LED light signal

• US 8,933,814 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2011
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Berg, Eike, Eckl, Rolf, Poepplow, Norbert
• Primary Examiner(s): MCNALLY, KERRI L
• Application Number:
  US13/807,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20130099933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.45
• US Class Current: 340/815.45
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2207/02 using light-emitting diodes [LEDs]
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 5/1827 using light sources of different colours and a common optical system
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 5/1881 Wiring diagrams for power supply, control or testing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/22 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/327 Burst dimming
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/58 involving end of life detection of LEDs

Abstract

An LED light signal, in particular an LED railway light signal, contains a signal generator for generating varicolored light spots. The LEDs are embodied as multicolor LEDs, in particular RGB LEDs—Red/Yellow/Blue LEDs. In order to be able to utilize the possibilities for color mixing and thus for realizing a large number of color variants for safety-relevant signaling technology, the signal generator has at least one optical sensor for monitoring a color locus and a light intensity reliably in terms of signaling technology.

Claims

1. An LED light signal, comprising:

a signal generator for generating variously colored light spots, said signal generator having LEDs embodied as multicolor LEDs, said signal generator having at least one optical sensor for monitoring a color locus and a light intensity reliably in terms of signaling technology;

a sensor amplifier;

an A/D converter;

a signal box;

a digital evaluation device, said optical sensor connected via said sensor amplifier and said A/D converter to said digital evaluation device for determining the color locus and the light intensity, said digital evaluation device generating a feedback signal dependent on environmental conditions, including an ambient temperature, and forwarding the feedback signal to said signal box, said signal box generating an activation signal to be applied to said signal generator; and

means for comparing the feedback signal with the activation signal.

2. The LED light signal according to claim 1, wherein said optical sensor has a plurality of color-specific individual sensors.

3. The LED light signal according to claim 1, wherein said optical sensor is a wide-spectrum sensor.

4. The LED light signal according to claim 1, wherein said evaluation device has means for comparing at least one of the color locus or the light intensity with at least one of an intended color locus or an intended light intensity, wherein deviations which exceed a threshold value trigger an inherently safe reaction.

5. The LED light signal according to claim 1, wherein the LED light signal is an LED railway light signal.

6. The LED light signal according to claim 1, wherein said multicolor LEDs are RGB LEDs having red, yellow and blue LEDs.