ES2340910A1 - System of control of the interior lighting of a tunnel and corresponding control procedure. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

System for controlling the interior lighting of a tunnel (1) and corresponding control procedure comprising [a] lighting elements (2) distributed along said tunnel (1), and [b] control means ( 4), related to the lighting elements (2) that can modify the amount of light emitted by the lighting elements (2). The system also comprises detection means (8) for detecting the instantaneous position of an object (12) moving inside the tunnel (1), related to the control means (4). Thus, depending on the instantaneous position detected, the control means (4) increase the amount of light emitted by those lighting elements (2) located at a distance in front of and behind the object (12), with respect to a lower level of interior tunnel lighting (1). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

Interior lighting control system of a tunnel and corresponding control procedure.

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a control system of the interior lighting of a tunnel comprising elements of lighting distributed along said tunnel, and means of control, related to said lighting elements suitable for modify the amount of light emitted by said elements of illumination.

The invention also relates to a lighting control procedure inside a tunnel.

State of the art

The interior of tunnels destined to the passage of Road traffic, longer than 100 meters, needs to be illuminated both day and night. This is done for reasons of security, since the human eye needs progressive adaptation from the opening of the pupil to changing light conditions.

The interior lighting of the tunnel improves the visibility and prevents the light contrasts between the interior and the outside of the tunnel is excessive and the driver is blinded when entering or leaving the tunnel. This effect, known as the "effect of black hole ", occurs especially in long tunnels and during the daylight hours with more light contrast between the inside and outside the tunnel and it is because the pupils of the driver do not have time to adapt to the new situation light. Thus, during the day this effect can occur when entering the tunnel passing from a lot to low light, while at night, you can produce when leaving the tunnel, that is in the opposite direction to the case previous. A good level of lighting inside the tunnel avoids The appearance of this effect.

However, from a consumption point of view It is also not optimal that the lighting inside the Tunnel adjusts to the level of input and output lighting. One time that the driver's pupils have adapted to the new situation lighting, it may not be essential to maintain a level of elevated lighting to ensure safety inside the tunnel. Thus, it is also known to provide both at the entrance and at the tunnel exit, a transition zone where you go reducing the light intensity to a lower level and that facilitate the adaptation of the driver's pupils.

Moreover, and to further reduce the electricity consumption, it is known to provide different levels of lighting inside the tunnel for different phases of the day. Thus, it is usual to provide a daytime level, with interior lighting tunnel maximum, a night level with minimal interior lighting and a twilight level of illumination that lies between the Maximum and minimum cited and planned for hours of low outdoor light, Like the sunset

JP10097897A discloses a system of control of the entrance lighting in a tunnel comprising main entrance lights, general lights and lights Supplementary entrance, located after the entrance lights. The system also includes a light sensor and a light sensor. speed. If the speed of the incoming vehicle in the tunnel is exceeding the speed for which the system was designed lighting, the supplementary lights are turned on so that prolong the transition zone and prevent the driver from being dazzled Moreover, the document also raises measures of energy saving At night, the intensity of the lights is reduced general to reduce consumption, while in case of traffic jam in inside the tunnel, the main entrance lights go out and if necessary additional lights. This system does not improve or security, or consumption inside the tunnel.

Summary of the invention

The object of the invention is to propose a control system of the interior lighting of a tunnel that allow to reduce the overall electrical consumption of the installation, without compromise road safety. This purpose is achieved by a control system of the type indicated at the beginning, characterized because it also includes detection means, capable of detecting the instantaneous position of a moving object inside the tunnel and related to said control means, so that in function of said instantaneous position detected, said means of control increase the amount of light emitted by a plurality of lighting elements located at a distance by predetermined front and rear of said object, with respect to a lower level of interior tunnel lighting.

In the invention a moving object It includes not only motor vehicles, but also animals or people who can enter the tunnel and therefore can pose a danger to road safety.

Thanks to the system, the lower level of Tunnel lighting can be adjusted to a minimum level. This level it may be even lower than the usual level in the state of the technique, without compromising security inside the tunnel. In the state of the art, a value is considered appropriate minimum, that expressed in terms of average luminance, is greater than the luminance value with which the sky tracks are illuminated Open access to the tunnel at night. This minimum value of Average luminance is usually 2 cd / m2 (candela / square meter). On the other hand, in the system according to the invention the amount of light on the moving element may be greater to improve security, while outside the zone of maximum illumination, the level can be very small or even eventually null. With this system the driver does not notice an important difference, since the area lighting moves with him and therefore the pupils should not be adapting to a lower or higher level of lighting until he leaves the tunnel.

In addition, the invention encompasses a series of preferred features that are the subject of the claims dependents and whose utility will be highlighted later in the detailed description of an embodiment of the invention.

Preferably the system also also comprises means evaluating the exterior light at the entrance or tunnel exit, related to said control means, to modify the instantaneous amount of light emitted by said lighting elements depending on the exterior light detected by Said evaluation means. Thanks to that, the power of lighting can be adjusted precisely to the conditions of external light. Thus, instead of providing three levels of lighting differentiated as in the state of the art, with the means evaluators can adjust an infinite number of lighting levels different, optimized for each light situation so that in your set can be further reduced the total consumption of the installation.

In tunnels not too long, only ones detection means at the entrance or exit of the tunnel can cover the entire length without impairing the operation of the system. However, in the case of long or curved tunnels in inside the detection means are provided inside from the tunnel For example, these means may be one or more in depending on the length or number of curves the tunnel has. In particular these are arranged so that it does not occur Never a blind spot in the detection of the moving element. This dramatically increases operational safety.

Preferably the detection means are cameras capable of determining the position and speed of said object. In this way, road safety is increased. Function of the position, it illuminates precisely on the detected object, but also depending on the speed you can still increase the amount of light improving visibility.

In an alternative embodiment, the detection means are a plurality of step sensors distributed along said tunnel, said sensors being associated to said control means, so that said means of control increase the instantaneous amount of light emitted per part of the lighting elements of a tunnel section associated with each one of said passage sensors through which the object is passing in movement. This embodiment is simple in maintenance and adjustment.

In a preferred embodiment the system also comprises at least one speed sensor associated with said control means provided in front of the entrance of said tunnel, modifying said control means the amount of light emitted by said lighting elements in function of the speed of entry into said tunnel. In this way, it you can precisely create a transition zone to the entrance of the tunnel that improves road safety.

Preferably the lighting elements are LED type. In the tunnels of the prior art, they are common lighting devices such as steam lamps low or high pressure sodium, fluorescent or lamps metal halides These types of devices may not have a response fast enough. Instead, the devices of LED type due to its low consumption, respond quickly to the signal of increase or decrease in the amount of light.

To improve security you can also interest that the lighting elements themselves serve to interact with circulating vehicles. So preferably, the control means are apt to modify the color of the lighting elements depending on the speed of said element in motion. This allows, for example, to modify the lighting color depending on vehicle speed circulating. The lighting elements may have a color Basic whitish or yellowish tone. So, if the system detects that the incoming vehicle exceeds the speed allowed in the tunnel, the lights may change to reddish tones to inform the driver who is driving at excessive speed.

Especially preferably, the invention It also proposes a tunnel comprising a control system for the lighting with the characteristics described in the paragraphs previous.

Another object of the invention is to propose a procedure to control the interior lighting of the tunnel that reduces consumption without compromising safety.

The lighting control procedure in the tunnel interior comprises the stages of detecting the instantaneous position of a moving object inside the tunnel, increase in the amount of light emitted by a plurality of lighting elements located at a distance by predetermined front and rear of said object, with respect to a lower level of interior tunnel lighting.

Preferably the process comprises also a stage of determination of the light outside the tunnel and a stage of adaptation of the amount of light inside the tunnel depending on the exterior light.

Optionally, the procedure comprises a stage of determining the speed of a moving object in said tunnel, and modification of said amount of light depending on of that speed.

Preferably after detecting the entry of said tunnel object is performed a verification stage of output said object and in case said object has not left said tunnel triggers a warning alarm.

Also, the invention also encompasses other detail features illustrated in the detailed description of an embodiment of the invention and in the figures that the accompany.

Brief description of the drawings

Other advantages and features of the invention they are appreciated from the following description, in which, without no limitation, preferential forms of embodiment of the invention, mentioning the drawings that are accompany. The figures show:

Fig. 1, a schematic front view of a first embodiment of the lighting system according to the invention.

Fig. 2, a schematic front view of a second embodiment of the system according to the invention.

Fig. 3, a schematic front view of a third embodiment of the system according to the invention.

Fig. 4, a schematic front view of a fourth embodiment of the system according to the invention.

Detailed description of some embodiments of the invention

In the first embodiment of the invention shown in figure 1, a tunnel 1 is seen in whose interior are provided a plurality of lighting elements 2, such as lamps or spotlights formed from several LEDs or LEDs Because of its speed of reaction, it is preferred use LED lamps, but other solutions are not ruled out alternatives.

Each of these lighting elements 2, It is connected to centralized control means 4. By simplicity, a single connection of the elements has been represented of illumination 2 with the control means 4. However, in the invention, if necessary, the control elements 4 can control, gradually from the off state to the level maximum lighting, each of the lighting elements 2 of individualized way, to modify the amount of light emitted for each one of them. Alternatively, the connection between control means 4 and the lighting elements 2 intended for regulating these elements can be done without wires, for example by radiofrequency.

At the end of tunnel 1 means are provided 8 detection to camera mode. The camera can detect, in any point of tunnel 1, instantaneous position and speed of the circulating vehicle 12. In addition, the camera is also connected with the control means 4 to be able to transmit the position and instantaneous vehicle speeds to control means 4.

The figure also shows how, between entrance and exit, tunnel 1 is subdivided into different zones. In the first place, on the left of the figure you can see an area outside entrance 14 in tunnel 1, below you can see a transition zone to the interior 16 of tunnel 1, followed by a zone of development 18, a transition zone to the outside 20 and finally an outside exit zone 22.

Also in lines to points and strokes they have represented different levels of lighting. The first level 24 corresponds to a maximum light level on a sunny day, which in This case corresponds to the conditions in the area outside entrance 14 in tunnel 1. The second level 26 corresponds to the case of a cloudy sky, situation in the outside exit zone 22. The third level 28 is the maximum level of possible lighting in tunnel 1. The fourth level 30, as will be seen corresponds to the increase in the amount of light on object 12 circulating and that in practice corresponds to the level of interior lighting of a tunnel 1 according to the state of the art for its entire length, except for entry and exit. Finally, the fifth level 32 corresponds to the lower level of lighting in tunnel 1, while the sixth level 34 corresponds to the case in which the lighting elements 2 were off

When the vehicle is approaching the tunnel input 1 is already detected by the detection means 8, which in this case have insight on the entrance mouth and all the tunnel length 1. You can also determine the speed at that the vehicle is entering So, when the vehicle is in the outer zone of entrance 14, starting from the fifth level 32 of lighting, the control means 4 have increased the amount of light emitted by the first lighting elements 2, corresponding to the transition zone to the interior 16. These first lighting elements 2 illuminate according to the theoretical curve of illumination 36, that is, that progressively link the third level 28 of maximum illumination in tunnel 1 with the fifth lighting level 32 This avoids the black hole effect in the driver or temporary blindness when entering the tunnel.

The detection means 8 detect the position of object 12 continuously, so that before the vehicle enters development zone 18, control means 4 receive the signal from the detection means 8 and increase the amount of light emitted by the lighting elements 2 ' that are a few meters in front of the vehicle, for example one hundred meters ahead, until reaching the fourth level 30. Also, The input lighting level can be adjusted to the speed of the incoming vehicle, that is, the faster the vehicle, the higher amount of light Also, these control means 4, keep in this fourth level 30 to the lighting elements 2 'that They are a few meters behind, for example, fifty meters. Thus, as shown in the figure, in development zone 18 the vehicle circulates in conditions of optimal visibility that Increase road safety. The fourth level 30 can be set according to a standard lighting criteria or if desired, thanks to the saving in the rest of the lighting of the tunnel 1 can be increased to further improve security When it is circulating. On the other hand, it should be noted that soon as the vehicle has left the transition zone to interior 16, and provided that no vehicle is circulating through behind, the lighting elements 2 can return to the fifth level 32 lighting, which saves existing consumption between the third and fifth levels 28, 32.

Finally, the detection means 8 detect the approach of the vehicle to the transition zone to the exterior 20, so that they send a signal to the control means 4 and these increase the amount of light emitted by the elements of 2 '' lighting according to the theoretical lighting curve 36 up to reach the third level 28. The jump between the third level 28 and the second level 26 must be small enough to prevent the driver from being dazzled at the exit of tunnel 1. Once the vehicle has left tunnel 1, the elements of 2 '' lighting can lower the lighting level from the third level 28 to the fifth level 32.

As you can see, the system proposed allows to reduce considerably the electrical consumption, since the general lighting level inside tunnel 1 can be much smaller than in the case of conventional lighting of a tunnel 1 of the state of the art, without thereby giving up the security. In particular, savings are produced by the difference existing between the third and fifth levels 28, 32 in the areas of transition inside and outside 16 and 20, as well as the difference between the fourth and fifth levels 30, 32 in the development zone 18. On the other hand, and to further increase savings energy, taking into account that the vehicle moves in a "bubble" of light, it would be conceivable to give up the fifth level of lighting, that is, the tunnel could be left completely to dark and turn on the lighting elements 2, 2 ', 2' 'in the moment when a vehicle approached the entrance mouth, for example five hundred meters before to ensure safety. Obviously, the system also provides for the situation in which produce abnormal situations. For example, before a traffic jam or an accident inside tunnel 1, the control means 4 stop receiving updated information from the detection means 8 of the same vehicle. So the system You can go to a safe mode of lighting, according to which all tunnel lights illuminate, for example, at the fifth level 32 of illumination. Additionally, since the lighting elements 2, 2 ', 2' 'are individually controllable, the means of control 4 allow to light a certain area of the tunnel with a higher level of lighting. So, in case of accident, you can increase the level of illumination of the area in which the accident occurred to facilitate the work Rescue, cleaning, or others.

In the embodiment of Figure 2, shows an additional improvement that allows further optimization of global energy consumption of the system.

In particular, this second embodiment It is globally very similar to that of Figure 1 above described, that is to say that part of a plurality of cameras for control tunnel 1. However, in this case the system in which either due to the excessive length of tunnel 1, either due to the existence of curves, or due to changes in flush along its path, it requires a plurality of means of 8 detection to be able to work with maximum performance.

In addition, as an additional feature, this embodiment presented in the inlet and in the output an evaluation means 6 of the exterior light, as per example a luxmeter, a photometer or a luminance meter. These means 6 evaluators of the exterior light are also connected to the control means 4. With this, the evaluation means 6 send the control means 4 an information about the exterior light, so that the control means 4 can increase and decrease the amount of light inside tunnel 1 also depending on the light atmospheric outside.

For example, in the case represented in the Figure 1 has been seen that the third level 28 of illumination was the same for both the entrance and the exit of tunnel 1. It is that is, the system required interior lighting patterns of the Default tunnel, such as day level, night level or twilight level Instead, in this case they can be determined in real time different lighting situations at the entrance and tunnel exit. From the light detected by the media evaluators 6 the control means 4 are informed and these are adapt to the optimal lighting curve from different theoretical lighting curves 36, 36 ', 36' '. In this case the Traceability of outdoor conditions is continuous and accurate, allowing the optimization of consumption to the maximum.

It should also be mentioned in this figure, that the third theoretical lighting curve 36 '' corresponds to the case in that the external light measured by the evaluating means 6 is too much reduced In this situation, the system provides for an internal level of light that is superior to the outside. In this way, when this occurs situation, the evaluation means 6 do not dominate the system, that is that the system does not allow at any time to produce a dark situation inside tunnel 1.

Figure 3 shows a third form of realization of the system according to the invention which aims at propose a simple solution to the technical problem posed. In this case, the control means 8 are formed by sensors such as photoelectric cells, formed by an optical transmitter and receiver planned facing right and left of tunnel 1, at the height of a vehicle, such as 60 centimeters. Both to the entrance, as at the exit of the tunnel are also provided sensors responsible for detecting the approach of the vehicle and giving a signal to the control means 4. From this signal, by for example, the control means 4 turn on the first element of lighting 2 at the tunnel entrance, long before the vehicle I arrived. From this moment on, each time the vehicle cuts the beam of light between emitter and receiver the two elements of following lighting 2 located in front of the vehicle and it turn off the lighting element 2 under which the vehicle. Finally, when the vehicle exceeds the expected sensor to the exit of the tunnel 1, the control means 4 again reduce the amount of light emitted by the last lighting element 2 to the output to the minimum level planned for the system. In this case the system can also determine approximately the speed at the one the vehicle is driving. The control means 4 can determine the time it takes for the vehicle to pass in front of Two consecutive sensors. Moreover, the control means 4 they must have the separation distance between each sensor. With this, in a simple way, the control means 4 can calculate the average speed between two consecutive sensors per calculation Simple of distance divided by time. From there, the system can make the adjustments it deems necessary, such how to increase the amount of light, or others.

The embodiment of Figure 4, corresponds to an evolution of the shape of figure 3 that Increase operating accuracy.

In this case, in addition to the sensors, the system provides at least one speed sensor 10 connected to the control means 4. Optionally, if greater accuracy is desired on the control of the vehicle speed, it could be foreseen additional speed sensors distributed inside the tunnel 1.

The speed sensor 10 detects the speed with which the vehicle is accessing the tunnel and sends the signal corresponding to the control means 4. In turn, these increase the amount of light emitted by the elements of lighting 2 depending on this speed of access to the tunnel. Is say, if the vehicle accesses at high speed, both the fifth level 32, as the fourth level 30 lighting can be reinforced to increase security within tunnel 1.

Additionally, in the event that the elements of lighting 2 be LED type, this speed sensor 10 can Serve as a trigger for a visual alarm for the driver. By example, if the driver exceeds the allowed access speed to the tunnel, the LEDs of the lighting elements 2 can change from color, for example, from white to red to induce the driver to Reduce speed.

Up to this point some examples have been described of realization of how the system according to the invention could be implemented However, it is not within the scope of the invention rule out using other devices as detection means 8, such as radar type devices, capacitive, by microwaves, volumetric, magnetic, optical, physical, infrared or similar, etc. Nor can you discard the application of artificial vision means to further improve precision

Claims (13)

1. Interior lighting control system of a tunnel (1) comprising

[to]

lighting elements (2) distributed to along said tunnel (1), and

[b]

control means (4), related to said lighting elements (2) suitable for modifying the amount of light emitted by said lighting elements (2),

characterized in that it also comprises detection means (8), capable of detecting the instantaneous position of a moving object (12) inside the tunnel (1) and related to said control means (4), so that depending on said instantaneous position detected, said control means (4) increase the amount of light emitted by a plurality of lighting elements (2) located at a predetermined front and rear distance of said object (12), with respect to a lower level of interior tunnel lighting (1). 2. Control system according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises means for evaluating (6) the exterior light at the entrance or exit of the tunnel (1), related to said control means (4), to modify the instantaneous amount of light emitted by said lighting elements (2) as a function of the external light detected by said evaluation means (6). 3. Control system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said detection means (8) are provided at least inside the tunnel (1). 4. Control system according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said detection means (8) are cameras capable of determining the position and speed of said object (12). 5. Control system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said detection means (8) are a plurality of passage sensors distributed along said tunnel (1), said sensors being associated with said control means (4), so that said control means (4) increase the instantaneous amount of light emitted by the lighting elements (2) of a tunnel section (1) associated with each of said passage sensors. 6. Control system according to claim 5, characterized in that it further comprises at least one speed sensor (10) associated with said control means (4) provided in front of the entrance of said tunnel (1), modifying said means of control (4) the amount of light emitted by said lighting elements (2) depending on the speed of entry into said tunnel (1). 7. Control system according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said lighting elements (2) are of the LED type. 8. Control system according to claim 7, characterized in that said control means (4) are capable of modifying the color of said lighting elements (2) depending on the speed of said moving element. 9. Tunnel (1) characterized in that it comprises an interior lighting control system according to any of the preceding claims. 10. Lighting control procedure inside a tunnel (1), characterized in that it comprises the stages of:

[to]

instant position detection of an object (12) moving inside the tunnel (1),

[b]

increase in the amount of light emitted per part of a plurality of lighting elements (2) located at a predetermined distance ahead and behind said object (12), regarding a lower level of interior tunnel lighting (one).

Method according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises a stage for determining the light outside the tunnel (1) and a stage for adapting the amount of light inside the tunnel (1) as a function of the exterior light. 12. Method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that it further comprises a step of determining the speed of said object (12) moving in said tunnel (1), and modifying said amount of light as a function of said speed. 13. Method according to any of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that after detecting the entrance of said object (12) of said tunnel (1) an output verification step is performed said object (12) and because in case said object (12) has not left said tunnel (1) a warning alarm is triggered.