Pedestrian Guidance Patents (Class 340/944)
  • Patent number: 7889093
    Abstract: A system for displaying safety information—particularly for pedestrian crosswalks and vehicle brake lights—that permits an operator located at a hub to upload and transmit at least one image to select traffic signals or brake light display screen connected within the network. The at least one image depicts a display of regional, local or even neighborhood significance. The operator, or user, can pinpoint which traffic signals will ultimately display these images. The images are locally significant, informative and whimsical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Inventor: Carrie P. Thomas
  • Patent number: 7876927
    Abstract: A preliminary guidance data is determined for the vehicle during an evaluation time window. A vision module collects vision data from a vision module during the evaluation time window. Vision guidance data is determined from the collected vision data. A vision quality estimator estimates vision quality data for at least one of the vision data and the vision guidance data during the evaluation time window. The vision quality data is based on a cross correlations and an r-squared value. An adjuster adjusts the preliminary guidance data to a revised guidance data based on the vision guidance data such that the revised guidance data is registered with or generally coextensive with the vision guidance data, if the vision quality data exceeds a minimum threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Shufeng Han, Terence Daniel Pickett, John Franklin Reid
  • Patent number: 7864072
    Abstract: A system, program product and method for automatically adjusting the traffic light of a traffic light controlled intersection. Personal data relative to a pedestrian cross walking the intersection, including walking speed, and the current speed of a vehicle approaching the intersection are simultaneously acquired. Both the personal data and the vehicle current speed are processed to generate cross walk control signals, such as indicators of risk of collision between vehicle and pedestrian. Where the risk warrants action, the “stop” condition of the traffic light is enable to warn the vehicle to stop. Traffic control signals are also generated to control the duration of the “walk” condition for slow moving pedestrians.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sara H. Basson, Wilfredo Ferre, Julien Ghez, Dimitri Kanevsky, Frances W. West
  • Patent number: 7852234
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling cross-walk boundary lighting, such as multiple flush-mounted lights on the boundary, or boundaries, of a cross-walk. Enhanced flashing patterns are output in a primary output to drive cross-walk lighting to produce a different output pattern with each cross-walk activation. Enhanced flashing patterns comprise the output of multiple pulses of light (e.g., 2 to 5) with various pulse widths and timing during the ON portion of the light cycle. Selection is performed from a plurality of enhanced flashing patterns retained within a cross-walk lighting controller. One or more secondary outputs are configured to generate other patterns, in particular an output with a field selectable relationship and synchronization to the primary pattern, such as a matching pattern, a non-enhanced version, a non-enhanced complementary pattern, or a solid output for as long as the primary output is active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Traffic Safety Corp.
    Inventors: Steve Borenstein, Kyle J. Owens
  • Publication number: 20100277344
    Abstract: The invention relates to a Reflector pole (1), which is used as a road marker, a road boundary, a sign pole or for similar applications related to road or pedestrian traffic, comprising a main body (2), featuring at least one light active field (3). According to the invention the light active field (3) comprises an organic light emitting diode (OLED) (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Joseph Hendrik Anna Maria Jacobs, Dirk Hente
  • Patent number: 7825784
    Abstract: A display apparatus displaying an image of surroundings of a vehicle includes a camera capturing an image of the surroundings of the vehicle, and a display monitor provided inside the vehicle for superimposingly displaying the image of the surroundings of the vehicle captured by the camera, and a first distance indicator line and a second distance indicator line, wherein the first distance indicator line indicates a first predetermined distance from the vehicle and the second distance indicator line indicates a second predetermined distance from the vehicle, the second distance indicator line is positioned farther away from the vehicle than the first distance indicator line, and the first distance indicator line is wider than the second distance indicator line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Yamanaka, Shoichi Hashiba
  • Publication number: 20100265100
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for the intelligent lighting of large areas and structures such as parking garages. Ultrasonic distance measuring sensors can be used to obtain occupancy data for the area or structure, such as a parking garage, and to control the intensities of the individual lights in the system for energy conservation. Persons in the area, e.g. parking their cars, can be shown the path to the exit by specific preset intensity level and/or color of light. In parking garage embodiments, persons in the process of parking their cars are shown the empty spots by lights of a specific intensity and/or color. The addition of passive infrared motion detectors enables the system to illuminate the area around a moving person, and alarm if a person is behaving unexpectedly. A controller can communicate with sensors and/or lighting elements by wireless or wire (cable) communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: LSI INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Bassam D. Jalbout, Brian Wong
  • Publication number: 20100253545
    Abstract: A signal lamp for a pedestrian—includes a body that has a first surface, a second surface facing the first surface, and at least three side surfaces formed between the first surface and the second surface; display modules that are formed on at least three surfaces directing to different directions among the first surface, the second surface, and the three side surfaces and visually displays individually designated information; and a control module that is installed at the body and controls information that is individually displayed on the display modules, wherein at least first display module of the display modules that are formed at least three surfaces, respectively, by the control operation of the control module is operated to display the information that instructs the passage or stop of the pedestrian.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventor: Jong-Hwi HAN
  • Patent number: 7791498
    Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for driving LEDs. The apparatus comprise a plurality of red, green, and blue light emitting diodes connected, respectively; switching units turned on or off by an inputted pulse to turn on or off the red, green and blue light emitting diodes, respectively; and a control unit outputting respective pulses to sequentially delay a turn-on or turn-off time between the switching units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seong Soo Park
  • Publication number: 20100214129
    Abstract: A device is for lighting and/or demarcation of pedestrian crossings. Normally pedestrian crossings are in many cases difficult to identify by users, because they are insufficiently lit or demarcated. Posts or columns are provided with lighting means formed by lighting advertising lamps which light and/or demarcate pedestrian crossings perfectly. The correct lighting of pedestrian crossings is achieved by lighting lamps placed mainly in the lower part of the posts or columns, with the effect that the light beams thereof spread out and light the surface of the pedestrian crossing. The demarcation of pedestrian crossings is achieved by positioning posts or advertising columns in at least one corner at each end of the pedestrian crossing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: SMARTEN 2000 S.L.
    Inventors: Jordi Brualla Marti, Xavier Marti Charlo, Jordi Sánchez Acosta, Jordi Serrat Llorens
  • Patent number: 7782228
    Abstract: A device for the detection of tailgating between vehicles on a roadway. The device may emit ultrasonic signals on to a roadway and receive said reflected signals. The device has a processor adapted to use the received signals to determine the presence or absence of a vehicle. The processor also determines whether a vehicle is tailgating another vehicle by detecting if the time spacing between two sequential vehicles traveling in the same direction in the same lane is two second or less. The processor alerts a remote receiver when tailgating is detected. The device may also include a camera to take pictures of any vehicle determined to be tailgating. The device is preferably compact and easily portable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Inventors: David C. Maxwell, David A. Saar
  • Patent number: 7777646
    Abstract: System and method alerting drivers approaching a pedestrian crossing and notifying them of the presence of a pedestrian on the pedestrian crossing or any other accidents-prone road sections. By this, an additional traffic safety measure is provided. The presence of the pedestrian crossing marking is not always sufficient. Thus, the proposed system and method are also directed at providing a forgiving infrastructure for both inattentive drivers and jaywalking pedestrians. The system and method utilize movement and weight sensors to detect a movement upon a pedestrian crossing and its vicinity. After negating a possibility that this movement is caused by a passing vehicle, the system invokes illuminating indicators directed at approaching drivers, alerting them to the presence of a pedestrian on the pedestrian crossing. The system may be calibrated to optimize the detection rate, minimizing false alarm and no detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Inventors: Moshe Konforty, Yuval Erez, Omer Bernard Ben Dor
  • Patent number: 7764193
    Abstract: A traffic regulation system (100) includes a first traffic light (110) for controlling traffic in a first direction, a second traffic light (120) for controlling traffic in a second direction intersecting the first direction, an infrared light detector (130) for receiving an infrared light signal transmitted from a pedestrian proceeding in the second direction on a pedestrian crossing and producing a corresponding feedback signal associated with the infrared light signal, and a control unit (160) for receiving the feedback signal from the infrared light detector and instructing the first traffic light and the second traffic light to signal the pedestrian to proceed in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ga-Lane Chen
  • Patent number: 7757457
    Abstract: Connectors for joining adjacent modular floor covering units. Embodiments of the connectors include a film and an adhesive layer coated on one side of the film. The connectors can have a conductive component that allows electrical continuity to be maintained between adjacent tiles. In yet another embodiment, the connectors can be equipped as radio frequency identification tags by including radio frequency transponders. To install tiles using the connectors, a first tile is placed on the floor and a connector is positioned so that the adhesive layer faces upward and does not contact the floor. The connector is typically positioned so that only a portion of the adhesive layer adheres to the underside of the tile, leaving the remainder of the connector extending from the underside of the tile. One or more tiles are then positioned adjacent the first tile so that a portion of the connector adheres to the adjacent tiles. In this way, the connectors span adjacent tile edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Interface, Inc.
    Inventors: Chung-Hsien Zah, Connie D. Hensler, Keith N. Gray, Susan F. Fezer, Horace Eddie Bradley, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20100148989
    Abstract: The invention resides in an alert device, the device including a housing containing one or more flashing light sources and one or more non-flashing light sources, wherein both flashing and non-flashing light sources are arranged to emit light away from the housing, and optionally a detector adapted to detect the movement of an object into an area proximate to the housing, and control circuitry connected or connectable to a power supply, wherein the control circuitry is adapted to light the one or more flashing light sources in response to a signal from the detector indicating that a moving object has been detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Mark P. Hawkins, Martin Khoo
  • Publication number: 20100141480
    Abstract: The illustrative embodiments described herein provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for directing a movement of visitors in an event venue. In one embodiment, the process generates a visitor profile for each visitor at an event venue. The visitor profile may include, without limitation, a unique identifier and location data. The location data is collected from a set of sensors distributed throughout the event venue. The process then monitors a capacity of visitors at each venue destination using the location data. In response to determining that the capacity of visitors at a first venue destination exceeds a threshold capacity for the first venue destination, the process selects a second venue destination for accommodating visitors of the first venue destination. The process selects the second venue destination based on selection criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Patrick Joseph Brooks, Rhonda L. Childress, David Bruce Kumhyr
  • Patent number: 7716861
    Abstract: An outdoor display sign has a display enclosure. The display enclosure has a number shades that reduce the solar loading on the display enclosure. The outdoor display sign has shades covering the top, back, sides and parts of the front of the sign. The shades are offset from the display enclosure to allow natural airflow between the shade and the display enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Skyline Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Charles Stadjuhar, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20100117866
    Abstract: A system for displaying safety information—particularly for pedestrian crosswalks and vehicle brake lights—that permits an operator located at a hub to upload and transmit at least one image to select traffic signals or brake light display screen connected within the network. The at least one image depicts a display of regional, local or even neighborhood significance. The operator, or user, can pinpoint which traffic signals will ultimately display these images. The images are locally significant, informative and whimsical.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventor: Carrie P. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20100102991
    Abstract: Pedestrian crossing with presence detector and warning, characterised in that it constitutes an independent and transportable constructive element, easy to assemble and dismantle, with low maintenance cost, equipped with presence detectors, warning devices, power supply system, accumulators and electronic devices (circuitry, etc.), which detects pedestrians, vehicles, or both, in a crossing zone, and alerts both drivers and pedestrians themselves, of their respective presence on said crossing, or in the proximity thereto, and provides greater road safety, reduces the risk of accidents for pedestrians due to inclement weather, reduces acoustic contamination and gives greater versatility to the use of public roads, also has uses in fixed pedestrian crossings in the form of total or partial introduction of the different elements constituting the invention or in the form, for example, of total or partial shelters for fixed crossings incorporating said elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Ana María Hernández González, Salvador Camarasa Gómez, Pascual Martínez Ibáñez
  • Patent number: 7701342
    Abstract: A navigation system and method are applied in a predetermined space in which a plurality of control points is defined. The navigation method comprises the steps of: installing a plurality of control point RFID tags near the entrance to every control point-controlled lane, wherein each control point RFID tag is stored with data thereof; reading the data stored in the RFID tags; determining, in light of the read data, a direction or a distance one should preferably go from a current location; and indicating the determined direction or the determined distance, using an indicating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Jian-Ren Chen, Leii H. Chang, Hon-Yue Chou, Yi-Fei Luo
  • Publication number: 20100090864
    Abstract: A signaling device, configured to selectably display visual information, comprising an elongated light group configured to selectably project light from portions of the group. The device also comprises a multi-axis accelerometer configured to provide multi-axis device acceleration data. The signaling device further comprises a control module, in communication with the multi-axis accelerometer and the elongated light group and configured to process multi-axis acceleration data and configured to generate light illumination data and provide it to the elongated light group. The control module further comprises a program module configured to provide selectably programmable light illumination data; in addition to a wireless communication module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventor: John C. Craig
  • Patent number: 7671725
    Abstract: A vehicle surroundings monitoring apparatus, a vehicle surroundings monitoring method, and a vehicle surroundings monitoring program which can rapidly determine an object such as a pedestrian to be avoided which must be avoided from coming into contact with the vehicle from an image of the surroundings of the vehicle and can provide information to a driver or control the vehicle behaviors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Tsuji, Nobuharu Nagaoka, Yoichi Sugimoto, Morimichi Nishigaki
  • Publication number: 20100039291
    Abstract: A wireless communication system for and between a monitored (“smart”) pedestrian crosswalk and an approaching vehicle, alerting the operator of the vehicle to the presence of a pedestrian in the crosswalk. The invention uses wireless electronic communication for transmitting signals to vehicles or motorists equipped with a compatible receiver. The communication is then interpreted by the receiver to provide an “alert” (audible and/or visual) to the motorist.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventors: Michael A. Harrison, Dave Michaelson
  • Patent number: 7643937
    Abstract: A navigation apparatus includes notification means for notifying an advance direction at a branching point in a route guiding, storage means for storing a plurality of moving methods and notification methods corresponding to the respective moving methods, input means for selecting one of the plurality of moving methods stored in the storage means, and control means for causing the notification means to perform notification by the notification method corresponding to the moving method selected by the input means. Thus, it is possible to easily set a route guiding such as a distance to the branching point where guiding is started for each of the moving methods and a sound volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Tottori Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuichi Abe
  • Publication number: 20090322566
    Abstract: Disclosed is a pedestrian support system that supports the movement of a pedestrian through the use of tags. This pedestrian support system comprises: a plurality of tags having an information storage unit and that are placed on a cable that extends over a traveled path; a guide device that is held by a pedestrian that is traveling along a sidewalk and that is capable of non-contact communication with the tags, and a central control device, comprising a database in which tag map information is recorded, that uses that tag map information to creates path information having tag IDs that are in the order of tags that are located along a path from a starting location to a destination location and directly or indirectly sets that path information in the guide device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Kazuo SHIRAKAWA
  • Patent number: 7626509
    Abstract: An easily deployable miniature, LED light unit specifically for home security yard signs that is rechargeable by means of a solar cell array having a light sensor which automatically activates the light at dusk and deactivates it at dawn. The solar light unit is contained in a unique compact molded housing that positions the components and also includes an integral clamp-mount specifically for slide-on mounting to the stakes of typical home security signs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Inventor: Lance Dean
  • Patent number: 7619543
    Abstract: A garage parking mat that assists an individual in properly parking their vehicle in a garage. The parking mat is fabricated from two durable rubber mats, sensors, a warning light box, insulated wiring, and various attached hardware. The rubber mats are adjustable in length and include lateral strips across the front and rear on each mat. Within the strips are pressure sensors that are designed to notify the attached hardware when a vehicle's tires are located on a pressure sensor. The strips also have a series of sensors located on the outer edges of each rubber mat to detect improper steering by a driver. The warning light box includes a series of lights, including a red and green light, to visually signal a driver when the driver is pulling a vehicle into the garage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Inventor: Marius G. Todinca
  • Patent number: 7598848
    Abstract: An apparatus having a laser radar is used to recognize a pedestrian by detecting a position of reflective objects, mapping the objects in a two-dimensional coordinate system, determining whether the objects are moving, and grouping moving objects closely located with each other. Based on a size of an object group, the pedestrian associated with the object group is accurately recognized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignees: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyokazu Takagi, Masafumi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 7576639
    Abstract: A system mounted on a powered industrial vehicle for detecting classifying and tracking in real time at least one obstruction in the scene around the vehicle. The vehicle is capable of moving in multiple directions. The system includes a multiple cameras mounted on the vehicle, wherein the viewing zones viewed respectively by the cameras preferably encompass 360° horizontally around the vehicle. Each of the cameras is operatively attached to an image processor, which processes the image frames acquired respectively by the camera. When a pedestrian is present in the viewing zone viewed by one of the cameras, the image processor attached to the one camera identifies in at least one of the image frames at least a portion of an image of the detected pedestrian.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignees: Mobileye Technologies, Ltd., Taylor Machine Works
    Inventors: Tonnie Michael Boyles, Matthew Craig Hillyer, Meny Benady, Erez Dagan, Yoram Gdalyahu, Eran Herzberg
  • Publication number: 20090201176
    Abstract: Provided is a route guidance system that provides a route in premises in order to perform service of route guidance in the premises, which includes: a route guidance apparatus, which is comprised of visible region calculation means that calculates a range where a user can see, signpost extraction means that extracts a signpost to be guided from a visible region, route search means that searches the route from a starting point to a destination, route information generation means that comprises guidance map generation means that generates a map for guidance and guidance sentence generation means that generates the guidance sentence, route leading means that obtains current positional information to send appropriate guidance information to a portable terminal, and position determination means that performs coordinate conversion to information from a position detection apparatus of the user; a portable terminal apparatus including a user interface, which displays an image or a route guidance sentence; a position
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventors: Takanori Shimada, Yoshiyuki Furukawa
  • Publication number: 20090160678
    Abstract: A warning apparatus for installation on a vehicle is disclosed. The warning apparatus may include a detector for detecting a road hazard and a display that is activated to transmit an alert in response to detection of the hazard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventor: John Turnbull
  • Patent number: 7539576
    Abstract: A pedestrian navigation system provides distance information and travel directions to a destination. The system includes a pedestrian navigation device for navigating a pedestrian's route by means of a vibration, a server for offering navigation information to the pedestrian navigation device, a network for connecting the pedestrian navigation device with the server to permit communication between each other, and a GPS for offering position information to the pedestrian navigation device. Further, the pedestrian navigation device can include a speaker for outputting a guide voice based on the user's present position information, so as to start a voice guide after generating vibration, thereby facilitating verification of the guidance information provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Navitime Japan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keisuke Ohnishi, Takayuki Matsunaga, Yusuke Suzuki, Shin Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7512482
    Abstract: A navigation apparatus includes notification means for notifying an advance direction at a branching point in a route guiding, storage means for storing a plurality of moving methods and notification methods corresponding to the respective moving methods, input means for selecting one of the plurality of moving methods stored in the storage means, and control means for causing the notification means to perform notification by the notification method corresponding to the moving method selected by the input means. Thus, it is possible to easily set a route guiding such as a distance to the branching point where guiding is started for each of the moving methods and a sound volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Tottori Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuichi Abe
  • Patent number: 7496445
    Abstract: Waypoint navigation for a visitor to a facility is carried out according to the following steps. Distributing waypoint devices in waypoint locations of the facility. Transmitting waypoint identifier signals from the waypoint devices. Providing a mobile wayfinder device in wireless communication with the waypoint devices to receive the waypoint identifier signals. Identifying an origin and a destination in the facility. Generating a route from the origin to the destination and a return route from the destination to the origin. Determining a current location of the mobile wayfinder device. Determining a current navigation instruction along the route(s) based at least in part on the current location of the mobile wayfinder device, and communicating the current location and navigation instruction information to the visitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Proxemics, LLC
    Inventors: Rashid A. Mohsini, Omer A. Beg
  • Patent number: 7489236
    Abstract: A pedestrian alert system has a manual input mechanism accessible to a person in a first vehicle, and an alert-generating apparatus associated with the first vehicle. The system is characterized in that triggering the input mechanism causes an alert to be issued regarding presence of a pedestrian in a crosswalk. Alerts may be either audio or visual, or both, and may be directed to a person in a second vehicle behind the first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Inventor: Faustino V. Chavarria
  • Publication number: 20080272936
    Abstract: This invention relates to provide a pedestrian signal system not only for the normal pedestrian but also for the blinds, the disabled person of weak sight, and the illiterates by displaying the remaining time of each signal change in image figures at the signal head and by generating voice signal in real time. It reduces the cost of the system fabrication, installation and maintenance of the system by combining the five functions of the pedestrian signals such as a walk signal, a stop signal, a remaining time of each signal of red/green and/or the voice generator for blinds in a one signal head. Also, this invention provides the useful double safety traffic signal system especially for a school zone by installing LED studs on the stop line at crossroad for warning to drivers by blinking the LED studs automatically when the walk signal is on-mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Jong Hae Kim, Tommy Y. Kim, Kyoung Ja Han
  • Publication number: 20080238720
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for intelligent traffic control using wireless sensor and actuator networks. The system comprises a control center, M regional gateways, and N sensor and actuator nodes. The N sensor and actuator nodes and L cluster heads form L clusters. Each cluster includes a cluster head and at least a sensor and actuator node. The control center, the M regional gateways, and the N sensor and actuator nodes form a multi-layer structure. Each N sensor and actuator node may real-time detect traffic states, and exchange information with other nodes via a wireless communication having a self-recovery function. The system and method applies a distributed computing strategy to automatically adjust the traffic control on each traffic flow, thereby achieving an efficient traffic control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Jin-Shyan Lee
  • Publication number: 20080224894
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a road guidance system, which performs RF communication between a road guidance paving block and a wireless sensing stick. The road guidance system includes a road guidance paving block (200) and a wireless sensing stick (100). The coil antenna (210) of the road guidance paving block receives externally applied radio waves, generates an induced electromotive force, and uses the induced electromotive force as its required power. The road guidance paving block (200) reads location-related information previously stored in memory depending on each operation, and transmits the location-related information to the outside through the coil antenna. The wireless sensing stick (100) provides predetermined radio waves to the road guidance paving block to activate the road guidance paving block, receives location information from the road guidance paving block, processes the location information, and outputs road guidance voice information through voice output means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventor: Hyun Duk Uhm
  • Publication number: 20080136672
    Abstract: A pedestrian light has a base, a circuit board mounted in the base, an LED panel mounted in the base and a protect lid mounted on the base to cover the circuit board and the LED panel. The LED panel has an outer loop region and an inner rectangular region. The circuit board control the inner rectangular region to display a traffic sign such as a walk or a stop sign, and also controls the outer loop region to show countdown information about the remaining seconds after which the present displayed traffic sign will be changed. Since the pedestrian light uses only a single screen to display the traffic sign and countdown information, more space can be saved, and the traffic light can be displayed in a larger size to improve the recognition on traffic signs at pedestrian crossing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventor: Yih-Jiun SHEN
  • Patent number: 7346464
    Abstract: A gait waveform feature extracting method and an individual identification system extract features of the gait waveform. A one-step waveform corresponding to one step of a walking movement is specified using, as an index, a peak amplitude corresponding to a state where substantially a whole bottom surface of one foot is in contact with the ground and a toe of the other foot is just after leaving the ground among the electric field displacement formed on the human body in accordance with the human body's walking movements. Based on the specified one-step waveform, the features of the one-step waveform are extracted, so that the peak amplitude appears without influence from electric-charge interference between the right and left legs. Accordingly, the one-step waveform reflects the actual one step of the walking movement, and therefore, the features of the one-step waveform can be precisely extracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyoaki Takiguchi
  • Patent number: 7330130
    Abstract: A traffic light indicator warns the motorists and pedestrians of the remaining before the traffic light changes through a visual and pictorial display defined within the light indicators of the traffic light structure. One or more light indicators are programmed to display a selected pattern of diminishing light portions within the area of the light selected indicators, gradually expanding a no-light zone with the passage of seconds remaining before the traffic light changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Inventors: Michael I. Bolotin, Lev M. Bolotin, Jana Bolotin
  • Publication number: 20080018494
    Abstract: A vehicle warning system for use in conjunction with road signs proximate a roadway and that are visible by passing motorists. The system has two assemblies, one on each side of a roadway and associated with a road sign. Each assembly has a power source, one or more lights that when lit project light that is visible to a passing motorist, a controller, a light activation device, and a wireless transceiver. Operation of the light activation device of a first of the assemblies causes the wireless transceiver of the first assembly to send a signal to the wireless transceiver of the second assembly, and both controllers to temporarily connect one or more lights of each assembly to the power source for the assembly, to light the one or more lights and thus project light that is visible to the motorist from both sides of the roadway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Robert K. Waite, John M. Juby
  • Patent number: 7317405
    Abstract: A solar-powered crosswalk warning system is disclosed. The crosswalk warning system comprises two or more crosswalk warning beacons, located on opposite sides of the road. Each beacon comprises a solar panel to recharge a battery, a battery back, a control unit to charge the battery pack during daylight hours, a communication unit to communicate to the second crosswalk beacon, a traffic signal lamp ton warn oncoming traffic, and a triggering means by which the pedestrian can activate the beacons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Carmanah Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: David Robin Green, Jim Ward, Neil Wyper
  • Publication number: 20070268178
    Abstract: This invention relates to an object identification device, for the blind, that identifies objects such as walls and cars by detecting the ambient environment through a 94-GHz millimeter-wave image system mounted on the eyeglass and inform the situation to the user by transforming the identified signals to the voice or sound. This invention is designed to not only help the blind in walking but also provide the function to find the person who has a device realizing this invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Kyung-Kwon Jung, Yeon-Sik Chae, Jin-Koo Rhee
  • Patent number: 7287884
    Abstract: A beam radiator that radiates visible light beams having a predetermined wavelength onto a road surface to inform drivers of other vehicles of the existence of a self-owned vehicle or to let a driver of the self-owned vehicle confirm a traveling path thereof is disposed in a front portion of a body of the self-owned vehicle. An optical filter is disposed substantially all over a windshield in front of a driver seat. The filter is designed to have a characteristic of being more permeable to light having wavelengths close to a wavelength of visible light beams radiated from the beam radiator 24 than to light having a wavelength different from those wavelengths. In this construction, the driver is prevented from finding it difficult to visually recognize a visible light pattern resulting from visible light beams radiated from the self-owned vehicle or another vehicle owing to sunlight or the like, and visual recognizability of the visible light pattern is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shin Koike
  • Publication number: 20070229308
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed to monitor movement in intersecting pathways. The apparatus comprises a pedestrian alert device comprising a housing comprising a first surface facing a first direction and a second surface facing a second direction, wherein said first direction differs from said second direction. The pedestrian alert device further comprises a controller disposed within the housing, a first sensor disposed on the first surface and interconnected with the controller, a second sensor disposed on the second surface and interconnected with the controller, and at least one light emitting device disposed on the housing and interconnected with the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventors: STEVEN ROBERT STALP, BERNARD JOSEPH STALP
  • Patent number: 7271739
    Abstract: For traffic routing in a walking zone in public buildings, complexes of buildings and traffic zones, which have a plurality of destinations interconnected by traffic routes there are arranged along the traffic routes continuous visual orientation lines which each are associated to one destination, end at the associated destination and can readily be distinguished from each other. The orientation lines are equipped with univocal indicator features pointing towards the associated destination. It is preferably effected by remote control that the orientation lines are composed of display devices which are selectively activated in sections. Remote control is performed in particular by a central control center via a network to which also the control units are connected, which activate the display devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Higelin
  • Patent number: 7199725
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products for radio frequency identification aiding the visually impaired, storing a recording of a sound, including timing information for synchronous playback, representing at least one attribute of an object having associated with the object a radio frequency identification (“RFID”) tag; activating the RFID tag with an electronic travel aid (“ETA”) for the visually impaired; retrieving the recording from storage; and playing the recording synchronously through an audio interface of the ETA. Storage of sound recording may be local or remote, and sound recordings may be sorted or indexed and retrieved from storage according to an RFID tag identification code, a classification code for the object, and a type code (a sound skin identifier) for the recording.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Gilfix, Jerry Walter Malcolm
  • Patent number: 7180428
    Abstract: A display indicates speed in GREEN when the approaching vehicle is traveling below or equal to the user set compliance speed. The primary display flashes RED when the approaching vehicle is exceeding the preset compliance speed. A rear mounted control panel and LCD display is provided for easy entry of compliance speed, operational settings and data recovery. The rear control panel is used for the following: set compliance speed; set max speed cutoff; retrieve traffic count; retrieve average speed; retrieve number of violations; retrieve maximum speed recorded; display battery status. Automatic dimming of the primary display is provided during night use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Inventors: Martin LeVan, Thomas Costan
  • Patent number: RE40737
    Abstract: A transparent lens for motorist traffic light signals and pedestrian “Don't Walk” signs that displays, in Lcd countdown “real-time”, how much time remains before the traffic signal command will change. The lens is easily shaped to be adapted over any existing traffic control device or magnified over the existing control device and works in conjunction with existing technology for timing and control settings to provide a quick and economical installation. The covering lens is a traffic light signaling device combination manufactured as one assembly and comprised of known colored liquid crystal (LED), plasma or pixel generators or other imaging generating technology which is quickly affixed to existing signaling traffic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Inventor: Paul A. Firestone