Apparatus and method for reducing failures in traffic signals

• US 8,237,590 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2008
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Current Lighting Solutions, LLC (f/k/a GE Lighting Solutions, LLC) (American Industrial Partners)
• Original Assignee: GE Lighting Solutions LLC (Savant Systems, LLC)
• Inventors: Mihai, Dan, Doss, Michel, Ghanem, Mohamed
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tang, Son M
• Application Number:
  US12/110,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20090267796A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,562 Days
• Field of Search: 340906-919, 340924-931, 340/635
• US Class Current: 340/931
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source

Abstract

An apparatus and method for testing an independent monitoring circuit in an LED traffic signal is provided. The apparatus comprises: a proof test circuit embedded within the traffic signal; and a proof test device embedded within the traffic signal. The method comprises: via the proof test circuit, simulating a faulty traffic signal state; activating the independent monitoring circuit without switching the traffic signal into a high impedance state; energizing the proof test device; and via the proof test device, communicating externally the current state of the independent monitoring circuit.

Claims

1. An apparatus for testing LED traffic signal components, the apparatus comprising:

an independent monitoring circuit that is configured to continuously receive LED information and disconnect an LED signal when the independent monitoring circuit detects that the LED signal is not generating light;

a proof test circuit embedded within the traffic signal and in communication with the independent monitoring circuit, wherein the proof test circuit is configured to simulate a faulty traffic signal state to activate the independent monitoring circuit without switching the traffic signal into a high impedance state;

a proof test device embedded within the traffic signal and in communication with the independent monitoring circuit, wherein the proof test device is configured to communicate externally a current state of the independent monitoring circuit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the proof test circuit is configured to be activated via a push button with two contacts and a current limiting resistor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the proof test circuit is configured to be activated via a mechanical button associated with an electronic circuit.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the proof test circuit comprises an electronic circuit that self-generates a test command for the independent monitoring circuit at specified intervals and for a limited period of time.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the proof test device comprises a light-emitting device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the light-emitting device comprises a light emitting diode that generates light when current passes through it and a light conduit device for bringing the light spot at a desired location.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the proof test device comprises a wireless transmission signal emitter for establishing a wireless communication path to transfer independent monitoring circuit state information.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the proof test device comprises an infrared signal emitter to transfer independent monitoring circuit state information.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the proof test device comprises an electronic circuit that uses a traffic signal power cable to transmit independent monitoring circuit state information.

10. A method of testing an independent monitoring circuit in a LED traffic signal, the method comprising:

via a proof test circuit embedded in the traffic signal, simulating a faulty traffic signal state;

activating the independent monitoring circuit without switching the traffic signal into a high impedance state;

energizing a proof test device embedded in the traffic signal; and

via the proof test device, communicating externally the current state of the independent monitoring circuit.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

detecting the faulty traffic signal state when the current equals zero or is below some threshold value.

12. The method of claim 10, activating the proof test circuit via a push button with two contacts and a current limiting resistor.

13. The method of claim 10, activating the proof test circuit via a mechanical button associated with an electronic circuit.

14. The method of claim 10, activating the proof test circuit via an electronic circuit that self-generates a test command for the independent monitoring circuit at specified intervals and for a limited period of time.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

activating the proof test device via a wireless transmission signal emitter that establishes a wireless communication path to transfer independent monitoring circuit state information.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

activating the proof test device via an infrared signal emitter to transfer independent monitoring circuit state information.

19. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

activating the proof test device via an electronic circuit that uses a traffic signal power cable to transmit independent monitoring circuit state information.

15. The method of 10, activating the proof test device via a light-emitting device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising a light emitting diode that generates light when current passes through it and a light conduit device for bringing the light spot at a desired location.