SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR HEATER CONTROL BY CURRENT LEVEL STEP DETECTION

• US 20150296592A1
• Filed: 04/14/2015
• Published: 10/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Schneider, John, Petroni, Vinicius Marcilli
• Granted Patent: US 9,462,649 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/90 Heating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/06 for aircraft runways or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light

Abstract

An airfield lighting system can comprise a control system, a constant current regulator, and a plurality of light fixtures. The control system can command the constant current regulator to output a current level transition sequence. One or more light fixtures of the plurality of light fixtures can detect the current level transition sequence and execute a command at the light fixture, such as actuating a heating element or adjusting the intensity of light emitted by a light source.

Claims

1. An airfield lighting system, comprising:

a control system;

a constant current regulator communicatively coupled to the control system and configured to receive an operational command signal from the control system, wherein the operational command signal initiates the constant current regulator to output a current level transition sequence, the current level transition sequence comprising a sequence of changes in a current level supplied by the constant current regulator to the airfield lighting system; and

at least one light fixture coupled to the constant current regulator, wherein the at least one light fixture receives and detects the current level transition sequence, and wherein the light fixture carries out an associated command upon detection of the current level transition sequence.

2. The airfield lighting system of claim 1, wherein the current level transition sequence is executed by the constant current regulator over a predetermined period of time.

3. The airfield lighting system of claim 1, wherein the sequence of changes in the current level are time-slot independent.

4. The airfield lighting system of claim 1, wherein the associated command turns on or off a heating element.

5. The airfield lighting system of claim 1, wherein the associated command changes the light intensity of a light source within the at least one light fixture.

6. The airfield lighting system of claim 1, wherein the current level transition sequence comprises a sequence of approximate current levels selected from a group consisting of 2.8 A, 3.4 A, 4.1 A, 5.2 A, and 6.6 A.

7. The airfield lighting system of claim 1, wherein the at least one light fixture comprises a power supply, a processor, a heating element, and a light source.

8. A method of operating an element of a light fixture in an airfield lighting system, comprising:

determining, by a control system, that the element should be turned on;

signaling, by the control system, a constant current regulator to initiate a current level transition sequence, the current level transition sequence comprising a sequence of changes in a current level supplied by the constant current regulator to the airfield lighting system;

outputting the current level transition sequence from the constant current regulator to the airfield lighting system;

detecting the current level transition sequence by a processor associated with the light fixture, the processor configured to control the element; and

actuating the element via the processor.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the element comprises a heating element of the light fixture.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein actuating the heating element comprises turning the heating element on or off.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the element comprises a light source within the light fixture.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein actuating the light source comprises changing an intensity of light emitted from the light source.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein determining that the element should be turned on is a preprogrammed protocol, a user input, or a combination.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the current level transition sequence comprises a sequence of approximate current levels selected from a group consisting of 2.8 A, 3.4 A, 4.1 A, 5.2 A, and 6.6 A.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the light fixture comprises a power supply, a processor, a heating element, and a light source.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions performing the following steps when executed by a processor installed in a light fixture in an airfield lighting system:

receiving, at the processor from a constant current regulator, a current level transition sequence, the current level transition sequence comprising a sequence of changes in a current level supplied by the constant current regulator to the airfield lighting system;

detecting the current level transition sequence by the processor installed in the light fixture, the processor configured to control an element in the light fixture; and

actuating the element via the processor.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein actuating the element comprises turning on a heating element.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein actuating the element comprises changing the intensity of a light source within the light fixture.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the current level transition sequence is detected within a predetermined time period.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising receiving another current level transition sequence at the processor indicating a state of the element is to be changed.