WO2000024142A1

WO2000024142A1 - Modular transmitter system and methods of transmission

Info

Publication number: WO2000024142A1
Application number: PCT/US1999/024257
Authority: WO
Inventors: William F. Crandall, Jr.
Original assignee: Talking Signs, Inc.
Priority date: 1998-10-16
Filing date: 1999-10-15
Publication date: 2000-04-27
Also published as: AU1119600A

Abstract

A modular system is described which enables the transmission of a multitude of direction-specific electromagnetic signals in a multitude of directions from one location. In one embodiment of the invention, a system is provided which comprises at least two independently positionable, directionally oriented transmitter units (2, 3) which are detachably attachable to one another and rotatable relative to one another about a common axis of rotation (R), each of the units being configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal in a respective preselected direction.

Description

MODULAR TRANSMITTER SYSTEM AND METHODS OF TRANSMISSION

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to optoelectronic signal transmitters and signal transmission systems configured to transmit multiple signals in different directions.

BACKGROUND It is well known that electromagnetic signal transmitters and their associated receivers enable the wireless transmission of information from one point to another. Such signals

theoretically may be transmitted in any direction from a point of origination, but such unlimited or directionless transmission of electromagnetic signals does little to assist those who

seek to glean direction-relevant information from the reception of the transmitted signals and, in the presence of other like signal transmissions, can lead to confusion of and interference

between the signals. Thus, direction-specific (or directionally oriented) transmission of electromagnetic (e.g. , lightwave or microwave) signals which convey information can be

particularly helpful to sight- and/or print-impaired populations, including those who do not

comprehend a particular written language, because visual cues about directionality and other

types of information are not always available or discernable to such persons.

Directionally oriented signal transmission is achieved by the positioning of the transmitter and the adjustment of the beam width of the signal. Beam width may be adjusted in a number of ways. For example, in the case of lightwave signal transmission, the beam

width may be adjusted through the use of modified diode arrays which direct lightwave signals along a particular pathway or within a particular three-dimensional area, e.g., a cone-shaped beam having a particular geometry dependent upon the configuration of the array. In some situations, it also may be desirable to transmit multiple directionally oriented signals from a particular location at the same time. Known devices and systems which have attempted to

address this need have been limited in their ability to accommodate a variety of different directions from a single transmitter location without requiring customized configurations and

manufacturing, adding to the cost and inconvenience of such systems.

Accordingly, a need exists for a transmission system and methods which enable the transmission, and especially the concurrent transmission, of a multitude of directionally oriented signals in a multitude of directions from a single location.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is deemed to satisfy this need in a particularly efficient and novel way by providing, among other things, a modular transmission system which is easily

manufactured on a large scale and which by design is endowed with sufficient flexibility in its use that it may be employed in a variety of settings, including those in which a plurality of

discrete, directionally oriented signals are to be transmitted concurrently from a single

location.

In particular, one embodiment of this invention provides a system comprising at least two independently positionable, directionally oriented transmitter units which are detachably

attachable to one another and rotatable relative to one another about a common axis of rotation, each of the units being configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal in a

respective preselected direction. Another embodiment of this invention provides a method which comprises sending a

first signal to an independently positionable, directionally oriented transmitter unit which is detachably attached to at least a second independently positionable, directionally oriented

transmitter unit, the transmitters being rotatable relative to one another about a common axis of rotation, whereby the first transmitter unit is triggered to produce a second electromagnetic

signal, and transmitting the second electromagnetic signal from the first transmitter unit in a

first preselected direction. In a further preferred embodiment, the method comprises the additional steps of sending a third signal to the second transmitter unit, whereby the second transmitter unit is triggered to produce a fourth electromagnetic signal, and transmitting the

fourth signal from the second transmitter unit in a second preselected direction. In another preferred embodiment, the method comprises the additional step of receiving the second and/or fourth signals and converting one or both of them into intelligible nonvisual communication. In this way, a wide variety of messages may be transmitted in different directions using

electromagnetic signals, and the recipient of those signals may be provided with direction-

relevant information which will vary depending upon the location of the recipient relative to

the location from which the signals are transmitted. In a typical installation of the system of this invention, the location from which the transmission is sent may be in close proximity to

or associated with a visual display or sign, and in fact may be electronically connected with

that visual display so that the message transmitted via one or more electromagnetic signals is consistent with the information conveyed by the visual display . Pedestrian crosswalks, airport, bus, and rail terminals, amusement parks, convention centers, and sporting arenas are but a

few examples of the varied settings in which modular transmitter systems and methods in accordance with this invention may be efficiently and conveniently employed, either in isolation or in coordination with other visual displays. These and other embodiments and features of this invention will be still further apparent from the ensuing description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a side view partially in phantom of a preferred system of this invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of one of the transmitter units from the system of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevated view in perspective of the system of Fig. 1 as applied with an

electronic pedestrian crosswalk sign.

In the figures, like letters and/or numerals are used to refer to like parts among the figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The transmitter units are independently positionable in the sense that each one is

rotatable through 360° about an axis of rotation without having an effect on any other transmitter unit present which shares the same axis of rotation. In systems of this invention,

two or more such units are present. The units preferably are modular, that is, similar in shape

and design so that they may be produced in large quantities with interchangeable parts, and

so that a plurality of units may be stacked one on top of the other interchangeably, thereby enabling the transmission of a virtually unlimited number of signals from the same general location. Preferably, the transmitter unit comprises a housing which contains at least a power capacitor and a transmitter. When transmitting lightwave signals, the transmitter will typically

be comprised of an electronic transmitter card electronically connected to an infrared diode array. Especially when the unit is electrically connected to or controlled by an associated electronic sign which displays flashing visual messages, the power capacitor enables the uninterrupted transmission of electromagnetic signals from the transmitter unit even under circumstances in which an electronic controller or other power source connected to the unit

may be sending pulsed electronic signals. In particularly preferred embodiments, and to reduce interference between ambient light and the transmitted electromagnetic signals, the transmitter is characterized at least in that it may adjust the electromagnetic signal transmitted in response to a change in the amount of surrounding ambient light, as in the case of the

transmitter disclosed and described in greater detail in U.S. Patent 5,757,530. The detachable attachment of transmitter units is physical rather than electrical; the physical attachment being through a device or member which acts as the common rotational axis. It is preferred that there be no electrical connection between the transmitter units , with the sole possible exception

of a shared power source, although such a connection between the units is possible. This is particularly important when the units send respective signals which are coordinated with

accompanying electronic visual displays, e.g., the displays on an electronic pedestrian crosswalk sign, so that the risks associated with failed electronic switches or human error in

installation is minimized.

The transmitted electromagnetic signals may be any along the electromagnetic

spectrum, but are preferably lightwave signals in the infrared light region, and although not

required, it is further preferred that the signal also be frequency modulated. Because the positioning of the transmitter unit at least in part determines the direction of the signal, each

transmitter unit for a given electromagnetic signal is oriented so as to send its associated signal in a particular, preselected direction. Preferably, the angle between any two directions of respective signal transmissions, as determined along a plane perpendicular to the shared axis of unit rotation may be anywhere in the range of 0 to 360°. In this way, a plurality of electromagnetic signals may be transmitted from the same location in a wide variety of directions to accommodate use of the same system in various settings in which the required directions of signal transmission may be conventional or unique.

Referring now to the Figures, individual transmitter units are shown in different

orientations about a common axis of rotation, which in the preferred embodiment depicted is

a rod R. In the system depicted, there is a first transmitter unit 1, a second transmitter unit

2 and a third transmitter unit 3, each unit comprising a cylindrical housing 10, and within each

housing 10, a power capacitor 12, a transmitter card 14, and an array of diodes 16. Housing

10 defines a window 20 through which directionally-oriented lightwave signals emanating from

diodes 16 may pass. As may be appreciated readily, housing 10 may be of any geometrical

shape which is convenient or aesthetically pleasing under a given circumstance, but preferably the shape is such that it does not interfere with the modular design of the system as a whole.

In Figure 2, transmitter unit 1 is shown in a top plan view to illustrate that housing 10

also defines a plurality of apertures 22 for power and control cables or other objects which

may be threaded through and between each unit as necessary, and a hole 24 through which rod

R may extend to detachably attach the units to one another. As seen with particular reference

to Fig. 1, between each pair of adjacent transmitter units there is a pair of rubber gaskets

26,26 and a cylindrical aluminum plate 28. Below unit 3 an additional plate 30, a threaded

nut 32 and a rubber washer 34 through which rod R extends are provided. Likewise, a plate

36 through which rod R extends is disposed above transmitter unit 1 and a threaded bolt 38

is threadably received by an end of rod R. Thus, plate 36 has been removed from unit 1 in

Fig. 2 so that the content of unit 1 is visible. Nut 32 and bolt 38 cooperate with rod R to

detachable attach units 1, 2 and 3 together while those same units may be rotated about rod

R relative to one another when desired. The system of Figs. 1 and 2 is shown in Fig. 3 in use with an electronic visual display

device in the form of an electronic pedestrian crosswalk sign 40. Sign 40 actually has two

visually-oriented functions — visually signaling a pedestrian when it is safe to walk (through

a display 42), and separately visually signaling to a pedestrian when he or she should wait at

the curb to permit traffic to pass (through a display 44). In conventional settings, these signals

are electronically generated, and are controlled by one or more electrical connections between

sign 40 and an associated electronic stop light at a traffic intersection. However, as those of

ordinary skill in the art can appreciate, any electronic visual display device which visually displays a message may be substituted for the pedestrian crosswalk sign depicted here. Suitable nonlimiting examples of such a device include exit signs, kiosk displays, traffic signals, television and/or computer monitors, arrival/departure displays, and the like. In the

case of the depicted embodiment of this invention, one or more electronic signals associated

with either display 42 or display 44 may be generated by sign 40 and sent over an electrical

connection to a respective transmitter unit of this invention, either directly or indirectly through other devices such as, for example, a controller which may include timing relays or

other electronic functions. The electronic signal from the sign 40, once received by one of

transmitter units 1, 2 or 3 triggers the production of another electronic signal by respective

transmitter card 14 within the transmitter unit, which transmitter card signal in turn is

electronically transmitted to array 16 for conversion into the information-carrying lightwave

signal which is ultimately transmitted from the transmitter unit. Of course, each transmitter

card 14 may be preprogrammed to generate electronic signals carrying a wide variety of

information, whereby a transmitter unit and a respective visual display become coordinated in real time with one another so that the information carried by the lightwave signal is consistent with the information conveyed by the visual display. In the case of a pedestrian crosswalk setting depicted, this enables the transmission of a lightwave signal which may be received and converted into an audible "walk" message when the visual display reads "walk" , and alternatively the transmission of a lightwave signal which may be received and converted

into an audible "don't walk" message when the visual display reads "don't walk" . It is preferred that the signals sent to the transmitter units be electrical signals, although they may be of another form, such as, for example, sound or electromagnetic, so long as the

transmitter is properly configured to receive and process such signals. As noted earlier, the electromagnetic signals produced by the transmitter units may be any within the

electromagnetic spectrum which are capable of being direction-specific, but is preferably in

the infrared light region, and more preferably it is also frequency modulated. The respective electromagnetic signals transmitted by the plurality of transmitter units in systems of this invention may be transmitted concurrently, sequentially in any order, or in any subcombination with one another. Likewise, the steps in the methods of this invention may

be carried out in any order, combination or subcombination with one another.

In a further preferred embodiment, the electromagnetic signals transmitted by the

transmitter units are received and converted into intelligible nonvisual communication, which

is preferably auditory. Any electromagnetic receiver capable of converting an electromagnetic signal into intelligible nonvisual communication may be used for this purpose; however, the

preferred receiver comprises a nonvisual communicator, a detector for receiving signals, and

electronics for converting the received signals into intelligible nonvisual communication, as

disclosed and described in U.S. Patent 5,623,358.

Claims

That Which is Claimed is:

1. A system comprising at least two independently positionable, directionally oriented

transmitter units which are detachably attachable to one another and rotatable relative

to one another about a common axis of rotation, each of the units being configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal in a respective preselected direction.

2. A system according to Claim 1 wherein each of the transmitter units comprises a

housing and a transmitter within the housing, the transmitter being characterized in that it may adjust the electromagnetic signal transmitted in response to a change in the

amount of surrounding ambient light.

3. A system according to Claim 2 wherein each of the transmitter units further comprises

a power capacitor within the housing.

4. A system according to Claim 1 wherein the transmitted signal is in the infrared light

region.

5. A system according to Claim 1 wherein the transmitted signal is frequency modulated.

6. A system according to Claim 5 wherein the transmitted signal is in the infrared light

region.

7. A system according to Claim 6 wherein each of the transmitter units comprises a

housing, a power capacitor within the housing, and a transmitter within the housing,

the transmitter being characterized in that it may adjust the electromagnetic signal transmitted in response to a change in the amount of surrounding ambient light.

8. A system according to Claim 1 further comprising an electronic visual display device

which may send an electronic signal to at least one of the transmitter units to trigger

the transmission of at least one of the electromagnetic signals.

9. A method which comprises a) sending a first signal to a first independently positionable , directionally oriented

transmitter unit which is detachably attached to at least a second independently

positionable, directionally oriented transmitter unit, the transmitter units being

rotatable relative to one another about a common axis of rotation, whereby the first transmitter unit is triggered to produce a second electromagnetic signal,

and b) transmitting the second signal from the first transmitter unit in a first

preselected direction.

10. A method according to Claim 9 wherein the first signal is an electrical signal.

11. A method according to Claim 10 further comprising the step of receiving the second

signal and converting the second signal into intelligible nonvisual communication.

12. A method according to Claim 11 wherein the intelligible nonvisual communication is auditory.

13. A method according to Claim 9 further comprising the step of receiving the second

14. A method according to Claim 13 wherein the intelligible nonvisual communication is auditory.

15. A method according to Claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

c) sending a third signal to the second independently positionable, directionally oriented transmitter unit, whereby the second transmitter unit is triggered to

produce a fourth electromagnetic signal, and d) transmitting the fourth signal from the second transmitter unit in a second

preselected direction.

16. A method according to Claim 15 wherein the second and fourth signals are transmitted

concurrently.

17. A method according to Claim 15 wherein said first preselected direction and said

second preselected direction may be at an angle relative to one another which is anywhere in the range of 0 to 360 degrees.

18. A method according to Claim 15 wherein the first and third signals are electrical

signals.

19. A method according to Claim 18 further comprising the step of receiving the second

and/or fourth signals and converting the second and/or fourth signals into intelligible

nonvisual communication.

20. A method according to Claim 19 wherein the intelligible nonvisual communication is

auditory.

21. A method according to Claim 15 further comprising the step of receiving the second

nonvisual communication.

22. A method according to Claim 21 wherein the intelligible nonvisual communication is

auditory.

23. A method which comprises a) detachably attaching a first independently positionable, directionally oriented transmitter unit to at least a second independently positionable, directionally oriented transmitter unit so that the transmitter units are rotatable relative to

one another about a common axis of rotation, the transmitter units being configured to transmit respective directionally oriented electromagnetic signals, b) adjusting the direction of transmission of the respective electromagnetic signals by rotating at least one of the transmitter units relative to the other, and

c) transmitting the respective electromagnetic signals from their respective transmitter units.

24. A method according to Claim 23 wherein the respective directions of transmission for

the electromagnetic signals may be at an angle relative to one another which is anywhere in the range of 0 to 360 degrees.

25. A method according to Claim 24 wherein the electromagnetic signals are transmitted concurrently.