Power manager system for highway signage

• US 6,028,597 A
• Filed: 01/25/1996
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Signal Company
• Original Assignee: American Signal Company
• Inventors: Ryan, Patrick Henry Jr., Hart, Stephen P.
• Primary Examiner(s): WU, XIAO MIN
• Application Number:
  US08/591,781
• Time in Patent Office: 1,489 Days
• Field of Search: 345/211, 345/212, 345/204, 345/207, 345/214, 345/147, 345/148, 345/82, 345/44, 345/46, 345/63, 315/86, 315/149, 315/307
• US Class Current: 345/211
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/06 using controlled light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/22 using controlled light sources

Abstract

A power management system for the control and operation of distributed power has a controller operatively connected to a plurality of monitors, switches, control devices, and a visible light emitting array. The monitors, switches, and control devices provide the means for the controller to modulate the power to the visible light emitting array using a current modulator. The current modulator produces a variable power duty cycle that is received by the visible light emitting array. The visible light emitters of that array have a selected perceivable brightness. That brightness is held constant but power is conserved due to the controller modulating the power.

Claims

1. A power management system containing a solar power array producing a voltage and transmitting an electric current for a visible light emitting array, comprising:

a voltage monitor operatively connected to said solar power array;

said voltage monitor transmitting operational signals derived from said solar power array;

a controller operatively connected to said voltage monitor, said controller dynamically processing said operational signals, and said controller transmitting dynamic operational commands; and

,

a current modulator operatively connected to said visible light array and said controller;

said current modulator receiving said dynamic operational commands from said controller;

said current modulator generating a variable power pulse width modulated duty cycle responsive to said dynamic operational commands;

whereby the visible light emitting array receives said modulated current while emitting constant brightness from the visible light emitting array.

2. A power management system as recited in claim 1 wherein said current modulator cooperating with said solar power array whereby the current through said current modulator varies inversely with the voltage monitored over a selected time period.

3. A method for power management, comprising the steps of:

Step 1 providing a photovoltaic solar cell array operatively connected to a rechargeable battery, said battery operatively connected to a semiconductor array of visible light emitting devices consuming selectable power;

Step 2 detecting said power consumed by said visible light emitting devices;

Step 3 computing said power consumed by said visible light emitting devices;

Step 4 evaluating said computed power and said selectable power;

Step 5 monitoring ambient light;

Step 6 determining relative brightness of said ambient light;

Step 7 evaluating said relative brightness;

Step 8 computing a duty cycle from said evaluation steps;

Step 9 modulating a control signal comprising said duty cycle; and

Step 10 applying said modulated signal to a visible control module thereby varying the power consumed by said light array in response to said relative brightness of said ambient light and said detected power.

4. A method for power management as recited in claim 3 wherein said modulating step comprises a varying duty cycle.

5. A power management system for a visible light emitting array operatively connected to a power source comprising:

a visible light control operatively connected to the visible light emitting array;

a controller having operatively disposed within a microprocessor, a memory receiving a predetermined program, a plurality of analog to digital converters and a plurality of bi-directional buffers;

a power consumption sensor operatively connected to said analog to digital converters for providing power consummation data to said controller;

a battery voltage sensor operatively connected to said analog to digital converters thereby said converters providing sensor data to said controller;

an over power shut down control receiving operational data from said controller;

a relay operatively connected to said power shut down control thereby said power shut down control receives operational data from said controller;

an operational signal, computed by said controller, responsive to said power consumption and said battery voltage sensor; and

said visible light control receives said operational signal and applies said signal to said visible light emitting array.