JP3718835B2 - Light power checker for traffic lights and indicators using LEDs - Google Patents

Description

【００３７】
表１の値は、実際の信号機に用いられたＬＥＤの経時的な変化の実測値ではないが、定格電流で全ＬＥＤを点灯させたときの輝度値に対して定格電流の１／２のＬＥＤを点灯させたときのＬＥＤユニットの輝度値は、明るさがもとの輝度値の半分以下に低下したときに相当し、何れの色のＬＥＤについてもＥＶ値は約１程度低下していることが分かる。さらに定格電流でＬＥＤユニットの１／２のＬＥＤを点灯させたときにおいては、色によって明るさにバラツキがあるもののＥＶ値は約１程度低下していることがわかる。
【００３８】
信号灯カバー又はレンズの口径が大きい信号機や、信号灯カバー又はレンズの口径が小さい信号機の明るさの経時的な変化を測定する場合には、大径側開口部の口径がそれぞれの信号灯カバー又はレンズの口径に応じた大きさの開口を有するフードに付け替えて、同様に各信号機のＬＥＤユニットが発する光のＥＶ値を測定し、その測定値が、規定の値を上回っているかどうかを測定する。以上、実施形態において、鉄道信号機のＬＥＤユニットの明るさをチェックする場合について説明したが、交通信号機のＬＥＤユニットその他ＬＥＤユニットを発光源とする表示器類の明るさのチェックに用いる場合も全く同じである。
【００３９】
さらに、本発明によるライトパワーチェッカーに用いた露出計の示すＥＶ値が、正規の値を示しているかどうかは、図８に示すように、標準光源２０を用いて露出計２が示すＥＶ値をチェックすることによって確認できる。図８は、標準光源２０を拡散板２１で覆い、その上面にフード１の大径側開口部３を重ね、拡散板２１を通過した光を露出計２の受光部４に受光して標準光源２０が発する光のＥＶ値を測定している。
【００４０】
【発明の効果】
以上のように本発明は、事前試験において、視認距離を確保できなくなる可能性のある露出値（ＥＶ値）を予め定めておき、使用現場にてライトパワーチェッカーを信号機・表示器類の発光源にあてがい、各信号機・表示器類のＬＥＤユニットが発する光のＥＶ値を測定し、実測値と、予め定めた下限値とを比較し、実測値が下限値を下回ったときには、信号灯前面の透明カバーを清掃し、ＬＥＤの劣化によるときには、ＬＥＤユニットを交換することによって、鉄道信号機の視認距離が確保できなくなるといった危険な事態を未然に防止することができる。
【００４１】
また、本発明によるときには、高価な光度計や照度計によらず、カメラの露出計を用い、ＬＥＤユニットの明るさを露出値（ＥＶ値）に置き換えて表示するため、特に市販のカメラの露出計を用いて実測値と、予め定めた下限値とを比較するのみで、ＬＥＤユニットの明るさを簡易に正確に評価できる効果を有する。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の１実施形態を示すライトパワーチェッカーの側面図である。
【図２】本発明の１実施形態を示すライトパワーチェッカーの正面図である。
【図３】本発明の１実施形態を示すライトパワーチェッカーの背面図である。
【図４】図３のＡ矢視図である。
【図５】本発明のライトパワーチェッカーに用いる露出計の１例を示す図である。
【図６】露出計をスリーブに組付ける要領を示す図である。
【図７】信号機の明るさを測定する要領を示す図である。
【図８】露出計が示すＥＶ値をチェックする要領を示す図である。
【符号の説明】
１ フード
２ 露出計
３ 大径側開口部
４ 露出計の受光部
５ 小径側開口部
６ カバー保護材
７ 露出計の本体
８ 測光ボタン
９ 表示窓
１０ スリーブ
１１ 凹所
１２ 蓋部
１３ 固定金具
１４ クッション
１５ フランジ部分
１６ ねじ
１７ 拡散板
１８ 信号機
１９ 信号灯カバー又はレンズ
２０ 標準光源
２１ 拡散板[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a light power checker for checking the brightness of an LED unit used as a light source for railway traffic signals, traffic signals, and indicators.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, signal light bulbs were used exclusively for color lights of railway traffic lights, but LEDs were introduced into the light sources of railway traffic lights after the three colors of red, yellow, and blue were put into practical use for LEDs (light emitting diodes). It's been a long time since it was made. LED does not break suddenly like a filament of a light bulb, and although the light intensity gradually decreases when used for a long time, it has a much longer life than a light bulb, and the life of the light bulb is 100 to 5000 hours In contrast, LEDs are generally considered to be 30,000 to 100,000 hours.
[0003]
For this reason, in a traffic light using an LED as a light emission source, work such as bulb replacement is unnecessary, so that the traffic light can be easily maintained and managed, and the number of workers can be greatly reduced. For this reason, the use of LED light bulbs is expected to progress further. Such a situation is exactly the same for traffic lights and indicators using LEDs as light sources.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, a line-of-sight distance (viewing distance) is defined for the traffic light.
A signal lamp is generally treated as a point light source because of its small viewing angle, but the illuminance generated by the light from the signal lamp in the eyes of the observer as this point light source is lowered by the square of the distance and the attenuation of light in the atmosphere. . The distance at which this illuminance decreases to the discrimination range illuminance is the visible distance (line-of-sight distance). In addition, the threshold illuminance is affected by individual differences and observation conditions because it relates to the brightness of the background and the chromaticity difference between the light source and the background. In the case of a signal light, the line-of-sight distance is a distance that can be clearly confirmed by a straight line.
[0005]
The line-of-sight distance of the multi-lamp color lamps is a position that is 600m away from the center line of the lens when the G-type 30V45W of the signal bulb is lit at the voltage of 0.8 times the rated voltage at the focal point of the combination lens. The diffusion angle is 3 degrees or more from the center line. In addition, the mechanism of 4 display and 5 display is improperly displayed from the position of 600m even if any bulb is broken by using a voltage balancer to light at 1.2 times the rated voltage. ("Signal devices / signal relays" P43, published by Japan Railway Electrical Engineering Association, 1992). The line-of-sight distance (viewing distance) is set to 600 m for signal lights using LEDs as light emission sources in the same manner.
[0006]
By the way, the LED has a longer life than a light bulb, but as described above, there is a problem that the light intensity gradually decreases with the passage of time. The causes vary, but it is not always due to deterioration of the light emitter. Rather, the luminous efficiency often decreases due to turbidity of the transparent resin cover of the LED, dirt on the surface of the transparent resin cover, or dirt on the signal lamp cover of the LED unit.
[0007]
When the luminous intensity of the LED decreases to a certain value or less, there may be a case where the viewing distance cannot be secured, which hinders the safe operation of the train. LEDs have a longer life than signal bulbs, but if left untreated for a long time without any management, the viewing distance is not secured, which is extremely dangerous for safe operation of the train.
[0008]
Thus, even if the LED has a longer life than the signal bulb, regular examination cannot be neglected. However, when the decrease in the luminous efficiency of the LED is caused by the turbidity of the transparent resin cover or the dirt on the surface of the transparent resin cover, there is no electrical change at all, so the current value of the current flowing to the LED is measured. Even if it tries, the value does not change at the time of normality, Therefore The fall of luminous efficiency cannot be detected with the current value.
[0009]
As a device for detecting an abnormality in a traffic light circuit including an LED, a system that monitors voltage and current and generates an alarm when a circuit abnormality occurs due to lightning damage has been known. As long as the current is electrically normal, there has been no known method for detecting the decrease in luminous intensity.
[0010]
An object of the present invention is to provide a light power checker for a traffic light / display device using an LED that can easily inspect a decrease in light emission efficiency of an LED unit used as a light emission source of the traffic light / display device.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, in the light power checker for traffic lights and indicators using the LED according to the present invention, the light power checker for the traffic light using the LED having a combination of a hood, a diffusion plate and an exposure meter. There,
The hood is for guiding the light emitted from the LED unit, which is the light source of the traffic light, to the light receiving part of the exposure meter. The hood is on the large diameter side applied to the signal lamp cover or lens of the LED unit, which is the light source of the traffic light / indicators. An inner diameter of the cylinder having an opening and an opening on the small diameter side facing the light receiving part of the exposure meter,
The diffusion plate is installed in the hood, diffuses the light of the LED unit incident on the large-diameter side opening, and makes the light of the LED unit evenly enter the entire surface of the light receiving unit of the exposure meter,
The exposure meter has a function of displaying the light incident on the light receiving portion as an EV value, and is attached to the hood so as to be detachable, and supports the hood to become a grip portion of the light power checker.
[0014]
It also has a sleeve,
The sleeve covers the light receiving part of the exposure meter body and fixes it in place, has a flange,
The flange is a hood that is detachably attached.
The main body of the exposure meter is inserted into the sleeve with its light receiving portion facing the opening on the small diameter side .
[0015]
In addition, it is a light power checker for traffic lights and indicators using LEDs having two or more types of hoods,
Two or more types of hoods have different opening diameters on the large-diameter side, and can be replaced with sleeves according to the size of the signal lamp cover or lens of the LED unit of the traffic signal / indicator. .
In the two or more types of hoods, the distance from the opening on the large diameter side to the light receiving portion of the exposure meter is defined to be constant.
[0016]
In addition, the exposure meter displays the brightness of the traffic light / display device as an EV value at the usage site of the traffic light / display device, and the actual measured value of the EV value is that of a predetermined traffic light / display device. This is compared with the lower limit value of the EV value that may prevent the viewing distance from being secured.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment when applied to a light power checker for checking the brightness of a signal light of a railway traffic signal will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4, the light power checker according to the present invention is a combination of a hood 1 and an exposure meter 2.
[0018]
The hood 1 is applied to the surface of a signal lamp cover or lens of a traffic light, and has a large diameter side opening 3 for receiving light emitted from an LED as a light source of the traffic light and a small diameter side facing the light receiving portion 4 of the exposure meter 2 This is a cylinder having a certain length and a conical shape having an opening 5. A signal lamp of a traffic light is composed of an LED unit in which a large number of LEDs are arranged on a substrate surface and a cover that covers the front surface. In the case of a color light signal device, a transparent cover is used as the cover. However, the cover used for other signal devices is not limited to a transparent material, and some signal lenses are used. Signal light cover or lens.
[0019]
The size of the LED unit of the signal light varies depending on the type of the traffic light. In the light power checker of the present invention, two or more types of large and small hoods having different diameters of the large-diameter opening are prepared in order to adapt to the size of the signal lamp cover or the lens. In FIG. 1, 1 a indicates a hood having a diameter larger than 1.
[0020]
A cover protective material 6 is attached to the outer edge of the large-diameter side opening 3 of the hood 1. The cover protection member 6 is a cushioning material such as an annular rubber, for example, for reducing the impact force when the edge of the hood 1 is pressed against the signal lamp cover or the lens to prevent the signal lamp cover or the lens from being damaged. Is.
[0021]
The exposure meter 2 has a function of displaying light incident on the light receiving unit 4 as an EV value. Exposure means to give appropriate light to the film surface through the lens of the camera, specifically to give the film the necessary light that matches the "film sensitivity" using the "aperture and shutter speed". . As the exposure meter used in the present invention, a camera exposure meter is used, but it is not used to obtain an exposure value for photographing, but to display light incident on the light receiving unit 4 as an EV value. There is an incident light type exposure meter suitable for this purpose.
[0022]
The incident light type exposure meter is a type of exposure meter that directly measures light hitting a subject, and the measured brightness is displayed as an EV value. EV value is an abbreviation for Exposure Value. Represents the unit of photometry. The higher the value, the brighter the subject. An ISO 100 film defines an aperture of 1.4 and a shutter speed of 1/2 second as EV1. In the present invention, the light emitted from the LED used as the light source of the traffic light is not measured directly, but the light that hits the subject, which is the original function of the exposure meter.
[0023]
In this embodiment, an example in which a commercially available product (Seconic Multimaster L-408) is used for the exposure meter 2 is shown. As shown in FIG. 5, this exposure meter is a vertically long rectangular parallelepiped, and has a light receiving portion 4 at the front upper portion of the main body 7. On one side of the main body 7, a photometric button 8 that is a power switch and directly below it. Is provided with a display window 9 for digital display of photometric values.
[0024]
The exposure meter 2 is detachably attached to the hood 1 using a sleeve 10 as shown in FIG. The sleeve 10 is a rectangular tube that covers the light receiving portion 4 of the exposure meter main body 7. The rear surface and a part of the side surface are open, and a recess 11 is formed on the lower surface through which the exposure meter main body 7 is inserted. The lid 12 that closes the opened rear surface is provided to be openable and closable. A cushion 14 is attached to the inner surface of the lid 12.
[0025]
At the time of attachment, as shown in FIG. 6, the edge of the small-diameter side opening 5 of the hood 1 is applied to the flange portion 15 formed at the front end opening of the sleeve 10 and fastened with bolts and nuts. The main body 7 of the exposure meter is inserted into the sleeve 10, and the light receiving portion 4 faces the small diameter side opening 5 of the hood 1. The means for attaching the hood 1 to the sleeve 10 is not limited to bolts and nuts, and may be detachably coupled by screws.
[0026]
In the exposure meter 2 used in the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, a light bulb B used for measuring an illumination ratio or the like is provided on the upper portion of the display window 9 so as to protrude from the side surface. The photosphere B is received in the side opening of the sleeve 10 when the exposure meter body 7 is inserted into the sleeve 10. However, since the photosphere B is not used in the present invention, the protruding surface thereof is fixed by the fixture 13. It is covered and cannot be used.
[0027]
The fixing bracket 13 is fixed to a lid portion 12 that closes the rear portion of the sleeve 10, but the lid portion 12 is configured to suppress a part of the back surface of the exposure meter main body 7 with a cushion 14 affixed to the inner surface thereof and to open the rear portion of the sleeve 10. The bracket 12a of the lid 12 and the bracket 10a projecting on the side surface of the sleeve 10 are fastened with screws 16 with the rising portion of the fixing metal 13 interposed therebetween, and the sleeve 10 is fixed to the exposure meter body 7. As a result, the main body 7 of the exposure meter is integrally assembled to the hood 1.
[0028]
The mounting structure for assembling the exposure meter main body 7 and the hood 1 integrally is a problem set by the structure and shape of the exposure meter main body 7 and is not necessarily limited to the mounting structure described above. .
[0029]
In the present invention, the hood 1 is for guiding the light emitted from the light source (LED unit) of the traffic light to the light receiving unit 4 of the exposure meter 2, and as shown in FIG. It is important that the distance L from the opening 3 on the large diameter side to the light receiving part 4 of the exposure meter 2 is defined to be constant. This is because the luminous intensity of the light emitting source is greatly influenced by the distance between the light source and the measurement surface.
[0030]
By making the distance from the opening 3 on the large diameter side of the hood 1 to the light receiving portion 4 of the exposure meter 2 the same for all hoods, compatibility is obtained for the hood used for the light power checker. A diffusing plate 17 is installed in the hood 1 as shown in FIG. The diffusing plate 17 diffuses the light of the LED unit that has entered the large-diameter side opening 3, and causes the light emitted from the LED unit to enter at least the entire surface of the light receiving unit 4 of the exposure meter. At the time of installation, the diffusion plate 17 is applied to the rim of the small-diameter side opening 5, the outer peripheral edge thereof is held down by the holding plate 17a, and this is fixed by screwing.
[0031]
In the light power checker according to the present invention in which the hood 1 and the exposure meter 2 are combined, the main body 7 of the exposure meter serves as a grip portion that supports the hood 1. When checking the brightness of the LED traffic light, as shown in FIG. 7, the exposure meter body 7 is gripped, and the tip of the hood 1 (large diameter side opening 3) is pressed against the signal lamp cover or lens 19 of the traffic light 18. In addition to turning on the power, the metering button 8 is pressed once to turn on the light meter 2.
[0032]
Thereby, the light of the LED unit emitted by the traffic light 18 enters the light receiving unit 4 of the exposure meter 2 through the diffusion plate 17, and the exposure value (EV value) is digitally displayed on the display window 9 of the exposure meter 2.
[0033]
In the present invention, an exposure value (EV value) that may prevent the viewing distance from being secured is determined in advance, and after the traffic light has been used for a certain period of time, the brightness of the traffic light is measured at the traffic light usage site. Then, the EV value is read, and the lower limit value of the predetermined EV value is compared with the actually measured value.
[0034]
When the measured value falls below the lower limit value, the traffic light may not be able to secure the viewing distance. If the cause is due to dirt on the transparent cover on the front of the signal lamp, clean the transparent cover. If it is caused by dirt, turbidity on the LED resin cover, or deterioration of the LED, replace the LED unit of the traffic light with a new unit. To deal with.
[0035]
Table 1 shows the relationship between the brightness of the LED unit and the measured value of the EV value.
Table 1 shows that when all LEDs of the LED unit are lit at rated current, when all LEDs of the LED unit are lit at 1/2 of the rated current, red LED (one type) and yellow LED are also emitted. Table 1 shows the respective luminance values and measured values of EV values when half of the LEDs of the LED unit are lit at the rated current. In Table 1, the luminance value (cd / m ² ) is a value measured using a spectral radiance meter CS-1000 manufactured by Minolta Co., Ltd. The EV value is a value measured using an incident light exposure meter L-408 manufactured by Seconic Corporation. The rated current is 20 mA.
[0036]
[Table 1]

[0037]
The values in Table 1 are not actually measured values of changes over time of the LEDs used in actual traffic lights, but are LEDs that are half the rated current with respect to the luminance value when all LEDs are lit at the rated current. The brightness value of the LED unit when the LED is turned on corresponds to when the brightness drops below half of the original brightness value, and the EV value is reduced by about 1 for any color LED. I understand. Further, when the LED of half of the LED unit is turned on at the rated current, it can be seen that the EV value is reduced by about 1 although the brightness varies depending on the color.
[0038]
When measuring the change over time in the brightness of a traffic light with a large signal lamp cover or lens, or a traffic light with a small signal lamp cover or lens diameter, the diameter of the large-diameter side opening is the size of each signal light cover or lens. It replaces with the food | hood which has an opening of the magnitude | size according to a diameter, and measures the EV value of the light which the LED unit of each signal apparatus emits similarly, and measures whether the measured value is over the regulation value. As described above, in the embodiment, the case where the brightness of the LED unit of the railroad traffic signal is checked has been described. However, the same applies to the case of checking the brightness of the display unit using the LED unit of the traffic signal and other LED units as the light source. It is.
[0039]
Further, whether or not the EV value indicated by the exposure meter used in the light power checker according to the present invention indicates a normal value is determined by using the standard light source 20 and the EV value indicated by the exposure meter 2 as shown in FIG. This can be confirmed by checking. In FIG. 8, the standard light source 20 is covered with a diffusion plate 21, the large-diameter side opening 3 of the hood 1 is overlaid on the upper surface, and the light passing through the diffusion plate 21 is received by the light receiving unit 4 of the exposure meter 2. The EV value of the light emitted by 20 is measured.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, in a preliminary test, an exposure value (EV value) that may not be able to ensure a viewing distance is determined in advance, and a light power checker is used as a light source of a traffic light / display device at a use site. At the same time, measure the EV value of the light emitted by the LED unit of each traffic light / indicator, compare the measured value with a predetermined lower limit value, and if the measured value falls below the lower limit value, When the cover is cleaned and the LED is deteriorated, it is possible to prevent a dangerous situation in which the viewing distance of the railway traffic signal cannot be secured by replacing the LED unit.
[0041]
In addition, according to the present invention, a camera exposure meter is used instead of an expensive photometer or illuminometer, and the brightness of the LED unit is replaced with an exposure value (EV value) for display. The brightness of the LED unit can be easily and accurately evaluated simply by comparing the measured value with a predetermined lower limit value using a meter.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view of a write power checker showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view of a write power checker showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a rear view of a write power checker showing an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a view as seen from an arrow A in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of an exposure meter used in the light power checker of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a view showing a procedure for assembling an exposure meter to a sleeve.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a procedure for measuring the brightness of a traffic light.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a procedure for checking an EV value indicated by an exposure meter.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hood 2 Exposure meter 3 Large diameter side opening 4 Light receiving part 5 of exposure meter Small diameter side opening 6 Cover protective material 7 Exposure meter main body 8 Metering button 9 Display window 10 Sleeve 11 Recess 12 Lid 13 Fixing bracket 14 Cushion 15 Flange portion 16 Screw 17 Diffuser 18 Traffic light 19 Signal light cover or lens 20 Standard light source 21 Diffuser

Claims (5)

A light power checker for a traffic light using an LED having a combination of a hood, a diffusion plate, and an exposure meter,
The hood is for guiding the light emitted from the LED unit, which is the light source of the traffic light, to the light receiving part of the exposure meter. The hood is on the large diameter side applied to the signal lamp cover or lens of the LED unit, which is the light source of the traffic light / indicators. An inner diameter of the cylinder having an opening and an opening on the small diameter side facing the light receiving part of the exposure meter,
The diffusion plate is installed in the hood, diffuses the light of the LED unit incident on the large-diameter side opening, and makes the light of the LED unit evenly enter the entire surface of the light receiving unit of the exposure meter,
The exposure meter has a function of displaying the light incident on the light receiving portion as an EV value, and is attached to the hood, and supports the hood to serve as a grip portion of the light power checker. Light power checker for used traffic lights and indicators. Having a sleeve,
The sleeve covers the light receiving part of the exposure meter body and fixes it in place, has a flange,
The flange is a hood that is detachably attached.
The signal meter / indicator using LEDs according to claim 1, wherein the main body of the exposure meter is inserted into the sleeve with the light receiving portion facing the small-diameter opening . Light power checker. A light power checker for traffic lights and indicators using LEDs with two or more types of hoods,
Two or more types of hoods have different opening diameters on the large-diameter side, and can be replaced with sleeves according to the size of the signal lamp cover or lens of the LED unit of the traffic signal / indicator. A light power checker for traffic lights and indicators using the LED according to claim 1 or 2. 4. A traffic light / indicator using LEDs according to claim 3, wherein the distance between the large-diameter side opening of the two or more types of hoods and the light receiving unit of the exposure meter is fixed. Light power checker.   The exposure meter displays the brightness of the traffic light / indicator as an EV value at the usage site of the traffic light / indicator, and the measured value of the EV value is the visual distance of the predetermined traffic light / indicator. 2. The light power checker for traffic lights and indicators using LEDs according to claim 1, wherein the light power checker is compared with a lower limit value of an EV value that may not be able to be secured.

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