Remote lamp status display via fiber optic system

• US 7,002,453 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2004
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: X Corp. (f/k/a Twitter, Inc.) (X Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Martinez, Anthony Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, LAM P
• Application Number:
  US10/759,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20050156749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/425.5, 340/458, 340463-468, 340641-642, 340/815.42, 362/555, 362/583, 362/559
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 11/005 for lighting devices, e.g. indicating if lamps are burning or not

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for remotely monitoring the status of a variety of illumination devices. A fiber optic cable coupled to a light fixture transmits a light display. Based on the light received, the status of the light is determined. The status is determined without the use of elegant and expensive electronics that are more subject to failure and with minimal power consumption.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing feedback, comprising;

at least one illumination device;

at least one optical fiber, wherein a first end of the at least one optical fiber at least configured to be coupled to the at least one illumination device to at least receive light; and

a display, wherein the display further comprises;

at least being coupled to a second end of the at least one optical fiber;

at least being configured to receive light from the at least one optical fiber;

at least being configured to report the status of the at least one illumination device based on the light received from the at least one optical fiber;

at least one photoelectric detector at least configured to be coupled to the second end of the at least one optical fiber;

a controller, wherein the controller is at least configured to receive at least one first signal from the photoelectric detector; and

an output panel, wherein the output panel further comprises;

at least configured to be coupled to the controller to at least receive at least one second signal from the controller; and

at least one indicator at least configured to corresponding to the at least one illumination device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one illumination device further comprises a vehicle lamp or indicator.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one illumination device further comprises a physical facility light.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display is at least being configured to directly output the light from the at least one optical fiber to a user.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output panel further comprises a plurality of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output panel comprises a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) to at least provide a textual prompt, graphical prompt, or combination thereof of the status of the illumination device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output panel comprises a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) to at least provide a textual prompt, graphical prompt, or combination thereof of the status of the illumination device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display further comprises an audio prompt.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display further comprises a plurality of photoelectric detectors at least configured to be organized into an array.

10. A method for determining the status of an illumination device, comprising:

receiving light from an illumination device by an optical fiber;

transmitting the light to a display, wherein the display displays the status of the illumination device based on the light; and

wherein the display comprises;

a photoelectric detector at least configured to be coupled to the second end of the at least one optical fiber;

a controller, wherein the controller is at least configured to receive at least one first signal from the photoelectric detector; and

an output panel, wherein the output panel further comprises;

at least configured to be coupled to the controller to at least receive at least one second signal from the controller; and

at least one indicator at least configured to correspond to the at least one illumination device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises the display being at least configured to directly output the light from the at least one optical fiber to a user.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the output panel further comprises a plurality of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the output panel comprises a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) to at least provide a textual prompt, graphical prompt, or combination thereof of the status of the illumination device.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the output panel comprises a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) to at least provide a textual prompt, graphical prompt, or combination thereof of the status of the illumination device.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the display further comprises an audio prompt.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the display further comprises a plurality of photoelectric detectors at least configured to be organized into an array.

17. A system, comprising:

an illumination device;

an optical fiber comprising a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the illumination device and configured to receive light from the illumination device;

a display coupled to the optical fiber, comprising;

a photoelectric detector coupled to the second end of the optical fiber;

a controller coupled to the photoelectric detector and configured to receive a first signal from the photoelectric detector and to generate a control signal in response to the received first signal; and

an indicator coupled to the controller and configured to receive the control signal from the controller and to generate an output indication in response to the received control signal.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the indicator comprises a Light Emitting Diode (LED).

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the display further comprises a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) to at least provide a textual prompt, graphical prompt, or combination thereof representing the status of the illumination device in response to the output indication.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the output indication comprises an audio prompt.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the display further comprises a plurality of photoelectric detectors configured to be organized into an array.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the illumination device comprises a vehicle light.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the illumination device comprises a physical facility light.