Airfield lighting system

• US 5,969,642 A
• Filed: 09/30/1996
• Issued: 10/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ADB Safegate Americas LLC (ADB Safegate BVBA)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Williams, Harold R., Runyon, Edwin K., Williams, Earl R., McCorkle, Todd E., Weihs, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US08/722,400
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 340/947, 340/953, 340/642, 340/931, 340/933, 315/130, 244/114 R
• US Class Current: 340/953
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/20 Arrangement of optical beacons
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/547 via DC power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/14 by determining electrical parameters of the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A microprocessor-controlled airfield lighting control and monitoring system having bi-directional communication between the controlling microprocessor and the airfield lights and/or sensors. The system also includes a metal container for the remote control microprocessor and an improved attachment arrangement for the power transistor associated therewith. A DC power supply is connected to the remote controller microprocessor and has an integrated circuit adapted to sense a threshold voltage, which causes the power transistor to short around the associated power source.

Claims

1. An airfield lighting system, said system comprising:

(a) an electrical circuit, said circuit adapted to conduct a current and a control electrical signal, and comprising a plurality of transformers connected in series, each of said transformers adapted to energize at least one airfield light, said electrical circuit additionally comprising a low pass filter disposed between a master control module and a constant current regulator, said low pass filter comprising a pair of inductors disposed in series on either side of said circuit, and at least one capacitor connected across said circuit and connecting at points disposed between each of said pair of inductors;

(b) a general control microprocessor;

(c) said master control module adapted to accept a control digital signal from said general control microprocessor, to convert said control digital signal to a control electrical signal, and to send said control electrical signal through said circuit;

(d) remote controller means connected to each of said transformers, each of said remote controller means comprising;

(i) means to accept said control electrical signal and to convert said control electrical signal to a converted control digital signal,

(ii) switching means to control said at least one airfield light, and

(iii) remote controller microprocessor means adapted to process said converted control digital signal and control said switching means in accordance with said converted control digital signal; and

(e) said constant current regulator adapted to control the current flowing through said circuit.

3. An airfield lighting system according to claims 1 or 2 wherein said remote controller microprocessor means is adapted to generate a return digital signal, and wherein said remote controller means further comprises means to convert said return digital signal to a return electrical signal and to send said return electrical signal through said circuit;

and wherein said master control module is adapted to accept said return electrical signal, to convert said return electrical signal to a converted return digital signal, and to send said converted return digital signal to said general control microprocessor.

4. An airfield lighting system according to claims 1 or 2 wherein said master control module is adapted to accept a detection control digital signal from said general control microprocessor, to convert said detection control digital signal to a detection control electrical signal, and to send said detection control electrical signal through said circuit, said circuit comprising at least one additional transformer connected to said electrical circuit, said at least one additional transformer adapted to energize an aircraft detection means;

and detection remote controller means connected to each of said transformers, each of said detection remote controller means comprising;

(i) means to accept said detection control electrical signal and to convert said detection control electrical signal to a converted detection control digital signal,

(ii) electrical control means to control said at least one aircraft detection means, and

(iii) detection remote controller microprocessor means adapted to process said converted detection control digital signal and control said electrical control means in accordance with said converted detection control digital signal.

5. An airfield lighting system according to claim 4 wherein said detection remote controller means is a adapted to generate a detection return digital signal, and wherein said detection remote controller means further comprises means to convert said detection return digital signal to a detection return electrical signal and to send said detection return electrical signal through said circuit;

and wherein said master control module is adapted to accept said detection return electrical signal, to convert said detection return electrical signal to a converted detection return digital signal, and to send said converted detection return digital signal to said general control microprocessor.

6. An airfield lighting system according to claims 1 or 2 wherein at least one of said plurality of transformers additionally comprises at least one by-pass capacitor parallel to the primary of said at least one transformer.

7. An airfield lighting system according to claim 6 wherein at least one of said plurality of transformers additionally comprises a plurality of by-pass capacitors parallel to the primary of said at least one transformer.

8. An airfield lighting system according to claim 6 wherein at least one of said plurality of transformers additionally comprises a plurality of parallel by-pass capacitors parallel to the primary of said at least one transformer.

9. An airfield lighting system according to claims 6, 7 or 8 wherein said at least one of said plurality of transformers additionally comprises lighting arresting means.

10. An airfield lighting system according to claims 1 or 2 wherein said at least one of said plurality of transformers additionally comprises a series comprising at least one by-pass capacitor and at least one by-pass resistor parallel to the secondary of said at least one of said plurality of transformers.

11. An airfield lighting system according to claim 10 wherein said at least one by-pass capacitor comprises a plurality of by-pass capacitors.

12. An airfield lighting system according to claim 10 wherein said at least one by-pass resistor comprises a plurality of by-pass resistors.

13. An airfield lighting system according to claim 11 wherein said plurality of by-pass capacitors comprises a plurality of parallel by-pass capacitors.

14. An airfield lighting system according to claim 12 wherein said plurality of by-pass resistors comprises a plurality of parallel by-pass resistors.

15. An airfield lighting system according to claim 10 wherein said series additionally comprises at least one inductor.

16. An airfield lighting system according to claims 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15 wherein said at least one resistor is in contact with a heat sink material.

17. An airfield lighting system according to claims 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14 wherein said at least one resistor is disposed a sufficient distance from the respective transformer and the respective remote controller means with which said at least one resistor is associated so as to sufficiently insulate said at least one resistor therefrom.

18. An airfield lighting system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein at least two transformers of said plurality of transformers are by-passed by at least one capacitor.

19. An airfield lighting system according to claims 1, 3 or 2 wherein each said remote controller means is disposed in a water-proof container and each said remote controller microprocessor means comprising an addressable digital switch, said addressable digital switch extending through respective water-proof container so as to be accessible from outside said container.

20. An airfield lighting system according to claims 1, 3 or 2 wherein each said remote controller means is disposed in a water-proof container and each said remote controller microprocessor means comprising a test port, said test port extending through respective water-proof container so as to be accessible from outside said container.

21. An airfield lighting system according to claims 1, 3 or 2 wherein said electrical circuit additionally comprises a by-pass device disposed between said master control module and said constant current regulator, said by-pass device comprising at least one by-pass capacitor disposed across said electrical circuit.

22. An airfield lighting system according to claims 1, 3 or 2 wherein said switching means comprises fail-safe circuit means which causes said at least one airfield light to be energized in the event said remote controller microprocessor means ceases to be operative.

23. An airfield lighting system according to claims 1, 3 or 2 wherein said switching means comprises fail-safe circuit means which causes said at least one airfield light to be deenergized in the event said remote controller microprocessor means ceases to be operative.

24. An airfield lighting system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said at least one of said plurality of transformers comprises a secondary and wherein said secondary comprises a current transformer in series with said secondary, said current transformer providing a series-derived current source to said remote controller means.

2. An airfield lighting system, said system comprising:

(a) an electrical circuit, comprising a constant current regulator having first and second output terminals, a plurality of transformers connected in series from the first output terminal of the constant current regulator to the second output terminal of the constant current regulator, each of said transformers adapted to energize at least one airfield light, a low pass filter disposed between a master control module and the first terminal of the constant current regulator, and a bypass circuit coupled in parallel with the low-pass filter to provide a relatively low-impedance path for control electrical signals provided by said master control module to propagate to one of the plurality of series-connected transformers coupled to the second output terminal of the constant current regulator;

(b) a general control microprocessor;

(c) said master control module being adapted to accept a control digital signal from said general control microprocessor, to convert said control digital signal to one of said control electrical signals, and to send said one control electrical signal through said circuit, wherein said master control module is adapted to provide bi-directional communications and control among at least said master control module and said at least one airfield light;

(d) remote controller means connected to each of said transformers, each of said remote controller means comprising;

(i) means to accept said control electrical signal and to convert said control electrical signal to a converted control digital signal,

(ii) switching means to control said at least one airfield light, and

(iii) remote controller microprocessor means adapted to process said converted control digital signal and control said switching means in accordance with said converted control digital signal; and

(e) said constant current regulator adapted to control the current flowing through said circuit.