GB2503414A

GB2503414A - Light based road marking indicator apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2503414A
Application number: GB1206079.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Levitas; Christopher Mouzouris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-04-04
Filing date: 2012-04-04
Publication date: 2014-01-01
Also published as: GB201206079D0

Abstract

The apparatus comprises a passive lighting apparatus 101 comprising: a light collector 112 arranged to be fixed with respect to a way to face an oncoming vehicle or person, preferably on a road, an optical fibre cable 116 having a first end connected to the light collector, and a light emitter connected to a second end of the optical fibre cable acting as a light guide. The emitter may be arranged to indicate the centre line of a road. The light emitter may be arranged to emit light towards a vehicle that the light was collected from, alternately the light may be emitted in a different direction. Also claimed is a system comprising several of the apparatuses, wherein at least one housing 101 includes the light collector 112 of one apparatus and a light emitter 105 of another apparatus. In the system light may be arranged to be emitted as one colour, such a red light, to one vehicle and a different colour, such as white light, to another vehicle.

Description

TRAFFIC INDICATION SYSTEM

Background to the Invention

[0001] This invention relates to a passive lighting apparatus for guiding traffic and/or for warning of the presence of vehicles.

[0002] It is well known to provide reflective indicators in a roadway for night time use. For example, a known "cat's eye", arranged in a centre line for example, comprises one or more reflectors arranged to reflect light from a vehicle's headlights to the driver. Such indicators are useful, but do not work beyond the range of the headlights.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention provides a passive lighting apparatus comprising a light collector arranged to be fixed with respect to a way to face an oncoming vehicle or person, an optical fibre cable having a first end connected to the light collector, and a light emitter connected to a second end of the optical fibre cable.

The term "way" as used herein includes a roadway, a pathway and a railway.

When used on a roadway, the light emitter can also be arranged to face the oncoming vehicle, and indicate a centre line or the like at a greater distance than the known cat's eye, or where the roadway or line curves beyond the headlight beam on one side.

[0004] The emitter and/or the collector can be located in a housing having at least one light-transmissive window and optionalTy a domed roof and being adapted for mounting on a way. The light collector may comprise at least one fibre optic termination at the wall of the housing. The light emitter may comprise a bulb within the housing. One embodiment of housing is mirrored over all or part of an internal surface thereof.

[0005] The light colTector is arranged to coTlect light from a vehicTe headlight or a light carried by a person. In a guiding embodiment of the invention, the light emitter is arranged to emit said light towards that same vehicle. In a warning embodiment, the light emitter is arranged to emit said light in a direction other than that of the vehicle, for example towards a different vehicle or a pedestrian.

[0006] In a system according to the invention, a plurality of apparatuses as set out above are provided, at least one the housings including a light collector of one apparatus and a light detector of another apparatus. The apparatuses may be arranged in a line running along the way. The apparatuses may overlap each other.

[0007] In a combined guiding and warning system, each housing comprises a first light collector and a first light emitter facing in a first direction and a second light collector and a second light emitter facing in a second direction, such as 180 degrees from the first direction. The system may be configured to emit light of one colour, e.g. white, to a first vehicle in a guiding mode and to emit light of a second colour, e.g. red, to a second vehicle in a warning mode.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [0009] Figures 1 and 2 are schematic perspective views, from above and below respectively, of a lighting unit according to the invention; [0010] Figure 3 shows an alternative lighting system; and [0011] Figure 4 schematically shows a roadway having a system according to the invention.

Detailed Description of Particular Embodiments

[0012] Figures 1 and 2 show a lighting unit for guiding vehicles on a roadway and warning of the presence of oncoming vehicles.

[0013] The unit has a housing 1 that is oblong in plan and includes a domed roof 2 sloping downwards at the ends of the housing. In use, the unit is installed on a roadway with its long axis transverse thereto. Four windows 3, 4, for example of transparent polymeric material, are provided as housing parts, two facing in each direction of travel. Left hand windows 3 are arranged to project white light, whilst right hand windows 4 are provided with a red filter to project red light.

[0014] Inside the housing 1 are two bulbs 5 of known type suitable for illumination by an optical fibre cable. The interior of the housing 1 is divided into four chambers 6-9 by a longitudinal wall 10 and a transverse wall 11. The longitudinal wall straddles the two bulbs 5 so that each bulb is arranged partly in each of the two chambers at one end of the housing 1 that project light of different colours in opposite directions. The entire irmer surface of the housing 1 including the waIls 10, 11 can be reflective, e.g. silvered.

[0015] A set of light colTecting ports 12 are provided at a wall of the housing 1 beTow the window 3. Alternatively, the ports could be provided elsewhere at the wall, e.g. near the apex. Another set of light coTlecting ports is not visibTe in the drawings as it is provided on the opposite wall of the housing.

[0016] A sheathed optical fibre cable 13 is provided for transmitting light to and from the unit. The cable 13 includes a first optical fibre bundle 14 with fibres terminating at the light collecting ports 12 and a second optical fibre bundle 15 connected to one of the bulbs 5. For clarity, only the cable 13 is illustrated but another similar cable is also provided, including optical fibre bundles connected to the other bulb 5 and the other light collecting ports. This other cable extends forwardly (out of the paper as viewed).

[0017] A series of the units shown in Figures 1 and 2 is provided along the centre line of a roadway. The light collecting optical fibre bundle 14 of one unit forms, at a remote end of the cable 13, a light transmitting bundle connected to a bulb of another unit, and vice versa. Thus when light from a vehicle's headlights is received at the light collecting ports 12, the left hand bulb in a unit outside the range of the headlights is illuminated to show the centre line with white light transmitted from a left hand window of that unit. The remote unit may not be the next unit in the series if the units are provided in overlapping pairs.

[0018] It wilT be appreciated that the left hand bulb 5 facing in one direction of travel is the right hand bulb when viewed from the other direction. This emits red light, to warn another driver that the vehicle is travelling towards him or her.

[0019] Figure 3 shows an alternative system, having housings 101 essentially similar to the housings 1 but with a roof 102 curved over from front to back and with smaller windows 103, 104. In this embodiment four optical fibre cables are connected to each unit. An onward light transmitting cable 116 connects light collecting ports 112 of a first unit 120 to a left hand bulb of a second unit 130. An onward light receiving cable 117 receives light from a previous unit (not shown) and ilTuminates the left hand buTb 105 of the first unit 120. A backward light transmitting cable 118 transmits Tight from an oncoming vehicle from the unit 120 to the previous unit. And a backward light receiving cable 119 receives light colTected by the second unit 130 from an oncoming vehicle so as to illuminate the red, right hand side of the first unit 120.

[0020] Figure 4 is a plan, not to scale, of a roadway incorporating a system according to the invention. A series of units 1 is placed along the centre line, spaced approximately 10 m apart. The buried fibre optic cables extending from the units are about 60 m long and connect each unit to a respective unit 201 six places along in the series.

[0021] A vehicle headlight beam 40, extending about 60 m from a vehicle 50, impinges on a first six of the units 1. These three units cause the respective further six units 201 to emit white light, showing the position of the centre line despite the fact that this part of the roadway is not reached by the headlight beam, firstly because it is too far away and secondly because the road veers to the left.

[0022] Additionally, when an oncoming vehicle 60 is out of sight due to the bend in the road, the right hand sides of the units 201 are illuminated in red, alerting a driver or pedestrian to the presence of the oncoming vehicle.

[0023] Alternative installations and uses of the invention are possible. For example, a lighting unit can be placed at a junction, and could emit light towards traffic or pedestrians approaching the junction from a first direction, in response to a vehicle approaching from a second direction, e.g. at a right angle, to warn of the approaching vehicle. In the case of a level crossing, the approaching vehicle would be a train. The lighting units could be installed on posts instead of on a road surface. It is not necessary to locate the Tight emitter and Tight collector in a single housing, and separate units could be provided.

[0024] Units arranged to emit Tight of different colours can be provided and can indicate different hazards or situations. For exampTe, a unit located in a dip in the road could be arranged to emit green light, and/or a unit located at or near a summit could be arranged to emit blue Tight.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A passive lighting apparatus comprising a light colTector arranged to be fixed with respect to a way to face an oncoming vehicle or person, an optical fibre cable having a first end connected to the light collector, and a light emitter connected to a second end of the optical fibre cable.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, for use on a roadway, wherein the light emitter is also arranged to face the oncoming vehicle, and to indicate a centre line or the like.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the light emitter is arranged to emit light collected from a vehicle headlight or a light carried by a person towards that same vehicle or person.

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4. An apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the light emitter is arranged to emit light collected from a vehicle headlight or a light carried by a o person in a direction other than that of the vehicle or person.

LI")
5. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the emitter C\i and/or the collector is/are located in a housing having at least one light-transmissive window.
6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the housing has a domed roof.
7. An apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the light collector comprises at least one fibre optic termination at the wall of the housing.
8. An apparatus according to cTaim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the light emitter comprises a bulb within the housing.
9. An apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the housing is mirrored over all or part of an internaT surface thereof.
10. A passive lighting apparatus, substantialTy as described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2, or Figure 3, or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.
11. A system comprising a plurality of apparatuses each according to any one of claims 5 to 10, at least one of the housings including a light collector of one apparatus and a light emitter of another apparatus.
12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the apparatuses are arranged in a line running along the way.
13. A system according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the apparatuses overlap each other.
14. A system according to claim 11, 12 or 13, wherein each housing comprises a first light collector and a first light emitter facing in a first direction and a second light collector and a second light emitter facing in a second direction.
15. A system according to claim 14, wherein said second direction is at an C') angle of 180 degrees from the first direction.

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16. A system according to any one of claims 11 to 15, configured to emit light C of one colour to a first vehicTe and to emit Tight of a second colour to a second Lf) vehicle.
17. A system according to cTaim 16, wherein said one colour is white.
18. A system according to claim 16 or 17, wherein said second colour is red.