LED TRAFFIC SIGNAL COMPENSATION AND PROTECTION METHODS

• US 20120154176A1
• Filed: 12/21/2010
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Current Lighting Solutions, LLC (f/k/a GE Lighting Solutions, LLC) (American Industrial Partners)
• Original Assignee: GE Lighting Solutions LLC (Savant Systems, LLC)
• Inventors: Poirier, Christian, Nguyen, Truong-Khoa, Essiambre, Benoit, Doss, Michel, Neser, Morné
• Granted Patent: US 8,717,194 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/907
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/56 involving measures to prevent abnormal temperature of the LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/58 involving end of life detection of LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/20 Responsive to malfunctions or to light source life; for protection
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/28 Circuit arrangements for protecting against abnormal temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, systems and methods for monitoring one or more operating parameters of a traffic lamp and adjusting light output of one or more light sources thereof to correct for one or more degradation factors are provided. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, systems and methods for monitoring one or more operating parameters of a traffic lamp and generating an indication if end of life is detected with the traffic lamp, where end of life is determined based on the one or more operating parameters. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, systems and methods for monitoring one or more operating parameters of a traffic lamp and entering the traffic lamp into a self-protected mode if a fault is detected with the one or more operating parameters.

Claims

1. A traffic lamp comprising:

one or more light sources;

one or more sensors;

one or more memory modules;

an end of life indication interface; and

a controller that actively monitors one or more operating parameters of the traffic lamp using the sensors and enters the traffic lamp into a self-protected mode if a fault is detected as to one or more of the operating parameters.

2. The traffic lamp of claim 1, wherein one of the operating parameters is operating temperature.

3. The traffic lamp of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to log operating time of the traffic lamp to one or more of the memory modules.

4. The traffic lamp of claim 3, wherein one of the operating parameters is operating time of the traffic lamp.

5. The traffic lamp of claim 1, wherein a fault is detected if a current value of one of the operating parameters exceeds a threshold.

6. The traffic lamp of claim 5, wherein the threshold is a maximum operating temperature.

7. The traffic lamp of claim 1, wherein the self-protected mode reduces the traffic lamp power consumption to a safe level and prevents the traffic lamp from overheating.

8. A traffic lamp comprising:

one or more light sources;

one or more sensors;

one or more memory modules;

an end of life indication interface; and

a controller that monitors one or more operating parameters of the traffic la p and generates an indication if end of life is detected with the traffic lamp, wherein end of life is determined based on the one or more operating parameters.

9. The traffic lamp of claim 8, wherein end of life is detected if operating time of the traffic lamp exceeds a maximum operating time.

10. The traffic lamp of claim 8, wherein one of the operating parameters is operating time.

11. The traffic lamp of claim 8, wherein end of life is detected if light output of the one or more light sources cannot be guaranteed.

12. The traffic lamp of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to log operating time of the traffic lamp to one or more of the memory modules.

13. The traffic lamp of claim 12, wherein one of the operating parameters is operating time.

14. The traffic lamp of claim 8, wherein the indication includes controlling of one or more of the end of life indication LED, sending a signal, and enabling a light source.

19. The traffic lamp of claim 8, wherein the one of the degradation factors is operating time.

15. A traffic lamp comprising:

one or more light sources;

one or more sensors;

one or more memory modules;

an end of life indication interface; and

a controller that monitors one or more operating parameters of the traffic lamp and logs at least one of the one or more operating parameters to at least one of the memory modules, wherein said controller adjusts light output of the one or more light sources to correct for one or more degradation factors based on the operating parameters to maintain a constant light output level of the light sources.

16. The traffic lamp of claim 15, wherein the degradation factors include at least one of operating time and operating temperature.

17. The traffic lamp of claim 15, wherein the operating parameters include at least one of operating temperature and operating time.

18. The traffic lamp of claim 15, wherein one of the operating parameters is operating time.

20. The traffic lamp of claim 15, wherein the controller adjusts light output by controlling output current to the one or more light sources.