CA1149491A - Road surface marking system and method of operation thereof - Google Patents
Road surface marking system and method of operation thereofInfo
- Publication number
- CA1149491A CA1149491A CA000351405A CA351405A CA1149491A CA 1149491 A CA1149491 A CA 1149491A CA 000351405 A CA000351405 A CA 000351405A CA 351405 A CA351405 A CA 351405A CA 1149491 A CA1149491 A CA 1149491A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- road
- dipoles
- information
- vehicle
- components
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 7
- 230000011664 signaling Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000001678 irradiating effect Effects 0.000 claims 2
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 abstract description 2
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000153 supplemental effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002950 deficient Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001932 seasonal effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000035945 sensitivity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001052 transient effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
- G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
- G08G1/09—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions
- G08G1/0962—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
- G08G1/0967—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits
- G08G1/096708—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits where the received information might be used to generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
- G08G1/096716—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits where the received information might be used to generate an automatic action on the vehicle control where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- G01S13/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of radio waves, e.g. radar systems; Analogous systems using reflection or reradiation of waves whose nature or wavelength is irrelevant or unspecified
- G01S13/74—Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems
- G01S13/75—Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems using transponders powered from received waves, e.g. using passive transponders, or using passive reflectors
- G01S13/751—Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems using transponders powered from received waves, e.g. using passive transponders, or using passive reflectors wherein the responder or reflector radiates a coded signal
- G01S13/753—Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems using transponders powered from received waves, e.g. using passive transponders, or using passive reflectors wherein the responder or reflector radiates a coded signal using frequency selective elements, e.g. resonator
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B19/00—Alarms responsive to two or more different undesired or abnormal conditions, e.g. burglary and fire, abnormal temperature and abnormal rate of flow
- G08B19/02—Alarm responsive to formation or anticipated formation of ice
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
- G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
- G08G1/09—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions
- G08G1/0962—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
- G08G1/0967—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits
- G08G1/096733—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits where a selection of the information might take place
- G08G1/096758—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits where a selection of the information might take place where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
- G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
- G08G1/09—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions
- G08G1/0962—Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
- G08G1/0967—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits
- G08G1/096766—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits where the system is characterised by the origin of the information transmission
- G08G1/096783—Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits where the system is characterised by the origin of the information transmission where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Atmospheric Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
- Remote Sensing (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Radar Systems Or Details Thereof (AREA)
- Road Signs Or Road Markings (AREA)
- Traffic Control Systems (AREA)
- Navigation (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
There is described a composite system for providing informations to motorists along a road. The system is characterized by the cooperative combination of transmitting and receiving active electronic components, typically "secondary radar" arranged aboard a vehicle and designed for emitting energy in the direction of travel along the road, of passive components which are selectively located beneath a prefabricated tape-like layer and designed for returning said energy to the receiving components on board of the vehicle, and of horizontal signalling components, designed for positively providing optical informations to a motorist. The invention is concerned also with the method for the system.
There is described a composite system for providing informations to motorists along a road. The system is characterized by the cooperative combination of transmitting and receiving active electronic components, typically "secondary radar" arranged aboard a vehicle and designed for emitting energy in the direction of travel along the road, of passive components which are selectively located beneath a prefabricated tape-like layer and designed for returning said energy to the receiving components on board of the vehicle, and of horizontal signalling components, designed for positively providing optical informations to a motorist. The invention is concerned also with the method for the system.
Description
~1~9491 The present invention concerns a system which in its entirety is formed by the cooperative combination of a plurality of active and respectively passive electronic components, that jointly are fitted for positively providing electromagnetic information, and of horizontal marking components, fitted for positively providing optical information. The present invention concerns also a method for carrying out and taking advantage, in the field of road markings.
It is known that becuase of the evermore increase of traffic and of the trend to raise the average speed of the vehicles, the problems concerned with the road markings, which are to provide complete information from the road to the vehicles' drivers, are evermore heavier. It is believed that it is necessary to systematically provide for such information to the drivers, for i~proving the completeness and the reliability of the data which are to be supplied to drivers, for example for timely warning them about approaching dangerous crossings andJor potentially dangerous road sections and so on.
Such problems are well far from being solved, notwith-standing the plurality of proposals and of attempts made.
According to some widely considered proposals, this problem is at the present time faced by anticipating the installing of active transmitter components, located at about the critical section of the thorough-fare road and designed for supplying to receiving components carried aboard the vehicles, the required data or informations.
This mode of solving the above problems is complicated and extremely costly either because of the number of the active components which are necesary to cover and protect the critical spots and situations, and because of the necessity of uninterrupted operation, and feeding and control means therefor. It is evident that the absence of or defective reception of a critical signal could lead to serious crashes.
On the other hand it is acknowledged that the current road markings, either the vertical or more efficient horizontal markings, are well far from providing in a proper manner solutions to the above considered problem. The present markings, or road signalization system, except for the substantially uncommon occurrence of acoustical signals, are exclusively dependent upon the sight detection of the signals and upon the fact that constant attention must be paid by the driver to the direction of travel. This sight detection is affected by the visibility conditions which are in turn influenced by seasonal and weather factors, and therefore it is necessary to provide the vehicles with means suitable for receiving, decoding and signalling to the driver (and/or to the vehicle instruments) road data, which at the present time is assumed to be the important condition for the safety of the vehicle in traffic.
According to the invention, there is provided a system comprising an active transmitting component carried aboard the vehicle, the so called "secondary radar", and a plurality of passive components, particularly dipoles, which are suitably and selectively located on a road beneath a road marking layer consisting of a prefabricated tape, or beneath or within the underlayer (or primary layer) on which the marking is formed r the said dipoles being designed and arranged for receiving energy from the secondary radar aboard an approaching vehicle and . . ,~., .~
- 3 - g returning it to said vehicle thereby providing the requested electromagnetic information, while the horizontally arranged markings provide the requested optical information.
It is known that secondary dipoles, usually termed "responders", can consist of simple resonance circuits made in their simplest form of thin metal plates which are suitably dimensioned relative to the wave length of the energy which is applied to the secondary radar.
It has been ascertained that the well known prefabricated tape material utilized for horizontal road markings, jointly with the related carrying or sticking primer underlayers placed on the road in the form of tape or strip, can form a support for these responder dipoles.
Such strips or tapes, prefabricated together with the related suitably oriented and spaced dipoles, after having been laid down and arranged for service on the road, maintain their horizontal signalling action unaffected, and provide with the related dipoles arranged beneath the actual marking layer, a corresponding plurality of passive responder means, and as such they do not require their own energy for feeding the resonance circuit. The importance and the advantages of the invention are evident. The information which is received by the active receiving component aboard the vehicle exclusively depends on the existence and availability of the responder dipoles, which resonate simply when energy from the approaching secondary radar is received.
The amount of information, in addition to the return beam modulation, can be increased by means of complementary 1149'~91 resonance elements consisting also of small metal plates.
The arrangement of secondary dipoles to be met along the road can be suitably coded and decoded by a computer associated with the transmitting and receiving active unit or assembly, for selectively and unmistakably providing the required positive information.
It is well known to utilize radar equipment for preventing crashes in thick fog. It is an evident advantage to transform such equipment for the multiple use according to this invention.
Information of interest, such as weather conditions, can be provided also. For example, information about the existence of ice on the road may be preliminarily formed in the capacitive circuit of the dipole and the response parameters will be modified providing thus very valuable information (the existence of ice on the road~.
Several further complemental informations ~ay be obtained by providing to the system, in particular the active component with a source of infrared rays which may be directed to and suitably modulated by the respective passive components. In U.S. Patent No. 4,129,397 granted to the present applicant there has been disclosed a road marking strip comprising light reflecting elements which can easily be modified and adapted for infrared energy reflection. It is known that by taking advantage of such suitably modulated energy a great deal of information can be obtained.
Additionally, and in consideration of the promptness and simplicity with which the signalling strips or tapes can ~:``
be provisionally also laid down and located over road pavement, the system according to the invention, further to insuring the continuous provision of locally preprogrammed information, can also provide a transient service, for example, for warning the vehicle drivers about road interruptions or other events and occurrences.
These and other more specific features of the invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description of some exemplary embodiments of the invention, said description being referred to the accompanying drawing wherein:
Fig. 1 illustrates a roadway portion A comprising a marking strip provided with a series of dipoles each forming an individual resonance circuit;
Fig. 2 fragmentarily illustrates the strip S provided with a dipole D consisting of a thin pressworked out aluminum plate;
Fig. 3 framentarily illustrates a modified embodiment of the dipole, provided with a variable oscillating circuit Ds, and Fig. 4 diagramatically and fragmentarily illustrates an embodiment of supplemental coding.
As diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1, a vehicle V is provided with a known secondary radar R which serves as an active component for emitting energy in the direction of travel along a road. The secondary radar R comprises a dipole antenna secured below and arranged to receive information provided by dipoles D. The vehicle which is so prepared, travels along the roadway A following the path defined and indicated by horizontal signalling means.
The active component R is suitably computerized for . ~;
~1, 1~9491 decoding the information provided by the waves reemitted by the dipoles (examples of which are illustrated in Figs.
It is known that becuase of the evermore increase of traffic and of the trend to raise the average speed of the vehicles, the problems concerned with the road markings, which are to provide complete information from the road to the vehicles' drivers, are evermore heavier. It is believed that it is necessary to systematically provide for such information to the drivers, for i~proving the completeness and the reliability of the data which are to be supplied to drivers, for example for timely warning them about approaching dangerous crossings andJor potentially dangerous road sections and so on.
Such problems are well far from being solved, notwith-standing the plurality of proposals and of attempts made.
According to some widely considered proposals, this problem is at the present time faced by anticipating the installing of active transmitter components, located at about the critical section of the thorough-fare road and designed for supplying to receiving components carried aboard the vehicles, the required data or informations.
This mode of solving the above problems is complicated and extremely costly either because of the number of the active components which are necesary to cover and protect the critical spots and situations, and because of the necessity of uninterrupted operation, and feeding and control means therefor. It is evident that the absence of or defective reception of a critical signal could lead to serious crashes.
On the other hand it is acknowledged that the current road markings, either the vertical or more efficient horizontal markings, are well far from providing in a proper manner solutions to the above considered problem. The present markings, or road signalization system, except for the substantially uncommon occurrence of acoustical signals, are exclusively dependent upon the sight detection of the signals and upon the fact that constant attention must be paid by the driver to the direction of travel. This sight detection is affected by the visibility conditions which are in turn influenced by seasonal and weather factors, and therefore it is necessary to provide the vehicles with means suitable for receiving, decoding and signalling to the driver (and/or to the vehicle instruments) road data, which at the present time is assumed to be the important condition for the safety of the vehicle in traffic.
According to the invention, there is provided a system comprising an active transmitting component carried aboard the vehicle, the so called "secondary radar", and a plurality of passive components, particularly dipoles, which are suitably and selectively located on a road beneath a road marking layer consisting of a prefabricated tape, or beneath or within the underlayer (or primary layer) on which the marking is formed r the said dipoles being designed and arranged for receiving energy from the secondary radar aboard an approaching vehicle and . . ,~., .~
- 3 - g returning it to said vehicle thereby providing the requested electromagnetic information, while the horizontally arranged markings provide the requested optical information.
It is known that secondary dipoles, usually termed "responders", can consist of simple resonance circuits made in their simplest form of thin metal plates which are suitably dimensioned relative to the wave length of the energy which is applied to the secondary radar.
It has been ascertained that the well known prefabricated tape material utilized for horizontal road markings, jointly with the related carrying or sticking primer underlayers placed on the road in the form of tape or strip, can form a support for these responder dipoles.
Such strips or tapes, prefabricated together with the related suitably oriented and spaced dipoles, after having been laid down and arranged for service on the road, maintain their horizontal signalling action unaffected, and provide with the related dipoles arranged beneath the actual marking layer, a corresponding plurality of passive responder means, and as such they do not require their own energy for feeding the resonance circuit. The importance and the advantages of the invention are evident. The information which is received by the active receiving component aboard the vehicle exclusively depends on the existence and availability of the responder dipoles, which resonate simply when energy from the approaching secondary radar is received.
The amount of information, in addition to the return beam modulation, can be increased by means of complementary 1149'~91 resonance elements consisting also of small metal plates.
The arrangement of secondary dipoles to be met along the road can be suitably coded and decoded by a computer associated with the transmitting and receiving active unit or assembly, for selectively and unmistakably providing the required positive information.
It is well known to utilize radar equipment for preventing crashes in thick fog. It is an evident advantage to transform such equipment for the multiple use according to this invention.
Information of interest, such as weather conditions, can be provided also. For example, information about the existence of ice on the road may be preliminarily formed in the capacitive circuit of the dipole and the response parameters will be modified providing thus very valuable information (the existence of ice on the road~.
Several further complemental informations ~ay be obtained by providing to the system, in particular the active component with a source of infrared rays which may be directed to and suitably modulated by the respective passive components. In U.S. Patent No. 4,129,397 granted to the present applicant there has been disclosed a road marking strip comprising light reflecting elements which can easily be modified and adapted for infrared energy reflection. It is known that by taking advantage of such suitably modulated energy a great deal of information can be obtained.
Additionally, and in consideration of the promptness and simplicity with which the signalling strips or tapes can ~:``
be provisionally also laid down and located over road pavement, the system according to the invention, further to insuring the continuous provision of locally preprogrammed information, can also provide a transient service, for example, for warning the vehicle drivers about road interruptions or other events and occurrences.
These and other more specific features of the invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description of some exemplary embodiments of the invention, said description being referred to the accompanying drawing wherein:
Fig. 1 illustrates a roadway portion A comprising a marking strip provided with a series of dipoles each forming an individual resonance circuit;
Fig. 2 fragmentarily illustrates the strip S provided with a dipole D consisting of a thin pressworked out aluminum plate;
Fig. 3 framentarily illustrates a modified embodiment of the dipole, provided with a variable oscillating circuit Ds, and Fig. 4 diagramatically and fragmentarily illustrates an embodiment of supplemental coding.
As diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1, a vehicle V is provided with a known secondary radar R which serves as an active component for emitting energy in the direction of travel along a road. The secondary radar R comprises a dipole antenna secured below and arranged to receive information provided by dipoles D. The vehicle which is so prepared, travels along the roadway A following the path defined and indicated by horizontal signalling means.
The active component R is suitably computerized for . ~;
~1, 1~9491 decoding the information provided by the waves reemitted by the dipoles (examples of which are illustrated in Figs.
2 and 3) existing on the signalling strip S (only one strip is illustrated, for simplicity sake, along the road-way A). This signalling strip can be either uninterrupted or in spaced sections, such as indicate at S2 and Sl, for providing by itself the information that overtaking of the vehicle is prohibited or permitted. The corresponding information (an uninterrupted series of spaced signals and respectively short spaced series of signals) is transmitt-ed to the vehicle by the computerized active component R.
A single dipole is illustrated in Fig. 2. The dipole D
may be formed of a thin aluminum plate which may be pressworked, for example, out of aluminum strip or any other suitable material.
Fig. 4 illustrates an example of supplemental coding, in which differing series of signals as for example a uniform sequence of signals C provides a response related to the vehicle speed, while differing groups of signals Gl, G2 and G3 have suitably coded meanings. The resonance circuit consisting of the dipoles reemits the energy in the form of a plurality of harmonics, the third one of which is preferably taken advantage of, because that third harmonics is the strongest one.
By giving to the antenna of the resonance circuit a dimension in proper relationship with the strip S, or S2 which embodies within its layers the metal sheet dipoles, rather high frequencies obviously may be used.
For example, the transmiting-receiving assembly, that is the secondary radar R arranged on the vehicle embodying .~
11~9~91 the active component of the system, may be preferably used for transmission of microwaves between 0.6 and 1.2 GHz.
Practically, for the best results, the transmitting antenna of the secondary radar R and the resonance dipoles are arranged transversally to the signalling line. This fact sets up a limitation of the lowest frequency (a straight dipole 25 cm long corresponds to a frequency of 600 MHz.). Such limitation does not exist for the high frequencies. Because of the higher costs, the greater sensitivity to humidity and the increase of the loss coefficients of the materials, the frequencies which will be practically selected for the anticrash radar equipments will establish the frequencies of the equipments under discussion. Just as an example, where a transmitter has a frequency of 1 GHz and an output of 0,5 watt, a vehicle travels a distance of 5 m from the signalling strip, and at a speed of 20 km/h and on a dry road surface, a response on the third harmonic of 1,4 microvolt has been obtained, while in the occurrence of wet road surfaces, the response has been 1,55 microvolt. Obviously the new composite device described and illustrated is limited to its essential components, and as an indicative but not limiting example only. The passive dipoles, generally indicated at D in Figs. 2 and 3 can well have a differing geometry and complication, provided they can form a resonance circuit responsive to the signals emitted by the secondary radar R. Similarly, the characteristics of the secondary radar could be modified, provided that high frequencies may be used.
Correspondingly, the manner of locating the passive dipoles can be modified, such dipoles being arranged below ~1~9~91 the prefabricated signalling or marking layer, which may be formed as a tape or ribbon fitted in the sticking carrying underlayer (primary layer) of the strip.
The laying down of such prefabricated strip having, below the properly signalling layer, the reflecting or resonant passive elements, confers to said strip the double ability of visually identifiable horizontal signals, and of providing electromagnetic informations by means of elements which are selectively in resonance with the secondary radar of the vehicle.
A single dipole is illustrated in Fig. 2. The dipole D
may be formed of a thin aluminum plate which may be pressworked, for example, out of aluminum strip or any other suitable material.
Fig. 4 illustrates an example of supplemental coding, in which differing series of signals as for example a uniform sequence of signals C provides a response related to the vehicle speed, while differing groups of signals Gl, G2 and G3 have suitably coded meanings. The resonance circuit consisting of the dipoles reemits the energy in the form of a plurality of harmonics, the third one of which is preferably taken advantage of, because that third harmonics is the strongest one.
By giving to the antenna of the resonance circuit a dimension in proper relationship with the strip S, or S2 which embodies within its layers the metal sheet dipoles, rather high frequencies obviously may be used.
For example, the transmiting-receiving assembly, that is the secondary radar R arranged on the vehicle embodying .~
11~9~91 the active component of the system, may be preferably used for transmission of microwaves between 0.6 and 1.2 GHz.
Practically, for the best results, the transmitting antenna of the secondary radar R and the resonance dipoles are arranged transversally to the signalling line. This fact sets up a limitation of the lowest frequency (a straight dipole 25 cm long corresponds to a frequency of 600 MHz.). Such limitation does not exist for the high frequencies. Because of the higher costs, the greater sensitivity to humidity and the increase of the loss coefficients of the materials, the frequencies which will be practically selected for the anticrash radar equipments will establish the frequencies of the equipments under discussion. Just as an example, where a transmitter has a frequency of 1 GHz and an output of 0,5 watt, a vehicle travels a distance of 5 m from the signalling strip, and at a speed of 20 km/h and on a dry road surface, a response on the third harmonic of 1,4 microvolt has been obtained, while in the occurrence of wet road surfaces, the response has been 1,55 microvolt. Obviously the new composite device described and illustrated is limited to its essential components, and as an indicative but not limiting example only. The passive dipoles, generally indicated at D in Figs. 2 and 3 can well have a differing geometry and complication, provided they can form a resonance circuit responsive to the signals emitted by the secondary radar R. Similarly, the characteristics of the secondary radar could be modified, provided that high frequencies may be used.
Correspondingly, the manner of locating the passive dipoles can be modified, such dipoles being arranged below ~1~9~91 the prefabricated signalling or marking layer, which may be formed as a tape or ribbon fitted in the sticking carrying underlayer (primary layer) of the strip.
The laying down of such prefabricated strip having, below the properly signalling layer, the reflecting or resonant passive elements, confers to said strip the double ability of visually identifiable horizontal signals, and of providing electromagnetic informations by means of elements which are selectively in resonance with the secondary radar of the vehicle.
Claims (17)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A road surface marking system, comprising an essentially continuous prefabricated tape secured to a road pavement in a lengthwise direction thereof, a plurality of light reflecting markings to provide a signalling line for provision of an optical information about the road to a vehicle driver; active electronic means on the vehicle;
and a plurality of passive electrical components, said passive electrical components being operative for receiving electrical energy from said electronic means, reemitting this energy and returning the same to said active electronic means for provision of positive electromagnetic information about the road to the vehicle driver, said light reflective markings and said passive electrical components being arranged on said continuous prefabricated tape.
and a plurality of passive electrical components, said passive electrical components being operative for receiving electrical energy from said electronic means, reemitting this energy and returning the same to said active electronic means for provision of positive electromagnetic information about the road to the vehicle driver, said light reflective markings and said passive electrical components being arranged on said continuous prefabricated tape.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said active electronic means include a secondary radar for emitting said electric energy to the road and an antenna for receiving said reemitted energy from said passive components.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein said passive electrical components are dipoles.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein said dipoles are located beneath said prefabricated tape.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein said light reflecting markings are positioned transversally of said length-wise direction.
6. The system of claim 4, wherein said dipoles are so dimensioned and oriented that they operate in the range of frequencies of said secondary radar.
7. The system of claim 5, wherein said dipoles are designed so as to return harmonics of the signals received from said secondary radar.
8. The system of claim 6, wherein said secondary radar and said antenna are arranged below the vehicle for irradiating said electric energy in the form of microwaves directed towards said dipoles.
9. The system of claim 7, wherein each of said dipoles is a thin metal plate dimensioned to provide a desired wave length for reemitting said electric energy and return the same to said secondary radar.
10. The system of claim 8, further including a computer for decoding the information in the form of microwaves received from said dipoles, said computer being associated with said secondary radar.
11. The system of claim 9, wherein each of said dipoles is provided with an oscillating variable resonance circuit.
12. The system of claim 10, wherein said dipoles include a capacitive circuit, said circuit being designed to include the information corresponding to the status of the road.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein said capacitive circuit includes the information corresponding to an icy status of the road to provide for this information to a vehicle driver when desired.
14. A method of operating a road surface marking system including a plurality of light reflecting markings located on road pavements and positioned transversely to a drive way, active electronic means mounted aboard a vehicle and a plurality of passive electrical components positioned in the direction lenghtwise the road, comprising the steps of selectively sending electrical signals generated by said active electronic means to said passive electric components and receiving the signals reemitted by said components to provide a vehicle driver with positive electromagnetic information about the road; and receiving an optical information from said light reflecting markings to thereby obtain additional information about the status of the road.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein said passive electric components are dipoles secured to a road signalling strip extending along the road, and positioned so that the signals generated by said dipoles are consistent with the signals provided with said light reflecting markings.
16. The method of claim 15, further including the step of decoding the signals received from said dipoles by means of a computer.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of irradiating an infrared energy from an infrared source arranged on the vehicle to a part of said light reflecting markings selectively arranged on the road and receiving the modulated returning signals therefrom to obtain complemental information about the road.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| IT22812/79A IT1112913B (en) | 1979-05-18 | 1979-05-18 | COMPOSITE DEVICE FOR THE POSITIVE EXERCISE OF ROAD SIGNS, AND METHOD FOR ITS USE |
| IT22812A/79 | 1979-05-18 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1149491A true CA1149491A (en) | 1983-07-05 |
Family
ID=11200715
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000351405A Expired CA1149491A (en) | 1979-05-18 | 1980-05-07 | Road surface marking system and method of operation thereof |
Country Status (13)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS55157100A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU539631B2 (en) |
| BE (1) | BE883208A (en) |
| BR (1) | BR8003002A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1149491A (en) |
| CH (1) | CH641585A5 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3018332A1 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES8102614A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2470193A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2050769B (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1112913B (en) |
| NL (1) | NL185692C (en) |
| SE (1) | SE446913B (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4925335A (en) * | 1987-10-09 | 1990-05-15 | Ludwig Eigenmann | Prefabricated continuous roadmarking tape having optical and electromagnetic function |
Families Citing this family (15)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE3206004A1 (en) * | 1982-02-19 | 1983-09-08 | Fried. Krupp Gmbh, 4300 Essen | Device for determining the position of a preferably moving object, particularly a water vehicle |
| DE3307123A1 (en) * | 1983-03-01 | 1984-09-06 | Telefunken electronic GmbH, 6000 Frankfurt | Autonomous locating system for land vehicles |
| EP0135740A3 (en) * | 1983-08-05 | 1987-09-30 | Ludwig Dr. Eigenmann | System for providing information to the vehicles' driver, including a coding and decoding system |
| DE3445830A1 (en) * | 1984-12-15 | 1986-06-19 | Dürr Anlagenbau GmbH, 7000 Stuttgart | Handling plant with positioning device |
| DE3772523D1 (en) * | 1986-10-22 | 1991-10-02 | Ebauchesfabrik Eta Ag | PASSIVE ANSWER DEVICE. |
| CH671253A5 (en) * | 1987-07-14 | 1989-08-15 | Eigenmann Ludwig | |
| FR2680877A1 (en) * | 1991-08-27 | 1993-03-05 | Champion Albert | Device for the identification and location of route markers |
| DE4138050A1 (en) * | 1991-11-19 | 1993-05-27 | Siemens Matsushita Components | Traffic information indication identification system for road vehicle - has on board active transponder and cooperating passive transponder adjacent traffic information indication |
| JPH07509793A (en) * | 1992-05-11 | 1995-10-26 | サーブ スカニア コンビテック アクティボラグ | Device for detection and information transfer |
| DE4310531C2 (en) * | 1993-03-31 | 1997-02-13 | Preh Elektro Feinmechanik | Device for the transmission of information in motor vehicle traffic |
| DE4411125C2 (en) * | 1993-04-01 | 1996-05-09 | Man Nutzfahrzeuge Ag | Information system |
| JP5909499B2 (en) | 2010-12-09 | 2016-04-26 | ソーラーシティ コーポレーション | Skirt for photovoltaic array |
| USD765591S1 (en) | 2011-12-09 | 2016-09-06 | Solarcity Corporation | Panel skirt and photovoltaic panel |
| US11112498B2 (en) | 2018-02-12 | 2021-09-07 | Magna Electronics Inc. | Advanced driver-assistance and autonomous vehicle radar and marking system |
| DE102019201088A1 (en) * | 2019-01-29 | 2020-07-30 | Conti Temic Microelectronic Gmbh | Method for recognizing road markings |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2996137A (en) * | 1958-01-29 | 1961-08-15 | Chu Yaohan | Automatic radar guided and computer controlled vehicles |
| JPS4222674Y1 (en) * | 1965-11-19 | 1967-12-23 | ||
| DE2101879A1 (en) * | 1969-09-03 | 1972-07-20 | Woerl A | Circuit arrangement for locating predetermined bodies |
| GB1339552A (en) * | 1970-04-29 | 1973-12-05 | Lucas Industries Ltd | Vehicle control systems |
| US3772691A (en) * | 1971-10-05 | 1973-11-13 | Nasa | Automatic vehicle location system |
| US3914762A (en) * | 1973-12-27 | 1975-10-21 | Rca Corp | Electronic identification system |
| JPS5237924A (en) * | 1975-09-19 | 1977-03-24 | Denki Kagaku Kogyo Kk | Continuous production of inorganic foam bodies |
| DE2709620C2 (en) * | 1977-03-05 | 1985-04-18 | Honeywell Gmbh, 6000 Frankfurt | Arrangement for the automatic recognition of location signs arranged along a roadway |
-
1979
- 1979-05-18 IT IT22812/79A patent/IT1112913B/en active
-
1980
- 1980-05-07 CA CA000351405A patent/CA1149491A/en not_active Expired
- 1980-05-07 GB GB8015163A patent/GB2050769B/en not_active Expired
- 1980-05-08 NL NLAANVRAGE8002653,A patent/NL185692C/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1980-05-09 BE BE0/200541A patent/BE883208A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1980-05-12 SE SE8003558A patent/SE446913B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1980-05-12 ES ES491399A patent/ES8102614A1/en not_active Expired
- 1980-05-13 DE DE19803018332 patent/DE3018332A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1980-05-13 FR FR8010745A patent/FR2470193A1/en active Granted
- 1980-05-14 BR BR8003002A patent/BR8003002A/en unknown
- 1980-05-14 CH CH375280A patent/CH641585A5/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1980-05-16 AU AU58495/80A patent/AU539631B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1980-05-19 JP JP6548780A patent/JPS55157100A/en active Granted
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4925335A (en) * | 1987-10-09 | 1990-05-15 | Ludwig Eigenmann | Prefabricated continuous roadmarking tape having optical and electromagnetic function |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2050769B (en) | 1983-08-24 |
| SE8003558L (en) | 1980-11-19 |
| ES491399A0 (en) | 1981-02-16 |
| JPS55157100A (en) | 1980-12-06 |
| CH641585A5 (en) | 1984-02-29 |
| BE883208A (en) | 1980-09-01 |
| NL8002653A (en) | 1980-11-20 |
| GB2050769A (en) | 1981-01-07 |
| ES8102614A1 (en) | 1981-02-16 |
| SE446913B (en) | 1986-10-13 |
| AU539631B2 (en) | 1984-10-11 |
| DE3018332A1 (en) | 1980-11-27 |
| IT1112913B (en) | 1986-01-20 |
| BR8003002A (en) | 1980-12-23 |
| AU5849580A (en) | 1980-11-20 |
| FR2470193B1 (en) | 1984-09-14 |
| NL185692C (en) | 1990-06-18 |
| IT7922812A0 (en) | 1979-05-18 |
| NL185692B (en) | 1990-01-16 |
| JPH0135400B2 (en) | 1989-07-25 |
| FR2470193A1 (en) | 1981-05-29 |
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| MKEX | Expiry |