WO2012076313A1 - Device and method for providing a replacement for an incandescent bulb - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for providing a replacement for an incandescent bulb (2) by an energy-saving luminous element (12) for a light signal in railway traffic, incorporated in a railway control center safety monitor, comprising: a) a number of luminous elements (12), in particular LED lamps, having a power supply interface, wherein the number of luminous elements for achieving a light intensity analogous to that of the incandescent bulb requires less electrical power than the incandescent bulb (2) to be replaced; b) a railway control center interface (8) for obtaining electrical power by the railway control center (4); c) an interface module (IM) connected between the railway control center interface (8) and the power supply interface (10), wherein the interface module (IM), c1) comprises a control logic (24) knowing a characteristic curve depending on a signal aspect and/or time of day for the incandescent bulb (2) to be replaced and controlling the power output at the power supply interface (10) as a function of the selected signal aspect and/or the time of day; c2) comprises a voltage meter (30) measuring the voltage present at the railway control center interface (8) and transmitting the same to the control logic (24); c3) comprises a power consumer (20) actuated by the control logic (24) as a function of the measured voltage, so that the power consumed at the railway control center interface tracks the characteristic curve of the incandescent bulb (2) to be replaced. By means of the device, it is thus possible to insert an LED luminous element in the light signal as a replacement for an incandescent bulb, so that no notice thereof is taken by in the railway control center.

Description

Device and method for implementing a light bulb replacement

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for realizing a replacement of a

Incandescent lamp through a more energy-saving light source for a traffic signal in rail-bound traffic, which is included in an interlocking safety monitoring.

As before, light signals for the control of traffic flows, especially for controlling the rail-bound traffic, a paramount importance, even if, for example, in railroading standards now exist, the train control exclusively due to by radio in the cab of a locomotive or provide information transmitted by a tax car (ETCS level 2 and above).

Such light signals are currently still a vast majority with conventional light bulbs

fitted. However, the limited life of such lamps ^¬ medium represents a very big risk for the safe ^¬ ness of traffic because non-luminous signal points can distort actually be displayed signal aspect dangerous. For this reason, stand for the control of the function of the incandescent bulbs above all things such measures that can close from the usually recorded by a light bulb lamp current to the proper function of the same. By nature, however, there is a considerable potential for failure in this type of monitoring because, for example due to parasitic leakage currents due to the sometimes very long cable routes to current flows that have nothing to do with the illumination of the actual signal lamp.

Similarly, a significant (personal) risk typically also result from the process of lamp replacement, because often here in the dark, bad

Weather conditions and sometimes under significant Time pressure has to be worked. Especially in mountainous areas are also the access to the light signals

sometimes quite exposed, for example on viaducts or before and after tunnels. Due to the increasing

Automation of control and interlocking technology are

Nowadays, many stations are no longer occupied, resulting in the event of a disruption that the distances to repair the defect are longer and thereby both the control period resp. the delay minutes increase as well as the costs for the elimination of the disturbance increase.

In US 2004/0070519 AI "Compact light emitting diode retrofit lamp and method for traffic signal lights" a signal light is disclosed in which incandescent bulbs are replaced by LED bulbs. Here are too optical

Adjustment Fresnel lenses used. The LED bulbs already contain their own energy supply.

Due to the significantly longer life of LED bulbs and due to the fact that the

As a result, incandescent filament lamps will disappear completely from the market in the medium to long term

Equipment / retrofitting of new or existing ones

Signal systems switched to LED bulbs

use. These LED bulbs often have a greater number of individual LEDs arranged in an array that are collectively lit to indicate a signal term. The failure of a single LED or a small number of individual LEDs can hardly fall due to the large number of points of light weight, which is why in addition to the incandescent lamps increased life of the LED and the system error rate is significantly lower.

However, the problem is with regard to a

Retrofitting of existing signals that the new LED bulbs are incompatible with the incandescent lamps and therefore usually high costs incurred for the creation of new signals and the existing signal structure at least partly to be scraped. It should also be borne in mind that the connection from the interlocking, and most of it still involves relay interlocking, has one

Replacement of filament lamp against LED lamp due to the very different characteristics of filament lamp and LED lamp is not tolerated problem-free. Just that

Relay interlocks are comparatively well matched to the characteristics of the filament lamps used to date to meet safety statements of quality SIL4 can. However, interventions in the control unit-side control hardware are very complicated and costly, so that this boundary condition is more or less the K. o. Criterion for the replacement of filament lamps against LED lamps can be.

The present invention is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device for the realization of a replacement of a light bulb by a more energy-saving bulbs for a light signal in rail-bound traffic, which is included in an interlocking safety monitoring. This is a replacement of filament lamps by LED bulbs or similar bulbs in a simple and cost-saving manner without a Stellwerkseitigen

Hardware conversion can be done.

This object is achieved by a device for realizing a replacement of a

Filament lamp by a more energy-saving light source for a light signal in rail-bound traffic, which is involved in an interlocking safety monitoring solved. This device comprises the following components: a) a number of light sources, in particular LED lights, with a power supply interface, the number of light sources for achieving a light intensity analogous to the light bulb requiring less electrical power than the light bulb to be replaced;

b) an interface-side interface for the purchase of

electrical power from the interlocking;

c) an interface module that is between the Stellwerkseitige Interface and the power supply interface is connected, the interface module

cl) comprises a control logic which knows a signal concept and / or time of day dependent characteristic of the bulb to be replaced and the power output to the

Power supply interface depending on the selected signal term and / or the time of day controls;

c2) comprises a voltmeter corresponding to the at

The interface-side interface measures voltage applied to the control logic;

c3) comprises a power sensor, which is controlled by the control logic in dependence on the measured voltage so that the at the interworking interface

absorbed power the characteristic of the to be replaced

Reflecting light bulb.

In this way it is possible with the device and the method according to claim 8, an LED bulb as a replacement for a filament lamp so in the light signal

insert that in the signal box it is taken no notice. The voltage measurement helps to reduce the power consumption of the entire device with the connected LED bulbs of the power consumption of the conventional

Match the filament lamp. Because the control logic is accurate

Knowing the different situation-specific characteristics of the filament lamp to be replaced, it is possible to

Characteristic curve at the interlocking interface with

to be able to trace sufficiently small time constants to detect a supposed error reaction in the interlocking, in the

Special in one on currents very sensitive

Relay interlock, safe to exclude.

The requirement of real-time adaptation of

Power consumption of the predetermined characteristic can

be met particularly well when the voltmeter operates in TRMS mode. Then already suffice over half a period of the power supply averaged square sums of Power supply (input voltage) to set the power balance according to the intended characteristic curve.

The required speed of the power adjustment is recordable particularly well if the power sensor includes a power driver in PWM mode. Of course, the power sensor, the still available, not consumed by the LED bulbs energy supply an energy storage.

But as soon as electrical energy has to be destroyed, this is done with a controlled in PWM mode

Load resistance in a particularly real-time manner.

Very special requirements must meet the device when the characteristic of the cold filament must be emulated. For a cold filament, the electrical resistance is initially much lower than in the following operation. In the case of a 40-volt filament lamp, this value is around 9 ohms at the start of the switch-on and then rises to a value in the range of approximately 68 ohms over an interval of approximately 70 ms. That's why

Particularly advantageous if the power pickup in response to the Stellwerkseitige turning on the light bulb can destroy a typical of a cold filament in the incandescent lamp Inrush current. A preferred for this purpose

For example, the procedure may be implemented by allowing the power sensor to drain the inrush current by means of a temporarily parallel resistor corresponding to the resistance of the incandescent lamp when the filament is cold, the resistance value then preferably decreasing with time (in a relatively short time). An alternative approach to this, it may provide in a further advantageous embodiment of the invention that the power pickup the inrush current in a first temporal portion after the Stellwerk side providing the electrical power to turn on the bulb by means of a temporarily connected in parallel Resistance to the resistance of the light bulb when cold

Filament corresponds, drain, and replaced in a second subsequent section, the parallel resistor through a PMW function to simulate the load characteristic of the bulb. In this way, for example, in the first milliseconds after switching on the luminous means, a resistor of suitable size can be switched as a load, which is subsequently connected by means of the PMW function

replicated load is replaced. Special requirements for the possible

faithful reproduction of the filament lamp load results when the network operator uses the signal term of a flashing signal. Here is the problem that the characteristic for the filament lamp at the first

Switching off the characteristics during the flashing mode deviates because the filament no longer meets the characteristics of the cold filament during flashing operation at each power-on. A preferred embodiment of the invention therefore provides the power sensor for a flashing operation of the lamp with a resistance to

 Replicating the switch-on load, in particular in the first few milliseconds to beschalte, which is adapted to the state of the hot filament due to the flashing operation.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention would be described below with reference to the drawing

for example, explained in more detail. Showing:

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of today's connection of a 40 V incandescent lamp from conventional relay interlockings, such as Do67 and Do69 interlockings of Siemens Switzerland AG;

Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of today's connection of the 40 V incandescent lamp with pre-signals with series-connected incandescent lamps from conventional relay interlockings; FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a series connection of an interface module for controlling an LED light source from conventional relay interlockings; Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of the principle of

 Measuring chain with feedback, according to which the interface module works;

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of the measuring principle and the measuring interval for the input voltage measurement at the input of the interface module;

Figure 6 in a schematic representation the

Start up characteristic and the characteristic control of the

Load driving;

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of a PWM control of the load; Figure 8 is a schematic representation of an inrush solution with analog technology;

9 shows a schematic representation of a series connection of interface modules in series-connected LED bulbs;

Figure 10 shows a schematic representation of the power distribution between electronics, LED and power killers; 11 shows a schematic representation of a basic circuit of the interface module with the functionality of a

Balance of payments;

Figure 12 is a schematic representation of the structure and the distribution of functions in the interface module

Figure 13 is a schematic representation of the dynamic Behavior of the 40V reference lamp with cold filament;

Figure 14 is a schematic representation of the lamp current during the first and repeated turning on of the 4 OV reference lamp at a 36 VDC source; and

Figure 15 is a schematic representation of the lamp resistance at the first and repeated turning on of the 40V reference lamp at a 36 VDC source. The basic functionality of an LED signal generator is the optical signaling for the railway driver. Here are the requirements from the

Authorization to interpret correctly and valid

applicable standards and, if necessary, specifications of the operator for light intensity, radiation characteristics, color location of the emitted light and other parameters and properties.

In order to produce the compatibility with an incandescent lamp, the electrical and partly the actual lamp and the mechanical parameters must match. For the realization of an interface module IM from a 40V / 20W incandescent lamp to currently a 12V / 10W LED, it is crucial to the operation of the adjustment of the lamp currents as well as the voltage curve u = f (t) of the

To know filament lamp. The tolerances play from the side of a (relay) interlocking as well as the

Environmental influences play an important role.

The interface module IM has at least three

Interfaces to the overall system interlocking signal:

 - Electrical interface 8 to the interlocking (40V AC

Interface or AC rectified)

 - Electrical interface 10 to the LED light point (12V / 10W interface)

 - Mechanical interface (installation location, mounting method, etc.)

- Diagnosis or Pro ectierungsschnittstelle. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of today's connection of a 40 V filament lamp 2 off

conventional relay interlockings 4, such as Do67 and Do69 interlockings of Siemens Switzerland AG. FIG. 2 shows this current connection of the 40 V filament lamp 2 in the presence of pre-signals with series-connected filament lamps from conventional relay interlockings 2. FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a series connection of a

essential to the invention interface module IM for the

Control of an LED bulb 12 from conventional relay interlocks 4. The interface module IM is located here advantageously directly on the LED bulb 12 and is interposed in a track cable 14 from the interlocking 4 to the LED bulb 12. The required replica of the U-I curve of the previously used 40V filament lamp 2 is a must, because before the characteristic can be reproduced by the interface module IM, the voltage as a real RMS value (such as filament lamp) can be detected. The challenges for the characteristic simulation are:

- Voltage and power measurement for all possible

waveforms

 - Depending on the voltage measurement, a resistive load (variable) must be added by means of a functional link in the interface module IM

The sequence of load connection (load control) is shown in Figure 4. The repatriation involves the risk that a too large load change in the

Connection with the control time can produce a tendency to oscillate. A suitable approximation algorithm reduces the tendency to oscillate and allows realization. A possible implementation of this is shown in FIG. A possible implementation variant for FIG. 5 for the start-up of the LED illuminant 12 would be a 9 ohm resistor as a load parallel to the start-up behavior in the first 5 ms switch and then by a PWM function the load

to replicate.

The replica of the dynamic characteristic is an important necessary component of the substitution of LED electronics in the relay interlocks 4. It is particularly significant that the inrush current (starting current increase of the cold lamp) for proper functioning (tightening the serial in Lamp current operated relay with a switching of the contacts) (train protection relay ZU or ZK relay) is required.

The replica of the so-called "dynamic

Characteristic "represents a quite challenging task, because this is due to the security short

Reaction times of the control unit side monitoring is relatively accurate to monitor. FIGS. 13 to 15 show the dominant parameters by way of example for a 40V filament lamp 2 used in the Swiss Federal Railways.

When using analog circuit technology, the task is that the first time a load resistance of about 9 ohms (to achieve an inrush current) must be continuously changed within 70ms to> 50 ohms. A possible solution is shown in FIG. However, the LED electronics, for example, in

Every second is switched on and off (flashing operation), the load resistance changes from 68 ohms to approx. 20 ohms (see Figure 15). There is almost no logic voltage available at the 9 ohm load for a few milliseconds; it is rather for the FPGA resp. CPU power supply needed. In the implementation variant with analog

Circuit technology achieves sufficiently good accuracy when using components of low tolerance for C and the FETs. FIG. 7 shows a solution in accordance with FIG digital circuit technology, in which the load is controlled in PWM function to set the desired characteristic.

Symmetrization (the series cascading of interface modules as shown in Figure 9) has been implemented in the following aspects:

Accuracy requirement for day or night voltage range of <± 5%

 - Stable behavior with short-term changes

- Protection against overload

 - In case of error, the power balance is targeted

switched off.

FIG. 10 shows the parts to be reached

Current balance (Leistungsbilanzierers) of the interface module IM, so that a series connection (see Figure 9) of several interface modules is possible. The accuracy to be achieved is less than ± 3-5% due to the series voltage. When the interface module IM is switched on for the first time, an identical current is generated by an incandescent lamp (see

Characteristic cold thread with an initial resistance of about 10 ohms according to Figure 13). For example, this guarantees that Domino signal boxes from Siemens Schweiz AG ensure that all relay coils connected in series are correctly connected.

The used in the interface module IM

The power balancer can be simplified as a control element. FIG. 11 shows the functional principle. The voltage of the interface module IM can be represented as a current source with fixed parallel resistors and a variable resistor 16 (power balance with PWM). The

Power dissipation of the fixed loads (electronics, i.e., FPGA or CPU, power consumption of the LED, etc) are through

Resistances simulated. The power balancer varies the power dissipation in the equivalent circuit diagram

Resistance change. P (I) = const = I ² * R = I ² *

 + +

 P loss R _ Electronics R _ LED

The above formula gives the

Power consumption / current account again. To the

Power consumption for the type of LED used

to configure, a service or

 Pro ectierungsschnittstelle provided 18, as shown in Figure 12. This interface makes it possible to operate LED's with the power source suitable for the type of building (eg 1000mA, 500mA, 350mA etc.). FIG. 12 shows a possible realization of this. If highly efficient LED's are activated, the resulting bigger unused lead from the

Power balance detected and converted to a corresponding resistor 20 in heat or used as an example for the charge of secondary cells. The realization of the power consumer is determined mainly by the speed of the required change. To keep vibration tendencies in the lighting system as small as possible, the power consumer with PWM and a change interval of about 10 to 50 ms

realized.

The flashing signal lamp is a special case in the Swiss Federal Railways. This kind of

Signaling makes it possible to maintain railway operation with performance losses if one thread fails. With the so-called Fusi flashing the signal lamp (emergency stop lamp) with 1Hz and the clock ratio of 1: 1 is controlled by the relay interlocking. For the replica of this flashing to the

Domino interlockings will be the dynamic characteristic of the

Filament filament lamp according to FIGS. 14 and 15

considered.

The power measurement of the interface module IM is highly dependent on the accuracy of the input voltage measurement. When the input voltage is measured with sufficient accuracy the interface module IM switches the

Load control using PWM or similar methods

functionally safe added.

The failure behavior of the interface module IM reproduces the behavior of the incandescent lamp as well and reliably as possible. The switch-on behavior also reliably bridges the failure simulation. The inertia is achieved with good repeatability. The

Failure behavior can be simulated on the one hand by a reactivatable fuse or by a targeted load shedding.

The heat dissipation is not easy to implement according to the experience of many years of hardware Pro ekten and is usually underestimated. To achieve a sufficiently good convection, as large an area as possible

used. A viable solution is the use of the existing metal housing of the signal lamp to distribute the heat.

The following ideas could also be used:

- Resistance to housing of the signal lamp

 - Looking down from the induction hotplate, a principle of eddy currents would allow very good heat dissipation. For this purpose, the housing of the signal lamp should convert the eddy currents into heat.

In the series connection of two or three lamps arises in a short circuit on the / the intact

Light sources a considerable overvoltage, which is to be controlled in the bulbs. The clarifications of the

Signal circuits show that an overvoltage of 20% can be reliably detected and controlled in a defined period of time.

Starting from the basic principle of the light bulb that electrical energy is converted into light and heat, first the physical conditions and Properties shown exactly. Due to the fact that the signal form from the lamp supply can contain up to 30% harmonic components, the detection of the voltage will take this into account. Derived from the implementation of

 Interface Module IM means this is a sturdy

 Measuring principle must be applied.

Based on these experiences, the following principles are thus not used:

 - zero crossing detection

 - RMS evaluation with rectifier

 - averaging over periods (single or multiple)

Derived from the principle of the light bulb, it is recommended that the "temporal integration" over one or two

 Periods. The following principles can be used for the realization:

 - Integration of time values (discrete integration of

 values)

 - Formation of (T) RMS values

 - Analog integration with operational amplifier

The selection of the principle is carried out according to the following table.

The following section shows how the input voltage can be determined from a rectified sine signal with a maximum of 35% harmonic component (up to the 20th harmonic). The each variant was tested by means of a Mathlabskripts, and the measurement accuracy determined, the following sub-chapters are the following Variabein used:

 - Ui: voltage value

 - S: number of samples per half-wave

In the peak detection, a peak value is determined for each half-wave. This is a very simple method of voltage measurement. For the implementation is a

 Low-pass filter necessary, already from the first

Harmonic brings a certain damping. The filter can be implemented digitally. In addition, a comparator (8 x 8 bits), a little logic and a register in which the instantaneous peak value is stored are necessary. The

 Accuracy of the voltage measurement achieved here at a 35% harmonic content about ± 10%, which is almost robust.

A very simple algorithm for detecting the input voltage is the calculation of the sum of the individual voltage measurements and their averaging over a half-wave. To differences between the positive and negative

Half-wave, this value should be averaged over at least two half waves as follows:

1 ^s

 mean = - * V [/ ■

 S ^ i = l '

This calculation can be implemented very easily, for example on an FPGA. It is just an adder (about 16 x 8 bit, depending on S) and some logic necessary. The division can be done by a clever choice of S (S e {2 ⁿ }) by means of a bit shift operation. An analogue low-pass filter in front of the rectifier is

recommended, so that high-frequency signal components are not measured. With a 35% harmonic content, the measurement accuracy with this method is approx. ± 5% and is about twice as accurate as the previous one. However, the evaluation of two half-waves are required for this accuracy (ie 20 ms at 50 Hz).

A little more complicated is the determination of

 Input voltage when calculating the RMS value. Here is the root of all the readings of a half wave

calculated average sum of the input voltage. This result should also be averaged over both half-waves of a sine wave.

For the calculation of the square sum becomes

 Multiplier (about 8 x 8 bits) and an adder (about 22 x 16 bits, depending on S) needed. In addition, at the end of the root must be drawn from the sum. The root function can be implemented relatively space-saving in VHDL. Thus, this calculation method can also be implemented on an FPGA. Again, an analog low-pass filter should be provided for filtering high-frequency signal components. To the

 To be able to increase integration density on the board (ie to select a small FPGA), the calculation of the effective value could be taken over from a DSP. With a 35% harmonic content, the measurement accuracy with this process is about -1% to + 3%. If digital

 Low pass filter should be used, it is advantageous to process a non-rectified signal. A rectified signal loses through a good low-pass filter, the zero crossings and can then no longer be meaningfully evaluated.

The realization variant shown in FIG. 12 shows the architecture for the interface module IM without

Security mechanisms. The security mechanisms for

Achievement of the approval according to EN 50129 will be separated later described. There are then also the various

Architectures to achieve the necessary error disclosure described. The interface module IM includes on the

an interface EMV protection 22 and then has a number of controlled by a control logic 24 and monitored function blocks on. The

Control logic 24 itself has a service and

Configuration interface 18. A function block

Automatic shut-off 26 primarily deals with the case of the defective LED light-emitting means 12 and also ensures that the LED light bulbs 12 do not glow (fade). Of the

Function block "internal voltage conditioning" 28 applies to the provision of the interface module IM required

Tensions, in particular the provision of a

sufficient voltage for the control logic 24 in the case of

Replica of the inbrush inrush current. The function block "TRMS voltage measurement" 30 has a fundamental role for the interface module IM, because only with a high quality of the measurement of the input voltage can the function of the filament lamp replacement be guaranteed in the first place Especially the time-critical process of the Inbrush stream replica. The functional block "operating state monitoring" 34 ensures the monitoring of the operation of the interface module IM and the LED lighting device 12 it controls.The function block "energy balancer" 36 has the task in a series connection of interface modules IM to

Control of several LED bulbs 12 to balance the energy absorbed per module and to adjust them under the interface modules IM. The function block

 "Current interface" 38 decides, depending on the LED illuminant 12 used, which current is delivered to the LED illuminant 12. The function block

"Luminous flux monitoring" 40 detects whether the LED bulb 12 is actually lit and also in

correct mode lights up (eg at night reduction of the light output). The function block "energy shredder" 20ist placed here outside the interface module IM to

represent that the excess energy must probably be implemented in heat usually outside of the interface module IM in heat or, for example, an external or, of course, an internal energy storage is supplied.

The lamp characteristic is simulated by means of resistors at the input. One of the resistors is switched on during the turn-on time of the FPGA to the regular one

Simulate electricity purchase. Once the FPGA the LEDs

turns on, the resistor is disconnected from the mains. This resistance can be controlled, for example, by the function group "inrush current automatic".

The security consideration depends on the architecture of the interface module. The safety objectives for SIL 4 according to EN 50129 can only be achieved due to the functionality and the system limits by means of two independent elements / channels or with a special test procedure. In order to ensure the error disclosure of the light output, it is a good solution to detect this suburb directly at the LED bulbs 12 and two channels to the

 Pass control logic 24 of the interface module IM.

With regard to the operational reliability and the feasibility of this interface module IM stands above all that the

Interlocking 4 on the electricity purchase on the basis of

Glühlampenkriterien is returned, whether the

turned on LED bulbs 12 actually lit.

On the other hand, the LED lamp 12 may not light up due to external influences, influencing voltages, etc. without activation by the signal box 4. For this, a minimum glow limit in the range of those of the substituted filament lamp (the glow limit) must also in case of failure

be respected. At the same signal (the same

Function group), the LED bulbs 12 must have the same light intensity within a certain tolerance. If during daytime operation a single point of light of a term, the must be represented by more than one light point, incorrectly works in the night mode, this can be perceived as too high signal concept (eg F2 Fl or F5 * Fl *) and would represent a serious error signal.

After the safety-related

Conditions could be driving the LED single-channel

be carried out when working with a light monitoring as an independent viewing unit with shutdown capability. At least one absolute lower threshold must be monitored. However, a wrong day / night operating mode could not be reliably detected. Therefore, should the

Monitoring threshold for the light intensity measurement depends on the input voltage. For this the evaluation of the

Input voltage for day / night operation both in the control channel as well as in the monitoring channel done. at

continuous adjustment of the signal intensity in proportion to the input voltage, a simpler evaluation of the input voltage without true RMS calculation could possibly be used in the monitoring channel.

Alternatively, a 2-channel architecture

 (composite fail-safety) possible. To compensate for tolerances, an exchange of the TRSM results between the channels must be provided. Each channel evaluates the deviation to

Next channel, if it is in the tolerable range, both channels continue to work with a common value.

If the LED bulb 12 does not emit enough luminous flux, the monitored current window would have to be left in the interlocking 4. However, not the power reference of each individual light spot is monitored by the relay interlocking 4, but depending on the driving concept of the current reference of series circuits

multiple points of light, or points of light and equivalent resistance. This makes it difficult with a change of the

Power reference to reliably reveal the failure of the light spot. The safety-related reaction therefore ideally consists in the complete interruption of the current path, as is the case with a filament lamp in the case of filament defect.

This raises the question of whether the shutdown must be reversible by the interface module IM so that after replacement of an LED bulb 12, the interface module IM can be put back into operation. A reversible

Shutdown with "reset button" is difficult to

realize, since in the ideal case, the current path is completely interrupted and thus the interface module 12 is disconnected from the power supply. In addition, the light point is usually not switched on when replacing the LED bulb from the interlocking (except home position lamps). In addition, in the case of a reversible solution, the maintenance of the safe condition according to EN 50129 must be proven, even in the event of a fault. For this purpose, for example, a portion of the available in excess electrical power could not be reduced via the energy shredder 20, but in one

Be stored battery so that the interface module IM would always be sufficient for the reboot electrical power available.

For the light intensity adjustment day / night, there are the variants of the continuous adjustment of the light intensity depending on the applied voltage, or the active

Switchover between operating conditions day and night.

Previous solutions with continuous adaptation usually have the disadvantage that the lowering of the light intensity at night is too low. Active switching has the advantage that greater light intensity differences, e.g. be achieved by driving a different number of LED bulbs / luminous points within a signal point. Likewise, an active switching with specification of the operating mode for the definition of a

generic illuminant interface be advantageous.

Modern LED can still analog dimming on basis

Rated current of 4: 1 to., More is required, PWM operation is required. So far not considered is the observance of a minimum smoldering limit. It should be avoided that in the event of failure of the "energy extinguisher" 20, the LED can already be lit with a very low input current at the interface module IM Ideally, a captive

Connection between activation of the LED and minimum current consumption can be realized. Otherwise, the monitoring function would have to monitor a minimum power consumption in addition to the luminous flux. Another point to note is that the incandescent lamp is considered to be a strictly resistive resistor with short-term overload resistance and a small time constant with respect to light emission. The brief flash of LED bulbs in the dark state would be intolerable especially at night and is therefore eliminated with the maintenance of the minimum glow limit.

FIG. 13 shows the lamp characteristic with a cold filament. When switching on, there is an ohmic cold resistance of approx. 9 ohms. Within 70 ms, the lamp resistance at day voltage (38V) increases to 68 to 70 ohms.

Claims

claims

1. Apparatus for realizing a replacement of a

Incandescent lamp (2) by a more energy-saving light source (12) for a light signal in rail-bound traffic, which is included in an on-board safety monitoring, comprising:

a) a number of lighting means (12), in particular LED lights, with a power supply interface, wherein the number of lighting means for achieving one of

Incandescent analog light intensity less electric power needed than the incandescent lamp to be replaced (2);

b) an interface-side interface (8) for the purchase of electrical power from the interlocking (4);

c) an interface module (IM), which between the

Punch interface (8) and the

 Power supply interface (10) is connected, wherein the interface module (IM)

cl) comprises a control logic (24), which is a

knows signal concept and / or time of day-dependent characteristic of the bulb to be replaced (2) and controls the power output to the power supply interface (10) in dependence on the selected signal term and / or the time of day;

c2) comprises a voltmeter (30) which measures the voltage applied to the interlocking interface (8) and transmits it to the control logic (24);

c3) comprises a power sensor (20) provided by the

Control logic (24) as a function of the measured voltage is controlled so that the on the Stellwerkseitigen

Interface (8) recorded power simulates the characteristic of the bulb to be replaced (2).

2. Apparatus according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the voltmeter (30) operates in TRMS mode.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that

the power sensor (20) comprises a power driver (21) in PWM mode.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

the power sensor (20) in response to the

Stellwerkseitige turning on the bulb (12) destroys a typical for a cold filament in the incandescent lamp (2) Inrush current.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4,

characterized in that

the power sensor (20) can drain the inrush current by means of a temporarily parallel resistor, which corresponds to the resistance of the incandescent lamp when the filament is cold, the resistance value preferably decreasing with time.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4,

characterized in that

the power sensor (20) the inrush current in a first temporal portion after the Stellwerk side providing the electrical power for switching on the light source (12) by means of a temporarily parallel connected

 Resist the resistance of the filament bulb when the filament is cold, and in a second subsequent section replace the resistor in parallel with a PMW function to simulate the load characteristic of the filament bulb.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

the power sensor (20) for a flashing operation of

Illuminant (12) is connected to a resistor which is adapted to the state of the hot filament as a result of the flashing operation.

8. A method for implementing a replacement of an incandescent lamp (2) by a more energy-efficient light source (12) for a light signal in rail traffic, which is included in a safety-monitoring on the workstation, comprising:

a) providing a number of light sources (12), in particular LED lights, with a

 Power supply interface, where the number of

Lamps to achieve a similar incandescent analog luminosity less electrical power required than the bulb to be replaced (2);

b) setting up an interface-side interface (8) for the purchase of electrical power from the interlocking (4); c) providing an interface module (IM), which between the interface-side interface (8) and the

 Power supply interface (10) is connected, wherein the interface module (IM)

cl) comprises a control logic (24), which is a

knows signal concept and / or time of day-dependent characteristic of the bulb to be replaced (2) and controls the power output to the power supply interface (10) in dependence on the selected signal term and / or the time of day;

c2) comprises a voltmeter (30) which measures the voltage applied to the interlocking interface (8) and transmits it to the control logic (24);

c3) comprises a power sensor (20) provided by the

Control logic (24) as a function of the measured voltage is controlled so that the on the Stellwerkseitigen

Interface (8) recorded power simulates the characteristic of the bulb to be replaced (2).

9. The method according to claim 8,

characterized in that

the voltmeter (30) operates in TRMS mode.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that

the power sensor (20) comprises a power driver (21) in PWM mode.

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 8 to 10, characterized in that

the power sensor (20) in response to the

Stellwerkseitige turning on the bulb (12) destroys a typical for a cold filament in the incandescent lamp (2) Inrush current.

12. The method according to claim 11,

characterized in that

the power sensor (20) can drain the inrush current by means of a temporarily parallel resistor, which corresponds to the resistance of the incandescent lamp when the filament is cold, the resistance value preferably decreasing with time.

13. The method according to claim 11,

characterized in that

the power sensor (20) the inrush current in a first temporal portion after the Stellwerk side providing the electrical power for switching on the light source (12) by means of a temporarily parallel connected

 Resist the resistance of the filament bulb when the filament is cold, and in a second subsequent section replace the resistor in parallel with a PMW function to simulate the load characteristic of the filament bulb.

14. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 8 to

13, characterized in that

the power sensor (20) for a flashing operation of

Illuminant (12) is connected to a resistor which is adapted to the state of the hot filament as a result of the flashing operation.