IP Library Granted Patent US 9,095,028
Granted Patent B2
US 9,095,028 · App. 13/732,069 · Granted Jul 28, 2015

Method and apparatus for monitoring LED beacon lights

Inventors: John Patrick Peck (Manasquan, NJ); Kevin A. Hebborn (Toms River, NJ)
Assignee: Dialight Corporation
H05B33/0854H05B33/0893
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,095,028
App. No.
13/732,069
Granted
Jul 28, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a method, computer-readable medium and apparatus for monitoring a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) light banks for each one of a plurality of LED beacon lights. In one embodiment, the method includes determining an amount of ambient light, selecting an operating mode for each one of the plurality of LED beacon lights based upon the amount of ambient light, determining a value of a threshold for the operating mode that is selected, receiving a light output value of each one of the plurality of LED beacon lights, comparing the light output value of each one of the plurality of LED beacon lights to the predetermined value of the dynamic threshold and generating an alarm when the light output value of any one of the plurality of LED beacon lights falls below the predetermined value of the dynamic threshold.

Claims (40)

1. A method for monitoring a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) light banks for each one of a plurality of LED beacon lights, comprising:

determining, by a processor, an amount of ambient light;

selecting, by the processor, an operating mode for each one of the plurality of LED beacon lights based upon the amount of ambient light;

determining, by the processor, a value of a threshold for the operating mode that is selected, wherein the value of the threshold for a minimum amount of light output is different for each one of a plurality of operating modes, wherein the plurality of operating modes comprises a day time mode that produces at least a first amount of light output, a twilight mode that produces at least a second amount of light output and a night time mode that produces at least a third amount of light output, wherein the first amount of light output, the second amount of light output and the third amount of light output are different amounts of light output;

receiving, by the processor, a light output value of each one of the plurality of LED beacon lights;

comparing, by the processor, the light output value of each one of the plurality of LED beacon lights to the value of the threshold; and

generating, by the processor, an alarm when the light output value of any one of the plurality of LED beacon lights falls below the value of the threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to generating the alarm, powering on an alternate one of the plurality of LED light banks.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the light output value is calculated based upon a voltage drop across a respective one of the plurality of LED beacon lights.

4. The method of claim 1 , each one of the plurality of LED banks for each one of the plurality of LED beacon lights comprises a unique identifier.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the alarm provides a respective unique identifier of one of the plurality of LED banks that is failing.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the alternate one of the plurality of LED light banks emits light in a same direction as a failed one of the plurality of LED light banks.

7. A tangible computer-readable medium to store a plurality of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations for monitoring a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) light banks for each one of a plurality of LED beacon lights, the operations comprising:

determining an amount of ambient light;

selecting an operating mode for each one of the plurality of LED beacon lights based upon the amount of ambient light;

determining a value of a threshold for the operating mode that is selected, wherein the value of the threshold for a minimum amount of light output is different for each one of a plurality of operating modes, wherein the plurality of operating modes comprises a day time mode that produces at least a first amount of light output, a twilight mode that produces at least a second amount of light output and a night time mode that produces at least a third amount of light output, wherein the first amount of light output, the second amount of light output and the third amount of light output are different amounts of light output;

receiving a light output value of each one of the plurality of LED beacon lights;

comparing the light output value of each one of the plurality of LED beacon lights to the value of the threshold; and

generating an alarm when the light output value of any one of the plurality of LED beacon lights falls below the value of the threshold.

8. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 7 , further comprising:

in response to generating the alarm, powering on an alternate one of the plurality of LED light banks.

9. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the alternate one of the plurality of LED light banks emits light in a same direction as a failed one of the plurality of LED light banks.

10. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the light output value is calculated based upon a voltage drop across a respective one of the plurality of LED beacon lights.

11. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 7 , each one of the plurality of LED banks for each one of the plurality of LED beacon lights comprises a unique identifier.

12. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the alarm provides a respective unique identifier of one of the plurality of LED banks that is failing.

13. An apparatus for monitoring a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) light banks for each one of a plurality of LED beacon lights, comprising:

a processor; and

a tangible computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

determining an amount of ambient light;

selecting an operating mode for each one of the plurality of LED beacon lights based upon the amount of ambient light;

determining a value of a threshold for the operating mode that is selected, wherein the value of the threshold for a minimum amount of light output is different for each one of a plurality of operating modes, wherein the plurality of operating modes comprises a day time mode that produces at least a first amount of light output, a twilight mode that produces at least a second amount of light output and a night time mode that produces at least a third amount of light output, wherein the first amount of light output, the second amount of light output and the third amount of light output are different amounts of light output;

receiving a light output value of each one of the plurality of LED beacon lights;

comparing the light output value of each one of the plurality of LED beacon lights to the value of the threshold; and

generating an alarm when the light output value of any one of the plurality of LED beacon lights falls below the value of the threshold.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , each one of the plurality of LED banks for each one of the plurality of LED beacon lights comprises a unique identifier.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the alarm provides a respective unique identifier of one of the plurality of LED banks that is failing.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising:

in response to generating the alarm, powering on an alternate one of the plurality of LED light banks, wherein the alternate one of the plurality of LED light banks emits light in a same direction as a failed one of the plurality of LED light banks.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the light output value is calculated based upon a voltage drop across a respective one of the plurality of LED beacon lights.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2026
From: HSBC UK BANK PLC
To: DIALIGHT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 075458/0034 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 23, 2026
From: DIALIGHT CORPORATION
To: HSBC UK BANK PLC
Reel/Frame 075465/0389 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 21, 2022
From: DIALIGHT CORPORATION
To: HSBC UK BANK PLC, AS SECURITY AGENT
Reel/Frame 060803/0351 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 1, 2013
From: PECK, JOHN PATRICK; HEBBORN, KEVIN A.
To: DIALIGHT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029904/0767 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140184071A1 · Jul 3, 2014