# US 10,118,206 B2 · Snow adhesion preventing device and signaling apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,118,206 B2 - Document ID: US10118206B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/592,459 - Filed: 2017-05-11 - Published: 2017-11-16 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-12 - Assignees: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Yasushi Kuribayashi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118206B2 ## CPC - B08B 7/02: by distortion, beating, or vibration of the surface to be cleaned {(B08B7/0007 takes precedence)} - G02B 27/0006: {with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation (G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B)} - B60R 1/0602: {comprising means for cleaning or deicing} - F21W 2111/02: for roads, paths or the like - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - G08G 1/048: with provision for compensation of environmental or other condition, e.g. snow, vehicle stopped at detector - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED - G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93}) ## Abstract There is provided a signaling apparatus including a plurality of LED elements provided in a signal lamp body; a transparent panel provided in the LED elements and configured to transmit outgoing light from the LED elements on a rear side to a front surface to which snow adheres; a frame unit provided on an outer periphery of the panel; and vibration generators provided in the frame unit and configured to vibrate the panel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A signaling apparatus comprising: a plurality of LED elements provided in a signal lamp body; a transparent panel provided on a front side of the LED elements and configured to transmit outgoing light from the LED elements on a rear side to a front surface to which snow adheres; a frame unit provided on an outer periphery of the transparent panel; and vibration generators provided in the frame unit facing a circumferential edge of the transparent panel on the outer periphery thereof, the vibration generators configured to vibrate the transparent panel and remove the snow adhesion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The signaling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a sensor configured to detect snow adhesion to the transparent panel, wherein the vibration generator removes the snow adhesion with detection of the snow adhesion of the sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The signaling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sensor has a separate light source provided on a rear side of the transparent panel, and a light receiving unit provided on the rear side of the panel to receive light reflected and returned by the snow adhesion on the front surface of the transparent panel from the separate light source. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The signaling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a housing to which the transparent panel and the frame unit are fixed; and a temperature sensor provided within the housing, wherein the vibration generator operates when a temperature measured by the temperature sensor is a threshold temperature or lower. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The signaling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sensor is a reflection type sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The signaling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sensor is light receiving sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The signaling apparatus according to claim 2, comprising a plurality of sensors. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The signaling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of LED elements comprises a red LED element, a green LED element, and a yellow LED element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The signaling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of LED elements comprises three different colored LED elements. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A snow adhesion preventing method for preventing snow to adhere to the signaling apparatus of claim 1, comprising: vibrating the transparent panel with vibration generators provided in the frame unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The snow adhesion preventing method according to claim 10, further comprising: detecting snow adhesion to the transparent panel, then removing the snow adhesion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The snow adhesion preventing method according to claim 11, wherein detecting comprises receiving light reflected and returned by the snow adhesion on the front surface of the transparent panel from a separate light source. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The snow adhesion preventing method according to claim 10, further comprising: vibrating when a temperature measured by a temperature sensor is a threshold temperature or lower. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The snow adhesion preventing method according to claim 10, wherein detecting snow adhesion comprises using a reflection type sensor.