Patent Publication Number: US-9836959-B1

Title: Pedestrian safety system and method for a restaurant with a drive-through lane

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to pedestrian safety systems and, more particularly, to a method and system for the safety of pedestrians at a restaurant having a drive through lane to facilitate picking up food and beverage items and that intersects with the path of pedestrians entering and exiting the restaurant. 
     Fast food restaurants with drive through lanes have been around for decades for the convenience of busy people who would rather eat while driving or riding in the car than to sit down for a meal. To accommodate parking on at least two sides of a respective restaurant, the drive through lane intersects the path of restaurant patrons on at least one side. So, for a few seconds a pedestrian walks across the path of automobiles having just picked up their order. Crossing a parking lot or drive through lane is usually not a problem; however, when a customer exits a door to the restaurant immediately into the drive through lane, an accident may occur. If either a customer or a driver is not diligent before advancing forward, a collision between the car and the patron is inevitable. 
     Various devices and systems have been proposed for alerting pedestrians regarding the presence of another person or vehicle on an opposite side of a door or passageway. Although presumably effective for their intended purposes, the existing systems have not addressed the unique situation presented by the intersection of a pedestrian door with a drive through lane of a fast food restaurant, namely, to detect and report motion at two separate locations as indicative of a potential collision at a third location (e.g. at an intersection of the drive through lane and an area just outside the pedestrian door). 
     Therefore, it would be desirable to have a pedestrian safety system and method for detecting the motion of an automobile in a drive through lane outside the restaurant and then activating a pedestrian visual alert device. Similarly, it would be desirable to have a pedestrian safety system and method for detecting the motion of a pedestrian inside a restaurant who is walking toward an exit door and then activating a drive through lane visual alert device. In addition, it would be desirable to have a pedestrian safety system and method for alerting when there is no chance of collision, when there is a cautionary risk of a future collision (based on movement at one or both locations), and when a collision is likely. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A system and method of pedestrian safety for implementation at a restaurant having a drive-through lane for an automobile, a pickup window situated along the drive-through lane, and a pedestrian door downstream of the pickup window. The system includes a plurality of lane sensors positioned proximate the pickup window and configured to generate lane data, the plurality of lane sensors include an upstream lane sensor adjacent an upstream end of the pickup window and at least a pair of downstream lane sensors arranged in a series downstream of the pickup window. A controller is in data communication with the plurality of lane sensors and programmed to determine proximity and motion status data regarding an automobile in the drive through lane. A pedestrian visual alert member is positioned proximate the pedestrian door of the restaurant and includes Stop, Go, and Caution indicator lamps. An appropriate lamp is energized depending if the lane sensors detect an automobile moving downstream in the drive-through lane, stopped at the pick-up window, or the lane is clear. 
     Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a pedestrian safety system and method for detecting movement in two separate locations in order to alert and protect against a collision in yet another location. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a pedestrian safety system, as aforesaid, having a plurality of drive through lane sensors configured to detect a position and motion of an automobile in the lane relative to a pedestrian door of the restaurant. 
     Still another object of this invention is to provide a pedestrian safety system, as aforesaid, having a plurality of pedestrian sensors located inside the restaurant and configured to determine when a customer is moving toward an exit door. 
     Yet another object of this invention is to provide a pedestrian safety system, as aforesaid, having visual alert members in view of the exit door and the drive through lane for alerting an exiting patron and driver when a collision is likely and extra diligence or attention is needed. 
     A further object of this invention is to provide a pedestrian safety system, as aforesaid, that is intuitive to drivers and patrons leaving the restaurant regarding the potential of encountering the other, respectively. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic illustration of a pedestrian safety system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the pedestrian safety system as in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating the logic of the system; and 
         FIG. 4  is a remote monitoring module according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A pedestrian safety system and method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 4  of the accompanying drawings. The pedestrian safety system  10  includes a plurality of lane sensors  20 , a plurality of pedestrian sensors  30 , a controller  40 , a lane visual alert member  26 , and a pedestrian visual alert member  36 . 
     The pedestrian safety system  10  is designed to keep pedestrians safe in and around a restaurant of a type having a drive-through lane  9 , a pickup window  8 , and a pedestrian door  7  through which consumers may enter and exit the restaurant.  FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic depiction of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a fast food restaurant having an L-shaped drive through lane  9 . An automobile  6  on a reduced scale is shown to illustrate the direction and pathway along the drive through lane  9  that is intended for automobiles in picking food and beverage items from the pickup window  8 . 
     The pedestrian safety system  10  includes a plurality of lane sensors  20  strategically positioned along the drive through lane  9  so that the presence of an automobile and the movement thereof may be detected. More particularly, the plurality of lane sensors  20  includes an upstream lane sensor  22  that may be a proximity sensor configured to sense the presence of the automobile  6 . Preferably, the upstream lane sensor  22  is mounted to an exterior wall of the restaurant building adjacent to the pickup window  8 , such as on the upstream end of the pickup window  8 . In operation, the upstream lane sensor  22  is capable of detecting when an automobile  6  is stopped at the pickup window to receive food items. Alternatively, the upstream lane sensor  22  may be mounted adjacent a pay window in an instance where a window for receiving payment is separate from the pickup window  8 . 
     Further, the plurality of lane sensors  20  may also include at least a pair but preferably three or more downstream lane sensors  24  arranged in series along the drive through lane  9 . The downstream lane sensors  24  may be spaced apart from one another downstream of the upstream lane sensor  22  and pickup window  8 . The downstream lane sensors  24  may be proximity or motion sensors. As will be further discussed below, the time stamp when each respective downstream lane sensor  24  detects motion or proximity can be used to determine that an automobile is traveling downstream in the drive through lane  9 . The plurality of lane sensors  20  generate “lane data” indicative of proximity of an automobile to a respective sensors as well as motion data (i.e. time stamp data as described above). 
     The pedestrian safety system  10  includes a controller  40  in data communication with the plurality of lane sensors  20 . The data communication may be through wires or wireless, including with Bluetooth technology. In an embodiment, the controller  40  may include a transmitter  46  and receiver  48 , respectively, for sending and receiving data with the sensors. It is understood that the controller  40  may be an electronics module or circuit board that includes circuitry, a microprocessor  42 , a non-volatile memory  44  configured for storing data structures, digital data, and programming instructions for execution by the microprocessor or the like. Execution of programming instructions or the function of actual circuitry will be referred to herein as the controller  40  being “programmed” to analyze data from respective sensors and then to direct predetermined actions be taken as will be described below. 
     As implied above, the controller  40  receives “lane data” from the upstream lane sensor  22  and at least a pair of downstream lane sensors  24  and is programmed to determine proximity status data and motion status data for each reporting sensor. For instance, the upstream lane sensor  22  is configured to determine if an automobile is stationary and adjacent to the pickup window  8 . In other words, the upstream lane sensor  22  is capable of determining that an object indicative of a car is within a predetermined distance of the upstream lane sensor  22 . Similarly, the downstream lane sensors  24  are configured to detect if and when an automobile passes thereby. The controller  40 , therefore, is programmed to determine a complete understanding (i.e. a “snapshot”) of the presence, position, and motion of an automobile  6  relative to the drive through lane  9  upon receiving generated lane data from the plurality of lane sensors  20 . 
     In another aspect, the pedestrian safety system  10  includes a pedestrian visual alert member  26 . More particularly, the pedestrian visual alert member  26  may be a pedestrian light tree having at least one, but preferably all, of a Stop  27 , Go  28 , and Caution  29  indicator lamps. These indicator lamps may be a red light emitting diode (LED), green LED, and yellow LED, respectively. As will be described explicitly below, the controller  40  is programmed to energize respective indicator lamps according the data described above. The pedestrian visual alert member  26  may be positioned either inside or outside of the restaurant proximate or adjacent to the pedestrian door  7 . For instance, the pedestrian visual alert member  26  is mounted or positioned where it may be conveniently seen and understood by a consumer who is preparing to or actually exiting through the pedestrian door  7 . 
     In an embodiment, the pedestrian visual alert member  26  may include only a red “Stop” lamp that is energized to alert a pedestrian that it is not clear to walk across the drive-through lane  9 , e.g. an automobile is actively driving downstream across the path of the pedestrian. In a preferred embodiment, however, the pedestrian visual alert member  26  includes all three indicator lamps disclosed above and which are energized under specific conditions. An exemplary method according to the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the steps of which are noted in the description that follows. First, the controller  40  is programmed to energize the Stop indicator lamp  27  (step  104 ) of the pedestrian visual alert member  26  if, according to the generated lane data of the downstream lane sensors  24 , it is determined that an automobile  6  is in motion downstream of the pickup window  8  (step  102 ). In other words, data gathered by the downstream lane sensors  24  will indicate proximity and downstream motion of an automobile  6  and will cause the controller  40  to actuate the Stop indicator lamp  27  to advise a pedestrian to wait for the automobile  6  to clear before exiting the restaurant through the pedestrian door  7 . 
     Further, the controller  40  is able to determine, based on lane data received from the upstream lane sensor  22 , if an automobile is detected proximate the upstream lane sensor  22  (step  106 ), i.e. detect if an automobile  6  is stopped at the pickup window  8 . In that instance, the controller  40  is programmed to energize the Caution indicator lamp  29  (step  108 ) (i.e. energize the yellow light). In other words, an automobile  6  stopped at the pickup window  8  is not an immediate danger to an exiting pedestrian but will be moving downstream soon. 
     However, it is recognized that one automobile may be stopped adjacent the upstream lane sensor  22  and pickup window  8  (which is associated with a Caution alert) while another automobile might actually be travelling downstream of the pickup window  8  simultaneously (which would generate a Stop alert). In this circumstance, the controller  40  is programmed to energize only the Stop indicator lamp  27 . In other words, detecting the condition of a moving automobile is given priority over detecting a stationary vehicle at the pickup window  8 . 
     Still further, the controller  40  is programmed to determine from the proximity and motion status data determined from the generated lane data if no automobile is detected adjacent the pickup window  8  or in motion downstream thereof (step  110 ). In other words, the controller  40  is capable of determining that that drive through lane  9  is totally clear. In this instance, the controller  40  is programmed to energize the Go indicator lamp  28  of the pedestrian visual indicator member  26  (step  112 ), i.e. the green light of the pedestrian visual alert member. 
     In another aspect, the pedestrian safety system  10  may include a plurality of pedestrian sensors  30  mounted or positioned proximate the pedestrian door  7  of the restaurant. The pedestrian sensors may include a combination of proximity sensors and motion sensors that, individually and together, generate pedestrian traffic data. Again, the position and arrangement of the pedestrian sensors is critical to accurately determining the actions and intensions of a consumer, i.e. is the consumer (a restaurant customer) entering or exiting the pedestrian door  7 . More particularly, the plurality of pedestrian sensors  30  may include an upstream lane sensor  22  that may be mounted in a restaurant at a position displaced from the pedestrian door  7  and at least a pair (but preferably three or more) of downstream pedestrian sensors  34  arranged in a spaced apart series downstream of the upstream pedestrian sensor  32 . The pedestrian sensors  30  may be in data communication with the controller either through wired or wireless technology. 
     Generally, the upstream and downstream pedestrian sensors enable the controller  40  to determine proximity and direction of travel status data of a restaurant customer in a manner substantially similar to the determinations of the upstream and downstream lane sensors described above. More particularly, the controller  40  is configured to determine the presence of a customer is within a predetermined distance of the pedestrian door  7 . Then, the pedestrian traffic data taken from the downstream pedestrian sensors  34  may be used by the controller  40  to determine that the customer is actively moving toward the pedestrian door  7  in a manner indicative of exiting the restaurant therethrough. 
     The pedestrian safety system  10  includes a lane visual alert member  36 . More particularly, the lane visual alert member  36  may be a lane light tree having at least one, but preferably all, of a Stop  37 , Go  38 , and Caution  39  indicator lamps. These indicator lamps may be a red light emitting diode (LED), green LED, and yellow LED, respectively. As will be described explicitly below, the controller  40  is programmed to energize respective indicator lamps according the data described above. The lane visual alert member  36  may be positioned along the downstream portion of the drive through lane  9 , preferably between the pickup window  8  and the pedestrian door  7 . This way, a driver may be alerted that a customer or pedestrian may or may not be exiting the pedestrian door  7 . In other words, the lane visual light member  36  is mounted or positioned where it may be conveniently seen and understood by a driver of an automobile  6  traveling downstream along the drive through lane  9 . 
     Using the data and determinations described above, the controller  40  is programmed to energize the Stop indicator lamp  37  of the lane visual alert member  36  (step  114 ) if it determines from the downstream pedestrian sensors  34  that a customer is moving toward the pedestrian door in a manner indicative of exit therethrough (step  116 ). Similarly, if the controller  40  determines that a customer is proximate the upstream pedestrian sensor  32  but not necessarily the downstream pedestrian sensors  34  (step  118 ), the controller  40  is configured to energize the Caution indicator lamp  39  of the lane visual alert member  36  ( 120 ). This action would indicate to a driver that a pedestrian is not “imminently” exiting the restaurant but that the pedestrian is in the proximity to do so soon. 
     However, it is recognized that one customer may be stopped or detected adjacent the upstream pedestrian sensor  32  (which is associated with a Caution alert) while another customer might actually be travelling toward the pedestrian door  7  simultaneously (which would generate a Stop alert). In this circumstance, the controller  40  is programmed to energize only the Stop indicator lamp  37 . In other words, detecting the condition of an exiting pedestrian is given priority over detecting merely a proximate customer displaced from the pedestrian door  7 . 
     Still further, the controller  40  is programmed to determine from the proximity and motion status data determined from the generated pedestrian data, if no pedestrian (customer) is detected proximate the upstream pedestrian sensor  32  or in motion downstream thereof (step  122 ). In other words, the controller  40  is capable of determining that that no customer is ready or preparing to exit the restaurant. In this instance, the controller  40  is programmed to energize the Go indicator lamp  38  of the lane visual alert member  36 , i.e. the green light of the lane light tree (step  124 ). 
     It is understood that the pedestrian safety system  10  may include any combination of the plurality of lane sensors  20  and plurality of pedestrian sensors  30 , and associated visual alert members. The combined system operates in substantially the manner as described above. In the description above, it is understood that detecting movement of automobiles along a drive through lane is a “first location” and that detecting movement of patrons inside of the restaurant is a “second location” and that the intersection between the drive through lane and an area adjacent an exterior of a restaurant pedestrian door is a “third location.” Therefore, detecting movement in the first location and the second location enables the controller to “predict” a potential collision between an exiting patron and an automobile in downstream movement along the drive through lane, i.e. at a “third location.” 
     In another aspect, the pedestrian safety system  10  may include a monitoring module  50  remote from the controller  40  configured to run on a mobile electronic device having a receiver and a display, such as on a mobile phone, tablet, laptop computer or any electronics device having internet access. In an embodiment, the monitoring module  50  may be integrated with the electronics module of an automobile ( FIG. 3 ). The monitoring module  50  may be a software application  58  stored in memory  56  and running on a processor  54  of the respective mobile device  52  ( FIG. 2 ). The monitoring module  50  via the software application  58  may be updated each time the lane sensors  20  or pedestrian sensors  30  generate new data set (step  126 ). 
     It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.