EP0459923A1 - Device for supervising lighting system in lighting networks, especially in street lighting networks - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for remotely supervising a lighting network comprising a large number of light sources (8, 9, 10, 11, 12). Opposite each light source (8 to 12) is a fibre optic sensor (13) connected to an individual electronic module (14) able to provide information on the address of the said source (8 to 12) and on its state, lit or unlit, the various individual modules (14) being electrically linked with a central station (1) which monitors the whole of the network and which is connected to several intermediate modules (4) each of which is connected up to the individual modules (14) of a branch (6) of the lighting network, with a view to the transmission, to the central station (1), of the address and state information concerning each source (8 to 12). The device according to the invention makes possible the detection of each defective source (8 to 12), with an indication of its address and of the time of the breakdown. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to monitoring a lighting network, and more particularly a public lighting network.

It is known that a public lighting network is remotely controlled for switching on and off the optical system of each lamppost. In addition, an electrical distribution station supplies several circuits of the same network and, on each circuit, the optical or lighting systems are distributed along paths of several kilometers each.

A substation can be normally powered and energized, as can the various outgoing circuits on which the light sources are installed, while the latter may be defective. It is therefore necessary to provide both, on the one hand, night surveillance by visual control of the thousands of light sources equipping a city, and, on the other hand, daytime repair by specialized teams. This results in significant labor costs and wasted time.

The object of the present invention is to avoid these drawbacks by proposing a new device capable of signaling to a checkpoint not only the existence, but also the position or address of a defective optical system, as well as the time of failure.

The present invention thus relates to a device for monitoring all the optical systems of a public lighting network, this device being characterized essentially in that it comprises, on each optical system, a fiber light sensor optics connected to an individual electronic module, which is in electrical connection with an intermediate electronic module, the set of intermediate modules which control the entire network being connected to the microcomputer system of a control station.

Such a device makes it possible to carry out the monitoring and localization of each optical system, not by monitoring the supply current received by the optical system, but by monitoring the emission or non-emission of light which results therefrom. Thus, it is the result of the operation that is observed, which eliminates any risk of error or ambiguity in the information managed by the central control station.

According to a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the central control station includes means for programming dialogue sequences with the intermediate modules.

These programming means make it possible to fix the date and time of triggering of these sequences, comprising for example a clock giving the date and time permanently, and comprising a means of comparing this information with dates and times loaded by the central station and kept in memory.

These programming means can also include a memory in which the order of the intermediate modules is kept with which the dialogue is successively set up. This memory can be loaded by the central station.

• émission par le poste central de l'adresse d'un poste intermédiaire et de l'ordre d'interrogation des modules individuels reliés audit poste intermédiaire ;
• émission par ledit poste intermédiaire, successivement, des adresses des modules individuels, dans l'ordre demandé par le poste central ;
• décodage par les modules individuels de leur adresse, par l'intermédiaire d'un modulateur-démodulateur, et émission par les modules individuels de l'état allumé ou éteint des foyers auxquels ils sont respectivement liés ;
• réception par le module intermédiaire des informations d'état provenant des modules individuels et émission de ces informations vers le poste central.

The dialogue sequence with each of the intermediate modules is, according to this preferred embodiment, automatically engaged at a predetermined instant, and in a predetermined order, each dialogue with the intermediate modules comprising the following phases:

• transmission by the central station of the address of an intermediate station and of the order of interrogation of the individual modules connected to said intermediate station;
• transmission by said intermediate station, successively, of the addresses of the individual modules, in the order requested by the central station;
• decoding by their individual modules of their address, by means of a modulator-demodulator, and emission by the individual modules of the on or off state of the homes to which they are respectively linked;
• reception by the intermediate module of the status information from the individual modules and transmission of this information to the central station.

The central station compares this status information with household supply information and deduces anomalies or breakdowns.

It should be noted that these sequences may be incomplete, some of the intermediate modules or some of the individual modules not being able to be interrogated during a sequence.

Preferably, the central station includes a clock indicating the date and time. It associates, with each detected fault, in addition to its address which is transmitted to it by an individual module detecting this fault via an intermediate module, the date and time of said fault. This various information is stored, printed or displayed by the central station.

The appended drawing, given by way of nonlimiting example, will allow a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention and the advantages which it is likely to provide.

• la figure 1 représente schématiquement l'une des branches d'un réseau d'éclairage public et sa liaison au poste central de contrôle du dispositif selon l'invention.
• la figure 2 représente le détail du module intermédiaire propre à chaque branche du réseau pour assurer sa liaison avec le poste central.
• la figure 3 représente le détail du module-esclave propre à chaque système optique lumineux, pour assurer la liaison électrique avec le module intermédiaire de la branche du réseau d'éclairage dont il fait partie.
• les figures 4, 5 et 6 représentent des modes de réalisation différents des figures 1, 2 et 3, dans le cas d'une variante de l'invention où la circulation des informations entre le module intermédiaire et les modules individuels est assurée par une ligne téléphonique spéciale.

In the attached drawing:

• FIG. 1 schematically represents one of the branches of a public lighting network and its connection to the central control station of the device according to the invention.
• FIG. 2 represents the detail of the intermediate module specific to each branch of the network to ensure its connection with the central station.
• FIG. 3 shows the detail of the slave module specific to each light optical system, to ensure the electrical connection with the intermediate module of the branch of the lighting network of which it is part.
• Figures 4, 5 and 6 show different embodiments of Figures 1, 2 and 3, in the case of a variant of the invention where the flow of information between the intermediate module and the individual modules is provided by a line special telephone.

If we refer to Figure 1, we see in this figure a central control station 1 whose microcomputer 2 is connected, by a telephone link 3, to an intermediate module 4. The latter is housed in a transformer station or in a low-voltage cabinet 5 ensuring the supply of a branch 6 of a public lighting network. This branch 6 group, along a low voltage power supply line 7 (for example at 220/240 volts), various optical systems or light sources, such as 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. It can be street lamp spotlights or light sources of a type known per se.

The invention consists in equipping each light source 8 to 12 with a fiber optic sensor 13 which faces it to detect directly and on site whether or not the optical system emits light.

• un photo-détecteur 15 qui reçoit de la fibre 13 un signal optique et le transforme en un signal électrique envoyé dans une ligne électrique 16;
• un micro-contrôleur 17 qui reçoit les signaux de la ligne 16, la tension d'alimentation provenant d'un générateur de tension 18, et les signaux d'une mémoire morte programmée 19, et qui envoie des signaux logiques (bits) dans une ligne 20;
• une carte de modulation-démodulation 21 assurant l'interface entre les signaux logiques de la ligne 20 et la ligne électrique 7 à basse tension.

Each optical fiber 13 is connected to an individual module 14, which is illustrated in FIG. 3 and includes:

• a photo-detector 15 which receives an optical signal from the fiber 13 and transforms it into an electrical signal sent in an electrical line 16;
• a microcontroller 17 which receives the signals from line 16, the supply voltage from a voltage generator 18, and the signals from a programmed read only memory 19, and which sends logic signals (bits) in a line 20;
• a modulation-demodulation card 21 providing the interface between the logic signals of line 20 and the low voltage power line 7.

Thus, each optical system 8 to 12 individually has its individual module 14.

The transformer substation or low-voltage cabinet in each branch of the public lighting network contains the intermediate module 4 illustrated in FIG. 2. This module 4 includes a communication interface, or modulation-demodulation card 22, placed between the module intermediate 4 and the various individual modules 14 and ensuring the sending of address, control words and information concerning the state, lit or not, of the corresponding hearth 8 to 12.

A microcontroller 23 constituted by a microprocessor programmed with time base or "timer" is permanently connected to a static random access memory 24, which collects the information given by the individual modules 14. The microcontroller 23 is supplied by a generator voltage 25, and it is connected, as well as the modulation-demodulation card 22, to a logic circuit 26 which is used to route the information to the individual modules 14 or to the central station 1. Finally, the signals are processed in a "modem" or modulation and demodulation system 27 which processes the information of the logic circuits (bits) in connection with the telephone network 3. The information collected is processed on a microcomputer by means of specialized software which is connected or incorporated into the central station 1 and which may include means for programming dialogue sequences with the intermediate modules 4.

• chaque module individuel 14 fournit des informations sur l'état de chaque foyer 8 à 12 (allumé ou éteint), et sur l'adresse de chaque foyer défectueux ( éteint, alors qu'il devrait être allumé);
• chaque module intermédiaire 4 transmet au poste central 1 l'adresse du foyer 8 à 12 jugé défectueux sur son circuit. Ce dernier point est fondamental pour gérer la fiabilité et la longévité du matériel d'éclairage, ce qui, jusqu'à présent, n'était pas contrôlé.

So we see that in service:

• each individual module 14 provides information on the state of each household 8 to 12 (on or off), and on the address of each defective household (off, when it should be on);
• each intermediate module 4 transmits to the central station 1 the address of the hearth 8 to 12 deemed defective on its circuit. This last point is fundamental to managing the reliability and longevity of lighting equipment, which until now has not been controlled.

In Figures 4, 5 and 6 there is shown an alternative embodiment, in which the low voltage line 7 is used only for power. To transmit the information back and forth between the slave modules 14 and the intermediate module 4, a dedicated telephone line 28 has been provided this time.

In the intermediate module 4, it is to the modulation card 22 that the dedicated line 28 ends up. The latter is, as before, connected to the logic switching circuit 26 which sends "bits" to the "modem" 27, which transmits to or receives signals from the telephone network 3.

Furthermore, only the voltage generator 25 is connected to the supply line 7.

• de détecter à distance tout foyer lumineux tel que 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 ;
• d'indiquer son adresse au poste central 1 ;
• d'indiquer également l'heure et la date auxquelles le défaut a été détecté.

As previously indicated, the variant of Figures 4, 5 and 6 allows:

• remotely detect any light source such as 8, 9, 10, 11, 12;
• indicate their address to central station 1;
• also indicate the time and date on which the fault was detected.

Claims (9)

1) Device for remotely monitoring a lighting network comprising a large number of light sources (8, 9, 10, 11, 12), characterized in that, disposed opposite each light source (8 to 12) is a fiber optic sensor (13) connected to an individual electronic module (14) capable of providing information on the address of said hearth (8 to 12) and on its state, lit or not, the various individual modules (14) being electrical connection with a central station (1) which controls the entire network and which is connected to several intermediate electronic modules (4) each of which is connected to the individual modules (14) of a branch (6) of the lighting network , each intermediate module (4) comprising a communication interface (22) with the individual modules (14), for the transmission, to the central station (1), of address and status information relating to each household (8 to 12 ). 2) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that each intermediate module (4) comprises a microcontroller (23) programmed with time base, which collects the information given by the individual modules (14), while a logic circuit ( 26) routes the information to the individual modules (14) or to the central station (1). 3) Device according to claim 2, characterized in that each intermediate module (4) comprises a modulator-demodulator system (27) which processes the information of the logic circuits in connection with the telephone network (3). 4) Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the flow of information between an intermediate module (4) and the individual modules (14) which depend on it is ensured by the line (7) used elsewhere for the electrical supply of light sources (8 to 12). 5) Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the flow of information between an intermediate module (4) and the modules individual (14) which depend on it is provided by a special telephone line (28). 6) Device according to one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that each individual module (14) contains: - a photo-detector (15) which receives an optical signal from the fiber (13) and transforms it into an electrical signal sent in a line (16); - a microcontroller (17) which receives the signals from the line (16), the supply voltage from a voltage generator (18) and the signals from a programmed read only memory (19), and which sends logic signals (bits) in a line (20); - a modulation-demodulation card (21) providing the interface between the logic signals of the line (20) and the low voltage power line (7). 7) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central station (1) is suitable for associating with each detected fault the address of the household (8 to 12) which has broken down, said address being provided by the individual module. (14) of said outbreak (8 to 12), as well as the time and date of the breakdown. 8) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the order in which the interrogations of the individual modules (14) is carried out is programmable, the programming being carried out on the central station (1). 9) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dates and times of the start of interrogation of the individual modules (14) is programmable, the programming being carried out on the central station (1).

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