Control network for LED-based lighting system in a transit vehicle
First Claim
1. A distributed control network for a transit vehicle lighting system, comprising:
- a plurality of LED-based lighting fixtures, each of said LED-based lighting fixtures comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for illuminating an area of a transit vehicle arranged in a linear array and flanked by a pair of reflective sidewalls angled outwards from the linear array and forming a cavity with the linear array at the base thereof, with a diffusive light-transmissive cover disposed over the cavity;
a plurality of slave nodes for controlling the LED-based lighting fixtures;
a master node in communication with said slave nodes;
a battery power source coupled to said master node;
a digital communications bus for communicating among the master node and the slave nodes; and
a power bus interconnecting said master node and slave nodes;
wherein said power bus is integrated with the digital communications bus in a plurality of power/data cable segments;
wherein said master node is communicatively coupled to said slave nodes by connecting said slave nodes in a daisy chain using with said power/data cable segments; and
wherein power derived from said battery power source is conveyed from said master node to said slave nodes through the power/data cable segments.
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Abstract
A transit vehicle lighting system has a plurality of LED-based lighting fixtures for providing interior illumination. A control network comprises a plurality of slave nodes for controlling the LED-based lighting fixtures, and a master node for controlling the slave nodes. The master node may be connected to the slave nodes by a combined power/communication bus in a daisy chain fashion. The slave node may include a power regulator and a controller for providing a target current command to the power regulator, and may adjust the target current based upon temperature measurements or a recorded age of the LEDs. An optical sensor may provide automatic dimming. A reduced number of LEDs may be used in an emergency mode. The lighting fixture may include a ceiling panel fixture and a riser panel attachable by way of a hinge mechanism.
51 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A distributed control network for a transit vehicle lighting system, comprising:
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a plurality of LED-based lighting fixtures, each of said LED-based lighting fixtures comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for illuminating an area of a transit vehicle arranged in a linear array and flanked by a pair of reflective sidewalls angled outwards from the linear array and forming a cavity with the linear array at the base thereof, with a diffusive light-transmissive cover disposed over the cavity; a plurality of slave nodes for controlling the LED-based lighting fixtures; a master node in communication with said slave nodes; a battery power source coupled to said master node; a digital communications bus for communicating among the master node and the slave nodes; and a power bus interconnecting said master node and slave nodes; wherein said power bus is integrated with the digital communications bus in a plurality of power/data cable segments; wherein said master node is communicatively coupled to said slave nodes by connecting said slave nodes in a daisy chain using with said power/data cable segments; and wherein power derived from said battery power source is conveyed from said master node to said slave nodes through the power/data cable segments. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A distributed control network for a transit vehicle lighting system, comprising:
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a plurality of LED-based lighting fixtures, each of said LED-based lighting fixtures comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for illuminating an area of a transit vehicle; a plurality of slave nodes for controlling the LED-based lighting fixtures; a master node in communication with said slave nodes; a digital communications bus for communicating among the master node and the slave nodes; an on-vehicle battery power source coupled to said master node; a power bus interconnecting said master node and slave nodes, carrying a power signal derived from said on-vehicle battery power source; and a plurality of power/data cable segments connecting said master node and said slave nodes in a daisy chain, each power/data cable segment including a portion of said digital communications bus and a portion of said power bus, and coupling an upstream one of the master node or slave nodes to a downstream slave node; wherein transmissions from the master node are relayed among the slave nodes through the power/data segments, said transmissions including commands to activate or deactivate one or more of the LEDs of said slave nodes; and wherein the power signal derived from the on-vehicle battery power source is provided from the master node to the slave nodes through the power/data cable segments. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A distributed control network for a transit vehicle lighting system, comprising:
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a plurality of LED-based lighting fixtures, each of said LED-based lighting fixtures comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for illuminating an area of a transit vehicle; a network node for controlling the LED-based lighting fixture; a backwall across which the LEDs are arranged in a linear array; reflective sidewalls angled outwards from the backwall and forming a cavity with the backwall at the base thereof; and a diffusive light-permeable cover disposed over the cavity; a digital communications bus for communicating among the network nodes; a power bus interconnecting said network nodes; a plurality of power/data cable segments connecting said network nodes in a daisy chain, each power/data cable segment including a portion of said digital communications bus and a portion of said power bus, and coupling an upstream network node to a downstream network node; wherein transmissions among the network nodes are relayed through the power/data segments, said transmissions including commands to activate or deactivate one or more of the LEDs of the network nodes; and wherein a first one of the network nodes is adapted to receive a power input from an on-vehicle battery power source, and to provide a power signal derived from the on-vehicle battery power source to the other network nodes through the power/data cable segments. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification