Street lighting device for communicating with observers and associated methods

1. A thoroughfare lighting device comprising:

a housing configured to be attached to a thoroughfare surface;

wherein the housing comprises a top surface, a proximal face, a distal face, and first and second opposing sidewalls extending between the proximal and distal faces and extending downwardly from the top surface;

wherein the first sidewall tapers in a direction of the distal face;

a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) configured to selectively illuminate individual lanes of the thoroughfare surface, the plurality of LEDs comprising:

a first set of LEDs configured to emit a generally white light, and

a second set of LEDs configured to emit colored light that is observable by an observer that is operable to selectively emit light so as to illuminate individual lanes of the thoroughfare surface;

a driver circuit electrically coupled to the plurality of LEDs and configured to operate the second set of LEDs to emit a colored light illuminating a single lane of the thoroughfare surface indicating the condition of the individual lane of the thoroughfare surface;

a first optic carried by the first sidewall of the housing and positioned in optical communication with the plurality of LEDs; and

a second optic carried by the second sidewall of the housing;

wherein the plurality of LEDs is divided such that a portion of each of the first and second sets of LEDs are in optical communication with the first optic and another portion of each of the first and second sets of LEDs are al communication with the second optic.

2. The thoroughfare lighting device according to claim 1 wherein the driver circuit is configured to operate the plurality of LEDs to transmit data via visible light communication to another thoroughfare lighting device.

3. The thoroughfare lighting device according to claim 1 wherein the second set of LEDs comprises LEDs configured to emit light having a first color and LEDs configured to emit light having a second color that is different from the first color.

4. The thoroughfare lighting device according to claim 1 wherein the second set of LEDs is configured to emit at least one of blue light, red light, yellow light, and amber light.

5. The thoroughfare lighting device according to claim 1 wherein the driver circuit is configured to operate the second set of LEDs to emit a red light to indicate a stop in traffic; wherein the driver circuit is configured to operate the second set of LEDs to emit a yellow or amber light to indicate a slow-down in traffic; and wherein the driver circuit is configured to operate the second set of LEDs to emit a blue light to indicate the presence or imminent arrival of an emergency vehicle.

6. The thoroughfare lighting device according to claim 1 further comprising a traffic sensor electrically coupled to the driver circuit; wherein the traffic sensor is configured to sense a traffic pattern and generate information regarding traffic on the associated thoroughfare; and wherein the driver circuit is configured to operate the plurality of LEDs responsive to the information generated by the traffic sensor.

7. The thoroughfare lighting device according to claim 1 wherein the driver circuit is configured to alternately flash the first set of LEDs and the second set of LEDs.

8. The thoroughfare lighting device according to claim 1 wherein the second sidewall tapers in the direction of the distal face.

9. The thoroughfare lighting device according to claim 1 wherein the second sidewall tapers in the direction of the proximal face.

10. A thoroughfare lighting device comprising:

a housing configured to be attached to a thoroughfare surface, having a top surface, a proximal face, a distal face, and first and second opposing sidewalls extending between the proximal and distal faces and extending downwardly from the top surface;

a driver circuit;

a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) electrically coupled to the driver circuit, the plurality of LEDs comprising:

a first set of LEDs configured to emit a generally white light and positioned so as to emit light in the direction of a surface of an associated thoroughfare, and

a second set of LEDs configured to emit colored light in a direction so as to be observable by an observer that is operable to selectively emit light so as to illuminate individual lanes of the thoroughfare surface;

an optic carried by the housing and positioned in optical communication with the plurality of LEDs; and

a communication device electrically coupled to the driver circuit;

wherein the communication device is configured to receive information related to a condition of the thoroughfare;

wherein the driver circuit is configured to operate the plurality of LEDs responsive to the information received from the communication device;

wherein the driver circuit is configured to operate the second set of LEDs to emit a red light to indicate a stop in traffic;

wherein the driver circuit is configured to operate the second set of LEDs to emit a yellow or amber light to indicate a slow-down in traffic;

wherein the driver circuit is configured to operate the second set of LEDs to emit a blue light to indicate the presence or imminent arrival of an emergency vehicle; and

wherein the first sidewall tapers in a direction of the distal face;

wherein the optic is a first optic and carried by the first sidewall;

wherein the lighting device further comprises a second optic carried by the second sidewall; and

wherein the plurality of LEDs is divided such that a portion of each of the first and second sets of LEDs are in optical communication with the first optic and another portion of each of the first and second sets of LEDs are in optical communication with the second optic.

11. The thoroughfare lighting device according to claim 10 wherein the first set of LEDs is configured to selectively illuminate individual lanes of the associated thoroughfare.

12. The thoroughfare lighting device according to claim 10 further comprising a traffic sensor electrically coupled to the driver circuit; wherein the traffic sensor is configured to sense traffic patterns and generate information regarding traffic on the associated thoroughfare; and wherein the driver circuit is configured to operate the plurality of LEDs responsive to the information generated by the traffic sensor.

13. The thoroughfare lighting device according to claim 10 wherein the second sidewall tapers in the direction of the proximal face.

14. The thoroughfare lighting device according to claim 10 wherein the second sidewall tapers in the direction of the distal face.