Networkable device for interior lighting of road cones and other traffic guidance devices

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods for emitting light (visible or invisible) or other forms of energy from traffic cones or other traffic guidance or signage devices such as barrels, tubes, some buoys, some types of signs, etc. Communication between the devices may be through radio frequency communication, providing control of the light emitting source.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] Related Applications This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 309,426, entitled “Networkable Devices for Internal Illumination of Traffic Cones and Other Traffic Channelizing Devices,” filed February 11, 2022, the entire disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to the fields of electronics, traffic engineering, and public safety, and more specifically to devices and methods that can be used to channelize vehicular traffic, warn drivers of hazards, and enhance road safety. [Background technology]

[0003] In accordance with 37 CFR 1.71(e), this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection and the owner of this patent document retains all copyright rights therein whatsoever. Applicants have developed various electronic warning lights and other systems for traffic guidance and safety, examples of which are shown in U.S. Patent No. 6,363,633 entitled "Sequenced vehicular traffic guiding system," U.S. Patent No. 6,363,633 entitled "Sequenced Vehicular Traffic Guiding System," U.S. Patent No. 6,363,633 entitled "Synchronizing the Behavior of Discrete Digital Devices," U.S. Patent No. 6,363,633 entitled "Sequential Guiding Systems for Vehicles and Pedestrians," U.S. Patent No. 6,363,633 entitled "Sequential and Coordinated Flashing of Electronic Roadside Flares with Active Energy Conservation," U.S. Patent No. 6,363,633 entitled "Portable Electronic Flare Carrying Case and System ...Synchronizing the Behavior of Discrete Digital Devices," U.S. Patent No. 6,363,633 entitled "Devices and Methods for Synchronized Signaling of the Positions of Moving Pedestrians or Vehicles," U.S. Patent No. 6,363,633 entitled "Devices and Methods for Synchronized Signaling of the Positions of Moving Pedestrians or Vehicles," U.S. Patent No. 6,363,633 entitled "Devices and Methods for Synchronized Signaling of the Position Patent document 10, entitled "Methods for Synchronized Signaling of the Positions of Moving Pedestrians or Vehicles," and "Devices and Methods for Channelizing Vehicular Traffic and Enhancing Workzone,"No. 6,399,633 entitled "Polymer Safety," the entire disclosures of each such patent and published patent application are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

[0004] This patent application describes new devices, systems, and methods for the interior illumination of road cones and other traffic directing devices. As described below, certain electronic components and functions of the illumination devices described herein may be the same as or adapted from electronic components and functions described in any of the patents and published patent applications listed above. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Pat. No. 8,564,456 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent No. 8,154,424 [Patent Document 3] U.S. Patent No. 9,288,088 [Patent Document 4] U.S. Patent No. 9,847,037 [Patent Document 5] U.S. Pat. No. 9,835,319 [Patent Document 6] U.S. Pat. No. 1,055,1014 [Patent Document 7] U.S. Pat. No. 1,044,3828 [Patent Document 8] U.S. Pat. No. 1,053,6519 [Patent Document 9] U.S. Pat. No. 1,066,0183 [Patent Document 10] U.S. Patent No. 11013091 [Patent Document 11] US Patent Application Publication No. 2001 / 0237777 Summary of the Invention

[0006] Described herein are devices, systems and methods for the interior illumination of road cones, or other traffic directing or signage devices, such as barrels, tubes, some buoys, some types of signs, etc., having a hollow or open interior space and a wall(s) that is fully or partially translucent or allows light to pass through.

[0007] In accordance with the present disclosure, there is provided an illumination device that is attached to or incorporated into a traffic cone or other guiding / marking device (e.g., a cone, barrel, tube, drum, buoy, etc.) and includes a radiation source configured to project light (visible and / or invisible) and / or other energy into an interior space of the cone or other guiding / marking device such that at least a portion of the light or other energy passes through an at least partially translucent wall(s), thereby making the cone or other guiding / marking device more visible or more detectable to oncoming vehicles or pedestrians.

[0008] Further in accordance with the present disclosure, there is provided an illumination device configured to be formed or attached to at or near the bottom of a road cone or other traffic guidance / signage device having a hollow interior space and a fully or partially translucent wall, the illumination device comprising: a base member; a plurality of radiation sources arranged on the base to project light and / or other energy onto an interior surface of the fully or partially translucent wall such that at least a portion of the light and / or other energy passes through the fully or partially translucent wall; a rechargeable power source; a radio frequency transceiver configured for radio frequency communication with one or more other devices; and electronic circuitry configured to power and control the radiation sources.

[0009] Further in accordance with the present disclosure there is provided an illumination device configured to be formed at or attached near the bottom of a road cone or other traffic guidance / signaging device having a hollow interior space and a fully or partially translucent wall, the illumination device comprising: a top and a bottom that combine to attach the illumination device to the road cone or other traffic guidance / signaging device; a plurality of radiation sources arranged to project light and / or other energy onto an inner surface of the fully or partially translucent wall such that at least a portion of the light or other energy passes through the fully or partially translucent wall; a rechargeable power source; a radio frequency transceiver configured for radio frequency communication with one or more other devices; and electronic circuitry configured to power and control the radiation sources.

[0010] Further in accordance with the present disclosure, there is provided a method for using the lighting devices disclosed herein, the method including attaching or incorporating the lighting device to a road cone or other traffic control / signage device and using the lighting device to emit visible light, invisible light or other energy from the road cone or other traffic control / signage device.

[0011] Further aspects, elements, variations, and details of the devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure can be seen from the accompanying drawings and the detailed description of certain specific embodiments or examples set forth below.

[0012] Attached Figures 1-16 depict certain non-limiting examples or embodiments of the novel lighting devices and related systems and methods. These drawings are illustrative and not limiting. These drawings are not intended to depict all possible examples and embodiments of the devices, systems, and methods disclosed herein. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of one embodiment of a system according to the present disclosure including a road cone, a networkable lighting base with mounting clamps, and a charging electrode. [Figure 1A] 2 is a partial cross-sectional view through a portion of the base of the road cone of FIG. 1 showing the leg members extending downwardly from the cone base. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a networkable lighting base with a mounting clamp and charging device of the embodiment of FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the networkable lighting base and mounting clamp of the embodiment of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another system according to the present disclosure comprising a traffic cone, a networkable lighting base having an upper portion and a lower portion, and a charging electrode. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a front view of the system of FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the system of FIG. 4. [Figure 7] FIG. 5 is a partial bottom perspective view of the system of FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7. [Figure 9A] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of the system of FIG. 4. [Figure 9B] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of the system of FIG. 4 showing a charging indicator visible through a window or opening formed in the top of the networkable lighting base. [Figure 10] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bottom of the system of FIG. 4. [Figure 11] FIG. 5 is a partial top view of the system of FIG. 4 showing certain internal components. [Figure 12] 5 shows the circuit assembly components and charging electrodes of the system of FIG. 4. [Figure 12A] 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the circuit assembly and charging electrode of FIG. 12 placed in a system after being attached to the base of a road cone. [Figure 12C] FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of the electronic housing components of the circuit assembly shown in FIG. 12. [Figure 13] FIG. 5 is a close-up view of a bottom portion of the system of FIG. 4, showing the lighting circuitry and associated structural elements to which it is attached. [Figure 14] A cross-sectional view showing road cones with attached networked lighting bases stacked on top of each other. [Figure 14A] FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of a portion 14A of FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of an alternative top of the system of FIG. 4 incorporating optional reinforcing ribs. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a partial cutaway view of the alternative top portion of FIG. 15 when placed on the bottom as in typical use. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Certain aspects of the present disclosure are described below and, where appropriate, reference is made to non-limiting examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings show non-limiting examples of systems 10 and 100 that can be used to illuminate and network cones and other traffic guidance / signaling devices. The term "illumination" as used herein shall be interpreted to include not only illumination with visible light, but also, or alternatively, illumination with invisible light (e.g., infrared) or emission of other signals or forms of energy (e.g., GPS, sonic, ultrasonic, electronic, radio, etc.) that can be detected by suitable sensors or detection devices located on or associated with oncoming vehicles or pedestrians. This includes, but is not limited to, infrared and other types of signals that can be detected and used by autonomous vehicles. The term "vehicle" as used herein shall be interpreted to include, but is not limited to, land vehicles, but also aircraft, trains, trams, subways, and other rail vehicles, as well as watercraft or ships.

[0015] 1-3 show a first embodiment of a system 10 including a road cone C having an illumination device 12 attachable to the road cone C by clamps 14, 14a. The road cone C includes an upright conical body defined by a frustoconical sidewall, all or a portion(s) of which are translucent. The road cone C has a hollow interior space within the frustoconical sidewall with an opening formed at a lower end of the hollow interior space. A cone base BC includes a flange extending around the open lower end of the conical body.

[0016] 1A, the road cone C in this example has a number of optional foot members F extending downwardly from a bottom surface of the cone base BC. These foot members F may be formed of a rubber or elastomeric material and may be configured to provide stable points of contact with the underlying road surface on which the road cone C is placed. Not all road cones include such foot members F, and as described below, the lighting device may be configured for use with road cones that have or do not have such foot members F.

[0017] Additionally, it should be noted that although the example shown in the drawings utilizes a traffic cone C, the lighting devices described herein may instead be used with other types of traffic guidance and signage devices having translucent walls, such as a tubular delineator, plastic drum, or barrel.

[0018] As seen in Figures 2 and 3, the lighting device 12 comprises a base 16 having a central opening 18 that is slightly smaller in diameter than the open bottom end of the conical body of the road cone C. Optional passages, slots or openings 20, 20a, 20b are formed in the base 16. These passages, slots or openings 20, 201, 20b are positioned and configured to correspond to foot members extending downwardly from the cone base BC. As seen in Figure 1, when the lighting device 12 is attached to the road cone C, the foot member F of the road cone C will extend through the passages, slots or openings 20, 201, 20b and the bottom of the foot member F will contact the underlying road surface on which the system 10 is installed.

[0019] As shown in the bottom view of FIG. 3, in an alternative embodiment of lighting device 12 intended for use with a road cone or other traffic direction or signage device that does not include leg member F, a plurality of leg members or leg layers 36 of elastomeric or rubber material may optionally be provided on the bottom surface of base 16 to provide non-slip contact between system 10 and the underlying road surface on which system 10 is installed.

[0020] As seen in FIG. 2, upright protrusions 24 are formed along the edges of the central opening 18. Light emitting sources 28 (e.g., light emitting diodes (LEDs, emitting visible or infrared light) or wireless transmitters (for autonomous vehicles utilizing the infrastructure to communicate to the vehicle) and associated circuitry (e.g., wires and / or circuit boards that drive and control the LEDs) are mounted on these upright protrusions 24 to project light upwards onto the adjacent inner and opposing surfaces of the fully or partially translucent side walls of the road cone C. At least a portion of this light passes through the fully or partially translucent walls to provide interior illumination of the road cone C and increased visibility to oncoming vehicular traffic. In the illustrated example, the protrusions 24 include curved ridges. However, these protrusions 24 may take any suitable configuration or form, such as, for example, one or more bumps, bosses, protrusions, rim(s), etc. In addition to serving as mounting structures for the light emitting sources 28, these upright protrusions 24 may be mounted on the road cone C such that the light emitting sources 28 ... It can also function as a guide or locator to facilitate proper positioning of the lighting device 12 on the cone C or other traffic guidance / signaling device. To this end, the projections 24 shown in the drawings are inclined, curved, or angled inwardly so that when the road cone C is pressed down to its operatively installed position in which the bottom surface of the cone base BC abuts the top surface of the base 16 of the lighting device 12, the upper ends of the projections 24 can be loosely inserted into the open lower end of the hollow interior space of the road cone C and advanced to provide a more snug fit. The clamps 14, 14a are then applied to attach the lighting device 12 to the road cone C. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the projections 24 or other aspects of the lighting device 12 may be configured to snap-fit ​​or otherwise securely engage the road cone C without the need for the use of the clamps 14 or 14a.

[0021] In the illustrated example, each of the clamps 14 and 14a includes a stacking electrode contact 30 configured to form an electrical engagement with an adjacent lighting device 12 when multiple lighting devices 12 are stacked on top of each other. Additionally, one of the clamps 14a also includes a charging electrode contact 30a. When multiple road cones C with attached lighting devices 12 are stacked on top of each other, the stacking electrode contacts 30 engage with each other, thereby interconnecting the electrical circuits of all lighting devices 12 in the stack. A charging cap 32 is connected to a power source, such as a 12-volt or 110-volt power outlet, by a cable 33 and can be placed on the clamp 14a of one of the stacked lighting devices 12 (e.g., the one at the top of the stack). In this way, power from the power source is initially supplied to only one of the stacked devices 12 via its charging contact 30a, and such charging power is then distributed to all other devices 12 in the stack via the serially engaged stacking electrodes 30. In this way, a single connection to the power source can be used to charge the batteries 38 located in the battery compartments 34 of all devices 12 in the stack.

[0022] Additionally, the electrodes are positioned to allow for continuous charging of the entire stack upon rotation of any member of the stack by 90 degrees. The circuit is designed to automatically reverse polarity while charging using a single electrode and maintain proper polarity. The operator does not need to line up the cones in a specific stacking arrangement to achieve proper charging polarity; any stacking order and orientation based on corner-to-corner alignment is sufficient.

[0023] Once the lighting device 12 is charged, the charging cap 32 is removed and the fully charged system 10 (i.e., the road cone C with the lighting device 12 attached) can be deployed on the road surface in a row, an array, or any other desired configuration. Alternatively, a system of multiple road cones may delineate temporary landing zones for both rotary and fixed wing aircraft, guide vehicles and pedestrians during special events or mass evacuations, or guide autonomous vehicles incorporating sensors tuned to the infrared or radio frequency spectrum.

[0024] In daily operation, the lighting device 12 as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 can be used with a road cone having a leg member F as follows. 1. Place each lighting device 12 onto a road cone C so that the upstanding projections 24 are inserted above the hollow interior space of the cone adjacent the inner surface of the cone side wall and the foot members F of the cone C are aligned and project downwardly through the openings 20, 20a, 20b.

[0025] 2. Using clamps 14 , clamp each lighting device 12 to the adjacent cone base BC in a position where the clamps 14 also engage the single stacked electrode contact on the lighting device 12 .

[0026] 3. Using clamps 14a, clamp each lighting device 12 to the adjacent cone base BC in a position where the clamps 14a engage both the single stack electrode contact on the lighting device 12 and the charging electrode contact on the lighting device 12.

[0027] 4. Stack the road cones C with the lighting devices 12 attached on top of each other. 5. Connect the cable 33 of the charging cap 32 to a suitable power source (e.g. a 12V or 110V power source) and place the charging cap 32 onto the clamp 14a attached to the top unit of the stack, thereby providing charging current to the batteries 38 of all lighting devices 12 in the stack.

[0028] 6. Once sufficiently charged, remove the charging cap 32 and deploy the road cone C with the lighting device 12 attached at the desired location on the road surface. 7. Power on all lighting devices 12 using switches on the devices 12 or a remote controller (e.g., laptop computer, smartphone, dedicated controller, etc.). Alternatively, by programming the microcontroller and accelerometer, the cone lamps can be programmed to automatically turn on when they fall onto the highway. The zero-G acceleration sensed by the falling cone (more than a few centimeters) followed by a rapid deceleration (negative G in Z, X, or Y direction) generates a command to power on the device.

[0029] 8. Optionally, for lighting devices 12 equipped to communicate and function as nodes in a mesh or other network, a switch on the device 12 or a remote controller (e.g., a laptop computer, a smart phone, a dedicated controller, etc.) can be used to control synchronized lighting from the light emitting sources in a desired pattern or sequence, examples of which are described in incorporated U.S. Patent Nos. 10,443,828, entitled "Sequential and Coordinated Flashing of Electronic Roadside Flares with Active Energy Conservation," and 10,536,519, entitled "Synchronizing the Behavior of Discrete Digital Devices."

[0030] 9. Optionally, for lighting devices 12 equipped to sense or receive / transmit information (e.g., device location, device status or event information determined by a sensor, or other information), use the included transmitter(s) to transmit such information directly or indirectly via cellular, telephone, Internet, fiber optic communications, or other wired or wireless communications to a target data center, receiving device or service (e.g., General Motors OnSTar™ system, HERE Technologies system, WAZE, or Smartway).

[0031] 10. Unlike traditional passive road cones, this device actively monitors its orientation relative to the horizontal and notifies personnel via radio transmitter and / or cloud connection if it is hit by a vehicle, moved by a pedestrian, blown over by a wake caused by a truck, or subjected to high winds during inclement weather.

[0032] 11. Thereafter, when no longer needed or for recharging, collect the road cone C with the lighting device 12 attached and repeat steps 4, 5 and 6 above. As mentioned above, Figures 1 to 3 show an embodiment in which the lighting device 12 is essentially a one-piece device attached to the cone base CB via clamp 14. Figures 4 to 16, described below, show an alternative embodiment in which the lighting device 101 is a two-piece structure comprising a top portion 102 and a bottom portion 104.

[0033] In the alternative embodiment shown in Figures 4-16, a bottom 104 of the lighting device 101 is disposed below a cone base CB. A top 102 is then attached to the top of the cone base CB and connected to the bottom 104 to capture the cone base CB between the top 102 and the bottom 104, thereby forming an assembled system 100 in which the translucent body of the cone C extends upwardly through a central opening in the top 102, as shown in Figure 4. As with the first embodiment described above, the bottom 104 may optionally have an opening 120 and / or a slot 120a through which the foot member F of the cone base CB may protrude.

[0034] A pair of upper charging electrodes 110T are present on the top 102 and a pair of lower charging electrodes 110B are present on the bottom 104 such that charging current is supplied simultaneously to multiple cones C when the cones C are stacked on top of each other. Such charging electrodes 110T, 110B may be spring electrodes as shown, or any other suitable type of contact plate or other electrode configuration.

[0035] 7 and 10-12 in particular, the upper charging electrodes 110T may extend upward from an upper platform circuit board 136 on the top portion 102. Vertical circuit boards 132 extend downward from the upper platform circuit board 136. The lower end of each vertical circuit board 132 is adapted to be connected to a bottom circuit board 132 on the bottom 104 via a connector 114, such as a pogo-type connector, when the top portion 102 is attached to the bottom portion 104. When the top portion 102 is attached to the bottom portion 104 in this manner, the vertical circuit boards 132 may pass through recesses or exposed passages 107 formed in the sidewalls of the top portion 102, as seen in FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 9A, to provide electrical continuity between the circuitry of the bottom 104 and the circuitry of the top portion 102.

[0036] The upper platform circuit board 136 connects to the battery package 112 with the rechargeable battery 114 and includes electronic circuit components to facilitate charging and, in some embodiments, remote status checking of the battery 114. Some components of the upper platform circuit board 132 may be housed within an enclosure or housing 138 that is connected to the vertical circuit board 132 by hardwired solder connections 139. One upper platform circuit board 136a may further include communications components for communications such as wireless, cellular, satellite, internet or other devices for control, monitoring, networking (e.g., mesh network) and / or other communications between neighboring devices 100 and / or with other locations or devices, such as gateway devices, remote controllers, or cloud-based control / monitoring locations.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 8, the battery package 112 may include adhesive pads 116 configured to contact and adhere to adjacent surfaces of the device 100 and / or the cone base CB, thereby holding the battery 114 securely in place after the lighting device 100 is attached to the road cone C.

[0038] As explained above, a number of these cones C with attached lighting devices 101 can be stacked on top of each other such that the top charging electrode 110T connects with the bottom charging electrode 110B of the adjacent device 101 in the stack. When any one of the stacked devices 110 is connected to a source of charging current, such current is distributed to each of the devices 100 in the stack. As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, a window or opening 103 can be formed in a recess or exposed passage 107 formed in the sidewall of the top portion 102 of each device, or in any other suitable location. A charging indicator light emitting diode 105 can be disposed on the vertical circuit board 130, or in any other suitable location, to indicate that the battery 114 of that device 100 is currently receiving a charging current by emitting light through the window or opening 103. This allows a user to visually verify that all the devices 100 in the stack are in electrical contact with each other and are receiving a charging current as intended.

[0039] As can be seen in Figures 7 and 13-14A, an LED circuit board 110 having cone lighting LEDs 111 is attached to a support structure 108 on the bottom 104. The support structure 108 is configured to protrude slightly into the area below the hollow or open interior space of the cone C. Light emitted from the cone lighting LEDs 111 illuminates the walls of the cone C. All or a portion of the walls of the cone C are translucent (e.g., formed of a material that allows light to pass through and / or incorporates translucent or open areas or windows or fenestrations through which light passes). This effectively emits light (visible and / or invisible) or other form(s) of energy that is visible or detectable to vehicles or pedestrians approaching the cone C. In some embodiments, cone illumination LED 111 may emit visible light to visibly illuminate cone C, and other radiation sources may be located elsewhere on device 110 to emit infrared or other forms of energy for detection by appropriately equipped pedestrians or by vehicles, such as self-driving or autonomous cars, equipped to detect and use infrared or other signals for navigation and / or guidance purposes.

[0040] With particular reference to Figures 14 and 14A, the support structure 108 can have recesses or grooves 109 at its upper end in which the LED circuit board 110 is placed. These recesses or grooves 109 can have protective lips 113 that protect the LED circuit board 110 and its LEDs 111 from excessive wear and damage when the devices 101 are stacked on top of one another, as seen in Figure 14. Additionally, the support member 108 and the LEDs 111 themselves can be constructed to optimize the positioning of the LEDs 111 and the uniform distribution of light from the LEDs throughout the walls of the cone C. In this regard, as shown in Figure 14A, the support structure 108 and the recesses or grooves 109 can be configured to hold the cone lighting LEDs 111 at a particular tilt angle A1 relative to the horizontal axis and project light from the cone lighting LEDs 111 onto the walls of the cone opposite or across from the location of those particular LEDs 111. Additionally, the beam angle A2 of the cone lighting LEDs 111 can be selected to provide an appropriate or optimal distribution of light from the LEDs 111 throughout the entire or majority of the walls of the cone. For a standard road cone of the type commonly used on U.S. roads, the tilt angle A1 may range from 30 degrees to 70 degrees above horizontal, and the LED beam angle A2 may range from 30 degrees to 120 degrees (15-60 degrees from the centerline on each side). In the particular non-limiting embodiment shown in the drawings, the tilt angle is 50 degrees and the LED beam angle is 120 degrees.

[0041] Traffic cones and guidance / signage devices may be subject to rough use, possibly being run over by vehicles or otherwise subjected to crushing forces. As shown in Figures 15 and 16, alternative embodiments of the upper portion 102a may optionally incorporate reinforcing members 130 to increase the strength and crush resistance of the lighting device 101. These optional reinforcing members 130 may include ribs, bosses, waffle structures, or other configurations.

[0042] The term "surface" as used herein should be interpreted broadly to mean any surface upon which a road cone C having an attached lighting device 12 may be placed, including not only paved or unpaved surfaces, but also parking lots, runways, driveways, floors, roofs, surfaces floating on fluids or water, and any other surface upon which the system 10 may be operatively placed.

[0043] Optionally, any lighting device 12, 101 may have an electronics compartment 36 or other location(s) that houses electronic components and circuitry for communication and / or control, such as, for example, radio frequency transceivers, sensor(s), satellite positioning devices (e.g., Global Positioning System (GPS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) devices or other geolocation systems), modems, energy emitting sources, and other devices described in any of the above-incorporated U.S. patents and published U.S. patent applications.

[0044] Some embodiments of the lighting devices 12, 101 may include components and circuitry configured to enable a plurality of these lighting devices 12, 101 to operate as nodes of a mesh network, whereby their light emitters 28 operate in a synchronized or coordinated manner, as described in any of the above-incorporated U.S. patents and published U.S. patent applications, specifically, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 10,443,828, entitled "Sequential and Coordinated Flashing of Electronic Roadside Flares with Active Energy Conservation," and U.S. Pat. No. 10,536,519, entitled "Synchronizing the Behavior of Discrete Digital Devices." In other embodiments, coordinated flashing of the devices 12 or 101 may be achieved using other wireless networks, including constant listening to neighbors while one device acts as a "coordinator" (previously called a master / slave network), external command timing with pre-numbered devices, sequential light (including infrared) transmission from one unit to the next for triggering purposes, and high-precision real-time clocks with individual timing of successive units based on a stable clock. An alternative to a mesh network where all devices are "equal" could be a network that relies on external timing signals obtained from a GPS receiver (highly accurate clock signal) or a global standard timing broadcast (e.g., WWV in Fort Collins, Colorado). There are other sources of public domain timing signals broadcast worldwide that aid in the coordinated blinking of multiple devices. If wireless communication is used, low energy Bluetooth, Zigbee, Wi-Fi, or other proprietary networks are available and are selected based on energy consumption, range, bandwidth requirements, etc.

[0045] In some embodiments, the components and circuitry may include a location determination (e.g., geolocation) unit for determining the current location of the device using a satellite system, Global Positioning System (GPS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), or other geolocation system.

[0046] In some embodiments, the components and circuits may include a sensor(s) for sensing a state of the lighting device 12, 101 and / or other events such as a change in the operating state or mode of the lighting device, movement or tipping of the lighting device, an impact to the lighting device, a failure of the lighting device, or movement of a vehicle over or over the lighting device. Such sensors may form a "cone array" surrounding the worker and provide the necessary components to alert the worker if a vehicle enters the work area and strikes or passes one or more cones. Further details regarding such systems and functions are described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18 / 090,088, entitled "Vehicular Incursion Alert Systems and Methods," the entire disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

[0047] In some embodiments, the components and circuits may include transmitter(s) for transmitting information from the lighting device 12, or any incorporated components, such as the locating device and / or sensor(s), to a receiving device (e.g., in a nearby vehicle) or service via cellular, telephone, Internet, fiber optics, or other wired or wireless communications. Such transmission of information may be direct (e.g., radio frequency, cellular or Internet-based transmission directly from the lighting device 12 to the receiving device or service) or indirect (e.g., initial transmission of information from the lighting device 12 to a gateway or intermediate device, which then relays all or a portion of the information to the intended receiving device or service). Examples of receiving devices and services to which such information may be transmitted include, but are not necessarily limited to, a receiver or map display in a vehicle, a receiver or map display in a data center or other location, a receiving computer or smartphone (which may require installation of an appropriate software application), a cloud-based server, a data center, a control center, an in-vehicle information service (e.g., General Motors OnSTar™ system or HERE Technologies system), and / or a traffic and / or road condition monitoring service (e.g., WAZE or Smartway). Further details regarding direct or indirect data transmission of information from lighting device 12 to receiving device(s) and / or service(s) are described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2001 / 0237777, entitled “Devices and Methods for Channelizing Vehicular Traffic and Enhancing Workzone Safety,” which is expressly incorporated herein by reference and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as Appendix A.

[0048] In some embodiments, the traffic cone or other traffic guidance / signage device may comprise a typical traffic barrel or channelizer drum, such as an orange or light-colored barrel having a hollow interior, vertical or slightly tapered or stepped side walls (at least some of which are translucent), and a flange or other protrusion extending outward at the bottom end of the barrel. Commercially available examples of such traffic barrels or channelizer drums include, but are not limited to, Commander™ Traffic Drum (Plasticade, Des Plaines, Illinois), The Director™ Traffic Safety Drum (Lakeside Plastics, Oshkosh, Wisconsin), and TrafFix Channelizer Drum™ (Trafix Devices, San Clemente, California). The lighting devices described herein can be sized and configured as needed for attachment to a traffic barrel, and the brightness, location and number of LEDs or other radiation sources, as well as the associated support structure on which they are positioned, can be modified to illuminate the interior of the barrel of the drum such that light (visible and / or infrared) or other energy is emitted through the barrel or drum walls and is visible or detectable by oncoming pedestrians or vehicles. For barrels or drums with nearly vertical walls, light transmission to the other side may be utilized. In some embodiments, the lighting devices disclosed herein may be combined or integrated with a circular ring, usually made of rubber or plastic, that rests on a flange or protrusion at the bottom of the barrel to weight down the barrel and prevent movement due to the truck / car wake or wind, and is used to mount circuit boards, batteries, and LEDs. Electronics and wireless transceivers may be separated and mounted inside the barrel for protection from weather.The internally illuminated barrel may incorporate other sensors and components as disclosed herein and in documents incorporated by reference to provide, for example, position (GNSS / GPS), accelerometers or other vibration sensors to record and report movement, impact, or rollover, ambient light sensors, wireless communications for direct communication from the channelizer to the vehicle, from the channelizer to the cloud, from the channelizer to an external modem, and back to the cloud, etc. Communications may follow the Smart Work Site Protocol (WZDx - Work Site Data Interchange).

[0049] Although the above description refers to certain non-limiting examples or embodiments, various additions, deletions, changes and modifications can be made to those described examples and embodiments without departing from the intended spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, any element, step, member, component, composition, reactant, part, or portion of one embodiment or example may be incorporated into or used with another embodiment or example, unless otherwise specified or unless doing so would render the embodiment or example unsuitable for its intended use. Thus, for example, any component, circuit, or function of the first embodiment 14 may be included in the second embodiment 101, where practicable, and vice versa. Also, where steps of a method or process are described or listed in a particular order, the order of such steps may be changed, unless otherwise specified or unless doing so would render the method or process unsuitable for its intended use. Furthermore, any element, step, member, component, composition, reactant, part or portion of any invention or example described herein may be optionally present or may be utilized in the absence or substantial absence of any other element, step, member, component, composition, reactant, part or portion, unless otherwise specified. All reasonable additions, deletions, modifications, and alterations are considered equivalents of the described examples and embodiments and are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A lighting device configured to be formed in or near the bottom of a road cone or other traffic guidance / signage device having a hollow internal space and a fully or partially translucent wall, wherein the lighting device is Base member and Multiple light sources arranged on the base member to project light upward onto adjacent and opposite inner surfaces of the fully or partially translucent wall so that at least a portion of the light passes through the fully or partially translucent wall, Rechargeable power supply, A radio frequency transceiver configured for radio frequency communication with one or more other devices, A lighting device comprising an electronic circuit configured to supply power to and control the aforementioned light source.

2. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the light source is positioned on one or more projections extending upward within the hollow internal space of the road cone or other traffic guidance / signage device.

3. The lighting device according to claim 2, wherein the lighting device is formed separately from the road cone or other traffic guidance / signage device and is attachable to the road cone or other traffic guidance / signage device, and the one or more protrusions function as guides or locators to facilitate proper positioning of the lighting device on the road cone or other traffic guidance / signage device.

4. The lighting device according to claim 2, wherein the one or more protrusions extend into the hollow internal space such that the light source is positioned adjacent to or in contact with the inner surface of the fully or partially translucent wall.

5. The lighting device according to claim 4, wherein one or more of the protrusions are inclined or curved inward to facilitate insertion into the hollow internal space.

6. The lighting device according to claim 4, wherein the one or more protrusions are provided with a raised ridge having the light source and associated light source circuit mounted thereon.

7. A lighting device according to claim 1, configured to be attached to a road cone or other traffic guidance / signaling device having downward-extending leg members, wherein the base member of the lighting device has one or more passages, openings, or notches through which the downward-extending leg members extend, so that the leg members contact the lower road surface on which the device is placed.

8. The lighting device according to claim 1, further comprising a charging electrode and a charging circuit for charging the rechargeable power supply.

9. The lighting device according to claim 8, further comprising at least one stacked electrode.

10. The lighting device according to claim 1, further comprising a positioning device for determining the current position of the device using a satellite system, a Global Positioning System (GPS), a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), or other geolocation system.

11. The location of the aforementioned device can be accessed directly or indirectly via a gateway or intermediate device. The receiver inside the vehicle, In-vehicle map display and Remote computer and Remote map display and Cloud-based servers and data center and Control Center and In-car information services and, The lighting device according to claim 10, further comprising a transmitter for transmitting to a receiving location selected from a traffic monitoring service.

12. Furthermore, Changes in the operating state or operating mode of the aforementioned lighting device, Movement or tipping of the aforementioned lighting device, Impact on the aforementioned lighting device, Failure of the aforementioned lighting device, or The lighting device according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor for detecting one or more events, such as the movement of a vehicle on or over the lighting device.

13. The information sensed by the aforementioned sensor is transmitted either directly or indirectly via a gateway or intermediate device. The receiver inside the vehicle, In-vehicle map display and Remote computer and Remote map display and Cloud-based servers and data center and Control Center and In-car information services and, The lighting device according to claim 12, further comprising a transmitter for transmitting to a receiving location selected from a traffic monitoring service.

14. The lighting device according to claim 1, further comprising or including a clamp or connector formed separately from the road cone or other traffic guidance / signage device for attaching the lighting device to the road cone or other traffic guidance / signage device.

15. A system comprising a plurality of road cones or other traffic guidance / signaling devices to which the lighting device described in claim 14 is attached.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the road cones or other traffic guidance / signaling devices and attached lighting devices are stacked on top of each other.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the lighting device has stacked electrodes that automatically configure the appropriate polarity and engage with each other to interconnect the rechargeable power supplies of all lighting devices in the stack.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the lighting devices comprises a charging electrode.

19. The system according to claim 18, further comprising a charging connector for connecting the charging electrode to a power source.

20. A system comprising a plurality of lighting devices as described in claim 1, wherein the lighting devices are equipped to communicate with each other and operate nodes in a mesh network.

21. The system according to claim 20, further comprising a gateway device(s) configured to receive data from the lighting device and transmit the data or information based on the data to a control center or data receiver via a mobile phone, telephone, the internet, fiber optic cable, or other wired or wireless communication.

22. The lighting device according to claim 1, comprising one or more clamps configured to attach the lighting device to or near the bottom of the road cone or other traffic guidance / signage device.

23. The lighting device according to claim 22, wherein one or more clamps are configured to be attached to a flange or base extending outward from the road cone or other traffic guidance / signaling device.

24. A system comprising the lighting device according to claim 23 in combination with a road cone or other traffic guidance / signaling device having the flange or base to which the lighting device is attached via one or more clamps.

25. A lighting device according to claim 1, configured to be attached to a road cone or other traffic guidance / signage device having a flange or base, wherein the lighting device has an upper and a bottom having a central opening, and the upper and bottom are configured to be connected to each other in a manner that the lighting device is attached to the flange or base of the road cone or other traffic guidance / signage device.

26. The lighting device according to claim 25, wherein the bottom is configured to be positioned below the flange or base, and the upper is mountable on the flange or base and connectable to the bottom, thereby trapping the flange or base between the upper and bottom.

27. A system comprising the lighting device according to claim 26, which is attached to the flange or base of a road cone or other traffic guidance / signage device.

28. The system according to claim 27, wherein the leg members extend downward from the flange or base, and the bottom of the lighting device has an opening from which the leg members protrude.

29. A lighting device according to claim 25, further comprising an upper charging electrode on the upper part and a lower charging electrode on the bottom, wherein the upper charging electrode and the lower charging electrode are configured to establish electrical contact between each lighting device and an adjacent lighting device, such that when a plurality of the lighting devices are stacked on top of each other, the charging current supplied to one of the stacked lighting devices is distributed to all of the stacked lighting devices.

30. The lighting device according to claim 29, wherein the charging electrode includes a spring electrode.

31. The system according to claim 25, wherein the radiation source is mounted on the bottom support structure such that the radiation source is positioned to illuminate the walls of the road cone or other traffic guidance / signage device by projecting light into the hollow interior space of the road cone or other traffic guidance / signage device.

32. The system according to claim 31, wherein the support structure has a recess or groove to which a radiation source circuit board is attached.

33. The system according to claim 32, wherein the support structure is configured to hold the radiation source at a desired inclination angle.

34. The system according to claim 33, wherein the radiation source is held at an inclination angle in the range of 30 to 70 degrees.

35. The system according to claim 34, wherein the radiation source has a beam angle in the range of 30 to 120 degrees.

36. The aforementioned road cone or other traffic guidance / signaling device includes a road cone, The aforementioned inclination angle is approximately 50 degrees. The system according to claim 35, wherein the beam angle is approximately 120 degrees.

37. The lighting device according to claim 25, further comprising a charging indicator that shows when the battery of the device is receiving a charging current.

38. A lighting device according to claim 29, having a charging indicator that indicates when the battery of the device is receiving a charging current, wherein the indicator is positioned on the side of the device so that it is visible when the devices are stacked.

39. A method for using the device or system described in any one of claims 1 to 38, The lighting device is attached to the road cone or other traffic guidance / signage device, A method comprising using the lighting device to cause visible light, invisible light, or other energy to radiate from the road cone or other traffic guidance / signage device.

40. The method according to claim 39, wherein the road cone or other traffic guidance / marking device is selected from cones, drums, barrels, tubes, buoys, and other guidance or marking devices having an open or hollow internal space, at least partially translucent walls, and a base flange or other protrusion.

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