DE102023001746A1 - signal chamber for a traffic light system - Google Patents

Abstract

The subject matter of the invention is a signal chamber for a traffic light system, comprising at least one logic module with a bus connection and at least one lighting module, wherein the logic module and the lighting module are arranged in slots separate from one another and wherein each of the at least one logic module is connected to at least one lighting module. The invention further relates to a signal system with such a signal chamber.

Description

The invention relates to a signal chamber for a traffic light system with at least one logic module with bus connection and at least one lighting module, wherein the logic module and the lighting module are arranged in slots separate from one another and wherein each of the at least one logic module is connected to at least one of the lighting module assemblies. The invention further relates to a signal system with such a signal chamber.

Signal systems are used in many areas to display information, a warning or the like using one or more light signals. A typical example of this is a traffic light system. The area of application for such signal systems is safety-related (avoiding traffic-endangering signals).

The signal system usually consists of several signal generators, which in turn are made up of one or more signal chambers, which contain the corresponding light source, for example one or more LEDs and its control and/or monitoring in the form of an (electronic) logic module. A signal chamber is basically a housing that has a holder for the light source and a possible electronic module inside. Older light sources with incandescent/halogen lamps generally do not require any control or monitoring modules in the signal chambers.

If the lamp and/or the assembly is defective, the housing must be opened and the entire unit replaced. The repair is therefore carried out by switching off the entire system, which can lead to significant disruption to road traffic. Particularly in the case of a signal system with the highest availability requirements, it is desirable to carry out the repair without switching off the system.

WO 2019/080952 A1 discloses a signal chamber whose housing has an insert with a rotating holder for slots for electronic modules. To replace a module, the slots can be rotated to align with an opening in the housing. It is not necessary to remove an insert. The disadvantage is that logic and lighting modules cannot be plugged in separately and therefore the module must be replaced in its entirety.

The invention was based on the object of providing a housing for accommodating safety-relevant components in which the replacement of redundant components is possible without switching off a system containing the signal chamber and without affecting road traffic. In particular, the replacement of components should be simple, quick and resource-efficient (only the defective part, not the entire assembly).

This object is achieved by a signal chamber for a traffic light system, comprising at least one logic module with bus connection and at least one lighting module, wherein the logic module and the lighting module are arranged on slots separate from one another and wherein each of the at least one logic module is connected to at least one lighting module.

The bus connection can be used to establish a connection to a higher-level control unit, which may be located in an external control cabinet.

The logic assembly and the lamp assembly are usually connected with a cable.

The light source assembly is preferably an LED assembly. Such an assembly can consist of one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Preferably, it consists of two or three LEDs.

The presence of at least two slots each for the lighting and logic modules enables operation with redundant modules (2-channel system). With 3 slots each, 3-channel operation with single-fault tolerance is possible.

Bus systems for traffic lights are generally well known, for example in the case of a remote pedestrian traffic light system. However, the bus usually ends in a switch box on the mast. From here, the signals are then switched using individual wire control of the lamps.

With a single-wire control of the modules, a voltage and/or a current is switched to the modules and in the case of a traffic light system, the signal lights up after a few milliseconds (without voltage/current the signal is off/dark). If a defect occurs, the traffic light system usually goes into the off state (flashing yellow). The system then usually has to be repaired immediately or later, depending on the required urgency. Redundancy can be created by duplicating the same signals. The main signal of a direction of travel is generally not redundant, which means that even if a repeater signal generator is present, the traffic light system goes into the off state if the main signal fails.

However, if the modules are controlled directly via a bus (e.g. CAN bus, as opposed to single-wire control), a constant voltage is applied and a command must be sent to switch on/off. If there are only two redundant modules and an error in the command recognition of a module, it is not possible to decide which module is faulty and which is working correctly. As a result, the traffic light system would have to switch itself off, despite the redundancy. If there are three redundant modules and an error, however, a "two out of three" majority decision can be made. The replacement can be carried out with particular advantage during normal operation of a system that includes the signal chamber.

The signal chamber therefore preferably comprises three redundant logic modules.

Preferably, the logic modules control more than just one signal (light module). This means that several chambers can be supplied from one chamber within a signal generator. For this purpose, each light module is connected by cable to each of the existing logic modules. In a traffic light system, the signal chamber described above can form and supply a motor vehicle signal generator (three chambers) or a pedestrian signal generator (two chambers).

In addition, different colors (i.e. light assemblies of different colors) and symbols (composite signals) can be signaled within a signal chamber. This feature is advantageous when there is space constraints on the mast.

Thanks to the logic module with a direct bus connection in a signal chamber and short lines (cables) to the light module, a higher-level control unit can switch and monitor changes in the brightness of the signals. The logic module can detect the aging of the LEDs and the contamination of the lens and also regulate the brightness of the signals. Sensors for temperature, humidity or position can also be easily integrated.

Preferably, the signal chamber comprises a front housing part and a rear housing part, wherein one housing part comprises the slot(s) for the logic module(s).

The rear housing part preferably comprises a closable repair opening. The rear housing part can also be designed to be removable for repair.

The signal chamber preferably comprises a holder arranged between the front and rear housing parts, on which at least one slot for the lamp assembly is arranged.

Preferably, the optical axis of the lamp assembly can be moved by inserting the lamp assembly at an offset position on the holder.

The number of light source assemblies is preferably greater than the number of logic assemblies. The number of light source assemblies can also correspond to the number of logic assemblies.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a signaling system which comprises at least one of the described signal chambers.

In particular, the signal system is a traffic signal system.

The signaling system preferably comprises the described signal chamber (primary signal chamber) and at least one further signal chamber, wherein the further signal chamber has lighting assemblies that are connected to the logic assemblies of the primary signal chamber. The primary signal chamber therefore preferably comprises all logic assemblies, while all further signal chambers of a signal generator contain only lighting assemblies.

• 1 zeigt eine erfindungsgemäße Signalkammer (Explosionsdarstellung).
• 2 zeigt eine alternative Ausführungsform.
• 3 zeigt eine Detailansicht einer Halterung für Leuchtmittel-Baugruppen.
• 4 zeigt eine alternative Halterung für Leuchtmittel-Baugruppen.
• 5 zeigt eine Verkabelung einer erfindungsgemäßen Signalanlage.

Preferably, the housing (or the individual housing components) is made of a UV-stable and weatherproof plastic, for example PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene) or PET (polyethylene terephthalate). The holder is also preferably made of such a plastic. The housing and/or the holder can particularly preferably be manufactured by injection molding. Manufacturing by 3D printing is also conceivable.

• 1 shows a signal chamber according to the invention (exploded view).
• 2 shows an alternative embodiment.
• 3 shows a detailed view of a holder for lamp assemblies.
• 4 shows an alternative holder for lamp assemblies.
• 5 shows a wiring of a signaling system according to the invention.

The 1 shows an embodiment of the signal chamber 1 according to the invention, consisting of a cover 4 for covering a maintenance access 8, a rear housing part 2, a front housing part 3 and a holder 5 for three lighting assemblies 7 and three logic assemblies 6. The lighting assembly 7 is to be attached to the holder 5 from two sides in order to effect a shift of the optical axis. In 1 A lamp assembly is shown opposite to the other two. The lamp assembly 7 usually consists of 3 light-emitting diodes. A Fresnel lens and a diffuser are not shown. Corresponding elements have the same reference numeral.

To replace one of the modules 6, 7, only the cover 4 has to be opened. The maintenance access 8 enables replacement opposite the light exit opening 9. If the modules 6, 7 in the slots are redundant modules, it is not necessary to switch off the signal system comprising the signal chamber 1.

The 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the signal chamber 10 according to the invention, in which the fastening of the logic modules 6 takes place vertically in a housing consisting of a front housing part 3 and a rear housing part 2. In addition, a fixed, internal cabling 11 for the redundant logic modules 6 is shown.

The 3 shows the holder 5 for lamp assemblies 7 from the fastening side. One slot is left free for illustration purposes. If only two lamp assemblies are plugged in, the third slot must be covered.

The 4 shows the front and back of an embodiment of the holder 5 for light assemblies when several combined symbols are to form a signal image. For example, a public transport signal for "free" and "closed" (vertical and horizontal bars respectively) in a signal chamber.

The 5 shows a schematic of a signal generator 100 according to the invention with a total of three signal chambers 1, 12, 13 and maximum redundancy. For reasons of clarity, only the rear housing part 2 is shown for each signal chamber 1, 12, 13. The structure of the housing is identical for each signal chamber 1, 12, 13. The signal chamber 1 corresponds to the signal chamber according to the invention, comprising three logic modules 6 and three light source modules 7, consisting of three light-emitting diodes. The other signal chambers 12, 13 each contain only the light source modules 7 but no logic modules 6. The colors of the three light source modules are usually different, for example green, yellow and red (corresponding to a conventional traffic light system).

To make the wiring between the modules clearer, all modules have been shown schematically outside their signal chamber. The lines shown between the logic modules and the light modules indicate that each of the logic modules is connected to each of the light modules via a cable. The wiring between the signal chambers is mainly done on the back.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• WO 2019080952 A1 [0005]

Claims (10)

Signal chamber (1) for a traffic light system, comprising at least one logic module (6) with bus connection and at least one lighting module (7), wherein the logic module (6) and the lighting module (7) are arranged on slots separate from one another and wherein each of the at least one logic module (6) is connected to at least one lighting module (7). signal chamber after claim 1 , characterized in that the logic module (6) and the lighting module (7) are connected by a cable. signal chamber after claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the lighting assembly (7) is a LED assembly. Signal chamber according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a front housing part (3) and a rear housing part (2), wherein one housing part comprises the slot(s) for the logic modules. signal chamber after claim 4 , characterized in that the rear housing part (2) comprises a closable repair opening (8) or the rear housing part (2) is removable for repair. Signal chamber according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a holder (5) arranged between the front and rear housing parts (2), on which at least one slot for the lighting assembly (7) is arranged. signal chamber after claim 6 , characterized in that the optical axis of the lamp assembly (7) is displaceable by an offset insertion of the lamp assembly on the holder (5). Signal chamber according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the number of lighting assemblies (7) is greater than the number of logic assemblies (6) or corresponds to the number of logic assemblies. Signaling system (100) comprising at least one signal chamber (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims. signaling system according to claim 9 , comprising a signal chamber (1) according to at least one of the Claims 1 until 8 and at least one further signal chamber (12, 13), wherein the further signal chamber (12, 13) has a lighting assembly (7) which is connected to the logic assembly (6) of the primary signal chamber (1).

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