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:
Aug. 20, 2002
Filed:
Oct. 28, 1999
John Richard Sanderson, Oakland Park, FL (US);
Klaus Oesterheld, Middletown, NJ (US);
Rand Eikelberger, Allenwood, NJ (US);
Dialight Corporation, Manasquan, NJ (US);
Abstract
A wayside signal for a railway includes a plurality of light emitting diodes housed in a housing. The light emitting diodes output indication signals. Further, the light emitting diodes are configured on a first circuit board which is thermally coupled to the housing. The housing may also include heat sink fins to dissipate heat generated by the light emitting diodes and associated driving circuitry for driving the light emitting diodes also contained within the housing. An additional light emitting diode may also be contained within the housing to point in an opposite direction than the indication signal light emitting diodes, which additional light emitting diode may be formed on a second circuit board with the driving circuitry. The additional light emitting diode provides an indication to anyone behind the wayside signal as to the indication of the wayside signal. The wayside signal is further optimized for thermal efficiency and to be sealed against the elements. In regard to thermal efficiency, the first circuit board may be metal clad and the housing may be formed of black anodized aluminum. Also, a plastic insulator may be attached to the housing and covered with a lamp base. The lamp base may be configured to be inserted into a conventional socket for a wayside signal, so that the wayside signal of the present invention can be utilized with existing circuitry.