REMOTE CONTROL OF LIGHT SIGNALING DEVICES

• US 20160247400A1
• Filed: 12/30/2015
• Published: 08/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Current Lighting Solutions, LLC (f/k/a GE Lighting Solutions, LLC) (American Industrial Partners)
• Original Assignee: GE Lighting Solutions LLC (Savant Systems, LLC)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Truong-Khoa, Richard, Jean-Francois, Langlais, Justin, Rana, Shahzil, Neser, Morne
• Granted Patent: US 10,163,343 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/006 Portable traffic signalling devices G08B5/004 takes precedence; emergency signalling devices to be placed on roads or vehicles B60Q7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/07 Controlling traffic signals
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/081 Plural intersections under common control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/097 Supervising of traffic control systems, e.g. by giving an alarm if two crossing streets have green light simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/00 Network topologies

Abstract

Provided is a traffic communication network that includes a signaling system including a plurality of light signaling devices, and a controller configured to wirelessly control the plurality of light signaling devices; and a remote control system in wireless communication with the controller and configured to control the controller

Claims

1. A traffic communication network comprising:

a signaling system including a plurality of light signaling devices, and a controller disposed at a at least one traffic intersection, and configured to wirelessly control the light signaling devices; and

a remote control system in wireless communication with the controller, and configured to transmit/receive commands to the controller for controlling the light signaling devices.

2. The traffic communication network of claim 1, wherein the remote control system is configured to synchronize the controller based on at least one of global positioning, network time and computer system time and the controller is configured to synchronize the light signaling devices simultaneously.

3. The traffic communication network of claim 1, wherein the remote control system comprises:

a transmitter/receiver configured to transmit and receive signals to and from the controller;

a graphical user interface configured to receive input data;

a display configured to display real-time parameters of the signaling system;

a processor configured to perform real-time diagnostics and modifications of the signaling system via the controller.

4. The traffic communication network of claim 3, wherein the remote control system further comprises a memory configured to store the status information, historical data and identification information for the light signaling devices and the controller of the signaling system.

5. The traffic communication network of claim 3, wherein the remote control system is further configured to transmit command signals to the controller to:

(i) activate a heating function of a light emitting face of the light signaling device;

(ii) locate and mitigate failures on the signaling system using global positioning; and

(iii) modify operational status of the light signaling devices.

6. The traffic communication network of claim 3, wherein each light signaling device comprises:

a wireless node comprising a transmitter/receiver for transmitting and receiving signals from the controller;

a processor configured to process the signals received;

a plurality of light emitting devices configured to emit light; and

a light engine for driving the light emitting devices.

7. The traffic communication network of claim 6, wherein the light signaling device is in wireless communication with the controller, and is configured to:

(i) transmit status information to the controller;

(ii) self-detect faults using the processor thereof; and

(iii) provide location information using global positioning.

8. The traffic communication network of claim 7, further comprising:

a video camera disposed at the at least one intersection and configured to obtain status information of the plurality of light signaling devices, and transmit the status information to the remote control system.

9. A method for controlling signaling system including a plurality of light signaling devices and a controller of a traffic communication network, the method comprising:

wirelessly transmitting commands from a remote control system to the controller, to receive status information of the plurality of light signaling devices;

wirelessly obtaining, at the controller, the status information from the plurality of light signaling devices; and

wirelessly transmitting the status information from the controller to the remote control system, for controlling the light signaling devices in real-time.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

synchronizing, via the remote control system, the controller, based on global positioning; and

synchronizing, via the controller, the plurality of light signaling devices, simultaneously.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

displaying, via the remote control system, real-time parameters of the signaling system at the remote control system; and

performing, via the remote control system, real-time diagnostics and modifications of the signaling system.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

transmitting, from the remote control system, command signals to the controller to;

(i) activate a heating function of the light emitting face of a light signaling device;

(ii) locate and mitigate failures on the signaling system using global positioning; and

(iii) modify an operational status of the light signaling devices.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

transmitting and receiving, via each light signaling device, signals to and from the controller; and

self-detecting faults at each light signaling device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein modifying the operational status comprises:

adjusting the output current or input voltage of the plurality of light signaling devices; and

modifying intersection phasing of the plurality of light signaling devices.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein activating a heating function comprises:

obtaining environmental condition information from the controller;

activating the heating function based on the environmental condition information obtained.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein locating and mitigating failures comprises:

locating, via the remote control system, any light signaling devices in failure mode using global positioning; and

performing diagnostics on the respective light signaling devices located.