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US 2007/0176791 A1Published application
Apparatus for displaying the remaining time of a traffic light
AssigneeLev M. Bolotin
InventorsMichael Bolotin, Lev Bolotin, Jana Bolotin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims29
A traffic light device, comprising:
- a signal structure having a red stop light indicator, a green passage light indicator, and a yellow caution light indicator;
- and
- a count down indicator means coupled to any or all selected of the light indicators for pictorially displaying through a diminishing illumination of portions of said at least one light indicator the time remaining until traffic light changes.
A traffic light device, comprising:
- a signal structure having a circular red stop light indicator, a circular green passage light indicator, and a circular yellow caution light indicator;
- and
- a count down indicator means coupled to any or all selected of the circular light indicators for pictorially displaying through a diminishing illumination of portions of said at least one circular light indicator the time remaining until traffic light changes.
A traffic light device, comprising:
- a signal structure having a circular red stop light indicator, a circular green passage light indicator, and a circular yellow caution light indicator;
- and
- a count down indicator means coupled to at least one circular light indicator for pictorially displaying through a diminishing illumination of portions of said at least one circular light indicator the time remaining until traffic light changes, which is conducted in accordance with a pre-selected pattern, wherein said at least one circular light indicator has a circumference and a discreet area, and wherein the pre-selected pattern includes a plurality of segments defined within the discreet area of the circular light indicator, and wherein the controls means control sequential extinguishing of illumination in an increasing number of segments.
A traffic light device, comprising:
- a signal structure having a circular red stop light indicator, a circular green passage light indicator, and a circular yellow caution light indicator;
- and
- a count down indicator means coupled to at least one circular light indicator for pictorially displaying through a diminishing illumination of portions of said at least one circular light indicator the time remaining until traffic light changes, which is conducted in accordance with a pre-selected pattern, wherein the pre-selected pattern includes a normally-illuminated outer band formed about the circumference of the circular light indicator and a zone of diminishing illumination defined between said outer band and a center of the circular light indicator.
A traffic light device, comprising:
- a signal structure having a circular red stop light indicator, a circular green passage light indicator, and a circular yellow caution light indicator;
- and
- a count down indicator means coupled to any or all selected of the circular light indicators for pictorially displaying through a diminishing illumination of portions of said at least one circular light indicator the time remaining until traffic light changes, said count down indicator means comprising a microprocessor for generating and controlling a pattern of illumination of said at least one light indicator.
A traffic light device, comprising:
- a signal structure having a circular red stop light indicator, a circular green passage light indicator, and a circular yellow caution light indicator;
- and
- a count down indicator means coupled to at least one circular light indicator for pictorially displaying through a diminishing illumination of portions of said at least one circular light indicator the time remaining until traffic light changes, said count down indicator means comprising a microprocessor for generating and controlling a pattern of illumination of said at least one light indicator, wherein the pre-selected pattern includes a plurality of segments defined by the area of the circular light indicator, and wherein the pre-selected pattern further includes diminishing number of illuminated segments expanding in a clockwise direction.
A traffic light device, comprising:
- a signal structure having a circular red stop light indicator, a circular green passage light indicator, and a circular yellow caution light indicator;
- and
- a count down indicator means coupled to at least one circular light indicator for pictorially displaying through a diminishing illumination of portions of said at least one circular light indicator the time remaining until traffic light changes, said count down indicator means comprising a microprocessor for generating and controlling a pattern of illumination of said at least one light indicator, wherein the pre-selected pattern includes a normally-illuminated outer band formed about the circumference of the circular light indicator and a portion of diminishing illumination defined between said outer band and a center of the circular light indicator.
A traffic light device, comprising:
- a signal structure having a circular red stop light indicator, a circular green passage light indicator, and a circular yellow caution light indicator;
- and
- a count down indicator means coupled to at least one circular light indicator for pictorially displaying through a diminishing illumination of portions of said at least one circular light indicator the time remaining until traffic light changes, said count down indicator means comprising a microprocessor for generating and controlling a pattern of illumination of said at least one light indicator, wherein the pre-selected pattern includes a normally-illuminated center portion and an outer band defined between the center portion and outer circumference, said outer band being programmable to change color from a first color corresponding to a current cycle of the traffic light operation to a second color corresponding to the next cycle of the traffic light operation.
A method of controlling a traffic flow, comprising the steps of:
- providing a traffic light structure having a red stop light indicator, a green passage light indicator, and a yellow caution light indicator;
- and
- providing a count down indicator means coupled to at least one light indicator for pictorially displaying through a diminishing illumination of portions of said at least one light indicator the time remaining until traffic light changes;
- programming a selected display pattern of diminishing illumination for said at least one light indicator;
- and
- causing said at least one light indicator follow the selected pattern by gradually expanding a zone of extinguished illumination within said at least one light indicator, thereby warning the public of the time remaining until traffic light changes.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.