Self-powered light bar

• US 9,346,397 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2012
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Federal Signal Corporation
• Original Assignee: Federal Signal Corporation
• Inventors: Gergets, Paul M., Jozwik, Jacek J.
• Primary Examiner(s): DZIERZYNSKI, EVAN P
• Application Number:
  US13/350,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20120201041A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,593 Days
• Field of Search: 362/493, 362/183
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0094 Arrangement of electronic circuits separated from the light source, e.g. mounting of housings for starter circuits for discharge lamps arrangements being part of the light source holder F21V17/06, F21S43/195
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/06 flashing, e.g. with rotating reflector or light source signalling lighting devices mounted on vehicles B60Q1/26
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/195 Details of lamp holders, terminals or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0175 by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]

Abstract

An emergency system for a vehicle integrates many disparate equipment into single housing, including the power supply for the equipment. In one embodiment of the invention, the emergency system is a light bar. The light bar houses a power source comprising solar cell panels, a Lithium-Ion battery pack and a connection to an external supply such as the vehicle'"'"'s electrical power. Energy for operating the light bar is provided by one or more of the power sources, depending on operating conditions of the light bar and each of the power sources.

Claims

1. A system for use by a vehicle, the system comprising:

an emergency device for mounting to the vehicle and housing at least one warning light;

a rechargeable power source disposed within the emergency device for powering the at least one warning light;

a solar energy source for converting solar energy into electrical energy associated with the emergency device;

a device connecting the solar energy source and the rechargeable power source to control the flow of energy from the solar energy and rechargeable power sources to the at least one warning light such that the energy from the solar energy source charges the rechargeable power source and powers the at least one warning light;

a control interface in an interior of the vehicle in communications with the emergency device for controlling the at least one warning light; and

a trickle charging source separate from the solar energy source, wherein the trickle charging source charges the rechargeable power source from an external power source using excess energy generated by a power train for the vehicle,

wherein the external power source is external to the emergency device and provides a substantially continuous and substantially constant charge to the rechargeable power source, wherein the external power source supplements the charge provided to the rechargeable power source by the solar energy source, and

wherein the trickle charging source comprises a wireless connection between the rechargeable power source and the external power source via two electromagnetic coils.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the control interface includes a control switch which select at least one of the rechargeable power source, the solar energy source, and the external power source to power the at least one warning light.

3. The system of claim 1 further including a battery charger for receiving power from at least one of the solar energy source and the external power source so as to charge the rechargeable power source.

4. The system of claim 3 further including a voltage regulator for regulate the power provided for the at least one warning light from at least one of the rechargeable power source, the solar energy source and the external power source.

5. The system of claim 2 further including a light sensor for sensing an illumination condition,

wherein the control interface automatically performs the selection in response to the detected illumination condition.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the control switch includes:

a first position for selecting at least one of the solar energy source and the rechargeable power source to power the at least one warning light;

a second position for turning off the emergency device; and

a third position for selecting the external power source to power the at least one warning light.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the external power source includes a vehicle power system.

8. The system of claim 1, further including an output connector for outputting the power generated by the solar energy source.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the emergency device further includes a housing and the solar energy source includes one or more solar panels disposed on an outer surface of the housing.

10. A light bar for mounting to a roof of a vehicle, the light bar comprising:

a closed housing containing a plurality of warning lights intended to warn anyone in proximity to the light bar of a dangerous condition associated with the vehicle;

a rechargeable power supply mounted within the closed housing;

a solar-electrical energy source; and

a connector for coupling an external power supply to at least recharge the rechargeable power supply;

a power controller for controlling a flow of energy from the rechargeable power supply and the solar-electric energy source to the plurality of warning lights so that the energy from the solar electric energy source both powers the plurality of warning lights and recharges the rechargeable power supply,

wherein the power controller selects the external power supply to trickle charge the rechargeable power supply from a source separate from the solar-electrical energy source during normal operation of the vehicle using excess energy generated by a power train of the vehicle,

wherein the external power supply provides a substantially continuous and substantially constant charge to the rechargeable power supply, wherein the external power supply supplements the charge provided to the rechargeable power supply by the solar-electrical energy source, and

wherein trickle charging the rechargeable power supply comprises wireless charging via a connection between the rechargeable power supply and the external power supply via two electromagnetic coils.

11. The light bar of claim 10, further comprising:

a light sensor for sensing an illumination condition,

wherein the power controller switches among the solar-electrical energy source, the rechargeable power supply, and the external power supply to power the at least one electrical lighting device in accordance with the illumination condition.

12. The light bar of claim 10, wherein the solar-electrical energy supply includes one or more solar cells disposed on an outer surface of the closed housing.

13. The light bar of claim 10, wherein the power controller selects both the solar-electrical energy supply and the external power source to charge the rechargeable power supply so that the external power supply complements the solar-electrical energy supply.

14. A method for providing energy to a vehicle-mounted emergency device, including:

drawing power from a first source disposed within a housing of the emergency device;

delivering the drawn power to a signaling device within the emergency device; and

during normal operation of the vehicle, controlling a confluence of energy from the first source and a second source so that the signaling device receives all of the energy the signaling device requires to operate properly and to cause the second source to charge the first source when more energy than required by the signaling device is available from the second source;

drawing energy from a third source external of the emergency device so as to complement the first and second sources; and

selecting the third source, that is separate from the first and second sources, to trickle charge the first source so as to complement the second source during normal operation of the vehicle,

wherein the third source provides a substantially continuous and substantially constant charge to the first source,

wherein the third source supplements the charge provided to the first source by the second source, and

wherein trickle charging the first source comprises wireless charging via a connection between the first source and the third source via two electromagnetic coils.

15. The method of claim 14, further including:

detecting an illumination condition, and

controlling the confluence of energy in response to the detected illumination condition.

16. The method of claim 14, further including selecting at least one of the second and third sources to charge the first source.