GB2526108A

GB2526108A - Road sign

Info

Publication number: GB2526108A
Application number: GB1408511.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gary Higgins
Original assignee: COEVAL PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: COEVAL PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 2014-05-14
Filing date: 2014-05-14
Publication date: 2015-11-18
Also published as: GB201408511D0

Abstract

A road sign 10 comprising a light sensor 18 for detecting light from vehicle headlights or headlamps, such as a car, lorry or a horse and rider, and a signal assembly 14 comprising a display device 16 which is operable on detection of vehicle headlights by the light sensor. A solar panel 22 may be used to power the display device. There may be multiple display devices or signal assemblies which are activated by more than one light sensor. The system may be activated when ambient atmospheric conditions, e.g. darkness, is detected, or at specific times of day or night. Shielding may be provided around the sensor to limit the direction. The sign may be controlled remotely. The road sign is preferably located near tight bends in the road or other dangerous areas such that it detects approaching traffic and lights up as a warning. A kit of parts for mounting to a sign is also provided.

Description

Title: Road sign Descriøtion of Invention This invention relates to a road sign. In particular, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a road signpost of the type located at the side of a road for alerting a driver to the presence of a sharp bend in the road, often known as delineator posts.

It is well known to position road signs adjacent the edge of roads, to alert drivers to hazards on the road. Road signs are often located close to sharp bends in the road, to provide an indication to approaching drivers that they should reduce their speed, or at least prepare them for the corner. Commonly, posts (also referred to as delineator posts) are provided to act as road signs, each post having a reflective portion configured to reflect light from the headlights of a car back towards the driver. In this way at least a portion of the post can be seen at night, or under other low-light conditions such as mist, fog, heavy rain or low visibility cloud cover, where headlights are turned on. When headlights are not turned on, during normal visibility conditions, the driver recognises that the posts mark the presence of a corner.

Such reflective posts provide a visual marker indicating the presence of a corner. However, the posts do not grab the attention of the driver. As a driver approaches the corner at night, for example, the headlights of the vehicle may fall upon the reflective portion of the post while the vehicle is still a great distance from the post (and from the corner). As the vehicle approaches the corner, the driver may be aware of the approaching corner, but the light reflected back from the post may have been in his view for a long period of time before reaching the corner. Therefore, the driver may become accustomed to the presence of the light reflected by the post, so the post may not provide a timely signal to the driver, to grab his attention as he arrives at the corner. It is advanlageous to provide a driver with a signal from the post as he approaches the corner, to indicate proximity to the corner. It is also advantageous to adapt existing signposts to enable timely signals to be provided to drivers in this way.

According to an aspect of the invention we provide a road sign comprising: a light sensor for detecting light from vehicle headlights; and a signal assembly comprising a display device; configured such that the display device is operable on detection of vehicle headlights by the light sensor.

According to another aspect of the invention we provide a kit of parts comprising: a light sensor for detecting light from vehicle headlights; and a display device; configurable to be mounted on a road sign, such that the display device is operable on detection of vehicle headlights by the light sensor.

Further features of the above aspects of the invention are described in the appended claims.

Embodiments at the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to Figures 1 and 2, of which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a road sign according to embodiments of the invention; and Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a road sign according to other embodiments of the invention.

With reference to Figure 1 a road sign 10 is shown. The road sign 10 comprises a light sensor 18 for detecting light from vehicle headlights and a signal assembly 14 comprising a display device 16. The light sensor 18 may include a light-dependent resistor, for example. In embodiments the signal assembly 14 may comprise a plurality of display devices 16, as shown in Figure 1.

The road sign 10 is configured such that the display device(s) 16 is operable on detection of vehicle headlights by the light sensor 18. In this way, when a vehicle approaches the road sign 10, with headlights operational, the road sign detects the presence of the vehicle and operates the display device(s) 16 to warn the driver of the vehicle that the vehicle is approaching an obstacle such as a sharp bend, for example.

While the description of embodiments of the invention refers to vehicle headlights', it should be understood that such references should include any light source provided by a vehicle. Where reference is made to vehicles, this is intended to include any conceivable road-based mode of transport, including but not limited to cars, lorries, bicycles, motorbikes, caravans, buses, vans, and horse-mounted riders.

The light sensor 18 may be shielded, so that light from a particular direction (or angle) can activate the sensor, but light from other directions or angles does not fall on the sensor. In that way, the light sensor 18 may detect headlights approaching from a particular direction.

The road sign 10 may be configured to detect vehicle headlights when the light sensor 18 senses light above a predefined threshold. In this way, light below that threshold would not activate the display device(s) 16. In embodiments, vehicle headlights are detected when the light sensor 18 detects an increase in light, wherein the amount of the increased light detected is above a predefined threshold.

In embodiments, and as shown, the road sign 10 may comprise a pole 12 or signpost. The pole 12 may provide a patterned surface to create a visual aid for drivers, to alert them to the presence of the obstacle/bend. In this way, when headlights are not in use (e.g. during daylight), the sign 10 is readily visible to drivers. The pole 12 may support the signal assembly 14 and the light sensor 18, and other components of the road sign 10. In embodiments the light sensor 18 may be provided separately from the pole 12, and signal assembly 14. For example, where a bend in the road is particularly sharp, the light sensor 18 may be located in a prominent position in advance of the pole 12, so that the road sign 10 display device 16 is operated prior to the arrival of the vehicle at the pole 12.

In embodiments, the signal assembly 14 in configured to operate the display device(s) 16 for a predefined time period following its activation, before turning off the display device(s) 16. For example, after activation, the display device(s) 16 may be illuminated for thirty seconds.

In embodiments the or each display device 16 is a light-emitting diode (LED), which may be operated in unison.

In embodiments, and as shown in Figure 1, the signal assembly 14 defines a portion of the pole 12 providing a panel of reflectors, for reflecting light incident upon the panel. Providing panels of reflectors in this way is known in the art, and known reflector technologies are suitable for use in the context of the present invention. The display device(s) 16 may be located on or within the panel of reflectors. Multiple display devices 16 may be distributed across the panel, spaced from one another, to provide a block of signals. In this way, a bold signal to an oncoming driver is produced when the devices 16 are activated.

The road sign 10 includes a cell to provide power to the display device(s) 16, and to any other components requiring power. The road sign 10 may include a solar cell 22 that converts energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect, to power the components of the road sign 10. If insufficient light is provided to the cell 22 to generate and store power for the display device(s) 16, the reflective panel of the signal assembly 14 still provides a signal to the oncoming drivers, as a fall-back precaution. In embodiments, the solar cell 22 is located remote from the pole 12 and connected to the other components of the road sign 10 by external cabling or the like.

The road sign 10 may include a controller 20 operable to switch the display device(s) between an operative and an inoperative state.

In embodiments, the controller 20 may include a further light detector for detecting atmospheric light conditions, so as to make the display device(s) operative in low light conditions. In such embodiments, the controller 20 enables the display device(s) 16 to operate only when it is dark, or during fog, mist, or heavy rain, for example, where a driver may struggle to see the reflective panel of the signal assembly 14. The controller 20 may be programmable (either directly or remotely) to allow the light threshold at which the display device(s) 16 are operable to be changed. By directly programmable, we mean that a user may adjust settings of the controller 20 by manually pressing buttons or the like provided on the controller 20. By remotely programmable, we mean that the controller 20 is programmable over a remote connection, which may be a wireless connection, for example.

In embodiments, the controller 20 may be time-activated, so that the display device(s) 16 are operable only during certain time periods. For example, the display device(s) 16 may be operable between 00:00 to 09:00, and 16:00 to 00:00 each day. In embodiments, the controller 20 may be programmable so by direct (or remote) programming to allow the time periods to be changed.

The road sign 10 may comprise a plurality of signal assemblies 14, each providing a reflective panel and/or display device(s) 16. In such embodiments, the signal assemblies may face in different directions, so as to face drivers approaching from different directions, for example. The road sign 10 may include more than one light sensor 18 configured to operate display devices of different respective signal assemblies 14, so that a signal assembly 14 is operated to face the direction of the approaching vehicle as determined by the light sensors 18.

In embodiments, a kit of parts is provided for assembling a light sensor 18, controller 20, solar cell 22, and signal assembly 14 on an existing pole of a road sign. In this way, existing road signs may be adapted for use in accordance with the invention. Such an existing road sign may already include a reflective panel, so the signal assembly 14 may be assembled by fitting one or more display devices to (or mounting them on) the existing panel.

Figure 2 shows a road sign 110 according to alternative embodiments of the invention. It should be understood that the features of the road sign shown in Figure 2 are interchangeable with any of the features previously described, and may be included in any combination with and/or instead of those features.

The road sign 110 provides a solar panel 122 that converts energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect, to power the components of the road sign 110. The solar panel 122 may be of the wrap-around' type, and may be positioned on and wrapped around the pole 112 of the road sign 110.

In embodiments, the light sensor 118 for detecting light from vehicle headlights is provided at a position located on or within the signal assembly 114. The display device(s) 116 are also provided on or within the signal assembly, and as before, a panel of reflectors may be disposed around the display device(s) 116 and/or the light sensor 118. Again, the signal assembly 14 may comprise a plurality of display devices 116, as shown in Figure 2.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A road sign comprising: a light sensor for detecting light from vehicle headlights; and a signal assembly comprising a display device; configured such that the display device is operable on detection of vehicle headlights by the light sensor.
2. A road sign according to claim 1, wherein the signal assembly comprises a plurality of display devices.
3. A road sign according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the light sensor is shielded such that light from a first direction activates the sensor and light from a second direction does not activate the sensor.
4. A road sign according to any preceding claim, configured to detect vehicle headlights when the light sensor senses light above a predefined threshold.
5. A road sign according to any one of claims 1 to 3, configured to detect vehicle headlights when the light sensor detects an increase in light, where the amount of the increase is above a predefined threshold.
6. A road sign according to any preceding claim, configured such that the or each display device is operated for a predefined time period
7. A road sign according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each display device is a light-emitting diode (LED).
8. A road sign according to any preceding claim, wherein the signal assembly comprises a panel of reflectors.
9. A road sign according to any preceding claim, further comprising at least one of: a solar cell or a solar panel.
10. A road sign according to any preceding claim, further comprising a controller operable to switch the display device(s) between an operative state and an inoperative state in which the display device(s) is not operated on detection of vehicle headlights.
11. A road sign according to claim 10, wherein the controller includes a further light detector for detecting atmospheric light conditions, configured such that the display devices are switched to the operative state in low light conditions.
12. A road sign according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the controller is time-activated so that the display device is switched to its operative state only during predefined time periods.
13. A road sign according to any one of claims 10 to 12, in which the controller is programmable directly or remotely.
14. A road sign according to any preceding claim, comprising a further signal assembly.
15. A road sign according to claim 14, comprising a further light sensor configured to operate the display device(s) of the further signal assemblies.
16. A kit of parts comprising: a light sensor for detecting light from vehicle headlights; and a display device; configurable to be mounted on a road sign, such that the display device is operable on detection of vehicle headlights by the light sensor.
17. A kit of parts according to claim 16, further including a controller operable to switch the display device between an operative state and an inoperative state in which the display device is not operated on detection of vehicle headlights.
18. A kit of parts according to claim 16 or claim 17, further including a solar cell.
19. A kit of parts according to any one of claims 16 to 18, including a plurality of display devices.
20. A road sign substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
21. A kit of parts substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
22. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.