Locomotive headlight assembly
AssigneeJ.W. Speaker Corporation
InventorKevin McWithey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A light apparatus for use with a power source and a control switch, the control switch including an input node, an output node and at least first and second independently selectable current paths between the input and output nodes, the first selectable current path having a resistance value that is greater than the second current path, controlling light intensity as a function of which of the current path is selected, at least one light source, a controller linked to the control switch and determining the selected path and generating a control signal and a light driver linked between the output node and the light source, the driver receiving the control signal and adjusting the current applied to the light source as a function of the control signal.
Claims31
A light apparatus for use with a power source and a control switch, the control switch including an input node, an output node and at least first and second independently selectable current paths between the input and output nodes, the first selectable current path having a resistance value that is greater than the second current path, the light apparatus for controlling light intensity as a function of which of the current path is selected, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one light source;
- a controller linked to the control switch and determining which of the independently selectable current paths is selected and generating a control signal indicating a first light intensity and a second light intensity when the first and second current paths are selected, respectively, wherein the first light intensity is less than the second intensity;
- and
- a light driver linked between the output node and the light source, the driver receiving the control signal and adjusting the current applied to the light source as a function of the control signal.
A light apparatus for use with a power source and a control switch, the control switch including an input node, an output node and at three independently selectable current paths between the input and output nodes including high, medium and low intensity current paths, the high intensity current path having a relatively low resistance, the low intensity current path having a relatively high resistance and the medium intensity current path having a resistance between the relatively high resistance and the relatively low resistance, the light apparatus for controlling light intensity as a function of which of the current path is selected, the apparatus comprising:
- a light housing including a base and a lens, the base forming an internal cavity open to one side, the lens covering and substantially closing the open side of the cavity;
- at least one light emitting diode (LED) mounted within the cavity with the LED arranged to direct light generated thereby through the lens;
- a controller mounted within the cavity and having an input lead that is linkable to the output node of the control switch, the controller programmed to determine which of the high intensity, medium intensity and low intensity current paths is selected and generating a control signal indicating a high, medium and low intensity when the high, medium and low intensity current paths are selected, respectively;
- and
- a light driver mounted within the cavity and linked between the output node and the at least one LED, the driver receiving the control signal and adjusting the current applied to the light source as a function of the control signal.
A method for use with a light apparatus linked to a power source and a control switch, the control switch including an input node, an output node and at least three independently selectable current paths between the input and output nodes including high, medium and low intensity current paths, the high intensity current path having a relatively low resistance, the low intensity current path having a relatively high resistance and the medium intensity current path having a resistance between the relatively high resistance and the relatively low resistance, the method for controlling light intensity as a function of which of the current paths is selected, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a light emitting diode (LED) light source;
- sensing electrical operating parameters at the output node of the control switch;
- using the sensed operating parameters to determine which of the high intensity, medium intensity and low intensity current paths is selected;
- generating a control signal indicating a high, medium and low intensity when the high, medium and low intensity current paths are selected, respectively;
- and
- adjusting the current applied to the LED light source as a function of the control signal to generate one of high, low and medium light intensity.
A method for use with a light apparatus linked to a power source and a control switch, the control switch including an input node, an output node and at least three independently selectable current paths between the input and output nodes including high, medium and low intensity current paths, the high intensity current path having a relatively low resistance, the low intensity current path having a relatively high resistance and the medium intensity current path having a resistance between the relatively high resistance and the relatively low resistance, the light apparatus including at least one light emitting diode (LED), the method for identifying which of the current paths is selected, the method comprising the steps of:
- setting threshold resistance values that define a high resistance range, a medium resistance range and a low resistance range;
- sensing electrical operating parameters at the output node of the control switch;
- using the sensed electrical operating parameters to calculate an estimated resistance value for the selected current path;
- identifying the one of the high, medium and low resistance ranges that includes the estimated resistance value;
- generating a low intensity control signal, a medium intensity control signal and a high intensity control signal when the estimated resistance value is in the high, medium and low resistance ranges, respectively;
- and
- controlling a current supplied to the at least one LED as a function of at least one of the low intensity control signal, the medium intensity control signal and the high intensity control signal.
A locomotive headlight comprising:
- a headlight housing;
- an LED light source mounted within the headlight housing;
- a controller for controlling the intensity of the LED light source;
- a wireless receiver linked to the controller for receiving control signals indicating a desired intensity of the light source;
- a positive supply line providing current to drive the light source;
- wherein the controller is programmed to use one of a received wireless control signal and a sensed electrical operating parameter on the positive supply line to identify a selected light intensity and to control current supplied to the LEDs as a function thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.