Did You Know...
...that Robert Adler has the dubious distinction of being the Father of the Couch Potato? Back in 1955 Adler was employed by what was then Zenith Radio Corp., where he was charged to invent something that would allow viewers to turn down the TV volume without leaving their chairs. After a series of flops (such as a wired contraption that people tripped over), Adler hit on the idea of using sound waves. Thus the Remote Control was born...
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8066230 | Gate monitoring system A monitoring system and method is provided for monitoring the lighting and the gate arm position at a railroad crossing. ... | 11/29/2011 |
| 7832691 | System and method for train operation approaching grade crossings A system and method that enables trains to rapidly accelerate through grade crossings from station stops or civil speed restrictions is disclosed. In some embodiments, equipped trains and grade-crossing controllers communicate wirelessly to address operational limit... | 11/16/2010 |
| 7441727 | Highway-rail grade crossing controller with out of service mode An electronic controller for a highway-railroad grade crossing warning system is coupled to an approach circuit and to an island circuit and activates a warning device when a train is present in either of the approach or the island circuits. The controller has a dis... | 10/28/2008 |
| 7384017 | Retractable gate A retractable gate comprising a movable arm gate having multiple sections which nest or telescope into each other when parked (e.g. upright), and extends into a full length blocking position as it is deployed. The gate arm sections are deployed by the movement of on... | 06/10/2008 |
| 7356966 | Railroad grade crossing assembly An articulate railroad grade crossing assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the crossing assembly has an adjustable reach so that it can be adjusted to completely or partially close roadways of various sizes. In another preferred embodiment, the assembly includes one... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7295111 | Microwave detection system and method for detecting intrusion to an off-limits zone A system and method are provided for automatically detecting intrusion in an off-limits zone. The system includes a transmitter transmitting a signal along a path likely to encounter an intruder to the off-limits zone and a modulating reflector for receiving the tra... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7295017 | Method and system for calculating railroad track ballast resistance A method of estimating a resistance value for ballast, over a given length of track, used at a crossing on a railroad track that has a crossing warning system where a inductance of the track over the given length, an inductance of the track over the given length of ... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7263803 | Vehicle barrier A barrier is formed such that its barrier arm automatically moves back to its blocking position after forceful opening of the barrier.The barrier arm is pivotally mounted to a barrier post about a horizontal axis. The barrier post is formed to include a swivel joint... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7196636 | Railroad crossing warning system A highway/railroad crossing detection and warning system which uses sets of Doppler radar transmitters and receivers to detect the approach of a train coming from either direction toward a highway crossing. The Doppler radar sets are located an extended distance fro... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7195211 | Electronically controlled grade crossing gate system and method An electronically controlled grade crossing gate system and method. The system includes a gate arm, a gate arm moving assembly, a position sensor assembly and a controller. The gate arm moving assembly is configured to move the gate arm and the position sensor assem... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7155358 | Highway-rail grade crossing remote setup, calibration and troubleshooting A system for remotely calibrating or troubleshooting a highway-rail grade crossing using a communication device. A controller detects the approach and presence of a train on the rail, a communication link is coupled to the controller, a computer readable medium has ... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7113107 | Intelligent selectively-targeted communications systems and methods There is disclosed a system and method wherein precise geographical location information such as Global Positioning System coordinate data is utilized as a principal criterion for implementing other wireless transmitted instructions and communications advising vehic... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7098774 | Method and apparatus for monitoring and controlling warning systems A system for monitoring and controlling activation of a warning system includes a sensor module locally coupled to the warning system for sensing and controlling a flashing light of the warning system, a transceiver responsive to a microcontroller, and a power line ... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7095861 | Audible signaling device with determinate directional radiation An audible signaling device uses one or more digital signal processors to modify the shape of a sound field to put high sound pressure levels only in a predetermined pattern, thus minimizing undesirable high volume levels in adjacent areas. Using digital signal proc... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7075427 | Traffic warning system The present invention is directed to a train detection system for detecting the velocity, presence, and direction of a railroad car which may be utilized in existing railroad crossing installations. The train detection system is suitable for self-testing of its comp... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7069122 | Remote locomotive control A locomotive control system includes an on-board controller responsive to a time signal received from a remote source for outputting a first polling signal at a time determined with reference to the time signal. A first remote controller is responsive to the polling... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7053797 | Intelligent selectively-targeted communications systems and methods for aircraft There is disclosed a system and method wherein precise geographical location information such as Global Positioning System coordinate data is utilized as a principal criterion for implementing other wireless transmitted instructions and communications advising aircr... | 05/30/2006 |
| 7021787 | Outdoor lighting system An outdoor lighting system is disclosed. The individual lights are self-powered by one or more batteries carried in the lighting structure itself. In one embodiment, one or more rechargeable batteries are located within a relatively elongated base structure of the l... | 04/04/2006 |
| 6997417 | Apparatus for controlling traffic flow along a pathway A railroad crossing gate with a gate assembly. An extendible member slides within an outer member with minimal friction. When the gate is in its open position, gravity retracts the extendible member to hollow member. When the gate is in its blocking position, gravit... | 02/14/2006 |
| 6980894 | Method of managing interference during delay recovery on a train system The present invention provides methods for preventing low train voltages and managing interference, thereby improving the efficiency, reliability, and passenger comfort associated with commuter trains. An algorithm implementing neural network technology is used to p... | 12/27/2005 |
| 6933858 | System and method for detecting obstacles within the area of a railroad grade crossing using a phase modulated microwave signal A system and method for automatically detecting the presence of an obstacle located within a surveillance area associated with a railroad grade crossing. The system includes a transmitter transmitting a signal through the surveillance area and a modulating reflector... | 08/23/2005 |
| 6921056 | Mechanical arm and counterbalance assembly A mechanical assembly includes an arm and an extension link that rotate about a pivot point, a yoke, and a force generating device. The yoke includes a first slot in which a pin of the link resides. The yoke translates in a plane responsive to rotation of the counte... | 07/26/2005 |
| 6915191 | Method and system for detecting when an end of train has passed a point A controller determines that an end of train (EOT) has passed a point through the use of positioning systems at the head of the train (HOT) and the EOT. In a first method, the controller obtains the HOT position at a point of interest from the HOT positioning system... | 07/05/2005 |
| 6903658 | Method and system for ensuring that a train operator remains alert during operation of the train A train control system requires a train operator to enter signal aspect information at each wayside signal position on a railroad and stops the train if the operator fails to enter aspect information without communicating with the wayside signal device to verify tha... | 06/07/2005 |
| 6836221 | Railroad advance warning system A vehicle contained warning system and method for warning the occupants of a motor vehicle approaching a railway grade crossing at which there is installed a railway grade crossing warning system including such as warning lights and a crossing gate wherein a radio f... | 12/28/2004 |
| 6813860 | Crossing gate repair kit and method A railroad crossing gate is repaired by lowering the crossing gate mechanism with a lever. The end of the lever can contain a conical opening mating with the conical pivot pin on the gate mechanism. ... | 11/09/2004 |
| 6416021 | Locomotive whistle controlled railroad grade crossing warning system A railroad grade crossing warning device designed to operate at un-guarded grade crossings without the need for expensive train detection sensors. The system utilizes the sound of an approaching locomotive horn or whistle to activate a warning at a grade ... | 07/09/2002 |
| 6369704 | Method and apparatus for light outage detection One embodiment of the present invention is a system for monitoring failure of a signal having lighting configured to indicate a predetermined alarm condition. The system includes a detector/transmitter responsive to lighting parameters at least during the... | 04/09/2002 |
| 6340139 | Highway grade crossing vehicle violation detector In one embodiment, the present invention is an alarm monitor for a railroad grade crossing, the grade crossing having an island activation relay that is activated in response to an approaching train, the alarm monitor including a micropower impulse radar ... | 01/22/2002 |
| 6241197 | Automated rail way crossing A device for monitoring the passage of a train traveling through a rail way crossing, said device including a first and second sensors for sensing the presence of the train on a rail track when the train is in proximity to the sensors, said first and seco... | 06/05/2001 |
| 6222446 | Method and apparatus for light outage detection To reduce or eliminate difficulties inherent in manual reporting of signal light failures, especially at remote railroad grade crossings, there is provided, in one embodiment of the present invention, a system for monitoring failure of a lighted signal th... | 04/24/2001 |
| 6195020 | Vehicle presence detection system A system and method which can detect the presence of a vehicle within the protected area of a four gate railroad crossing, determine its location and direction it is moving in, and open an appropriate exit gate to allow the vehicle to escape prior to the ... | 02/27/2001 |
| 6158696 | Railroad accident prevention system with ground-retractable vehicle barrier An apparatus that prevents motorists from crossing railroad tracks, when the warning gates are down during approaching of a train consists, of a plurality of tire-piercing cogs which are retracted from the ground when the railroad crossing gate is closed.... | 12/12/2000 |
| 6142426 | Crossing gate counterweight adjustment A screw-threaded counterweight adjustment apparatus is journaled in end journals provided with brackets for attachment to the interior of a railroad crossing gate arm casing preferably by jam-type threaded fittings. A traveler is threaded over an elongate... | 11/07/2000 |
| 6105905 | Railway gate system A railway gate system comprising a railway station having an elevated platform area for passengers to stand and a recessed area with a track and a train movable therealong. A gate has a continuous upper restraining rail along its length. A plurality of cy... | 08/22/2000 |
| 6081769 | Method and apparatus for determining the overall length of a train A method and apparatus for determining the length of a train utilizing received signal such as a reference signal from a global positioning system or the like is disclosed. A first receiver receives a signal, such as a reference signal from a global posit... | 06/27/2000 |
| 5986547 | Apparatus and method for improving the safety of railroad systems An apparatus and method for improving the safety of railroad systems of the present invention includes a system for navigating a railroad vehicle over railroad tracks. An attitude sensor is used to dynamically sense the attitude of the railroad vehicle as... | 11/16/1999 |
| 5954299 | Railroad crossing traffic warning system apparatus and method therefore A railroad crossing traffic warning system for alerting a motorist approaching a railroad crossing to the presence of an oncoming train. The system comprises a series of magnetometer sensor probes buried in the right-of way adjacent to a railroad track at... | 09/21/1999 |
| 5890682 | Railway crossing collision avoidance system With the vehicle anti-collision system of the present invention, road vehicles in the vicinity of a railway crossing are alerted as a train approaches the crossing. A signalling device operating in conjunction with a GPS receiver located in the train emit... | 04/06/1999 |
| 5864304 | Wireless railroad grade crossing warning system A railroad-crossing warning system for protecting pedestrians and motorists from an oncoming train. The warning system has a vehicle detector system for determining whether a vehicle is stuck in an area of the railroad crossing, a train detector system fo... | 01/26/1999 |
