Traffic safety integrated system, particularly in low visibility conditions and method of use of same

• US 7,980,782 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2005
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Astron Fiamm Safety S.p.A.
• Original Assignee: Astron Fiamm Safety S.p.A.
• Inventors: Bleiner, Thomas, Dessert-Vidalet, Bruno
• Primary Examiner(s): Addie; Raymond W
• Application Number:
  US11/572,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20080044224A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,178 Days
• Field of Search: 404 6- 16
• US Class Current: 404/9
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element

Abstract

An integrated system for traffic safety (1), particularly in low visibility conditions, for use on a site (2) of a road, railway, airport, harbor or the like, which comprises road markings and/or signs (3). The system (1) comprises at least one light-emitting device (4) for generating at least one light beam (5). One feature of the invention is that it comprises means (6) for controlling the light-emitting device (4) to generate the beam (5). The device has such a predetermined relative position with respect to said site (2) as to selectively interact with the road markings and/or signs (3) and to make the beam (5) only visible to the drivers that drive over the site (2) in a predetermined drive direction, and not to those who drive in the opposite direction. An integrated method for traffic safety, in conditions and sites as described above, including the steps of providing road markings and/or signs (3) on a road site (2) (step a), providing at least one light-emitting device (4) for emitting at least one light beam (5) (step b), emitting the beam (5) (step c) and conforming and orienting it toward the site (2) to selectively hit the road markings and/or signs (3) thereon (step d).

Claims

1. A traffic safety integrated system for a site of a road, railway, airport, or harbor having low visibility conditions, comprising:

one or more of road markings provided on a traffic area of said site;

at least one light-emitting device for generating at least one light beam, the light-emitting device being disposed at a distance from the traffic area and comprising,

a housing,

a semiconductor source comprising a laser source or a LED generating the at least one light beam, and

a projector projecting the at least one light beam toward the one or more road markings, the semiconductor source and the projector being disposed within the housing;

a support structure securing said light-emitting device in a predetermined stationary position with respect to said site; and

means for controlling said at least one light-emitting device for generating said at least one beam,

wherein said beam generates an image corresponding to said one or more road markings that is visible to drivers driving over said traffic area in a predetermined drive direction, and not to drivers driving in an opposite direction,

wherein said means for controlling comprise at least one microprocessor control unit for controlling said at least one projector or said semiconductor source, and

wherein said microprocessor control unit comprises adjustment means, for adjusting a distance of a diffractive lens to said semiconductor source, such to change size of said at least one light beam or of said projected images,

thereby alerting the drivers about the one or more road markings and increasing traffic safety.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said predetermined relative position is defined by a vector distance between said at least one light-emitting device and a beam projection area.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said projector further comprises one or more of electronic means for generating images in space or over a substantially flat surface.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said images include one or more holographic images.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image comprises alphanumeric characters.

6. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said electronic means comprise an electronic card.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said distance comprises a length and a relative angle.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one projector comprises a lens, a prism, a mirror, a LCD electron mirror, or a micro-mirror.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one projector comprises at least one diffractive lens.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for supplying power to said light-emitting device, said power supply means comprising at least one battery.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support structure is selected from the group consisting of a tripod, a guardrail, a highway panel, a maintenance vehicle, or a rescue vehicle.

12. A traffic safety integrated system for a site of a road, railway, airport, or harbor having low visibility conditions, comprising:

one or more signs provided on a shoulder of said site;

at least one light-emitting device for generating at least one light beam, the light-emitting device comprising,

a housing,

a semiconductor source comprising a laser source or a LED generating the at least one light beam, and

a projector projecting the at least one light beam toward the one or more signs, the semiconductor source and the projector being disposed within the housing;

a support structure securing said light-emitting device in a predetermined stationary position with respect to said site; and

means for controlling said at least one light-emitting device for generating said at least one beam,

wherein said beam generates an image corresponding to said one or more signs that is visible to drivers driving along said shoulder in a predetermined drive direction, and not to drivers driving in an opposite direction,

wherein said means for controlling comprise at least one microprocessor control unit for controlling said at least one projector or said semiconductor source, and

wherein said microprocessor control unit comprises adjustment means, for adjusting a distance of a diffractive lens to said semiconductor source, such to change size of said at least one light beam or of said projected images,

thereby alerting the drivers about the one or more signs and increasing traffic safety.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said predetermined relative position is defined by a vector distance between said at least one light-emitting device and a beam projection area.

14. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said projector further comprises one or more of electronic means for generating images in space or over a substantially flat surface.

15. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said images include one or more holographic images.

16. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said image comprises alphanumeric characters.