System and method for monitoring alignment of a signal lamp

• US 20050237215A1
• Filed: 04/23/2004
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Berkcan, Ertugrul, Davenport, David Michael, Mathews, Harry Kirk Jr., Gangadharan, Ganesh Chandan, Andarawis, Emad Andarawis, Welles, Kenneth Brakeley II, Hatfield, William Thomas, Cusano, Dennis Dominic
• Granted Patent: US 7,053,784 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/686.200
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 5/1863 Lamp mountings on a mast
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 5/1881 Wiring diagrams for power supply, control or testing

Abstract

A system for monitoring alignment of a signal lamp includes at least one sensor and threshold detection circuitry. The sensor is positioned about the signal lamp and is configured to measure at least one of azimuthal and elevational movement of the signal lamp and generate an electrical signal. The threshold detection circuitry is configured to receive signals representative of the azimuthal and elevational movement of the signal lamp from the sensor. The threshold detection circuitry determine a change in alignment of the signal lamp according to at least one of the azimuthal movement signals and the elevational movement signals.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring alignment of a signal lamp, comprising:

at least one sensor, positioned about the signal lamp and configured to measure at least one of azimuthal and elevational movement of the signal lamp and generate an electrical signal; and

threshold detection circuitry, configured to receive signals representative of the azimuthal and elevational movement of the signal lamp from said at least one sensor, wherein said threshold detection circuitry determine a change in alignment of the signal lamp according to at least one of the azimuthal and the elevational movement signals.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor is an accelerometer configured to measure said elevational movement of the signal lamp and generate said electrical signal.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor comprises at least one magnetic sensor configured to measure at least one of said azimuthal and elevational movement of the signal lamp in relation to a predetermined magnetic field reference and generate said electrical signal.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said at least one magnetic sensor comprises two magnetic sensors configured to generate two outputs indicative of said movement of the signal lamp.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein a difference between said two outputs from said two magnetic sensors indicate said movement of the signal lamp.

6. The system according to claim 3, wherein a normalized difference between said two outputs from said two magnetic sensors indicate said movement of the signal lamp.

7. The system according to claim 3, wherein said predetermined magnetic field comprises the magnetic field of earth.

8. The system according to claim 3, wherein said predetermined magnetic field comprises a magnetic field of at least one local magnet.

9. The system according to claim 8, further comprising a magnetic field shield, disposed about said at least one local magnet and configured to shield and unshield the spatial distribution of a magnetic field generated from said at least one local magnet.

10. The system according to claim 8, further comprising a magnetic flux concentrator disposed about said at least one local magnet and configured to focus the spatial distribution on of a magnetic field generated from said at least one local magnet.

11. The system according to claim 8, wherein said at least one local magnet comprises at least two local magnets, each positioned about the signal lamp.

12. The system according to claim 3 wherein said at least one magnetic sensor is a magneto resistive sensor.

13. The system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one sensor is an optical sensor assembly configured to measure said at least one of azimuthal and elevational movement of the signal lamp and generate said electrical signal.

14. The system according to claim 13, further comprising at least one light source, a polarizer disposed about the lamp at a predetermined distance therefrom and at least one analyzer disposed about said polarizer and configured to measure a change in angular displacement of said polarizer;

and at least one detector disposed about said at least one analyzer and configured to detect an occurrence of the angular displacement.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein said threshold detection circuitry are configured to determine change in alignment of said signal lamp to about plus or minus 4.5 degrees on at least one of azimuthal and elevational plane.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein said threshold detection circuitry further comprises a processor and an alerting system, wherein said processor is configured to send an alarm signal to said alerting system when there is a determined change in alignment.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor is a shutter assembly positioned about the signal lamp and configured to measure at least one of azimuthal and elevations movement of the signal lamp, wherein said shutter assembly comprises an optical switch and a shutter located at a predetermined distance from said optical switch.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said threshold detection circuitry are configured to receive signals representative of at least one of the azimuthal and elevational movement of the signal lamp from said shutter assembly.

19. A method of monitoring alignment of a signal lamp, comprising:

positioning at least one sensor about the signal lamp;

configuring said at least one sensor to measure at least one of azimuthal and elevational movement of the signal lamp and generate an electrical signal;

receiving at least one of signals representative of azimuthal and elevational movement of the signal lamp from said sensor; and

determining a change in alignment of the signal lamp according to at least one of signals representative of azimuthal and elevational movement of the signal lamp.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein configuring said at least one sensor further comprising configuring said at least one sensor as an accelerometer to measure said elevational movement of the signal lamp and generate said electrical signal.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein configuring said at least one sensor further comprising configuring said at least one sensor as at least one magnetic sensor to measure said at least one of azimuthal and elevational movement of the signal lamp in relation to a predetermined magnetic field reference and generate said electrical signal.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein configuring said at least one magnetic sensor further comprising configuring said at least one magnetic sensor as at least two magnetic sensors to generate two outputs indicative of said movement of the signal lamp.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein configuring said at least two magnetic sensors further comprising measuring said movement of the signal lamp based on a difference between said two outputs of said two magnetic sensors.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein configuring said at least two magnetic sensors further comprising measuring said movement of the signal lamp based on a normalized difference between said two outputs of said two magnetic sensors.

25. The method according to claim 21, wherein said predetermined magnetic field comprises the magnetic field of earth.

26. The method according to claim 21, wherein said predetermined magnetic field comprises a magnetic field of at least one local magnet.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein said magnetic field of at least one local magnet further comprises a magnetic field of at least two magnets.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein said magnetic field of at least two magnets further comprising a magnetic field of two electromagnets.

29. The method according to claim 28, further comprising energizing and de-energizing said magnetic field of said two electromagnets alternately.

30. The method according to claim 26, further comprising positioning a magnetic field shield, disposed about said at least one local magnet and configuring said magnetic field shield to shield and unshield the spatial distribution of said magnetic field generated from said at least one local magnet.

31. The method according to claim 26, further comprising positioning a magnetic flux concentrator disposed about said at least one local magnet and configuring said magnetic flux concentrator to focus the spatial distribution of said magnetic field generated from said at least one local magnet.

32. The method according to claim 19, wherein configuring said at least one sensor further comprising configuring said at least one sensor as an optical sensor assembly.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein configuring said optical sensor assembly further comprising positioning at least one polarizer coupled to the signal lamp at a predetermined distance therefrom and at least one analyzer coupled to said at least one polarizer and at least one detector coupled to said at least one analyzer and configuring said at least one analyzer to measure a change in a predetermined parameter with respect to said polarizer and configuring said detector to detect an occurrence of said predetermined parameter with respect to said polarizer, wherein the predetermined parameter is an angular displacement of said polarizer.

34. The method according to claim 33, further comprising configuring said at least one polarizer as a linear polarizer.

35. The method according to claim 19, further comprising generating an alert to a remote location when a change in alignment is determined.

36. The method according to claim 19, further comprising positioning a shutter assembly about the signal lamp and configuring said shutter to measure at least one of azimuthal or elevational movement of the signal lamp.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein said receiving at least one of signals representative of the azimuthal or elevational movement of the signal lamp further comprising receiving signals from said shutter assembly.