Patent · US Expired

Automatic setting of variable speed limit

US6693555B1 · kind B1 · utility

25Cited by
2References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 11, 2001
Grant dateFeb 17, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 29, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG08G1/096783
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A system and method for automatic setting of a variable speed limits permits changing road conditions provides for variable speed limits at respective portions of a road based on weather conditions reported by sensor. A plurality of variable speed limit indicators are arranged at predetermined intervals along a road. Sensing report local road conditions regarding humidity, precipitation, temperature, fog, ice, snow, hail, sleet, wind, etc. A regulating unit correlates the sensed weather conditions with a predetermined speed limit for each given condition at each respective portion of the road. A matrix of a database may contain historical accident information regarding the specific location or zone of any accidents, time of day, date, temperature, precipitation, estimated speed and severity of injuries for each accident. The historical data can be correlated with the sensing of weather conditions to adjust the speed limit to a somewhat lower than otherwise value based on the historical data of a respective location. Thus, roads having previously known dangerous portions will have slower speed limits in the rain or snow than other portions reporting the same conditions. Portions of …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.