428results about "Embedding pads" patented technology

A method and system for facilitating cost effective, reliable, system redundant, self-driving vehicles involves the employment of specialized lane marking components that permit unprecedented sensor feedback, and in particular, a system and method that enables accurate lane marking recognition despite adverse weather conditions, which presently pose problems experienced by self-driving systems that rely upon vision based camera systems.

A retractable speed bump helps control the speed of a vehicle traveling through a special speed zone such as a school zone or a road construction site. A housing is either buried in the roadway or is placed into a ramp that seats on top of the roadway, the housing having a retractable canister therein, which canister extends above the housing in response to the speed of a vehicle as detected by a speed sensor. The greater the speed of the vehicle, the greater the level of extension of the canister. The canister may have tire shredding spikes or explosive charges therein.

A roadway upon which a vehicle travels is provided in which the vehicle is decelerated. The roadway includes: a movable surface extending in a direction of the vehicle's travel; and a potential energy storage mechanism operatively connected to the movable surface for converting a kinetic energy of the vehicle into potential energy upon movement of the movable surface thereby slowing the vehicle. Also provided is a roadway upon which a wheeled vehicle travels in which the vehicle is accelerated. The roadway includes: a movable surface extending in a direction of the vehicle's travel; and a potential energy transfer mechanism operatively connected to the movable surface for transferring a stored potential energy associated with the movable surface into kinetic energy upon movement of the movable surface thereby propelling the vehicle.

Novel tools and techniques for installing lines or cables, including, without limitation, power lines, low voltage lines, telecommunications lines or cables (e.g., telephone cables, network cables, television cables, etc.), and / or the like, and, in particular, installing optical fiber and / or other lines, slightly below ground level in a roadway or other ground surface. In some cases, a method might include creating a channel in the ground surface, placing one or more lines (e.g., power lines, low voltage lines, telecommunications lines, and / or the like) in the channel, and placing a capping material in the channel, thereby encapsulating the lines. In some cases, placing the one or more lines in the channel might include placing a conduit (containing the one or more lines) in the channel, and encapsulating the one or more lines might include encapsulating the conduit. The capping material might include polyurea, thermosetting material, and / or any other suitable material.

The automatic speed bump is installed in a roadway to discourage motor vehicle travel at excessive speeds. The device includes a box-like structure set into the surface, the box having upper edges flush with the surface. Two doors are hinged to the box along their opposite edges. Concentric spring and shock absorber assemblies lift the centers of the doors to create a speed bump. A guide strut is installed between each spring and shock absorber assembly to maintain alignment of the apparatus. The springs and shock absorbers retract at a predetermined rate when a standard motor vehicle encounters the raised doors at a reasonable speed. The doors folding flush with the surface to allow the vehicle to travel over a flat surface. The shock absorbers cannot retract faster than their predetermined rate, resulting in the doors remaining raised when a vehicle travels over the device at higher than reasonable speed.

A tactile warning mat system includes a tactile warning mat and a plurality of elongated underlayment laths removably secured to the tactile warning mat via fasteners. The warning mat includes opposite upper and lower surfaces. The upper surface of the warning mat includes a plurality of raised projections that extend outwardly therefrom in a tactile pattern, The warning mat also includes a plurality of apertures formed therethrough. The elongated underlayment laths are removably secured to the tactile warning mat lower surface in spaced-apart relationship. The underlayment laths are adapted to be embedded within an uncured walkway surface material and each underlayment lath has a cross-sectional configuration that locks the underlayment lath within the walkway surface material when cured. Each underlayment lath includes at least one fastener receiving passageway that terminates at the underlayment lath upper surface and that is configured to removably receive a respective fastener therein.

A marking line detection system includes an imaging device and an ECU. An information extraction unit of the ECU is configured to extract depth distance information from the imaging device to an imaging object based on image information in an imaging area captured by the imaging device. A road surface area identification unit of the ECU is configured to identify a distant road surface area based on the depth distance information, the distant road surface area being a road surface area that excludes an immediately-preceding road surface area of the vehicle in the image information and is more distant from the vehicle than the immediately-preceding road surface area. A marking line detection unit of the ECU is configured to detect a marking line in the distant road surface area based on image information corresponding to a position of the distant road surface area.

Self-contained solar-powered long-life intelligent illuminated road markers are provided comprising a one-piece housing formed of optionally colored plastic capable of transmitting light. Light is reflected by reflective coating or generated internally by LED which is powered by a long life battery, the charging of which is controlled by electrical circuitry which comprises a peripheral interface controller. The electrical circuitry provides intelligent control for a variety of modes corresponding to diverse driving conditions, and can enter a low-power sleep mode to conserve battery life.

A novel small quasi-hemispherical truncated-dome modular-dot like device, which can be readily affixed to pavement in a Federally-mandated pattern via a special hole / matrix-stencil;—the resulting demarkations thereby serving to alert the Legally-blind (as well as Guide-dogs, persons in wheelchairs, and otherwise pre-occupied non-handicapped individuals) their pedestrian-pathway is entering into a potentially dangerous transition area typically crossed by a motor-vehicle pathway. The individual so called DW-DOTS™ are resilient circular low-profile devices having an annular-ramp configuration, and thus standing out only sufficiently above a foot-surface as to enable foot-tactile detection, yet not pose the potential tripping hazzard known to embedded-mats. This novel safety-button offers a desired permanent contrasting-color, plus has a definition and rugged permanency not known to poured-dot installations. The disclosure sets forth various generic-variant structural embodiments, as well as the preferred method of attachment to a walkway-pavement surface.

Novel tools and techniques for installing lines or cables, including, without limitation, power lines, low voltage lines, telecommunications lines or cables (e.g., telephone cables, network cables, television cables, etc.), and / or the like, and, in particular, installing optical fiber and / or other lines, slightly below ground level in a roadway or other ground surface. In some cases, a method might include creating a channel in the ground surface, placing one or more lines (e.g., power lines, low voltage lines, telecommunications lines, and / or the like) in the channel, and placing a capping material in the channel, thereby encapsulating the lines. In some cases, placing the one or more lines in the channel might include placing a conduit (containing the one or more lines) in the channel, and encapsulating the one or more lines might include encapsulating the conduit. The capping material might include polyurea, thermosetting material, and / or any other suitable material.

The modular traffic calming device comprises a plurality of substantially rectangular modules. Each module is connectable to one or more adjacent modules using a complementary interlocking connection across a first of the side faces of modules, and using a complementary non-interlocking connection across a second of the side faces of the modules.

A process for generating electricity from vehicular traffic includes distributing a plurality of piezoelectric elements no higher than an adjacent surface of a roadway. Electric current is generated as traffic passes over the roadway, and the electric current conducted away from the piezoelectric elements to provide the electrical current for consumption.

A novel small quasi-hemispherical truncated-dome modular-dot like device, which can be readily affixed to pavement in a Federally-mandated pattern via a special hole / matrix-stencil;—the resulting demarkations thereby serving to alert the Legally-blind (as well as Guide-dogs, persons in wheelchairs, and otherwise pre-occupied non-handicapped individuals) their pedestrian-pathway is entering into a potentially dangerous transition area typically crossed by a motor-vehicle pathway. The individual so called DW-DOTS™ are resilient circular low-profile devices having an annular-ramp configuration, and thus standing out only sufficiently above a foot-surface as to enable foot-tactile detection, yet not pose the potential tripping hazzard known to embedded-mats. This novel safety-button offers a desired permanent contrasting-color, plus has a definition and rugged permanency not known to poured-dot installations. The disclosure sets forth various generic-variant structural embodiments, as well as the preferred method of attachment to a walkway-pavement surface.

The invention discloses an arterial highway and local highway access traffic dispersion system. Sensors are arranged between the outermost lane of an arterial highway and the two sides of an arterial highway access. An arterial highway guide rod device is obliquely buried under the ground of the arterial highway access. A bicycle way a certain distance away from the arterial highway access is provided with a sensor used for detecting pedestrians or vehicles and a bicycle way guide rod device. The bicycle way guide rod device is arranged in front of the sensor. A sensor and a local highway guide rod device are disposed on a right turning lane of the local highway a certain distance away from the arterial highway access. The local highway guide rod device is disposed in front of the sensor. Each guide rod device comprises a guide rod, a lifting column, a box and a drive control device, wherein the guide rod is installed on the lifting column, and the lifting column is driven by the drive control device to move up and down. Normal traffic order of the access can be guaranteed, the occurrence rate of traffic accidents is reduced, and traffic efficiency of main highways is guaranteed.

The invention discloses a solar intelligent zebra crossing device. The solar intelligent zebra crossing device comprises a solar power supply system, a pedestrian sensing and detecting system, a PLC (programmable logic controller) control system, a zebra crossing LED indicator light system and a voice warning system. When pedestrians go into a zebra crossing area, pressure sensors transmit sensing signals to the control system, the control system judges that the pedestrians walk out of the zebra crossing or to the opposition direction of the zebra crossing. When the pedestrians walk to the counter road via the zebra crossing, LED lamps embedded on the zebra crossing emit conspicuous red light to prompt passing vehicles of no entry so as to avoid the pedestrians in advance. When the vehicles pass and the pedestrians are detected at a starting line of the zebra crossing, the voice warning system can prompt the pedestrians of no entry. The solar intelligent zebra crossing device is powered by solar energy, energy source is saved, cables are not needed to be paved, mounting of the device is convenient, avoiding of the vehicles and safety passing of the pedestrians are facilitated, and traffic potential hazards are reduced.

A system for monitoring traffic across a structure. A fiber Bragg grating (FBG) reflects a light wavelength. A mounting mechanism connects the FBG to the structure, such that physical change of the structure changes a stress to the FBG that changes the light wavelength. And optical fiber carries a first light beam to the FBG and carries a second light beam from the FGB. This permits first light beam including the light wavelength to be received from a light source, and permits the first light beam to be altered into the second light beam by passing the light wavelength through the FBG, and permits the second light beam to be provided to a detector to sense the light wavelength present in the second light beam. From this the stress in the structure and information about the traffic across a structure can be inferred.

A method and apparatus for measuring changes induced in an inductive field on a wire-loop of an oscillator circuit based upon variations in a current function without the need to measure frequency changes. Induced noise has independent effects upon the current function and voltage function of an inductance measurement circuit. By inductively coupling one input and directly coupling the second input of a comparator circuit to the inductance measurement circuit, the phase of the current function can be adjusted to coincide with the phase of the voltage function. By combining the voltage function with the current function, an output isolating the induced noise from the measured inductance is obtained.

A roadbed generator provides a roadbed collector positioned within a roadbed. The roadbed collector engages passing vehicles collecting kinetic energy therefrom, which is converted to electrical energy that is collected and passed to a load for use. In one embodiment a roadbed collector is a piston positioned below a hinged surface plate that forms part of the roadbed. Passing vehicles drive the plate and piston down into a cylinder containing hydraulic fluid, driving the hydraulic fluid from the cylinder to a hydraulic generator. A return spring coupled to the surface plate force the plate back into an elevated position after a vehicle has passed on. In some embodiments an expansion tank interposed between the cylinder and generator forces fluid back into the cylinder causing the piston to move upwardly in preparation for engaging another vehicle.

A speed hump device for discouraging vehicles form exceeding a designed threshold speed is disclosed. The speed hump device mainly comprises: a housing device, whose figure is like a box, having a housing room therein and a opening thereon; a hump device with a hump member and a arc-shaped member pivoted on the housing device by a first pivot, the hump member can be rotated in and out the housing room from the opening about the first pivot; a transmission device including a gear set, a transmitting mechanism and a abutment member, wherein the arc-shaped member is engaged with one gear of the gear set; a rebound device used to push the hump member out the housing device when no extra force presses on the hump member. When a car passing through the speed hump device with a slow speed, e.g., below a threshold speed, the abutment member will be put down and the hump member can be depressed in the housing room by the wheels of the car, hence the hump member as a jolt will disappear and the car will traverse smoothly; on the contrary, if the speed of the car is over the threshold speed, the hump member will be still in the position out the housing room that a jolt will occur to cause a impact effect to the car. Additionally, the hump member of the speed hump device will have an impedimental effect to a car goes against the traffic flow direction. Moreover, it does not consume any additional energy to drive the speed hump device.

An RFID system for determining the location of a vehicle or mobile object that passes thereover is presented. The system comprises a tag arrangement having at least one tag where the arrangement having a width of between approximately 0.5 m and 2 m.

A tactile warning system (100 or 200) having an application surface (114 or 214) and a sheet (110 or 210) formed from a predetermined material and adhered to the application surface. The tactile warning system includes a plurality of tactile warning members (112 or 212) formed from a selected material different from the predetermined material of the sheet. The plurality of tactile warning members are disposed between the sheet and the application surface. The plurality of tactile warning members contact the application surface without an intermediate layer disposed therebetween.

A marking line detection system includes an imaging device and an ECU. An information extraction unit of the ECU is configured to extract depth distance information from the imaging device to an imaging object based on image information in an imaging area captured by the imaging device. A road surface area identification unit of the ECU is configured to identify a distant road surface area based on the depth distance information, the distant road surface area being a road surface area that excludes an immediately-preceding road surface area of the vehicle in the image information and is more distant from the vehicle than the immediately-preceding road surface area. A marking line detection unit of the ECU is configured to detect a marking line in the distant road surface area based on image information corresponding to a position of the distant road surface area.

Methods and apparatus for decelerating a train are provided. The method including: disposing a movable surface configured to be moved by the train as the train passes the movable surface; and converting a kinetic energy of the train into potential energy upon movement of the movable surface by the train to thereby decelerate the train. The apparatus including a railway upon which a train travels. The railway including: a movable surface extending in a direction of the train's travel; and potential energy storage device operatively connected to the movable surface for converting a kinetic energy of the train into potential energy upon movement of the movable surface thereby slowing the train.

The invention provides a left-turn violation detection system at a vehicle intersection. The intersection has an intersection stop line and a road yellow line and comprises a plurality of annular coils that are embedded on roads and parallel to each other for inducing the triggering state of vehicles, a processing module for receiving the triggering state and determining whether the vehicle violates the regulation or not according to the triggering state, and a camera for photographing images. The annular coils provided by the invention have reasonable width and space from small to big. The vehicles are not neglected with a plurality of driving lines available for violated left-turn vehicles, and interference is filtered by a logical algorithm, thereby photographing by mistake caused by triggering coils by vehicles in normal traffic and vehicles from other directions can be avoided.

The invention discloses a long-term real-time monitoring system for asphalt pavement structure information based on an optical fiber Bragg grating sensor and relates to a long-term real-time monitoring system for the asphalt pavement structure information. The long-term real-time monitoring system meets the requirement of long-term real-time monitoring of the asphalt pavement structure information. Various data of the asphalt pavement are acquired by adopting A transverse strain sensors, B longitudinal strain sensors, C temperature sensors, D earth pressure gauges, E single point extensometers, F vertical strain sensors, G humidity sensors, a dynamic weighing sensor and a shaft position sensor and are processed by a server, and thus the long-term real-time monitoring on the asphalt pavement structure information is realized. The long-term real-time monitoring system disclosed by the invention is suitable for long-term real-time monitoring of the asphalt pavement structure information.

A retractable speed bump mounted in a street, road or roadway for controlling the speed of vehicles, which includes three main components: enabling bar, bump, and a link mechanism. The speed bump rests in the grooves on the road surface when it is not in operation. When a vehicle moves over the enabling bar, the tire runs on top of the enabling bar, pushing the enabling bar downward. This downward force triggers the link mechanism and pushes the bump up out of the grooves on the road surface. In one embodiment according to the present invention, the link mechanism is a class 1 lever.

A speed hump device for discouraging vehicles form exceeding a designed threshold speed is disclosed. The speed hump device mainly comprises: a housing device, whose figure is like a box, having a housing room therein and a opening thereon; a hump device with a hump member and a arc-shaped member pivoted on the housing device by a first pivot, the hump member can be rotated in and out the housing room from the opening about the first pivot; a transmission device including a gear set, a transmitting mechanism and a abutment member, wherein the arc-shaped member is engaged with one gear of the gear set; a rebound device used to push the hump member out the housing device when no extra force presses on the hump member. When a car passing through the speed hump device with a slow speed, e.g., below a threshold speed, the abutment member will be put down and the hump member can be depressed in the housing room by the wheels of the car, hence the hump member as a jolt will disappear and the car will traverse smoothly; on the contrary, if the speed of the car is over the threshold speed, the hump member will be still in the position out the housing room that a jolt will occur to cause a impact effect to the car. Additionally, the hump member of the speed hump device will have an impedimental effect to a car goes against the traffic flow direction. Moreover, it does not consume any additional energy to drive the speed hump device.

A raised road marker has a flat bottom surface with an outer periphery. At least one cavity opens onto the bottom surface laterally inwardly of the periphery and extends upwardly into the marker body. A venting groove extends along the bottom surface from the cavity to the periphery to provide a vent for air trapped in the cavity when the marker is urged into a pool of adhesive to secure the marker to a roadway. The venting of air provides a stronger bond between the marker and adhesive. For markers having a rounded top surface, there is preferably an indexing projection on the top surface and a complementary recess on the bottom surface. This enables interlocking of a plurality of markers in a vertical stack to prevent tilting of the markers.