Patent Grant
8246207
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a multifunctional integrated dimming controller, and more particularly to an innovative LED solar traffic marking panel fitted with this dimming controller.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98
Given the fact that conventional traffic marking panels are difficult to identify for marking, indicating or warning purposes during night-time or during poorer weather conditions (e.g. rainy or foggy weather), an LED light-emitter that is assembled onto the pattern, letter or frame of traffic marking panel has been developed in this industry.
An LED light-emitter is often applied to a traffic marking panel, but it has significant power consumption in the event of extensive use. For this reason, an LED is designed to combine with solar a power generating device and an ambient light sensing device for perfect energy conservation and environmental protection.
However, with the growing complexity of light-emitting and electrical control structures of a traffic marking panel, the assembly and connection of its circuits becomes a very important technological challenge. This is because, once an LED of traffic marking panel is combined with a solar power generating device and sensing device, various units such as a solar photovoltaic panel, a storage battery, and LED unit and sensor, are required to be connected electrically through perfect design of an integrated structure. Otherwise, this will affect directly the assembly performance of the light-emitting control mechanism, or indirectly its service life, maintenance and safety.
Thus, to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art, it would be an advancement if the art to provide an improved structure that can significantly improve the efficacy.
Therefore, the inventor has provided the present invention of practicability after deliberate experimentation and evaluation based on years of experience in the production and development of related products.
The enhanced efficacy of the present invention is as follows:
Based on the unique structural configuration of the present invention that the multifunctional integrated dimming controller is assembled onto the LED solar traffic marking panel, the LED marking panel, solar photovoltaic panel, electrical storage device and ambient light differential sensor can be combined and connected, so the dimming functions of LED solar traffic marking panel can be integrated for easier assembly and higher applicability.
The improvements brought about by this invention are as follows:
First, based on the structural configuration wherein the heat-radiating fins are set onto the controller casing assembly surface, the heat generated by the multifunctional integrated dimming controller can be dissipated to prevent overheating and extend the service life.
Next, based on the structural configuration wherein the multifunctional integrated dimming controller also comprises the blink control contact block, it is possible to control the simultaneous or alternated blink modes among different LED units, thus providing more light-emitting modes and improving the marking effect.
Finally, based on the structural configuration wherein the multifunctional integrated dimming controller also comprises the brightness percentage contact block, it is possible to resolve the time-dependent brightness decay of LED.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Of which, the ambient light differential sensor 40 is an optical sensor that may obtain the ambient light information by directly sensing the intensity of ambient light. Alternatively, the ambient light differential sensor 40 is also a voltage detector 41 that is coupled with the integrated electrical control module 70 (shown in
Referring to
The multifunctional integrated dimming controller B also comprises a blink control contact block 65, which contains a positive blink contact 651 and negative blink contact 652 to control the simultaneous or alternated blink modes among different LED units 14.
The multifunctional integrated dimming controller B also comprises a brightness percentage contact block 66, which permits one to select several contacts for resolving the time-dependent brightness decay of LED according to the brightness state of LED unit 14 of the LED solar traffic marking panel A (e.g. 50%, 75% and 100%).
Of which, the external sensing contact block 64 of the multifunctional integrated dimming controller B covers either of the following contacts or combination modes: (1) Object sensor contact 641, used for electrical connection of an external object sensor; the object sensor is available with multiple functions, such as: vibration sensor for level crossing, or IR sensor for the approaching persons or vehicles; (2) Temperature sensor contact 642, used for electrical connection of an external temperature sensor; said temperature sensor is suitable for controlling the light-emitting brightness in chilly environment; (3) Rain & fog sensor contact 643, used for electrical connection of an external rain& fog sensor; the rainy or foggy weather is a decisive factor to the brightness, which requires highlighting of the LED unit 14 of the LED solar traffic marking panel A for an optimized efficiency; (4) Water level sensor contact, used for electrical connection of an external water level sensor; it is used to strengthen the light-emitting effect of traffic marking panel when a warning water level of bridges is reached; or (5) External signal contact, used for electrical connection of an external signal source; it is used for connection with the signal source, rather than with the external sensor; said signal source is referred to the signal line of level crossing lamp, which permits synchronization of the light-emitting state of the traffic marking panel with the level crossing signal.
Based on the above-specified structural configuration, the present invention is operated as follows:
The products covered by the present invention comprise a multifunctional integrated dimming controller B, and an LED solar traffic marking panel A fitted with the multifunctional integrated dimming controller B.
With the configuration of the multifunctional terminal contact blocks (i.e. 61-64) and the integrated electrical control module 70, said multifunctional integrated dimming controller B allows the LED unit 14, solar photovoltaic panel 20, electrical storage device 30, ambient light differential sensor 40 of LED solar traffic marking panel A and other external sensors to be combined and connected by a single controller. So, the LED solar traffic marking panel A can be operated functionally in such a manner that the multifunctional integrated dimming controller B can switch on/off automatically LED unit 14 according to the information of the ambient light differential sensor 40, and also adjust the brightness of LED unit 14 (shown in FIG. 4—a block diagram of electrical control system), with a reference to the message of other external sensors (e.g. object sensor, temperature sensor, rain and fog sensor and water level sensor or external signals), as well as the generating state of the solar photovoltaic panel 20 and the power state of electrical storage device 30.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4441143 | Richardson, Jr. | Apr 1984 | A |
| 6092318 | Arie et al. | Jul 2000 | A |
| 7178279 | Molvidson et al. | Feb 2007 | B2 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20110156926 A1 | Jun 2011 | US |
