Abstract:
A system for detecting a vehicle traveling a designated direction of travel on a roadway includes a sign having a front surface and a back surface. The sign may include a sign boundary marker that is different in color than a color of the front surface. One or more light panels such as an LED light panel is affixed to the sign such as to its front surface. The light emitting elements may lie below a top plane of the light panel. A color of a top surface of the light panel matches a color on the front surface of the sign over which the light panel is placed. A vehicle motion detector or proximity detector is oriented in a direction and has a detection zone for detecting moving vehicles in proximity to the sign. The detector illuminates the lights of the light panel after detecting a moving vehicle in proximity to the sign.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to, and incorporates herein in its entirety, U.S. patent application having Ser. No. 62/369,021 and titled Traffic Sign Mountable Light Panels, which was filed with the USPTO on 29 Jul. 2016. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to attaching lights such as LED-based lights to traffic signs for increased visibility and safety. 
       Description of Related Art 
       [0003]    Too often, drivers of automotive vehicles miss or ignore important traffic control signs. The cost of accidents is significant. Drivers often travel substantial distances based on incorrect information. Many adverse incidents can be avoided. 
         [0004]    While illumination techniques have been implemented, often added illumination is ignored because illumination is unresponsive to its environment. That is, humans tend to ignore signs that are always illuminated thus defeating the purpose of adding illumination to especially critical or important signs and other infrastructure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The present disclosure may be better understood and its numerous features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a front view of a sign fitted with lights along a portion of a perimeter of the sign in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a side perspective view the sign fitted with lights along a portion of the perimeter of the sign in accordance with some embodiments illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a front view of a sign fitted with lights along an entirety of a perimeter of a sign in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a diagram schematically illustrating components of a light panel and related control components in accordance with some embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    By using the devices, systems and methods described herein, substantial savings in life and bodily harm can be obtained. Prototypes and testing have been done to ensure that these devices, systems and methods function as described. 
         [0011]    Based on research, a need was identified to produce devices and systems for detecting the approach or presence of vehicle traffic and for activating illumination devices in reaction to a set of circumstances. Active illumination draws the attention of a vehicle operator to existing traffic control signage and markings. The added illumination increases the chance of raising environment awareness of a vehicle operator. Millions of vehicles are operated daily in this country and many more in other countries. 
         [0012]    By way of example, an illuminated sign may bring to the attention of the operator a proper perspective of a topological feature, a constant situation with a known risk or emergent condition such as a condition related to weather or the likely presence of children making their way home after school. 
         [0013]    An illuminated sign has a greater chance than a non-illuminated sign of correcting an error of a vehicle operator. An illuminated sign may communicate valuable information to the operator in time for the operator to take appropriate action and avoid an undesirable consequence. 
         [0014]    The illuminated sign as described herein is part of a reliable, low cost and self-contained system that is easily added to existing infrastructure.  FIGS. 1-4  illustrate example devices and systems. As shown and described herein, these devices do not visually change the shape or color of a traffic sign or other marking to which it is affixed according to some embodiments. 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a front view of a sign fitted with lights along a portion of a perimeter of the sign in accordance with some embodiments.  FIG. 1  illustrates a system  100  fitted to a wrong way sign  101  mounted to a post  111  and with light-equipped strips  103  attached to a left side and a right side of the sign  101 . In  FIG. 1 , each light-equipped strip  103  includes two columns  104 ,  105  of lights in the example shown. Other numbers of rows, columns, or rows and columns are possible. 
         [0016]    In a particular embodiment, a first column  104  of LED lights is aligned and overlaps the white stripe  128  along the edge of the front face  107  of the sign  101 . The first column  104  is in a white stripe  109  of the light-equipped strips  103 . A second column  105  of LED lights is aligned in the colored stripe  106  of the light-equipped strip  103 . The colored stripe  106  of the strips  103  is aligned with and overlaps the colored stripe  108  of the sign  101 . The front face  107  of the sign  101  includes a colored stripe  108  of tape, paint, or other material that provides a border for the sign  101 . According to an alternative embodiment, the second column  105  of LED lights may be formed and mounted inside the colored stripe  108  such as inside the colored stripe  108 . For a wrong way sign, the LED lights would be mounted inside the border or band  108  over a traditionally red background of the wrong way sign. 
         [0017]    In  FIG. 1 , a first arrow  121  indicates an outer horizontal edge  126  of the sign  101 . A second arrow  122  indicates a width of the outer white edge  128  of the sign  101  as measured from the first arrow  121 . A distance between the second arrow  122  and the third arrow  123  indicates a width of colored stripe  108  of the sign  101 . Note that according to one embodiment, a width of the colored stripe  108  is between the second arrow  122  and the third arrow  123 , and the width of the colored stripe  108  is uniform around a perimeter of the sign  108 . 
         [0018]    For any given sign  101 , tape or paint may form lettering  130  on the front face  107  or front surface of the sign  101 . A color of the lights such as in columns  104 ,  105  may be matched to an underlying color of the relevant portion of the sign  101 . Alternatively, a color for each of the lights may be coordinated to be a contrasting color or non-matching color so as to further distinguish the illumination and to further draw attention to the sign. For example, lights in a red portion of the sign may be provided with white lights, with yellow lights, with green lights, and so forth. In another embodiment, a red portion of the sign  101  is provided with red lights, and a white portion of the sign such as boundary stripe  128  is provided with white lights in the first column  104  and red or colored lights in the red or colored stripe  106  of the strip  103 . In  FIG. 1 , the sign  101  is mounted to the post  111  by one or more fasteners  129 . In the embodiment shown, there is no light-equipped strip  103  on a top edge  126  or bottom edge, but only on a side or vertical edge  127 . The strips  103  have an outer edge  131  and an inner edge  132 . The outer edge  131  of the strip  103  may lie outside of the outer edge  127  of the sign  101 , may be mounted flush to the outer edge  127  of the sign  101 . Alternatively, the outer edge  131  of the light panel  103  may be mounted inside of the perimeter of the sign  101 . While the inner edge  132  of the strips  103  is shown at a position  124  inside of the inner margin  123  of the stripe  108 , the inner edge  132  may formed and aligned so as to be aligned with an outer edge  122  of the colored stripe  108  or so as to be aligned with an inner edge  123  of the colored stripe  108 . A width of the light strip  103  may be measured from an inner edge  124  to an outer edge  125  as indicated by the arrows. The outer edge  125  of one or more light strip  103  may extend beyond a lateral side  127  or a horizontal side  126  of the sign  101 . 
         [0019]    When both columns  104 ,  105  of LED lights are illuminated, an attention of a vehicle operator is drawn to the sign  101 . One aspect of the attachments includes at least one column of LED lights inside the boundary of the border  108 . Lights in this area are not expected by observers and add an extra feature to a conventional sign. When the light panels or strips  103  are activated, the unconventional feature encourages the vehicle operator to actively turn and look at the lights. The light strips  103  are designed to initially blend into an appearance of each particular sign  101  or infrastructural element in terms of color. At least one lateral surface of the light panel  103  such as at an outer edge  131  may be black and the top face of the light panel  103  is a color of the border  128  of the sign  101 . The inner part of the light panel is colored to match the background or face  107  of the sign  101 . 
         [0020]    In  FIG. 1 , as an example, the visual appearance of the inner boundary or visual edge  132  is different than the visual appearance of the outer boundary or edge  131  (e.g., black to white on the outer edge  131  of the light panel and red to black on the inner edge  132  of the light panel). This feature provides a psychological camouflage of the light panel  103  when the LED lights are not illuminated. 
         [0021]    A detection system  100  as described herein is secured to an existing pole  111  or other structure. The sign  101  is attached by fasteners  129  such as threaded bolts as indicated in  FIG. 1 . In contrast to the sign  101  to the pole  111 , in the implementation in  FIG. 1 , the light panels  103  are affixed by adhesive or glue, adhesive strip, or other means that does that require mechanically altering the sign such as by drilling or cutting mounting holes in the body of the sign. Such feature facilitates rapid attachment of the light panels  103  to the sign  101 . The light panels  103  may or may not be self-powered. In  FIG. 1 , the light strips or panels  103  are powered by a power supply within a detector unit  141 . In  FIG. 1 , the detector unit  141  is mounted to the pole  111 . Power may be supplied by a cable or cord that is not illustrated for sake of convenience in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0022]    The light strips  103  have a first or x-dimension, a second or y-dimension, and a third or z-dimension as indicated by the arrows  112 . In  FIG. 1 , the strips  103  sit about a plane of the top surface  107  of the sign  101  by at least 1.0 mm. Each light of the columns  104 ,  105  of lights may sit flush inside of the holes or recesses. According to an alternative embodiment, each light of the columns  104 ,  105  of lights may sit recessed below a top surface of the strips  103 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the sign  101  first shown in  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 2 , the system  200  includes a detector unit  141  inside of a housing  206 . According to one example implementation, the detector unit  141  includes a K-band radar detector tuned to detect automotive vehicles from a distance of about 300-500 feet depending on a vehicle size. For example, the K-band radar detector operates at about 24.15 GHz and is direct sensing. The detector is FCC part  15  compliant. Other types of detectors are possible and may be coupled to the light panels  103 . The detector unit  141 , once it detects a traveling vehicle, is programmed to illuminate the columns  104 ,  105  of lights. 
         [0024]    When a vehicle is detected, a controller, such as a controller within the housing  206 , activates the LED lights of the light panel  103 . For sake of convenience, only a single light panel  103  is shown in  FIG. 2 . For example, the controller may actively flash the lights according to a regular or irregular pattern. The lights may be flashed according to a temporal (time) pattern. The temporal pattern may vary according to a proximity of a vehicle or according to a detected speed of a vehicle with respect to a threshold such as a speed limit. For example, the LED lights may be blinked at a higher frequency for a vehicle being operated 10 miles per hour (MPH) over a posted speed limit than for a vehicle traveling at a speed that is 5 MPH over the posted speed limit. A faster flashing of the LED lights indicates a potentially more dangerous condition (e.g., speeding vehicle). 
         [0025]    In  FIG. 2 , the detector unit  141  is mounted to the same pole  111  as the sign  101 . A bracket and other attaching components are omitted from  FIG. 2  for sake of convenience. In  FIG. 2 , lettering on the sign  101  is also omitted for sake of clarity of illustration. However, conventional attaching elements may be used in conjunction with the housing  206  to place the detector unit  141  in a functional position relative to the sign  101 . The detector unit  141  broadcasts a detection signal within a detection zone  202 . The detection zone  202  is not shown to scale and covers a substantial distance in a first direction  207  relative to the sign  101 . The detection zone  202  may be a first detection zone and the detector unit  141  may project a second detection signal in a second direction relative to the sign  101 . The detector unit  121  may include a battery or other power source for operating the light panels or strips. The detector unit  121  may be powered by conventional means such as AC current, direct current and/or solar panels. These elements are not illustrated for sake of convenience. 
         [0026]    In  FIG. 2 , the light strip  103  includes a portion of a cable  204  for the light panel  103 . The cable  204  lies as flat as possible as it wraps around behind the sign  101 . The cable  204  may carry power to the light strip  103  including to the first column  104  and the second column  105  of lights. Further, the cable  204  may carry a signal to and from the detector unit  141 . The cable  204  may run along a path  205  along the back of the sign  101  and down the post  111  to, and into, the housing  206  of the detector unit  141 . The presence of the power cable is installed so as to have a minimal impact on the outer perimeter shape of the sign to which the LED light panel is attached. The cable  204  is slightly visible from the back of the sign, and is preferably not visible from the front of the sign. 
         [0027]    The sign  101  includes a first color band  108  on the front surface  107  and includes a second color  108  along a band or tape line of the front surface  107  of the sign. The light strip  103  includes a corresponding colored stripe or band  106  made of a same material and of a substantially same color and appearance as the band  108  of a second color on the face  107  of the sign  101 . According to an example implementation, a color of the lights of the first column  104  correspond to and match a color of the face  203  of the light strip  103 . A color of the lights of the second column  105  correspond to and match a color of the strip  106  on the front face  203  of the light strip  103 . An exterior side  208  may be painted, coated, or otherwise colored black so as to blend into the side profile of the sign  101  as visible in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the light strips  103  are substantially invisible when viewed from a front direction. The illustration of  FIG. 2  emphasizes a profile height  201  that each light panel or light strip  103  raises above the front face  107  of the sign  101 . In certain embodiments, the profile height is less than 1.0 inches, 0.5 inches, 0.3 inches, and 0.2 inches. The profile height  201  extends a distance along a z-axis of the coordinate axes  112  shown. 
         [0028]    From the perspective of a viewer standing directly in front of the sign  101 , the one or more light panels  103  are minimally visible with respect to the colors, materials, shapes, and other aspects of the sign  101 . According to some implementations, the light panel  103  is colored to match those colors and reflectivities of the sign  101 . A thickness of the light panel  103  is selected to be as thin as possible along the front surface  107  of the sign  101 . Each light panel  103  may extend along an x-axis or y-axis outside of the perimeter of the sign  101 . However, any extensions outside of the perimeter of the sign  101  in the x-axis and y-axis are minimized so as to minimally disturb a silhouette of the sign  101 . For example, a light panel is less than 0.5 inches wide in the x-axis along its entire length. According to one implementation, the LED lights of the columns of lights  104 ,  105  do not protrude above a top plane or top surface  203  of the light panel  103 . 
         [0029]    In  FIG. 2 , while the light panel  103  is shown as uniform in thickness vertically and horizontally (along the x-axis and y-axis, respectively), in other implementations the LED panels may be tapered—for example, thin at the outside edge  127  of the sign  101 , and relatively thicker at an inside edge of the sign  101  at the inside edge  132  of the light panel  103 . Alternatively, the light panel is thin at the bottom  209 , and thicker at the top  210 . 
         [0030]    In  FIG. 2 , in yet another alternative configuration, each panel  103  has a curved (from left to right along the x-axis) or semi-circular top surface  203  or thickness profile. Each light panel  103  is blended into the appearance of the sign. Each light panel  103  may lie across a boundary of a first color and a second color on the front face  107  of the sign  101 . Alternatively, each light panel  103  is sized and mounted to only be within one color or one background region of a sign  103  such as a boundary color. According to some embodiments, no part of each light panel  103  crosses, overlaps or extends outside of the profile of the sign  101  as viewed from the front of the sign  101 . In that way, the shape of the sign is not altered and thereby does not substantially alter the appearance of the sign  101  when the lights of the light panel  103  are not illuminated. Thus, the shape of the sign  103  with light panels  103  has a same meaning to an observer as a sign without light panels. 
         [0031]    The example embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2  shows that the light panel  103  is entirely mounted to the front surface  103  of the sign  101 . This allows the light panel  103  to be fit or mounted to the sign  103  without substantially altering the sign (e.g., without drilling holes for each light to protrude through an opening in the sign  101 ). Thus, an entirely new sign is not needed and existing signs such as sign  101  can be retrofitted with light panels  103  as described herein. This allows the LED light panels  103  to be installed with a minimal amount of labor. 
         [0032]    According to an implementation, the illumination components (e.g., panels  103 , controller, and power supply) are attached by cables to other components such as the detector unit  141 . Although not shown, the wiring for the LED panels may be placed under a black back plate or heavy black tape on the back of the sign  101  to discourage observers from disabling or altering the wiring of the light panels  103 . In  FIG. 3 , according to some example embodiments, each light panel  103  includes a black side edge  208 . In one implementation, and as shown in  FIG. 2 , a thickness of the light panel  103  is uniform from a top surface  210  to a bottom surface so as to track the edge and shape of sign  101 . The light panels  103  are activated through the cables that connect the panels to the detector unit  141 . 
         [0033]    According to example embodiments, an LED color of particular lights of the light panel  103  may be based on the type of sign to which it is affixed and configured per the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) 2A.07 paragraphs 08, 09, and 10 which are herein incorporated in their entirety by reference. The LED color may match one or more colors of the sign or object to which it is attached. For example, LED lights that overlay a white stripe or white lettering of a sign may be white, while LED lights that overlay a red background of the sign are red. The LED lights, when illuminated, enhance the meaning of the sign in the mind of an observer or vehicle operator. 
         [0034]    The new method of illumination for traffic signs fulfills a need for an inexpensive system that uses existing infrastructure to draw the attention of a vehicle operator to a standard traffic control sign in time to take appropriate action. 
         [0035]    The face mounted flasher bars or strips  103  address sign illumination needs per MUTCD guidelines Section 2A.07.06 through section 2A.07.11, 2009 Edition, Revision 2. Flasher bar assemblies attach to existing sign faces  107  and provide illumination. LED lights may be available at least in red, amber and white. An LED light panel or light bar  103  incorporates reflective sheeting reasonably consistent with a face of the sign to which the LED panel is attached. 
         [0036]    While the light panels  103  are illustrated as attached to a wrong way sign in  FIG. 1 , one or more LED light panels may be attached to any and all types of traffic signage, including but not limited to, warning, regulatory, temporary, and construction signage. 
         [0037]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a front view of a sign fitted with lights along an entirety of a perimeter of a sign in accordance with some embodiments. In  FIG. 3 , a sign  101  has mounted to it a system  300  that includes a light panel frame  301  that extends along an entire perimeter of the sign  101 . The light panel frame  301  includes a right edge  302  that fits flush against a vertical edge  127  or side of the sign  101 . The outer edge  131  on the left side of the light panel frame  301  is not fit flush for sake of illustration. The light panel frame  301  includes a first line  104  of lights, a second line of lights  105 , and a third line of lights  303 . The first line  104  of lights is in a white stripe  128  along the outer edge of the front face  107  of the sign  101 . The second line  105  of lights is within a colored stripe  106  of the light-equipped frame  301 . The third line  303  of lights is within the colored stripe  106 . The colored stripe  106  of the light panel frame  301  takes the place of a colored stripe that would be present in the sign  101  without the frame  301 . The system  300  includes a detection unit  141  mounted to a pole  111  that also supports the sign  101 . The top surface  109  of the light panel frame  301  is shown substantially planar but not completely co-planar with a top surface  107  of the sign  101 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 4  is a diagram schematically illustrating components of a light panel and related control components in accordance with some embodiments. While the technology has been described above in the general context of controller-executable or computer-executable instructions that may run on one or more devices, those skilled in the art will recognize that the technology also can be implemented in combination with other program modules and/or as a combination of hardware and software. 
         [0039]    Program modules can include routines, programs, components, data structures and so forth, that perform particular tasks or implement particular data types. Moreover, the methods can be practiced with other computer system configurations, including single-processor or multiprocessor computer systems, mini-computers, server-scale computers, as well as small computers, hand-held or mobile computing devices, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics such as mobile phones, tablets, vehicle detectors, proximity detectors, motion detectors, and the like, each of which can be operatively coupled to one or more associated devices. 
         [0040]    The described technology may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where certain tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules can be located in both local and remote memory storage devices. 
         [0041]    A computer includes a variety of computer-readable media. Computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by the computer and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By example and not limitation, computer-readable media can include computer storage media and communication media. A computer storage medium can include both volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disk (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by the computer. The computer storage medium may or may not be local to the system  400 . 
         [0042]    Communication media embody computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of the any of the above can be included within the scope of computer-readable media. 
         [0043]    In  FIG. 4 , the illustrated system  400  includes one or more devices such as a computer  402 . In turn, the computer  402  includes a processing unit  404 , a system memory  406  and a system bus  408 . The system bus  408  couples system components together including, but not limited to, the system memory  406  and the processing unit  404 . The computer  402  may be built on a single printed circuit board (PCB) or may be split across multiple such PCBs. The processing unit  404  can be any of various commercially available processors. Dual microprocessors and other multi-processor architectures may also be employed as the processing unit  404 . 
         [0044]    The system bus  408  can be any of several types of bus structure that may further interconnect to a memory bus (with or without a memory controller), a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of commercially available bus architectures. The system memory  406  includes read-only memory (ROM)  410  and random access memory (RAM)  412 . A basic input/output system (BIOS) may be used and the BIOS may be stored in a non-volatile memory  410  such as ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, which BIOS contains the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within the device  402 , such as during device start-up. The RAM  412  can also include a high-speed RAM such as static RAM for caching data. 
         [0045]    The computer  402  further includes an internal hard disk drive (HDD)  414  (e.g., EIDE, SATA), which internal hard disk drive  414  also may be externally used in a suitable chassis (not shown), a magnetic floppy disk drive (FDD)  416 , (e.g., to read from or write to a removable diskette  418 ) and an optical disk drive  420 , (e.g., reading a CD-ROM disk  422  or, to read from or write to other high capacity optical media such as the DVD). The hard disk drive  414 , magnetic disk drive  416 , and optical disk drive  420  can be connected to the system bus  408  by a hard disk drive interface  424 , a magnetic disk drive interface  426 , and an optical drive interface  428 , respectively. The interface  424  for external drive implementations includes at least one or both of Universal Serial Bus (USB) and IEEE 1394 interface technologies. A flash drive or flash-based memory (not shown) may be plugged directly into a physical adapter of the interface  424  for providing read/write storage to the computer  402 . Other external storage connection technologies are within contemplation of the system  400 . 
         [0046]    The drives and their associated computer-readable media provide nonvolatile storage of data, data structures, computer-executable instructions, and so forth. For the computer  402 , the drives and media accommodate the storage of any data in a suitable digital format. Although the description of computer-readable media above refers to a HDD, a removable magnetic diskette, and a removable optical media such as a CD or DVD, other types of media which are readable by a computer, such as zip drives, magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, cartridges, and the like, may also be used in the exemplary operating environment, and further, that any such media may contain computer-executable instructions for performing the methods of the technology. 
         [0047]    A number of program modules can be stored in the drives and RAM  412 , including an operating system  430 , one or more application programs  432 , other program modules  434 , and program data  436 . All or portions of the operating system, applications, modules, and/or data can also be cached in the RAM  412 . It is appreciated that the technology described herein can be implemented with various commercially available operating systems or combinations of operating systems. 
         [0048]    A user can enter commands and information into the computer  402  through one or more wired/wireless input devices, e.g., a keyboard  438  and a pointing device, such as a mouse  440  as necessary. Other input devices (not shown) may include a microphone, an IR remote control, a joystick, a game pad, a stylus pen, touch screen, or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit  404  through an input device interface  442  that is coupled to the system bus  408 , but can be connected via other interfaces, such as a parallel port, an IEEE 1394 serial port, a game port, a USB port, and an IR interface. Additionally, the computer  402  includes one, two or more inputs that facilitate delivery of signals, data, or images to the computer  402  from external devices, components, or circuitry such as a light panel  468  that includes one or more lights  469 , the panel  468  attached to a sign or near a sign such as the sign illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 . The computer  402  may operate as the detector unit  141  and may provide instructions, control signals and the like to the light panels  468  and, optionally, a sound generator  464 . The sound generator  464  may operate in conjunction with the light panels  468  to generate warnings to those in the vicinity of a sign equipped with elements of embodiments as described herein. The light panel or panels  468  may have their own operating system, control system, and the like, and may thus only interact with the computer  402  through the system bus  408 . 
         [0049]    A monitor  444  or other type of display device may also be connected to the system bus  408  via an interface, such as a video adapter  446  such as at a startup or a configuration operation. In addition to the monitor  444 , the computer  402  may include one or more other peripheral output devices (not shown), such as speakers, printers, etc. 
         [0050]    The computer  402  is communicatively coupled (e.g., via wireless network, direct wiring) to the light panel  468 . That is, the computer  402  and light panel  468  could be proximate to each other, or could be separated from each other. 
         [0051]    In  FIG. 4 , the computer  402  may operate in a networked environment using logical connections via wired and/or wireless communications to one or more remote devices or computers, such as a remote computer(s)  448 , the light panel  468 , and so forth. The remote computer(s)  448  can be a workstation, a server computer, a router, a personal computer, a portable computer, a microprocessor-based entertainment appliance, a peer device or other common network node, and includes many or all of the elements described relative to the computer  402 , although, for purposes of brevity, only a memory/storage device  450  is illustrated. The logical connections depicted include wired/wireless connectivity to a local area network (LAN)  452  and/or larger networks, e.g., a wide area network (WAN)  454 . Such LAN and WAN networking environments are commonplace, and facilitate network communications. 
         [0052]    When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer  402  may be connected to a local network  452  through a wired and/or wireless communication network interface or adapter  456 . The adapter  456  may facilitate wired or wireless communication to the LAN  452 , which may also include a wireless access point disposed thereon for communicating with the wireless adapter  456 . For participating in a network, the computer  402  may use one or more cellular circuits  460  and/or one or more short-range circuits  462 . The short-range circuit(s)  462  enable direct-sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) communications. Through the cellular circuit(s)  460 , the system is able to generate and send live email messages, SMS texts, and provide smartphone notifications (e.g., such as via direct-to-app messages). 
         [0053]    When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer  402  can include a modem  458 , or is connected to a communications server on the WAN  454 , or has other means for establishing communications over the WAN  454 , such as by way of the Internet. A modem  458 , which can be internal or external and a wired or wireless device, is connected to the system bus  408  via a serial port interface  442 . In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to the computer  402 , or portions thereof, can be stored in the remote memory/storage device  450 . It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of establishing a communications link between the computers can be used, as previously described. 
         [0054]    Each computer  402  in the system is operable to communicate with wireless devices or entities operatively disposed in one or more wireless communication ranges. The computer  402  may participate via a short-range communication, a cellular communication via a cell tower, a communication to or from a satellite, or to or from any piece of equipment associated with a wirelessly detectable tag. This computer  402  and system includes at least one of a Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 standard) technology, a Bluetooth wireless technology, a TDMA or CDMA wireless technology, a ZigBee (IEEE 802.15.4 standard) technology, or other wireless technology. Thus, the communication can be a predefined structure as with a conventional network or simply an ad hoc communication between at least two devices. 
         [0055]    Conclusion. Although the system has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, it will be evident that modifications and changes can be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit of the disclosure. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than in a restrictive sense. 
         [0056]    Similarly, while certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative and not restrictive of the broad disclosure and that the provided disclosure is not limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described herein, since various other modifications may be made according to the abilities of those ordinarily skilled in the art upon studying this disclosure. The disclosed embodiments may be readily modifiable as facilitated by enabling technological advancements without departing from the principals of the present disclosure.