LED caution lighting system

A lighting indicator system having a controller with an analog output signal and an LED array receiving the analog output signal and lighting a plurality of LEDs in response. The LED array provides a second analog output that echoes the received analog output signal from the controller.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates to LED systems in general and, more specifically, to LED caution lighting systems for racetracks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Current caution lighting systems used by racetracks employ a number of (4 or more) flashing amber bulbs mounted at the corners or intersections of the racetracks. While they are visible to the racing driver, they are difficult to see by the race spectators. Spectators are usually only aware of a caution flag incident after the race cars have slowed to a pace speed.

Current systems also utilize incandescent bulbs. Incandescent bulbs are known to utilize a relatively large amount of power for the light they produce. A large portion of the energy consumed is wasted in generating heat. Additionally, incandescent bulbs have a relatively short service life, requiring frequent replacement.

Current caution light systems are generally arranged in a standard series or parallel circuit configuration. Expanding or modifying the system may require extensive rewiring, from the power supply through the whole circuit. For this reason, current caution lighting systems are generally directed only to drivers, with spectators being only a secondary consideration.

What is needed is a system and method for addressing the above and related issues.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention of the present disclosure, in one aspect thereof, comprises a lighting indicator system having a controller with an analog output signal and an LED array receiving the analog output signal and lighting a plurality of LEDs in response. The LED array provides a second analog output that echoes the received analog output signal from the controller. In some embodiments, the controller may be a programmable microcontroller.

In some embodiments, the analog output signal comprises a plurality of signals indicative of a plurality of colors for selective display on the LED array. The system may include a second LED array receiving the analog output signal from the first LED array and lighting a plurality of LEDs in response. The first LED array and the second LED array may be attached to separate power supplies.

The invention of the present disclosure, in another aspect thereof, comprises a signaling system having a controller that accepts user input and provides an electronic analog output signal. The system includes a first multicolor indicator that provides a visual signal of a first color in response to a first predetermined signal from the controller. The multicolor indicator provides an electronic analog output signal that echoes the predetermined signal from the controller.

In some embodiments, the system further comprises a second multicolor indicator that receives the echoed signal from the first multicolor indicator, provides a visual signal of the first color in response to the received signal, and echoes the received signal on an electronic analog output signal. The first and second multicolor indicators may provide visual signals of a second color in response to a second predetermined signal from the controller. The multicolor indicators comprise light emitting diodes (LED) arrays and the LED arrays may provide a plurality of LED colors. The controller may provide an electronic analog output signal corresponding to each of the plurality of LED colors to the multicolor indicators.

In some cases, the multicolor indicators each have a separate power supply that powers each associated LED array. The controller may have a power supply separate from the multicolor indicators. The LED arrays may be arranged as a flat panel of individual LEDs for providing a high visibility signal to a large audience. The LED arrays may be arranged to provide racing signals to spectators at a racetrack.

The invention of the present disclosure, in another aspect thereof, comprises light emitting diode (LED) signaling system. The system comprises a first LED signal panel that has a first power supply, an LED of a first color, and an LED of a second color. The system has a first analog input corresponding to the LED of the first color, a second analog input lead corresponding to the LED of the second color, a first analog output lead corresponding to the first color, and a second analog output lead corresponding to the second color. The first LED signal panel utilizes the first power supply to drive the LED of the first color at an intensity according to the first analog input and to drive the LED of the second color at an intensity according to the second analog input. The first LED signal panel echoes the first and second analog inputs to the first and second analog outputs, respectively.

In some embodiments, the system also comprises a second LED signal panel having a second power supply, an LED of the first color, and an LED of the second color. The panel has first analog input corresponding to the LED of the first color, a second analog input lead corresponding to the LED of the second color, a first analog output lead corresponding to the first color, and a second analog output lead corresponding to the second color. The second LED signal panel utilizes the second power supply to drive the LED of the first color at an intensity according to the first analog input and to drive the LED of the second color at an intensity according to the second analog input. The second LED signal panel echoes the first and second analog inputs to the first and second analog outputs, respectively. The analog outputs of the first LED signal panel may be electrically connected to the corresponding analog inputs of the second LED signal panel.

In some embodiments, the system includes controller having a third power supply and electrically connected to the analog inputs of the first LED signal panel. The controller may accept user inputs and generate corresponding analog output control signals for the first LED signal panel. The first and second LED signal panels may be installed proximate a racetrack to be visible to a spectator and may be capable of generating at least visible yellow and green lighting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now toFIG. 1, a perspective view of a scaled down example of the LED caution light system100of the present disclosure is shown. In various embodiment of the present disclosure, a light emitting diode (LED) based caution lighting system100comprises a number of linear LED arrays104,106,108,110mounted either vertically or horizontally along structures common to raceway facilities (i.e., “catch fence,” “spectator fence,” speaker pole mounts, etc.). Here the LED arrays are shown mounted on a racetrack catch fence122for high visibility from the point of view of the spectators.

The LED linear arrays104,106,108,110are controlled by a master/slave configuration as explained in more detail below. The system100is designed to generate at least red, blue, green, white and amber colors that reflect the various stages/readiness of the track, the raceway and its facilities. The system is designed to enhance the safety of the facility and the track while adding to the experience and excitement of racing that is perceived by the fans/participants.

In one embodiment, the system100differs from traditional systems in that it is primarily designed to be viewed by the spectators/racing fans. In some respects, the system100transforms the catch fence122into a caution light indicator not only for the spectators but also racing officials and media personnel.

The system100includes a “master” controller102that sends analog signals to a series of “slave” controllers that are associated with each of the LED arrays or signal panels104,106,108,110. As explained in greater detail below, each “slave” controller comprises analog components that receive the signals from the “master” controller which, in turn, channels voltage and current from a locally-mounted power supply (1 power supply per “slave” controller) to the LED array104,106,108,110mounted vertically or horizontally along the track fence122line. Each “slave” controller then retransmits the original signal sent from the “master” controller to the next “slave” controller in succession. Using this method, an infinite number of “slave” controllers can be interconnected allowing for extremely long circuit installations of a mile or more. Thus, the system ofFIG. 1is described as having been “scaled down” in that only four signal panels104,106,108,110are shown.

In some embodiments the master controller102comprises a digital microprocessor that runs a series of software routines designed to generate various flashing, chasing and fading illumination effects. These digital commands that are then translated into a zero to 12-volt analog signal that is sent to the “slave” controllers for execution.

The embodiment ofFIG. 1includes a master controller102that connects to a plurality of LED arrays, shown as104,106,108, and110. It can be seen that the LED arrays104,106,108,110are connected in a master-slave relationship. The master controller102provides analog signals via signal line112to the first LED array104. The LED array104provides analog signals to the second LED array106via signal line114. Similarly, LED array106signals LED array108via analog line116; and LED array108signals LED array110via analog line118.

It will be appreciated that the LED arrays104,106,108,110may contain one or more colors of LEDs and that each of these may be individually controlled. Each LED array104,106,108,110may connect to a separate power supply and rely on the upstream LED array only for signaling purposes. It is understood that any number of LED arrays could be added to the present configuration in order to extend the useful size of the system100.

The present system100is utilized in a racetrack configuration with the arrays104,106,108,110mounted along a wall120and forming a portion of a catch fence122. However, the system100could be adapted to other uses, including non-race related uses. The viewpoint ofFIG. 1would approximate the view seen by a spectator of the race. A car124is shown for illustration purposes behind the wall122. As described, a race spectator may be able to view the LED arrays104,106,108,110and determine the current condition of the racetrack. This could include green flags, caution flags, checkered flags, or other race information.

Referring now toFIG. 2, a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the LED caution light system100of the present disclosure is shown. FromFIG. 2, it can be seen that the master controller102may comprise a microprocessor202connected to a 12 volt power supply204through a 5-volt voltage regulator206and appropriate grounding capacitors208. Inputs to the microprocessor may be controlled by buttons, switch gears, key pads, and/or other devices.

In the present embodiment, the microcontroller102can control up to three different colors of LEDs. In the present embodiment, a red or amber LED control is provided on signal line1A, a green LED control line is provided on line1B, and a blue LED control line is provided on line1C. Each of these signal lines passes to the first LED array104. It is understood that in other embodiments more or fewer LED colors could be controlled by having more or fewer analog signal lines. It is also understood that more than three visible colors may be produced on the associated LED array by combining various brightness levels of the three discrete LED colors. Therefore in some embodiments, the intensity or brightness of each discrete LED color may controlled by a corresponding voltage on the associated control lines1A,1B,1C. In other embodiments, the LEDs could be activated in a binary fashion (e.g., the associated LED colors are either on, or off).

The configuration ofFIG. 2illustrates one possible way that the LED array104can be configured in the master-slave relationship. The outputs from the controller1A,1B,1C, provide the inputs to the array104. The LED array104attaches to its own separate 12-volt power supply220and provides a number of red/amber210, green212, and blue214LEDs. These may be separately signaled by the control lines1A,1B, and1C coming from the controller102. Current limiters and drivers211,213,215may be connected between the LEDs210,212, and214, respectively and a common ground250to activate or deactivate the LEDs in response to analog signals from the input lines1A,1B, and1C. It is understood that each device inFIG. 2is need not necessarily be connected to the same physical ground, so long as each ground is sufficiently close to zero volts. It can also be seen that whatever input is received via signal lines1A,1B, and1C may be output from the LED array104on output lines2A,2B, and2C. In the present embodiment, the output signal lines for the red, green and blue LEDs210,212,214correspond to the input signals1A,1B, and1C, respectively.

InFIG. 2, a second LED array106is shown that is substantially similar to the first LED array104except that the LED array106accepts analog control inputs from the output of the first array104. Thus the outputs2A,2B, and2C from the first array104are provided as inputs to the second array106. The array106also is attached to its own separate power supply240such that the only connection between the array106and the array104are the signal lines2A,2B, and2C corresponding to the respective LED colors. This configuration allows the arrays104,106to be installed at arbitrarily large distances from one another so long as each array has access to a 12 volt power supply. Although only two arrays104,106are shown in the present example, it is understood array106could be used to output analog signals to additional arrays. It will also be appreciated that due to the master-slave configuration, the entire set of LED arrays can be controlled by a single control unit102. The control unit102may be digitally programmed to provide the desired effects and color combinations for the LED arrays of the system.

The second array106(as well as any others that are “downstream”) may have a similar electronic configuration as the first array104. For example, current limiters and drivers231,233,235may be connected between the LEDs230,232, and234, respectively, and a common ground250to activate or deactivate the LEDs in response to analog signals from the input lines1A,1B, and1C.

It is understood to those having skill in the art that the particular circuitry configuration of the arrays104,106ofFIG. 1is only one way that LEDs may be attached and driven. Thus, the present disclosure is not meant to be limited only to the particular embodiments of circuitry shown.

Referring now toFIG. 3, a close-up view of an LED signal panel300according to the present disclosure. The panel300may provide the actual lighting or signaling mechanism corresponding to an LED array (such as array104or array106ofFIG. 2). Here it can be appreciated that, although only a single color of each LED is shown for each array104,106inFIG. 2, in practice, a plurality of each LED color may be provided on a signal panel300corresponding to an LED array. In some embodiments, the panel300may be considered as comprising a number of pixels302. Each pixel302may have one or more of each color of LED in relatively close proximity. In this manner, various intensities of LED brightness can be combined to appear to be a single point of color at a distance. In the present embodiment, each pixel302contains a red/amber LED310, a green LED312, and a blue LED314. As discussed previously, each LED array104,106can implement a plurality of colors. Thus each array104,106may have one or more associated panels300having a plurality of LED colors in each pixel and have the capability of providing a multitude of colors, intensities, and effects on each associated panel300.