Patents by Inventor Brad Cross

Brad Cross has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11670165
    Abstract: A system and method that enables individual travelers, including pedestrians or individuals on smaller conveyances, to communicate their location and direction of travel to signal light controllers at an intersection, enables traffic networks to receive this communication and output the detected data to the corresponding intersection traffic-signal controller to allow for individuals not in standard motor vehicles to be detected by traffic detection systems and to allow for priority of traveler flow either independent of vehicle use, or based on specifics of the vehicle used. The system also provides feedback to the traveler to provide information about the actions of the system or to alter the movement of the traveler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: STC, Inc.
    Inventor: Brad Cross
  • Patent number: 11587439
    Abstract: A method for permitting a target vehicle to safely violate a right-of-way system of rules is described. The method may comprise, amongst other things, providing a roadway system, wherein the movements of vehicles within the roadway system are governed by a right-of-way system of rules; controlling a traffic control system including a plurality of traffic control signals in a manner that causes the plurality of traffic control signals to change in accordance with default control pattern for implementing the right-of-way system of rules; and modifying the default control pattern. By doings so, the method may permit a target vehicle to safely violate the right-of-way system of rules. Similarly, by doing so, the method may prevent a plurality of secondary vehicles from traveling along or through a predicted path of the target vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: STC, Inc.
    Inventor: Brad Cross
  • Publication number: 20220165154
    Abstract: A system and method that enables individual travelers, including pedestrians or individuals on smaller conveyances, to communicate their location and direction of travel to signal light controllers at an intersection, enables traffic networks to receive this communication and output the detected data to the corresponding intersection traffic-signal controller to allow for individuals not in standard motor vehicles to be detected by traffic detection systems and to allow for priority of traveler flow either independent of vehicle use, or based on specifics of the vehicle used. The system also provides feedback to the traveler to provide information about the actions of the system or to alter the movement of the traveler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventor: Brad Cross
  • Publication number: 20220130243
    Abstract: Systems and methods for system for controlling a traffic grid, the system comprising a traffic grid including a first roadway and a second roadway, the second roadway crossing the first roadway at an intersection; a special transit lane included within at least one of the first roadway and the second roadway, the special transit lane being configured to share both personal vehicular traffic and special vehicular traffic; a detector configured to detect the presence of a special vehicle within a detection zone, which detection zone is formed within the special transit lane in a predetermined area proximate to the intersection; and a signal light proximate to the intersection configured to control traffic traveling through the intersection, the signal light having a controller; wherein the controller controls the signal light to operate in a first mode of operation based, at least in part, on a detection of a special vehicle by the detector within the detection zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventor: Brad Cross
  • Patent number: 11295612
    Abstract: A system and method that enables individual travelers, including pedestrians or individuals on smaller conveyances, to communicate their location and direction of travel to signal light controllers at an intersection, enables traffic networks to receive this communication and output the detected data to the corresponding intersection traffic-signal controller to allow for individuals not in standard motor vehicles to be detected by traffic detection systems and to allow for priority of traveler flow either independent of vehicle use, or based on specifics of the vehicle used. The system also provides feedback to the traveler to provide information about the actions of the system or to alter the movement of the traveler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: STC, Inc.
    Inventor: Brad Cross
  • Publication number: 20220095316
    Abstract: Use of a mobile user device to identify the individual operating a vehicle, which, either alone or in conjunction with a vehicle control unit (VCU), may be used to establish vehicle priority in connection with traffic control systems. This provides for a system that provides priority for the individual based on their individual and current need for priority, as opposed to providing priority generally for a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Brad Cross, Terry Fryar, Nicholas Freed
  • Publication number: 20220051561
    Abstract: Systems and methods that allow use of simple priority VCUs (those that can only request an increased priority) to operate in a manner that simulates much more sophisticated schedule-adherence or ETA-type traffic control systems without the need to upgrade vehicle hardware. Instead, tracking of the vehicle, whether provided by other systems or by the VCU operating in conjunction with certain prepared points or zones is used to determine if the VCU equipped vehicle is ahead or behind schedule and operation of the VCU itself is altered to modify the expected arrival time of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: Brad Cross, Nick Freed
  • Patent number: 11250700
    Abstract: Systems and methods for system for controlling a traffic grid, the system comprising a traffic grid including a first roadway and a second roadway, the second roadway crossing the first roadway at an intersection; a special transit lane included within at least one of the first roadway and the second roadway, the special transit lane being configured to share both personal vehicular traffic and special vehicular traffic; a detector configured to detect the presence of a special vehicle within a detection zone, which detection zone is formed within the special transit lane in a predetermined area proximate to the intersection; and a signal light proximate to the intersection configured to control traffic traveling through the intersection, the signal light having a controller; wherein the controller controls the signal light to operate in a first mode of operation based, at least in part, on a detection of a special vehicle by the detector within the detection zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: STC, Inc.
    Inventor: Brad Cross
  • Patent number: 11202302
    Abstract: Use of a mobile user device to identify the individual operating a vehicle, which, either alone or in conjunction with a vehicle control unit (VCU), may be used to establish vehicle priority in connection with traffic control systems. This provides for a system that provides priority for the individual based on their individual and current need for priority, as opposed to providing priority generally for a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: STC, Inc
    Inventors: Brad Cross, Terry Fryar, Nicholas Freed
  • Publication number: 20210383690
    Abstract: A system and method that enables individual travelers, including pedestrians or individuals on smaller conveyances, to communicate their location and direction of travel to signal light controllers at an intersection, enables traffic networks to receive this communication and output the detected data to the corresponding intersection traffic-signal controller to allow for individuals not in standard motor vehicles to be detected by traffic detection systems and to allow for priority of traveler flow either independent of vehicle use, or based on specifics of the vehicle used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Brad Cross, Terry Fryar, Nicholas Freed
  • Patent number: 11170642
    Abstract: Systems and methods that allow use of simple priority VCUs (those that can only request an increased priority) to operate in a manner that simulates much more sophisticated schedule-adherence or ETA-type traffic control systems without the need to upgrade vehicle hardware. Instead, tracking of the vehicle, whether provided by other systems or by the VCU operating in conjunction with certain prepared points or zones is used to determine if the VCU equipped vehicle is ahead or behind schedule and operation of the VCU itself is altered to modify the expected arrival time of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: STC, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad Cross, Nick Freed
  • Publication number: 20210295686
    Abstract: A system and method that enables individual travelers, including pedestrians or individuals on smaller conveyances, to communicate their location and direction of travel to signal light controllers at an intersection, enables traffic networks to receive this communication and output the detected data to the corresponding intersection traffic-signal controller to allow for individuals not in standard motor vehicles to be detected by traffic detection systems and to allow for priority of traveler flow either independent of vehicle use, or based on specifics of the vehicle used. The system also provides feedback to the traveler to provide information about the actions of the system or to alter the movement of the traveler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventor: Brad Cross
  • Patent number: 11113963
    Abstract: A system and method that enables individual travelers, including pedestrians or individuals on smaller conveyances, to communicate their location and direction of travel to signal light controllers at an intersection, enables traffic networks to receive this communication and output the detected data to the corresponding intersection traffic-signal controller to allow for individuals not in standard motor vehicles to be detected by traffic detection systems and to allow for priority of traveler flow either independent of vehicle use, or based on specifics of the vehicle used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: STC, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad Cross, Terry Fryar, Nicholas Freed
  • Publication number: 20210114638
    Abstract: Systems and devices that will notify train system maintenance workers of an approaching vehicle and, conversely, will notify the operators and administrators of train systems of train system maintenance workers within the vicinity of an approaching section of track. Embodiments of the safety systems and methods disclosed herein may use track and direction information and/or LiDAR to assist in determining vehicle positioning and/or speed particularly where there are two or more possible tracks or vehicle paths in close proximity to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Brad Cross, Destry Diefenbach, Pete Ksycki, Nicholas Freed
  • Publication number: 20210107542
    Abstract: Systems and devices that will notify train system maintenance workers of an approaching vehicle and, conversely, will notify the operators and administrators of train systems of train system maintenance workers within the vicinity of an approaching section of track. Embodiments of the safety systems and methods disclosed herein may use proportional warnings based on the speed or proximity of approaching vehicles as well as the specific location of such approaching vehicles relative to worker positions to help avoid worker warning fatigue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Brad Cross, Destry Diefenbach, Pete Ksycki, Nicholas Freed
  • Publication number: 20200312132
    Abstract: Systems and methods that allow use of simple priority VCUs (those that can only request an increased priority) to operate in a manner that simulates much more sophisticated schedule-adherence or ETA-type traffic control systems without the need to upgrade vehicle hardware. Instead, tracking of the vehicle, whether provided by other systems or by the VCU operating in conjunction with certain prepared points or zones is used to determine if the VCU equipped vehicle is ahead or behind schedule and operation of the VCU itself is altered to modify the expected arrival time of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Brad Cross, Nick Freed
  • Publication number: 20200294396
    Abstract: Systems and methods for system for controlling a traffic grid, the system comprising a traffic grid including a first roadway and a second roadway, the second roadway crossing the first roadway at an intersection; a special transit lane included within at least one of the first roadway and the second roadway, the special transit lane being configured to share both personal vehicular traffic and special vehicular traffic; a detector configured to detect the presence of a special vehicle within a detection zone, which detection zone is formed within the special transit lane in a predetermined area proximate to the intersection; and a signal light proximate to the intersection configured to control traffic traveling through the intersection, the signal light having a controller; wherein the controller controls the signal light to operate in a first mode of operation based, at least in part, on a detection of a special vehicle by the detector within the detection zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventor: Brad Cross
  • Publication number: 20200273330
    Abstract: A system and method that enables individual travelers, including pedestrians or individuals on smaller conveyances, to communicate their location and direction of travel to signal light controllers at an intersection, enables traffic networks to receive this communication and output the detected data to the corresponding intersection traffic-signal controller to allow for individuals not in standard motor vehicles to be detected by traffic detection systems and to allow for priority of traveler flow either independent of vehicle use, or based on specifics of the vehicle used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Brad Cross, Terry Fryar, Nicholas Freed
  • Publication number: 20200193818
    Abstract: A method for permitting a target vehicle to safely violate a right-of-way system of rules is described. The method may comprise, amongst other things, providing a roadway system, wherein the movements of vehicles within the roadway system are governed by a right-of-way system of rules; controlling a traffic control system including a plurality of traffic control signals in a manner that causes the plurality of traffic control signals to change in accordance with default control pattern for implementing the right-of-way system of rules; and modifying the default control pattern. By doings so, the method may permit a target vehicle to safely violate the right-of-way system of rules. Similarly, by doing so, the method may prevent a plurality of secondary vehicles from traveling along or through a predicted path of the target vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventor: Brad Cross
  • Patent number: 10679495
    Abstract: A system and method that enables individual travelers, including pedestrians or individuals on smaller conveyances, to communicate their location and direction of travel to signal light controllers at an intersection, enables traffic networks to receive this communication and output the detected data to the corresponding intersection traffic-signal controller to allow for individuals not in standard motor vehicles to be detected by traffic detection systems and to allow for priority of traveler flow either independent of vehicle use, or based on specifics of the vehicle used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: STC, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad Cross, Terry Fryar, Nicholas Freed