GB2397705A - Solar powered programmable switching systems - Google Patents

Solar powered programmable switching systems Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2397705A
GB2397705A GB0301319A GB0301319A GB2397705A GB 2397705 A GB2397705 A GB 2397705A GB 0301319 A GB0301319 A GB 0301319A GB 0301319 A GB0301319 A GB 0301319A GB 2397705 A GB2397705 A GB 2397705A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
control unit
load
battery
control
sensor
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0301319A
Other versions
GB0301319D0 (en
Inventor
David Morgan
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
SOLARGEN SOLUTIONS Ltd
Original Assignee
SOLARGEN SOLUTIONS Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by SOLARGEN SOLUTIONS Ltd filed Critical SOLARGEN SOLUTIONS Ltd
Priority to GB0301319A priority Critical patent/GB2397705A/en
Publication of GB0301319D0 publication Critical patent/GB0301319D0/en
Publication of GB2397705A publication Critical patent/GB2397705A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01F—ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE
    • E01F9/00—Arrangement of road signs or traffic signals; Arrangements for enforcing caution
    • E01F9/60—Upright bodies, e.g. marker posts or bollards; Supports for road signs
    • E01F9/604—Upright bodies, e.g. marker posts or bollards; Supports for road signs specially adapted for particular signalling purposes, e.g. for indicating curves, road works or pedestrian crossings
    • E01F9/615—Upright bodies, e.g. marker posts or bollards; Supports for road signs specially adapted for particular signalling purposes, e.g. for indicating curves, road works or pedestrian crossings illuminated
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B47/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light sources in general, i.e. where the type of light source is not relevant

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Circuit Arrangement For Electric Light Sources In General (AREA)
  • Road Signs Or Road Markings (AREA)

Abstract

A solar powered warning light system, particularly suitable for use with school crossings, includes a amber LED array (2) to provide an amber flashing light. Power from a solar generator (4) and regulated by a regulator (6) is fed to charge a battery (8). The LED array (2) is powered from the battery (8) under the control of a control unit (10). The control unit (10) is connected to an interface unit (14) which can receive a program, e.g. an EEProm (16). The control unit (10) can thus set the flashing period of the LED array (2) on a daily basis. The control unit (10) also responds to a sensor (12) which senses the ambient lighting conditions surrounding the array and varies the flashing intensity accordingly.

Description

SOLAR POWERED PROGRAMMABLE SWITCHING SYSTEMS
The present invention relates to solar powered programmable switching systems. s
Warning lights are provided at various locations to warn traffic of danger ahead or to alert traffic to a potential danger.
Such warning lights are usually connected to the mains supply and also connected to a central control station by a radio link. The lights are then switched ON and OFF from the central station.
In remote locations where no power supply is available or where it is difficult to connect a main supply, there is a need for a stand alone solution. Also, where the danger or potentia' danger is predictable, eg at school crossings, there is the potential of pre- prograrnming the system in accordance with school timetables.
It is an object of the invention to provide a solution to these problems.
According to the present invention there is provided a solar powered programmable switching system comprising a solar generator, a rechargeable battery, a regulator connecting the generator to the battery to control the rate at which the battery is charged and discharged, a load connected to the battery and controlled by a control unit, a sensor for monitoring ambient light condition in the vicinity of the load and an interface unit for receiving a computer program, the control unit being connected to the interface unit to control the periods during which the load is activated and the rate at which the load energised during said period and being connected to the sensor to control the degree of energisation of the load when energised in dependence upon the ambient light conditions sensed.
Solar powered warning light systems embodying the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing, in which shows a block diagram of the system.
The warning light system shown in the figure is for use in connection with school crossing to warn motorists, at specific periods during the day, when children are likely to be using the crossing.
The system comprises an LED array 2 defining an amber flashing light mounted on a post (not shown) adjacent to or used in conjunction with a school crossing sign (not shown). A solar panel 4, consisting of an array of photovoltaic cells, is mounted on the same post. The output of the solar panel 4 is connected to a regulator unit 6 which controls the supply of power to a battery 8 to regulate the battery charge and discharge rates.
A control system 10, which is powered by the battery 8, is connected to the LED array 2 to control the period during which the LEDs are operative, the flashing rate and the flash intensity. An ambient light sensor 12 feeds the control unit 10 with a signal indicative of the ambient light in the vicinity of the sign. The control unit 1O responds to the signal to vary the intensity of the light output from the LEDs of the array 2 accordingly. The sensor 12 may also respond to fog or rain to increase the intensity of the output from the LEDs.
Both the array 2 and the sensor 12 are powered by the battery 8.
An interface unit 14, connected to the control unit 1O, is provided to receive an encapsulated EEProm memory chip 16 to program the control unit 10 accordingly. The encapsulation of the chip serves to form a waterproof package so that the stored data cannot be corrupted if it falls into water or is exposed to heavy rain. The chip 16 can be programmed from a standard computer serial port plug for each individual day of the year and can also take into account time changes from GMT to British Summer Time and vice versa. The control system 1O has an integrated time clock and is provided with a lithium clock back-up battery with a life of up to 5 years. The control system 10 adopts sleep mode when not in use during which it has a very low current consumption.
The solar panel may take the form of an array of polycrystalline cells bonded onto a shatterproof laminate and mounted on an aluminium support.
It will be appreciated that while the system has been described in connection with a school crossing warning system, it can equally be adapted for other timed lighting applications such as commuter traffic control.

Claims (8)

1. A solar powered programmable switching system comprising a solar generator, a rechargeable battery, a regulator connecting the generator to the battery to control the rate at which the battery is charged and discharged, a load connected to the battery and controlled by a control unit, a sensor for monitoring ambient light condition in the vicinity of the load and an interface unit for receiving a computer program, the control unit being connected to the interface unit to control the periods during which the load is activated and the rate at which the load is energised during said period and being connected to the sensor to control the degree of energisation of the load in dependence upon the ambient light conditions sensed.
2. A system according to Claim 1, wherein said load comprises an LED warning light array and wherein the control unit controls the brightness of the LEDs of the array when energised in dependence upon the ambient light conditions sensed by the sensor.
3. A system according to Claim 2, wherein said LEDs emit an amber light.
4. A system according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, including an EEProm memory chip for coupling to the interface unit.
5. A system according to Claim 4, wherein said EEProm memory chip is encapsulated in a waterproof package. - 5
6. A system according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein said control unit has an integral time clock.
7. A system according to any preceding claim, when used in conjunction with a school crossing sign.
8. A solar powered warning light system substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB0301319A 2003-01-21 2003-01-21 Solar powered programmable switching systems Withdrawn GB2397705A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0301319A GB2397705A (en) 2003-01-21 2003-01-21 Solar powered programmable switching systems

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0301319A GB2397705A (en) 2003-01-21 2003-01-21 Solar powered programmable switching systems

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0301319D0 GB0301319D0 (en) 2003-02-19
GB2397705A true GB2397705A (en) 2004-07-28

Family

ID=9951493

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0301319A Withdrawn GB2397705A (en) 2003-01-21 2003-01-21 Solar powered programmable switching systems

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2397705A (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2519354A (en) * 2013-10-18 2015-04-22 Ticknall Solar Solutions Ltd A luminaire configured to illuminate a road sign
GB2519352A (en) * 2013-10-18 2015-04-22 Ticknall Solar Solutions Ltd A control system for controlling a street light

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3840888A1 (en) * 1988-12-05 1990-06-21 Rudolf Dipl Ing Feuersenger Traffic display device
WO1997003250A1 (en) * 1995-07-13 1997-01-30 Atsi, L.L.C. Road marker
JPH10325115A (en) * 1997-05-27 1998-12-08 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd Temporary guide lamp
GB2355351A (en) * 1999-08-14 2001-04-18 Kevin Carl Patrick Foulsham Solar powered apparatus and switching circuit
EP1128348A1 (en) * 1999-09-02 2001-08-29 Innovacio Viaria, S.L. Signalling beacon

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3840888A1 (en) * 1988-12-05 1990-06-21 Rudolf Dipl Ing Feuersenger Traffic display device
WO1997003250A1 (en) * 1995-07-13 1997-01-30 Atsi, L.L.C. Road marker
JPH10325115A (en) * 1997-05-27 1998-12-08 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd Temporary guide lamp
GB2355351A (en) * 1999-08-14 2001-04-18 Kevin Carl Patrick Foulsham Solar powered apparatus and switching circuit
EP1128348A1 (en) * 1999-09-02 2001-08-29 Innovacio Viaria, S.L. Signalling beacon

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2519354A (en) * 2013-10-18 2015-04-22 Ticknall Solar Solutions Ltd A luminaire configured to illuminate a road sign
GB2519352A (en) * 2013-10-18 2015-04-22 Ticknall Solar Solutions Ltd A control system for controlling a street light

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0301319D0 (en) 2003-02-19

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)