Railway crossing and signaling system and method

Abstract

What is disclosed is a system and method of providing notice to traffic on a roadway that a railway vehicle traveling on a railway is approaching an intersection between the railway and the roadway. The system uses road modules and/or light strips embedded in or on the surface of the railway. A processor is configured to cause the road modules and/or light strips to illuminate and/or flash. The processor is configured to send the signal to the road module(s) and/or light strip(s) in response to a signal from a transmitter and/or sensor that a railway vehicle is approaching the intersection.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for alerting a roadway traveler to a railway vehicle approaching the intersection of a railway and a roadway, said system comprising:
 at least one road module and/or one or more light strips embedded in or on a roadway, said road module comprising a light;   at least one processor, wherein said processor is configured to communicate via wireless and/or wired communication to said road module and/or one or more light strips to illuminate, flash and/or change color in response to a railway vehicle approaching said intersection of a railway and a roadway.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said processor is configured to receive a signal from a transmitter positioned on or in a railway vehicle and/or a pre-existing railway or independent sensor configured to detect an approaching railway vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising and/or said system comprises a sensor configured for communication with said processor, wherein said sensor is configured to sense the presence of a railway vehicle approaching said intersection and to communicate a signal to said processor that a railway vehicle is approaching the intersection. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said road modules and/or light strips are configured to receive wireless communication from said processor. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said sensor is configured to wirelessly communicate with said processor. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of sensors. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said processor and said sensor are integral. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said system comprises a heater, heating system, or heating apparatus configured to melt snow from said system. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said system is configured to be powered by a power source selected from the group consisting of a power grid, a solar power system, and a vibrational energy harvesting system. 
     
     
         10 . A method of alerting a roadway traveler to a railway vehicle approaching the intersection of a railway and a roadway, said method comprising the following steps:
 the step of providing at least one road module and/or one or more light strips embedded in or on the surface of a roadway, said road module and/or one or more light strips comprising a light;   the step of providing a processor in communication with a transmitter and/or sensor, wherein said processor is configured to communicate to said road module and/or one or more light strips to illuminate, flash and/or change color in response to a railway vehicle approaching said intersection of a railway and a roadway;   the step of said transmitter or sensor transmitting a signal to said processor that a railway vehicle is approaching said intersection and said processor causing said road module and/or one or more light strips to illuminate, flash, and/or change color in response to said signal from said transmitter and/or said sensor that a railway vehicle is approaching said intersection.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said method comprises the step of configuring said processor to interact with pre existing railway or independent devices configured to transmit a signal of the presence of an approaching railway vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said method comprises the step of providing a sensor, wherein said sensor is configured for communication with said processor, wherein said sensor is configured to sense the presence of a railway vehicle approaching said intersection and to communicate a signal to said processor that a railway vehicle is approaching the intersection. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the processor can be configured to communicate with a computer located onboard a vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said computer located onboard a vehicle is an autonomous vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said step of providing a sensor comprises providing a sensor configured for wireless communication with said processor. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said step of providing a processor comprises providing a processor having an integral sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said method comprises the step of providing a solar power generator and battery or ultra-capacitor configured to power said roadway modules and/or said light strips. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said method comprises the step of providing a heater, heating apparatus, or heating system configured to melt snow from said roadway modules and/or said light strip(s). 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said system is configured to be powered by a power source selected from the group consisting of a power grid, a solar power system, and a vibrational energy harvesting system.