Traffic warning indicator system

• US 9,751,464 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2015
• Issued: 09/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ronald A. Lewerenz
• Original Assignee: Ronald A. Lewerenz
• Inventors: Lewerenz, Ronald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Adnan, Muhammad
• Application Number:
  US14/692,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20160311371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/617 Illuminated or wired-up posts, bollards, pillars or like upstanding bodies or structures for traffic guidance, warning or control E01F9/559 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/658 characterised by means for fixing
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/042 using inductive or magnetic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/16 Anti-collision systems road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08

Abstract

A traffic indicator warning unit for preventing collisions in blind corners has a weather-resistant chassis, a rechargeable battery within the chassis configured to power the unit, an indicator assembly mounted to the chassis comprising a first indicator light configured to indicate to a driver to stop and wait, and a second indicator light configured to indicate to a driver that the unit is non-operational, and further a motion-detector mounted to the chassis, configured to detect a moving vehicle near the unit, a metal detector mounted to the chassis, configured to detect the metal in a vehicle near the unit, and a transmitter/receiver within the chassis having an antenna, wherein the transmitter/receiver is configured to communicate with one or more other traffic warning units. A method of use of a traffic indicator warning system for a blind corner system is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A traffic indicator warning unit for preventing collisions in blind corners, the unit comprising:

a. a weather-resistant chassis;

b. a rechargeable battery within the chassis configured to power the unit;

c. a motion-detector mounted to the chassis, configured to detect a moving vehicle near the unit;

d. a metal detector mounted to the chassis, configured to detect the metal in a vehicle near the unit;

e. a transmitter/receiver within the chassis having an antenna, wherein the transmitter/receiver is configured to communicate with one or more other traffic warning units; and

f. an indicator assembly mounted to the chassis comprising;

i. a first indicator light configured to indicate to a driver to stop and wait based on a signal received from the one or more other traffic warning units;

ii. a second indicator light configured to indicate to a driver that the unit is non-operational when the unit is not able to communicate with the one or more other traffic warning units;

iii. one or more concave and reflective surfaces;

iv. wherein the one or more concave and reflective surfaces are configured to channel light from the first indicator light or the second indicator light to the driver;

wherein the first indicator light comprises a plurality of monocolored lights or a plurality of multi-colored lights; and

wherein the second indicator light comprises a plurality of mono-colored lights or a plurality of multi-colored lights.

2. The warning unit of claim 1, wherein the metal detector has an inductive coil.

3. The warning unit of claim 1, wherein the metal detector has an ultrasonic transducer.

4. The warning unit of claim 1, further comprising a solar panel configured to recharge the battery, wherein the solar panel is moveably mounted to the warning unit.

5. The warning unit of claim 1, wherein the second indicator illuminates when the unit cannot pair with another unit.

6. A system of warning indicators, comprising two or more of the units of claim 1, wherein the units each have a same unit identifier and are paired to one another, and wherein data is communicated between the units.

7. A method of use of a traffic indicator warning system for a blind corner system has the steps of:

a. a first vehicle is detected by a motion sensor and magnetic sensor of a first unit;

b. the first unit communicates to a second unit that the first vehicle is entering the blind corner system;

c. the second unit provides signals to prevent traffic nearby from entering the blind corner system using a first indicator light based on the communication received from the first unit, wherein a second indicator light configured to indicate that the second unit is non-operational when the unit is not able to communicate with the first unit;

d. as the first vehicle departs the blind corner system, the first vehicle is detected by a second unit'"'"'s magnetic sensor; and

e. the second unit signals using the first indicator light to a second vehicle to enter the blind corner system;

wherein while the first vehicle is in the system, all other signals indicate that traffic may not enter the blind corner system.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein once the second vehicle leaves the system, a third vehicle is signaled to enter the system by a third unit, wherein the third unit detects the second vehicle by metal detection.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the first unit and second unit communicate wirelessly and share a common unit identifier.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of entering a sleep mode comprising:

a. the first unit and the second unit autonomously powering down to conserve energy if a predetermined amount of time has elapsed without the first vehicle being detected;

b. the first unit and the second unit autonomously powering up from the sleep mode after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since entering the sleep mode; and

c. the first unit testing for connectivity with the second unit.

11. A system for preventing collisions in blind corners comprising:

a. a plurality of indicator warning units, wherein at least one of the plurality of indicator warning units comprises

i. a weather-resistant chassis;

ii. a rechargeable battery within the chassis configured to power the at least one of the plurality of indicator warning units;

iii. a motion-detector mounted to the chassis, configured to detect moving vehicles;

iv. a metal detector mounted to the chassis, configured to detect moving vehicles;

v. a transmitter/receiver within the chassis having an antenna, wherein the transmitter/receiver is configured to communicate with one or more of the plurality of indicator warning units;

vi. an indicator assembly mounted to the chassis, the indicator comprising;

1. a first indicator light configured to indicate to a driver to stop and wait based on a signal received from the one or more other traffic warning units;

2. a second indicator light configured to indicate to a driver that the unit is non-operational when the unit is not able to communicate with the one or more other traffic warning units; and

3. one or more concave and reflective surfaces;

4. wherein the one or more concave and reflective surfaces are configured to channel light from the first indicator light or the second indicator light to the driver;

wherein the first indicator light comprises a plurality of mono-colored lights or a plurality of multicolored lights; and

wherein the second indicator light comprises a plurality of mono-colored lights or a plurality of multi-colored lights;

b. detecting a first vehicle entering the system;

c. sending a notification that the first vehicle has been detected;

d. providing traffic signals that the first vehicle has been detected;

e. detecting the first vehicle exiting the system; and

f. providing traffic signals that the first vehicle has exited the system.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the step of detecting a first vehicle is selected from the list consisting of:

a. the motion-detector detecting the first vehicle; and

b. the metal detector detecting the first vehicle.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising the step of the plurality of

indicator warning units activating the second indicator light to alert drivers that at least one of the plurality of indicator warning units is malfunctioning.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising the step of entering a sleep mode, wherein the sleep mode comprises the steps of:

a. at least one of the plurality of indicator warning units reducing power consumption;

b. at least one of the plurality of indicator warning units waking after a predetermined length of time; and

c. at least one of the plurality of indicator warning units sending a signal to other indicator warning units to check for connectivity.