Inflatable Speed Regulator

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/932,933, filed on Nov. 8, 2019, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, and is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/092,253, filed on Nov. 7, 2020 and a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/471,613, filed on Sep. 21, 2023.

The present application relates generally to controlling the speed of a vehicle, and more specifically, in one example, to an expandable speed regulator.

Automobiles often exceed safe and/or posted speed limits. Drivers may ignore or not recognize a posted speed limit sign, or may otherwise exceed a safe speed limit. Congested areas, such as areas with pedestrians, limited sight areas, areas with complex traffic patterns, and the like often warrant speeds slower than many drivers choose to drive. To curb the speed of drivers, speed regulators, such as speed bumps, speed humps, and the like, or a series of speed bumps, speed humps, and the like, are used in many areas, such as parking lots, residential neighborhoods, apartment complexes, toll collection areas, and the like. Often, the speed regulators frustrate drivers who naturally drive at safe speeds. In addition, drivers who tend to exceed a safe or posted speed limit may simply quickly accelerate after passing a first speed regulator and then quickly decelerate before encountering the next speed regulator, thereby diminishing the effectiveness of the speed regulators.

In the following detailed description of example embodiments of the invention, reference is made to specific examples by way of drawings and illustrations. These examples are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the inventive subject matter, and serve to illustrate how the invention may be applied to various purposes or embodiments. Other example embodiments of the inventive subject matter exist and are within the scope of the disclosure, and logical, mechanical, electrical, and other changes may be made without departing from the scope or extent of the present inventive subject matter. Features or limitations of various embodiments of the invention described herein, however essential to the example embodiments in which they are incorporated, do not limit the inventive subject matter as a whole, and any reference to the inventive subject matter, its elements, operation, and application do not limit the inventive subject matter as a whole but serve only to define these example embodiments. The following detailed description does not, therefore, limit the scope of the inventive subject matter, which is defined only by the appended claims.

Generally, methods, apparatus, and systems for controlling a speed regulator and a speed of a vehicle are disclosed. In one example embodiment, a retractable speed regulator is intelligently controlled. The speed regulator may have a default position that is either fully retracted, partially retracted, or protruding (also known as extended herein) from a roadway, such as a driveway, a street, a highway, a parking lot, a parking garage, and the like. In one example embodiment, as a vehicle approaches the retractable speed regulator, the speed of the vehicle is measured. In one example embodiment, if the vehicle is exceeding a defined speed, the speed regulator is raised into or maintained in the extended configuration. If the vehicle is traveling at a speed under the defined speed, the speed regulator is retracted prior to the vehicle encountering the speed regulator or maintained in the retracted position.

In one example embodiment, the speed regulator is retracted when the detected speed of the vehicle is below the defined speed, or is maintained in the retracted position when the detected speed of the vehicle is below the defined speed. If the initial speed of the vehicle is above the defined speed or if the speed of the vehicle should accelerate to exceed the defined speed (after first being detected at a speed below the defined speed), the speed regulator, if retracted or partially retracted, may be extended or may be maintained in the extended position.

In one example embodiment, a user may define the rule(s) (including conditions) for the speed regulator to remain in the extended position or to move into the extended position, and may define the condition(s) for the speed regulator to remain in the retracted (or partially retracted) position or to move into the retracted, or a partially retracted (e.g., less than fully retracted), position. For example, a user may specify a rule that indicates that the vehicle will be allowed to pass over a retracted speed regulator only if the average speed of the vehicle during the monitoring period is below the defined speed.

In one example embodiment, the speed regulator, if extended, is retracted if the behavior of the vehicle meets a predefined rule(s). In one example embodiment, the speed regulator is retracted just prior to the vehicle encountering the speed regulator. For example, the speed regulator may be retracted when the vehicle is a defined distance from the speed regulator, may be retracted a specified amount of time after the vehicle is first detected, may be retracted based on an estimated time of the vehicle encountering the speed regulator (as determined by the vehicle's measured speed, measured distance from the speed regulator, or both), and the like. In one example embodiment, the speed regulator, if extended, is retracted once the vehicle is determined to meet the predefined rule(s). The speed regulator may be extended if the vehicle is determined to violate the predefined rule(s).

In one example embodiment, a retracted or partially retracted speed regulator will not be raised if the vehicle is within a predefined distance of the speed regulator. This may be done for safety reasons. For example, the speed regulator may not be extended if the vehicle is within three seconds of travel time or 20 feet of the speed regulator. The distance of the vehicle from the speed regulator may be measured, may be estimated based on a measured speed of the vehicle, may be detected based on a location sensor, and the like.

is a block diagram of an example speed regulation system, in accordance with an example embodiment. In one example embodiment, the speed regulation systemmay comprise a speed regulator, a speed regulator processing system, a network, and one or more monitors-, . . .-N (collectively known as monitorshereinafter). One or more of the monitorsmay be housed within or collocated with the speed regulator processing system. In addition, the speed regulator processing systemand one or more of the monitorsmay be housed within or collocated with the speed regulator.

The speed regulatormay be configured to be fully retracted, partially retracted, or protruding from a roadway. The position of the speed regulatormay be altered by a process of extending, retracting, raising, lowering, rotating, flexing, inflating, deflating, and the like (depending on the type of speed regulator). For example, an inflatable speed regulatormay be inflated with a liquid or gas to protrude from a roadway and may be deflated to retract into the roadway or onto the surface of the roadway, as described more fully below by way of example in conjunction with.

A semi-cylindrical speed regulatormay be rotated into a position such that the speed regulator, or a portion of the speed regulator, protrudes from the roadway. A flexible speed regulatoror a segmented speed regulatormay be raised, or partially raised, using, for example, a pneumatic piston(s), as described more fully below by way of example in conjunction with.

The speed regulator processing systemmay include a processor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), and the like) and a memory, which communicate with each other via a bus. The speed regulator processing systemmay further include a video display (e.g., a plasma display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The speed regulator processing systemmay also include an alphanumeric input device (e.g., a keyboard), a user interface (UI) navigation device (e.g., a mouse and/or touch screen), a drive unit, a signal generation device (e.g., a speaker), and a network interface device.

The drive unit, such as a removable drive unit, includes a machine-readable medium on which is stored one or more sets of instructions and data structures embodying or utilized by any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein. The instructions may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the memory and/or within the processor during execution thereof by the computer processing system. The instructions may further be transmitted or received over the networkvia the network interface device utilizing any one of a number of well-known transfer protocols (e.g., Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)).

The networkmay be a local area network (LAN), a wireless network, a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless network, a network of interconnected networks, the public switched telephone network (PSTN), an electrical power-based network (such as the X.10 protocol), and the like. Communication links include, but are not limited to, WiFi (e.g., IEEE 802.11), Bluetooth, Universal Serial Bus (USB), and the like. In one example embodiment, the networkmay comprise one or more routers and/or device switches (not shown).

Each monitormonitors a speed of a vehicle, an acceleration of a vehicle, a location of a vehicle, any combination thereof, and the like. The speed and acceleration may be measured using a radar system, a camera system, and the like. Each monitormay communicate with the speed regulator processing systemvia the networkor a communication link of the network.

is a block diagram of an example apparatusfor controlling the speed regulator, in accordance with an example embodiment. In one example embodiment, the apparatusmay serve as the speed regulator processing system.

The apparatusis shown to include a processing systemthat may be implemented on a server, client, or other processing device that includes an operating systemfor executing software instructions. In accordance with an example embodiment, the processing systemmay include a user interface module, a speed regulator interface module, a speed regulator controller module, a network interface module, and a rule base.

The user interface moduleprovides an interface for configuring the speed regulation systemand defining rules of the rule base. For example, a defined speed limit may be specified via the user interface module. The default configuration of the speed regulator(e.g., extended, retracted, and partially retracted), the criteria for changing the configuration of the speed regulator, the behavior of the speed regulation system, and the like may be specified via the user interface module. A user interface generated by the user interface moduleis described more fully below by way of example in conjunction with.

The speed regulator interface moduleprovides an interface to the speed regulator. The speed regulatormay provide a status (e.g., extended, retracted, or partially retracted) of the speed regulatorto the speed regulator controller modulevia the speed regulator interface moduleand the speed regulator controller modulemay issue commands via the speed regulator interface moduleto, for example, implement a selected configuration of the speed regulator.

The speed regulator controller modulereceives data from each monitorvia the network interface moduleand processes the data to determine the configuration of the speed regulatorbased, for example, on a speed of a vehicle, an acceleration of a vehicle, a location of a vehicle, and the like, as described more fully below by way of example in conjunction with. The speed regulator controller moduleinstructs the speed regulatorto implement a specified configuration.

The network interface moduleprovides an interface to the network. Data from each monitormay be transferred via the network interface moduleto the speed regulator controller moduleand commands may be issued via the network interface moduleto the speed regulator.

The rule basecomprises a rule(s) for processing data received from the monitorsand determining a configuration of the speed regulator, as described more fully below by way of example in conjunction with.

is a diagram of a first example embodiment of the speed regulator, in accordance with an example embodiment. The speed regulatorcomprises an inflatable air bagin the shape of a semi-cylinder (as used herein, a semi-cylinder is one half of a cylinder, the cylinder being sliced in half through the central axis of the cylinder). The inflatable air bagis attached to an air bag basethat houses an air pump. The air pumpis controlled by the speed regulator controller moduleof the speed regulator processing systemvia the speed regulator interface module. The air pumpis configured to inflate the inflatable air bagand to deflate the inflatable air bagbased on commands from the speed regulator controller module. The air bag basemay be recessed in a roadway such that the top surface of the air bag baseis level with the top surface of the roadway.

illustrate an end view and a side view, respectively, of a second example embodiment of the speed regulator, in accordance with an example embodiment. The speed regulatorcomprises a plurality of flat shuttersthat are hinged together (known as segmented herein). In the retracted configuration, the flat shuttersare recessed in a shutter basesuch that the flat shutterslay flat, in line with the top surface of the shutter base. The shutter basemay be recessed in a roadway such that the top surface of the shutter baseis level with the top surface of the roadway. In the extended mode, a semi-cylinderthat is beneath the flat shuttersand having a center axis that is parallel to the flat shuttersis raised, causing the flat shuttersto protrude from the shutter basein the general shape of a half-cylinder. In one example embodiment, the semi-cylinderis raised by pneumatic pistons-,-at one end of the semi-cylinder(as shown) and pneumatic pistons-,-at the other end of the semi-cylinder(not shown). In one example embodiment, the semi-cylinderis composed of an axle that impales a plurality of parallel wheels or disks (not shown).

illustrate a side view and a top view, respectively, of a first example embodiment of an inflatable speed regulatorin an extended configuration, in accordance with an example embodiment. The inflatable speed regulatorcomprises an inflatable air bagattached to an air bag base. In one example embodiment, the air bag basehouses an air pump(not shown in) and the air bag. The air pumpis controlled by the speed regulator controller moduleof the speed regulator processing systemvia the speed regulator interface module. The air pumpis configured to inflate the inflatable air bagand to deflate the inflatable air bagvia couplerbased on commands from the speed regulator controller module. In the extended configuration, a portion of the air bagprotrudes from the air bag base. In the retracted configuration, the air bagretracts into, or substantially into, the air bag base. In one example embodiment, the air bagretracts completely into the air bag base. In one example embodiment, a portion of the air bagis allowed to protrude from the air bag basewhen deflated. The air bag basemay be attached to a roadway surface.

In one example embodiment, flexible bandsare attached to the interior and/or exterior surface of the inflatable air bag. The flexible bandsbend to conform to the semi-cylindrical shape of the portion of the inflatable air bagthat protrudes, or substantially protrudes, from the air bag base.illustrates a side view of the first example embodiment of the inflatable speed regulatorofin a retracted configuration, in accordance with an example embodiment. When a gas and/or a liquid is removed from the inflatable air bag, the bandsreturn to their normal flat shape thereby retracting the inflatable air baginto the air bag base.

illustrate a side view and a top view, respectively, of a second example embodiment of an inflatable speed regulatorin an extended configuration, in accordance with an example embodiment. In the embodiment of, the inflatable air bagperforms as described above; however, the inflatable air bagis operated without the air bag base. The air pumpis located internal to or remotely from the inflatable air bag. The inflatable air bagmay be attached to a roadway surface, either directly or with an intervening base (not shown).

illustrates a view of an example flat shutter, in accordance with an example embodiment. The flat shutter may be constructed of steel, galvanized steel, aluminum, wood, plastic, rubber, and the like. Hollow cylinders-, . . . ,-(collectively referred to as hollow cylindersherein) of the flat shutterenable a plurality of shutters to be hinged together with the use of an axle, as described more fully below in conjunction with. The axleis thread through the center of a plurality of in-line hollow cylinders, such as hollow cylinders-,-,-,-. The axlemay be constructed of steel, galvanized steel, aluminum, wood, plastic, and the like. The hollow cylindersmay be formed by bending a portion of the flat shutterinto a cylinder shape, as would be familiar to the skilled artisan.

illustrates a view of an example casing constructed of a plurality of example flat shutters-,-,-(collectively referred to as flat shuttersherein), in accordance with an example embodiment. The flat shuttersare hinged together with a plurality of axlesto form a casingsuch that the plurality flat shuttersmay be configured in a variety of shapes, as described more fully below in conjunction with. It is noted that each flat shuttermay be the length of a driving lane, such as ten feet. Each flat shutterof the casingmay be of the same width, such as 1″, 2″, 3″, 6″, one foot, and the like, or may be a combination of flat shuttersof different widths. The selection of the widths of the flat shuttersmay be chosen based on the desired shape of the casingin the extended configuration.

illustrate a side view of an example embodiment of the inflatable speed regulator, in accordance with an example embodiment. The inflatable speed regulatorofcomprises an inflatable air bag, an air bag base, and the casingof.

In one example embodiment, the air bag basehouses an air pump(not shown in) and the air bag. The air pumpis controlled by the speed regulator controller moduleof the speed regulator processing systemvia the speed regulator interface module. The air pumpis configured to inflate the inflatable air bagvia a couplerbased on commands from the speed regulator controller module. In one example embodiment, the air pumpis configured to deflate the inflatable air bagvia a couplerbased on commands from the speed regulator controller module. In the extended configuration, a portion of the air bagprotrudes from the air bag base. In the retracted configuration, the air bagretracts into, or substantially into, the air bag base. In one example embodiment, the air bagretracts completely into the air bag base. In one example embodiment, a portion of the air bagis allowed to protrude from the air bag basewhen deflated.

In the retracted configuration, the casingis recessed into the air bag base, or substantially recessed into the air bag base, such that the flat shuttersof the casinglay flat, in line with the top surface of the air bag base. A portion of the casingslides into and out of a slotin the air bag baseas the casingretracts and extends, respectively. In the extended mode, the air bagthat is beneath the casingis inflated, causing the flat shuttersto protrude from the air bag base.

In one example embodiment, the air bag baseis attached to a roadway surface. In one example embodiment, a portion of the air bag baseis formed of rubber or a similar material to enable the bottom of the air bag baseto conform to the shape of the surface of the roadway. For example, the cross-hatched area of the air bag basemay be constructed of rubber. In one example embodiment, the air bag basemay be partially recessed into a roadway surface.

is a flowchart for an example methodfor controlling the speed regulator, in accordance with an example embodiment. In one example embodiment, one or more of the operations of the methodmay be performed by the speed regulator processing system.

In one example embodiment, a check for a report from one of the monitorsmay be performed (operation). For example, a check for a report of an approaching vehicle may be performed. If a report of an approaching vehicle is not received, operationis repeated; otherwise, the received report is parsed to, for example, determine the speed of the approaching vehicle.

If the speed of the vehicle is exceeding the defined speed and the mode is set to absolute/normally retracted (modeA), the speed regulatoris moved into the extended configuration (operation) and the methodproceeds to operation. (As used herein, a normally retracted mode is a mode where the default configuration of the speed regulatoris retracted and a normally extended mode is a mode where the default configuration of the speed regulatoris extended.)

During operation, the methodwaits for a monitor report (e.g., a report from one of the monitors) indicating the vehicle has passed the speed regulator. The passing of a vehicle may be detected, for example, by a pressure sensor within the speed regulator. If a monitor report is received indicating the vehicle has passed the speed regulator, the speed regulatoris moved into the retracted configuration (operation) and the methodproceeds to operation.

If the speed of the vehicle is not exceeding the defined speed and the mode is set to absolute/normally retracted (modeB), the methodwaits for a monitor report (operation). If the next report indicates the vehicle is exceeding the defined speed, the speed regulatoris moved into the extended position (operation) and the methodproceeds with operation. If, during operation, the next report indicates the vehicle has passed the speed regulator, the methodproceeds to operation. In one example embodiment (not shown in), if the vehicle becomes within a predefined distance of the speed regulator(based on a spatial distance or an amount of travel time) during operation, the methodproceeds to operation.

If the speed of the vehicle is exceeding the defined speed and the mode is set to absolute/normally extended/retract early (modeA), the methodwaits for a report indicating the vehicle has passed the speed regulator(operation).

If the speed of the vehicle is not exceeding the defined speed and the mode is set to absolute/normally extended/retract early (modeB), the speed regulatoris sent a command to move into the retracted position (operation) and the methodwaits for a report (operation). During operation, if the next report indicates the vehicle is exceeding the defined speed, the speed regulatoris moved into the extended configuration (operation). During operation, if the next report indicates the vehicle is within a defined distance of the speed regulator, the methodproceeds to operation. During operation, if the next monitor report indicates that the vehicle has passed, the methodproceeds to operation.

If the speed of the vehicle is exceeding the defined speed and the mode is set to absolute/normally extended/retract late (modeA), the methodwaits for a report indicating the vehicle has passed the speed regulator(operation).

If the speed of the vehicle is not exceeding the defined speed and the mode is set to absolute/normally extended/retract late (modeB), the methodwaits for a report (operation). During operation, if the next report indicates the vehicle is exceeding the defined speed, the methodproceeds to operation. During operation, if the next report indicates the vehicle is close to the speed regulator, the speed regulatoris retracted (operation) and the methodwaits for a report indicating the vehicle has passed the speed regulator(operation). During operation, if the next report indicates the vehicle has passed the speed regulator, the methodproceeds to operation. During operation, if a report is received indicating the vehicle has passed the speed regulator, the speed regulatoris sent a command to move into the extended position (operation) and the methodthen proceeds to operation.

If the mode is set to relative/normally retracted (mode), the speed of the vehicle is continuously, or nearly continuously, monitored (operation). If the speed of the vehicle violates the defined speed such that the vehicle cannot recover to meet the requirements of the rules of the relative mode, the speed regulatoris sent a command to move into the extended configuration (operation) and the methodproceeds with operation. For example, a rule may indicate that the average speed of the vehicle is to be less than the defined speed. If it is not possible for the average speed of the vehicle to be less than the defined speed during the remaining monitoring period, the speed of the vehicle violates the rule. If the speed of the vehicle satisfies the rules of the relative mode and the next report indicates the vehicle is within a defined distance of the speed regulator, the methodwaits for a report indicating the vehicle has passed the speed regulator(operation). If the next report indicates the vehicle has passed the speed regulator, the methodproceeds to operation.

If the mode is set to relative/normally extended (mode), the speed of the vehicle is continuously, or nearly continuously, monitored (operation). If the speed of the vehicle violates the defined speed and the rules of the relative mode such that the vehicle cannot recover to meet the requirements of the rules of the relative mode, the methodproceeds with operation. If the speed of the vehicle satisfies the rules of the relative mode and the next report indicates the vehicle is close to the speed regulator, the speed regulatoris retracted (operation) and the methodwaits for a report indicating the vehicle has passed the speed regulator(operation). During operation, if a report is received indicating the vehicle has passed the speed regulator, the speed regulatoris sent a command to move into the extended position (operation) and the methodthen proceeds to operation.

In one example embodiment, if other vehicles are within a predefined distance of the speed regulator(e.g., a convoy of vehicles) when the methodis being executed for a lead vehicle of the convoy, the convoy of vehicles will be treated as a single vehicle. For example, if the speed regulatoris retracted for the lead vehicle of the convoy, the speed regulatorwill remain retracted until the last vehicle of the convoy passes the speed regulator. Similarly, if the speed regulatoris extended for the lead vehicle of the convoy, the speed regulatorwill remain extended until the last vehicle of the convoy passes the speed regulator. The speed regulatormay then be set in the default configuration when the last vehicle of the convoy passes the speed regulator. The last vehicle of the convoy may be identified by an absence of a vehicle within the predefined distance of the speed regulatorafter the lead vehicle encounters the speed regulator.

illustrates an example user interfacefor configuring the speed regulation system, in accordance with an example embodiment. The user interfacemay be generated by, for example, the user interface module.

As illustrated in, the user interfacecomprises a speed regulator identification fieldfor entering an identity of the speed regulatorto be configured (for instances where a plurality of speed regulatorsare connected to the network), a speed limit fieldfor entering the defined speed limit, a first mode fieldfor entering the speed regulator mode (normally extended or normally retracted), a second mode fieldfor entering the behavior mode (absolute or relative), and a third mode fieldfor entering the retraction time (early or late). The user interfacecomprises one or more monitor identification fields-, . . .-N for entering an identity of the monitorsto be configured (for instances where a plurality of monitorsare connected to the network).

Although certain examples are shown and described here, other variations exist and are within the scope of the inventive subject matter. It will be appreciated, by those of ordinary skill in the art, that any arrangement, which is designed or arranged to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the example embodiments of the invention described herein. It is intended that this disclosure be limited only by the claims, and the full scope of equivalents thereof.

is a block diagram illustrating an example mobile device, according to an example embodiment. The mobile devicemay include a processor. The processormay be any of a variety of different types of commercially available processors suitable for mobile devices (for example, an XScale architecture microprocessor, a microprocessor without interlocked pipeline stages (MIPS) architecture processor, or another type of processor). A memory, such as a random access memory (RAM), a flash memory, or another type of memory, is typically accessible to the processor. The memorymay be adapted to store an operating system (OS), as well as application programs, such as a mobile location enabled application that may provide location-based services (LBSs) to a user. The processormay be coupled, either directly or via appropriate intermediary hardware, to a displayand to one or more input/output (I/O) devices, such as a keypad, a touch panel sensor, a microphone, and the like. Similarly, in some embodiments, the processormay be coupled to a transceiverthat interfaces with an antenna. The transceivermay be configured to both transmit and receive cellular network signals, wireless data signals, or other types of signals via the antenna, depending on the nature of the mobile device. Further, in some configurations, a GPS receivermay also make use of the antennato receive GPS signals.