LED traffic signal compensation and protection methods
View Patent ↗According to one aspect of the present disclosure, systems and methods for monitoring one or more operating parameters of a traffic lamp and adjusting light output of one or more light sources thereof to correct for one or more degradation factors are provided. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, systems and methods for monitoring one or more operating parameters of a traffic lamp and generating an indication if end of life is detected with the traffic lamp, where end of life is determined based on the one or more operating parameters. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, systems and methods for monitoring one or more operating parameters of a traffic lamp and entering the traffic lamp into a self-protected mode if a fault is detected with the one or more operating parameters.
1. A traffic lamp comprising:
one or more light sources;
one or more temperature sensors that measure an internal ambient temperature of the entire traffic lamp, wherein the temperature sensors are located on or proximately close to a traffic lamp power supply;
one or more memory modules; and
a controller internal to the traffic lamp that actively monitors one or more operating parameters of the traffic lamp including operating usage of the traffic lamp during its active power cycle and internal power supply ambient temperature, compares these values to pre-determined thresholds, and enters the traffic lamp into a self-protected mode, wherein the controller changes internal operating parameters and behavior to enable continuous operation of the traffic lamp and to protect itself from damaging abnormal operating conditions, and once abnormal operating conditions are removed, revert the traffic lamp to its normal intended operating parameters and behavior.
2. The traffic lamp of claim 1 , wherein one of the operating parameters is operating temperature.
3. The traffic lamp of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to log operating time of the traffic lamp to one or more of the memory modules.
4. The traffic lamp of claim 3 , wherein one of the operating parameters is operating time of the traffic lamp.
5. The traffic lamp of claim 1 , wherein a fault is detected if a current value of one of the operating parameters exceeds a threshold.
6. The traffic lamp of claim 5 , wherein the threshold is a maximum operating temperature.
7. The traffic lamp of claim 1 , wherein the self-protected mode reduces the traffic lamp power consumption to a safe level and prevents the traffic lamp from overheating.
8. A traffic lamp comprising:
one or more light sources;
one or more memory modules;
an end of life indication interface; and
a controller internal to the traffic lamp that actively monitors the operating time of the entire traffic lamp, generates a special indication signal through the end of life indication interface if end of life is detected with the traffic lamp, wherein end of life is determined based on the one or more operating parameters, and wherein the traffic lamp is configured to operate until removed from service.
9. The traffic lamp of claim 8 , wherein end of life is detected if operating time of the traffic lamp exceeds a maximum operating time.
10. The traffic lamp of claim 8 , wherein end of life is detected if light output of the one or more light sources cannot be guaranteed.
11. The traffic lamp of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to log operating time of the traffic lamp to one or more of the memory modules.
12. The traffic lamp of claim 11 , wherein one of the operating parameters is operating time.
13. The traffic lamp of claim 8 , wherein the indication includes controlling of one or more of an end of life indication LED, sending a signal, and enabling a light source.
14. A traffic lamp comprising:
one or more light sources;
one or more memory modules; and
a controller that monitors one or more operating parameters of the traffic lamp, wherein the operating parameters include the internal ambient temperature of the entire traffic lamp and total operating time of the traffic lamp, and logs at least one of these one or more operating parameters to at least one of the memory modules, wherein said controller adjusts light output of the one or more light sources to correct for one or more degradation factors based on the internal ambient temperature of the entire traffic lamp and total operating time of the traffic lamp to maintain a constant light output level of the light sources.
15. The traffic lamp of claim 14 , wherein the degradation factors include at least one of operating time and operating temperature.
16. The traffic lamp of claim 14 , wherein one of the degradation factors is operating time.
17. The traffic lamp of claim 14 , wherein the controller adjusts light output by controlling output current to the one or more light sources.