Remote control of traffic gates
AssigneeRailway Equipment Company, Inc.
InventorsDavid Fox, Randall Gene Honeck, Jason Lee Honeck
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed including a system that can include a traffic gate, an electronic circuit and a portable controller. The traffic gate can have an arm. The electronic circuit can have a controller, a first communication module, and one or more light sources configured to mount to the arm or other portions of the traffic gate. The controller can be configured to control the electronic circuit to selectively operate the one or light sources as desired. The portable controller can have a second communication module configured to communicate with the first communication module to actuate the controller to control of the electronic circuit.
Claims13
A system comprising:
- a traffic gate including an arm;
- an electronic circuit having a controller, a first communication module, and one or more light sources configured to mount to the arm or other portions of the traffic gate, wherein the controller is configured to control the electronic circuit to selectively operate the one or more light sources as desired;
- a portable controller having a second communication module configured to communicate with the first communication module to actuate the controller to control of the electronic circuit;
- and
- a position sensor configured to mount to the arm and configured to electronically communicate with at least one of the controller and the portable controller, wherein the position sensor is configured to sense if the arm is in a raised position with a first end portion of the arm positioned above a second end portion or a lowered position where the first end portion and the second end portion are at substantially a similar height;
- wherein the portable controller is configured to communicate data with the position sensor, wherein the data is indicative that the arm is in the lowered position, and wherein the position sensor is configured to store the data for reference to sense if the arm is in the lowered position.
A method comprising:
- providing receiver electronically communicating with one or more light emitting diodes mounted to a traffic gate;
- wirelessly communicating with the receiver to operate the one or more light emitting diodes as desired, wherein wirelessly communicating with the receiver included operating a portable controller electronically coupled to a transmitter to communicate with the receiver;
- mounting a position sensor to an arm of the traffic gate to sense if the arm is in a raised position with a first end portion of the arm positioned above a second end portion or a lowered position where the first end portion and the second end portion are at substantially a similar height;
- and
- providing data via the portable controller to the position sensor, the data indicative that the position sensor is in the lowered position, and wherein the position sensor is configured to store the data for reference to sense if the arm is in the lowered position.
A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:
- communicate wirelessly using a receiver with transmitter operably coupled with a portable controller, wherein the receiver is part of an electrical circuit including one or more light sources mounted to a traffic gate;
- operate the one or more light sources using the portable controller;
- and
- communicate with a position sensor coupled to an arm of traffic gate, wherein the portable controller is configured to communicate data with the position sensor, wherein the data is indicative that the arm is in a lowered position, and wherein the position sensor is configured to store the data for reference to sense if the arm is in the lowered position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.