Apparatus and method for reducing failures in traffic signals
View Patent ↗An apparatus and method for testing an independent monitoring circuit in an LED traffic signal is provided. The apparatus comprises: a proof test circuit embedded within the traffic signal; and a proof test device embedded within the traffic signal. The method comprises: via the proof test circuit, simulating a faulty traffic signal state; activating the independent monitoring circuit without switching the traffic signal into a high impedance state; energizing the proof test device; and via the proof test device, communicating externally the current state of the independent monitoring circuit.
1. An apparatus for testing LED traffic signal components, the apparatus comprising:
an independent monitoring circuit that is configured to continuously receive LED information and disconnect an LED signal when the independent monitoring circuit detects that the LED signal is not generating light;
a proof test circuit embedded within the traffic signal and in communication with the independent monitoring circuit, wherein the proof test circuit is configured to simulate a faulty traffic signal state to activate the independent monitoring circuit without switching the traffic signal into a high impedance state;
a proof test device embedded within the traffic signal and in communication with the independent monitoring circuit, wherein the proof test device is configured to communicate externally a current state of the independent monitoring circuit.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the proof test circuit is configured to be activated via a push button with two contacts and a current limiting resistor.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the proof test circuit is configured to be activated via a mechanical button associated with an electronic circuit.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the proof test circuit comprises an electronic circuit that self-generates a test command for the independent monitoring circuit at specified intervals and for a limited period of time.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the proof test device comprises a light-emitting device.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the light-emitting device comprises a light emitting diode that generates light when current passes through it and a light conduit device for bringing the light spot at a desired location.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the proof test device comprises a wireless transmission signal emitter for establishing a wireless communication path to transfer independent monitoring circuit state information.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the proof test device comprises an infrared signal emitter to transfer independent monitoring circuit state information.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the proof test device comprises an electronic circuit that uses a traffic signal power cable to transmit independent monitoring circuit state information.
10. A method of testing an independent monitoring circuit in a LED traffic signal, the method comprising:
via a proof test circuit embedded in the traffic signal, simulating a faulty traffic signal state;
activating the independent monitoring circuit without switching the traffic signal into a high impedance state;
energizing a proof test device embedded in the traffic signal; and
via the proof test device, communicating externally the current state of the independent monitoring circuit.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising: detecting the faulty traffic signal state when the current equals zero or is below some threshold value.
12. The method of claim 10 , activating the proof test circuit via a push button with two contacts and a current limiting resistor.
13. The method of claim 10 , activating the proof test circuit via a mechanical button associated with an electronic circuit.
14. The method of claim 10 , activating the proof test circuit via an electronic circuit that self-generates a test command for the independent monitoring circuit at specified intervals and for a limited period of time.
15. The method of 10 , activating the proof test device via a light-emitting device.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising a light emitting diode that generates light when current passes through it and a light conduit device for bringing the light spot at a desired location.
17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising: activating the proof test device via a wireless transmission signal emitter that establishes a wireless communication path to transfer independent monitoring circuit state information.
18. The method of claim 10 , further comprising: activating the proof test device via an infrared signal emitter to transfer independent monitoring circuit state information.
19. The method of claim 10 , further comprising: activating the proof test device via an electronic circuit that uses a traffic signal power cable to transmit independent monitoring circuit state information.