EP2995528B1 - Light signal emitter, especially for rail transfers, and switching components of such a light signal emitter - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a light signal transmitter, in particular for level crossings, and a circuit component of such a light signal transmitter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The EP 2 182 775 A1 shows a circuit component according to the preamble of claim 1.

In the field of the invention, light signals for level crossings are known. They serve to generate optical signals at level crossings, warning the road users of an approaching train. Usually, they are constructed so that a yellow and a red signal light are arranged on a post above a so-called St. Andrew's Crossing, at the approach of a train first the yellow signal light is turned on to give the road users opportunity to clear the immediate danger area, then what after a certain period of time, eg 3 to 5 seconds, the red signal light is switched on to indicate that the danger zone must not be retracted or entered.

There are known light signal transmitters that use low-voltage incandescent lamps as signal light sources. If such a light signal transmitter comes to a wire contact in a power supply to the bulbs, this usually leads to the fact that the signal light is too weak or too dark and no permissible signal image can be formed due to the cold resistance of these lamps.

From the DE 1 208 659 A is a traffic signal system with a monitoring relay is known, which has a relation to the resistance of signalers high resistance and bridged in permissible signal states by a series circuit of a guider with a signal lamp or group of lamps not turned on or ineffective by the blocking effect of the guider, in impermissible signal states, however, is effective so that the system then shuts down and / or causes a fault message.

There are also known light signal transmitter in which colored LEDs or strands of several colored LEDs are used as light sources. In these light signal transmitters, a wire contact in a power supply to the LEDs or the LED strands can cause the current to be divided between the two LEDs or LED strands so that both are still clearly visible and therefore no permissible signal pattern can be formed. If red and yellow LEDs are provided in such a light signal generator to form a red and a spatially offset yellow signal, road users, if suddenly the red and the yellow signal light up at the same time, assume the route is now released and then possibly too early in enter a railroad crossing. There is therefore a need for a technical solution, in particular in LED light signal encoders, which reliably prevents impermissible signal images, which could result from cabling errors or short circuits in power supply lines to the signal light sources.

The EP 0 129 498 A1 teaches to monitor LEDs of a LED string a circuit with optocouplers, which are connected in parallel to the individual LEDs.

The EP 1 992 542 A2 teaches a signal generator with a red light source and an additional light source, which are switchable with a circuit component to a power terminal, wherein both the red light source and the additional light source each having two LED strands. The control of such signal generator can be done software-based.

The German product font " The new LED3 Signal Generator: Safety with System ", published by Siemens AG, order number E10003-A800-W18, Edition 004, 2003-12-03 , and the German product font for the control unit " SITRAFFIC C800V: Precision and reliability at the highest level ", published by Siemens AG, order number E10003-A800-W16, Edition 002, 2002-03-01 , each show light signal transmitter with a control of a processor system and with an interface to a higher-level traffic control center. In order to exclude traffic-endangering signaling states, a monitoring by two independent microprocessors according to VDE0832 as well as the monitoring and reporting of contradictory signaling states are provided.

Proposed solutions to prevent conflicting signaling states by software-based controls or monitoring, cause the problem that software errors or software security vulnerabilities usually can be found only with great effort and, depending on the complexity of the corresponding program, practically never completely ruled out. As well as proposals for solutions to prevent conflicting signaling states by means of appropriate microprocessors, software-based solutions have proven to be complex and costly, especially due to the complex system maintenance.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The invention has for its object to provide a light signal transmitter, in which the reliability is increased in particular in terms of avoiding contradictory signaling states in a simple and particularly reliable manner. For operational safety, when connecting a first light source of the light signal transmitter, in particular a red light, an activation of a second light source of the signal generator, which represents a different signaling state, is to be prevented. In such a second light source is usually a yellow light, but other constellations can be provided as red light and yellow light. What is important is the idea of preventing a second light source from being switched on simultaneously with the first light source when the light sources represent different signaling states. According to the invention, therefore, in particular a technical solution is to be provided to prevent impermissible signal images, in particular in the case of light signal transmitters with LED signal light sources, in particular as a result of conductor contact with undetected damage to the cable in the power supply lines to the corresponding signal light sources.

The invention provides for a circuit component according to claim 1 before. In this case, the reliable shutdown of a light source of a signal generator is ensured by a parallel to this light source switched shorting switch, so that no unacceptable signal image can be formed with this light source.

The invention uses at least a pair of light source terminals and at least one pair of first and second switching devices, wherein the circuit component according to the invention can be used in a signaling system for a railroad crossing with a red and a yellow light source. As will become clear from the following detailed description, the term "pair" does not necessarily mean pairings of respectively one first and one second switching device or exactly two light source connections, but rather expresses that the switching devices and light source connections are paired so that There is a group of light sources (consisting of one or more light sources) which is turned on and a second group of light sources (consisting of one or more light sources), which is then automatically shorted.

The circuit component has a series connection for each of the light sources, in which a current connection of the first switching device provided for switching on the respective light source and a current connection of the second switching device (s) provided for short-circuiting the other light source (s) are connected in series. In a light-emitting device having a circuit component according to the invention, the switching on of one of the light sources, e.g. the red light source, with one of the first switching devices by current flow through a series circuit with the power terminals of this switching device and the power terminals of the second switching device (s) shorting the other light source (s), usually a yellow light source.

In addition to the aforementioned series connections of the power connections, the circuit component or a corresponding, known per se external control include a particular software-based monitoring, if one of the light sources (eg a red light source) in case of short circuit and off the other light source (eg an additional light or yellow light source) is turned on. Such a software-based monitoring can be provided as a monitoring of a basic and a working position of a light signal transmitter with the circuit component.

The switching devices may be, for example, electromagnetic switches. Preferably, the switching devices are optocouplers.

In a preferred embodiment, the circuit component comprises a DC-DC converter between the first switching devices and a terminal for connecting the circuit component to a pole of a potential.

The invention also provides a light signal transmitter with the circuit component described above. Such a light signal transmitter has light sources connected to the light source connections of the circuit component, which light sources are advantageously designed as LED strings. The light sources are typically a red light source and a light source, which is typically referred to as an additional light source and is usually yellow in Germany. If required, one of the light sources is connected to the current source via one of the first switching devices.

In an advantageous development, at least the red light source can be designed so that it in a conventional manner in the manner of a Zweifadenglühlampe two separate light sources, in particular two spatially closely spaced LED strands such as in EP 1 992 542 A2 taught to get a special failover. The strands can be used for uniform wear either alternately or simultaneously, but then each only with reduced power, operated, and for the present invention, such a light source with multiple strands as "a" light source can be considered.

It can be provided that the circuit component is connected via their respective terminals to a Batterieplus- and a -minuspol, but the circuit component can also be connected with one of their corresponding terminals to a Batterieplus- or -minuspol and with the other terminal to a Batteriemittenabgriff ,

Further details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following purely exemplary and non-limiting description of an embodiment in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING

Fig. 1A and 1B

schematically show a circuit component according to the invention in two different switching states.

Fig. 2

schematically shows further details of in Fig. 1A and 1B shown circuit component with two connected light sources.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the Figures 1A and 1B In each case, a circuit component denoted by 10 in its entirety is shown in highly schematic form. The circuit component 10 is typically built on a circuit board and connected in operation by means of the terminals 12 and 14 represented by pole symbols to two poles of a corresponding potential.

The embodiments of circuit components according to the invention exemplified here comprise in each case two light source connections 16 and 18 connected in parallel, each comprising two poles 16A, 16B, 18A, 18B and connected to the corresponding light sources, in particular LEDs or LED strands with e.g. three or more LEDs can be connected. However, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the invention can be readily adapted so that three or more light sources can be connected, as will be discussed below.

The circuit component 10 further includes a plurality of switching means for establishing an electrical connection between the terminals 12 and 14, namely in the embodiments shown two first switching devices 20 and 22 and two second switching devices 24 and 26. The first switching devices 20 and 22 are each used for switching on a light source connected to the respective light source terminals 16 and 18 and are connected between a respective light source terminal 16 and 18 and the terminal 14, which serves to connect the circuit component 10 to a pole of a potential.

The two second switching devices 24 and 26 each serve to short one of the light sources connected to the respective light source terminals 16 and 18 and are parallel to each of the light source terminals 16 and 18 between one of the first switching devices 20 and 22 and the terminal 12 for connecting the Circuit component connected to a pole of a potential.

A controller (not shown in the drawings) for each of the light sources connected to the light source terminals 16 and 18 ensures that when switching one of the light sources by means of one of the first switching devices 20 or 22, the other of the light sources via one of the second switching devices 24 and 26 is short-circuited or, if more than two light sources should be provided, the unneeded light sources are short-circuited by means of a respective second switching device. It can be ensured in a particularly simple and reliable manner, for example, via solenoid switches or optocouplers, which are each used as a first or second switching devices and their control circuits are electrically isolated from the circuit, that a current flow through a selected first switching device a current flow through a thus in Row connected second switching device and thus causes a short circuit of the associated light source, as related to Fig. 2 becomes even clearer.

The Fig. 1 shows (highly schematic) a switching state in which a connected to the light source terminal 16 (in Fig. 1A not shown) is turned on via the first switching device 20 and a (in Fig. 1A not shown) connected to the light source terminal 18 via the second switching device 26 would be short-circuited, so that is ruled out that the two light sources light up simultaneously and can produce conflicting signaling states.

In the Fig. 1B is the circuit component 10 according to Fig. 1A shown in a switching state in which a light source connected to the light source 18 via the first switching device 22 is switched on and a connected to the light source terminal 16 light source via the second switching device 24 would be shorted, so that in turn only one of the two light sources can shine. In Fig. 1B are the (control) power connections 22A, 22B, the first switching device 22 serving to turn on a light source connected to the light source terminal 18 and the (control) power terminals 24A, 24B connect the short circuiting of a light source connected to the other light source terminal 16 enabling second switching device 24 as indicated by the dashed line 28 in series , At the in Fig. 1A Accordingly, the circuit state shown in FIG. 5 is connected in series with the (control) power terminals 20A, 20B of the first switching device 20 and the (control) power terminals 26A, 26B of the second switching device 26 as indicated by the broken line 29. The line 28 is shown in dashed lines to illustrate that the series connection is electrically isolated from the current flow through the terminals 12 and 14 by the light source connected to the respective light source terminal 16 and 18 and the corresponding first switching means 20 and 22 permitting lines.

The control can ensure the elimination of the other light source by simply switching on a current flow through the corresponding series connection of the power connections when switching on a light source. Even with a faulty switch-on signal to the first switching device 20 or 22 serving for switching on the respective other light source or short-circuiting of this switching device, the corresponding light source remains dark due to the short-circuiting of the corresponding light source via the respective second switching device.

Said control further has a function for selecting one of the light sources for connection to a power source of a light signal transmitter via one of the first switching devices 20 and 22. The controller may also have a function of monitoring whether one of the in Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B illustrated switching states exist.

Both the first switching devices 20, 22 and the second switching devices 24, 26 are advantageously optocouplers, the respective current connections 20A, 20B, 22A, 22B, etc. being in each case the connections of the LEDs of the optocouplers, as described below described in detail Fig. 2 seen.

In operation, the circuit component 10 can advantageously be connected via the connections 12 and 14 between a battery plus and a battery center tap, in which case a light signal transmitter according to the invention combines the circuit component thus connected with a second circuit component provided in particular for replacement light sources and connected between a battery mini-pole and the battery center tap is, wherein the circuit components can then be operated alternately to achieve a uniform wear of the light sources, or so that a circuit component is operated only when a light source, which is operated with the other circuit component, fails.

In the Fig. 2 Details of another circuit component according to the invention are shown in detail, said circuit component via the in the Figures 1A and 1B In addition, the circuit component shown in FIG. 1 includes a DC-DC converter for providing a current source to the first switching devices 20, 22 upon connection of the circuit component via the terminals 12 and 14 to the poles of a potential.

The DC-DC converter in this embodiment comprises a MOS-FET as a voltage-controlled switch 30, whose gate is connected via a signal input 32 and a resistor 34, e.g. periodic signal from a power source controller (not shown). The switch 30 is connected between the terminal 14 for connecting the circuit component to a pole of a potential, here a Batteriepluspols, and a choke coil 36, wherein the choke coil 36 is provided between the voltage-controlled switch 30 and a positive pole of a voltage output of the DC-DC converter.

The DC-DC converter further comprises a diode 38, which is connected between a branch under the voltage-controlled switch 30 and the choke coil 36 on the one hand and a Batteriemittenabgriff 40 on the other. The voltage input and the voltage output of the DC-DC converter each have a capacitor 42 and 44 for voltage smoothing, wherein an electrolytic capacitor is advantageously provided for the capacitor at the voltage input. The DC-DC converter allows the LEDs of the optocouplers, which constitute the first switching means 20 and 22 and the second switching means 24 and 26 to operate with constant current.

Between the terminal 12 of the circuit component and the battery center tap 40, two series circuits each having a light source 50 and 52, respectively, and the first switching means 20 and 22 serving to switch them on are provided. Each light source 50 and 52 is short-circuited via one of the second switching means 24 and 26, respectively, when the other light source is turned on by means of the corresponding first switching means 20 and 22, respectively, to which the power terminals 22A, 22B of the first switching means 22 to the power terminals 24A, 24B the second switching device 24 via the line 28 and the power terminals 20A, 20B of the first switching device 20 to the power terminals 26A, 26B of the second switching device 26 are connected in series via the line 29. If one of the first switching devices 20 or 22 is then actuated during operation, that is to say the current connections 20A, 20B or 22A, 22B are energized, the corresponding first switching device releases the current flow through the light source assigned to it. At the same time, however, the current connections 24A, 24B or 26A, 26B of the corresponding second switching device are also energized, so that they then short-circuit the associated light source and reliably prevent the generation of impermissible signal images.

In the context of the inventive concept, numerous modifications and developments are possible, which relate for example to the number and design of the light sources. At the in Fig. 2 1, one of the light sources, for example the light source 50, will be a red light source, the other light source 52 in particular a yellow light source. Of course, other color combinations can be chosen. In particular, the circuit arrangement for the circuit of more than two light sources can be formed, then in analogous manner for each light source, a first switching device is provided which serves to turn on the corresponding light source, and for each of the light sources, a second switching device is provided, which for shorting the corresponding light source is used when one of the other light sources is turned on. Furthermore, as already mentioned above in connection with the Figures 1A and 1B addressed, a second circuit component of the same type are provided to other light sources to operate alternately or as a fail-safe for the operated of the first circuit component light sources. Alternatively or additionally, at least one of the light sources can also be a light source configured in the manner of a "two-filament incandescent lamp", which has two light sources internally, eg two LED strands and its own control, which alternately or in the form of a light source operates pure fail-safe, whereby such from actually several separate "Sublichtquellen" existing light source can be integrated into the circuit component according to the invention as a single light source, since the internal fail-safe or alternating control of the individual sub-light sources regardless of the circuit component, the basic activation or for basic short-circuiting of the corresponding light source is used, can be operated.

Claims (8)

1. A circuit component (10) for selectively switching on one of at least two light sources (50, 52) of a light signal emitter representing different signalling states, wherein the circuit component comprises at least two connectors (12, 14) for connecting to two poles of a potential, further comprising:

   - parallel-connected light source connectors (16, 18) for connecting the light sources (50, 52),

   - a number of switching devices (20, 22, 24, 26) for establishing an electrical connection between the connectors (12, 14) of the switching device, specifically at least two first switching devices (20, 22), which are connected for switching on a light source (50, 52) respectively connected to one of the light source connectors (16, 18) between the respective light source connector (16, 18) and one of the connectors (12, 14), and at least two second switching devices (24, 26), which are connected for short-circuiting respectively one light source (50, 52) connected to one of the light source connectors (16, 18), between one of the first switching devices (20, 22) and one of the connectors (12, 14),
   characterised by

   - a control for the light sources (50, 52) with a function for each of the light sources (50, 52) for ensuring that when one of the first light source(s) (50) representing a first signalling state is switched on by means of the first switching device(s) (20), the light source(s) (52) representing the other signalling state or signalling states is (are) short-circuited via the second switching device(s) (26) associated therewith,

   - wherein the control for each light source connector (16, 18) comprises a series connection such that when light sources (50, 52) are connected, a current connector (20A, 22A) of the first switching device (20, 22) provided for switching on the respective light source (50, 52) and a current connector (24B, 26B) of the second switching device (24, 26) provided for short-circuiting the other light source(s) (50, 52) are connected in series.
2. The circuit component (10) according to claim 1, wherein the first and second switching devices (20, 22, 24, 26) are optocouplers and the said series-connected current connectors (20A, 22A, 24B, 26B) of the switching devices are connectors of LEDs of the optocouplers.
3. The circuit component (10) according to claim 1, wherein the first and second switching devices are magnetic field switches and the said series-connected current connectors of the switching devices are connectors on the control side of the magnetic field switches.
4. The circuit component (10) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a direct current converter for providing a power source on the first switching devices (20, 22) when the circuit component is connected via one of the connectors (12, 14) to one of the two said poles of a potential.
5. A light signal emitter, comprising

   - a circuit component (10) according to one of the preceding claims and

   - light sources (50, 52) connected to the light source connectors (16, 18) of the circuit component (10),

   - wherein the light sources (50, 52) are configured, respectively, as LED strands.
6. The light signal emitter according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the light sources (50, 52) comprises a number of LED strands which can be switched on separately.
7. The light signal emitter according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the light sources (50, 52) comprise at least one red light source (50) and one additional light source (52) and the control comprises a function for selecting among the red or additional light source for connecting to the power source with one of the first switching devices (20, 22).
8. The light signal emitter according to claim 5 or 6, comprising two of the circuit components (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, of which one is provided between a battery plus pole and a battery central pickup and one is provided between a battery minus pole and a battery central pickup.

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