Communications system for airport signaling devices

• US 8,284,751 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2003
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ADB Safegate BVBA
• Original Assignee: ADB BVBA (ADB Safegate BVBA)
• Inventors: Kock, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Pérez-Gutiérrez, Rafael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miah, Liton
• Application Number:
  US10/521,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20050253929A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,372 Days
• Field of Search: 340/642, 340/953, 455/431, 455/456.6
• US Class Current: 370/347
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/185 via power line carrier transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/235 with communication between the lamps and a central unit

Abstract

The invention relates to a communications system for airport signalling devices. In said system, the series or parallel circuits used for supplying electricity to the signalling devices are used for the communication between a control device, a central communication device and signalling devices. The OFDM method is preferably used to transmit signals and decentralised communications devices, which are assigned to the signalling devices and preferably have elements for preparing the signals, are dynamically configured in an adaptive manner during the active operation of the system by a central communication device.

Claims

1. A communications system for signaling apparatuses at an airport, comprising:

at least one central communications apparatus; and

a plurality of signaling apparatuses, wherein a communication between the central communications apparatus and the signaling apparatuses is performed via one or more circuits supplying the signal apparatuses with power, and wherein the communication between the central communications apparatus and the signaling apparatuses is performed in a frequency range using a number of frequency bands within the frequency range.

2. The communications system as claimed in patent claim 1, wherein the communication is controlled by a number of time slices.

3. The communications system as claimed in patent claim 2, wherein the frequency range is chosen from the range between 10 kHz and 150 kHz.

4. The communications system as claimed in patent claim 2, wherein up to ten frequency bands are used.

5. The communications system as claimed in patent claim 2, wherein up to five time slices are used.

6. The communications system as claimed in patent claim 2, wherein an OFDM method is used for performing the communication.

7. The communications system as claimed in patent claim 2, wherein the central communications apparatus and the signaling apparatuses are connected via a series circuit.

8. The communications system as claimed in patent claim 1, wherein the frequency range is chosen from the range between 10 kHz and 150 kHz.

9. The communications system as claimed in patent claim 8, wherein up to ten frequency bands are used.

10. The communications system as claimed in patent claim 8, wherein up to five time slices are used.

11. The communications system as claimed in patent claim 8, wherein an OFDM method is used for performing the communication.

12. The communications system as claimed in patent claim 1, wherein up to ten frequency bands are used.

13. The communications system as claimed in patent claim 12, wherein up to five time slices are used.

14. The communications system as claimed in patent claim 1, wherein an OFDM method is used for performing the communication.

15. The communications system as claimed in patent claim 1, wherein the central communications apparatus and the signaling apparatuses are connected via a series circuit.

16. The communications system as claimed in patent claim 1, wherein the central communications apparatus and the signaling apparatuses are connected via a parallel circuit.

17. The communications system as claimed in patent claim 1, wherein at least one decentralized communications apparatus is allocated to at least one signaling apparatus, and wherein the decentralized communications apparatus is configured to measure the reception quality of communications signals.

18. The communications system as claimed in patent claims 17, wherein a communication path between at least two of the system components is determined using the measured reception quality.

19. The communications system as claimed in patent claim 1, wherein at least one decentralized communications apparatus is allocated to at least one signaling apparatus, and wherein the decentralized communications apparatus preprocesses communication signals.

20. The communications system as claimed in patent claim 1, further comprising decentralized communication apparatuses forming an adaptive system.