Abstract:
Embodiments of a solar powered road marker light disclosed that is self-powered and self-illuminating, producing high intensity illumination with relatively low energy consumption and which generates its own energy requirements in an environmentally friendly manner. The indicator is also quickly and easily installed on virtually any conventional road divider, marker, sign, traffic barrier, traffic control device, etc., and has low maintenance demands.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    This patent application discloses a device related to road-side marking. More particularly, a solar powered road marker light using batteries, a printed circuit board (PCB), a photovoltaic cell (PV cell), and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Road signs, markers, and reflectors play a vital role in maintaining road safety and reducing traffic accidents. Traffic road signs, markers, and reflectors generally consist of a reflective material, bearing the indicative sign or symbol, sandwiched or overlaid with a protective transparent overlay or cover. The signs and markers are generally clearly visible in the day by virtue of the bright contrasting colors of the reflective symbol. At night, on exposure to street lighting or vehicle headlights, the reflective material of the sign allows the symbol to be seen by road users. 
         [0003]    One disadvantage with these signs and other reflectors is that the reflective material of the sign is prone to deterioration over time resulting in the gradual loss, to the reflective material, of its light reflective properties. In some instances, a driver may not have sufficient time to notice and react to a sign when driving at night since the visibility of the sign depends on illumination from the vehicle, requiring a driver to be somewhat close to a potentially hazardous road condition before becoming aware of the potentially dangerous condition. 
         [0004]    Another disadvantage is that these signs and reflectors are not self-illuminating, relying purely on incident light. In areas without street lighting or when driving a vehicle with poor headlight quality, such signs are not easily seen and an accident can easily ensue. For example, signs can be difficult to read in the darkness and may be missed altogether in a vehicle that is damaged or temporarily functioning with less than all illumination. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Embodiments of a solar powered road marker light disclosed herein overcome the shortcomings of the prior art in that it is self-illuminating, producing high intensity illumination with relatively low energy consumption and which generates its own energy requirements in an environmentally friendly manner. The indicator is also quickly and easily installed on virtually any conventional road divider, marker, sign, traffic barrier, traffic control device, etc., and has low maintenance demands. 
         [0006]    As used in this application, the term “indicator” may include a sign or other device that conveys a meaning or warning. The indicator device of the invention may be a barrier or obstruction indicator, and more specifically a road barrier or road obstruction indicator. Any road barrier, guard rail, marker, post, or road obstruction may be collectively referred to as a barrier. The indicator device may include a mounting plate with an inner surface adjacent or facing a barrier to which the device is attached, and an outer surface, a housing attached to the plate, a rechargeable energy store located within the housing, a photovoltaic (PV) module mounted to the outer surface of the marker, optimally located to harvest sunlight, and a light source which is energized by the rechargeable energy store, powered in turn by solar radiation captured by the photovoltaic module, to illuminate and thereby to warn motorists of the existence of the barrier, and a controller to regulate the energy harvest, energy store, and light source. The energy store may be one or more batteries or capacitors. 
         [0007]    The plate may be shaped complementarily to a typical corrugated road barrier, to have a double corrugation configuration with a first corrugation, a second corrugation and a recess formed in between. The housing may be located within the recess, and the solar panel may be located on the first corrugation which forms the operatively upper end of the plate. 
         [0008]    In other embodiments, the housing may be generally rectangular and the plate may be any number of configurations to connect the marker with various types of barriers including poles, cones, barrels, concrete (Jersey) barriers, walls, guard rails, guide posts, fences, trees, or any other barrier or object adjacent a roadway or intersection. 
         [0009]    In some embodiments, the housing may be formed to correspond to the shape of a barrier, and the plate may be shaped to attach to hardware used to secure the portions of the barrier to each other. For example, the plate may be flat with a keyhole shaped opening. A connecting bolt on the barrier may be loosened enough to allow the keyhole opening to be placed over the bolt head and positioned such that when the bolt is retightened the plate, and thereby the marker, is attached to the barrier. 
         [0010]    The light source may be located on a side wall or other surface of the housing. The light source may be at least one LED. 
         [0011]    The indicator device may include an attachment portion for attaching the indicator to the road barrier. The attachment portion may be centrally located on the mounting plate. 
         [0012]    The attachment means may be a nut and a bolt or other fastener. 
         [0013]    The device may include a bolt channel which passes from the outer side of the plate through the housing, to the inner side to guide the bolt through the device to locate in a hole in the barrier which is in register with the channel. Alternatively or additionally, the attachment may be performed using an adhesive or magnetic strip, placed on the inner side of the plate to facilitate adherence of the indicator to the barrier. 
         [0014]    The adhesive strip is a shock absorbent strip such as, for example, a rubber strip. 
         [0015]    The device may include a reflective material. The material may be placed on a side wall or other surface of the housing to surround the light source and to enhance the general visibility of the indicator. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The following description can be better understood in light of Figures, in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a marker light; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2   a  illustrates an embodiment of a marker light; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2   b  illustrates an embodiment of a marker light; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  illustrates an embodiment of a marker light; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment of a marker light; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  illustrate an embodiment of a marker light; and 
           [0023]      FIGS. 6   a - 6   d  illustrate an embodiment of a marker light. 
       
    
    
       [0024]    Together with the following description, the Figures demonstrate and explain the principles of marker lights. In the Figures, the thickness and configuration of components may be exaggerated for clarity. The same reference numerals in different Figures represent the same component. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    Aspects and features of marker lights are disclosed and described below. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  illustrates marker light  100  with housing  110  holding PV module  130 , controller  140 , lights  150 , and batteries  160 . Housing  110  may include recess  116 . Controller  140 , batteries  160  may be located in recess  116 . Batteries  160  may be connected to controller  140  with wires  142 . Similarly, PV module  130  may be connected to controller  140  with wires  132  and lights  150  may be connected to controller  140  with wires  154 . Once the various components are in place, recess  116  may be filled with a hardening filler  170  such as epoxy to hold the various components in place and protect marker light  100  from weather. 
         [0027]    Controller  140  may control the energy collection of PV module  130 , the energy storage in batteries  160 , and the operation of lights  150 . In some embodiments, controller  140  may restrict energy flow from PV module  130  once batteries  160  are at capacity to avoid damage to batteries  160 . Controller  140  may also control the output of lights  150 . For example, controller  140  may output energy from batteries  160  to lights  150  only when PV module  130  is not collecting energy, or is collecting energy below a certain threshold. Lights  150  may flash at an interval determined by controller  140 , or may have a solid, continuous output. 
         [0028]    Lights  150  may be LEDs. Lights  150  may be located on housing  110  in a location to provide visibility of lights  150  from the desired roadway or location. In  FIG. 1 , lights  150  are located on the sides of housing  110  and slightly angled to project light emitted from lights  150  down a roadway. Lights  150  may be placed as desired for the particular application. For example, in some embodiments, lights  150  may be located on the top, or on the sides with various angles depending on the desired usage. In some embodiments, the angle may be determined based on the curvature of the roadway or perpendicular to each other on an intersection. 
         [0029]    In some embodiments, lights  150  may be of different colors, depending on the intended placement or use of marker  100 . For example, lights  150  on a divided highway may be orange (amber) on one side and white on the other to indicate the sides of the roadway, similar to reflective markers used on highways. In other uses, lights  150  may be blue to mark a hospital route, or as placements on a helicopter landing pad. Lights may also be red to warn of a stop signal or sign. Lights  150  may be any color desired, depending on the desired use. In some embodiments, Lights  150  may be multi-colored LEDs that may output different colors as determined by the controller and the particular situation required. For example, lights  150  may alternate different colors, such as red and amber to warn of a particular danger. 
         [0030]    Batteries  160  may be one or more rechargeable batteries or capacitors. Batteries  160  may be lithium ion batteries, nickel cadmium, or any other rechargeable batteries suitable for use in a solar powered marker light. The type of batteries  160  may be selected based on the anticipated service life, service location, price, or any combination of these factors, and including other factors as desired. In some embodiments, marker  100  may have a life-cycle of several years. Similarly, as shown further in  FIG. 6   b,  batteries  160  may be replaceable once the useful life of batteries  160  is reached through a sealable access to the battery compartment in housing  110 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 2   a  illustrates marker  100  with plate  120  attached to housing  110 . Plate  120  may include connectors  124  for coupling marker  100  to a pole  192  or to a barrel, or to anything cylindrical, such as a tree. Connectors  124  may include couplers  128  to tighten connectors  124  to pole  192 .  FIG. 2   b  illustrates a similar plate  120  on marker  100 . Plate  120  includes only a single connector  124  that may be placed over cone  196  for a temporary lighted barrier. 
         [0032]    Connectors may be integrally formed with plate  120 , or may be affixed with glue, fasteners, or any other desired method. Similarly, connector  124  may be made of a different material than plate  120 . Plate  120  may also be made of a different material than housing  110 . For example, housing  110  may be made of plastic and plate  120  may be made of metal. Each component may be made of any suitable material, depending on the application. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  illustrate housing  110  of marker  100  installed on steel corrugated barrier  190 . Plate  120  includes connector  124  that extends into the recess of barrier  190 , along with coupler  128  on shaft  126 . Coupler  128  and shaft  126  may be complimentary bolt and nut, or other fasteners that is sufficient to connect marker  100  to the desired surface, barrier, or object. In some embodiments, coupler  128  and shaft  126  may replace the fasteners used to hold barrier  190  to a supporting post. 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  illustrates marker  100  attached to barrier  194 . In such embodiments, plate  120  may be attached to barrier  194  with glue, or with other fasteners. Similarly, in some embodiments, housing  110  may snap onto plate  120 , allowing plate  120  to be first connected to barrier  194  and then housing  110  being connected to plate  120 . 
         [0035]      FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  illustrate marker  200  for placement in roadside marker posts  198 . Marker  200  may include components similar to marker  100 , such as PV module  230 , controller  240 , light  250 , and batteries  260 . Housing  210  may be formed with a shape that may conform to the general “U” shape of roadside marker posts  198 . Housing  210  may be formed with an open front or back for placement of the internal components and then filled with epoxy  270  or another solid filler material to protect marker  200  from weather. In some embodiments, the portion of housing  210  holding batteries  260  may be accessible through a sealable access door. 
         [0036]    Fastener  226  may be implanted in epoxy  270 , or may be part of housing  210 . Fastener  226  and light  250  may be spaced to correspond to the existing spaced openings in post  198  used to connect various signs, reflectors, etc. Thus, marker  200  may be almost entirely within post  198  on three sides with PV module  230  on top to collect solar energy. 
         [0037]    Marker  300  shown in  FIGS. 6   a,    6   b,  and  6   d  may be formed to correspond to the shape of barrier  190  shown in  FIGS. 3   a,    3   b,  and  6   d.  Similar to marker  200 , marker  300  includes the same basic components as marker  100 . Marker  300  includes housing  310 , PV module  330 , controller  340  and batteries  350 . Recess  316  of housing  310  may be filled with epoxy  370 , or may be covered by a door  370  for access to change batteries  350  when they reach their useful life. 
         [0038]    Housing  310  may be formed with a shape to correspond to barrier  190  including flat  312  and bends  318  and  319 . In some embodiments, bends  318  and  319  may be formed such that they are flexible or hinged to allow for forming to different sizes or locations of barrier  190 . Housing  310  may also include fastener posts  314  to correspond to plate  326  shown in  FIG. 6   c.    
         [0039]    Marker  300  may also include reflectors  355  in addition to lights  350 . The various components may be connected with wires  334 ,  354 , and  342 , similar to marker  100 . In some embodiments marker  300 , or any other marker configuration, may include magnetic switch  346  that may allow marker  300  to be shipped in an off position, even though the inside of the container is dark, which would otherwise cause controller  340  to activate lights  350 . 
         [0040]    Plate  326  may be attached to marker  300  to allow attachment to barrier  190  using the connector bolts on barrier  190 . The connector bolt may be loosened and then the head of the bolt slipped through opening  329  and slid over such that when the bolt is tightened, marker  300  is affixed to barrier  190 . Plate  326  may be attached to posts  314  of housing  310  through holes  328 . 
         [0041]    Each feature shown and described in the various embodiments and configurations may be used on other embodiments and configurations, as desired and appropriate. The embodiments and configurations illustrated and described are exemplary of the features of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The claims are not limited by only what is described in this disclosure, as the principals and features of the invention may be incorporated in various embodiments anticipated by this disclosure.