LIGHTING DEVICE FOR LIGHTING THE AIRFIELD OF AN AIRPORT

• US 20110031896A1
• Filed: 10/08/2008
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ADB BVBA (ADB Safegate BVBA)
• Original Assignee: ADB BVBA (ADB Safegate BVBA)
• Inventors: Jelu, Andre, Vandevoorde, Jean-Claude, Van Buylaere, Francoise, Willekens, Maarten
• Application Number:
  US12/682,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20110031896A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/294
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/235 with communication between the lamps and a central unit

Abstract

The invention relates to a lighting device (1) for lighting the airfield of an airport, comprising a plurality of lighting units (2) for emitting light signals for an approaching, departing, or rolling aircraft, a power supply system which is used for supplying electric power to the lighting units (2) and is equipped with at least one control unit (4) for adjusting a constant current or a constant voltage in a circuit (3) encompassing at least one of the lighting units (2), and configuration data (k) for configuring the at least one control unit (4) in the circuit (3). In order to allow a control unit (4) that has to be replaced to be quickly and safely replaced, the lighting device (1) comprises a memory unit (5) for storing configuration data (k) and a communication unit (6) for transmitting data between the at least one control unit (4) and the memory unit (5). The communication unit (6) is designed to automatically retrieve configuration data (k) stored in the memory unit (5) and feed said configuration data (k) to the at least one control unit (4) when the at least one control unit (4) is started.

Claims

1. A lighting device for lighting the airfield of an airport, comprising a plurality of lighting units for emitting light signals for an approaching, departing or taxiing airplane, having an energy supply unit for supplying the lighting units with electric energy, the lighting device comprising at least one regulator for setting a constant current or a constant voltage in a circuit comprising at least one of the lighting units, and comprising configuration data for the configuration of the at least one regulator in the circuit, wherein the lighting device comprises a memory unit for storing configuration data, and a communication unit for data transfer between the at least one regulator and the memory unit, wherein the communication unit is configured such that, when the at least one regulator is put into service, it automatically retrieves configuration data stored in the memory unit, and feeds it to the at least one regulator.

2. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit is further configured such that, when a regulator is put into service, it automatically feeds already supplied configuration data to the memory unit.

3. The lighting device according to claim 1, comprising at least one controller for actuating and monitoring the at least one lighting unit in the circuit, wherein the configuration data comprises information on the levels of brightness adjustment and/or of error modes and/or of switching on modes and/or of designation of the interface levels in the circuit.

4. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit is configured for the wired and/or wireless, bidirectional data transfer between the at least one controller, the at least one regulator, and the memory unit.

5. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit is configured in a redundant manner.

6. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein at least two regulators are combined to one regulator group, with which a replacement regulator is associated that is provided for being put into service in case of failure of a regulator of the regulator group, wherein configuration data for the replacement regulator, which is retrievable by the communication unit, is deposited in the memory unit.

7. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the regulator is configured as a constant current source for lighting units connected to a series circuit.

8. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the regulator is configured as a constant voltage source for lighting units connected to a parallel circuit.