Abstract:
A method and apparatus are provided for remotely monitoring the status of a variety of illumination devices. A fiber optic cable coupled to a light fixture transmits a light display. Based on the light received, the status of the light is determined. The status is determined without the use of elegant and expensive electronics that are more subject to failure and with minimal power consumption.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to determining the status of a light or lamp and, more particularly, to remote determination of lamp or light status utilizing fiber optics. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   In both vehicles, both automotive and aircraft, and in various facilities, interior and exterior illumination has become increasingly important. However, in many cases, such as with vehicles, exterior illumination, especially exterior indicators like brake lights, are not visible to the operator or passengers. Also, in some cases, such as with amusement parks, there may be thousands upon thousands of lights used for illumination and for safety. In either case, it can be difficult, time consuming, or both to determine the status of the light or lamp. 
   Typically, certain electronics to measure the status of the lights or lamps are used. These measurement electronics operate in a variety of manners, such as, for example, measuring the resistance of the illumination device. The measurement electronics essentially interpret the state of the illumination device and report the state of the illumination device to a display. 
   The electronic interpretation techniques, elegant as they may be, do have a number of problems. For example, most systems do not correctly interpret intermittent operation or partial intensity. Also, these electronic interpretation techniques are highly subject to failure. Both examples may be very costly in terms of dollar value and human life if a failure were to occur on an aircraft. Also, with all electric measurements that correspond to these interpretation techniques, the electronics consume power. If there are number of illumination devices, then the power consumption can be quite large. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a method and/or apparatus to improve the measurement of operation of illumination devices that addresses at least some of the problems associated with conventional methods and apparatuses for measuring the operation of an illumination device. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for determining the status of an illumination device. Light is received from the illumination device by an optical fiber. The light is transmitted to a display, wherein the display displays the status of the illumination device based on the light. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  depicts a block diagram of an automobile illumination system utilizing remote optical monitoring; 
       FIG. 2  depicts a block diagram a lamp equipped with a remote optical monitor; 
       FIG. 3  depicts a block diagram of facility utilizing remote optical monitoring; 
       FIG. 4  depicts a block diagram a direct display of a remote optical monitoring system; and 
       FIG. 5  depicts a block diagram a LED display of a remote optical monitoring system. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In the following discussion, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, well-known elements have been illustrated in schematic or block diagram form in order not to obscure the present invention in unnecessary detail. Additionally, for the most part, details concerning network communications, electromagnetic signaling techniques, and the like, have been omitted inasmuch as such details are not considered necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the present invention, and are considered to be within the understanding of persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art. 
   It is further noted that, unless indicated otherwise, all functions described herein can be performed in either hardware or software, or some combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment, however, the functions are performed by hardware, such as a computer or an electronic data processor, in accordance with code, such as computer program code, software, and/or integrated circuits that are coded to perform such functions, unless indicated otherwise. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, the reference numeral  100  generally designates a block diagram of an automobile illumination system utilizing remote optical monitoring. The illumination system comprises a first lamp  122 , a second lamp  124 , a third lamp  126 , a fourth lamp  128 , and a display  130 . 
   The operation of the illumination system  100  is based on light capture. As opposed to conventional systems that utilize elegant electronic measurement devices, the illumination system  100  captures light from each lamp or illumination element. A fiber optic cable or bundle is coupled to each lamp or illumination element. The fiber optical cable or bundle captures light from the lamp or illumination element and transmits the captured light to a display. From the captured light virtually no power is consumed, and there is instant feedback. 
   There are a variety of connections that exist in order for the illumination system  100  to operate. The first lamp  122  is coupled to the display  130  through a first optical fiber  132 . The second lamp  124  is coupled to the display  130  through a second optical fiber  134 . The third lamp  126  is coupled to the display  130  through a third optical fiber  136 . The fourth lamp  128  is coupled to the display  130  through a fourth optical fiber  138 . There are a number of optical fibers that can be utilized at a variety of diameters. Moreover, there can be multiple optical fibers or a single optical fiber, as shown in  FIG. 1 , coupled to each lamp. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2  of the drawings, the reference numeral  200  generally designates a block diagram of a lamp equipped with a remote optical monitor. The lamp  200  comprises a reflector  210 , electrical cables  214 , an illumination element  212 , an optical port  216 , and an optical fiber  218 . 
   Within the lamp  200 , the reflector  210  operates as the housing for the lamp. The illumination element  212  rests at the focus of the parabolic reflector  210 . The electrical cables  214  are then coupled to the illumination element  212  through an aperture in the reflector  210  to supply power to the illumination element  212 . The illumination element  212  can be a number of devices, such as a Light Emitting Diode (LED) or a light bulb. Also, the reflector  210  can be one of a number of geometries, for example a paraboloid as shown in  FIG. 2 . Contained within the reflector  210 , there is also an optical port  216 . The optical port  216  can be located on any portion of the reflector  210  that would allow for light capture. An optical fiber  218  is then coupled to the optical port  216 . The couple between the optical port  216  and the optical fiber  218  can be achieved through a variety of matter, for example a lens. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3  of the drawings, the reference numeral  300  generally designates a block diagram of a facility utilizing remote optical monitoring. The facility  300  comprises a first light  302 , a second light  304 , a third light  306 , a fourth light  308 , a fifth light  310 , a sixth light  312 , a seventh light  314 , an eighth light  316 , a ninth light  318 , a tenth light  320 , an eleventh light  322 , a twelfth light  324 , a thirteenth light  326 , a fourteenth light  328 , a fifteenth light  330 , sixteenth light  332 , a seventeenth light  334 , an eighteenth light  336 , a nineteenth light  338 , a twentieth light  340 , a twenty-first light  342 , a twenty-second light  344 , a twenty-third light  346 , a twenty-fourth light  348 , and a display  350 . 
   In order for the remote optical monitoring system to operate, light should be coupled to the display. The first light  302  is coupled to the display  350  through a first optical fiber  301 . The second light  304  is coupled to the display  350  through a second optical fiber  303 . The third light  306  is coupled to the display  350  through a third optical fiber  305 . The fourth light  308  is coupled to the display  350  through a fourth optical fiber  307 . The fifth light  310  is coupled to the display  350  through a fifth optical fiber  309 . The sixth light  312  is coupled to the display  350  through a sixth optical fiber  311 . The seventh light  314  is coupled to the display  350  through a seventh optical fiber  313 . The eighth light  316  is coupled to the display  350  through an eighth optical fiber  315 . The ninth light  318  is coupled to the display  350  through a ninth optical fiber  317 . The tenth light  320  is coupled to the display  350  through a tenth optical fiber  319 . The eleventh light  322  is coupled to the display  350  through an eleventh optical fiber  321 . The twelfth light  324  is coupled to the display  350  through a twelfth optical fiber  323 . The thirteenth light  326  is coupled to the display  350  through a thirteenth optical fiber  325 . The fourteenth light  328  is coupled to the display  350  through a fourteenth optical fiber  327 . The fifteenth light  330  is coupled to the display  350  through a fifteenth optical fiber  329 . The sixteenth light  332  is coupled to the display  350  through a sixteenth optical fiber  331 . The seventeenth light  334  is coupled to the display  350  through a seventeenth optical fiber  333 . The eighteenth light  336  is coupled to the display  350  through an eighteenth optical fiber  335 . The nineteenth light  338  is coupled to the display  350  through a nineteenth optical fiber  337 . The twentieth light  340  is coupled to the display  350  through a twentieth optical fiber  339 . The twenty-first light  342  is coupled to the display  350  through a twenty-first optical fiber  341 . The twenty-second light  344  is coupled to the display  350  through a twenty-second optical fiber  343 . The twenty-third light  346  is coupled to the display  350  through a twenty-third optical fiber  345 . The twenty-fourth light  348  is coupled to the display  350  through a twenty-fourth optical fiber  347 . 
   Also, there are a variety of configurations that can be utilized with a facility, such as the facility  300  of  FIG. 3 . There are a number of optical fibers that can be utilized at a variety of diameters. Moreover, there can be multiple optical fibers or a single optical fiber, as shown in  FIG. 3 , coupled to each light. There can be a single light or multiple lights, as shown in  FIG. 3 . The lights can also be of a variety of types and configurations, such as an overhead 40-watt incandescent bulb. The type of facility can also be one or more of a variety of facilities, such as a factory or an amusement park. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4  of the drawings, the reference numeral  400  generally designates a block diagram depicting a direct display of a remote optical monitoring system. The direct display  400  comprises a first indicator  406 , a second indicator  408 , a third indicator  410 , a fourth indicator  412 , a fifth indicator  414 , a sixth indicator  416 , a seventh indicator  418 , and an optical fiber  402 . 
   The operation of the direct display  400  can be the least complex display utilizing remote optical monitoring. For each lamp on a given vehicle or facility, there is a corresponding optical fiber, such as optical fiber  402 . The display pictorially shows the location of each lamp or illumination device. For each lamp or illumination device, there is an indicator on the display, such as the first indicator  406 , a second indicator  408 , a third indicator  410 , a fourth indicator  412 , a fifth indicator  414 , a sixth indicator  416  and a seventh indicator  418 . The fiber from each corresponding lamp directly couples to the indicator on the display, such as the optical fiber  402  coupling to the first indicator  406 . Light  404  is then emitted from the fiber  402  directly to the first indicator  406 . There are a variety of manners to couple a fiber to an indicator, such as a lens. There can also be multiple or a single optical fiber, as shown in  FIG. 4  for each indicator. 
   Referring to  FIG. 5  of the drawings, the reference numeral  500  generally designates a block diagram depicting an LED display of a remote optical monitoring system. The LED display  500  comprises a first optical fiber  504 , a second optical fiber  506 , a third optical fiber  508 , a first optical sensor  510 , a second optical sensor  512 , a third optical sensor  514 , a controller  502 , a first LED  516 , a second LED  518 , and a third LED  520 . There should be at least one sensor, at least one LED, and at least one optical fiber for each illumination device or lamp that is monitored by the remote optical monitoring system. 
   The LED display  500  is a more advanced and elegant system for displaying the status of an illumination device or lamp. An optical fiber, such as the first optical fiber  504 , feeds in light from an illumination device or lamp. A sensor, such as the first optical sensor  510 , detects the light emitted from the optical fiber, such as the first optical fiber  504 . A signal from the sensor, such as the first optical sensor  510 , is then relayed to a controller, such as the controller  502 . The controller, such as the controller  502 , then can activate corresponding LED, such as the first LED  516 . 
   Based on the signal that the controller receives from the optical sensor, there are a variety of outputs that the controller can produce. Based on color, intensity, and so forth, the controller can vary the output signal to the display. For example, if the illumination device is dual beam, then the controller can relay the intensity to the LEDs. Also, the LEDs can be replaced with a variety of other display devices such as a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) shown in  FIG. 5  to graphically display or provide a textual report of the status of the illumination device. The controller can also be equipped with a variety of other devices to draw attention to the display such as, for example, an audio prompt. 
   In order for the LED display to operate, the optical fibers should be coupled to the optical sensors. The first optical fiber  504  is optically coupled to the first optical sensor  510 . The second optical fiber  506  is optically coupled to the second optical sensor  512 . The third optical fiber  508  is optically coupled to the third optical sensor  514 . Also, the optical fiber or fibers can be coupled to the optical sensor or sensors through a variety of ways, such as a lens. The optical fiber can be coupled to multiple optical sensors or to a single optical sensor, as shown in  FIG. 5 . Multiple optical fibers or a single optical fiber, as shown in  FIG. 1 , can be coupled to an optical sensor. Also, there can be a single optical sensor or multiple optical sensors, as shown in  FIG. 5 . Multiple optical sensors, as shown in  FIG. 1 , can be individually placed or placed into an array wherein optical fibers can be coupled thereto. 
   There should also be a variety of electrical connections established in order for the LED display to function. The first optical sensor  510  is coupled to the controller  502  through a first communication channel  522 . The second optical sensor  512  is coupled to the controller  502  through a second communication channel  524 . The third optical sensor  514  is coupled to the controller  502  through a third communication channel  526 . The controller  502  is coupled to the first LED  516  through a fourth communication channel  528 . The controller  502  is coupled to the second LED  518  through a fifth communication channel  530 . Also, the controller  502  is coupled to the third LED  520  through a sixth communication channel  532 . Moreover, any of the aforementioned communications channels would encompass wireless links, optical links, conductor cable links, packet switched channels, direct communication channels and any combination thereof. 
   It will further be understood from the foregoing description that various modifications and changes may be made in the preferred embodiment of the present invention without departing from its true spirit. This description is intended for purposes of illustration only and should not be construed in a limiting sense. The scope of this invention should be limited only by the language of the following claims.