Method and apparatus for light outage detection

• US 6,369,704 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2001
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Labarge Incorporated (Ducommun LaBarge Technologies, Inc. (California))
• Original Assignee: Labarge Incorporated (Ducommun LaBarge Technologies, Inc. (California))
• Inventors: Hilleary, Thomas N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Application Number:
  US09/800,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20020000911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 398 Days
• Field of Search: 340/458, 340/931, 340/981, 340/641, 315/132, 246/125, 246/473.R
• US Class Current: 340/458
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 11/00 Arrangement of monitoring devices for devices provided for in groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 29/30 Supervision, e.g. monitoring arrangements

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention is a system for monitoring failure of a signal having lighting configured to indicate a predetermined alarm condition. The system includes a detector/transmitter responsive to lighting parameters at least during the predetermined alarm condition to generate a signal indicative of the lighting parameters; an attachment member configured to attach the detector/transmitter to a lamp socket of the lighting in an orientation in which the detector/transmitter assembly is responsive to light rays from a lamp mounted in the lamp socket when the lamp is on; and a receiver/concentrator responsive to the signal indicative of the lighting parameters to generate a signal indicative of predetermined fault conditions of the lighting.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring failure of a signal having lighting configured to indicate a predetermined alarm condition, said system comprising:

a detector/transmitter responsive to lighting parameters at least during the predetermined alarm condition to generate a signal indicative of the lighting parameters;

an attachment member configured to attach said detector/transmitter to a lamp socket of the lighting, said attachment member configured to attach to the lamp socket in an orientation in which said detector/transmitter assembly is responsive to light rays from a lamp mounted in the lamp socket when the lamp is on; and

a receiver/concentrator responsive to said signal indicative of the lighting parameters to generate a signal indicative of predetermined fault conditions of the lighting.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said attachment member is a circular clamp configured to clamp to an outside portion of the lamp socket, and said detector/transmitter is mounted on said circular clamp.

3. A system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said circular clamp includes a flange, and said detector/transmitter is housed within said flange.

4. A system in accordance with claim 3 further comprising a pair of electrical conductors configured both to supply power to said detector/transmitter from terminals of said lamp socket and to provide a communication path between said detector/transmitter and said receiver/concentrator.

5. A system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a pair of electrical connectors configured both to derive power for said detector/transmitter from terminals of said lamp socket and to provide a communication path between said detector/transmitter and said receiver/concentrator.

6. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said system is installed on a structure selected from the group consisting of buildings and towers, and the detector/transmitter is configured to detect lighting parameters indicative of operation of obstruction lighting flashing.

7. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the lighting parameters comprise power supply voltage and brightness.

8. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said lighting parameters include flash rate, said detector/transmitters are configured to determine a flash rate, and signal indicative of the lighting parameters includes said signal being indicative of the determined flash rate.

9. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said signal includes a plurality of lamps, and wherein said system comprises a plurality of detector/transmitters, and wherein each said detector/transmitter is configured to provide a unique detector identification to the receiver/concentrator.

10. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said system is installed on a railroad grade crossing, the predetermined alarm condition is the approach of a train, and said receiver/concentrator is located in a signal bungalow.

11. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said system is configured to confirm that at least one lamp of the lighted signaling device is always on.

12. A system in accordance with claim 11 further comprising a timing circuit configured to prevent determination of said fault condition during a warm-up period of the lamp.

13. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said system is mounted on a lighted traffic signal.

14. A system in accordance with claim 1 comprising a plurality of detector/transmitters, each configured to be responsive to lighting parameters of a different lamp of the signal and to transmit a unique identification number to the receiver/concentrator;

and wherein said receiver/concentrator is configured to analyze lighting parameter signals and said unique identification numbers to determine anomalous signaling conditions.

15. A system for monitoring failure of a signal having lighting configured to flash during a predetermined alarm condition, said system comprising:

a power supply configured to power the lighting during the predetermined alarm condition and to provide a timing signal indicative of power being applied to the lighting;

a detector/transmitter responsive to the timing signal to detect lighting parameters when the lighting is flashed on to generate a signal indicative of the lighting parameters;

an attachment member on which said detector/transmitter is mounted, said attachment member configured to attach onto a lamp socket in an orientation in which said detector/transmitter assembly is responsive to light rays from a lamp mounted in the lamp socket when the lamp is on; and

a receiver/concentrator responsive to said signal indicative of the lighting parameters to generate a signal indicative of predetermined fault conditions of the lighting.

16. A system for monitoring failure of a signal having lighting configured to indicate a predetermined alarm condition, said system comprising:

a detector/transmitter responsive to lighting parameters at least during the predetermined alarm condition to generate a signal indicative of the lighting parameters;

an attachment member configured to screw into a lamp socket of the lighting and having an adapter socket configured to accept a lamp of the lighting, said adapter socket configured to supply power to the lamp when said lamp socket is powered and to attach said detector/transmitter to a lamp socket of the lighting in an orientation in which said detector/transmitter assembly is responsive to light rays from a lamp mounted in the lamp socket when the lamp is on; and

a receiver/concentrator responsive to said signal indicative of the lighting parameters to generate a signal indicative of predetermined fault conditions of the lighting.

17. A system in accordance with claim 16 wherein said attachment member comprises a flange, said detector/transmitter is mounted on said flange, and said attachment member is configured to supply power to said detector/transmitter and provide a communication path between said detector/transmitter and said receiver/concentrator when said lamp socket is powered.

18. A system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said communication path is through terminals of the lamp socket.

19. A system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said system is installed on a structure selected from the group consisting of buildings and towers, and the detector/transmitter is configured to detect lighting parameters indicative of operation of obstruction lighting flashing.

20. A system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said system is installed on a railroad grade crossing, the predetermined alarm condition is the approach of a train, and said receiver/concentrator is located in a signal bungalow.

21. A system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said system is configured to confirm that at least one lamp of the lighted signaling device is always on.

22. A system for monitoring failure of a signal having lighting configured to indicate at least one predetermined signaling condition, said system comprising:

a plurality of detector/transmitters responsive to lighting parameters at least during the predetermined alarm condition to generate signals indicative of the lighting parameters;

an attachment member for each said detector/transmitter, said attachment member configured to attach said detector/transmitter to a lamp socket of the lighting, and to attach to the lamp socket in an orientation in which said detector/transmitter assembly is responsive to light rays from a lamp mounted in the lamp socket when the lamp is on; and

a receiver/concentrator responsive to said signal indicative of the lighting parameters to generate a signal indicative of predetermined fault conditions of the lighting;

wherein said signal comprises a plurality of lamps and said system comprises a plurality of said detector/transmitters, and wherein each said detector/transmitter is configured to provide a unique detector identification number to the detector/transmitter and an identification of a position of each lamp monitored by said detector/transmitter.

23. A system in accordance with claim 22 wherein said system is configured to confirm that at least one lamp of the lighted signaling device is always on.

24. A method for monitoring failure of a signal having lighting configured to indicate a predetermined alarm condition, said method comprising:

attaching a detector/transmitter to a lamp socket in an orientation in which the detector/transmitter assembly is responsive to light rays from a lamp mounted in the lamp socket when the lamp is on;

transmitting a signal indicative of lighting parameters of the lamp and a unique identification number of the detector/transmitter to a receiver/concentrator; and

analyzing the signal indicative of the lighting parameters to generate a signal indicative of predetermined fault conditions of the lighting.

25. A method in accordance with claim 24 wherein attaching the detector/transmitter to the lamp socket comprises clamping the detector/transmitter to the lamp socket with a clamp.

26. A method in accordance with claim 24 wherein attaching the detector/transmitter to the lamp socket comprises inserting a nested socket of an adapter housing the detector/transmitter into the lamp socket, and inserting the lamp into the adapter.

27. A method in accordance with claim 24 comprising attaching a plurality of detector/transmitters to a plurality of lamp sockets to monitor a plurality of lamps of the signal and transmitting signals indicative of lighting parameters of each lamp and a unique identification number of each detector/transmitter to a receiver/concentrator;

and wherein analyzing the signal indicative of the lighting parameters to generate a signal indicative of predetermined fault conditions of the lighting comprises analyzing the plurality of signals indicative of the lighting parameters and the unique identification numbers of each detector/transmitter to determine deviations from a set of predetermined states of the signaling device.

28. A method in accordance with claim 24 further comprising delaying generation of the signal indicative of predetermined fault conditions of the lighting for a predetermined period of time.

29. A method in accordance with claim 28 wherein delaying generation of the signal comprises inhibiting transmission of a signal indicative of a lighting failure of a lamp by a detector/transmitter sensing light from the lamp until a predetermined period of time has elapsed after power has been applied to the lamp.