EP2858874B1 - Light signal - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a light signal, in particular for railway safety systems, with an LED signal transmitter.

The following description relates essentially to a railway light signal, without the invention being limited to this specific application. An application is also conceivable for other traffic routes or for industrial plants.

LED signal heads are increasingly used for existing - and not only for new - railway safety systems. To do this, bulbs in the existing system often have to be replaced with LED signal transmitters.

• eine Glimmgrenze bei ausgeschaltetem Zustand, da diese die Stellentfernung zwischen dem Signalgeber und der Signalschaltung beeinflusst,
• die Art der Speisespannung, insbesondere Wechselspannung, Gleichspannung oder modulierte Gleichspannung,
• die Höhe der Speisespannung,
• die Leistungsaufnahme des Signalgebers,
• Lichtstärkefenster für Tag- und Nachtbetrieb sowie
• Überwachungsfenster bezüglich Strom und/oder Spannung und/oder Lichtstärke zur Fehlererkennung.

In principle, light signals are controlled by signal circuits. These switch the signal transmitters on and off and, if necessary, monitor the correct functioning of the signal transmitters via the current flow. Although these basic functions are almost always the same, light signals differ in their specific properties. These include in particular

• a glow limit when switched off, as this affects the positioning distance between the signal head and the signal circuit,
• the type of supply voltage, in particular AC voltage, DC voltage or modulated DC voltage,
• the level of the supply voltage,
• the power consumption of the signal generator,
• Luminous intensity window for day and night operation as well
• Monitoring windows for current and/or voltage and/or light intensity for error detection.

These different properties of the light signals require that the signal transmitter and light signal circuit are precisely matched to one another. This coordination takes place at signal generators with incandescent lamps in such a way that the light signal circuits have been specially dimensioned for the use of certain incandescent lamps. However, the boundary conditions for the dimensioning are very different, since there are no normative specifications. As a result, there are hardly any two identical light signal circuits, even from the same manufacturer. The resulting variety of light signal circuits leads to very different requirements for the LED signal heads, especially when replacing the incandescent lamps with LED light sources.

For easier adjustment of the characteristic curve, from the EP 2 124 507 A2 a circuit with a resistance network which can be controlled by means of programmable logic is known.

In the case of signal heads with incandescent lamps, similar signal heads can be easily configured for different colors by using different color filters. Different signal colors for LED signal heads require equipment with different LEDs. However, the LEDs cannot be exchanged as easily as color filters. Ultimately, the number of different signal head variants increases with the number of different signal circuits and color requirements. The main disadvantage is that each signaling device variant can only be produced in small quantities, which means that the production costs rise considerably.

The invention is based on the object of specifying a light signal with an LED signal transmitter which enables the LED signal transmitter to be used universally for a wide variety of requirements for the properties of the light signal.

According to the invention, the object is achieved in that the LED signal transmitter has a programming interface for specifying parameters for the LED signal transmitter and for constant and needs-based programming, with the parameters on LED control and / or

Operating voltage selection and/or characteristic adjustment and/or monitoring.

In addition to the general function of the LED signal head, the programming function is used to specify relevant parameters of the LED signal head. This parameter programming can be designed in such a way that the programming is carried out once before the installation of the signal generator, whereby the programming interface does not have to be part of the LED signal generator and is therefore available for programming several LED signal generators. However, it is particularly convenient to equip the LED signal transmitter according to the invention with a programming interface with which programming can take place constantly and as required, for example during maintenance or repair work. The programming interface enables universal use of the LED signal generator in conjunction with any signal circuit.

According to the invention, a test interface for reading out parameters of the LED signal generator is provided in addition to the programming interface. The test interface can be used to check the most important or all programmed parameters as well as additional parameters of the LED signaling device, especially at the end of the manufacturing process. Relevant parameters that are suitable for monitoring the error-free function of the LED signal transmitter are preferably continuously read out and evaluated.

In detail, the parameters relating to the LED control according to claim 2 include a color selection, which takes place, for example, by mixing colors by controlling different LEDs. In this case, the programming function preferably not only determines the individual color locations for the LED signal transmitter, but also the color selection for each specific signaling case.

According to claim 3, the parameter relating to the selection of the operating voltage relates to an operating voltage level in the case of alternating voltage and/or direct voltage and/or pulsating direct voltage. In this way, LED signal heads, which can be controlled with different operating voltages, easily adapted to the respective boundary conditions.

According to claim 4 it is provided that the parameters relating to the characteristic curve adjustment include an operating point-dependent power consumption of the LED signal generator. When adapting the characteristic curve, further current paths are switched on or off in order to increase or reduce the total current consumption of the LED signal head. The current consumption according to the free or blocked bypass-type current paths in turn determines the position of the operating point and thus the characteristic, namely the voltage-dependent luminous intensity.

• ausgeschaltet,
• Nachtbetrieb,
• Tagbetrieb,
• Fehlerzustand hinsichtlich Lichtstärke,
• Fehlerzustand hinsichtlich Stromaufnahme,
• undefinierter Zustand und
• Überspannung.

With regard to the monitoring, according to claim 5, an applied voltage and/or a current consumption and/or a light intensity are to be measured as parameters. The measured variables are evaluated with regard to the following states:

• switched off,
• night operation,
• daytime operation,
• error condition regarding light intensity,
• Error status regarding power consumption,
• undefined state and
• Overload.

In the event of an error condition, undefined condition and overvoltage, the programming according to claim 6 must ensure a routine to ensure a safe operating condition in terms of signaling technology. For example, it can make sense to switch off the light intensity of this light point when a fault condition is detected in the case of a signal whose green point of light means driving. On the other hand, it can make sense to switch on the light intensity of this light spot with a signal whose red point of light means stop when a fault condition is detected, for example with daylight intensity. How the signaling device should behave in the error state in a specific application is a property that has to be programmed.

According to claim 7, the programming interface interacts with a function group for setting parameters. This function group ensures that the programmed parameters are forwarded to the module responsible for setting the parameters. However, the individual parameters can also be passed on directly from the programming interface to the responsible module, for example by assigning recipient addresses.

According to claim 8, the test interface can also be connected via a functional group, namely for parameter testing, to the assemblies whose parameters are to be read out or directly to these assemblies, in particular by using addressing

There is preferably a wireless communication link between the programming interface and/or the test interface and a control center. Encryption and suitable addressing of these wireless communication radio signals are recommended to rule out manipulation. However, a cable connection is also possible, for example via a bus system, between the light signal and the control center.

Figur 1

zu programmierende und zu überwachende Kennlinienabschnitte für einen LED-Signalgeber,

Figur 2

einen Informationsfluss für die Programmierung und

Figur 3

einen Informationsfluss für die Überwachung.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to figurative representations. Show it:

figure 1

characteristic curve sections to be programmed and monitored for an LED signal head,

figure 2

an information flow for programming and

figure 3

an information flow for monitoring.

• Ausgeschalteter Zustand: Lichtstärke "aus" bei $$\mathrm{O}\dots {\mathrm{I}}_{\mathrm{Nacht}\_\mathrm{u}}/\mathrm{O}\dots {\mathrm{U}}_{\mathrm{Nacht}\_\mathrm{u}}$$
  
• Nachbetrieb : Lichtstärke "Nacht" bei $${\mathrm{I}}_{\mathrm{Nacht}\_\mathrm{u}}\dots {\mathrm{I}}_{\mathrm{Nacht}\_\mathrm{o}}/{\mathrm{U}}_{\mathrm{Nacht}\_\mathrm{u}}\dots {\mathrm{U}}_{\mathrm{Nacht}\_\mathrm{o}}$$
  
• Tagbetrieb: Lichtstärke "Tag" bei $${\mathrm{I}}_{\mathrm{Tag}\_\mathrm{u}}\dots {\mathrm{I}}_{\mathrm{Tag}\_\mathrm{o}}/{\mathrm{U}}_{\mathrm{Tag}\_\mathrm{u}}\dots {\mathrm{U}}_{\mathrm{Tag}\_\mathrm{o}}$$
  
• Fehlerzustand hinsichtlich Lichtstärke bei $$\begin{array}{l}{\mathrm{I}}_{\mathrm{Nacht}\_\mathrm{u}}\dots {\mathrm{I}}_{\mathrm{Nacht}\_\mathrm{o}}/{\mathrm{Lv}}_{\mathrm{ist}}<{\mathrm{Lv}}_{\mathrm{Nacht}\_\mathrm{u}}\\ {\mathrm{Lv}}_{\mathrm{ist}}>{\mathrm{v}}_{\mathrm{Nacht}\_\mathrm{o}}\end{array}$$
  
  oder $$\begin{array}{l}{\mathrm{U}}_{\mathrm{Tag}\_\mathrm{u}}\dots {\mathrm{U}}_{\mathrm{Tag}\_}\mathrm{o}/{\mathrm{Lv}}_{\mathrm{ist}}<{\mathrm{Lv}}_{\mathrm{Tag}\_\mathrm{u}}\\ {\mathrm{Lv}}_{\mathrm{ist}}>{\mathrm{Lv}}_{\mathrm{Tag}\_\mathrm{o}}\end{array}$$
  
  oder

figure 1 illustrates the relationship between luminous intensity and voltage and between current and voltage for an LED signal head. It can be seen that certain luminous intensity, respectively Current window for nighttime operation Lv _{Nacht_u} ... Lv _{Nacht_0} or I _{Nacht_u} ... I _{Nacht_o} and for daytime operation Lv _{Tag_u} ... LV _{Tag_0} or I _{Tag_u} ... I _{Tag_o} by assigned voltage ranges U _{Nacht_u} ··· U _{Nacht_o} and U _{Tag_u} ... U _{Day_o must be} set in order to ensure the light intensity required for night-time and day-time operation. The specific operating points for the individual characteristic curve ranges are as follows:

• Switched off state: light intensity "off" at $$\mathrm{O}...{\mathrm{I}}_{\mathrm{Night}\_\mathrm{and}}/\mathrm{O}...{\mathrm{u}}_{\mathrm{Night}\_\mathrm{and}}$$
  
• Night time : Light intensity "Night" at $${\mathrm{I}}_{\mathrm{Night}\_\mathrm{and}}...{\mathrm{I}}_{\mathrm{Night}\_\mathrm{O}}/{\mathrm{u}}_{\mathrm{Night}\_\mathrm{and}}...{\mathrm{u}}_{\mathrm{Night}\_\mathrm{O}}$$
  
• Day mode: light intensity "Day" at $${\mathrm{I}}_{\mathrm{Day}\_\mathrm{and}}...{\mathrm{I}}_{\mathrm{Day}\_\mathrm{O}}/{\mathrm{u}}_{\mathrm{Day}\_\mathrm{and}}...{\mathrm{u}}_{\mathrm{Day}\_\mathrm{O}}$$
  
• Luminous intensity error condition $$\begin{array}{l}{\mathrm{I}}_{\mathrm{Night}\_\mathrm{and}}...{\mathrm{I}}_{\mathrm{Night}\_\mathrm{O}}/{\mathrm{lv}}_{\mathrm{is}}<{\mathrm{lv}}_{\mathrm{Night}\_\mathrm{and}}\\ {\mathrm{lv}}_{\mathrm{is}}>{\mathrm{v}}_{\mathrm{Night}\_\mathrm{O}}\end{array}$$
  
  or $$\begin{array}{l}{\mathrm{u}}_{\mathrm{Day}\_\mathrm{and}}...{\mathrm{u}}_{\mathrm{Day}\_}\mathrm{O}/{\mathrm{lv}}_{\mathrm{is}}<{\mathrm{lv}}_{\mathrm{Day}\_\mathrm{and}}\\ {\mathrm{lv}}_{\mathrm{is}}>{\mathrm{lv}}_{\mathrm{Day}\_\mathrm{O}}\end{array}$$
  
  or

• Fehlerzustand hinsichtlich des Stromes bei $$\begin{array}{l}{\mathrm{U}}_{\mathrm{Nacht}\_\mathrm{u}}\dots {\mathrm{U}}_{\mathrm{Nacht}\_\mathrm{o}}/{\mathrm{I}}_{\mathrm{ist}}<{\mathrm{I}}_{\mathrm{Nacht}\_\mathrm{u}}\\ {\mathrm{I}}_{\mathrm{ist}}>{\mathrm{I}}_{\mathrm{Nacht}\_\mathrm{o}}\end{array}$$
  
  oder $${\mathrm{Lv}}_{\mathrm{Nacht}\_\mathrm{u}}\dots {\mathrm{Lv}}_{\mathrm{Nacht}\_\mathrm{o}}/{\mathrm{I}}_{\mathrm{ist}}>{\mathrm{I}}_{\mathrm{Nacht}\_\mathrm{o}}$$
  

Programming: current < I _{night_u} or current > I _{day_o}

• Error condition regarding the current at $$\begin{array}{l}{\mathrm{u}}_{\mathrm{Night}\_\mathrm{and}}...{\mathrm{u}}_{\mathrm{Night}\_\mathrm{O}}/{\mathrm{I}}_{\mathrm{is}}<{\mathrm{I}}_{\mathrm{Night}\_\mathrm{and}}\\ {\mathrm{I}}_{\mathrm{is}}>{\mathrm{I}}_{\mathrm{Night}\_\mathrm{O}}\end{array}$$
  
  or $${\mathrm{lv}}_{\mathrm{Night}\_\mathrm{and}}...{\mathrm{lv}}_{\mathrm{Night}\_\mathrm{O}}/{\mathrm{I}}_{\mathrm{is}}>{\mathrm{I}}_{\mathrm{Night}\_\mathrm{O}}$$
  

• Undefinierter Bereich bei
  • U_{Nacht_o} ... U_{Tag_u} oder/und
  • I_{acht_o} ... I_{Tag_u} oder/und
  • Lv_{Nacht_o} ··· Lv_{Tag_u}

Programming: light intensity "us" or "night" or "ag"

• Undefined area at
  • U _{night_o} ... U _{day_u} or/and
  • I _{eight_o} ... I _{day_u} or/and
  • Lv _{night_o} ··· Lv _{day_u}

• Strom < I_{Nacht_u} oder Strom > I_{Tag_o} und/oder
• Lichtstärke "aus" oder "Nacht" oder "Tag"
  • Überspannung bei U > U_{Tag_o}

Programming:

• current < I _{night_u} or current > I _{day_o} and/or
• Light intensity "off" or "night" or "day"
  • Overvoltage at U > U _{Tag_o}

• Strom < I_{Nacht_u} oder Strom > I_{Tag_o} und/oder
• Lichtstärke "aus" oder "Nacht" oder "Tag"

Programming:

• current < I _{night_u} or current > I _{day_o} and/or
• Light intensity "off" or "night" or "day"

Depending on the requirements of the specific LED signal head, not all operating point ranges may have to be programmed and monitored. For example, the specification for night-time operation does not apply if the LED signal head only requires the operating states day operation and switch-off.

the Figures 2 and 3 illustrate schematically the most important assemblies and functional groups of an LED signal generator 1. The LED signal generator 1 is peripherally connected to a programming interface 2, a test interface 3 and supply connections 4. Internal modules are LED control 5, operating voltage selection 6, characteristic curve adjustment 7 and monitoring 8 as well as function groups for parameter specification 9 and parameter checking 10.

figure 2 shows how programming works via the programming interface 2 for specific requirements on the LED signal generator 1. It can be seen that the parameters for the LED control 5, for example the color selection, the operating voltage selection 6, for example direct current or alternating current and voltage level, the characteristic curve adjustment 7 and the monitoring 8 are distributed from the programming interface 2 via the parameter specification 9 to the appropriate assemblies. The parameter specification 9 function group ensures that the correct parameters are transferred to the responsible modules. The parameter specification 9 can be omitted, if the programming interface directly transfers the individual parameters address-controlled.

figure 3 shows the flow of information in the opposite direction for testing purposes. For this purpose, the actual actual parameters are read out by the test interface 3 analogously to the programming interface 2 either via addresses directly or via the parameter test function group 10 . In this way, it can be determined whether the programming was correct and whether various types of errors occurred during operation.

If the supply connections 4 are intended for the signal generator control, the test is only carried out immediately after programming or as part of an inspection. The signal transmitter 1 produces the safe function itself through its architecture.

In the case of signal transmitters 1 that are not controlled via the supply connections 4, the parameters can be continuously monitored. In addition, various other information, for example the actual light intensity, can be read out continuously or as required. This more comprehensive use of the test interface 3 enables a simpler architecture of the LED signal generator 1, since monitoring functions, for example for the light intensity, can be taken over externally, for example by an actuator in a control center.

Claims (9)

1. Light signal, in particular for railway safety installations, having an LED signal transmitter (1), wherein the LED signal transmitter (1) has a programming interface (2) for specifying parameters for the LED signal transmitter (1) and for continual and on demand programming, wherein the parameters relate to LED control (5) and/or operating voltage selection (6) and/or characteristic adjustment (7) and/or monitoring (8), characterised in that a test interface (3) is provided for reading out the parameters of the LED signal transmitter (1).
2. Light signal according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   with respect to the LED control (5) the parameters comprise a choice of colours.
3. Light signal according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that
   with respect to the operating voltage selection (6) the parameters comprise a level of operating voltage in the case of an alternating voltage and/or direct voltage and/or pulsating direct voltage.
4. Light signal according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that
   with respect to the characteristic adjustment (7) the parameters comprise a working point-dependent current drain of the LED signal transmitter (1).
5. Light signal according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that
   with respect to the monitoring (8) the parameters comprise an applied voltage and/or a current drain and/or a light intensity.
6. Light signal according to claim 5,
   characterised in that
   in case of failure the monitoring (8) introduces a predetermined routine to ensure a safe operating state in terms of signalling.
7. Light signal according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that
   the programming interface (2) interacts with a functional group for specifying parameters (9).
8. Light signal according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that
   the test interface (3) interacts with a functional group for parameter verification (10).
9. Light signal according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that
   the programming interface (2) and/or the test interface (3) is/are connected with a control centre by way of a wireless communication radio interface.

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