LED traffic light and method manufacture and use thereof

US6054932A · kind A · utility

Inventors

• William J. Gartner · Bartlett, US
• Christopher R. Myers · York, US
• Marco Messina · Augusta, IT

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 20, 1998
• Grant date: Apr 25, 2000
• Expiry date: Nov 20, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G08G1/095
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A new embodiment LED traffic light 40 having a housing 49 that provides at least three signal lights 42, 44, and 46. The three signal lights 42, 44, and 46 are all embedded in a single opening 50 of housing 49. The LEDs for signal lights 42, 44, and 46 are arranged in a generally common area that allows activation and display of one of the signal lights in a corresponding symbolic shape (i.e. universal symbol or words). Red signal light 42 has red LEDs 41 spread out and arranged in an octagon shape (i.e. stop sign shape). From a distance or afar, however, it may be difficult for persons to distinguish between the octagon shape and the circular shape (i.e. stop and go signals respectively). Therefore, a border 52 of contrasting color LEDs 54 (i.e. different color other than the color of the octagon) is placed around the octagon shape and illuminated to further enhance and define the stop sign or octagon shape thereof. The border 52 may be made to blink or flash (i.e. by blinking all of the LEDs 54). Green signal light 46 has green LEDs 45 spread out and arranged in a circular shape. In the areas which red signal light 42 and green signal light 46 commonly overlap, clusters of two LE…