# US 2014/0197955 A1 · Road marker or light based warning device

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- Number: US 2014/0197955 A1
- Document ID: US20140197955A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/238,152
- Filed: 2012-07-05
- Published: 2014-07-17
- Earliest claimed: 2011-09-11
- Assignees: Solar Bright Limited
- Inventors: Patrick John Martin; Paul Senior
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197955A1

## CPC

- G08G 1/09: Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions ({railroad crossing signals B61L; reflectors E01F, G08B}; indicating arrangements for variable information by selection or combination of individual elements G09F9/00)
- E01C 17/00: Pavement lights, i.e. translucent constructions forming part of the surface (blocks specially designed for marking roads E01F9/524)
- E01F 9/40: Arrangements responsive to adverse atmospheric conditions, e.g. to signal icy roads or to automatically illuminate in fog; Arrangements characterised by heating or drying means
- E01F 9/553: Low discrete bodies, e.g. marking blocks, studs or flexible vehicle-striking members
- E01F 9/559: illuminated
- E01F 9/615: illuminated
- F21S 9/037: {the solar unit and the lighting unit being located within or on the same housing}
- F21V 23/0442: {activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors}
- G08B 5/36: using visible light sources
- G08G 1/095: Traffic lights
- F21W 2131/103: of streets or roads
- F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED]
- 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})
- E01C: CONSTRUCTION OF, OR SURFACES FOR, ROADS, SPORTS GROUNDS, OR THE LIKE; MACHINES OR AUXILIARY TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR (forming roads or like surfaces by compacting or grading snow or ice E01H)
- E01F: ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE
- F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- 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

## Abstract

A road marker and related light based warning device are described. The road marker or device includes a thermal sensor that triggers the illumination of at least one light-emitting diode at a predetermined temperature. The temperature may be associated with ice formation. The light-emitting diode(s) may flash to alert motorists to hazardous road conditions. The road marker or device utilise simple components to increase reliability, particularly when the device is subjected to high heat such as when the device is mounted into hot tar seal. The device further includes a switching element that prevents rapid on/off cycling.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A road marker including a metal housing with at least one surface of the housing being transparent, the housing enclosing passive electrical components including:
(a) a circuit board;
(b) a thermal sensor coupled to an input terminal on the circuit board wherein the thermal sensor has at least 0.5° C. of hysteresis to prevent rapid on/off cycling of the at least one light-emitting diode;
(c) a photovoltaic (PV) module coupled to an input terminal on the circuit board;
(d) at least one energy storage element coupled to an input terminal on the circuit board; and
(e) at least one light-emitting diode coupled to an output terminal of the circuit board;
wherein the at least one light-emitting diode illuminate when the thermal sensor detects a predetermined temperature.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The road marker as claimed in claim 1 wherein the passive electrical components are located within the housing and there are no external parts outside the housing.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The road marker as claimed in claim 1 wherein the thermal sensor is at least one bimetallic switch.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The road marker as claimed in claim 1 wherein the degree of hysteresis is biased towards the at least one light-emitting diode remaining illuminated until at least 0.5° C. or higher than the set temperature so as to ensure that temperature conditions are suitably warmer than a temperature considered hazardous.

### Claim 5

(canceled)

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The road marker as claimed in claim 1 wherein the housing is biased to a position where at least the at least one light emitting diode in the housing sits proud of a surface to which the road marker is applied and wherein, when a force is applied against the bias direction, the housing is depressed into the surface.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The road marker as claimed in claim 1 wherein the circuit board includes a single forward biased diode between the PV module and the at least one energy storage element preventing energy leakage from the at least one energy storage element when light energy is insufficient to power the PV module.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The road marker as claimed in claim 1 wherein the circuit board includes an LCR circuit sufficient to generate a pulse of at least 2 volts to drive a flash from the at least one light emitting diode.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The road marker as claimed in claim 8 wherein the pulse is at least 4 volts.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The road marker as claimed in claim 1 wherein the road marker produces a flashing output at a frequency of 1-5 Hz when illuminated.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The road marker as claimed in claim 1 wherein the predetermined temperature is less than or equal to an ambient and/or surface temperature of 5° C.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The road marker as claimed in claim 1 wherein the road marker includes multiple light emitting diodes arranged to form a word or shape when illuminated.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The road marker as claimed in claim 12 wherein the light emitting diodes are arranged to form the word ICE when illuminated.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The road marker as claimed in claim 1 wherein the road marker is a cat's eye.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The road marker as claimed in claim 1 wherein the road marker is placed or fixed to a road surface.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The road marker as claimed in claim 1 wherein the road marker is placed or fixed to an intermediate structure.

### Claim at position 17

17-18. (canceled)