Monitoring of a signal indication

Abstract

The invention relates to a method (100) for monitoring a luminaire (10), in which method information of a first type relating to the light emission from a lamp (16) of the luminaire (10) is acquired (102) by means of at least two sensor devices (12, 14). On the basis of the acquired information of the first type (102), an operating state of the luminaire (10) is identified (104). Subsequently, information of a second type relating to the identified operating state (104) of the luminaire (10) is output (106).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Functional monitoring of a signal image

[0003] The invention relates to a method, a lamp, a vehicle, a computer program and a computer-readable medium.

[0004] In railway technology, it is common practice to output information using optical or acoustic signal images. For example, a rail-bound vehicle has several external lights for this purpose. These are arranged in a predetermined way, usually on one end of the vehicle. This makes it possible to identify the type, function and / or direction of travel of this vehicle. These external lights can usually emit light of different intensities and / or different colors. In this way, for example, daytime signals and nighttime signals or tail signals and headlights of a vehicle can be distinguished. As a rule, predetermined signal images are assigned predetermined signal concepts. Using such signal concepts, outside observers can clearly assign the signal images to a specific piece of information.To avoid misunderstandings caused by faulty signal images, the exterior lights of a vehicle must always be checked before each journey. This is usually the responsibility of the driver. They must check that the signal images are functioning properly at least once before commencement of operation. Criteria for such a check are specified, for example, in the standard DIN VDE 0119 207-12. Monitoring devices are already known which can be used to check the functionality of a light. However, the function of the sensor devices used in these devices has not yet been monitored. A faulty operating state of a sensor device in the monitoring device can therefore lead to a faulty function test of the exterior lights and thus of the signal image. Furthermore, a visual function test of the exterior lights and the signal images by the driver is therefore required.

[0005] The object of the invention is to improve the reliability of a functional monitoring of a luminaire and / or an optical signal image.

[0006] This object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1. Furthermore, this object is achieved by a lamp and by a vehicle having the features of the respective associated independent claim.

[0007] Furthermore, the invention is based on the object of specifying a computer program and a computer-readable medium.

[0008] These objects are achieved by a computer program having the features of the co-ordinate computer program claim and by a computer-readable medium having the features of claim 15.

[0009] Advantageous further training is the subject of dependent subclaims.

[0010] The method according to the invention relates to functional monitoring of a luminaire. The method according to the invention is preferably a computer-implemented method. In this method, information of a first type relating to light emission from a lamp of the luminaire is detected by means of at least two sensor devices. On the basis of the detected information of the first type, an operating state of said luminaire is determined. Information of a second type relating to the determined operating state of the luminaire is then output. Preferably, the at least two sensor devices are each photosensitive sensor devices. For example, the at least two sensor devices each have a photodiode and / or a photocell. Preferably, the at least two sensor devices are each designed as a photorelay.

[0011] In this way, information of the first type can be recorded separately by each of the at least two sensor devices. This makes it possible to provide automated function monitoring. As a result, the use of personnel for function monitoring can be at least reduced or even eliminated entirely.

[0012] Preferably, the light provided is an exterior vehicle light. In particular, the exterior vehicle light is an exterior light of a rail-bound vehicle. Safety inspections on rail-bound vehicles can thus be carried out cost-effectively and automatically. This ensures a high level of operational reliability of the vehicle. Furthermore, the vehicle can be made operational quickly.

[0013] An advantageous development provides that an operating state of each of the at least two sensor devices is determined by logically antivalently linking statements based on the information of the first type. The said statements as well as the antivalent link should each be understood in the present case in the sense of mathematical logic. Accordingly, in the antivalent link, two statements, which are also referred to among other things as truth values, are linked by means of an exclusive-OR gate. Thus, an antivalent link is true if and only if both statements linked by it have different truth values. An exclusive-OR gate is also referred to as an XOR gate. By means of the antivalent link, a failure of one of the at least two sensor devices can be reliably and quickly detected.This makes it possible to provide a reliably automated method for monitoring the function of the luminaire. In an advantageous embodiment, the operating state of the luminaire is determined based on the operating states determined by the at least two sensor devices and on the first-type information acquired by the at least two sensor devices. This makes it possible to reliably prevent an incorrectly positively determined operating state of the luminaire. The reliability and safety of the method for monitoring the function of the luminaire can thereby be increased.

[0014] In a further advantageous development, a comparison is made between the determined operating state of the luminaire and a target operating state of the luminaire. The result of this comparison is then output as information of a second type. This makes it possible to easily and reliably detect a multitude of possible fault states of the luminaire. This makes it possible to detect not only a lamp failure, but also faulty control or an operating state of the luminaire that otherwise deviates from the target state.

[0015] Another advantageous development provides that a protective glass covering the lamp's light source is cleared of snow and / or ice by means of a glass heater and an air jet emanating from a nozzle. This prevents snow and / or ice from impairing the lamp's light emission. This allows for a rapid and reliable elimination of any impairment of the light emission that cannot be detected by the function monitoring method.

[0016] The invention further relates to a method for checking a signal image generated by means of a plurality of lights. For the purpose of checking the signal image, at least some of the plurality of lights are controlled in accordance with a predetermined signal image. For each of the plurality of lights, a function monitoring is then carried out in accordance with the method according to the invention described above. On the basis of the second type of information output as a result of this function monitoring, relating to one of the plurality of lights, an actual signal image is determined. The determined actual signal image is then compared with the predetermined signal image. The result of this comparison is output.

[0017] In the context of the present patent application, the signal image should be understood in the sense of railway technology. The signal image is expediently generated by specifying a light color and / or a light intensity for at least one part of the plurality of lights arranged in a predetermined manner. A check of the signal images which was previously carried out by the vehicle driver can now be carried out reliably and automatically. This can considerably reduce the time required to check the signal image. Furthermore, this means that the method for checking the signal image can also be carried out during short breaks in travel. This means that operational readiness can be established quickly. Furthermore, this can enable a high level of operational reliability of a vehicle.

[0018] An advantageous embodiment provides that, if the specified signal pattern matches the determined actual signal pattern, a third type of information is output regarding the time of the review of the specified signal pattern and / or a visualization of the actual signal pattern. This allows for traceability and / or documentation of the review of the signal pattern to be provided in a simple and cost-effective manner. Potentially outdated results from a previous review can be reliably identified and / or sorted out.

[0019] A further advantageous embodiment provides that, in the event of a discrepancy between the specified signal pattern and the determined actual signal pattern, a fourth type of information concerning a diagnostic message and / or a visualization of the actual signal pattern is output. In this way, existing discrepancies in the signal pattern can be quickly and reliably located and remedied.

[0020] Furthermore, an advantageous embodiment provides that, in the event of a predetermined deviation between the specified signal pattern and the determined actual signal pattern, an operating ban is provided for a vehicle equipped with multiple lights. In individual cases, this allows a lack of road safety to be quickly identified and possibly remedied. An incorrect interpretation of the signal pattern emitted by the affected vehicle by an outside observer can be avoided. This can reduce the risk of accidents or endangerment to third parties.

[0021] The invention further provides a method for checking various signal patterns. For this purpose, various signal patterns generated by a plurality of lights are checked one after the other using the method according to the invention for checking a signal pattern generated by a plurality of lights described above. This allows relevant signal patterns to be checked one after the other quickly and automatically. This prevents the driver from having to repeatedly leave the vehicle to check the signal patterns generated one after the other. This allows the vehicle to be made ready for operation quickly and reliably.

[0022] The invention further relates to a luminaire which has a lamp. The luminaire is in particular a luminaire of the type described in connection with the method. Light-emitting diodes, capacitor light-emitting films, incandescent lamps or gas discharge lamps can be provided, for example, as illuminants for this lamp. Furthermore, the luminaire according to the invention has at least two sensor devices of the type described above. By means of the at least two sensor devices, information of a first type relating to a light emission of the lamp can be detected. Furthermore, the method according to the invention for testing the function of the luminaire can be carried out by means of each of the at least two sensor devices. A failure or impairment of the lamp of the luminaire can be detected quickly and reliably. As a result, an operating state of the luminaire can be determined with a high degree of reliability.

[0023] In an advantageous development, the luminaire has a protective glass which at least partially covers the lamp. This protective glass in turn has a window heater. The protective glass can be heated by means of the window heater. Furthermore, in the advantageous development the luminaire has a nozzle which is aligned in such a way that an outer side of the aforementioned protective glass can be acted upon by means of an air jet emanating from this nozzle. The protective glass can thus be freed quickly and inexpensively of ice and snow. A discrepancy caused by ice and snow between a result of a functional test of the luminaire carried out by means of a sensor device usually arranged beneath the protective glass and the actual visibility of the light emission from the lamp and thus of the signal image can be prevented in this way.

[0024] Preferably, the aforementioned protective glass has an oblique profile when properly aligned. In this way, ice and snow can be reliably removed by the air jet. The protective glass preferably has an oblique profile such that a surface normal of an outer side of the protective glass has an angular offset relative to a vertical direction.

[0025] In addition, the invention provides a vehicle according to the invention which has a plurality of the lights according to the invention. The aforementioned signal image can be generated by means of the plurality of lights. In particular, the vehicle is a rail-bound vehicle. This makes it possible to check the function of the individual lights, which generate signal images together or in part, simply, quickly and inexpensively. In particular, there is no need to deploy personnel for the purpose of checking the signal images and the individual lights. Misunderstandings and potential hazards caused by faulty operating states of the lights can thus be avoided.

[0026] The method according to the invention can be easily implemented by means of the computer program according to the invention.

[0027] When executed, the computer program causes a data processing device to carry out the method according to the invention by means of the light according to the invention. Said data processing device can be, for example, a computer, a microcontroller, a processor or another programmable hardware component. The data processing device is expediently set up to read in, write, receive, transmit and / or manage data. Expediently, a plurality of data processing devices can be set up to jointly execute the computer program. The data processing device is preferably a data processing device of the vehicle according to the invention. For example, free computing capacities of various data processing devices of this vehicle can be used for the purpose of executing the computer program.Such use of free computing capacity is known as "edge computing." In this context, "edge computing" is to be understood in the sense of information technology.

[0028] Furthermore, the invention provides a computer-readable medium. This medium contains instructions that cause a data processing device to carry out the method according to the invention using the luminaire according to the invention. Said data processing device is, in particular, the data processing device of the type described above.

[0029] The computer-readable medium may, for example, be a CD-ROM, a DVD, a USB or flash memory, or a non-physical medium such as a data stream and / or a digital carrier signal.

[0030] The properties, features and advantages of the invention described above, as well as the manner in which they are achieved, are explained in more detail in conjunction with the figures in the following description of the embodiment of the invention and its variations. Where appropriate, the same reference numerals are used in the figures for the same or corresponding elements of the invention. The embodiment serves to explain the invention and does not limit the invention to the combinations of features specified therein, including with regard to functional features. Furthermore, all features specified in the embodiment can be considered in isolation and combined as appropriate with the features of any claim.

[0031] It shows :

[0032] FIG 1 is a schematic view of an end face of an embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention;

[0033] FIG 2 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of the luminaire according to the invention in a schematic representation;

[0034] FIG 3 shows an illustration of an example of the method according to the invention using a schematic flow diagram. FIG 1 shows a view of an end face of an exemplary embodiment of a rail-bound vehicle 28 in a schematic representation. In this view, the rail-bound vehicle 28 has, by way of example, five lights 10. Each of the lights 10 shown as an example has two sensor devices 12, 14, by means of which a piece of information of a first type relating to a light emission of a lamp 16 of the associated light 10 can be detected. The lights 10 shown as an example in FIG 1 are designed in the present case to output different color tones and / or different light intensities.

[0035] Furthermore, the five lights 10 are arranged, for example, in such a way that the round lights 10 form a triangle with an upward-pointing tip. Two further lights 10 are arranged, for example, below this triangle. Depending on the application, these can be controlled as high beam or low beam or as part of a signal image. If a signal image is to be output by means of the lights 10 which carries the information that the shown front end of the rail-bound vehicle 28 is the tip of the vehicle, then, for example, the three round lights 10 arranged in the shape of a triangle are controlled. This is done in such a way that these three round lights 10 emit white light. In addition, a distinction can be made between a day signal and a night signal.For example, in the case of a daytime signal, the three lights 10 mentioned are controlled with an intensity of the first type regarding the light emission. In the case of a nighttime signal, the three lights 10 mentioned are controlled with an intensity of the second type regarding the light emission that is increased compared to the intensity of the first type. If, on the other hand, for example, a signal image is to be generated which carries the information that this is the end of the rail-bound vehicle 28, the two lower round lights 10 of the triangle are controlled in such a way that they emit red light. The third round light 10 which forms the upper tip of the triangle remains switched off in this case. Alternatively, in accordance with national regulations, daytime signals and nighttime signals can be issued with the same intensity regarding light emission.Furthermore, in individual applications it is possible that the red light emitted may flash.

[0036] Furthermore, the exemplary embodiment of the rail-bound vehicle 28 comprises a data processing device 30. By means of this data processing device 30, the lights 10 of the rail-bound vehicle 28 can be controlled, for example, for the purpose of generating the signal images.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a luminaire 10 in a schematic representation. The exemplary embodiment of the luminaire 10 described here expediently relates to a luminaire 10 described in connection with FIG. 1.

[0038] The exemplary embodiment of the luminaire 10 comprises a lamp 16. Light-emitting diodes are provided as the illuminating means of the lamp 16, for example. Furthermore, the luminaire 10 comprises two sensor devices 12, 14. The two sensor devices 12, 14 can each detect the first type of information relating to a light emission of the lamp 16.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment of the luminaire 10, it has a protective glass 18. The protective glass 18 is transparent in this case and at least partially covers the lamp 16. Furthermore, the protective glass 18 has a window heater 20. The protective glass 18 can be heated by means of the window heater 20. This allows ice and snow on the protective glass 18 to be removed by melting. To accelerate this process, the luminaire 10 also has a nozzle 22. An air jet 24 can be generated by means of the nozzle 22. In the present exemplary embodiment, the nozzle 22 is aligned such that an outer side 26 of the protective glass 18 can be acted upon by means of the air jet 24 emanating from this nozzle 22. This outer side 26 is preferably acted upon with compressed air by means of the nozzle 22.Parts of ice or snow that have already been detached from the outer side 26 by means of the window heating 20 can thus be removed from the protective glass 18 quickly and inexpensively.

[0040] This makes it possible to reliably see the light emitted by the lamp 16. The joint use of the window heater 20 and the nozzle 22 is particularly suitable in the present case, in which the protective glass 18 runs obliquely in an orientation intended for operation. In this application, there is often the problem that pieces of ice or snow that have already been loosened by the window heater 20 remain on the outer side 26 of the protective glass 18. These pieces can be removed easily and inexpensively using the air jet 24. There is no need to completely melt the ice or snow on the outer side 26.

[0041] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a method 100 for checking a signal pattern generated by a plurality of lights 10 using the vehicle 28 described in connection with FIG. 1 and the light 10 described by way of example in connection with FIG. 2. In a preferred embodiment, the example of the method 100 is carried out using the data processing device 30 of the rail-bound vehicle 28.

[0042] For the purpose of checking the generated signal image, first a part of the plurality of lights 10 of the rail-bound vehicle 28 is controlled 116 in accordance with a predetermined signal image.

[0043] Subsequently, a functional monitoring is carried out for each of the plurality of lights 10 of the rail-bound vehicle 28. For this purpose, a first-type piece of information concerning the light emission of the lamp 16 of the light 10 is recorded 102 by means of the two sensor devices 12, 14 of each of the plurality of lights 10.

[0044] Then, in the present example of the method 100, an operating state of each of the two sensor devices 12, 14 is determined 108. For this purpose, a photorelay is each provided as an example for the two sensor devices 12, 14. These photorelays are designed such that, if the same light emission is detected, they output different truth values ​​in the sense of mathematical logic. The truth values ​​output by the photorelays are then linked antivalently using an exclusive-OR gate. In this way, the operating states of the two sensor devices 12, 14 can be reliably checked. For example, a first of the two photorelays can be designed such that, if light emission from the lamp 16 is detected, an opener is actuated. As a result, a truth value of the first type is output by this first photorelay.A second of the two photorelays mentioned, however, is designed such that a normally open contact is activated if light emission from the lamp 16 is detected. Consequently, a second-type truth value is output by this second photorelay. Based on a subsequent combination of the two truth values ​​output in the manner described above using the exclusive-OR gate, a simple conclusion can be drawn regarding the operating state of the two sensor devices 12, 14.

[0045] The example of the method 100 described here further provides that the operating state of each of the plurality of luminaires 10 is determined 104 on the basis of the determined operating states 108 relating to the two sensor devices 12, 14 and on the basis of the information of the first type 102 acquired by means of the two sensor devices 12, 14. Furthermore, it is provided that a comparison of the determined 104 operating state of the luminaire 10 with a desired operating state of the luminaire 10 is carried out 110. A result of this comparison 110 is then output 106 as information of the second type relating to the determined 104 operating state of the luminaire 10.

[0046] In a preferred embodiment of the method 100, it is also provided that the protective glass 18, described in more detail in connection with FIG. 2, is freed 114 of snow and / or ice by means of the window heater 20 and the air jet 24 emanating from the nozzle 22. Light emission from the luminaire 10 impaired by snow and / or ice cannot be detected by the sensor devices 12, 14. Therefore, this additional method step is necessary to reliably ensure that the luminaire 10 is free of ice and / or snow.

[0047] Based on the second type of information concerning each of the plurality of lights 10 output 106 as a result of the functional monitoring of each of the plurality of lights 10, an actual signal image is further determined 118. For the purpose of checking the signal image generated by the plurality of lights 10, a comparison of the actual signal image determined 118 in the aforementioned manner with the predetermined signal image is carried out 120. A result of this comparison is then output 122.

[0048] In the case of a match Fl between the specified signal image and the determined 118 actual signal image, the result is output 122 in the presently described example of the method 100 by outputting 124 a visualization of the actual signal image to a vehicle driver together with a time stamp relating to the time at which the check was carried out. This allows a vehicle driver to quickly and reliably recognize at a central location that the specified signal image is the actual actual signal image output.

[0049] If the aforementioned comparison 122 has revealed a deviation F2 between the predetermined signal pattern and the determined 118 actual signal pattern, a diagnostic message and a visualization of the actual signal pattern are output to the vehicle driver 126. This allows the driver to easily locate a deviation F2 in order to correct it. By way of example, it is also provided that, if predetermined deviations F2 exist between the predetermined signal pattern and the determined 118 actual signal pattern, an operation ban is provided for the affected vehicle 28 128.

[0050] In a particular embodiment of the example of method 100, it is further provided that various signal images are checked 130. For this purpose, various signal images generated by the plurality of lights 10 are checked 130 in succession by repeatedly running the example of method 100 for checking a signal image described in connection with FIG. 3, specifying the various relevant signal images.

[0051] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by the preferred embodiment and its variations, the invention is not limited to the disclosed examples and other variations can be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0052] Regardless of the grammatical gender of a particular term, persons with male, female or other gender identity are included.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Method (100) for monitoring the function of a luminaire (10) , in which - by means of at least two sensor devices (12, 14) a piece of information of the first type relating to a light emission of a lamp (16) of the luminaire (10) is detected (102); - an operating state of the luminaire (10) is determined (104) on the basis of the acquired information of the first type; - information of a second type relating to the determined (104) operating state of the luminaire (10) is output (106).

2. Method (100) according to claim 1, wherein an operating state of each of the at least two sensor devices (12, 14) is determined (108) by logically combining antivalent statements based on the information of the first type.

3. Method (100) according to claim 2, wherein the operating state of the luminaire (10) is determined (104) on the basis of the determined operating states (108) of the at least two sensor devices (12, 14) and the information of the first type detected (102) by means of the at least two sensor devices (12, 14).

4. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, in which - a comparison of the determined (104) operating state of the luminaire (10) with a desired operating state of the luminaire (10) is carried out (110); - a result of the comparison is output as information of the second type (106) .

5. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, in which a transparent protective glass (18) of the lamp (10) covering the lamp (16) of the lamp (10) is heated by means of a glass heater (20) and a nozzle (22) outgoing air jet (24) is freed from snow and / or ice ( 114 ).

6. Method (100) for checking a signal image generated by means of several lights (10), in which - at least some of the plurality of lights (10) are controlled (116) in accordance with a predetermined signal pattern; - for each of the plurality of lights (10) a functional monitoring is carried out according to the method (100) according to one of the preceding claims; - an actual signal image is determined (118) on the basis of the second type of information (106) output as a result of the function monitoring relating to one of the plurality of lights (10); - a comparison of the determined (118) actual signal image with the specified signal image is carried out (120); - a result of this comparison is output (122) .

7. Method (100) according to claim 6, wherein, in the event of a match (Fl) between the predetermined signal image and the determined (118) actual signal image, information of a third type relating to a time of checking the predetermined signal image and / or a visualization of the actual signal image is output (124).

8. Method (100) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein in the event of a deviation (F2) between the predetermined signal image and the determined (118) actual signal image, information of a fourth type relating to a diagnostic message and / or a visualization of the actual signal image is output (126).

9. Method (100) according to claim 6 to 8, wherein in the case of the presence of a predetermined deviation (F2) between the predetermined signal image and the determined (118) actual signal image, an operating lock for a the vehicle (28) having a plurality of lights (10) is provided (128).

10. Method (100) for checking different signal images, in which successively different signal images generated by means of several lights (10) are checked (130) according to the method (100) according to one of claims 6 to 9.

11. Lamp (10) comprising: - a lamp (16); - at least two sensor devices (12, 14), by means of which in each case information of a first type relating to a light emission of the lamp (16) can be detected and by means of which the method (100) according to one of the preceding claims can be carried out.

12. Lamp (10) according to claim 11, characterized by - a protective glass (18) which at least partially covers the lamp (16) and which has a glass heater (20); - a nozzle (22) which is aligned in such a way that an outer side (26) of the protective glass (18) can be acted upon by means of an air jet (24) emanating from this nozzle (22).

13. Vehicle (28), in particular a rail-bound vehicle, comprising a plurality of lights (10) according to claim 11 or claim 12, by means of which a signal image can be generated.

14. Computer program which, when executed, causes a data processing device (30) to carry out the method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 10 by means of a luminaire (10) according to one of claims 11 or 12.

15. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which cause a data processing device (30) to carry out the method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 10 by means of a luminaire (10) according to one of claims 11 or 12.

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