Devices and methods for synchronized signaling of the positions of moving pedestrians or vehicles

• US 10,660,183 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2018
• Issued: 05/19/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adam Jordan Selevan, Daniel Joseph Selevan, James R. Selevan
• Original Assignee: Adam Jordan Selevan, Daniel Joseph Selevan, James R. Selevan
• Inventors: Selevan, James R, Selevan, Adam Jordan, Selevan, Daniel Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Barakat, Mohamed
• Application Number:
  US16/029,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20190045599A1
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/30 for indicating rear of vehicle, e.g. by means of reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/46 for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights or hazard lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/00 Arrangement or adaptation of acoustic signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 27/00 Safety equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 3/00 Acoustic signal devices arrangements indicating unauthorised use of cycles B62H5/20; Arrangement of such devices on cycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 3/10 Electrical devices
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/20 Information-providing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/25 intended to provide information to other road users, e.g. signs or flags
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/01 Electric circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/015 using electrical power not supplied by the cycle motor generator, e.g. using batteries or piezo elements
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/02 Headlights
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/022 specially adapted for motorcycles or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/028 specially adapted for rider-propelled cycles with or without additional source of power
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/165 Wireless switches
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/161 Decentralised systems, e.g. inter-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/163 involving continuous checking
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/22 Platooning, i.e. convoy of communicating vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 : via wireless transmission

Abstract

Position indicating devices, systems and methods useable for signaling the positions of pedestrians or vehicles.

Claims

1. A position indicating device which is operable while undergoing movement along with a plurality of other position indicating devices, said position indicating device comprising:

at least one emitter which emits a position indicating signal;

a receiver;

a power source; and

electronic circuitry configured and programmed to;

a) receive synchronization signal(s), via the receiver, from other position indicating devices located within a synchronization range of said device; and

b) in response to the receipt of one or more synchronization signal(s) from one or more other position indicating devices located within the synchronization range, causing said at least one emitter to emit a signal that is synchronized with signals being emitted by said one or more other position indicating devices located within the synchronization range;

wherein said at least one emitter comprises at least one light emitter which emits visible or infrared light, and which alternately operates in a top emitting mode wherein light is emitted upwardly or a side emitting mode wherein light is emitted laterally and wherein the electronic circuitry comprises switching circuitry configured to cause the device to switch between top emitting mode and side emitting mode.

2. A device according to claim 1 further comprising a housing having one or more side walls which is/are at least partially translucent and one or more top walls which is/are at least partially translucent, and wherein said at least one light emitter alternately emits upwardly directed light through said one or more top walls when operating in top emitting mode or laterally directed light through said one or more side walls when operating in side emitting mode.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the switching circuitry comprises a motion activated switching apparatus which causes switching between the side emitting mode and the top emitting mode in response to certain movements of the flare.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the motion activated switching apparatus causes dynamic emitter orientation such that the flare switches back and forth between the top emitting mode and side emitting mode as the flare is moved back and forth between a horizontal orientation and a vertical orientation.

5. A device according to claim 3 wherein said at least one emitter comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes.

6. A device according to claim 3 further comprising one or more magnets.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein, when the device is in a vertical position, the switching circuitry causes the device to operate in top emitting mode and wherein said one or more magnets are usable to attach the device to a ferromagnetic member such that the device is in the vertical position and the switching circuitry causes the device to operate in top emitting mode.

8. A device according to claim 3 wherein the switching circuitry includes a locking function which overrides the motion activated switching apparatus.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein the locking function allows a user to lock the device in either top emitting mode or side emitting mode.

10. A device according to claim 1 further comprising one or more connectors for attaching the device to an object selected from:

vehicles, bicycles, motorcycles, motorbikes, wearable garments, vests, shoes, running shoes, headgear, caps, hats, helmets, hard hats, straps, leg straps, arm straps, belts, back-packs, lanyards, jewelry, ear rings, necklaces and wrist bands.

11. A device according to claim 1 attached to, built into or integrated in an object selected from:

vehicles, bicycles, bicycle seats, bicycle lamps, motorcycles, motorbikes, wearable garments, vests, shoes, running shoes, headgear, caps, hats, helmets, hard hats, straps, leg straps, arm straps, belts, back-packs, lanyards, jewelry, ear rings, necklaces and wrist bands.

12. A system comprising a plurality of devices according to claim 1 wherein the electronic circuitry is programmed to operate in said group signaling mode and, when operating in said group signaling mode, to cause the devices within synchronization range of one another to emit signals in unison.