CA2047136A1 - Processor-controlled indicator device for changes in traffic conditions - Google Patents
Processor-controlled indicator device for changes in traffic conditionsInfo
- Publication number
- CA2047136A1 CA2047136A1 CA002047136A CA2047136A CA2047136A1 CA 2047136 A1 CA2047136 A1 CA 2047136A1 CA 002047136 A CA002047136 A CA 002047136A CA 2047136 A CA2047136 A CA 2047136A CA 2047136 A1 CA2047136 A1 CA 2047136A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- indicator
- section
- processor
- accordance
- changeable
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 239000013307 optical fiber Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 39
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 28
- 239000003086 colorant Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000005389 magnetism Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 4
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000003213 activating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004913 activation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005284 excitation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004973 liquid crystal related substance Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000011664 signaling Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F9/00—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements
- G09F9/30—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements
- G09F9/305—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements being the ends of optical fibres
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
- G09F13/04—Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
- G09F13/0418—Constructional details
- G09F13/0472—Traffic signs
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
- G09G3/00—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes
- G09G3/001—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes using specific devices not provided for in groups G09G3/02 - G09G3/36, e.g. using an intermediate record carrier such as a film slide; Projection systems; Display of non-alphanumerical information, solely or in combination with alphanumerical information, e.g. digital display on projected diapositive as background
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/04—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings formed by bundles of fibres
- G02B6/06—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings formed by bundles of fibres the relative position of the fibres being the same at both ends, e.g. for transporting images
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F9/00—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements
- G09F9/30—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements
- G09F9/305—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements being the ends of optical fibres
- G09F2009/3055—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements being the ends of optical fibres for traffic signs
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
- Devices For Indicating Variable Information By Combining Individual Elements (AREA)
- Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The outlay for producing an indicator device for arbitrary messages, in particular for changes of traffic conditions, which may be composed of at least one fixed indicator section and an arbitrarily selectable section, is reduced and control is simplified in accordance with the invention in that separate bundles of optical fibers which can be illuminated are provided for each non-changeable indicator section, the free ends of which are distributed in an indicator board in accordance with the associated non-changeable indicator section, that the arbitrarily selectable indicator section can be displayed by means of a matrix field of indicator elements, where each indicator element has an illuminable optical fiber with an individual switching device for opening or closing the associated light path, and that the selected, non-changeable indicator section and the selectable indicator section displayed in the matrix field are displayed together.
The outlay for producing an indicator device for arbitrary messages, in particular for changes of traffic conditions, which may be composed of at least one fixed indicator section and an arbitrarily selectable section, is reduced and control is simplified in accordance with the invention in that separate bundles of optical fibers which can be illuminated are provided for each non-changeable indicator section, the free ends of which are distributed in an indicator board in accordance with the associated non-changeable indicator section, that the arbitrarily selectable indicator section can be displayed by means of a matrix field of indicator elements, where each indicator element has an illuminable optical fiber with an individual switching device for opening or closing the associated light path, and that the selected, non-changeable indicator section and the selectable indicator section displayed in the matrix field are displayed together.
Description
7~36 PROCESSOR-CONTROI,LED INDICATOR DEVICE
FOR CHANGES IN TRAFFIC CONDITIONS
The invention relates to a processor-controlled indicator device for changes of traffic conditions, which can be composed of ~30 at least one fixed indicator section and an arbitrarily selectable section on an indicator board. ~OIp l¦
~s shown by German patent disclosure DE 79 31 474 Ul, such ~p~
a processor-controlled indicator device is embodied as a wind to¢~
indicator for road bridges and the like. A traffic sign, in this ~O~
case a triangular warning sign, is fixedly placed on the indicator board. Besides images of vehicles, speed indications, which depend on the measured wind speed, are shown as the changeable section of the indicator by means of the process computer controlled by an anemometer. These changeable indicator sections are displays of numbers, for which there are different known solutions.
From German patent disclosure DE 31 28 329 Al a signal ~
display device for traffic changes is known, where different, non-changeable indicator sections can be shown on an indicator board.
A bundle of simultaneously illuminable optical fibers is assigned to each indicator section and is inserted into the indicator board in agreement with the associated indicator section. The indicator sections can be made to indicate individually or simultaneously and the respective indicator sections can be switched on or off by activating the light sources associated with the bundles.
A change indicator device, in particular for traffic signaling devices, is known from German patent disclosure DE 81 24 380 U1, where the optical fibers of a bundle are brought to the indicator board from a liquid crystal component via a switching matrix. With this it is possible to open or close the light path through each optical fiber individually, so that a~bitrarily selectable indicator sections can be displayed on the indicator l O
board. ~qG I ~.
German patent disclosure DE 89 13 499 Ul discloses an qt1~ \0\
indicator device for alphanumeric displays, which makes use of the ~0~ o~
principle of the selective opening or closiny of an optical fiber ~Ov in a bundle of optical fibers. But the indicator board contains a plurality of optical fiber bundles, each arranged matrix-like in the indlcator board. Each bundle can constitute an arbitrarily selectable indicator section. If n bundles of optical fibers are provided, it is possible to display simultaneously n indicator sections or an indicator section in n colors, if different color filters have been placed in front of the bundles. Because the indicator board requires one switching element per matrix point of the n matrices, the outlay for this indicator device is very high and the control effort is alsc considerable, since the switch elements must be sequentially controlled.
It is the object of the invention to pro~ide a processor controlled indicator device for changes in traffic conditions of the previously mentioned type, in which the expenditures for the indicator elements are considerably reduced and the control of which can be considerably simplified.
This object is attained in accordance with the invention in that the non-changeable indicator section can be selected from possible indicator sections, that separate bundles of optical fibers which can be illuminated are provided for each non-changeable indicator section, the free ends of which are distributed in the indicator board in accordance with the associated non-chanyeable indicator section, that the arbitrarily selectable indicator section can be displayed by means of a matrix field of indicator elements, where each of these indicator elements has an illuminable optical fiber with an individual IL3~
switching device for opening or closing the associated light path, and that the selected, non-chanyeable indicator section and the selectable indicator section displayed in the matrix field are displayed together.
This embodiment makes use of the fact that many traffic signs have an unchanging indicator section, for example a triangular or a round frame. These non-changeable indicator sections are constituted by illuminable bundles of optical fibers which can be selected and activated as a whole. Thus these indicator elements do not require a switch element. The ends of the optical fibers are "inserted" into the indicator board in accordance with the associated indicator section. In this connection, "bundle" also means a unit composed of a plurality of individual bundles, if very many optical fibers are required for displaying the indicator section.
Only the smaller matrix field requires one switching element per optical fiber and the control only needs to control the considerably smaller number of indicator elements, so that in the end the outlay for the indicator elements is sonsiderably reduced and control greatly simplified in comparison with a larger processor-controlled matrix field of indicator elements with switching elements encompassing the entire display.
The non-changeable indicator section can be distinguished by color from the arbitrarily selectable indicator section in that filters of the same or different colors are placed ahead of the bundles of optical fibers associated with the respective non-changeable indicator sections.
In accordance with an embodiment this can be used in such a way, that the non-changeable indicator sections are each embodied as triangular or round displays made of evenly distributed optical fiber ends, which frame the matrix field.
' In accordance with a particularly si~ple embodiment, the selection of the non-changeable indicator section is made in sush a way that the non-changeable indicator section can be selected by switching on a light source assigned to the associated bundle of optical fibers.
A development of the indicator device in accordance with the invention provides that the indicator board has an additional indicator section which is embodied as a processor-controlled matrix field and which can be used for displaying messages or moving messages. It is preferably provided that the additional indicator section is disposed in the form of a message field below the display formed from the non-changeable indicator section and the arbitrarily selectable indicator section.
The embodiment of the switchable indicator element is provided i.n such a way that a flap, rotatably seated in a compartment of a housing, is provided as indicator element of the arbitrarily selectable indicator section and of the message field, that the optical fiber associated with each indicator element is connected with a reflecting body fixed in the bottom of the compartment and introduced into the compartment outside of the rotational axis of the flap, that the flap is controllable by means of two electromagnets and can be maintained in the non-indicating or indicating position because of their residual magnetism, that in the non--indicating position the flap covers the compartment and in the indicating position it is pivoted by 90 and rests against the reflector body and in this way uncovers the optical fiber end, and that a liyht collector is fixed in the indicator board in front of the flap, which is in its indicating position, in the extension of the reflecting body. In this connection, for the formation of bright points of light on the indicator board it is provided that the light collector is embodied as a section of a solid body of glass or transparent 3~
plastic, where at least the front face oriented towards the reflecting body is polished.
The invention will be described in detail by means of an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings. Shown are in:
Fig. 1 is a schematic front view of an indicator device in accordance with the invention in the form of a traffic change signal, Fig. 2 is a schematic lateral view of the indicator device in accordance with Fig., 1 with the arrangement of the optical fibers of the individual bundles, Fig. 3 is a sectional ~iew of a switchable indicator element of the matrix and message field in the indicating position, Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the switchable indicator element in accordance with Fig. 3 in the non-indicating position, and Fig. 5 is a schematic view of a control circuit for the bundle of optical fibers of the matrix field.
In an indicator board AT in accordance with Fig. 1, it is possible to display a triangle as the frame of a traffic sign by means of fi~ed optical fiber ends LFEal. For this purpose the ends of optical fibers LF of a bundle FBl are disposed evenly distributed in a grid on the surface of the frame of the triangle, as shown in Fig. 2. When a switch S1 is closed, the bundle FBl is illuminated by means of a light source Ll and a filter F. The optical fibers o~ a further bundle FB2 with optical fiber ends LFEa2 are inserted in the same way on the circular surface of the indicator board AT. The further bundle FB2 is illuminated by means of a further light source L2 and also a filter F when a further switch S2 is closed.
In this manner it is possible to definitely preset the non-changeable indicator sections Al and A2 ln the fGrm of a 3~i triang~llar frame and a circular ~rame by means of the switches S1 and S2 and use them for a plurality of displays. Thus, the non-changeable indica-tor sections Al and A2 are definitely preset and can simply be selected by switchlng on the light source Ll or L2 required for the desired display. In the exemplary embodiment red filters F are used, since the indicator device is intended to reproduce different traffic signs with a red triangular or circular frame.
The non-changeable indicator sections A1 and A2 frame a matrix field MF of ends of optical fibers LFEmf, arranged matrix-like, i.e. in lines and columns, with which an arbitrarily selectable indicator section B can be displayed. This arbitrarily selectable indicator section B can be a pictograph or a number indication.
Additionally, a message field SF for displaying a message C
ox a moving message is disposed below the display formed by the non-changeable indicator section Al or A2 and the arbitrarily selectable indicator section B.
As Fig. 2 illustrates, a bundle FBmf for the matrix field MF is constantly illuminated by means of a light source Lmf. An individual switching device SE in accordance with Figs. 3 and ~ is provided for each optical fiber of the bundle FBmf, which together form a switching matrix SEmf. The optical fibers of a bundle FBst for the message field SF are also continuously illuminated by a light source Lsf. Each optical fiber of the bundle FBsf is assigned an individual switching device SE in accordance with Figs. 3 and 4, which form a switching matrix SEsf. In this way each indicator ~lement AE in the matrix field MF and in the message field SF can be individually "switched on" or "switched off", i.e. can be set to the indicating or non-indicating -position. The method of actuation will be described later by means of the principle circuit diagram in accordance with Fig. 5.
J~ 3~
The structure of the indicator elements AE of the matrix field MF of the indicator device of the invention will be described by means of Figs. 3 and 4. A housing 10 comprises open compartments 11 open towards the display side for the rotatable seating of flaps 15. This housing essentially consists of a plate which has compartments 11 which are square in cross section towards the display side and whose walls are formed on the plate.
This housing 10 may also be put together from a plurality of joined partial housings in order to obtain a matrix-like indicator device of sufficient size. The compartments 11 are arranged in lines and columns. A flap 15 is rotatably seated by means of a rotational axis 14 in every required compartment 11 in such a way, that in the non-indicating position illustrated in Fig. 4 this flap ]5 covers the associated compartment 11. A bore 12 is disposed in the bottom of the compartment 11, which receives a reflecting body 30 placed on the end of the optical fiber LF. In this case the bore 12 is designed in such a way that the reflecting body 30 is maintained therein by snug and/or press fit and extends into the associated compartment 11. In this case the arrangement is such that the reflecting body 30 is located outside of the rotational axis 14 of the flap 15, which preferably extends diagonally in the compartment 11 and is disposed in the area of the open side of the compartment 11. Behind the compartment 11, pairs of electromagnets 13, associated with the flap 15, are disposed on the outside of the bottom, i.e. the plate, by means of which the two positions of the flap 15 are set. In the indicating position in accordance with Fig. 3, the flap 15 can only turn around 90, because the reflecting body 30 forms a stop for the flap 15. The light being emitted by the reflector 30 is uncovered and reaches a light collector 22, which is fixed in front of the reflecting body 30 in the indicator board AT. The distance of the indicator board AT has been selected in such a way that the flaps 2~7~3~
15 can assume the indicating position in accordance with Fig. 3.
The light collectors 22 are round in cross section and embodied as sections of a glass rod or a transparent plastic rod. At least the front faces 23 oriented towards the reflecting bodies 30 are polished in order to obtain a sufficient collecting effect. To simplify assembly, the front faces 24 of the light collectors 22 are also polished on the viewing side, i.e. the indicating side.
In this case the front faces 23 and 24 of the light collec-tors 22 terminate approximately flush with the facing sides of the indicator board AT. The indicator board AT is provided with bores 21, which receive and maintain the light collectors 22 in snug and/or press fit.
The electromagnets 13 have residual magnetism, so that the respectively set position of the flaps 15 is maintained until ordered into the other positIon. Therefore a pair of electromagnets is assigned to each compartment 11, i.e. each flap 15. The respectively one of the electromagnets 13 of the pairs is used for setting and maintaining the indicating position in accordance with Fig. 3, while by excitation of the respectively other pair of electromagnets 13, the flaps 15 are brought into the non-indicating position in accordanee with Fig. 4 and are maintained in it. In the non-indicating position, the flaps 15 close off the associated compartments 11, where one of the sidewalls of the compartment 11 is used as a stop. The illuminated optical fiber ~F with the reflecting body 30 is covered in this case, so that no light can reach the associated light collector 22 in front of it. In this case the front face 24 of the light collector 22 remains absolutely dark, so that a very high degree of switching conditions is achieved between the indicating position and the non-indicating position of the flap 15 at the light collector 22.
The indicator device is constructed in matrix form in the area of the matrix field MF and the message field SF, where the flaps 15 with the electromagnets 13 are arranged in lines zl to zm and columns sl to sn. Wiring can be by means of a printed circuit board, on which the housing lo with connections for the electromagnets can be placed and soldered. In this case the setting coils of the pairs of electromagnets 13 form the setting matrix, while the restoring coils of the pairs of electromagnets 13 form tne restoring matrix.
~ s shown in Fig. 5, control takes place by means of 2 processor PZ, which successively selects the lines zl to zm by means o~ a line decoder Dz and controls a column decoder Ds in such a way that the columns sl to sn are cyclically activated in succession in the course of each line activation. All flaps 15 required for a display are brought into the indicating position in accordance with Fig. 3 in this manner. A pulse control is sufficient, since the switching devices of the indicator points are bistable.
Control of the restoring matrix takes place in the same way. It is possible to decouple the setting coils and restoring coils of the electromagnet pairs 13 via opposed diodes, switch them parallel and in this way set and restore the flaps 15 in a common matrix with control pulses of opposing polarity.
The processor PZ can in this case receive the information regarding the desired display in a parallel technique by means of a control panel BF and a parallel circuit PS or in a series technique by means of a computer R and a series control SS.
:~:
~ .
FOR CHANGES IN TRAFFIC CONDITIONS
The invention relates to a processor-controlled indicator device for changes of traffic conditions, which can be composed of ~30 at least one fixed indicator section and an arbitrarily selectable section on an indicator board. ~OIp l¦
~s shown by German patent disclosure DE 79 31 474 Ul, such ~p~
a processor-controlled indicator device is embodied as a wind to¢~
indicator for road bridges and the like. A traffic sign, in this ~O~
case a triangular warning sign, is fixedly placed on the indicator board. Besides images of vehicles, speed indications, which depend on the measured wind speed, are shown as the changeable section of the indicator by means of the process computer controlled by an anemometer. These changeable indicator sections are displays of numbers, for which there are different known solutions.
From German patent disclosure DE 31 28 329 Al a signal ~
display device for traffic changes is known, where different, non-changeable indicator sections can be shown on an indicator board.
A bundle of simultaneously illuminable optical fibers is assigned to each indicator section and is inserted into the indicator board in agreement with the associated indicator section. The indicator sections can be made to indicate individually or simultaneously and the respective indicator sections can be switched on or off by activating the light sources associated with the bundles.
A change indicator device, in particular for traffic signaling devices, is known from German patent disclosure DE 81 24 380 U1, where the optical fibers of a bundle are brought to the indicator board from a liquid crystal component via a switching matrix. With this it is possible to open or close the light path through each optical fiber individually, so that a~bitrarily selectable indicator sections can be displayed on the indicator l O
board. ~qG I ~.
German patent disclosure DE 89 13 499 Ul discloses an qt1~ \0\
indicator device for alphanumeric displays, which makes use of the ~0~ o~
principle of the selective opening or closiny of an optical fiber ~Ov in a bundle of optical fibers. But the indicator board contains a plurality of optical fiber bundles, each arranged matrix-like in the indlcator board. Each bundle can constitute an arbitrarily selectable indicator section. If n bundles of optical fibers are provided, it is possible to display simultaneously n indicator sections or an indicator section in n colors, if different color filters have been placed in front of the bundles. Because the indicator board requires one switching element per matrix point of the n matrices, the outlay for this indicator device is very high and the control effort is alsc considerable, since the switch elements must be sequentially controlled.
It is the object of the invention to pro~ide a processor controlled indicator device for changes in traffic conditions of the previously mentioned type, in which the expenditures for the indicator elements are considerably reduced and the control of which can be considerably simplified.
This object is attained in accordance with the invention in that the non-changeable indicator section can be selected from possible indicator sections, that separate bundles of optical fibers which can be illuminated are provided for each non-changeable indicator section, the free ends of which are distributed in the indicator board in accordance with the associated non-chanyeable indicator section, that the arbitrarily selectable indicator section can be displayed by means of a matrix field of indicator elements, where each of these indicator elements has an illuminable optical fiber with an individual IL3~
switching device for opening or closing the associated light path, and that the selected, non-chanyeable indicator section and the selectable indicator section displayed in the matrix field are displayed together.
This embodiment makes use of the fact that many traffic signs have an unchanging indicator section, for example a triangular or a round frame. These non-changeable indicator sections are constituted by illuminable bundles of optical fibers which can be selected and activated as a whole. Thus these indicator elements do not require a switch element. The ends of the optical fibers are "inserted" into the indicator board in accordance with the associated indicator section. In this connection, "bundle" also means a unit composed of a plurality of individual bundles, if very many optical fibers are required for displaying the indicator section.
Only the smaller matrix field requires one switching element per optical fiber and the control only needs to control the considerably smaller number of indicator elements, so that in the end the outlay for the indicator elements is sonsiderably reduced and control greatly simplified in comparison with a larger processor-controlled matrix field of indicator elements with switching elements encompassing the entire display.
The non-changeable indicator section can be distinguished by color from the arbitrarily selectable indicator section in that filters of the same or different colors are placed ahead of the bundles of optical fibers associated with the respective non-changeable indicator sections.
In accordance with an embodiment this can be used in such a way, that the non-changeable indicator sections are each embodied as triangular or round displays made of evenly distributed optical fiber ends, which frame the matrix field.
' In accordance with a particularly si~ple embodiment, the selection of the non-changeable indicator section is made in sush a way that the non-changeable indicator section can be selected by switching on a light source assigned to the associated bundle of optical fibers.
A development of the indicator device in accordance with the invention provides that the indicator board has an additional indicator section which is embodied as a processor-controlled matrix field and which can be used for displaying messages or moving messages. It is preferably provided that the additional indicator section is disposed in the form of a message field below the display formed from the non-changeable indicator section and the arbitrarily selectable indicator section.
The embodiment of the switchable indicator element is provided i.n such a way that a flap, rotatably seated in a compartment of a housing, is provided as indicator element of the arbitrarily selectable indicator section and of the message field, that the optical fiber associated with each indicator element is connected with a reflecting body fixed in the bottom of the compartment and introduced into the compartment outside of the rotational axis of the flap, that the flap is controllable by means of two electromagnets and can be maintained in the non-indicating or indicating position because of their residual magnetism, that in the non--indicating position the flap covers the compartment and in the indicating position it is pivoted by 90 and rests against the reflector body and in this way uncovers the optical fiber end, and that a liyht collector is fixed in the indicator board in front of the flap, which is in its indicating position, in the extension of the reflecting body. In this connection, for the formation of bright points of light on the indicator board it is provided that the light collector is embodied as a section of a solid body of glass or transparent 3~
plastic, where at least the front face oriented towards the reflecting body is polished.
The invention will be described in detail by means of an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings. Shown are in:
Fig. 1 is a schematic front view of an indicator device in accordance with the invention in the form of a traffic change signal, Fig. 2 is a schematic lateral view of the indicator device in accordance with Fig., 1 with the arrangement of the optical fibers of the individual bundles, Fig. 3 is a sectional ~iew of a switchable indicator element of the matrix and message field in the indicating position, Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the switchable indicator element in accordance with Fig. 3 in the non-indicating position, and Fig. 5 is a schematic view of a control circuit for the bundle of optical fibers of the matrix field.
In an indicator board AT in accordance with Fig. 1, it is possible to display a triangle as the frame of a traffic sign by means of fi~ed optical fiber ends LFEal. For this purpose the ends of optical fibers LF of a bundle FBl are disposed evenly distributed in a grid on the surface of the frame of the triangle, as shown in Fig. 2. When a switch S1 is closed, the bundle FBl is illuminated by means of a light source Ll and a filter F. The optical fibers o~ a further bundle FB2 with optical fiber ends LFEa2 are inserted in the same way on the circular surface of the indicator board AT. The further bundle FB2 is illuminated by means of a further light source L2 and also a filter F when a further switch S2 is closed.
In this manner it is possible to definitely preset the non-changeable indicator sections Al and A2 ln the fGrm of a 3~i triang~llar frame and a circular ~rame by means of the switches S1 and S2 and use them for a plurality of displays. Thus, the non-changeable indica-tor sections Al and A2 are definitely preset and can simply be selected by switchlng on the light source Ll or L2 required for the desired display. In the exemplary embodiment red filters F are used, since the indicator device is intended to reproduce different traffic signs with a red triangular or circular frame.
The non-changeable indicator sections A1 and A2 frame a matrix field MF of ends of optical fibers LFEmf, arranged matrix-like, i.e. in lines and columns, with which an arbitrarily selectable indicator section B can be displayed. This arbitrarily selectable indicator section B can be a pictograph or a number indication.
Additionally, a message field SF for displaying a message C
ox a moving message is disposed below the display formed by the non-changeable indicator section Al or A2 and the arbitrarily selectable indicator section B.
As Fig. 2 illustrates, a bundle FBmf for the matrix field MF is constantly illuminated by means of a light source Lmf. An individual switching device SE in accordance with Figs. 3 and ~ is provided for each optical fiber of the bundle FBmf, which together form a switching matrix SEmf. The optical fibers of a bundle FBst for the message field SF are also continuously illuminated by a light source Lsf. Each optical fiber of the bundle FBsf is assigned an individual switching device SE in accordance with Figs. 3 and 4, which form a switching matrix SEsf. In this way each indicator ~lement AE in the matrix field MF and in the message field SF can be individually "switched on" or "switched off", i.e. can be set to the indicating or non-indicating -position. The method of actuation will be described later by means of the principle circuit diagram in accordance with Fig. 5.
J~ 3~
The structure of the indicator elements AE of the matrix field MF of the indicator device of the invention will be described by means of Figs. 3 and 4. A housing 10 comprises open compartments 11 open towards the display side for the rotatable seating of flaps 15. This housing essentially consists of a plate which has compartments 11 which are square in cross section towards the display side and whose walls are formed on the plate.
This housing 10 may also be put together from a plurality of joined partial housings in order to obtain a matrix-like indicator device of sufficient size. The compartments 11 are arranged in lines and columns. A flap 15 is rotatably seated by means of a rotational axis 14 in every required compartment 11 in such a way, that in the non-indicating position illustrated in Fig. 4 this flap ]5 covers the associated compartment 11. A bore 12 is disposed in the bottom of the compartment 11, which receives a reflecting body 30 placed on the end of the optical fiber LF. In this case the bore 12 is designed in such a way that the reflecting body 30 is maintained therein by snug and/or press fit and extends into the associated compartment 11. In this case the arrangement is such that the reflecting body 30 is located outside of the rotational axis 14 of the flap 15, which preferably extends diagonally in the compartment 11 and is disposed in the area of the open side of the compartment 11. Behind the compartment 11, pairs of electromagnets 13, associated with the flap 15, are disposed on the outside of the bottom, i.e. the plate, by means of which the two positions of the flap 15 are set. In the indicating position in accordance with Fig. 3, the flap 15 can only turn around 90, because the reflecting body 30 forms a stop for the flap 15. The light being emitted by the reflector 30 is uncovered and reaches a light collector 22, which is fixed in front of the reflecting body 30 in the indicator board AT. The distance of the indicator board AT has been selected in such a way that the flaps 2~7~3~
15 can assume the indicating position in accordance with Fig. 3.
The light collectors 22 are round in cross section and embodied as sections of a glass rod or a transparent plastic rod. At least the front faces 23 oriented towards the reflecting bodies 30 are polished in order to obtain a sufficient collecting effect. To simplify assembly, the front faces 24 of the light collectors 22 are also polished on the viewing side, i.e. the indicating side.
In this case the front faces 23 and 24 of the light collec-tors 22 terminate approximately flush with the facing sides of the indicator board AT. The indicator board AT is provided with bores 21, which receive and maintain the light collectors 22 in snug and/or press fit.
The electromagnets 13 have residual magnetism, so that the respectively set position of the flaps 15 is maintained until ordered into the other positIon. Therefore a pair of electromagnets is assigned to each compartment 11, i.e. each flap 15. The respectively one of the electromagnets 13 of the pairs is used for setting and maintaining the indicating position in accordance with Fig. 3, while by excitation of the respectively other pair of electromagnets 13, the flaps 15 are brought into the non-indicating position in accordanee with Fig. 4 and are maintained in it. In the non-indicating position, the flaps 15 close off the associated compartments 11, where one of the sidewalls of the compartment 11 is used as a stop. The illuminated optical fiber ~F with the reflecting body 30 is covered in this case, so that no light can reach the associated light collector 22 in front of it. In this case the front face 24 of the light collector 22 remains absolutely dark, so that a very high degree of switching conditions is achieved between the indicating position and the non-indicating position of the flap 15 at the light collector 22.
The indicator device is constructed in matrix form in the area of the matrix field MF and the message field SF, where the flaps 15 with the electromagnets 13 are arranged in lines zl to zm and columns sl to sn. Wiring can be by means of a printed circuit board, on which the housing lo with connections for the electromagnets can be placed and soldered. In this case the setting coils of the pairs of electromagnets 13 form the setting matrix, while the restoring coils of the pairs of electromagnets 13 form tne restoring matrix.
~ s shown in Fig. 5, control takes place by means of 2 processor PZ, which successively selects the lines zl to zm by means o~ a line decoder Dz and controls a column decoder Ds in such a way that the columns sl to sn are cyclically activated in succession in the course of each line activation. All flaps 15 required for a display are brought into the indicating position in accordance with Fig. 3 in this manner. A pulse control is sufficient, since the switching devices of the indicator points are bistable.
Control of the restoring matrix takes place in the same way. It is possible to decouple the setting coils and restoring coils of the electromagnet pairs 13 via opposed diodes, switch them parallel and in this way set and restore the flaps 15 in a common matrix with control pulses of opposing polarity.
The processor PZ can in this case receive the information regarding the desired display in a parallel technique by means of a control panel BF and a parallel circuit PS or in a series technique by means of a computer R and a series control SS.
:~:
~ .
Claims (8)
1. A a processor-controlled indicator device for changes of traffic conditions, which can be composed of at least one fixed indicator section and an arbitrarily selectable section on an indicator board, characterized in that the non-changeable indicator section (A1, A2) can be selected from possible indicator sections (A1, A2), separate bundles (FB1, FB2) of optical fibers (LF) which can be illuminated are provided for each non-changeable indicator section (A1, A2), the free ends (LFEa1, LFEa2) of which are distributed in the indicator board (AT) in accordance with the associated non-changeable indicator section (A1 or A2), the arbitrarily selectable indicator section (B) can be displayed by means of a matrix field (MF) of indicator elements (AE), where each of these indicator elements (AE) has an illuminable optical fiber (LF) with an individual switching device (SE) for opening or closing the associated light path, and the selected, non-changeable indicator section (A1 or A2) and the selectable indicator section (B) displayed in the matrix field (MF) are displayed together.
2. A processor-controlled indicator device in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that it is possible to place filters (F) of the same or different colors ahead of the bundles (FB1, FB2) of optical fibers (LF) assigned to the non-changeable indicator sections (A1, A2).
3. A processor-controlled indicator device in accordance with claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the non-changeable indicator sections (A1 or A2) are respectively embodied as triangular or round displays made of evenly distributed optical fibers ends (LFEa1 or LFEa2), which surround the matrix field (MF).
4. A processor-controlled indicator device in accordance with one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the non-changeable indicator section (A1 or A2) can be selected by switching on a light source (L1 or L2) associated with the assigned bundle (FB1, FB2) of optical fibers (LF).
5. A processor-controlled indicator device in accordance with one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the indicator board (AT) has an additional indicator section (C), which is embodied as a processor-controlled matrix field and can be used for displaying a message or a moving message.
6. A processor-controlled indicator device in accordance with claim 5, characterized in that the additional indicator section (C) is disposed as a message field (SF) below the display formed by the non-changeable indicator section (A1 or A2) and the arbitrarily selectable indicator section (B).
7. A processor-controlled indicator device in accordance with one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a flap (15), rotatably seated in a compartment (11) of a housing (10) is provided as indicator element (AE) of the arbitrarily selectable indicator section (B) and the message field (SF), the optical fiber (LF) assigned to each indicator element (AE) is connected with a reflecting body (30), which is fixedly disposed in the bottom of the compartment (11) outside of the rotational axis 14 of the flap 15, the flap (15) is controllable by means of two electromagnets (13) and can be maintained in the non-indicating position or the indicating position by means of their residual magnetism, in the non-indicating position the flap 15 closes off the compartment (11) and in the indicating position rests, pivoted by 90°, against the reflecting body (30) and in this way uncovers the optical fiber end (LFEmf, LFFsf), and a light collector (22) is fixed in the extension of the reflecting body (30) in front of the flap (15), which is in the indicating position in the indicator board (AT).
8. A processor-controlled indicator device in accordance with claim 7, characterized in that the light collector (22) is embodied as a section of a solid body made of glass or transparent plastic, of which at least the front face oriented towards the reflecting body (30) is polished.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE4022650A DE4022650C1 (en) | 1990-07-17 | 1990-07-17 | |
| DEP4022650.6 | 1990-07-17 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2047136A1 true CA2047136A1 (en) | 1992-01-18 |
Family
ID=6410412
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002047136A Abandoned CA2047136A1 (en) | 1990-07-17 | 1991-07-16 | Processor-controlled indicator device for changes in traffic conditions |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0467034A1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2047136A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE4022650C1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (12)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE9305236U1 (en) * | 1992-04-11 | 1993-09-02 | Segor GmbH & Co KG, 55765 Birkenfeld | Variable message sign |
| DE4212124A1 (en) * | 1992-04-11 | 1993-10-14 | Segor Gmbh & Co Kg | Change enable road warning symbol system - has number of different symbols determined by optical fibre bundle with connection patterns on display board |
| JPH08171352A (en) * | 1993-11-09 | 1996-07-02 | Sanyo Electric Co Ltd | Light leakage preventive device and self-luminous display device formed by using the same |
| CH689287A5 (en) * | 1994-09-13 | 1999-01-29 | Siemens Integra Verkehrstechni | Light transmission device for railway safety signalling display |
| GB9520846D0 (en) * | 1995-10-11 | 1995-12-13 | Eev Ltd | Display |
| DE19631827C2 (en) * | 1996-08-07 | 2002-01-24 | Dambach Werke Gmbh | Optical display device |
| NL1003960C2 (en) * | 1996-09-05 | 1998-03-06 | Henricus Servatius Fran Nuland | Apparatus for three-dimensional visualization of objects, as well as a method for producing a three-dimensional visualizable image of an object. |
| DE29717261U1 (en) * | 1997-09-26 | 1997-11-20 | Siemens AG, 80333 München | Optical signaling device for traffic signs and / or light signals |
| ATE300080T1 (en) * | 1997-11-06 | 2005-08-15 | Siemens Ag | TRAFFIC SIGNALING DEVICE FOR SELF-ILLUMINATED INDICATORS |
| NL1008780C2 (en) * | 1998-04-01 | 1999-10-11 | Gti Ind Service B V | Electronic traffic signal with illuminated red ring superimposed on mandatory signals |
| EP1118901A1 (en) | 2000-01-21 | 2001-07-25 | Dicon A/S | A rear-projecting device |
| DE20212514U1 (en) * | 2002-08-14 | 2003-12-24 | Via Traffic Controlling Gmbh | Road traffic sign can be remotely changed by radio signal to suit conditions and has built in sign symbols stored in system memory |
Family Cites Families (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE2831174A1 (en) * | 1977-07-15 | 1979-01-18 | Kawaguchiko Seimitsu Kk | Optical display using fibre optics - has light signals transmitted to bulbs on display table through fibre optic links |
| DE7931474U1 (en) * | 1979-11-07 | 1980-04-03 | Landsrath, Walter, 6600 Saarbruecken | WIND INDICATOR FOR ROAD BRIDGES AND THE LIKE |
| DE3128329A1 (en) * | 1981-07-17 | 1983-01-27 | Ruhrkohle Ag, 4300 Essen | Signalling device for alternating symbols for potentially explosive regions, in particular mine (underground) workings |
| DE8124380U1 (en) * | 1981-08-20 | 1983-03-24 | Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München | INTERCHANGEABLE DISPLAY DEVICE, IN PARTICULAR FOR TRAFFIC SIGNAL INDICATORS |
| DE3434355A1 (en) * | 1984-09-19 | 1986-06-12 | Nauschütt, Jürgen, 3000 Hannover | Light-emitting display panel, formed from a multiplicity of light-emitting elements, which comprise the ends of light guides |
| DE8913499U1 (en) * | 1989-05-19 | 1990-02-08 | Dambach-Werke Gmbh, 7560 Gaggenau | Display device for alphanumeric displays |
-
1990
- 1990-07-17 DE DE4022650A patent/DE4022650C1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1991
- 1991-05-15 EP EP91107826A patent/EP0467034A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1991-07-16 CA CA002047136A patent/CA2047136A1/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE4022650C1 (en) | 1991-07-04 |
| EP0467034A1 (en) | 1992-01-22 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Dead |