Transportation safety apparatus and method
July 12, 2016. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent References 3725699 3813538 Device for precluding a collision between a mobile object and a fixed or mobile obstacle Method of direction finding and direction indication of railbound vehicles Device for indicating a certain proximity between movable units Apparatus for detecting the distance between a rail vehicle and a remote obstacle on the rail Analog laser receiver for determining the position of incidence of a beam of laser light thereon Automatic vehicle control and location system Patent #: 5364047 InventorAssigneeApplicationNo. 680430 filed on 07/12/1996US Classes:340/904, Transmitter in one vehicle only246/13, Emergency signal stations246/25, Lock and block246/106, Lock and block246/115, Cab signal or train control246/124, Train annunciators or indicators246/167R, CAB SIGNAL OR TRAIN CONTROL246/182A, Track brake speed control246/182R, Speed-control systems340/436, Of collision or contact with external object340/557LaserExaminersPrimary: Mullen, ThomasAssistant: Tang, Nina Attorney, Agent or FirmInternational ClassB60Q 001/00AbstractA transportation safety apparatus and method for the detection of obstacles which lie off the line-of-sight or beyond the field of view of a moving vehicle entails shooting a laser beam through the air from a moving vehicle, capturing the beam and passing it to a fiberoptic relay which transmits a laser pulse to a distant site, and receiving a reflection thereof if the site is clear of obstacles. The pulses are received within about 10-20 microseconds per kilometer of relay length from the time of launching, permitting monitoring of the probe-site in real-time.Field of SearchTransmitter in one vehicle onlyOf collision or contact with external object Relative distence between vehicles (e.g., collision alert) Of relative distance from an obstacle EXTERNAL CONDITION VEHICLE-MOUNTED INDICATOR OR ALARM VEHICLE POSITION INDICATION Laser TRAIN-POSITION INDICATION Train annunciators or indicators CAB SIGNAL OR TRAIN CONTROL Speed-control systems Track brake speed control Car-actuated circuit controllers Lock and block Emergency signal stations Lock and block Cab signal or train control | |
