Light alignment system for electronically steerable light output in traffic signals

• US 6,441,750 B1
• Filed: 08/22/2000
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Light Vision Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: General Signal Technology Corp. (SPX Corporation)
• Inventors: Hutchison, Michael C.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US09/643,692
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 340/907, 340/908, 340/906, 340/916, 340/815.4, 340/815.43, 340/815.45, 340/815.5, 340/908.1, 362/245, 362/249, 362/226, 362/250, 362/269, 362/290, 362/359, 356/FOR.125
• US Class Current: 340/907
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0955 transportable

Abstract

A solid state traffic control signal adapted to facilitate light alignment and viewing angles during installation. The traffic control signal includes a video camera or a detachable optical sighting system with a grid representing the various viewing angles of individual LED'"'"'s for quick alignment and viewing angle programming. This system greatly reduces the amount of trial-and-error and multi-man requirements for installation.

Claims

1. A control light comprising:

a housing;

a solid state light source comprising an array of LED'"'"'s coupled to said housing and adapted to generate a light beam; and

an alignment device comprising a video camera optically coupled to said light source providing an image indicating an orientation of said light beam, said image including a grid defining a plurality of windows, each said window being associated with at least one LED in said array.

2. The control light of claim 1 wherein each said window is indicative of a viewing angle of said respective LED.

3. The control light of claim 2 further comprising control electronics adapted to individually selectively control the intensity of each said LED.

4. The control light of claim 3 wherein said control electronics individually controls which said LEDs are on and off.

5. The control light of claim 4 wherein said windows are labeled with indicia identifying said respective LED associated with each said window.

6. A method of aligning a traffic control light, comprising:

a housing;

an array of LEDs coupled to said housing and adapted to generate a light beam; and

an optical alignment device optically coupled to said LED array providing an indication of the orientating said light beam is oriented, wherein said optical alignment device generates markings comprising a grid defining windows, each window aligned with respect to a respective LED in said array, wherein each said window is associated with one of the LEDs;

comprising steps of;

orienting a direction of said light beam by using said optical alignment device, further comprising the step of associating objects with said windows to determine which objects are illuminated by said LEDs.

7. The method as specified in claim 6 wherein said optical alignment device comprises a video camera coupled to said housing, comprising the stop of viewing a video image generated by said video camera to orient a direction of said generated light beam.

8. A control light, comprising:

a housing;

a solid state light source coupled to said housing and adapted to generate a light beam;

an alignment device comprising an optical sighting apparatus optically coupled to said light source providing an Indication of the orientation said light beam; and

a transparent member disposed to pass said light beam, said transparent member having markings operative with said optical sighting apparatus to facilitate indicating the orientation said light beam is directed.

9. The control light of claim 8 wherein said markings comprise a grid.

10. The control light of claim 9 wherein said optical sighting apparatus comprises cross hairs.

11. The control light of claim 9 wherein said markings comprise a grid defining windows, each window oriented with respect to one said LED, wherein each said window is visible through said optical sighting apparatus.

12. The control light of claim 11 wherein objects viewable through said optical sighting apparatus and said respective window are illuminated by light generated by said LED associated with said respective window.

13. The control light of claim 12 wherein objects not viewable through said respective window are not substantially illuminated by light generated by said LED associated with said window.

14. The control light of claim 11 wherein said windows are identified with a column marking and a row marking.

15. The control light of claim 14 wherein said row marking is alphanumeric.

16. The control light of claim 15 wherein said column marking is numeric.

17. A control light, comprising:

a solid state light source comprised of an LED array adapted to generate a light beam;

a video camera generating an image associated with an orientation of said light beam; and

a control adapted to turn selected said LEDs on and off as a function of the video image to steer the light beam.

18. The control light of claim 17 wherein the control selectively electronically steers the light beam as a function of the displayed image.

19. The control light of claim 17 wherein said video image directly corresponds to which objects can be illuminated by the light beam.

20. The control light of claim 17 further comprising means for displaying markings in association with said video image, said control being adapted to control said LEDs as a function of said markings.