Light detection, signaling and speed measurement system

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 and further including: means for establishing a reference velocity value; and means for comparing the velocity of the localized light source moving with respect to said housing to said reference velocity value, such that said circuit means is actuated when the velocity of the localized light source moving with respect to said housing exceeds said reference velocity value.

Claim 4

The system of claim 1 wherein said means for displaying said output signal includes at least one light emitting device.

Claim 5

The system of claim 3 wherein said light emitting device is disposed within a reflective translucent housing.

Claim 6

The system of claim 3 wherein said light sensing means includes: a first photosensitive surface having a configuration responsive to the intensity of the localized light source emanating from any point in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the axis of said housing; a second photosensitive surface disposed to receive largely ambient light and to be nonresponsive to the intensity of the localized light source in said horizontal plane; and means for controlling said light emitting device in response to the light incident on said first and second photosensitive surfaces, such that said light emitting device is selectively illuminated when said first photosensitive surface detects the intensity of the localized light source and said second photosensitive surface detects the absence of a predetermined level of ambient light.

Claim 7

The detecting and signaling system of claim 5 wherein said first photosensitive surface has a cylindrical configuration and is oriented with its axis in a vertical position to detect localized incident light sources in a 360° arc in the horizontal plane.

Claim 8

The system of claim 5 wherein said means for controlling said light emitting device causes said light emitting device to flash on and off.

Claim 9

The system of claim 7 wherein said means for controlling said light emitting device increases the time rate of flash of said light emitting device in response to a decreasing function of the distance between said housing and the localized light source.

Claim 10

The system of claim 1 wherein said circuit means includes read only memory devices for generating light variation function output signals.

Claim 11

The detecting and signaling system of claim 1 and further including an optical telescopic device for receiving light from the incident light source prior to detection by said circuit means.

Claim 14

The system of claim 11 and further including: a first photosensitive surface having a configuration responsive to the intensity of the localized light source emanating from any point in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the axis of said housing; a second photosensitive surface disposed to receive largely ambient light and to be nonresponsive to the intensity of the localized light source in said horizontal plane; and means for controlling said display means in response to said light incident on said first and second photosensitive surfaces, such that said display means is selectively activated when said first photosensitive surface detects the intensity of the localized light source and said second photosensitive surface detects the absence of a predetermined level of ambient light.

Claim 17

The system of claim 13 wherein said second circuit means includes read only memory devices for generating light variation function output signals.

Claim 18

The system of claim 13 wherein said signal representative of the incident light on the system comprises an audible signal.

Claim 19

The detecting and signaling system of claim 15 and further including means for generating said audible signal, wherein said display means and said means for generating said audible signal are located at a remote location from said first and second circuit means.

Claim 20

The system of claim 13 and further including: third circuit means for activating said second circuit means when said signal generated by said first circuit means exceeds a predetermined value varying with time.

Claim 21

The system of claim 17 wherein said first circuit means includes: a first photosensitive detector disposed within said housing to receive incident light from the light source in a horizontal plane; a second photosensitive detector disposed within said housing to receive largely ambient light; and said first photosensitive detector in response to the incident light generating said signal representative of the light incident on the system when a predetermined dark ambient light level is sensed by said second photosensitive detector.

Claim 22

The system of claim 18 wherein said photosensitive detectors comprise photoresistors.

Claim 23

The system of claim 13 wherein said display means includes at least one light emitting device.

Claim 24

A detecting and signaling system comprising: a housing; a first photosensitive surface disposed within said housing and having a configuration responsive to the intensity of localized light sources emanating from any point in a horizontal plane surrounding said first photosensitive surface; a second photosensitive surface disposed within said housing to receive largely ambient light and to be nonresponsive to localized light sources in said horizontal plane; at least one light emitting device; circuit means for controlling the output of said light emitting device in response to said light incident on said first and second photosensitive surfaces, such that said light emitting device is selectively illuminated to flash on and off when said first photosensitive surface detects a localized light source and said second photosensitive surface detects the absence of a predetermined level of ambient light; means for detecting the rate of flashing of said light emitting device; and means for computing an approximation of the speed of the localized light source with respect to said housing in response to said detected rate of flashing of said light emitting device.

Claim 25

A detecting and signaling system comprising: a housing; a first photosensitive surface disposed within said housing and having a configuration responsive to the intensity of localized light sources emanating from any point in a horizontal plane surrounding said first photosensitive surface; a second photosensitive surface disposed within said housing to receive largely ambient light and to be nonresponsive to localized light sources in said horizontal plane; at least one light emitting device; circuit means for controlling the output of said light emitting device in response to said light incident on said first and second photosensitive surfaces, such that said light emitting device is selectively illuminated to flash on and off when said first photosensitive surface detects a localized light source and said second photosensitive surface detects the absence of a predetermined level of ambient light; means for detecting the rate of flashing of said light emitting device; and means for computing an approximation of the speed of the localized light source with respect to said housing in response to said detected rate of flashing of said light emitting device.

Claim 26

The detecting and signaling system of claim 21 wherein said first photosensitive surface has a cylindrical configuration and is oriented with its axis in a vertical position to detect localized light sources in a 360° arc in the horizontal plane.

Claim 27

The detecting and signaling system of claim 21 wherein said circuit means increases the time rate of flash of said light emitting device in response to a decreasing function of the distance between said housing and the detected localized light source.

Claim 28

The detecting and signaling system of claim 24 wherein said function comprises the rate of change of said distance.

Claim 29

The detecting and signaling system of claim 21 and further including: means for obscuring light from reaching selected portions of said second photosensitive surface for enabling illumination of said light emitting device in high ambient light conditions.

Claim 30

The detecting and signaling system of claim 21 wherein said photosensitive surfaces are responsive to different frequency spectrums.

Claim 31

The detecting and signaling system of claim 21 wherein said first photosensitive surface is disposed within a transparent lens configuration.

Claim 32

The detecting and signaling system of claim 27 wherein said lens configuration has a pyramidal shape.

Claim 33

The detecting and signaling system of claim 27 wherein said lens configuration has a spherical shape.

Claim 34

The detecting and signaling system of claim 21 wherein said light emitting device is located remotely from said circuit means.

Claim 35

The detecting and signaling system of claim 21 wherein said photosensitive surfaces comprise photoresistors.

Claim 36

The detecting and signaling system of claim 21 wherein said circuit means further includes a position dependent switch for actuating and deactuating the system.

Claim 37

The detecting and signaling system of claim 21 wherein the instantaneous voltage applied to said light emitting device is greater than the rated voltage of said light emitting device.

Claim 38

The detecting and signaling system of claim 21 wherein said first photosensitive surface includes at least two side walls disposed around a vertical axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane, each oriented to detect light from a sector of the horizontal plane surrounding said first photosensitive surface.

Claim 39

The detecting and signaling system of claim 34 wherein said first photosensitive surface is disposed within a transparent lens configuration.