ILLUMINATION SYSTEM FOR TRAFFIC SIGNS
The present disclosure provides an illumination system comprising a housing, a connection assembly configured to connect the housing to a support structure such as a traffic sign pole, a lighting element associated with the housing, and a controller configured to control operation of the lighting element. The housing includes a portion defining a cavity that surrounds at least a portion of the lighting element. The lighting element includes an optical element, such as a lens with a specific cone angle, configured to direct light from the lighting element to selectively illuminate a target area of a roadway, such as pavement markings, without illuminating other portions of the roadway. The controller may be configured to control the lighting element based on various inputs including pre-programmed schedules, ambient conditions, or signals from sensors or user input devices.
1 . An illumination system, comprising:
a housing;
a connection assembly configured to connect the housing to a support structure;
a lighting element associated with the housing; and
a controller configured to control operation of the lighting element,
wherein the housing includes a portion defining a cavity, and
wherein the lighting element includes an optical element configured to direct light from the lighting element to selectively illuminate a target area of a roadway.
2 . The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a shroud defining a cavity surrounding at least a portion of the lighting element.
3 . The illumination system of claim 2 , wherein the shroud includes a rear wall on a distal end of the housing, an overhang portion on a proximal end of the housing, and a bottom wall coupling the rear wall and the overhang portion.
4 . The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the optical element comprises a lens.
5 . The illumination system of claim 4 , wherein the lens has a cone angle configured to direct light from the lighting element to selectively illuminate the target area without illuminating other portions of the roadway.
6 . The illumination system of claim 5 , wherein the cone angle of the lens is between 30 and 45 degrees.
7 . The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the lighting element comprises one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
8 . The illumination system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an electronic controller coupled to the lighting element,
wherein the electronic controller is configured to control the lighting element to illuminate the target area.
9 . The illumination system of claim 8 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to control the lighting element to illuminate the target area based on a pre-programmed schedule.
10 . The illumination system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to control the lighting element to illuminate the target area continuously or in a blinking pattern.
11 . The illumination system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to control the lighting element to illuminate the target area in a blinking pattern.
12 . The illumination system of claim 8 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to control the lighting element to illuminate the target area based on ambient conditions.
13 . The illumination system of claim 12 , wherein the ambient conditions include at least one selected from a group consisting of a light level, a relative humidity, a sound level, and a weather condition.
14 . The illumination system of claim 8 , further comprising:
one or more sensors configured to detect vulnerable road users proximate to the illumination system;
wherein the electronic controller is further configured to control the lighting element to illuminate the target area based on signals received from the one or more sensors.
15 . The illumination system of claim 8 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to control the lighting element based on signals received from a user input device.
16 . The illumination system of claim 15 , wherein the user input device comprises a crosswalk request button.
17 . The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the lighting element configured to emit light of a color matching a color of a traffic sign and/or a pavement marking.
18 . The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the support structure is a traffic sign pole.
19 . The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the target area comprises a pavement marking on the roadway.
20 . A method of illuminating a pavement marking, comprising:
connecting an illumination system to a traffic sign pole, the illumination system including a shroud housing a lighting element;
positioning the illumination system such that a lens of the lighting element is oriented towards a roadway; and
activating the lighting element to selectively illuminate a target area on the roadway,
wherein the lens has a cone angle configured to direct light from the lighting element to the target area without illuminating other portions of the roadway.