Systems and methods for heater control by current level step detection

• US 9,462,649 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2015
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Schneider, John, Petroni, Vinicius Marcilli
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond, Crystal L
• Application Number:
  US14/686,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20150296592A1
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/90 Heating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/06 for aircraft runways or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light

Abstract

An airfield lighting system can comprise a control system, a constant current regulator, and a plurality of light fixtures. The control system can command the constant current regulator to output a current level transition sequence. One or more light fixtures of the plurality of light fixtures can detect the current level transition sequence and execute a command at the light fixture, such as actuating a heating element or adjusting the intensity of light emitted by a light source.

Claims

1. An airfield lighting system, comprising:

a control system that is communicatively coupled to a constant current regulator and that transmits operational command signals to control an operation of the constant current regulator;

the constant current regulator provides constant current to a plurality of light fixtures,

wherein the constant current regulator provides power at a plurality of current levels,

wherein the operational command signals received from the control system initiate the constant current regulator to output a current level transition sequence, and

wherein the current level transition sequence comprises a sequence of changes in a current level between the plurality of current levels within a predefined time period; and

the plurality of light fixtures electrically coupled to each other and with the constant current regulator such that the plurality of light fixtures are powered by the constant current regulator,

wherein each of the plurality of light fixtures comprises a processor, a heating element, and a light emitting diode (LED),

wherein the processor of at least one of the plurality of light fixtures receives and detects the current level transition sequence, and

wherein the processor of the at least one light fixture controls an operation of the heating element that generates heat upon detection of the current level transition sequence.

2. The airfield lighting system of claim 1, wherein a time period of one or more current level changes within the predefined time slot varies from each other.

3. The airfield lighting system of claim 1,

wherein a first current level transition sequence output from the constant current regulator turns on the heating element,

wherein the control system instructs the constant current regulator to initiate the first current level transition sequence when the control system determines that an ambient temperature falls below a threshold temperature value, and

wherein a second current level transition sequence output from the constant current regulator turns off the heating element based on a corresponding operational command signal from the control system.

4. The airfield lighting system of claim 1, wherein the current level transition sequence changes the light intensity of a light source within the at least one light fixture.

5. The airfield lighting system of claim 1, wherein the current level transition sequence comprises the sequence of current level changes selected from a group of the plurality of current levels consisting of 2.8 A, 3.4 A, 4.1 A, 5.2 A, and 6.6 A.

6. A method of operating an element of a light fixture in an airfield lighting system, comprising:

determining, by a control system, that the element should be turned on;

signaling, by the control system, a constant current regulator that is communicatively coupled to the control system to initiate a current level transition sequence,

wherein the constant current regulator is electrically coupled to a plurality of light fixtures and provides constant current to the plurality of light fixtures,

wherein the constant current regulator provides power at a plurality of current levels,

wherein the current level transition sequence comprises a sequence of changes in a current level between the plurality of current levels within a predefined time period;

outputting the current level transition sequence from the constant current regulator to the plurality of light fixtures of the airfield lighting system,

wherein each of the plurality of light fixtures comprises a processor, the element, and a light source;

detecting the current level transition sequence by the processor associated with the light fixture, wherein the light fixture is included in the plurality of light fixtures;

wherein responsive to detecting the current level transition sequence, the processor actuates the element, wherein the element is a heating element that generates heat.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein actuating the heating element comprises turning the heating element on or off.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein responsive to detecting the current level transition sequence, the processor of the light fixture changes an intensity of light emitted from the light source.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein determining that the element should be turned on is a preprogrammed protocol, a user input, or a combination.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the current level transition sequence comprises the sequence of current level changes selected from a group of the plurality of current levels consisting of 2.8 A, 3.4 A, 4.1 A, 5.2 A, and 6.6 A.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions performing the following steps when executed by a processor installed in at least one of a plurality of light fixtures in an airfield lighting system:

receiving, at the processor from a constant current regulator that is communicatively coupled to a control system, a current level transition sequence,

wherein the control system generates and transmits one or more control signals to the constant current regulator to initiate the current level transition sequence,

wherein the constant current regulator is electrically coupled to the plurality of light fixtures that are electrically coupled to each other and provides constant current to the plurality of light fixtures,

wherein the current level transition sequence comprises a sequence of changes in a current level supplied by the constant current regulator to the plurality of light fixtures in the airfield lighting system, and

wherein the constant current regulator supplies a plurality of current levels to the plurality of light fixtures;

detecting the current level transition sequence by the processor installed in the at least one light fixture, the processor controlling an element in the at least one light fixture, wherein the at least one light fixture comprises the processor, the element, and a light source, and wherein the element is a heating element that generates heat; and

actuating the element via the processor responsive to detecting the current level transition sequence.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein actuating the element comprises turning on the heating element.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein responsive to detecting the current level transition sequence, the processor of the at least one light fixture changes an intensity of light emitted from the light source.