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Speed limit detecting system

  • US 6,213,401 B1
  • Filed: 11/19/1998
  • Issued: 04/10/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
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First Claim
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1. A speed limit detecting system for detecting and displaying a speed limit of a roadway to a driver of a vehicle, said system comprising:

  • bar coding indicia being displayed on a road sign, said road sign having alpha-numeric indicia indicating a speed limit;

    said bar coding indicia graphically indicating predetermined information, said predetermined information comprising the speed limit of said roadway;

    said bar coding indicia being provided on a sticker being generally rectangular in configuration and having an adhesive provided thereon adhesively coupling said sticker to said road sign;

    a scanner for scanning said bar coding indicia to obtain said predetermined information of said bar coding indicia, said scanner being provided in a vehicle;

    said scanner having a transmitter for transmitting a signal towards said bar coding indicia and a receiver for receiving a reflected signal from said bar coding indicia to transmit said information of said bar coding indicia to said scanner;

    said scanner having a visual display for visually displaying the predetermined information of the bar coding indicia to a user, wherein said visual display displays the speed limit displayed on the road sign;

    said scanner having a light source for providing a visible indicator to the user when said scanner scans bar code indicia from a road sign, said light source activating to provide light therefrom when said scanner scans bar code indicia on a road sign such that the user is alerted that another road sign and has been scanned by said scanner and that said predetermined information from another road sign is compared to said information on said visual display;

    said scanner having an audio speaker for projecting an audible alert to the user when said scanner scans bar code indicia on a road sign;

    said audio speaker having a volume control for permitting the user to selectively control the volume of the audible alert of the audio speaker;

    said scanner having a power switch for selectively activating and deactivating said scanner, said power switch having a push-button actuator adapted for depression by a user to activate said power switch;

    said scanner being electrically connectable to a power source of the vehicle, wherein said scanner has a power cord for electrically connecting said scanner to the power source of the vehicle, said power cord having a plug adapted for insertion into a car electrical socket electrically connected to the power source of the vehicle;

    said scanner being provided in a housing having a generally rectangular configuration, said housing having top and bottom faces, front and back ends, and a pair of sides extending between said front and back ends of said housing;

    said housing having a thickness defined between said top and bottom faces of said housing, a length defined between said front and back ends of said housing, and a width defined between said sides of said housing;

    said transmitter having an emitter for emitting said signal and said receiver having a detector for detecting said reflected signal;

    said emitter and detector being located on said front end of said housing, said front end of said housing being adapted for positioning in a direction towards a front end of the vehicle;

    said visual display, said light source, and said actuator of said power switch being located on said back end of said housing, said back end of said housing being for positioning in a direction towards a rear end of the vehicle;

    said volume control being located on one of said sides of said housing, said power cord being extended from another side of said housing; and

    said bottom face of said housing being adapted for attachment to a surface in a passenger compartment of the vehicle, wherein said bottom face of said housing has a portion of a hooks and loops fastener provided thereon adapted for coupling to a complementary portion of the hooks and loops fastener provided on the surface of the passenger compartment;

    a radio transmitter for transmitting a radio signal containing predetermined information, said transmitter comprising a low frequency radio frequency identification transmitter, said radio transmitter being provided in a housing, a battery power source being provided in said housing and being electrically connected to said radio transmitter, said housing having a plurality of photo-voltaic cells provided thereon, said photo-voltaic cells being electronically connected to said battery power source for recharging said battery source from energy from sunlight;

    said housing being adapted for mounting to a support structure of the road sign; and

    said scanner having a radio detector for detecting said radio signal transmitted by said radio transmitter, said detector being electrically connected to said visual display for displaying said predetermined information of said radio signal.

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