Sequential and coordinated flashing of electronic roadside flares with active energy conservation

• US 9,835,319 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2015
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daniel Selevan, James R. Selevan
• Original Assignee: Daniel Selevan, James R. Selevan
• Inventors: Selevan, James R., Selevan, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Laura
• Application Number:
  US14/941,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20160186971A1
• Time in Patent Office: 751 Days
• Field of Search: 362486, 362398, 36224902, 3621531
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 2/00 Systems of electric lighting devices systems employing both electric and non-electric light sources or exchangeable light sources F21L27/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0407 for flashing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0471 the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0076 Safety or security signalisation, e.g. smoke or burglar alarms, earthquake detectors; Self-defence devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/02 for roads, paths or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/006 Portable traffic signalling devices G08B5/004 takes precedence; emergency signalling devices to be placed on roads or vehicles B60Q7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0955 transportable
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light

Abstract

Electronic light emitting flares and related methods. Flares of the present invention include various features such as self-synchronization, remote control, motion-actuated or percussion-actuated features, dynamic shifting between side-emitting and top-emitting light emitters in response to changes in positional orientation (e.g., vertical vs. horizontal) of the flare; overrides to cause continued emission from side-emitting or top-emitting light emitters irrespective of changes in the flare'"'"'s positional orientation; use of the flare(s) for illumination of traffic cones and other hazard marking or traffic safety objects or devices, group on/off features, frequency specificity to facilitate use of separate groups of flares in proximity to one another, selection and changing of flashing patterns and others.

Claims

1. An electronic light emitting flare comprising:

a housing comprising a top wall, bottom wall and at least one side wall, wherein at least a portion of the side wall is translucent and at least a portion of the top wall is translucent;

a plurality of light emitters positioned within the housing;

a power source; and

electronic circuitry connected to the power source and light emitters to drive at least some of the light emitters to emit flashes of light directed through said at least one translucent portion of the housing side wall; and

switching circuitry to switch back and forth between a) a side emitting mode wherein light emitters emit flashes of light directed through said at least one translucent portion of the side wall and b) a top emitting mode wherein light emitters emit flashes of light directed through said at least one translucent portion of the top wall.

2. A flare according to claim 1 wherein the electronic circuitry is adapted to cause the flare to synchronize the timing of its emission of light with that of neighboring flares in a group or array of said flares.

3. A flare according to claim 2 wherein the electronic circuitry is adapted to employ a mesh network or flocking protocol to synchronize its emission of light with that of neighboring flares in a group or array of said flares.

4. A flare according to claim 1 wherein the electronic circuitry comprises a motion or percussion sensor and causes the flare to turn on or off in response to motion or percussion sensed by the motion or percussion sensor.

5. A flare according to claim 4 wherein the motion or percussion sensor is selected from motion sensors, percussion sensors, accelerometers, tilt sensors, gyroscopes and micro electrical mechanical systems.

6. A flare according to claim 1 wherein the electronic circuitry is adapted to communicate with other flares in a group or array such that turning on or off of one flare in the group or array causes likewise turning on or off of other flares in the group or array.

7. A flare 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.

8. A flare according to claim 7 wherein the motion activated switching apparatus causes dynamic light emitters orientation such that the flare switches back and forth between the first and second modes as the flare is moved back and forth between a horizontal orientation and a vertical orientation.

9. A flare according to claim 8 further comprising one or more magnets for magnetically attaching the flare to a ferromagnetic member.

10. A flare according to claim 8 wherein the electronic circuitry includes a locking function which overrides the dynamic light emitter orientation.

11. A system comprising a flare according to claim 1 in combination with a traffic cone or other traffic marking or channelizing device that is positionable on the ground or road surface over top of the flare such that flashes of light emitted out of said at least one translucent portion of the top wall of the flare will illuminate the cone or other traffic marking or channelizing device.

12. A flare according to claim 1 further comprising an on/off button and a utility button, the on/off button being useable to turn the flare on and off and the utility button being useable to trigger the flare to perform certain function.

13. A flare according to claim 1 configured such that, when the flare is placed on a horizontal road surface while operating in the side-emitting mode, the emitted light will angle upwardly from horizontal.

14. A system comprising a plurality of flares according to claim 1.

15. A system according to claim 14 wherein the flares communicate such that when an on/off switch of one of the flares is turned on, all of the other flares will also turn on.

16. A system according to claim 15 wherein the flares further communicate such that when an on/off switch on one of the flares is turned off, all of the other flares will also turn off.

17. A flare according to claim 1 configured such that it may be placed in carrying case while its light emitters continue to emit light.

18. A system according to claim 14 wherein the electronic circuitry is programmed to cause the flares to flash according to a selected flashing pattern that has been selected from a plurality of flashing patterns.

19. A system according to claim 18 wherein the available flashing patters comprise a) a bright, slow and smooth pattern, b) pairs of flares flashing in a series, c) two flares flashing separated by a non-flashing flare and a tail-off flash pattern.

20. A flare according to claim 1 wherein the electronic circuitry is adapted to receive control signals from a remote control devices in addition to communication from neighboring flares.

21. A system comprising a plurality of flares according to claim 20 in combination with a remote control device.

22. A system according to claim 21 wherein the remote control devices is selected from:

a smart phone, cellular communication, infra-red controller, dedicated unit or computer.