Flash lamp and method for adjusting flashing of flash lamp

Abstract

To provide a flash lamp with a brightness which can be changed by setting of the flashing time of an LED.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to a flash lamp 20 including a plurality of LEDs as light sources. The flashing time of the LEDs is set so that the brightness is changed. The flashing time is set according to at least one of the weather and the time zone of a place where the flash lamp 20 is set. The brightness has three stages of the highest stage, the lowest stage, and the stage in between. The flash lamp is desirably for guiding taking-off and landing of an aircraft.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a flash lamp and a method for adjusting the flash of a flash lamp. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART In recent years, LED (Light Emitting Diode) flashing lamps have come to be used at airports and the like to guide landing aircraft to the runway.

[0003] Engineering Brief No. 67D (EB-67D, Non-Patent Document 1) established by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stipulates that if 25% or more of the LEDs in an LED flash lamp fail to light, the LED flash lamp should be turned off. Also, Lighting Specification No. 204 Revised 7 (Non-Patent Document 2) established by the Civil Aviation Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism stipulates that if 50% or more of the LEDs in an LED flash lamp fail to light, the LED flash lamp should be turned off. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0004] [Non-Patent Document 1] Engineering Brief No.67D Light Sources Other Than Incandescent and Xenon For Airport Obstruction Lighting Fixtures, Federal Aviation Administration, March 6, 2012 [Non-patent document 2] Lighting No. 204, Revised 7, FX-3 and FX-AV Flash Device Specifications, Civil Aviation Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, revised May 23, 2017 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] One known example of the LED flash lamp is a flash lamp equipped with n × m LEDs, which includes multiple series circuits (e.g., n series) in which multiple LEDs (e.g., m) are electrically connected in series. The series circuits (n series) are electrically connected in parallel to an output section that outputs a rated current. In such an LED flash lamp, if one LED fails to light due to a malfunction, power is no longer supplied to the LEDs electrically connected in series with it, causing all (m) LEDs in that LED string to fail. For example, in an LED flash lamp installed at a U.S. airport that must comply with the FAA's standards, even if x LED strings fail, it would not violate EB-67D if the LED flash lamp is not turned off as long as (x / n) × 100 < 25%. However, even if the number of unlit LED strings is less than 25% of the total, the luminous intensity is reduced compared to when there are no unlit LEDs, which changes the pilot's perception of the LED flash lamp, which is undesirable.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a flash lamp that can maintain luminous intensity within a predetermined range even when some LED rows fail to light, and, as a prerequisite, to provide a flash lamp that can switch brightness using a method equivalent to that used when some LED rows fail to light. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the flash lamp of the present invention comprises: A flash lamp including a plurality of LEDs as a light source, The brightness can be changed by setting the flash duration of the LED.

[0008] The flash lamp of the present invention comprises: The flash duration is set in accordance with at least one of the weather and the time of day at the location where the flash lamp is installed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a flash lamp whose brightness can be switched by setting the flash duration of the LED. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of an LED module in a flash lamp of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of a flash lamp of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of installation of the flash lamp of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The flash lamp and flash lamp flash adjustment method of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited or restricted in any way by the following embodiments. In the following drawings, the same parts are given the same reference numerals. Furthermore, for the sake of convenience, the structure of each part may be shown in a simplified manner, and the dimensional ratios of each part may be shown schematically and different from the actual ones.

[0012] An example of the configuration of a flash lamp of the present invention is shown in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 2, flash lamp 20 includes LED module 10, which is a light source, light distribution means 21, housing 22 having an opening, and light-transmitting cover 23. LED module 10 and light distribution means 21 are disposed inside housing 22, and light-transmitting cover 23 is disposed in the opening of housing 22.

[0013] The light distribution means 21 is disposed on the light emission side of the LED module 10. That is, in FIG. 2, the light distribution means 21 is disposed in the direction in which the LED module 10 emits light (to the left of the LED module 10). The light distribution means 21 is a means for directing the light emitted by the LED module 10 toward the light-transmitting cover 23 by, for example, reflection, collection, or diffusion. The type of the light distribution means 21 is not particularly limited, and examples include a reflector (reflecting plate) and a lens. The light distribution means 21 may be, for example, either the reflector or the lens, or a combination of both.

[0014] When the light distribution means 21 is a reflector, the material forming the reflector is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include metals such as aluminum, magnesium, and alloys thereof; and resins such as PC (polycarbonate) and PBT (polybutylene terephthalate). The reflector may be one whose reflection efficiency is further improved by, for example, applying a high-reflection treatment to its reflective surface. The high-reflection treatment may be, for example, plating or applying a high-reflection paint.

[0015] When the light distribution means 21 is a reflector, the shape of the reflector is not particularly limited. The reflector may be cylindrical, for example, as shown in FIG. 2. The LED mounting area of ​​the LED module 10 is preferably located at one opening of the cylindrical reflector (the right side in FIG. 2), and light from the LED module 10 is preferably irradiated into the interior of the cylindrical reflector. As shown in FIG. 2, the cylindrical reflector may have an inner wall tapered in shape, widening from the LED module 10 toward the opening of the housing 22; this shape is also referred to as an umbrella shape. Furthermore, the cross section of the inner wall of the cylindrical reflector from the LED module 10 toward the opening of the housing 22 may be, for example, arc-shaped as shown in FIG. 2, or flat and linear.

[0016] The light distribution means 21 may be, for example, a lens as described above. The lens is disposed on the LED mounting surface side of the LED module 10 so as to receive light emitted from the LED module 10 and distribute the light by diffusing, scattering, etc. The lens may be, for example, a convex lens with a spherical surface on the opening side of the housing 22.

[0017] The material from which the housing 22 is formed is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include aluminum, resin, etc. The shape of the housing 22 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include an umbrella shape as shown in FIG.

[0018] The light-transmitting cover 23 is disposed so as to cover the opening of the housing 22, and transmits light from inside the housing 22. The material from which the light-transmitting cover 23 is formed is not particularly limited, and may be any material that can transmit most of the light irradiated from the LED module 10, for example, such as glass.

[0019] The plan view of Fig. 1 shows an example of the configuration of an LED module 10. As shown in Fig. 1, the LED module 10 of this example includes an LED mounting substrate 11, a plurality of LED columns P1 to Pn, and an adjustment means C that adjusts the flashes of the plurality of LED columns P1 to Pn on a column-by-column basis. The plurality of LED columns P1 to Pn are mounted on one surface (mounting surface) of the LED mounting substrate 11.

[0020] The LED mounting substrate 11 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, an insulating substrate. Examples of the insulating substrate include metal substrates such as aluminum and copper; and resin substrates such as paper phenol, paper epoxy, and glass composite. The size of the LED mounting substrate 11 is not particularly limited, and may be appropriately set depending on, for example, the size, location, and purpose of use of the flash lamp 20. For example, in the case of a flash lamp for guiding aircraft landing, the area of ​​the region on the mounting surface where the multiple LED rows P1 to Pn are mounted may be, for example, 60 to 120 cm. 2 is.

[0021] Each of the LED columns P1 to Pn is a column in which a plurality of LEDs are electrically connected, and the LEDs are electrically connected to each other on a column-by-column basis. For example, in the LED module 10 shown in FIG. 1, each of the n LED columns P1, P2, Pn has m (L 11 ~L 1m , L 21 ~L 2m ···L n1 ~L nm ) are electrically connected in series, and are electrically connected in parallel to each other in each column. The number n of all LED columns P1 to Pn is, for example, 4 to 16 columns. Furthermore, the number m (the number of LEDs electrically connected in series in each LED column) is, for example, 10 to 100. Each LED (L 11 ~L nm The shape of each LED (L) is not particularly limited, and is generally square or rectangular. 11 ~L nm The size of the LED mounting board 11 is not particularly limited, and in the case of a square, the length of one side is, for example, 1.8 to 2.2 mm, 3 to 3.5 mm, or 4 to 5.3 mm, and in the case of a rectangle, the length of the short side is, for example, the same as the length of one side of the square, and the ratio of the short side to the long side is, for example, 1:1 to 3. When adjacent LEDs are spaced apart on the mounting surface of LED mounting board 11, the distance between adjacent LEDs is, for example, 0.2 to 0.5 mm.

[0022] The adjustment means C is a means for extending the flashing duration of each LED in the remaining LED columns when some of the LED columns P1 to Pn go out of light, thereby maintaining the overall luminous intensity of the plurality of LED columns P1 to Pn within a predetermined range. The adjustment means C may be capable of outputting a rated current of, for example, 2 A (amperes). The LED module 10 may also have a rated current output means separate and independent from the adjustment means C.

[0023] Next, a flash adjustment method for a flash lamp of the present invention (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "flash adjustment method") will be described using the LED module 10 shown in Fig. 1 as an example. The flash adjustment method includes a flashing step of causing a plurality of LED columns P1 to Pn to flash, and an adjustment step of adjusting the flashes of the plurality of LED columns P1 to Pn on a column-by-column basis.

[0024] Multiple LEDs (L 11 ~L nm If there is no failure in any of the LED columns P1 to Pn, the flashing step causes all of the LED columns P1 to Pn to flash, and the adjustment step adjusts the flashing of the LED columns P1 to Pn on a column-by-column basis. 11 ) fails to light up due to a fault, other LEDs (L 12 ~L 1m ) is no longer supplied with power, and all (m) LEDs (L 11 ~L 1m ) will be unlit. If an LED column P1 is unlit in this way, the overall luminous intensity will be lower than if there were no unlit LEDs, which is not desirable. Therefore, in the flash adjustment method, when a part of the LED column P1 among all the LED columns P1 to Pn is unlit in the adjustment step, the LEDs (L 21 ~L nm ) is extended to maintain the luminous intensity of the entire plurality of LED columns P1 to Pn within a predetermined range. In this case, the luminous intensity of the entire plurality of LED columns P1 to Pn can also be maintained within a predetermined range by increasing the current output from the adjusting means C or the rated current output means. In this case, however, the luminous intensity of each LED (L 21 ~L nm ) is subjected to a large load. In contrast, according to the flash adjustment method, the remaining LEDs (L 21 ~L nm ) to extend the flashing time of each LED (L 21 ~L nm ), the luminous intensity of the entire LED arrays P1 to Pn can be maintained within a predetermined range.

[0025] In the flash lamp and the flash adjusting method of the present invention, the luminous intensity means the effective luminous intensity. 11 ~L nm ) is expressed in units of effective luminous intensity (cd). The LED module 10 has an effective luminous intensity per flash duration of 1 to 5 msec, for example, of 6,000 to 20,000 cd. In the flash lamp and flash adjustment method of the present invention, the effective luminous intensity per flash duration (unit: cd) is expressed as a value calculated using the relationship between emitted luminous intensity (luminous intensity at the moment of flashing) and flash duration (Blondel-Ray-Douglas equation). The effective luminous intensity (Ie) can be expressed, for example, by the following formula:

[0026]

number

[0027] In the flash lamp of the present invention, for example, the adjustment means C may include a determination means, which determines the extended flash duration (Te) of each LED in the remaining LED string based on the following formula (1): Also, in the flash adjustment method, for example, the adjustment step may include a determination step, which determines the extended flash duration (Te) of each LED in the remaining LED string based on the following formula (1): In the following formula (1), the correction coefficient C can be set arbitrarily, for example, 0.3 to 1, or 0.5. Te = (T0 × L0) / (L0-Le × C) (1) T0: Flash duration of the LED before extension L0: Number of all LED rows (n) Le: Number of LED columns that are not lit among all the LED columns. C: Correction coefficient

[0028] In the flash lamp and the flash adjustment method of the present invention, for example, the flash duration (T0) of the LED before extension may be set according to at least one of the weather and the time of day at the location where the flash lamp is installed. As an example, the flash duration (T0) may be set to switch between three brightness levels in accordance with the standard specifications of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Of the three brightness levels, at "High," the brightest level used during daytime when visibility is poor due to fog, rain, etc., the flash duration (T0) is set to, for example, 2.2 msec. At "Low," the darkest level used at night, the flash duration (T0) is set to, for example, 0.07 msec. At "Middle," the intermediate level used in the evening, the flash duration (T0) is set to, for example, 0.25 msec.

[0029] In the flash lamp of the present invention, for example, the adjustment means C may include a turn-off means, which turns off the flash lamp 20 when the ratio of the number of unlit LED rows to the total number of LED rows P1 to Pn exceeds a predetermined value. Also, in the flash adjustment method, the adjustment step may include a turn-off step, which turns off the flash lamp 20 when the ratio of the number of unlit LED rows to the total number of LED rows P1 to Pn exceeds a predetermined value. The predetermined value may be set appropriately depending on the situation in which the flash lamp and the flash adjustment method of the present invention are used, such as 25% at U.S. airports that must comply with the aforementioned EB-67D, or 50% at Japanese airports that must comply with the aforementioned Lighting Specification No. 204, Rev. 7.

[0030] In the flash lamp and the flash adjustment method of the present invention, the overall luminous intensity of the plurality of LED columns P1 to Pn when an LED column goes unlit does not necessarily have to be the same as when there is no unlit LED column (before the unlit LED column occurred). For example, in a situation where the flash lamp and the flash adjustment method of the present invention are used, if the overall luminous intensity of the plurality of LED columns P1 to Pn when an LED column goes unlit is lowered within an allowable range, the load on each LED in the remaining LED columns can be further reduced.

[0031] The applications of the flash lamp and the flash adjustment method of the present invention are not particularly limited, and they can be suitably used, for example, for guiding aircraft to land.

[0032] Next, an example of installation of the flash lamp of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 3. The flash lamp 20 of this example may further include, for example, an arm 33 and legs 34 in addition to the configuration of Fig. 2, and may be installed on the ground by the legs 34. The flash lamp 20 of this example may also further include, for example, a cable 32 for supplying power to the LED module 10. The flash lamp 20 of this example may also be installed, for example, on a pole installed on the ground.

[0033] For example, when flashing lamps 20 are installed at a large airport with multiple runways, 8 to 29 lamps are installed approximately every 30 meters from the direction of aircraft approach toward the runway end. Furthermore, when flashing lamps 20 are installed at a small airport with few aircraft takeoffs and landings and only one short runway, two lamps in total are installed, one on each side of the short side of the runway end, so that they flash (blink) simultaneously. Furthermore, when flashing lamps 20 are installed at an airport where aircraft cannot approach the runway in a straight line, they are installed at strategic points on the approach path to the runway, for example, every few kilometers.

[0034] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Various modifications that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention within the scope of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0035] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a flash lamp and a flash adjustment method for a flash lamp that can maintain luminous intensity within a predetermined range. The flash lamp and the flash adjustment method for a flash lamp of the present invention can be used for a wide range of applications, such as for guiding aircraft to land. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] P1~Pn LED row L 11 ~L nm LED C Adjustment means 10 LED modules 11 LED mounting board 20 Flash Lamp 21 Light distribution means 22 Case 23 Light-transmitting cover

Claims

1. A flash lamp including an LED module as a light source, The flash lamp is characterized in that the LED module has an effective luminous intensity of 6,000 to 20,000 cd per flash duration of 1 to 5 msec.

2. 2. The flash lamp of claim 1, wherein the flash duration is configurable.

3. 3. The flash lamp according to claim 2, wherein the flash duration is set in accordance with at least one of the weather and the time of day at a location where the flash lamp is installed.

4. 10. The flash lamp according to claim 1, which is used for guiding aircraft to land.

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