LED Signal Transmitter Programming Interface for Railway Circuits

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Solution Overview

Problem

The variety of light signal circuits for railway safety systems, particularly due to differences in glow limit, supply voltage, and color requirements, makes it challenging to produce LED signal heads that can be universally used, leading to increased production costs and limited production quantities.

Innovation Solution

An LED signal transmitter with a programming interface that allows for specifying parameters such as operating voltage, characteristic adjustment, and monitoring, enabling universal use with any signal circuit and facilitating easy adaptation to different requirements, including color selection and power consumption management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If different LED signal heads are produced for different signal circuits and color requirements, then the adaptability to specific applications is improved, but the production costs increase and production quantities are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different signal circuitsVSAvoidproduction costs
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal LED signal head design with a programming interface that can be configured to work with different signal circuits through parameter programming. The signal head can adapt to various glow limits, supply voltages, and color requirements by programming different parameters, eliminating the need for multiple specialized variants and reducing production costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses parameter programming to change the operational characteristics of the LED signal head. By programming different parameters such as glow limit thresholds, supply voltage levels, and LED control settings, the same physical device can adapt to different signal circuit requirements and color specifications without physical modification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If LED signal heads are customized for different glow limits and supply voltages, then the performance for specific applications is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperformance for specific applicationsVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a self-configuration capability where the LED signal head automatically adapts to different applications through parameter programming. The device can be programmed with specific glow limit thresholds and supply voltage settings, allowing it to self-adjust its behavior without requiring complex hardware modifications for each application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic configurability through a programming interface that allows the operational parameters of the LED signal head to be changed. This enables the device to adapt its characteristics such as glow limit response and voltage tolerance dynamically through software configuration rather than fixed hardware design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If multiple LED variants are produced for different colors, then the color selection accuracy is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor selection accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves different signal colors by programming different parameters rather than using different physical LED variants. The programming interface allows configuration of color output by controlling the activation and intensity of LED elements through software parameters, maintaining color accuracy while simplifying manufacturing to a single universal hardware design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables the LED signal transmitter to be used across a wide range of requirements, reducing production costs by allowing for flexible programming and monitoring, ensuring safe operation and efficient energy use.

Implementation Method 1

LED signal transmitter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight Emitting Diode: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentEP2858874B1Light signal
Publication Date: 2022.08.24 SIEMENS MOBILITY GMBH
  • EP2858874B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2858874B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2858874B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a light signal, particularly for railway security systems, with an LED signal transmitter (1). In order to achieve universal applicability of the LED signal transmitter (1) for the most varied operating conditions, according to the invention, a program interface (2) is provided for pre-setting parameters for the LED signal transmitter (1).