EP0451117A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
An improved electronic safety device for trucks
Assignee: Danesi Michele
•
Filing: 1991-03-26
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2011-03-26
Abstract
Abstract The device utilizes two sensors (1, 7) of identical specification, and a light source (3), all of which mounted to a single bracket and directed at the road surface (2) in such a way that the beam from the source is reflected back at the sensors; the sensors are wired into a comparator (8) of which the output signal is used to pilot the activation of an alarm (6), and becomes operative whenever the signals from the two sensors become dissimilar by reason of the different luminous intensities and/or wavelengths in the beam when reflected in part by the natural road surface (2), and in part by the white or yellow lines (4) bordering a traffic lane or a hard shoulder.
Inventors
- 👤 Nevio Nati
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:22
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/16; G08G1/167
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
264 words
1) An improved electronic safety device for trucks comprising a first sensor (1) directed toward a road surface (2), a light source (3) positioned alongside the first sensor (1), directed likewise at the road surface and designed to emit a luminous signal that is reflected onto and transduced by the first sensor into an electrical signal dependent on the luminous intensity and/or wavelength of the reflected signal, which is dependent in turn upon the presence on the road surface (2) of a white or yellow line (4) or other specific traffic marking; and a monitoring circuit (5) of which the input is in receipt of the signal from the sensor and the output is used to activate an alarm circuit (6) whenever the luminous signal is reflected from the line (4) or other road marking, characterized - in that it further comprises a second sensor (7) located in close proximity to and possessing the same technical and operating specifications as the first sensor (1) and directed likewise at the road surface (2); and - in that both sensors (1, 7) are connected to the inputs of a comparator circuit (8), of which the output signal activates the alarm circuit (6) each time the two electrical signals returned by the respective sensors become dissimilar by reason of different luminous intensities and/or wavelengths in the beam of light emitted from the source (3) and reflected from two different heterochromatic surfaces corresponding respectively to the bare road surface (2) and to a white or yellow line (4) or other specific traffic marking applied to the road surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
264 words
1) An improved electronic safety device for trucks comprising a first sensor (1) directed toward a road surface (2), a light source (3) positioned alongside the first sensor (1), directed likewise at the road surface and designed to emit a luminous signal that is reflected onto and transduced by the first sensor into an electrical signal dependent on the luminous intensity and/or wavelength of the reflected signal, which is dependent in turn upon the presence on the road surface (2) of a white or yellow line (4) or other specific traffic marking; and a monitoring circuit (5) of which the input is in receipt of the signal from the sensor and the output is used to activate an alarm circuit (6) whenever the luminous signal is reflected from the line (4) or other road marking, characterized - in that it further comprises a second sensor (7) located in close proximity to and possessing the same technical and operating specifications as the first sensor (1) and directed likewise at the road surface (2); and - in that both sensors (1, 7) are connected to the inputs of a comparator circuit (8), of which the output signal activates the alarm circuit (6) each time the two electrical signals returned by the respective sensors become dissimilar by reason of different luminous intensities and/or wavelengths in the beam of light emitted from the source (3) and reflected from two different heterochromatic surfaces corresponding respectively to the bare road surface (2) and to a white or yellow line (4) or other specific traffic marking applied to the road surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
2) An electronic device as in claim 1, wherein the first and second sensors (1, 7) are positioned one on each side of the light source (3) and disposed mutually parallel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
3) An electronic device as in claim 1, wherein the comparator circuit (8) consists in an integrated circuit of which the inputs are in receipt of the electrical signals from the first and the second sensor (1, 7).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
4) An electronic device as in claim 1, wherein the comparator circuit (8) is located between the first and second sensors (1, 7) on the one hand, and on the other, the monitoring circuit (5) by which the alarm circuit (6) is activated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
5) An electronic device as in claim 1, wherein the output either of the monitoring circuit (5) or of the alarm circuit (6) is cascaded into a timer (11) of which the purpose is to trigger the operation of warning and/or safety systems of the truck (9) in the event of an alarm signal being emitted through the output of the monitoring circuit for a duration longer than a previously selected or predetermined limit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
94 words
6) An electronic device as in claim 1, wherein the first and second sensors (1, 7) and the light source (3) are mutually aligned in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the truck, one sensor on each side of the source, and mounted thus to a hollow bracket (12) suitable for fitment to the bottom front part of a truck and carrying an optical assembly (13), secured to its underside in alignment with the light source (3), by means of which to focus the beam (31) of light emitted by the source.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
7) An electronic device as in claim 6, wherein the first and second sensors (1, 7) are accommodated internally of respective tubes (23) secured to the bracket (12), in such a way as to remain exposed only to the beam (31) of light emitted from the source (3) and reflected from the road surface (2) or from a white or yellow line (4) or other marking applied to the surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.