Forklift activated projector

• US 10,783,773 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2016
• Issued: 09/22/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David A. Fossier, William Chemick
• Original Assignee: David A. Fossier, William Chemick
• Inventors: Fossier, David A., Chemick, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Syed, Nabil H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eustaquio, Cal J
• Application Number:
  US15/735,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20200035090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/0755 Position control; Position detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/005 operating with millimetre waves, e.g. measuring the black losey radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/52 Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0116 from roadside infrastructure, e.g. beacons
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

An apparatus detects and warns pedestrians of traffic approaching an intersection. The apparatus includes multiple unitary sensors for detecting traffic, each unitary sensor being capable of detecting a pedestrian and a moving metal object such as a forklift. The unitary sensors use microwaves to detect moving metal objects and, in some embodiments can also use microwaves to detect pedestrians. Each of the unitary sensors has an activatable pedestrian mode that, when activated, allows the unitary sensor to sense and detect the presence of pedestrians.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting and for warning pedestrian traffic approaching an intersection comprising:

a sensing system for controlling a projector and for identifying traffic crossing at the intersection, said sensing system having a first unitary sensor and a second unitary sensor, each of said first unitary sensor and said second unitary sensor being capable of detecting a pedestrian and a moving metal object, each of said first unitary sensor and said second unitary sensor having an activatable pedestrian detection mode;

said first unitary sensor being positioned to detect, with microwaves, the moving metal object approaching the intersection from a first direction when the moving metal object enters a first metal detection area, said second unitary sensor being positioned to detect, with microwaves, the moving metal object approaching the intersection from a second direction when the moving metal object enters a second metal detection area;

said first unitary sensor being positioned to detect the pedestrian approaching the intersection from a first direction when the pedestrian enters a first pedestrian detection area, said second unitary sensor being positioned to detect the pedestrian approaching the intersection from, a second direction when the pedestrian enters a second pedestrian detection area;

said sensing system being responsive to said first unitary sensor d said second unitary sensor;

said sensing system causing said projector to project a warning message into or near said intersection when said first unitary sensor senses the moving metal object enter into said first metal detection area and in a direction that is toward the intersection, said sensing system causing said projector to project a warning message into or near said intersection when said second unitary sensor senses the moving metal object enter into said second metal detection area and in a direction that is toward the intersection, said warning message being visible to pedestrians walking toward the intersection; and

said sensing system causing said projector to project a warning message into or near said intersection when said pedestrian detection mode of said first unitary sensor is activated and said first unitary sensor senses the pedestrian entering into said first pedestrian detection area, said sensing system causing said, projector to project a warning message into or near said intersection when said pedestrian detection mode of said second unitary sensor is activated and said second unitary sensor senses the pedestrian entering into said second pedestrian detection area, said warning message being visible to pedestrians walking toward the intersection.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said moving metal object is a forklift.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an illuminated warning sign, said illuminated warning sign being responsive to said sensing system and located at a position that is visible to pedestrians walking toward the intersection, said sensing system causing said warning sign to illuminate when said first unitary sensor or said second unitary sensor senses the moving metal object enter into said first metal detection area or said second metal detection area.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said warning message is a rotating message.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first unitary sensor and said second unitary sensor are positioned by a dome that is suspended over the intersection.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first unitary sensor and said second unitary sensor are positioned by a dome that is suspended over the intersection, said sensing system causing at least one illuminated warning message within said dome to illuminate when at least one of said first unitary sensor and said second unitary sensor senses a moving metal object entering into said first metal detection area or said second metal detection area, said warning message being visible to pedestrians walking toward the intersection.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an alert beam projector that is responsive to said sensing system, said sensing system causing said alert beam projector to project an alert beam into or near the intersection when at least one of said first unitary sensor or said second, unitary sensor senses the moving metal object entering into said first metal detection area or said second metal detection area, said alert beam being visible to pedestrians walking toward the intersection.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first unitary sensor detects with microwaves when the pedestrian enters said first pedestrian detection area, said second unitary sensor detects with microwaves when the pedestrian enters said second pedestrian detection area.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensing system does not responsively cause said projector to project a warning message into or near said intersection if a metal object is detected to be moving in a direction that is not toward said intersection.

10. An apparatus for detecting and for warning pedestrian traffic approaching an intersection comprising:

a sensing system for controlling a projector and for identifying traffic crossing at the intersection, said sensing system having a first unitary sensor and a second unitary sensor, each of said first unitary sensor and said second unitary sensor being capable of detecting a pedestrian and a moving metal object, each of said first unitary sensor and said second unitary sensor having an activatable pedestrian detection mode;

said first unitary sensor being positioned to detect, with microwaves, the moving metal object approaching the intersection from a first direction when the moving metal object enters a first metal detection area, said second unitary sensor being positioned to detect, with microwaves, the moving metal object approaching the intersection from a second direction when the moving metal object enters a second metal detection area;

said first unitary sensor being positioned to detect the pedestrian approaching the intersection from a first direction when the pedestrian enters a first pedestrian detection area, said second unitary sensor being positioned to detect the pedestrian approaching the intersection from a second direction when the pedestrian enters a second pedestrian detection area;

said sensing system being responsive to said first unitary sensor and said second unitary sensor;

said sensing system causing said projector to project a warning message into or near said intersection and a secondary arrow signal pointing toward said first metal detection area when said first unitary sensor senses the moving metal object entering into said first metal detection area and in a direction that is toward the intersection, said sensing system causing said projector to project a warning message into or near said intersection and a secondary arrow signal pointing toward said second metal detection area when said second unitary sensor senses the moving metal object entering into said second metal detection area and in a direction that is toward the intersection, said warning message and said secondary arrow signal being visible to pedestrians walking toward the intersection; and

said sensing system causing said projector to project a warning message into or, near said intersection when said pedestrian detection mode of said first unitary sensor is activated and first unitary sensor senses the pedestrian entering into said first pedestrian detection area, said sensing system causing said projector to project a warning message into or near said intersection when said pedestrian detection mode of said second unitary sensor is activated and said second unitary sensor senses the pedestrian entering into said second pedestrian detection area, said warning message being visible to pedestrians walking toward the intersection.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said moving metal object is a forklift.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising an illuminated warning sign, said illuminated warning sign being responsive to said sensing system and located at a position that is visible to pedestrians walking toward the intersection, said sensing system causing said warning sign to illuminate when said first unitary sensor or said second unitary sensor senses the moving metal object enter into said first metal detection area or said second metal detection area.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said warning message is a rotating message.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein at least one of said first unitary sensor and said second unitary sensor are positioned by a dome that is suspended over the intersection.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein at least one of said first unitary sensor and said second unitary sensor are positioned by a dome that is suspended over the intersection, said sensing system causing at least one illuminated warning message within said dome to illuminate when at least one of said first unitary sensor and said second unitary sensor senses a moving metal object entering into said first metal detection area or said second metal detection area, said warning message being visible to pedestrians walking toward the intersection.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising an alert beam projector that is responsive to said sensing system, said sensing system causing said alert beam projector to project an alert beam into or near the intersection when at least one of said first unitary sensor or said second unitary sensor senses the moving metal object entering into said first metal detection area or said second metal detection area, said alert beam being visible to pedestrians walking toward the intersection.

17. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said first unitary sensor detects with microwaves when the pedestrian enters said first pedestrian detection area, said second unitary sensor detects with microwaves when the pedestrian enters said second pedestrian detection area.

18. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said sensing system does not responsively cause said projector to project a warning message into or near said intersection if a metal object is detected to be moving, in a direction that is not toward said intersection.

19. An apparatus for detecting and for warning pedestrian traffic approaching an intersection comprising:

a sensing system for controlling a projector and for identifying traffic crossing at the intersection, said sensing system having a first unitary sensor, a second unitary sensor, a third unitary sensor, and a fourth unitary sensor, each of said first, second, third, and fourth unitary sensors being capable of detecting a pedestrian and a moving metal object, each of said first, second, third, and fourth unitary sensors having an activatable pedestrian detection mode;

said first unitary sensor being positioned to detect, with microwaves, the moving metal object approaching the intersection from a first direction when the moving metal object enters a first metal detection area, said second unitary sensor being positioned to detect, with microwaves, the moving metal object approaching the intersection from a second direction when the moving metal object enters a second metal detection area, said third unitary sensor being positioned to detect, with microwaves, the moving metal object approaching the intersection from a third direction when the moving metal object enters a third metal detection area, said fourth unitary sensor being positioned to detect, with microwaves, the moving, metal object approaching the intersection from a fourth direction when the moving metal, object enters a fourth metal detection area;

said first unitary sensor being positioned to detect the pedestrian approaching the intersection from a first direction when the pedestrian enters a first pedestrian detection area, said second unitary sensor being positioned to detect the pedestrian approaching, the intersection from a second direction when the pedestrian enters a second pedestrian detection area, said third unitary sensor being positioned to detect the pedestrian approaching the intersection from a third direction when the pedestrian enters a third pedestrian detection area, said fourth unitary sensor being positioned to detect the pedestrian approaching the intersection from a fourth direction when the pedestrian enters a fourth pedestrian detection area;

said sensing system being responsive to said first, second, third, and fourth unitary sensors;

said sensing system causing said projector to project a warning message into or near said intersection when said first unitary sensor senses the moving metal object enter into said first metal detection area and in a direction that toward the intersection, said sensing system causing said projector to project a warning message into or near said, intersection when said second unitary sensor senses the moving, metal object enter into said second, metal detection area and in a direction that is toward the intersection, said sensing system causing said projector to project a warning message into or near said intersection when said third unitary sensor senses the moving metal object enter into said third metal detection area and in a direction that is toward the intersection, said sensing system causing said projector to project a warning message into or near said intersection when said fourth unitary sensor senses the moving metal object enter into said fourth metal detection area and in a direction that is toward the intersection, said warning message being visible to pedestrians walking toward the intersection; and

said sensing system causing said projector to project a warning message into or near said intersection when said pedestrian detection, mode of said first unitary sensor is activated and said first unitary sensor senses the pedestrian enter into said first pedestrian detection area, said sensing system causing said projector to project a warning, message into or near said intersection when said pedestrian detection mode of said second unitary sensor is activated and said second unitary sensor senses the pedestrian enter into said second pedestrian detection area, said sensing system causing said projector to project a warning message into or near said intersection when said pedestrian detection mode of said third unitary sensor is activated and said third unitary sensor senses the pedestrian enter into said third pedestrian detection area, said sensing system causing said projector to project a warning message into or near said intersection when said pedestrian detection mode of said fourth unitary sensor is activated and said fourth unitary sensor senses the pedestrian enter into said fourth, pedestrian detection area, said warning message from said projector being visible to pedestrians walking toward the intersection.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said moving metal object is a forklift.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising an illuminated warning sign, said illuminated warning sign being responsive to said sensing system and located at a position that is visible to pedestrians walking toward the intersection, said sensing system causing said warning sign to illuminate when said first unitary sensor or said second unitary sensor senses the moving metal object enter into said first metal detection area or said second metal detection area.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said warning message is a rotating message.

23. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein at least one of said first unitary sensor, said second unitary sensor, said third unitary sensor, and said fourth unitary sensor are positioned by a dome that is suspended over the intersection.

24. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth unitary sensors are positioned by a dome that is suspended over the intersection, said sensing system causing at least one illuminated warning message within said dome to illuminate when at least one of said first, second, third, and fourth unitary sensors senses a moving metal object entering into said first, second, third, or fourth metal detection areas, said warning message being visible to pedestrians walking toward the intersection.

25. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising an alert beam projector that is responsive to said, sensing system, said sensing system causing said alert beam projector to project an alert beam into or near the intersection when at least one of said first, second, third, or fourth unitary sensors senses the moving metal object entering into said first, second, third, Or fourth metal detection areas, said alert beam being visible to pedestrians walking toward the intersection.

26. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said first unitary sensor detects with microwaves when the pedestrian enters said first pedestrian detection area, said second unitary sensor detects with microwaves when the pedestrian enters said second pedestrian detection area, said third unitary sensor detects with microwaves when the pedestrian enters said third pedestrian detection area, and said fourth unitary sensor detects with microwaves when the pedestrian enters said fourth pedestrian detection area.

27. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said sensing system does not responsively cause said projector to project a warning message into or near said intersection if a metal object is detected to be moving in a direction that is not toward said intersection.

28. An intersection arrangement comprising:

an aisle or roadway, said aisle or roadway allowing for the movement of forklifts and pedestrians along the length of said aisle or roadway;

a pedestrian walkway, said pedestrian walkway meeting and intersecting said aisle or roadway at an intersection located at a point along the length of said aisle or roadway;

an apparatus for detecting and for warning pedestrian traffic approaching said intersection comprising;

a sensing system for controlling a projector and for identifying traffic crossing at the intersection, said sensing system having a first unitary sensor and a second unitary sensor, each of said first unitary sensor and said second unitary sensor being capable of detecting a pedestrian and a moving metal object, each of said first unitary sensor and said second unitary sensor having an activatable pedestrian detection mode;

said first unitary sensor being positioned to detect, with microwaves, the moving metal object approaching the intersection from a first direction when the moving metal object enters a first metal detection area, said second unitary sensor being positioned to detect, with microwaves, the moving metal object approaching the intersection from a second direction when the moving metal object enters a second metal detection area;

said first unitary sensor being positioned to detect the pedestrian approaching the intersection from a first direction when the pedestrian enters a first pedestrian detection area, said second unitary sensor being positioned to detect the pedestrian approaching the intersection, from a second direction when the pedestrian enters a second pedestrian detection area;

said sensing system being responsive to said first unitary sensor and said second unitary sensor;

said sensing system causing said projector to project a warning message into or near said intersection when said first unitary sensor senses the moving metal object enter into said first metal detection area and in a direction that toward the intersection, said sensing system causing said projector to project a warning message into or near said intersection when said second unitary sensor senses the moving metal object enter into said second metal detection area and in a direction that is toward the intersection, said warning message being visible to pedestrians walking toward the intersection; and

said, sensing system causing said projector to project a warning message into or near said intersection when said pedestrian detection mode and said first unitary sensor is activated and said first unitary sensor senses the pedestrian entering into said first pedestrian detection area, said sensing system causing said projector to project a warning message into or near said intersection when said pedestrian detection mode of said second unitary sensor is activated and said second unitary sensor senses the pedestrian entering into said second pedestrian detection area, said warning message being visible to pedestrians walking toward the intersection.

29. The intersection arrangement of claim 28 wherein said moving metal object is a forklift.

30. The intersection arrangement of claim 28 further comprising an illuminated warning sign, said illuminated warning sign being responsive to said sensing system and located at a position that is visible to pedestrians walking toward the intersection, said sensing system causing said warning sign to illuminate when said first unitary sensor or said second unitary sensor senses the moving metal object enter into said first metal detection area or said second metal detection area.

31. The intersection arrangement of claim 28 wherein said warning message is a rotating message.

32. The intersection arrangement of claim 28 wherein at least one of said first unitary sensor and said second unitary sensor are positioned by a dome that is suspended over the intersection.

33. The intersection arrangement of claim 28 wherein at least one of said first unitary sensor and said second unitary sensor are positioned by a dome that is suspended over the intersection, said sensing system causing at least one illuminated warning message within said, dome to illuminate when at least one of said first unitary sensor and said second unitary sensor senses a moving metal object entering into said first metal detection area or said second metal detection area, said warning message being visible to pedestrians walking toward the intersection.

34. The intersection arrangement of claim 28 further comprising an alert beam projector that is responsive to said sensing system, said sensing system causing said alert beam projector to project an alert beam into, or near the intersection when at least one of said first unitary sensor or said second unitary sensor senses the moving metal object entering into said first metal detection area or said second metal detection area, said alert beam being visible to pedestrians walking toward the intersection.

35. The intersection arrangement of claim 28 wherein said first unitary sensor detects with microwaves when the pedestrian enters said first pedestrian detection area, said second unitary sensor detects with microwaves when the pedestrian enters said second pedestrian detection area.

36. The intersection arrangement of claim 28 wherein said sensing system does not responsively cause said projector to project a warning message into or near said intersection if a metal object is detected to be moving in a direction that is not toward said intersection.

37. A method for detecting and for warning pedestrian traffic approaching an intersection comprising:

providing a sensing system for controlling a projector and for identifying traffic crossing at the intersection, said sensing system having a first unitary sensor and a second unitary sensor, each of said first unitary sensor and said, second unitary sensor being capable of detecting a pedestrian and a moving metal object, each of said first unitary sensor and said second unitary sensor having an activatable pedestrian detection mode;

positioning said first unitary sensor to detect, with microwaves, the moving metal object approaching the intersection from a first direction when the moving metal object enters a first metal detection area, positioning said second unitary sensor to detect, with microwaves, the moving metal object approaching the intersection from a second direction when the moving metal object enters a second metal detection area;

positioning said first unitary sensor to detect the pedestrian approaching the intersection from a first direction when the pedestrian enters a first pedestrian detection area, positioning said second unitary sensor to detect the pedestrian approaching the intersection from a second direction when the pedestrian enters a second pedestrian detection area, said sensing system being responsive to said first unitary sensor and said second unitary sensor;

causing said sensing system to project with said projector a warning message into or near said intersection when said first unitary sensor senses the moving metal object entering into said first metal detection area and in a direction that is toward the intersection, causing said sensing system to project with said projector a warning message into or near said intersection when said second unitary sensor senses the moving metal object enter into said second metal detection area and in a direction that is toward the intersection, said warning message projected to be visible to pedestrians walking toward the intersection;

activating said pedestrian detection mode of said first unitary sensor to cause said sensing system to cause said projector to project a warning message into or near said intersection when, said pedestrian detection mode and said first unitary sensor is activated and said first unitary sensor senses the pedestrian entering into said first pedestrian detection area, activating said pedestrian detection mode of said second unitary sensor to cause said sensing system to cause said projector to project a warning message into or near said intersection when said pedestrian detection mode of said second unitary sensor is activated and said second unitary sensor senses the pedestrian entering into said second pedestrian detection area, said warning message being visible to pedestrians walking toward the intersection.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein said moving metal object is a forklift.

39. The method of claim 37 further comprising providing an illuminated warning sign that is responsive to said sensing system and located at a position that is visible to pedestrians walking toward the intersection, and causing with said sensing system said warning sign to illuminate when said first unitary sensor or said second unitary sensor senses the moving metal object enter into said first metal detection area or said second metal detection area.

40. The method of claim 37 wherein said warning message is a rotating message.

41. The method of claim 37 wherein at least one of said first unitary sensor and said second unitary sensor are positioned by a dome that is suspended over the intersection.

42. The method, of claim 37 further comprising positioning at least one of said first unitary sensor and said second unitary sensor with a dome and suspending said dome over the intersection, causing said sensing system to illuminate a warning message within said dome to illuminate when at least one of said first unitary sensor and, said second unitary sensor senses a moving metal object entering into said first metal detection area or said second metal detection area, said warning message being, visible to pedestrians walking toward the intersection.

43. The method of claim 37 further comprising providing an alert beam projector that is responsive to said sensing system, causing with said sensing system said alert beam projector to project an alert beam into or near the intersection when at least one of said first unitary sensor or said second unitary sensor senses the moving metal object entering into said first metal detection area or said second metal detection area, said alert beam being visible to pedestrians walking toward the intersection.

44. The method of claim 37 further comprising using microwaves to detect with said first unitary sensor when the pedestrian enters said first pedestrian detection area, using microwaves to detect with said second unitary sensor when the pedestrian enters said second pedestrian detection area.

45. The method of claim 37 wherein said sensing system does not responsively cause said projector to project a warning message into or near said intersection if a metal object is detected to be moving in a direction that is not toward said intersection.