Wireless reflective marker with internal light source

Abstract

A marker for indicating boundaries or delineating traffic lanes in pavement such as roadways or airport runways is described. In an embodiment, the marker includes a high-strength plastic housing containing at least one retroreflective reflector, a light emitting diode (LED), at least one solar collector and a rechargeable battery. The retroreflective reflectors reflect light back to a light source, such as the headlights of a vehicle on a roadway or the light of an airplane on a runway. The LED can provide a light source that can be seen from greater viewing angles than the light reflected by the reflectors providing better visibility to operators of vehicles on curved roadways and allowing captains of airplanes to see the markers from the cockpit at closer range than if the markers used reflectors alone. In an embodiment, the marker also can include circuitry that controls the operation of the LED, the flow of current through the circuit and the charging of the battery.

1 . A marker comprising: 
 a solar collector,    a reflector,    a light source,    a solar sensor, and    a rechargeable battery,    wherein the marker has a height of no more than approximately ½ inch, a length of no more than approximately 2 inches, and a width of no more than approximately 4 inches.    
   
   
       2 . The marker of  claim 1  wherein the marker is capable of fitting within a standard casting.  
   
   
       3 . The marker of  claim 2  wherein the light source, is a light emitting diode and the reflector is a retroreflective reflector.  
   
   
       4 . The marker of  claim 3  wherein the light is emitted from the light emitting diode at least in part in the same direction as light is reflected from the retroreflective reflector.  
   
   
       5 . The marker of  claim 1  wherein the marker is adaptable to withstand a downward force of approximately at least 6500 pounds.  
   
   
       6 . The marker of  claim 3  further comprising a first controller adaptable to limit voltage feedback from the battery, and a pulse width modulation controller.  
   
   
       7 . The marker of  claim 2  wherein the solar sensor comprises a photocell indirectly connected to the battery, said photocell adaptable to allow current to flow from the battery during night light conditions and adaptable to restrict current flow from the battery during day light conditions;  
   
   
       8 . The marker of  claim 3  further comprising a bottom surface and an adhesive that is attached to the bottom surface.  
   
   
       9 . The marker of  claim 4  further comprising a top surface anti a bottom surface that are comprised of one or more of the following plastics: polycarbonate, acrylic, methyl methacrylate, nylon, nylon 666, polypropylene and lexan.  
   
   
       10 . A marker comprising: 
 a housing including,    a solar collector,    a rechargeable power source, and    a light emitting source,    said marker adaptable to fit in a standard casting below the top elevation of the standard casting.    
   
   
       11 . The marker of  claim 10 , further comprising a reflector facing in the same general direction as the light emitting source.  
   
   
       12 . The marker of  claim 11 , wherein the reflector is a retroreflective surface, wherein the light emitting source comprises a light emitting diode and wherein the reflector is angled and is approximately the same color as the light from the light emitting source.  
   
   
       13 . The marker of  claim 10 , wherein the housing further comprises a top surface which is substantially clear to optimize solar collection.  
   
   
       14 . The marker of  claim 13 , wherein the top surface is comprised of polycarbonate.  
   
   
       15 . The marker of  claim 10  wherein the housing is comprised of plastic with a thickness of ⅛-½ inch.  
   
   
       16 . The marker of  claim 10 , further comprising a photocell that is adaptable to control whether the light emitting source is on or off and a dic de to prevent current from flowing from the battery to the solar collectors.  
   
   
       17 . The marker of  claim 10 , further comprising a controller that is adaptable to regulate a current flowing from the rechargeable power source to the light emitting source to maintain a constant current flow and brightness level from the light emitting source.  
   
   
       18 . A marker system comprising; a solar collector, a light emitting diode, a top surface and a bottom surface, a front angled surface and a rear flat surface, a first side surface and a second side surface, a rechargeable battery, a retroreflective reflector behind the front angled surface, said retroreflective reflector placed such that it is not directly in front of the light emitting diode.  
   
   
       19 . The marker system of  claim 18  further comprising a circuit, an electric control switch that regulates the current flowing through the circuit, a diode preventing current from flowing from the battery to the solar collector, and a photocell, wherein the top surface and the front surface are comprised of one or more of the following plastics: polycarbonate, acrylic, methyl methacrylate, nylon, nylon 666, polypropylene and lexan, wherein the marker has a height of no more than approximately ½ inch, a length of no more than approximately 2 inches, and a width of no more than approximately 2 inches, and wherein light from the light emitting diode can be seen from the cockpit of a small plane from a distance of approximately 100 feet from the marker.  
   
   
       20 . The marker system of  claim 18  further comprising a standard casting.  
   
   
       21 . The marker of  claim 10 , wherein the marker has a height of approximately ½ inch, a length of no more than approximately 2 inches, and a width of approximately 4 inches.  
   
   
       22 . The marker of  claim 10  wherein the marker is adaptable to withstand a downward force of at least 65000 pounds.  
   
   
       23 . The marker of  claim 10  further comprising a pulse width modulation controller.  
   
   
       24 . The marker of  claim 10  wherein the housing further comprises a bottom surface and an adhesive that is attached to the bottom surface.  
   
   
       25 . The marker of  claim 13  wherein the housing is comprised of a top surface and a bottom surface that are comprised of one or more of the following plastics: polycarbonate, acrylic, methyl methacrylate, nylon, nylon 666, polypropylene and lexan.  
   
   
       26 . The marker of  claim 10  wherein light from the light emitting source can be seen from the cockpit of a small plane from a distance of approximately 100 feet from the marker.  
   
   
       27 . The marker of  claim 10  further comprising a reflector facing in the same general direction as the light emitting source and wherein the housing is comprised of a top surface that is comprised of a substantially clear plastic, a bottom surface, and an adhesive that is attached to the bottom surface.