# US 11,299,164 B2 · Method and device for generating a signal warning of slipperiness on a roadway > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,299,164 B2 - Document ID: US11299164B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/644,220 - Filed: 2017-09-06 - Published: 2020-06-25 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-06 - Assignees: Boschung Mecatronic AG - Applicants: Boschung Mecatronic AG - Inventors: Thomas Kriesche; Michel Decrevel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299164B2 ## CPC - B60W 40/06: Road conditions - B60R 16/0237: {circuits concerning the atmospheric environment (meteorology G01W)} - B60W 50/14: Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention - G01N 21/359: using near infrared light - G01N 21/55: Specular reflectivity - G08B 19/02: Alarm responsive to formation or anticipated formation of ice - B60W 2420/403: Image sensing, e.g. optical camera - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS ## Abstract A method and a device for generating a signal which indicates the imminent formation of slipperiness on a roadway (2) before this arises on the roadway, wherein radiation reflected from the roadway, or from a point adjacent to the roadway, is evaluated, which radiation emanates from at least one reference surface (11) arranged in or on the roadway or the adjacent point, which reference surface is formed by a material different from the roadway covering material. The reference surface is selected from a material on which slipperiness is formed earlier than on the road surface material. The signal (13) is emitted when the evaluation shows that slipperiness has formed on the reference surface (11). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of generating a signal indicating a condition suitable for formation of slipperiness on a roadway, the method comprising: using an infrared (IR) radiation source to emit IR radiation in a direction of at least one reference surface arranged in or on the roadway or arranged in or on a location adjacent to the roadway; receiving, by a road condition sensor, backscattered IR radiation from the at least one reference surface, the road condition sensor being oriented relative to the at least one reference surface to capture IR radiation backscattered from the at least one reference surface; evaluating the backscattered IR radiation from the at least one reference surface to detect a slippery condition on the at least one reference surface; and outputting a detection signal if the slippery condition is detected from the backscattered IR radiation, wherein the slippery condition forms on the at least one reference surface before the slippery condition forms on the roadway, and wherein the at least one reference surface is comprised of a roughened surface texture and is formed of a material different from a material forming the roadway. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the road condition sensor is oriented to capture substantially only IR radiation backscattered from a region of the roadway comprised of the at least one reference surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the IR radiation emitted by the IR radiation source is near infrared (NIR) radiation having a wavelength in a range of 780 nm to 3000 nm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the evaluating is comprised of comparing the backscattered IR radiation from the at least one reference surface with stored information characteristic of a presence of ice/rime on the at least one reference surface in a range of wavelengths including a wavelength of the IR radiation of the IR radiation source. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein the MP radiation has a wavelength in a range of approximately 900 nm to 2000 nm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, where the at least one reference surface is permanently located in or on a surface of the roadway or the location adjacent to the roadway. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reference surface is comprised of a surface of a body embedded in the roadway or is arranged at a point beside the roadway. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reference surface has a diameter or a dimension in a range of 100 mm to 200 mm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reference surface: is formed of a metal resistant to corrosion, or is formed of an open-porous metal foam, or is comprised of a paint layer that includes metal particles and/or a polymeric material configured to reflect near infrared (NIR) radiation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reference surface is hydrophilic. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the metal forming the at least one reference surface is stainless steel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reference surface is substantially flat. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reference surface is comprised of a portion that is reflective and that is flat and/or curved. ### Claim 14 A device for generating a signal indicating a condition suitable for formation of slipperiness on a roadway, the device comprising: an infrared (IR) radiation source configured to emit IR radiation in a direction of at least one reference surface arranged in or on the roadway or arranged in or on a locations a road condition sensor configured to receive backscattered IR radiation from the at least one reference surface, the road condition sensor being configured to: evaluate the backscattered IR radiation to detect a slippery condition on the at least one reference surface and to output a detection signal if the slippery condition is detected from the backscattered IR radiation, or output a sensor signal for external evaluation, wherein the slippery condition forms on the at least one reference surface before the slippery condition forms on the roadway, and wherein the at least one reference surface is comprised of a roughened surface texture and is formed of a material different from a material forming the roadway. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The device according to claim 14, wherein the road condition sensor is configured to be oriented to capture substantially only IR radiation backscattered from a region of the roadway comprised of the at least one reference surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The device according to claim 14, wherein the IR radiation emitted by the IR radiation source is near infrared (NIR) radiation having a wavelength in a range of 780 nm to 3000 nm. ### Claim 17 The device according to 14, wherein the road condition sensor is configured to perform an evaluation by comparing the backscattered IR radiation from the at least one reference surface with stored information comprised of data characteristic of a presence of ice/rime on the at least one reference surface in a range of wavelengths including a wavelength of the IR radiation of the IR radiation source. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The device according to claim 16, wherein the NIR radiation has a wavelength in a range of approximately 900 nm to 2000 nm. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The device according to claim 14, wherein the at least one reference surface is permanently arranged in or on a surface of the roadway or the location adjacent to the roadway. ### Claim 20 The device according to 14, wherein the at least one reference surface is comprised of a body which is embedded in the roadway or is arranged at a point next to the roadway. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The device according to claim 14, wherein the at least one reference surface has a diameter or a dimension in a range of 100 mm to 200 mm. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The device according to claim 14, wherein the at least one reference surface: is formed of a metal resistant to corrosion, or is formed of an open-pore metal foam, or is comprised of a paint layer that includes metal particles and/or polymeric material configured to reflect near infrared (NIR) radiation. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) The device according to claim 14, wherein the at least one reference surface is hydrophilic. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The device according to claim 22, wherein the metal forming the at least one reference surface is stainless steel. ### Claim 25 The device according to 14, wherein the at least one reference surface is substantially flat. ### Claim 26 (depends on 14) The device according to claim 14, wherein the at least one reference surface is comprised of a portion that is reflective and that is flat and/or curved.