US 4,668,120 A · Solar-powered illuminated reflector

Abstract

A self-contained solar-powered illuminated reflector provides improved visibility at a distance as a traffic safety aid. A housing adapted to be secured to a highway or alternatively, to a vertical wall, encloses a reflector for reflecting light in a predetermined direction toward highway traffic, a light source, a battery and a photovoltaic system. The housing includes a window member for transmitting light outward from the light source in the predetermined direction toward highway or pedestrian traffic. An optical lightguide between the light source and the window member focuses the light from the light source so that the visible effectiveness of the light source is optimized. Circuitry is provided for selectively enabling the operation of the light source for minimizing the power requirement to extend the useful life performance of the traffic marker. The illuminated reflector is arranged to provide maintenance free and fail-safe operation over its useful life.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A highway traffic marker comprising:

a housing adapted to be secured to a highway;
a reflector in said housing for reflecting light in at least one predetermined direction toward highway traffic;
at least one light source in said housing;
a battery in circuit with said light source;
a photovoltaic system in said housing for charging said battery;
said housing including window means for transmitting light from said light source outward from said housing in said predetermined direction;
and
optical lightguide element mounted in said housing for guiding light from said one light source to said window means, said optical lightguide element having a generally conical shape and said window means being a Fresnel lens.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Solar-powered illuminated reflector

Life of this patent

Solar-powered illuminated reflector

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20