Solar energy lane marking system

• US 7,484,907 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2006
• Issued: 02/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fufu Yang
• Original Assignee: Fufu Yang
• Inventors: Yang, Fufu
• Primary Examiner(s): Addie; Raymond W
• Application Number:
  US11/378,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20070217864A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 404 11- 16, 362/153.1, 340/573.2
• US Class Current: 404/12
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/582 illuminated

Abstract

A solar energy lane marking system for a road surface having at least a traffic lane includes a set of lane markers, and a solar energy collection arrangement. The lane markers are for spacedly providing on the road surface to define the traffic lane, wherein each of the lane markers includes an illuminator for lane illumination. The solar energy collection arrangement is for controlling the set of lane markers in centralized manner to ensure sufficient and consistent illumination of the illuminators, and includes a solar energy collector for collecting solar energy, an energy storage, and a central processing circuitry. The central processing circuitry, which is electrically connecting the energy storage with the illuminators of the lane markers, operatively controls the illuminators of the lane markers as an illuminable road divider for identifying the traffic lane in case of low visibility of the traffic lane.

Claims

1. A solar energy lane marking system for a vehicular road surface having at least a traffic lane, comprising:

at least a set of lane markers spacedly provided on said road surface to define said traffic lane, wherein each of said lane markers comprises an illuminator adapted to automatically and continuously generate illumination for said traffic lane; and

at least a solar energy collection arrangement positioned substantially away from said traffic lane to be set up in an sunny environment so as to ensure that said solar energy collection arrangement has continuous supply of solar energy irrespective of weather condition of where said lane markers are located, and is protected from accidental damage by vehicles traveling along and across said traffic lane, wherein said solar energy collection arrangement comprises;

a solar energy collector comprising a solar energy collecting board adapted for collecting solar energy, and a solar energy conversion circuitry adapted for converting said solar energy collected from said solar energy collecting into electrical energy, wherein said solar energy collector is installed at a position which is spaced apart from said traffic lane for avoiding accidental damage of said solar energy collector by vehicles, and has a sufficient supply of sunlight;

an energy storage comprising a rechargeable battery electrically connecting to said solar energy collector for storing said electrical energy in a centralized manner for said lane markers; and

a central processing circuitry electrically connecting said energy storage with said illuminators of said lane markers, wherein said central processing circuitry centrally controls said illuminators of said lane markers as an illuminating road divider for identifying at least one road segment of said traffic lane, in such a manner that said solar energy collection arrangement is adapted to provide uninterrupted supply of solar energy to said lane markers on said road segment irrespective of weather condition under which said lane markers operate,

wherein said central processing circuitry comprises a recharge control circuitry comprising an overcharge prevention circuitry electrically connected with said energy conversion circuitry to prevent said energy storage for being overcharged, and an energy preventative-lost circuitry which comprises a comparative amplifier (F₃), a variable resistor (VR₁), a plurality of fixed resistors (R₁₁, R₁₂), a plurality of capacitors (C₂₁, C₂₂), and a plurality of diodes (D₃, D₄) electrically connected in a predetermined manner for stopping said rechargeable battery from discharging electricity which is stored therein when said rechargeable battery is idle so as to maintain a predetermined minimum level of energy in said rechargeable battery.

2. The solar energy lane marking system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said solar energy collection arrangement further comprises a signal adjustment circuitry electrically connecting between said central processing circuitry and said energy storage in said centralized manner for optimally adjusting and delivering an electrical signal to said energy storage for recharging thereof, wherein said signal adjustment circuitry is controlled by said central processing circuitry in order to coordinate collection of said solar energy stored in said energy storage at a distance from said lane markers.

3. The solar energy lane marking system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said rechargeable battery of said energy storage is electrically connected with said solar energy conversion circuitry via a Schootky diode (D₀) and control MOSFET (VT₁) and at a position distant away from said lane markers, in such a manner that when said energy collecting board is operated during daytime, said solar energy conversion circuitry is adapted to convert said solar energy into electrical energy and store in said rechargeable battery for use by said lane markers in said centralized manner.

4. The solar energy lane marking system, as recited in claim 2, wherein said rechargeable battery of said energy storage is electrically connected with said solar energy conversion circuitry via a Schootky diode (D₀) and control MOSFET (VT₁) and at a position distant away from said lane markers, in such a manner that when said energy collecting board is operated during daytime, said solar energy conversion circuitry is adapted to convert said solar energy into electrical energy and store in said rechargeable battery for use by said lane markers in said centralized manner.

5. The solar energy lane marking system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said central processing circuitry further comprises a timer circuitry comprising a comparative amplifier (F₂), a plurality of resistors (R₈, R₉, R₁₀), a capacitor C₃, a clamping diode WD₁, a diode D₁₀, and a comparative switch K₁ electrically connected in a such a manner that when said comparative switch (K₁) is in ‘

off’

state, said signal adjustment circuitry is deactivated so that said illuminators are deactivated, and when said solar energy collector is operating in an environment where there is inadequate sunlight, said rechargeable battery is arranged to discharge a predetermined lower level of electrical signal to an inverting terminal of said comparative amplifier (F₂) so as to invoke said comparative amplifier (F₂) to generate a high output for activating said signal adjustment circuitry which then activates said illuminators to provide illumination.

6. The solar energy lane marking system, as recited in claim 3, wherein said central processing circuitry further comprises a timer circuitry comprising a comparative amplifier (F₂), a plurality of resistors (R₈, R₉, R₁₀), a capacitor C₃, a clamping diode WD₁, a diode D₁₀, and a comparative switch K₁ electrically connected in a such a manner that when said comparative switch (K₁) is in ‘

off’

state, said signal adjustment circuitry is deactivated so that said illuminators are deactivated, and when said solar energy collector is operating in an environment where there is inadequate sunlight, said rechargeable battery is arranged to discharge a predetermined lower level of electrical signal to an inverting terminal of said comparative amplifier (F₂) so as to invoke said comparative amplifier (F₂) to generate a high output for activating said signal adjustment circuitry which then activates said illuminators to provide illumination.

7. The solar energy lane marking system, as recited in claim 4, wherein said central processing circuitry further comprises a timer circuitry comprising a comparative amplifier (F₂), a plurality of resistors (R₈, R₉, R₁₀), a capacitor C₃, a clamping diode WD₁, a diode D₁₀, and a comparative switch K₁ electrically connected in a such a manner that when said comparative switch (K₁) is in ‘

off’

state, said signal adjustment circuitry is deactivated so that said illuminators are deactivated, and when said solar energy collector is operating in an environment where there is inadequate sunlight, said rechargeable battery is arranged to discharge a predetermined lower level of electrical signal to an inverting terminal of said comparative amplifier (F₂) so as to invoke said comparative amplifier (F₂) to generate a high output for activating said signal adjustment circuitry which then activates said illuminators to provide illumination.

8. The solar energy lane marking system, as recited in claim 5, wherein said central processing circuitry further comprises a weather sensing circuitry comprising a light sensing circuitry and a smog sensing circuitry electrically connected with each other for sensing a weather condition of said environment in which said lane marking system is operating, in such a manner that when said weather condition is bad, said central processing circuitry is adapted to drive said illuminators to continuously generate enhanced illumination by acquiring solar electricity in a different geographical location distant from said lane markers.

9. The solar energy lane marking system, as recited in claim 6, wherein said central processing circuitry further comprises a weather sensing circuitry comprising a light sensing circuitry and a smog sensing circuitry electrically connected with each other for sensing a weather condition of said environment in which said lane marking system is operating, in such a manner that when said weather condition is bad, said central processing circuitry is adapted to drive said illuminators to continuously generate enhanced illumination by acquiring solar electricity in a different geographical location distant from said lane markers.

10. The solar energy lane marking system, as recited in claim 7, wherein said central processing circuitry further comprises a weather sensing circuitry comprising a light sensing circuitry and a smog sensing circuitry electrically connected with each other for sensing a weather condition of said environment in which said lane marking system is operating, in such a manner that when said weather condition is bad, said central processing circuitry is adapted to drive said illuminators to continuously generate enhanced illumination by acquiring solar electricity in a different geographical location distant from said lane markers.

11. The solar energy lane marking system, as recited in claim 8, wherein further comprising a solar energy housing positioned away from said lane markers to such an extent that adequate solar energy collection is ensured, and a supporting member elevating said solar energy housing at a predetermined height, wherein said solar energy collector is provided on said solar energy housing for centrally collecting said solar energy for use by said lane markers.

12. The solar energy lane marking system, as recited in claim 9, wherein further comprising a solar energy housing positioned away from said lane markers to such an extent that adequate solar energy collection is ensured, and a supporting member elevating said solar energy housing at a predetermined height, wherein said solar energy collector is provided on said solar energy housing for centrally collecting said solar energy for use by said lane markers.

13. The solar energy lane marking system, as recited in claim 10, wherein further comprising a solar energy housing positioned away from said lane markers to such an extent that adequate solar energy collection is ensured, and a supporting member elevating said solar energy housing at a predetermined height, wherein said solar energy collector is provided on said solar energy housing for centrally collecting said solar energy for use by said lane markers.