JPH03288298A - Signal generator suitable for navigation aids - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily change the content of lamp quality by providing a power switching circuit which works by an intrinsic flashing code (lamp quality) signal for every respective sign. CONSTITUTION:An ON signal is inputted, a power source is supplied to a reference pulse circuit 2, a flashing output circuit 3 and so on as well as to a one- chip microcomputer 1 and a reference pulse is inputted by a day and night identifying circuit 4 in a night condition. On the other hand, a lamp quality setting switch 5 is selected and set by lamp quality. The counting of a reference pulse column inputted to a CPU is executed and is continued till the number of the count reaches to the number equivalent to the light time of the lamp quality and a signal to make an output off is outputted when the number reaches to it. Next, dark time is counted in the same way successively and the ON signal of the output is outputted by prescribed time elapsing. The count in the same way is combined according to a means and the prescribed lamp quality is generated. Thus, changing the lamp quality is attained easily in the field.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a signal generator suitable for use as a navigation aid.

[Conventional technology]

Navigation aids repeatedly blink according to a unique blinking code for each marker (this is called the light quality, hereinafter referred to as this code). For this purpose, a device is used that generates a luminous substance. Generally, a pulse train based on a crystal oscillator is counted by a decimal counter, and the main circuit is turned on and off based on this. An example of this is the idea described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58-21018.

[The problem that the idea attempts to solve]

In conventional signal generators, it is generally not easy to change the lighting quality. If it is forced to be done, it will require soldering work etc. to change the circuit, and if it is done relatively easily (for example, by adopting a pinboard matrix circuit), problems such as poor contact during normal operation will easily occur, and navigational markings unsuitable for use. However, in the field of actual use, in order to use this device efficiently, it is desired to be able to easily change the lighting quality on site and to further reduce the size.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve these problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a signal generating device that is extremely compact, highly stable, and can easily change the lighting quality.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the signal generating device of the present invention incorporates a microcomputer and performs related processing, thereby achieving a significant reduction in the number of components and the ability to easily change the lamp quality.

Figure 1 shows an overview of its configuration. That is, CPU.

A one-chip microcomputer (1) including ROM1RAM, Ilo, etc., is connected to a reference pulse circuit (2), a blinking output circuit (3), a day/night discrimination circuit (
4) and are respectively connected to the light quality setting switch (5).

The reference pulse circuit (2) uses a crystal oscillator as a source and generates a reference pulse by shaping and frequency-dividing the output thereof. The period of the reference pulse is generally 0.05 seconds or 0.1 seconds, although it depends on the combined density of light time and dark time that constitute the lamp quality. Further, as the reference pulse, a timing pulse generated by an oscillation circuit built into the CPU may be used.

The blinking output circuit (3) generates a blinking trigger in response to a signal issued by the CPU, thereby opening and closing the light bulb circuit.

The light quality setting switch (5) is a group of small switches, and 8-bit switches are generally used.

The lighting quality to be generated is selected by setting the switch of each bit to ON or OFF.

[Effect]

In the above configuration, an ON signal is input from the day/night identification circuit during nighttime conditions, and power is supplied to the one-chip microcomputer (1), reference pulse circuit (2), blinking output circuit (3), etc. be done. Although a method of constantly supplying power may be used, this method is preferable in order to reduce power consumption as much as possible.

This inputs the reference pulse.

On the other hand, the light quality setting switch (5) is selectively set according to the light quality. As an example, the light quality code for 1 flash every 3 seconds is 1oooo
If it is oit, the lamp quality setting switch is set accordingly. All the necessary lighting conditions are coded into 8 bits and input into the ROM in advance. A predetermined code is input based on the lighting quality of the location where the sign is installed, and the corresponding procedure stored in the ROM is called up.

The reference pulse train input to the CPU is counted until it reaches the count number (NI in FIG. 2) corresponding to the bright time of the lamp, and when this is reached, a signal is output to turn off the output. Next, the dark time is counted in the same manner (N2 in FIG. 2), and an output ON signal is output when a predetermined time elapses.

Similar counts are combined according to the above means to generate a predetermined luminous quality.

A flow diagram of the cholera process is shown in Figure 3.

〔Example〕

FIG. 4 shows one embodiment.

In this figure, (31) is a one-chip microcomputer, which is the core of this device.

This includes a reset circuit (32) and a reference pulse circuit (33).
, day/night detection circuit (34), and synchronization input circuit (35) are connected to the input port of the computer main body. A power switching circuit (36) and a day/night identification output circuit (37) are connected to its output port. On the other hand, the light quality setting switch (38
) are connected to other input ports.

Power is supplied at a predetermined voltage via a constant voltage circuit (39).

In this example, first, a predetermined light quality for the installation location is set.

This is done using the light quality setting switch (38), but in this example, a code corresponding to a predetermined light quality, such as rlooloooolJ, is input using an 8-bit parallel switch.

As a result, a corresponding program stored in the ROM is selected. On the other hand, a reference pulse circuit (32) based on a crystal oscillator generates a no hertz pulse, which is inputted via an input port. Further, the output from the optical sensor is detected by a day/night identification circuit to detect day/night conditions, and the results are introduced into the input port of the main body (31). When the day/night identification circuit is in the night state, an output signal for lighting the lamp is sent to the output port as shown in the flowchart of FIG. . As an example, assuming that blinking is performed using a lamp quality as shown in FIG. 2, counting of this input pulse train is continued until the required time reaches the count number N1 corresponding to to. When the count reaches N, an output signal indicating lamp extinguishment is sent to the output port, and the lamp is extinguished. At the same time, the sunny time of the lamp (Fig. 2 t2
) counting starts. Similarly to the above, when the count number corresponding to t2 is reached, the lamp lighting signal is lit again.

Thereafter, lamp lighting/lighting out signals are issued in the same manner according to predetermined codes.

The synchronization input circuit (35) is used when it is necessary to synchronize the flashing of the lamp with other signs. In the area of aids to navigation, there are cases in which several aids to navigation are operated synchronously with the same light quality. In this case, by inputting a synchronization signal, the operating point is returned to the starting point of the blinking signal code. Therefore, by inputting this synchronization signal to each marker at appropriate time intervals, the synchronization of the lighting quality can be maintained.

The constant voltage circuit (39) is intended to supply stable power to the one-chip microcomputer (31) and other blocks, and in this example, it converts the DCIO ~ 32V power supply to a constant voltage of usually DC5V. supply.

Discrimination between day and night may be performed using a microcomputer. An example is shown in FIG. In this case, the output of the optical sensor (41) is connected to an AD converter (42), and the output thereof is connected to the input port of the microcomputer (31). The illuminance input is constantly checked against a preset operating value, and if the illuminance falls below the lighting illuminance, a lighting command signal is issued after a certain period of time has elapsed. Similarly, in the opposite case, if the illuminance input becomes equal to or higher than the turn-off illuminance, a turn-off command signal is issued after a certain period of time has elapsed. The lighting illuminance is set by a setting switch (43). To prevent chattering, the lighting illuminance is generally set as the lighting illuminance <the lighting illuminance when the lights are turned off, but once the lighting illuminance is set, the turning off illuminance is automatically set by adding a certain value. FIG. 6 shows a flowchart related to this.

〔effect〕

Using the device according to the present invention, it is easier to change the lighting quality at the field level compared to the previous one, and therefore there is a greater degree of freedom in how to use it for each sign, and it is also economical to prepare spare parts. rises.

B: The shape is smaller and the storage capacity of the sign is improved.

C. Stability and maintainability are improved.

These effects are particularly noticeable when used as navigational aids.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of this invention, Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of this invention.
The figure is a diagram showing the relationship between an example of the lamp quality and the reference pulse count, FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of the basic means, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment based on the present invention, and FIG. The figure is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment in which a light sensor and an AD converter are used in place of the day/night discrimination circuit, and FIG. 6 is a flow diagram for the case of FIG. 5. 1゜1・---・One-chip microcomputer 5・
---Light quality setting switch 42--AD converter

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A light quality setting switch, a day/night discrimination circuit, a reference pulse circuit, means for selecting pre-stored procedure information corresponding to various light qualities by the light quality setting switch, A signal generating device comprising: means for generating a predetermined lamp quality signal by counting reference pulses according to a procedure corresponding to the lamp quality; and a power switching circuit operated by the lamp quality signal. 2. A light sensor in place of the day/night identification circuit according to claim 1;
- A signal generator equipped with means for processing digital illuminance information from a D converter to identify day and night. 3. A signal generator, wherein the reference pulse circuit according to claim 1 or 2 is a timing pulse circuit built into a microcomputer. 4. A navigation light flasher using the signal generating device according to claim 1, claim 2, or claim 3.