The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 27, 1999
Filed:
Jun. 17, 1997
William J Gartner, Scottsdale, AZ (US);
Christopher R Myers, Basalt, CO (US);
Traffic Technology, Inc., Scottsdale, AZ (US);
Abstract
LED traffic light 30 having a housing 39 that holds at least three different signal lights 32, 34, and 36. The three lights 32, 34, and 36 are each embedded in an opening 50 of housing 39. The LEDs for traffic signal lights 32, 34, and 36 are arranged in symbolic shapes (i.e. universal symbols or words) that further represent one of the traffic signals. Red signal light 32 has red LEDs 31 arranged in an octagon shape (i.e. stop sign shape), and yellow or amber signal light 34 has yellow LEDs 33 arranged in a triangle shape (i.e. caution sign shape). Green signal light 36 has green LEDs 35 arranged in a circular shape. The preferred embodiment is a single lens traffic light 40 having a housing 49 that provides at least three signal lights 42, 44, and 46. The three signal lights 42, 44, and 46 are all embedded in a single opening 50 of housing 49. The LEDs for signal lights 42, 44, and 46 are arranged in a generally common area that allows activation and display of one of the signal lights in a corresponding symbolic shape (i.e. universal symbol or words). Red signal light 42 has red LEDs 41 spread out and arranged in an octagon shape (i.e. stop sign shape). Green signal light 46 has green LEDs 45 spread out and arranged in a circular shape. In the areas which red signal light 42 and green signal light 46 commonly overlap, clusters of two LEDs (i.e. red LEDs 41 and green LEDs 45) exist. Yellow signal light 44 has yellow LEDs 43 spread out and arranged mounted in a triangle shape. In the areas which the three signal lights 42, 44, and 46 commonly overlap, clusters of three LEDs (i.e. red LEDs 41, yellow LEDs 43, and green LEDs 45) exist. Also, the principle of the single lens traffic light is not limited to an LED construction but can also be made from other suitable and appropriate colored lights or light sources.