GB2506906A

GB2506906A - Sign combining dynamic and static messages wherein the static display can be replaced

Info

Publication number: GB2506906A
Application number: GB201218317A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Toomey
Original assignee: TRAFFIC TECHNOLOGY Ltd
Current assignee: TRAFFIC TECHNOLOGY Ltd
Priority date: 2012-10-12
Filing date: 2012-10-12
Publication date: 2014-04-16
Also published as: GB201218317D0

Abstract

Signage system 1 includes: a housing 3 having a non-opaque (e.g. transparent or translucent) front cover 13; detection means 17 (e.g. RADAR) for detecting the presence or speed of a vehicle, cyclist or pedestrian; variable display 15; control system 19 which determines the variable display message according to signals from the detection means; and a static display that displays an indicium and includes a display member 25 located within the housing and visible through the front cover. The housing may be opened by moving the cover. The indicium may be printed on a flexible vinyl film display member that is mounted on the front cover such that it may be removed or exchanged. The display may be backlit by elongate light unit 23 (e.g. LED). The controller may vary the brightness of the display according to the output of light sensor 21.

Description

tM:;: INTELLECTUAL .*.. PROPERTY OFFICE ApplicationNo. 0B1218317A RTIVI Datc:28 January2013 The following terms are registered trademarks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document: Perspex Intellectual Property Office is an operaling name of Ihe Patent Office www.ipo.gov.uk

SIGNAGE SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a signage system, for example to signs that are used to present information to vehicles.

Signs can be used to provide information to vehicle drivers, such as cars, lorries, cyclists and vehicles used at particular sites such as cranes, and airplane towing vehicles. The signs are typically located at the sides of roads and on public or private land, for example land owned by a manufacturer, supermarket, airport, etc. to provide information to drivers on site.

It is known to provide signs that include an electronic display and radar device for detecting the presence and/or speed of the moving vehicle. Such signs often present the speed of the moving vehicle to the driver as it moves towards the sign. In some versions of the sign, the sign also indicates to the driver whether the speed at which he is driving is below the speed limit for that stretch of road.

Other detection systems are available to detect the movement of cyclists and/or pedestrians.

For signs including electronic displays, important information, such as safety information, may not be presented to the driver if the display fails, for example due to loss of power or failure of an electronic component. This problem is of particular concern for owners of large sites where safety is a particular concern, for example a facility such as a factory, mine, or airport, where the owner of the site has a duty of care to users of the site. If the electronic sign fails drivers may not be made aware of important safcty information or guidance which is required on site. This is particularly important in places where heavy vehicles move around the site such as at airports and construction sites which significantly increases the risk of severe injury and damage to property if safety information is not timely presented to drivers.

The problem is exacerbated in low level lighting conditions.

Another problem with conventional road signs is that the information provided can only be changed by replacing the entire sign, which can be very costly and can take a significant amount of time to manufacture, which is not very useful at sites where conditions change relatively quickly, for example at large scale building sites.

The present invention seeks to mitigate at least one of the above-mentioned problems, or to at least providc an altemative signage system to existing products.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a signage system according to claim 1. The signage system includes, a housing having front cover, at least a portion of which is non-opaque; detection means for detecting the presence of at least one of vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians; a variable display for displaying a variable message; a control system, said control system being arranged to dctermine the message to be displayed on the variable display according to signals received from the detection means; and a static display for displaying at least one indicium, said static display including a display member that is located within the housing and is arranged to be at least partly visible through the front cover, and preferably such that the or each indicium is visible through the front cover.

The invention provides both variable and static messages such that in the event of failure of the variable display, viewers of the sign will be provided with information.

Advantageously the housing is openable and the display member can be removably mounted within the housing. This enables a new display member to be inserted into the housing body to replace an existing display member.

Advantageously the housing can include a housing body and the front cover is movable with respect to the body to provide access to the interior of the housing. This provides access to the interior of the housing from the front.

Advantageously the static display member is flexible. For example, the display member comprises a film, preferably a plastics film, and more preferably still a vinyl film. Use of a film, and particularly a plastic film, provides a display member that is easy to mount, and is light weight. The film is also resistant to moisture and therefore if any moisture enters the housing the film is not damaged. A vinyl film is also particularly suitable for this purpose since it is possible to print images and text on to it.

Advantageously the film can be mounted on a least a part of the front cover. The film can be smoothly attached to the inner surface of the front cover. This arrangement helps to ensure that the display member is highly visible and in the event that moisture enters the housing the arrangement resists moisture forming on the inner surface of the front cover, which would otherwise obscure the view of the display member.

Advantageously the or each indicium can he printed onto the display member.

Advatnageously the signage system can include a light unit for illuminating at least part of the display member. The light unit can comprise as solid state lighting unit such as an LED light unit.

Advantageously the light unit is mounted within the housing such that, in use, at least some of the light shines through display member and the front cover of the housing. This provides a back lit effect.

Advantageously the signage system can include a light sensor for detecting the level of ambient light.

Advantageously the controller can be arranged to adjust an operational parameter, such as the brightness of the display, of the variable display according to the output from the light sensor.

Advantageously the controller can be arranged to control operation of the light unit according to the output of the light sensor. A particularly efficient arrangement is provided by using the same light sensor to adjust an operational parameter of the variable display and switching the light unit on/off according to the output from the light sensor. Optionally the light unit can include a dimmer unit and the controller is arranged to control the dimmer unit to adjust the output of the light unit according to the output from the light sensor.

Advantageously the detection means; controller; and variable display, light unit and light sensor are mounted on or within the housing. In preferred embodiments the detection means; controller; and variable display, light unit and light sensor arc all mounted within the housing for security and weather proofing.

The signage system can include a seal arranged to seal the front cover to the housing body.

The makes the signage system weather proof.

Advantageously at least a part of the front cover is transparent / transluccnt cover.

Advantageously the front cover can be made from a plastics material or toughened glass.

Advantageously the detection means can be arranged to determine the speed of a moving vehicle and/or cyclist.

An cmbodiment of the invention will now bc describcd, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows diagrammatically a sign according to an embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 shows diagrammatically electronic components included in the sign according to Figure 1.

Figures 1 and 2 show a sign I according to an embodiment of the invention.

The sign I includes a housing 3 having a back member 5, side walls 7, an upper wall 9, lower wall 11, and front cover 13; an electronic display 15, such as an LED display; a detection device 17; controller 19; light sensor 21; backlight 23; and a static display element 25.

In the description below, the embodiment is described with reference to a detection device 17 that is arranged to detect the presence of vehicles. This type of device is typically a radar device. However it will be appreciated by the skilled person that other types of detection devices 17 can be used. Also, it will be further appreciated by the skilled person that the detection device 17 can be selected such that it can detect at least one of vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians. For example, an infrared type detection device 17 can be used to detect cyclists and br pedestrians.

The housing 3 provides a weather proof container for the electronic display 15, detection device 17, controller 19, light sensor 21, backlight 23 and static display element 25. The side, upper and lower walls 7,9,11 are preferably integrally formed to provide a container that is open its front. The container 27 is made from a metal such as aluminium or steel, or can be made from a plastics material, and is preferably formed by a moulding or pressing process. The front cover 13 is mounted on the container 27 and fits over substantially the full length and width of the container 27. A seal (not shown) is provided between the front cover and the container in order to prevent the ingress of moisture. Typically the seal comprises a gasket that extends around the perimeter of the front cover 13, and fits into a gap between the front cover 13 and the inner surfaces of the side, upper and lower walls 7,9,11.

The front cover 13 is a separate component from the container and is fitted to the container 27 in a maimer that enables it to be removed therefrom to provide access to the interior of the housing 3. This enables, for example, the static display element to be removed from the housing, and if desirable, to replace it with a new static display element. For security reasons, the front cover 13 is fitted to the container 27 in a manner that requires tooling in order for it to be removed from the container 27.

The front cover 13 is made from an optically transparent, or semi-transparent, material such as glass or a plastics material such as PerspexTM.

The detection device 17 and electronic display 15 are located in the housing 3 towards the upper part thereof. Typically the display 15 is located substantially centrally between the side walls 7. The detection device 17 is located towards the top right hand corner of the housing.

The detection device 17 is arranged to detect the speed of on-coming vehicles, such as cars, lorries, motor cycles, cyclists, etc. The detection device 17 is mounted in the housing 3 and is oriented such that vehicles approaching the front of the sign I are detectable. The detection device 17 is connected to the controller 19. The controller 19 is also connected to the electronic display 15. The controller 19 controls the message displayed on the electronic display 15 according to signals received from the detection device 17. For example, the controller 19 can be programmed to display the numerical speed of the approaching vehicle on the electronic display 15. Additionally, or alternatively, the controller 19 can be programmed to include an upper threshold speed value, such as the speed limit in the immediate vicinity of the sign 1, and to provide a first message in response to an output signal from the detection device 17 that corresponds to a vehicle speed that is greater than the upper threshold speed value, and a second message in response to an output signal from the detection device 17 that corresponds to a vehicle speed at or below the upper threshold value. The first* message can be, for example a message that indicates to the driver of the vehicle that the vehicle is travelling too fast for that stretch of road, and may comprise for example a symbol or an alphanumeric message.

The second message can be, for example a message that indicates to the driver of the vehicle that the vehicle is travelling at an acceptable speed for that stretch of road, and may comprise for example a symbol or an alphanumeric message.

Optionally the controller 19 can be programmed with a lower threshold speed value, and can provide differentiated messages for when the vehicle speed is detected as being below the lower threshold value, and for when the vehicle speed is at or above the lower threshold value.

The light sensor 21 is mounted in the housing 3, such that its light sensitive surface(s) can detect changes in ambient light outside of the housing 3. Typically the light sensor 21 receives light through the front cover 13. The light sensor 21 is located towards the right side wall 7 and towards the lower wall 11.

The light sensor 21 is connected to the controller 19. The controller 19 is arranged to adjust the value of at least one operational parameter of the electronic display 15 according to the output signals reccived from the light sensor 21. For example, the controller 19 is arranged to control the brightness of the electronic display according to the ambient light level detected. Thus the controller 19 adjusts the brightness of the display according to how light or dark it is in the vicinity of the sign 1.

It will be appreciated by the skilled person that other types of variable message electronic displays can be used in the sign, instead of an LED display. The controller 19 can be arranged to adjust any other parameter of the electronic display, where available, according to the output of the light sensor 21. For example, the controller 19 can be arranged to adjust any parameter that adjusts the visibility of the display, such as a contrast control and/or a colour control. This enables the display to be adjusted to the most appropriate display settings for the ambient light conditions detected.

The static display element 25 comprises a plastics film, such as a vinyl film, having indicia printed thereon. The indicia may take the form of any alphanumeric characters, symbols, and graphic works that can be printed onto the film. Typically the indicia will comprise a textual message, for example a direction or safety notice, and at least one graphic device such as traffic symbol such as an arrow, or stop sign; a company logo; health and safety symbol; site specific symbol; and! or general artwork.

The display element 25 is typically sized such that it substantially fills the open side of the container 27, and therefore is approximately the same size in plan as the front cover 13.

The display element 25 includes a through hole 29 that is arranged coincidently with the electronic display such that the electronic display 1 5 is visible there through when the display element is mounted in the housing. The display element provides a static display that is always available even when the electronic display is not operating.

Since the display element 25 is made from a plastics film, and in particular a vinyl film, if moisture enters the housing 3, for example because the seal fails, the display element 25 is moisture resistant and therefore is not damaged by the ingress of moisture within the housing 3.

The back light 23 includes an elongate LED lighting device and is located towards the left side wall 7, towards the base 5. The back light 23 is positioned to illuminate the display element 25 from the rear such that light emitted therefrom passes through the film 25 and exits the housing through the front cover 13. The LED lighting device, typically includes several LEDs arranged linearly, and optionally the LEDs can be mounted on a PCB. An additional option is to provide a heat sink to improve the performance and longevity of the LEDs. In embodiments where the housing 13 is made from aluminium, the housing 3 can be used as a heat sink.

The controller 19 is arranged to control operation of the back light 23 according to signals received from the light sensor 21. The controller 19 is arranged to switch the back light 23 on when the light level detected is below a first threshold value and to turn the light off when the light level detected is above a second threshold value. Optionally the back light 23 can include a dimmer and the controller 19 can be arranged to control the level of light emitted by the back light 23 according to signals received from the light sensor 21.

In some arrangements, the inventor has found that when the back light 23 is illuminated by the controller 19, light emitted by the back light 23 can be detected by the sensor 21, which can cause the sensor to dim the brightness of the LED display 15. To overcome the problem the light sensor 21 is located on the opposite side of the housing 3 from back light 23 to avoid interference problems. Furthermore, the controller I 9 can be programmed to recognise when the back light 23 is illuminated and can use a correction factor when adjusting the brightness of the LED display 21 to take into account the illumination of the back light 23.

Using a back light 23 as oppose to some other type of light minimises the effect on light sensor 21.

It will be appreciated by the skilled person that modifications can be made to the above embodiment that fall within the scope of the invention, for example different types of plastic films can be used.

Different materials can be used for the housing.

Instead of mounting the static display element onto the front cover, it can be mounted on some other support within the housing.

The sign system can include a plurality of detection devices such that each detection device is arranged to detect at least one of vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. Each detection device is arranged to activate the LED display either on detection of a target, or when the target meets a particular parameter, such as a threshold speed. In one embodiment, the sign system includes three detection devices, one for each of vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.

The sign system can include a counter for counting the number of vehicles, pedestrians and/or cyclists detected. The LED display 21 can display a value related to the counter, such as the current total.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A signage system, including: a housing having front cover, at least a portion of which is non-opaque; a detection means for detecting the presence of at least one of vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians; a variable display for displaying a variable message; a control system, said control system being arranged to determine the message to be displayed on the variable display according to signals received from the detection means; and a static display for displaying at least one indicium, said static display including a display member that is located within the housing and is arranged to be at least partly visible through the front cover.
2. A signage system according to claim 1, wherein the housing is openable and the display member is removably mounted within the housing.
3. A signage system according to claim 2, wherein the housing includes a housing body and the front cover is movable with respect to the body to provide access to the interior of the housing.
4. A signage system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the static display member is flexible.
5. A signage system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the display member comprises a film, preferably a plastics film, and more preferably still a vinyl film.
6. A signage system according to claim 5, wherein the film is mounted on a least a part of the front cover.
7. A signage system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each indicium is printed onto the display member.
8. A signage system according to any one of the preceding claims, including a light unit for illuminating at least part of the display member.
9. A signage system according to claim 8, wherein light unit comprises an LED light unit.
10. A signage system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the light unit is mounted within the housing in relation to the display member such that, in use, at least some of the light emitted shines through display member and the front cover of the housing.
11. A signage system according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the light unit is elongate.
12. A signage system according to any one of the preceding claims, including a light sensor for detecting the level of ambient light.
13. A signage system according to claim 12, wherein the controller is arranged to adjust an operational parameter, such as the brightness of the display, of the variable display according to the output from the light sensor.
14. A signage system according to claim 13 when dependent on any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the controller applies a correction factor when the light unit is illuminated.
15. A signagc system according to anyone of claims 12 to 14, when dependent on any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the controller is arranged to control operation of the light unit according to the output of the light sensor.
16. A signage system according to any one of claims 12 to 15, when dependent on any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the light sensor is mounted on an opposite side of the housing from the side on which the light unit is mounted.
1 7. A signage system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the detection means; controller; and variable display are mounted within the housing.
18. A signage system according to any one of the preceding claims, including a seal arranged to seal the front cover to the housing body.
19. A signage system according to any one of the preceding claims, at least a part of the front cover is transparent! translucent cover.
20. A signage system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the detection means is arranged to determine the speed of a moving vehicle and/or cyclist.
21. A sign systcm substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2.