Supervision and control of airport lighting and ground movements

• US 6,573,840 B1
• Filed: 03/11/1997
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Airport Technology In Scandinavia AB
• Original Assignee: Airport Technology In Scandinavia AB
• Inventors: Norman, Rolf, Backstrom, Goran, Millgard, Lars
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US08/814,692
• Time in Patent Office: 2,275 Days
• Field of Search: 340/953, 340/933, 340/947, 340/945, 340/961, 340/958, 340/988, 340/642, 340/309.4, 340/286.01, 340/286.02, 340/332, 340/502, 340/931, 340/825.07, 364/461, 244/114.R, 362/62, 324/207.13, 324/207.22, 324/226, 315/130
• US Class Current: 340/953
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0082 for monitoring traffic from a ground station radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/065 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. for taxiing or rolling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/22 with communication between the lamps and a central unit

Abstract

In an arrangement for supervising and controlling field light units (20) at an airport, a regulator provided with a monitoring unit for power supply and for monitoring the light units is arranged individually for each light unit (18,20) to regulate the light intensity of the light units and to receive information as to their operational status. In a preferred embodiment, each light unit comprises two separate light sources that can be alternately and separately connected into circuit in case of failure to either of the light sources. Each light unit is provided with an electronic unit including a regulator, monitoring unit, and modem for power supply to the light unit and for monitoring the operation of the light unit. Each light unit is individually addressable from a control central for the airport. A ground traffic control system can be integrated into the field lighting system by connecting suitable presence detectors to the system.

Claims

1. A monitoring and control system for an airfield, comprising:

a plurality of lighting means positioned at remote locations about the surface of said airfield;

a central computer remotely located from said plurality of lighting means;

power distribution means connecting said plurality of lighting means to a source of electrical energy;

interface means connected to receive control signals for at least one of said plurality of said lighting means from said central computer and to transmit monitoring data concerning said lighting means to said central computer, said interface means being connected for controlling said plurality of lighting means independently by use of a unique address for each lighting means, and using said power distribution means for transmitting light control signals and receiving light monitoring data from said plurality of lighting means; and

light controlling and monitoring means connected between said power distribution means and at least one of said plurality of lighting means for receiving said light control signals from said interface means for operating said at least one of said plurality of lighting means and for transmitting light monitoring data to said interface means using said power distribution means.

2. The monitoring and control system of claim 1, further including motion sensors associated with said lighting means, said motion sensors being electronically interconnected with said central computer by means of said light controlling and monitoring means for detection of moving traffic on the surface of said airfield.

3. The monitoring and control system of claim 1, wherein said lighting means are capable of operating under a plurality of different operating parameters and wherein said operating parameters of said lighting means are varied such that said lighting means are at least one of lit up and extinguished in response to said control signals.

4. The monitoring and control system of claim 1, wherein said lighting means are capable of operating under a plurality of different operating parameters and wherein said operating parameters of said lighting means are varied to provide intensity regulation.

5. The monitoring and control system of claim 1, wherein said lighting means are capable of operating under a plurality of different operating parameters and wherein said operating parameters of said lighting means are switched to display stop bars on said airfield surface.

6. The monitoring and control system of claim 1, wherein said lighting means are capable of operating under a plurality of different operating parameters and wherein said operating parameters of said lighting means are switched to display center lines on said airfield surface.

7. The monitoring and control system of claim 1, wherein said lighting means are capable of operating under a plurality of different operating parameters and wherein said operating parameters of said lighting means are switched to display discrete sectional areas on said airfield surface.

8. A method for monitoring and controlling a system for an airfield, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of lighting means positioned at remote locations about the surface of said airfield;

providing a central computer remotely located from said plurality of lighting means;

connecting power distribution means between said plurality of lighting means and a source of electrical energy;

connecting interface means for receiving control signals for at least one of said plurality of said lighting means from said central computer and for transmitting monitoring data concerning said lighting means to said central computer, said interface means being connected for controlling said plurality of lighting means independently by use of a unique address for each lighting means, and using said power distribution means for transmitting light control signals and receiving light monitoring data from said plurality of lighting means; and

connecting light controlling and monitoring means between said power distribution means and at least one of said plurality of lighting means for receiving said light control signals from said interface means for operating said at least one of said plurality of lighting means and for transmitting light monitoring data to said interface means using said power distribution means.

9. The method of claim 8, further including the step of transmitting signals from said central computer to motion sensors associated with said lighting means to enable selective addressing of said motion sensors and to control the operation of said motion sensors for detecting moving traffic on the surface of said airfield.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said lighting means are capable of operating under a plurality of different operating parameters and wherein said operating parameters of said lighting means are varied such that said lighting means are at least one of lit up and extinguished in response to said control signals.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said lighting means are capable of operating under a plurality of different operating parameters and wherein said operating parameters of said lighting means are varied to provide intensity regulation.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said lighting means are capable of operating under a plurality of different operating parameters and wherein said operating parameters of said lighting means are switched to display stop bars on said airfield surface.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said lighting means are capable of operating under a plurality of different operating parameters and wherein said operating parameters of said lighting means are switched to display center lines on said airfield surface.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein said lighting means are capable of operating under a plurality of different operating parameters and wherein said operating parameters of said lighting means are switched to display discrete sectional areas on said airfield surface.