EP0829844B1 - Flat advertising holder for outdoor use - Google Patents

Abstract

The advertising display surface has an illumination device (1,2,3) which is operated by solar energy, with a central system control with a microcontroller for overall control of the illumination device. The solar energy is fed to 2 independently controlled storage batteries with battery controllers for detecting their charge levels and temperature sensors for detecting their operating temperatures.

Description

The invention relates to a flat outdoor advertising medium with lighting device.

Such outdoor advertising media are preferably in the form of euro billboards, Can be used especially as large areas. They can also for lighting bus waiting halls with an integrated large area, city information points and collective notice boards on arterial roads from Cities or districts as well as for a variety of other purposes become.

In the prior art, there are extensive outdoor advertising media with lighting devices known by connecting to public energy networks operate. It is the same with lighting devices known to be stationary on the outdoor advertising media or notice boards install and for their power supply for peripheral installation to lay separate earth connection cables. Here energy measurement and Control devices needed that are not directly connected to the area Outdoor advertising media are mounted.

Facilities with a network connection require a lot of installation and running costs. These facilities are particularly disadvantageous in those cases in which an energy supply from a public network can be difficult or impossible to implement at the installation site of the area outdoor advertising medium, both technically and under licensing law.
Known lighting devices also have the disadvantage that they are permanently installed on the outdoor advertising media, so that if an existing lighting contract is canceled, for example when changing the rental of a large outdoor advertising media and the resulting changes in the wishes of a subsequent tenant, complex structural changes are necessary for assembly and disassembly work are.

Furthermore, simple controls are known for such lighting systems from DE 32 14 790 A1 and DE 94 12 069 U1, with which the lighting can be switched on and off via a time switch and / or a twilight switch
A lighting device known according to De 41 07 107 A1 uses a system in which the electronic control device is designed as a learning system which, depending on the charge level of the battery and / or the amount of light absorbed during the day by the photovoltaic arrangement, specifies the nocturnal light in the same sense changed. However, this does not meet the goals of a solar-powered lighting device for large outdoor advertising media.
Voice memory applications are also known from DE 86 03 617 U1 as additional elements on billboards. However, this additional auditory advertising medium only has a simple activation option by means of a time switch and / or a passive infrared sensor (PIR) and can therefore only be used to a very limited extent in advertising. For example, it is not possible to address multiple memory chips in a freely selectable order.

The known solar-powered lighting devices require an additional connection to the electrical energy network for use in medium geographical latitudes for a longer operating time.
Further examples of solar powered lighting devices are described in the following documents: US-A-4 319 310, FR-A-2 659 775 and WO-A-8 201 270.

The invention is based, an area outdoor advertising medium the task to indicate with lighting equipment, which is a significant Improvement in advertising-specific performance achieved independently can be operated from a network connection over a longer period of time and due to simple assembly and disassembly options with little Effort can be adapted to different applications.

• die Beleuchtungseinrichtung mit Solarenergie betrieben wird,
• die gesamte Beleuchtungseinrichtung über eine zentrale Systemsteuerung mit Microcontroller gesteuert wird und
• die Solarenergie in zwei getrennt ansteuerbaren Akkumulatoren gespeichert wird, bei denen mit Batteriecontrollern der Ladezustand und mit Temperatursensoren die Betriebstemperatur erfaßt wird.

According to the invention this object is achieved in that

• the lighting device is operated with solar energy,
• the entire lighting device is controlled by a central system controller with a microcontroller and
• the solar energy is stored in two separately controllable accumulators, in which the state of charge is recorded with battery controllers and the operating temperature is recorded with temperature sensors.

Advantageous refinements of the lighting device according to the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The one used to control the self-sufficient lighting device Microcontrollers can work according to individual advertising criteria be adapted to the specific site conditions on site.

The programming required for this is carried out via a serial interface enables, which makes the control easy to different Use cases can be adapted. These changes can be made on extensive outdoor advertising media are carried out on site without device or circuit changes required are.

The lighting device has two different application programs, a main program and an application program.

• die Ein- und Ausschaltzeit der Basisbeleuchtung,
• die Ein- und Ausschaltzeit der Zusatzbeleuchtung,
• die Anzahl und die Dauer der Einschaltungen,
• das Programm zur Auswahl der Sprachspeicher und zur Aktivierung eines ROM-Corders, mit dem die Programmierung der Reihenfolge der Ausgabe und der Ausgabezeiten erfolgt,
• die Zuordnung von Sprachspeicherchips zu bestimmten Gruppen wie Geräuschkulissen, Musik, Werbebotschaften, Informationen und dergleichen,
• die Auswahl der Aktivierungsart des ROM-Corders, beispielsweise bei Annäherung von Personen oder zu voreingestellten Zeiten,
• die Programmierung einer im Tafelträger integrierten LCD-Anzeige zur Ausgabe von Texten,
• die Programmierung des LED-Laufschrifterzeugers, z.B. die Reihenfolge des Aussendens der Textblöcke und die Auswahl der Texte entweder zeitgesteuert oder bei Annäherung von Zielpersonen,
• die Aktivierung von Zähleinrichtungen zur Überprüfung der Werbewirksamkeit, z.B. die Registrierung der Schaltvorgänge, die durch Betätigen der Folientastatur im Tafelträger ausgelöst werden.

The entered values can be changed in both programs. The condition is advantageous that changes to values in the main program must only be made by specialists who are both familiar with controller programming and have extensive knowledge of the processes within the system control.
In contrast, the application program offers the operator of the advertising medium the option of implementing a specially adapted program.
The following can be varied:

• the on and off time of the basic lighting,
• the on and off time of the additional lighting,
• the number and duration of activations,
• the program for selecting the voice memory and for activating a ROM recorder, with which the programming of the sequence of the output and the output times is carried out,
• the assignment of voice memory chips to specific groups such as background noise, music, advertising messages, information and the like,
• the selection of the type of activation of the ROM recorder, for example when people approach or at preset times,
• programming an LCD display integrated in the table support for the output of texts,
• the programming of the LED ticker generator, e.g. the order in which the text blocks are sent and the selection of the texts either time-controlled or when target persons are approached,
• the activation of counting devices to check the advertising effectiveness, eg the registration of the switching processes, which are triggered by pressing the membrane keyboard in the table carrier.

The individual values are changed in the program and then by data cable transmitted to the microcontroller via the serial interface.

Because the entire system control is based on a microcontroller is in which a charge controller for the separate charging of two batteries is integrated and a separate discharge control with integrated Deep discharge protection and battery controller is provided, the charging and Discharge of the accumulators can be controlled so that a main accumulator for normal operation, which has a larger storage capacity and thus a has greater weight and in the lower area of the areal Outdoor advertising medium is arranged, is first unloaded. This is ensures that the reserve accumulator located in the upper area is constantly charged and only discharged in the case of a very low energy level becomes. In addition, the external is always Recharge the batteries on site or replace a discharged one Accumulator possible against a charged accumulator.

Known lighting devices require a complex time switch with the associated disadvantages, such as setting the clock on the Commissioning, the adjustment of the clock due to inaccuracies, the Change from summer to winter time and a new one in the event of total failure Set the clock. Other disadvantages are, for example, that in known Arrangements requiring a high level of circuitry are required A separate time control is required for each module to be controlled and that different changes in the respective timings too unwanted shifts in switching times for the individual modules to lead. Avoiding these shifts through circuitry Measures require an additional due to the coupling of the components Expenditure.

In the lighting device according to the invention, a DCF-77 radio clock module is used as the time base for the programmable weekly timer implemented in the microcontroller, which can receive the time standard from the DCF-77 transmitter in Mainflingen fully automatically via an integrated antenna system. This avoids the disadvantages mentioned above.
In the lighting device according to the master-slave functional principle, the switching processes in different, parallel-connected systems can advantageously be triggered simultaneously without the systems having to be directly coupled to one another. Furthermore, the clock does not have to be set after a supply voltage failure. The weekly timer is designed as a multi-channel timer. There is one open collector output per channel. The switching times are set in the application program of the microcontroller and can be changed there at any time.

The microcontroller provides two switching channels for lighting devices to be connected, one of the two channels being followed by a dimmer and a random generator. An optically effective switching on and off of the additional lighting is thereby achieved.
It is also possible that a control circuit for several voice memories is implemented in the microcontroller, which makes it possible, according to the application program programmed in the microcontroller, to output the advertising messages at preset times, when people approach or by selection using a keyboard input.

It is also possible that an LED ticker generator in the lighting box is integrated, which is activated by the central control unit. The system control is designed so that an overlap of different Advertising messages, e.g. B. the simultaneous output of an auditory Message via the voice memory and a visual message via the LED ticker generator, is avoided.

The charge controller implemented in the microcontroller works on the principle of IU charging. A charging characteristic curve specified by the battery manufacturer and a characteristic curve for the temperature dependence of the final charge voltage are stored in the memory area of the microcontroller control and the charging is carried out in accordance with these characteristic curves. A temperature sensor connected to the battery is used to determine the current battery temperature and thus to determine the temperature-dependent final charge voltage. In contrast to the arrangements known in the prior art, two accumulators can be connected to the microcontroller control according to the invention. When the fully charged state of the reserve accumulator is reached, the system automatically switches to the main accumulator. To prevent self-discharge of the reserve accumulator, it is periodically recharged with a small charging current. If the main accumulator also reaches the fully charged state, the charging current is reduced accordingly and only a small charging current flows for the trickle charge.
The reserve accumulator is expediently arranged together with the controller in the base block above the flat outdoor advertising medium. The main accumulator, which is advantageously designed for a larger capacity, can be attached in the lower region of the flat outdoor advertising medium, for example on a support.

The discharge control implemented in the microcontroller regulates the discharge of the Accumulators. Depending on the specified program, the Discharge main accumulator until the deep discharge threshold is reached and then switched to the reserve accumulator. At the same time takes place through a battery controller implemented in the microcontroller accounting for the amounts of energy actually present in the two accumulators. This balancing is carried out by a signed measurement of the Charging and discharging currents by means of a shunt on both batteries. The The result of this balancing is in the microcontroller as a value for others Switching operations are available and can be done by pressing a two-line LCD display are output. Depending on the energy content can then infinitely variable components of the overall system be switched off. This results in a staggered deep discharge protection, its limits are infinitely variable using the software of the microcontroller can be adjusted.

An asymmetrical luminaire is fitted in the lighting box, which is equipped with a fluorescent lamp for almost uniform basic lighting of the advertising space to be illuminated. In order to optimize the energy yield, low-voltage fluorescent lamps for operating voltages from 12 to 24 V are used.
The additionally adjustable spotlights, which are also included in the lighting box, enable the design of islands of light. They are particularly suitable for illuminating parts of the advertising material to highlight certain areas with effective advertising.

In order to be able to use these spotlights effectively, the Microcontroller realizes a random generator that enables the individual Switch halogen lamps on and off in different orders. If the weekly timer issues a switch-on or switch-off command, so the random generator is activated and the individual halogen spotlights successively switched on or off. An additional buck converter circuit in combination with the microcontroller enables a smooth entry and exit Hide the additional lighting by an abrupt change of light to prevent the advertising space. This is especially important if the extensive outdoor advertising media are set up near roads and by an abrupt change in illuminance, the safety of the Road users, especially the driver, are affected could be. The dimming times can be set in the application program of the Microcontrollers can be set freely.

The lighting box with the base block is advantageously detachable connected and is at a defined distance in front of the illuminating advertising space. The arrangement on the upper frame of the areal External advertising medium ensures effective protection of the system from wanton damage.

A control circuit for digital voice memories is installed in the microcontroller realized, which enables several different voice memories or To address voice mail cascades directly and thus via a corresponding one Program in the microcontroller either at preset times, when approaching people via an additional PIR sensor or to be activated by selection via a matrix keyboard. The current one Activation type is defined in the application program. When activated A voice amplifier is connected to a voice amplifier at the same time the output signal of the voice memory to the required volume intensified. In addition, the amplifier is dependent on ambient noise Provide volume control.

The LED ticker generator integrated in the lighting box is activated by the central control at pre-programmed times or when people are approaching on the sidewalk by a PIR sensor. In this circuit arrangement, a conventional LED ticker generator with a serial interface is used. The serial interface enables direct communication with the microcontroller and thus also direct programming and control of the LED ticker generator. Furthermore, the radio modem can be used to program the LED ticker generator from a central point. This means that current information can be cost-effectively transmitted to the LED ticker generator and displayed via it. The LED ticker generator is activated at previously set times in combination with a PIR sensor. As a result, a message is only issued at the preset time if at least one passer-by is in the area of the large outdoor advertising medium, in the so-called contact zone. A timer activates the output for a certain period of time. But the message is only output if the PIR sensor registers at least one passer-by in the contact zone during this period. This enables an efficient and energy-saving mode of operation of the overall system.
The control is expediently supplemented by an internal charger for connecting the system to an external voltage source in order to ensure the recharging of the energy store in the event of insufficient energy supply, and by an excess manager which guarantees the immediate release of consumers when the energy store is full.

The basic block, in which the reserve accumulator and the control is to safely accommodate the individual components divided several partitions. The central control is expedient accessible from the outside by opening a lockable cover. It is attached so that it can be operated from the outside, however cannot be removed through the service opening. For reasons theft protection, it is advisable to use special screws on the housing to seal the only with a special tool provided can be removed.

The lighting device according to the invention can be juxtaposed several times be attached to a flat outdoor advertising medium, whereby in this case only one of the basic blocks with a complete system control must be provided and the other lighting equipment operated by this control. It is then expedient that Basic blocks of the individual lighting devices via a data cable interconnected (master-slave principle of operation).

To align the solar panel in a favorable direction of irradiation is a rotatably mounted on the top of the base block, lockable bracket for the panel box attached, inside which the Connection cable to the central controller is laid. In the two on attached lateral frame of the area outdoor advertising medium Information blocks are integrated into further information carriers. These can be: a conventional digital weather station module, which contains information about the temperature, Air humidity, general weather tendency, air pressure, air pressure tendency and the like, a date and time display that with the microcontroller and the DCF radio clock module is coupled four-line LCD display and a membrane keyboard for interactive intervention in the transmission of information

In addition, the charging current currently generated can be via a two-line LCD display.

• die Unabhängigkeit des Einsatzortes von einer Netzspannungsanschlußmöglichkeit,
• die Vielseitigkeit der Steuerungsmöglichkeiten durch die Programmierbarkeit des Microcontrollers,
• die Möglichkeit der unbegrenzten Anzahl an Schaltspielen,
• die gemeinsame Steuerungsmöglichkeit mehrerer werbewirksamer, technischer Effekte wie beispielsweise das Zusammenspiel von speziellen Strahleranordnungen für Lichtinselbildungen und auditiven oder visuellen Werbemedien,
• die energiesparende Lichterzeugung durch Kompaktleuchtstofflampen, die unabhängig von einer Netzstromversorgung mit regenerativer Energie aus Solarpaneelen in Verbindung mit einem Solarakkumulator betrieben werden,
• die einfache Montage und Demontage der Beleuchtungseinrichtung,
• der Aufbau der Gesamtanlage als Bausteinsystem, wodurch je nach Erfordernissen einzelne Komponenten der Beleuchtungseinrichtung zu einem System kombiniert werden können,
• die durch den Einsatz des Microcontrollers ermöglichte einfache Kopplung von mehreren autarken Beleuchtungseinrichtungen nach dem Master-Slave-Funktionsprinzip, wodurch der Schaltungsaufwand bei der Parallelschaltung mehrerer solarbetriebener Beleuchtungseinrichtungen reduziert wird,
• die Aufstellungsmöglichkeit der Beleuchtungseinrichtung ohne die erforderlichen Genehmigungsverfahren für Erdarbeiten sowie der Wegfall der sonst notwendigen Installationen für den Netzanschluß, wodurch die Kosten für Verlegung und Material sowie die Kosten für Stromverbrauch entfallen.

The arrangement according to the invention is characterized by a number of advantages. These include in particular:

• independence of the place of use from a mains voltage connection option,
• the versatility of the control options through the programmability of the microcontroller,
• the possibility of an unlimited number of switching cycles,
• the joint control option for several effective, technical effects such as the interaction of special spotlight arrangements for light island formation and auditory or visual advertising media,
• Energy-saving light generation using compact fluorescent lamps, which are operated independently of a mains power supply with regenerative energy from solar panels in connection with a solar accumulator,
• the simple assembly and disassembly of the lighting device,
• the construction of the entire system as a modular system, which means that individual components of the lighting system can be combined to form a system, depending on requirements
• the simple coupling of several self-sufficient lighting devices based on the master-slave function principle, which is made possible by the use of the microcontroller, thereby reducing the switching effort when connecting several solar-powered lighting devices in parallel,
• the possibility of installing the lighting device without the necessary approval procedures for earthworks as well as the elimination of the other necessary installations for the network connection, which eliminates the costs for installation and material as well as the costs for electricity consumption.

Figur 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Beleuchtungseinrichtung in montierter Form;

Figur 2 eine Seitenansicht der Beleuchtungseinrichtung;

Figur 3 eine perspektivische Ansicht der Tafelträger mit Zusatzeinrichtungen;

Figur 4 die Unteransicht der Beleuchtungsbox;

Figur 5 die Seitenansicht der Beleuchtungsbox

und Figur 6 ein Blockschaltbild der Gesamtanordnung.

The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment. In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the lighting device according to the invention in assembled form;

Figure 2 is a side view of the lighting device;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the table support with additional devices;

Figure 4 shows the bottom view of the lighting box;

Figure 5 shows the side view of the lighting box

and FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of the overall arrangement.

The overall arrangement is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The lighting device contains the modules panel box 1, basic block 2 and Lighting box 3, one below the other and with the table support 14 stable profile rails connected and can be assembled or disassembled as required are. The basic block 2 forms the basic building block of the self-sufficient Lighting device and contains the interchangeable reserve accumulator inside 5 and the central control unit 6 for the entire system.

On the top surface 7 of the base block 2 is located in the front area a twilight switch 21 and a swivel bearing 8 behind it rotatably arranged panel box 1, in which a solar module is integrated, which in rotated the optimal direction of solar radiation for energy generation The solar energy generated to feed the system is temporarily stored in the reserve accumulator 5 located in the basic block 2.

FIG. 3 shows the board support 14, in each of which an information block 9 is integrated as a further component of the lighting device. The info block 9 contains display elements for system data, for example a weather station module 10, a DCF radio clock module 12, an LCD display 13 as well as a membrane keyboard 11 and additionally a PIR sensor 19.
The operability of the central control unit 6 and the replacement of the reserve accumulator 5 is ensured by coverable openings 7 in the base block 2.

The base block 2 is at right angles to the advertising surface 4 in FIG. 4 and 5 explained lighting box 3 arranged. In it are one for the generation of light used asymmetrical lamp 15 with a low voltage fluorescent lamp, the associated reflector 16 for radiation concentration to the illuminated advertising area 4, if necessary, switchable and in their position controllable spotlights 17, a speaker 18 for output acoustic effects and in the inclined face of the LED ticker generator 20 arranged.

A comprehensive plastic powder coating on all housing surfaces The building blocks ensure that the system is largely weatherproof.

The interaction of the functional elements is explained in the figure 6 Block diagram.

REFERENCE SIGN LIST

1

Panel box

2nd

Base block

3rd

Lighting box

4th

Advertising space

5

Reserve accumulator

6

central control

7

Base block top surface

8th

Swivel bearing

9

Info block

10th

Weather station module

11

Membrane keyboard

12th

DCF radio clock module

13

LCD display

14

Table support

15

asymmetrical light

16

reflector

17th

Spotlights

1 8

speaker

19th

PIR sensor

20th

LED ticker generator

21

Twilight switch

Claims (9)

1. Planar outdoor advertising support with illumination equipment, with the illumination equipment being operated by solar energy, characterised in that

   the entire illumination equipment is controlled via a central system control (6) using a microcontroller, and in that

   solar energy is stored in two accumulators which may be activated separately, and in which battery condition indicators register the state of charge, and temperature sensors register the operating temperature.
2. Outdoor advertising support as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the illumination equipment presents modular sub-assemblies each of which consist of a base block (2), of a lighting box (3), and of a panel box (1).
3. Outdoor advertising support as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that one of the accumulators is mounted in the upper part, and that an additional accumulator is mounted in the lower part of the planar outdoor advertising support.
4. Outdoor advertising support as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the lighting box (3) contains at least one asymmetrical lighting fitting (15) and spotlights (17),
   and/or a loudspeaker (18) as well as a generator of moving LED text (19) controlled by the microcontroller.
5. Outdoor advertising support as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the components of the lighting box (3) are activated with the help of two switching channels, while one of the two channels is assigned to a dimmer and the other to a random-check generator.
6. Outdoor advertising support as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that

   the microcontroller of the central system control (6) integrates a charging controller for two accumulators and a discharge control including a protection against total discharge, and a battery controller,

   the system control (6) is so designed that the output of different advertising messages such as audio messages is controlled by means of the voice memory, while visual messages are controlled with the help of the generator of moving LED text, and in that

   the microcontroller has a serial interface for programming.
7. Outdoor advertising support as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the panel box (1) swivels around an horizontal axis, and has a locking device.
8. Outdoor advertising support as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the central control (6) and one of the accumulators are arranged in a base block which has locking openings, and which presents compartments divided by means of partitions,
   while the standby accumulator (5) is located in a compartment on a movable slide, and while the central control (6) is arranged in a compartment with an opening that is smaller than the dimensions of the central control (6).
9. Outdoor advertising support as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the microcontroller has a driving circuit for several voice memories which makes it possible, according to an application programme implemented on the microcontroller, to output the advertising messages at preset times, when passers-by are coming near as determined by means of a PIR sensor, or by a selection made via keyboard input.

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