ES2329400T3 - OPTICAL BLOCK SIGNAL ISSUER FOR ASSEMBLY IN A TRAFFIC SEMAPHORE. - Google Patents

Abstract

The signal generating optical device has a light source, which lights up a windshield. The light emitting diode (LED) light source (1) is side-emitting type and is arranged in the center of a reflector (4). A pipe or funnel shaped screen element (5) at a small axial distance from the LED is arranged in the center of the reflector and absorbs the reflected solar radiation of the reflector.

Description

Signal emitting optical block for assembly at a traffic light.

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The present invention relates to a block optical signal emitter for mounting in a traffic light, with a light source, which illuminates a front disk. The invention is suitable in particular, although or exclusively, for small Signal emitters for cyclists and pedestrians.

In the case of a low position of the sun and a front lighting direction, properties can be recognized of ghost lights in traffic lights used until the moment. Sunlight radiated back from inside the traffic light makes it difficult to recognize if the signal sender is illuminated by the built-in mounted light source or by the light solar incident, which can generate a remarkable danger for road traffic.

US 2004/0212998 A1 discloses a light device, whose light source is an LED (emitting diode of light) of the type that emits laterally and that is arranged in the center of a reflector.

The present invention poses the problem of propose a signal-emitting optical block for mounting in a traffic light, in which the appearance of light is reduced ghost.

This problem is solved according to the invention. by the features of claim 1.

The advantageous structures of the invention are characterized in the dependent claims.

The invention provides that the light source of the Signal emitting optical block is arranged in the center of a reflector and that a protective element, in the form of a tube or funnel, which absorbs the sun's rays reflected by the reflector, it is located at a small axial distance, in front of the light source, in the center of the reflector.

In the case of the light source it is preferably of an LED, which is the type that emits laterally (side emitting). An LED of this type emits its light so fundamental laterally in a cone of light with an angle of default aperture and only a small amount of light forward, that is in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the LED and optical block emitting signals. An LED that emits laterally of this type can be obtained, for example, with the Luxeon Star brand, in each case with the necessary color, of the Lumileds Lighting U.S., LLC.

At the same time, it is advantageously provided that the central longitudinal axis of the hollow protective element essentially coincides with the longitudinal central axis of the LED and the reflector.

The distance of the protective element from to the light source is adequately sized in such a way so that the protective element does not shield or absorb radiation side of the LED, that is to say that the edge of the rear edge of the protective element should be positioned essentially in the edge of the light cone radiated laterally by the LED, so that the intensity of illumination generated in the front disk by the LED is not reduced or is not noticeable by the protective element Since the protective element is shaped like tube or funnel are not absorbed either by the protective element  the light rays emitted by the light source in the direction of its longitudinal axis nor those emitted at an acute angle with with respect to this, but they can pass the element without obstacles hollow protector

Although the protective element can having, for example, a cylindrical tube shape, a funnel shape, which widens with increasing distance Regarding the LED. The opening angle of the protective element cylindrical is at the same time, properly, in the interval between 20º and 40º. With this you can ensure broadly homogeneous illumination of the front disk by means of the LED.

The perimeter wall of the protective element, seen in longitudinal section, it can be extended rectilinearly,  or adopt, for example, a stepped path or arcuate.

It is particularly planned advantageous that the protective element is black, with which it can absorb the sun's rays in the best way possible in the signal-emitting optical block and which are reflected by the reflector towards the center. Suitably, the protective element It is made from black stained plastic, without the invention is limited in this regard.

In another structuring of the invention you can be provided that the protective element is fixed to the clamp of the LED. This fastener is preferably a plate of refrigeration. The protective element may have some supports, which are embedded in holes in the plate refrigeration.

In another embodiment, it may be provided that the protective element is fixed to the front disk of the optical block emitting signals.

When - as preferred - the light source It comprises a (single) LED, the front disk of the emitting optical block of signals is not stained, but the color of the emitter signal of signals is generated in this case by the green, yellow or Red.

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The reflector can have any shape suitable, for example it can be a parabolic mirror. It preferred, however, that the reflector alternatively presents sections concentric annulars of a first and a second type, which They connect to each other. These annular sections begin with the annular section of the first type at the inner edge of the opening of the reflector, in which the LED penetrates, connecting a section cancel the second type and continue the sequence of sections annular first and second type up to an area of the outer edge of the reflector, which may comprise annular sections located next to each other of the second type or can be free of annular sections mentioned above. At the same time the annular sections of the first type are arranged with angles such with respect to the LED, which does not reflect light rays towards forward to the front disk of the signal emitting optical block. These annular sections do not contribute, therefore, practically to the illumination of the front disk of the emitter of signals and do not reflect practically solar rays towards the center of the reflector.

The annular sections of the second type are arranged at such angles with respect to the LED that reflect the approximately parallel rays of light with respect to the axis length of the LED towards the front disc, being generated however by choosing dimensions and suitable angles of the annular sections an illumination, homogenous to a high degree, of the frontal disc. On the contrary, the annular sections of this preferred embodiment reflect the solar rays, that incline inclined from above in the block optical signal emitter, towards the longitudinal central axis area of the reflector, where a large part of the incident solar rays It is absorbed by the protective element. In the tests, it has determined that the protective element according to the invention absorbs from 20% to 70%, in most cases from 35% to 60%, of the incident sunrays.

The invention therefore provides a block optical signal emitter in which with simple means and economic can significantly reduce the emergence of ghost light

It stands out that, the optional features described above, as also indicated in the subordinate claims, can be combined with any way, individually with each other, within the framework of the present invention.

Other details of the invention derive from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as well as from the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a vertical section to through a signal-emitting optical block according to the invention, mounted on a traffic light;

Figure 2 shows an enlarged representation of the signal-emitting optical block in a use housing, the protective element having been removed;

Figure 3 shows the characteristic of radiation of an LED that emits laterally in the interaction with an embodiment of the reflector (right half of the image) as well as a representation of the action of the protective element (left half of the image);

Figure 4 shows the fastening of the element protector on a cooling plate;

Figure 5 shows the fastening of the element protector on a front disk of the emitting optical block of signals;

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of an LED that emits laterally, and

Figure 7 shows the emitting optical block of signals at a traffic light.

Figure 1 shows the emitting optical block of signals in the state mounted on a traffic light in a vertical section An LED 1 is attached to the board cooling 2, behind which a distance is located stage 3, which is electrically connected to LED 1 of a way that is not represented. LED 1 is arranged in the center of reflector 4, into whose central opening it penetrates.

At a reduced axial distance of LED 1, it is arranged a funnel-shaped protective element 5, whose axis longitudinal central coincides with the longitudinal central axis of the LED 1 and the central longitudinal axis of the reflector 4. The diameter of the funnel-shaped protective element 5 continuously increases to a dispersion disk 6, which forms the front closure of the signal emitter The components of the emitting optical block of signals are mounted on the use housing 7 which, by its part can be inserted in a housing 8 of a traffic light of traffic 9. With the help of clamping arms 10, formed or arranged, the traffic light 9 is attached to a pole correspondent.

Figure 2 shows in a representation enlarged the use housing 7 with the emitting optical block of signals, although without the protective element 5.

Figure 3 shows LED 1 with its light cone 11 lateral in the interaction with reflector 4 (right half of the image) as well as the action of its protective element 5 when the inclined sunlight, and this for an angle of incidence of 10th. The reflector 4 contains annular sections 12, connected each other alternately, of a first type and some sections Annular 13 of a second type. The annular sections 12 of the first type, which in cross section are rectilinear, that is to say flat, they are arranged at such angles with respect to the LED 1 that the straight lines, which (seen in the cross section) they contain these annular sections 12, they extend through the ideal zero point or starting point 14 of the light cone 11. With the annular sections 12 of the first type do not reflect light some in the direction of the longitudinal axis of LED 1 or of the axis length of the signal-emitting optical block according to the invention.

The annular sections 13 of the second type are arranged at such angles with respect to LED 1 that the rays of light 16 that affect the circular lines in each case 15 centrals of the annular sections 13 are reflected in parallel with respect to the longitudinal axis of the optical block signal emitter The structure has been adopted in such a way that lines 16 have the same distance from each other.

This structuring provides a Widely homogeneous illumination of the front disk of a traffic light of traffic 9.

The protective element 5 is arranged at a axial distance such as with LED 1 that its edge edge 17 posterior does not penetrate right into the cone of light 11.

Since the protective element 5 is hollow and It has a funnel shape, can pass freely through the interior  of the protective element 5 the light rays emitted by LED 1 in the longitudinal direction of the signal emitting optical block and in acute angle with respect to it, the protective element 5. These rays of light are indicated in Figure 3 with the reference sign 18.

The solar rays 19 that affect forming a angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the emitting optical block of signals are reflected by reflector 4, that is to say by their annular sections 13 of the second type, towards the protective element 5 arranged centrally in the reflector 4, being absorbed for the black color of the protective element 5. This is also valid for solar rays 20 that affect the inner surface of the protective element 5.

Figure 4 shows that the protective element 5 funnel-shaped is provided with a few feet of support 21, the which are embedded in the holes 22 in the plate cooling 2, on which LED 1 is attached.

Figure 5 shows an embodiment alternative in which the protective element 5 is attached with a support arm 23 on a front disk 24, which is held in the reflector edge 4.

Figure 6 shows an LED 1 that emits laterally in a state arranged on a stage 25. An LED of this type can be obtained in the market - as mentioned formerly - under the designation of Luxeon Star.

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the traffic light 9 with the signal-emitting optical block mounted. The front spreader disk 6 is covered by a front piece 25 of traffic light 9.

Claims (10)

1. Optical signal emitting block for mounting in a traffic light, with a light source, which illuminates a front disk, the light source being an LED (1), which is of the type that emits laterally and is arranged in the center of a reflector (4), characterized in that a protective element (5), in the form of a tube or funnel, is arranged, at a reduced axial distance from the LED (1), in the center of the reflector (4) and absorbs solar rays reflected by the reflector (4). 2. Optical signal emitting block according to claim 1, characterized in that the central longitudinal axis of the protective element (5) essentially coincides with the longitudinal central axis of the LED (1) and the reflector (4). 3. Optical signal emitting block according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the axial distance of the protective element (5) with respect to the LED (1) is sized such that the edge of the rear edge of the protective element (5) is essentially arranged in the edge area of the lateral light cone (11) of the LED (1). 4. Optical signal emitting block according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the protective element (5) is funnel-shaped, which widens with increasing distance from the LED (1). 5. Optical signal emitting block according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the protective element (5) is fixed in the LED holder (1). 6. Optical signal emitting block according to claim 5, characterized in that the clamp is a cooling plate (2) and that the protective element (5) has support feet (24) which are interlocked in the cooling plate ( 3). 7. Optical signal emitting block according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the protective element (5) is fixed to a front disk (24) of the signal emitting optical block. 8. Optical signal emitting block according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the protective element (5) is black. 9. Optical signal emitting block according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the reflector (4) has annular sections, concentrically arranged alternately, of a first type (12) and a second type (13), the annular sections of the first type (12) being arranged at an angle with respect to the LED (1), which do not reflect light rays towards the front disk, and the annular sections of the second type (13) being arranged with such angles with respect to the LED (1), which reflect light rays approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the signal-emitting optical block. 10. Optical signal emitting block according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the protective element (5) absorbs 20% to 70%, preferably 35% to 60%, of the incident solar rays.