Patent Application
20230221630
The present disclosure relates to handheld still image projectors, more particularly those adapted to produce readily visible projected images on outdoor surfaces in outdoor lighting conditions.
According to an aspect of the disclosure, a handheld image projector comprises a housing, a light source, a power source, an image selection actuator, and a projection switch. The housing has an aperture, and the light source is disposed within the housing, being operative to project a plurality of selectable images through the aperture in the housing and onto an outdoor surface. In embodiments, the light source comprises one or more lasers. More particularly, the light source is a laser array. In embodiments, the laser array includes at least forty light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The power source is being operatively connected to the light source and supported by the housing. The image selection actuator is adapted to be actuated by a user to a plurality of actuation states (e.g., rotated dial positions) corresponding to the plurality of selectable images, and operative, when actuated to one of the actuation states, to select the corresponding one of the selectable images. The projection switch has on and off positions and is adapted and configured to be switched on when in the on position and switched off when in the off position. In embodiments, the projection switch is further adapted and configured to passively return to the off position when released, as in a spring-loaded button-type contact switch. When switched on, the projection switch is operative to cause the power source to energize the light source so as to project the selected image, and the projection switch being operative when switched off to cause the power source to stop energizing the light source so that the light source stops projecting the selected image. In more particular embodiments, the projector comprises a dedicated, second projection switch, the second projection switch being operative always to cause the light source to project the same image when switched on, irrespective of the actuation state of the image selection actuator.
In a method according to another aspect of the disclosure, a user actuates the image selection actuator to one of the actuation states corresponding to a selected image, holds and aims the projector at an outdoor surface and actuates the projection switch to project an image onto the outdoor surface. In embodiments, the image is a traffic command image.
Although the characteristic features of this disclosure will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the disclosed method and system, and how it may be made and used, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views and in which:
A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that elements of the figures above are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and are not necessarily drawn to scale. The dimensions of some elements in the figures may have been exaggerated relative to other elements to help to understand the present teachings. Furthermore, a particular order in which certain elements, parts, components, modules, steps, actions, events and/or processes are described or illustrated may not be required. A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that, for simplicity and clarity of illustration, some commonly known and well-understood elements that are useful and/or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment may not be depicted to provide a clear view of various embodiments per the present teachings.
In the following description of various examples of embodiments of the disclosed device and method, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration various example devices, systems, and environments in which aspects of the disclosed device and method can be practiced. Other specific arrangements of parts, example devices, systems, and environments, can be used, and structural modifications and functional modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the disclosed device and method.
As illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described herein, the present disclosure provides a battery-operated, rechargeable handheld laser projector approximately the size of an LED flashlight, adapted for use by an on-site traffic control officer to project images of a traffic control sign or instruction on an outdoor surface, more particularly, a road surface.
One embodiment is illustrated as a projector 10, shown in
Another embodiment is illustrated as a two-button projector 10′, shown in
A plurality of exemplary projectable traffic command images 24a-24j, which can be selected individually for projection by twisting the image selection actuator 18, 18′, are illustrated in
In embodiments of the two-button projector 10′, the first button projection switch 20′a is always operative to project the same image, such as the “stop” command image 24a, irrespective of the actuation state (e.g., the rotated position) of the image selection actuator 18′. More particularly, in embodiments in which the first and second switches 20′a, 20′b are used to project images using respective first and second colors of the light beam 34′, the first switch 20′a itself can have a button of the first color, for example a green button, and the second switch 20′b can have a button of the second color, for example a red button. Advantageously, a user can thus use the two-button projector 10′ to project a dedicated image on-the-fly, in a simple, intuitive and consistent manner by simply pressing a dedicated button for projecting that image. For example, the user can project the “stop” command image 24a in red light by simply pressing a red button of the second switch 20′b at any time. It is believed that this can reduce the risk of an unintended image being projected by mistake.
In addition, the selection of images that can be projected using the first switch 20′a can either exclude or redundantly include the dedicated image that is always projected by operation of the dedicated second switch 20′b. In the latter case, in embodiments in which the first switch 20′a and the second switch 20′b are generally operable to project the light beam 34′ in respective first and second colors as previously described, the first switch 20′a can nonetheless be operative to project the second color of light when projecting that particular image is selected. In still more particular embodiments, each first and second button switch 20′a, 20′b is a toggle switch that is operative only when a separate power switch (not shown) is switched on and the image corresponding to the other button switch 20′a, 20′b is being projected. That is, the first button switch 20′a is operative, when toggled, only to change the projected image to the selected image (in more particular embodiments, in the first color), and the second button switch 20′b is operative only to change the projected image to the dedicated image (in more particular embodiments, in the second color), and only when the respective image is not already being projected.
In a method of using the projector 10 or the projector 10′ according to this disclosure, a user actuates the image selection actuator 18, 18′ to an actuation state corresponding to a selected image (such as one of the traffic command images 24a-24j), holds the projector 10, 10′ aimed at an outdoor surface and then engages the projection switch 20 of the projector 10 or the first button projection switch 20′a of the projector 10′. The selected image is then projected onto the surface at which the projector 10, 10′ is aimed. In embodiments of a method of using the two-button projector 10′, when the user engages the second button projection switch 20′b, a dedicated image (such as the traffic “stop” command image 24a) is always projected.
More particularly, as shown in
The light source 14, 14′ is adapted and configured to project the selected traffic command image 24a-24j through the aperture 22, 22′, so that the projected traffic command image 24a-24j is recognizable to a driver D of normal, unaided vision through an ordinary front windshield, from a distance d such as would allow a reasonable time for the driver to react to a traffic command corresponding to the projected traffic command image 24a-24j, as the driver approaches a road section, depicted as an intersection X, that is controlled by the traffic command, when the driver D is driving at a reasonable speed. For example, in nighttime outdoor ambient light conditions, the traffic command corresponding to the traffic command image 24a-24j is visually recognizable to the approaching driver from a distance d of at least 15 feet, preferably from a distance of at least 60 feet, and more preferably from a distance of at least 90 feet.
In addition, in embodiments of the two-button projector 10′ that project images in two different colors of light, the approaching driver of normal unaided vision is able under such conditions and from such distances to discern the color of the traffic command image, more preferably from a distance of at least sixty feet, and still more preferably from a distance of at least one-hundred twenty feet. Still more preferably, such an approaching driver is able to correctly identify from such distances the color of the image projected by the second button projection switch 20′b as the second color (for example, “red”) without knowing that the images can only be of the first color or the second color.
The preceding description of the disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed. The description was selected to best explain the principles of the present teachings and the practical application of these principles to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the disclosure in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It should be recognized that the words “a” or “an” are intended to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural elements shall, where appropriate, include the singular.
It is intended that the scope of the disclosure not be limited by the specification but be defined by the claim(s) set forth below. In addition, although narrow claims may be presented below, it should be recognized that the scope of this disclosure is much broader than presented by the claim(s). It is intended that broader claims will be submitted in one or more applications that claim the benefit of priority from this application. Insofar as the description above and the accompanying drawings disclose additional subject matter that is not within the scope of the claim or claims below, the additional disclosures are not dedicated to the public and the right to file one or more applications to claim such additional disclosures is reserved.
This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Pat. App. No. 63/297,944, filed Jan. 10, 2022, entitled “TRAFFIC CONTROL PROJECTOR,” which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63297944 | Jan 2022 | US |
