the Bluetooth®

module

configured to allow wireless transmission of signals between the components of the portable radar speed detection and display device and alternatively to external components; and

a Wi-Fi card disposed within the compartment, the Wi-Fi card configured to allow wireless transmission of data from the microcontroller to external components;

wherein the system is configured to collect, store and relay data to a law

enforcement agency wherein the data may be relayed to a law enforcement agency, a motor vehicle registration agency, or a Citizens Vigilant Reporting Program;

wherein the radar system is a pulse-Doppler radar system.

2. The wearable pedestrian safety radar system of claim 1 wherein the portable radar speed detection and display device comprises:

a license plate recognition application in operational communication with the microcontroller, the license plate recognition application configured to recognize and store a license plate number of the motor vehicle;

a global positioning system (GPS) module disposed within the compartment, the GPS in operational communication with the microcontroller, the GPS configured to determine and record location data;

a geolocation application in operational communication with the GPS chip and the microcontroller, the geolocation application configured to determine and record street location data;

a Bluetooth®

module disposed within the panel, the Bluetooth®

module configured to allow wireless transmission of signals between the components of the portable radar speed detection and display device and alternatively to external components; and

a Wi-Fi card disposed within the compartment, the Wi-Fi card configured to allow wireless transmission of data from the microcontroller to external components.