Patent Application
20080007427
The invention itself, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objects, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
This invention is described in a preferred embodiment in the following description with reference to the figures, in which like numbers represent the same or similar elements. Within the descriptions of the figures, similar elements are provided similar names and reference numerals as those of the previous figure(s). Where a later figure utilizes the element in a different context or with different functionality, the element is provided a different leading numeral representative of the figure number (e.g., 1xx for FIG. 1 and 2xx for
The embodiments of the present invention provide a hand-held electronic apparatus for directing the flow of traffic. With reference to
While the figures generally depict a single right handed glove, the use of a single right handed glove in the figures is provided solely to aid in the description and not meant to imply any limitations (structural or functional) on the invention. For example, the invention may be implemented using two independent and similarly configured gloves, on both the right and left hands. The invention may also be implemented with red LEDs on the back side of the gloves and with green LEDs on the front/palm side of the gloves. Similarly, red and/or green LEDs may entirely cover one or both gloves or halves thereof. Moreover, the mounting structure for the traffic-directing apparatus can be a glove, mitt, strap, stick, flashlight, plate, paddle or other hand-held or mounted device.
With reference now to
According to an illustrative embodiment, the control circuit on flexible PCB 200 includes a voltage regulator 260, a microprocessor 215, a battery 275, a battery cover (not shown), a pushbutton on/off switch 285, a position sensor 220 (or motion and position sensor 220), a first power Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) 270, a second power MOSFET 205, and a third power MOSFET 210 are attached to flexible PCB 200 on the back side of glove 100. In a preferred embodiment, the aforementioned microprocessor 215 may be a PIC12Fxxx type microprocessor, such as that provided by Microchip Corporation, or any other similar microcontroller and the like. In a preferred embodiment, the aforementioned motion and position sensor 220 may be a mercury switch, a two-axis accelerometer, a weighted tilt switch, a Micro Electrical Mechanical System (MEMS) device, or any other similarly convenient means of simultaneously detecting the motion (or lack thereof) of glove 100 while at the same time detecting the position of glove 100 relative to the user.
In a preferred embodiment, one terminal of a first filter capacitor 235 is coupled to red high intensity LEDs 105 and green high intensity LEDs 110, and the other terminal of first filter capacitor is connected to ground. Similarly, one terminal of a second filter capacitor 255 is coupled to the connection between voltage regulator 260 and microprocessor 215, and the other terminal of second filter capacitor 255 is connected to ground. A third filter capacitor 265 is coupled between ground and the connection between the drain terminal of first power MOSFET 270 and voltage regulator 260. The drain terminal of first power MOSFET 270 is also coupled to red high intensity LEDs 105 and green high intensity LEDs 110. The gate terminal of first power MOSFET 270 is coupled to pushbutton on/off switch 285.
In a preferred embodiment, a Dual In-line Pin (DIP) connector 230 is coupled to microprocessor 215. DIP connector 230 enables a user of glove 100 to manually control the operation of red high intensity LEDs 105 and/or green high intensity LEDs 110. DIP connector 230 is connected to pushbutton on/off switch 285 via a diode 240 and a resistor 245. DIP connector 230 is thus also coupled to the gate terminal of first power MOSFET 270 via resistor 245. In one embodiment, a pull down resistor 250 is coupled between a terminal of resistor 245 and ground.
In a preferred embodiment, battery 275 is a removable 9-volt Direct Current (DC) power source. A pull-up resistor 280 is coupled between the positive terminal of battery 275 and a terminal of pushbutton on/off switch 285. The positive terminal of battery 275 is coupled directly to the source terminal of first power MOSFET 270. The negative terminal of battery 275 is connected to ground. The drain terminal of first power MOSFET 270 is coupled to an input terminal and an on/off terminal of voltage regulator 260. A ground terminal of voltage regulator 260 is connected to ground.
According to the illustrative embodiment, the gate terminal of second power MOSFET 205 is coupled to an output terminal of microprocessor 215. A pull-up resistor 204 is coupled between the gate terminal of second power MOSFET 205 and ground. Similarly, pull-up resistor 202 is coupled between the source terminal of second power MOSFET 205 and ground. The drain terminal of second power MOSFET 205 is coupled to red high intensity LEDs 105. Similarly, the drain terminal of third power MOSFET 210 is coupled to green high intensity LEDs 110, and the gate terminal of third power MOSFET 210 is coupled to an output terminal of microprocessor 215. A pull-up resistor 209 is coupled between the gate terminal of third power MOSFET 210 and ground. Pull-up resistor 207 is coupled between the source terminal of third power MOSFET 210 and ground.
As shown in
When voltage regulator 260 is powered on and activates microprocessor 215, microprocessor 215 reads motion and position sensor 220 on a periodic basis (e.g., once every 50 milliseconds). In a preferred embodiment, motion and position sensor 220 is coupled to pull-up resistor 225, as shown in
Motion and position sensor 220 may be positioned on glove 100 such that a connection between its pins is made only when the hand or arm of the user is positioned in a specific manner. In a preferred embodiment, the position of glove 100 in which a connection via motion and position sensor 220 is made (i.e., the mercury switch is closed) corresponds to the hand and arm of the user being extended outward relative to the front side of the body of the user, such that the arm is in a relatively horizontal position relative to the ground and the palm of the hand is in a vertical position with the fingers pointed skyward to within approximately 30 degrees of vertical relative to the ground. This position is commonly understood to mean “stop”, especially when made by a policeman who is directing the flow of traffic. When the state of the motion and position sensor 220 corresponds to the palm side of the glove being in a vertical position with multiple fingers of the glove pointing skyward to within an acceptance angle of vertical relative to the ground, microprocessor 215 sends control signals to illuminate the high intensity red LEDs 105. In another embodiment, when the state of the motion and position sensor 220 corresponds to the palm side of the glove not being in a vertical position relative to the ground, microprocessor 215 illuminates the high intensity green LEDs 110.
In a preferred embodiment, microprocessor 215 monitors the state of motion and position sensor 220 on a periodic basis every 50 milliseconds. In alternate embodiments, microprocessor 215 may be programmed to perform multiple monitoring and/or lighting operations (e.g., blinking or other modulation patterns). For example, the glove may be monitored for additional motions such as dropping to a vertical position with the fingers pointing to the ground and respond by turning all LEDs off (e.g., when the user's arm is at his side).
In a preferred embodiment, any motion of the hand or arm of the user that places glove 100 outside of the position mentioned above, such that the fingers are no longer pointed skyward and are no longer within +/−30 degrees of vertical relative to the ground would cause the mercury in the switch to break the electrical contact between the pins of the mercury switch. As shown in
A commonly understood “go” signal includes the arm of the user being extended in a horizontal position relative to the ground, but with the palm of the hand facing toward the user and the hand moving back and forth relative to the user at an angle within approximately 30 degrees of vertical relative to the ground. Alternatively, a “go” signal may include the palm of the glove facing the user with the fingers pointing at an angle greater than approximately 30 degrees of vertical relative to the ground (i.e., sideways) while the arm of the user is bent at the elbow and moved back and forth and/or in a circular waving motion. In a preferred embodiment, the position of glove 100 in which a connection via motion and position sensor 220 is connected and broken at a frequency of greater than one per second (i.e., the mercury switch is opened and closed more than once per second) corresponds to the hand of the user being in a relatively vertical position with the fingers pointed skyward to within approximately 30 degrees of vertical relative to the ground and the hand being in motion, indicating a “go” signal to traffic.
Similarly,
The preferred embodiment thus provides a hand-held electronic apparatus for directing the flow of traffic. The palm side of glove 100 includes multiple high intensity red LEDs 105, and the back side of glove 100 includes multiple high intensity green LEDs 110. A control circuit coupled to high intensity red LEDs 105 and high intensity green LEDs 110 periodically monitors the state of motion and position sensor 220, which is connected to glove 100. When the state of motion and position sensor 220 corresponds to the palm side of glove 100 being extended outward from the user in a vertical position relative to the ground, wherein a vertical position is defined as multiple fingers of glove 100 pointing skyward to within an acceptance angle (i.e., 30 degrees) of vertical relative to the ground and where the glove is in a relative state of motionlessness, the control circuit illuminates high intensity red LEDs 105 and deactivates high intensity green LEDs 110. When the state of motion and position sensor 220 corresponds to the palm side of glove 100 not being in a vertical position relative to the ground facing away from the user (e.g., a sideways and/or circular waving motion in the direction of the user), the control circuit illuminates high intensity green LEDs 110 and deactivates high intensity red LEDs 105.
It is understood that the use herein of specific names are for example only and not meant to imply any limitations on the invention. The invention may thus be implemented with different nomenclature/terminology and associated functionality utilized to describe the above devices/utility, etc., without limitation. While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) is claimed based on U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/819,596, entitled, “Illuminated Traffic Directing Gloves,” filed on Jul. 10, 2006, which disclosure is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60819596 | Jul 2006 | US |
