Emissive road marker system

Abstract

A roadside marker comprises a light-emitting element, an electronic circuit connected to the light-emitting element, a battery connected to the electronic circuit, a photovoltaic cell electrically connected to the battery, and an actuator for causing the electronic circuit to transmit a signal to a remote location. A traffic alert system that includes the roadside marker, and a method of remote signals using the roadside marker, are also provided.

1 . A roadside marker comprising: 
 a light-emitting element capable of emitting multiple colors;    an electronic circuit connected to the light-emitting element, wherein the electronic circuit controls the light-emitting element to emit different colors in response to signals received by the electronic circuit;    a battery connected to the electronic circuit; and    a photovoltaic cell electrically connected to the battery.    
   
   
       2 . The roadside marker of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic circuit includes a receiver for receiving externally supplied signals.  
   
   
       3 . The roadside marker of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an antenna providing a reflective backing for the photovoltaic cell.    
   
   
       4 . The roadside marker of  claim 1 , wherein the light-emitting element, the electronic circuit, the battery, and the photovoltaic cell are each mounted in layers of a flexible thin film tape.  
   
   
       5 . The roadside marker of  claim 4 , wherein the tape further comprises an antenna electrically connected to the electronic circuit.  
   
   
       6 . The roadside marker of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic circuit causes the light-emitting element to emit electromagnetic radiation in the infrared spectrum.  
   
   
       7 . The roadside marker of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic circuit comprises an integrated circuit including at least one of: 
 a microprocessor, a rewritable memory, a modulator and a transceiver.    
   
   
       8 . The roadside marker of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic circuit is structured and arranged to be remotely operated by: 
 remote signals from other devices.    
   
   
       9 . The roadside marker of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic circuit can be remotely programmed.  
   
   
       10 . The roadside marker of  claim 1 , further comprising a layer of photoluminescent material.  
   
   
       11 . The roadside marker of  claim 1 , further comprising an optically transparent protective film adjacent the light-emitting element.  
   
   
       12 . The roadside marker of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive layer adjacent an exterior surface of the marker, for mounting the marker in a substantially vertical position.  
   
   
       13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 . A method comprising the steps of: 
 placing a plurality of roadside markers in an area, wherein each of the roadside markers includes a light-emitting element, an electronic circuit connected to the light-emitting element, a battery connected to the electronic circuit, and a photovoltaic cell electrically connected to the battery; and    causing the electronic circuit in at least one of the roadside markers to transmit a unique identification signal to a remote location to indicate the presence of an accident or other condition, the remote location including a database relating the unique identification signal to the location of the roadside markers.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of: 
 using the electronic circuit to operate the light-emitting element in a particular mode based on signals received by the electronic circuit.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of: 
 remotely programming the electronic circuit.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of: 
 remotely testing the operation of the roadside marker.    
   
   
       20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the signal transmitted by the roadside marker includes a unique code number of a sensor actuating the marker.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the signal transmitted by the roadside marker includes a unique code number from a vehicle sensor indicating at least one of: a unique vehicle identification number, a number of occupants of said vehicle, and an indication of the severity of a vehicle accident.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the signal transmitted by the unique vehicle identification number is used to determine at least one of: vehicle ownership, residence, and medical contact data.  
   
   
       24 . A roadside marker comprising: 
 a light-emitting element;    an electronic circuit connected to the light-emitting element;    a battery connected to the electronic circuit;    a photovoltaic cell electrically connected to the battery; and    an accelerometer for activating the electronic circuit when the marker experiences an acceleration.    
   
   
       25 . A roadside marker comprising: 
 a light-emitting element;    an electronic circuit connected to the light-emitting element;    a battery connected to the electronic circuit; and    a photovoltaic cell electrically connected to the battery;    wherein the light-emitting element comprises an electroluminescent material positioned such that photons pass through the electroluminescent material to excite electrons in the photovoltaic cell.    
   
   
       26 . The roadside marker of  claim 1 , wherein the light-emitting element comprises a quantum dot tunable electroluminescent semiconductor.  
   
   
       27 . The roadside marker of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic circuit causes the light-emitting element to emit electromagnetic radiation at different frequencies based on road conditions.  
   
   
       28 . The roadside marker of  claim 1 , wherein the light-emitting element comprises polymer light-emitting diodes.  
   
   
       29 . The roadside marker of  claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic cell comprises a nanostructured quantum dot radiation tuned semiconductor.  
   
   
       30 . The roadside marker of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic circuit activates the light-emitting element in response to an amount of light received by the photovoltaic cell.