CN114252240A

CN114252240A - Traffic signal lamp system, fault detection device and fault detection method of traffic signal lamp

Info

Publication number: CN114252240A
Application number: CN202011116267.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 王惟懌
Original assignee: Institute for Information Industry
Current assignee: Institute for Information Industry
Priority date: 2020-09-21
Filing date: 2020-10-19
Publication date: 2022-03-29
Also published as: TW202213290A

Abstract

A traffic signal lamp system, a fault detection device of the traffic signal lamp and a fault detection method are provided, wherein the fault detection device of the traffic signal lamp comprises a communication module, a main control unit and at least one sensing device. The sensing device is positioned on the traffic signal lamp and faces a lamp body of the traffic signal lamp for sensing the luminosity of the lamp body. The main control unit is electrically connected with the sensing device and the communication module. When the main control unit detects that the lamp body is controlled to emit light and judges that the luminosity sensed by the sensing device on the lamp body does not accord with a preset value, the main control unit sends a fault signal through the communication module. Through the above structure, the fault detection device can detect the signal fault in real time, reduce the fault discovery cost, so as to maintain the traffic signal lamp as soon as possible and improve the availability of the signal.

Description

Traffic signal lamp system, fault detection device and fault detection method of traffic signal lamp

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a fault detection device, and more particularly, to a fault detection device and method for a traffic signal lamp.

Background

Therefore, the traffic signal is an important traffic guidance device on the road, and all vehicles and pedestrians must follow the light indication of the traffic signal to move forward or stop in sequence to maintain the traffic order and protect the safety of the passerby.

However, traffic signs on roads often cause occasional failures, resulting in traffic confusion and road user complaints. Therefore, maintenance units need to send manpower regularly to inspect and find the signal faults, and the number of the communicated signals on the road is large, so that the manpower and time cost is too high, and the timeliness is not enough.

Disclosure of Invention

An objective of the present invention is to provide a traffic signal light system, a failure detection device and a failure detection method thereof, so as to solve the above-mentioned difficulties in the prior art.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a fault detection device for a traffic signal lamp. The fault detection device comprises a communication module, a main control unit and at least one sensing device. The sensing device is positioned on the traffic signal lamp and faces a lamp body of the traffic signal lamp for sensing the luminosity of the lamp body. The main control unit is electrically connected with the sensing device and the communication module. When the main control unit detects that the lamp body is controlled to emit light and judges that the luminosity sensed by the sensing device on the lamp body does not accord with a preset value, the main control unit sends a fault signal through the communication module.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, in the above-mentioned fault detection device, the sensing device includes a light sensing element and a detection circuit. The light sensing element faces the lamp body and is used for receiving the light of the lamp body and correspondingly sending out a light sensing signal. The detection circuit is electrically connected with the light sensing element and the main control unit and used for converting the sensing signal into a light intensity signal and transmitting the light intensity signal to the main control unit so that the main control unit can judge whether the luminosity accords with a preset value.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, in the above-mentioned fault detection device, the sensing device further includes a light collecting tube and a light-transmitting cover. The two opposite ends of the light collecting cylinder are respectively provided with a bottom and an opening. The opening is located between bottom and the lamp body, and faces the lamp body. The light sensing element is fixed in the light collecting cylinder and receives light rays of the lamp body from the opening. The light-transmitting cover is positioned in the light collecting cylinder and covers the light sensing element.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, in the above-mentioned fault detection device, the outer wall of the light collection cylinder includes a light absorption color or a light reflection color.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, in the above-mentioned fault detection device, the imaginary extension lines of the two opposite sides of the light collection cylinder pass through the upper edge and the lower edge of the lamp body, respectively.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, in the above-mentioned fault detection apparatus, the main control unit synchronously sends out the fault signal to the outside when determining that the illuminance does not meet the preset value, or the main control unit sends out the fault signal to the outside in a specific time period after determining that the illuminance does not meet the preset value.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a traffic light system. The traffic signal lamp system includes a signal controller, a fault detection device and at least one traffic signal lamp. The traffic signal lamp comprises a shell and a plurality of lamp bodies. The lamp bodies are exposed from the front side face of the machine shell together, and the lamp bodies are respectively provided with light rays with different colors. The signal controller is electrically connected with the lamp bodies and used for switching on and off of one of the lamp bodies in due time. The fault detection device comprises a communication module, a main control unit and a plurality of sensing devices. The sensing devices are positioned on the traffic signal lamp and face the front side face of the machine shell together, and the number of the sensing devices is the same as that of the lamp bodies. Each sensing device is used for sensing the luminosity of the light emitted by one of the lamp bodies. The main control unit is electrically connected with the signal controller, the sensing devices and the communication module and used for judging whether the luminosity of the light emitted by the lamp body meets a specific preset value or not. Therefore, when the main control unit detects that the signal controller switches one of the lamp bodies to emit light and judges that the luminosity of the lamp body does not accord with a specific preset value, the main control unit sends a fault signal to the outside through the communication module.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, each of the sensing devices includes a light sensing element and a detection circuit. The light sensing element faces and faces one of the lamp bodies and is used for receiving light rays of the lamp bodies and correspondingly sending out a corresponding light sensing signal. The detection circuit is electrically connected with the light sensing element and the main control unit and is used for converting the light sensing signal into a light intensity signal and transmitting the light intensity signal to the main control unit so that the main control unit can judge whether the light intensity signal accords with a specific preset value.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, in the traffic signal light system, the traffic signal light further includes a plurality of eaves. The lamp eaves are located on the front side face of the machine shell, and each lamp eaves covers one of the lamp bodies. Each light sensing element is connected with one of the lamp eaves, the upper edge of the machine shell or the lower edge of the machine shell.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, each of the sensing devices further includes a light collecting tube and a light-transmitting cover. The light collecting cylinder is connected with the bottom surface of one of the lamp eaves. The two opposite ends of the light collecting cylinder are respectively provided with a bottom and an opening. The opening is positioned between the bottom and one of the lamp bodies, and the light collecting cylinder is internally provided with a light sensing element, so that the light sensing element receives the light of the lamp body from the opening. The light-transmitting cover is positioned in the light collecting cylinder and covers the light sensing element.

In the traffic light system according to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the outer wall of the light collecting cylinder of each sensing device includes a light absorption color or a light reflection color.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, in the traffic signal light system, the traffic signal light is a traffic light or a double-flashing yellow light.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, in the traffic signal light system, the number of the traffic signal lights is plural, and the number of the sensing devices is plural, and the number of the lamp bodies of the traffic signal lights is the same as the number of the sensing devices, so that the signal controller is electrically connected to the lamp bodies of the traffic signal lights respectively for sequentially switching on and off of the lamp bodies of the traffic signal lights.

An embodiment of the invention provides a fault detection method for a traffic light. The fault detection method comprises several steps as follows. Judging whether a lamp body is switched to emit light by a signal controller; when the signal controller is judged to switch the lamp body to emit light, the luminosity of the lamp body is sensed; judging whether the luminosity of the lamp body accords with a first preset value or not; and when the luminance of the lamp body is judged not to be in accordance with the first preset value, a first fault signal is sent out.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the method for detecting a failure of a traffic signal lamp further comprises the following steps when it is determined that the signal controller does not switch the lamp body to emit light. Sensing the luminosity of the lamp body; judging whether the luminosity of the lamp body accords with a second preset value or not; and when the luminance of the lamp body is judged not to accord with a second preset value, a second fault signal with a different first fault signal is sent out outwards, wherein the second preset value is lower than the first preset value.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the method for detecting a failure of a traffic signal lamp further includes the following steps when the luminance of the lamp body is determined not to be within the first preset value. And synchronously sending a first fault signal to the outside, or sending the first fault signal to the outside in a specific time period.

Therefore, through the architecture of the above embodiments, the invention can detect the signal fault in real time, reduce the fault discovery cost, so as to maintain the traffic signal lamp as soon as possible and improve the availability of the signal.

The foregoing merely illustrates the problems sought to be solved by the present invention, its technical solutions, and the efficacy of the solutions, etc., and the details of the present invention are described in the following detailed description and the related drawings

Drawings

In order to make the aforementioned and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention, as well as others which will become apparent, reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a traffic light system according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an electrical block diagram of the traffic light system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a traffic light system according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an electrical block diagram of a traffic light system according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for detecting a failure of a traffic light according to an embodiment of the invention.

[ notation ] to show

10. 11, 12 traffic signal lamp system

100. 101, 102 traffic signal lamp

110 casing

111 front side

112 rear side surface

113 open slot

114 upper side edge

115 lower side edge

120 lamp brim

121 bottom surface

130 lamp body

140 lamp body

141 upper edge

142 lower edge

200 signal controller

300 fault detection device

310 communication module

320 sensing device

321 light sensing element

322, detection circuit

330 light collecting cylinder

331: bottom

332 opening (C)

333 outer peripheral surface

334 inner space

335 imaginary line of axial center

336 imaginary extension line

400 light-transmitting cover

500 main control unit

601-

AA line segment

L is a dotted line

T1 ray

T2 ambient light source

Detailed Description

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous implementation details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that these implementation details are not to be interpreted as limiting the invention. That is, these implementation details are not necessary in the embodiments of the present invention. In addition, for the sake of simplicity, some conventional structures and elements are shown in the drawings in a simple schematic manner.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a traffic light 100 of a traffic light system 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 shows an electronic block diagram of the traffic light system 10 of fig. 1. As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the traffic signal lamp system 10 includes a traffic signal lamp 100, a signal controller 200 and a fault detection device 300. The traffic light 100 includes a housing 110, a lamp housing 120 and a lamp body 130. The housing 110 includes a front side 111, a rear side 112 and a slot 113. The front side 111 and the back side 112 are disposed opposite to each other, and the slot 113 is located on the front side 111. The lamp body 130 is located inside the housing 110 and exposed from the slot 113 of the housing 110 so as to emit light outward from the slot 113. The ledge 120 is located on the front side 111 of the housing 110 and extends outward from the front side 111 of the housing 110, and the ledge 120 is located above the lamp body 130 to cover the lamp body 130, so as to reduce the possibility that the light of the lamp body 130 is interfered by the sunlight. The signal controller 200 is electrically connected to the lamp body 130 for switching on/off of the lamp body 130 at a proper time. The present embodiment does not limit the location of the signal controller 200, such as the location on or adjacent to the traffic signal lamp 100.

The failure detection apparatus 300 includes a communication module 310, a sensing device 320, and a main control unit 500. The sensing device 320 is disposed on the traffic light 100 and can face the light body 130 of the traffic light 100 and the front side 111 of the housing 110, in other words, the front side 111 of the housing 110 is located between the sensing device 320 and the rear side 112 of the housing 110, so that the sensing device 320 can sense the luminosity of the light emitted by the light body 130. The main control unit 500 is electrically connected to the signal controller 200, the sensing devices 320 and the communication module 310, and detects the current on/off state of the lamp body 130 according to a lamp control signal of the signal controller 200 to the lamp body 130 of the traffic signal lamp 100, and determines whether the luminosity of the light emitted by the lamp body 130 meets a predetermined value (e.g., a qualified or acceptable predetermined value). The communication module 310 is used for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the outside. For example, the communication module 310 is a WIFI module or a bluetooth module, etc., however, the invention is not limited thereto.

Thus, no matter the main control unit 500 detects that the lamp body 130 is turned on or off, as long as the main control unit 500 determines that the luminosity of the lamp body 130 does not conform to the predetermined value, the main control unit 500 sends a fault signal to an alarm device, a monitoring system or a monitoring center (not shown) through the communication module 310. In some embodiments, the warning device includes a processing unit and a warning light, and when the processing unit receives the fault signal, the warning light is turned on to be recognized by the maintenance personnel. In other embodiments, the monitoring system includes a processing unit, a communication device, and a warning device, and the processing unit activates the warning device when the processing unit receives a fault signal sent via a closed network or an internet through the communication device, wherein the warning device includes a warning light or a buzzer, and the like, which is not limited thereto. In still other embodiments, the monitoring center includes a computer device, a communication device and a display device, and when the computer device receives a fault signal sent via a closed network or the internet through the communication device, the display device displays a related message corresponding to the fault signal, such as: the identification code of the lamp body 130, the type of failure, and the like are not limited thereto.

More specifically, the sensing device 320 includes a light sensing element 321 and a detection circuit 322. In the embodiment, the light sensing element 321 is disposed on the traffic signal lamp 100 at a position capable of facing the lamp body 130 of the traffic signal lamp 100 and the front side 111 of the housing 110. In other words, the light sensing element 321 has a central light sensing axis (see the dotted line L), and the central light sensing axis of the light sensing element 321 passes through the lamp body 130 toward the front side 111 of the housing 110, so that the light sensing element 321 can sufficiently receive the light of the lamp body 130.

The detection circuit 322 is electrically connected to the light sensing device 321 and the main control unit 500. After the light sensing device 321 receives the light and correspondingly outputs a light sensing signal to the detecting circuit 322, the detecting circuit 322 converts the sensing signal into a light intensity signal, and transmits the light intensity signal to the main control unit 500, so that the main control unit 500 can determine whether the luminosity matches the preset value. The position of the detection circuit 322 is not limited in this embodiment, for example, the detection circuit is located on the traffic signal lamp 100 or adjacent to the traffic signal lamp 100.

In the present embodiment, the light sensing device 321 is located on the light ledge 120, for example, on the bottom surface 121 of the light ledge 120. However, the present invention is not limited to the disposition position of the light sensing element 321 as long as the light sensing element 321 can face the lamp body 130 of the traffic light 100 to sense the luminosity of the lamp body 130, for example, in other embodiments, the light sensing element 321 may be located on the upper edge 114 of the housing 110 or the lower edge 115 of the housing 110. In addition, the photo sensing device 321 is a Photodiode (Photodiode) or an image sensor, however, the invention is not limited thereto.

Fig. 3 shows a front view of the traffic light 101 of the traffic light system 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of fig. 3 along line AA. As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the traffic light system 11 of fig. 3 is substantially the same as the traffic light system 10 of fig. 1, except that in the present embodiment, the traffic light 101 further includes a plurality of light bodies 140 and a plurality of eaves 120. The housing 110 includes a plurality of slots 113. The slots 113 are arranged on the front side 111 of the chassis 110, and the lamp bodies 140 are located inside the chassis 110 and are exposed from each slot 113 on the front side 111 of the chassis 110 together, so as to emit light outwards from the corresponding slot 113. The light eaves 120 are arranged on the front side 111 of the chassis 110, extend outward from the front side 111 of the chassis 110, and are located above the corresponding lamp bodies 140. The signal controller 200 is electrically connected to the lamp bodies 140 at the same time for switching on/off of one of the lamp bodies 140 at a proper time.

For example, the traffic light 101 is a traffic light, and the light bodies 140 are red light, green light and yellow light, respectively, capable of emitting light T1 with different colors. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and in other embodiments, the traffic light 101 may be a double flash yellow light, for example.

It should be understood that since the lamp bodies 140 can emit the light T1 with different colors, the preset values set for the luminosity of each lamp body 140 are different, and therefore, the main control unit 500 compares the light T1 of different lamp bodies 140 according to different preset values.

The fault detection device 300 includes a plurality of sensing devices 320. The number of the lamp bodies 140, the eaves 120, and the sensing devices 320 are consistent with each other. Each of the sensing devices 320 is used for respectively sensing the luminosity (luminance) of one of the lamp bodies 140. Each sensing device 320 is located on the bottom surface 121 of the corresponding eave 120, for example, and senses light toward the lamp body 140.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, more specifically, each sensing device 320 further includes a light collecting barrel 330. The light-collecting cylinder 330 is located on the bottom surface 121 of the corresponding light brim 120, and the light-sensing element 321 is located in the light-collecting cylinder 330, so that the light ray T1 from the corresponding lamp body 140 is collected in the light-collecting cylinder 330. The light collecting barrel 330 has an axial imaginary line 335, the axial imaginary line 335 passes through the lamp body 140 toward the front side 111 of the housing 110, and the light sensing element 321 is located in the light collecting barrel 330 and on the axial imaginary line 335 of the light collecting barrel 330.

Specifically, the light collecting barrel 330 includes a bottom 331, an opening 332 and an outer peripheral surface 333. The bottom 331 and the opening 332 are respectively located at two opposite ends of the light collecting barrel 330, and the outer peripheral surface 333 is respectively connected to the bottom 331 and the opening 332 and surrounds an inner space 334, wherein the inner space 334 is used for accommodating the light sensing element 321. A portion of the outer circumferential surface 333 of the light collecting cylinder 330 is fixed to the bottom surface 121 of the ledge 120, and the opening 332 is located between the bottom 331 and the lamp body 140, so that the lamp body 140 can sufficiently face the bottom 331 of the light collecting cylinder 330.

Since the imaginary extension lines 336 of the two opposite sides of the light collecting cylinder 330 pass through the upper edge 141 and the lower edge 142 of the lamp body 140, respectively, the light sensing element 321 in the light collecting cylinder 330 can effectively and sufficiently collect the light ray T1 emitted from the lamp body 140. However, the present invention is not limited to the imaginary extension of the two opposite sides of the light-collecting barrel 330 having to pass through the upper edge 141 and the lower edge 142 of the lamp body 140. More specifically, but not necessarily by way of limitation, the light sensing element 321 is fixed to the bottom 331 of the light collecting barrel 330 and receives the light ray T1 of the lamp body 140 from the opening 332 of the light collecting barrel 330, so that the light sensing element 321 can sufficiently receive the light ray T1 of the lamp body 140.

In addition, since the outer wall of the light collecting cylinder 330 of each sensing device 320 includes a light absorbing color or a light reflecting color, the light sensing element 321 located in the light collecting cylinder 330 can not only receive the light T1 of the lamp body 140 to correctly detect the brightness of the indicator light, but also avoid receiving the ambient light source T2 other than the light T1 of the lamp body 140, thereby avoiding the erroneous determination caused by the ambient light source T2.

In the present embodiment, the sensing device 320 further includes a light-transmitting cover 400. The light-transmitting cover 400 is, for example, a transparent ball cover, and is located in the light-collecting barrel 330, and covers the light-sensing device 321 and the bottom 331 of the light-collecting barrel 330 to protect the light-sensing device 321. However, the present invention is not limited to the light transmissive cover 400 having to cover the bottom 331 of the light collection canister 330.

It should be understood that, in the above embodiments, each of the

lamp bodies

130, 140 includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (not shown) densely arranged, and a specific number of the light emitting diodes exhibit a specific standard luminosity, which is not equal to the predetermined value if the luminosity is lower than a certain number of the light emitting diodes. However, the present invention is not limited to the

lamp bodies

130 and 140 consisting of only the light emitting diodes.

FIG. 5 is an electrical block diagram of the traffic light system 12 according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 5, the traffic light system 12 of fig. 5 is substantially the same as the traffic light system 11 of fig. 3, and the difference is that in the present embodiment, the number of the traffic lights 102 is plural (e.g., 4), for example, four traffic lights 102 are located at an intersection, and the number of the sensing devices 320 is plural. The total number of the lamp bodies 140 of the traffic lights 102 is the same as the total number of the sensing devices 320 of the failure detection device 300, so that the single signal controller 200 is electrically connected to the lamp bodies 140 of the traffic lights 102 respectively for sequentially switching on and off of all the lamp bodies 140 of the traffic lights 102.

Since the sensing device 320 corresponding to the specific lamp body 140 of each traffic light 102 has a specific code, when the main control unit 500 determines that the illuminance does not meet the preset value, the main control unit 500 can synchronously send out a fault signal containing the specific code through the communication module 310, so as to express a message that the specific lamp body 140 of the specific traffic light 102 has a fault.

However, the present invention is not limited to the synchronous external sending of the fault signal, and in other embodiments, the master control unit 500 may send the fault signal to the outside only after a specific time interval after the light intensity is determined not to meet the preset value.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for detecting a failure of a traffic light according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown in fig. 6, when starting to detect a failure of the lamp body of the traffic signal lamp, the main control unit 500 performs processing according to the following steps 601 to 608.

First, step 601 and step 605 are performed simultaneously, in step 601, it is determined whether a lamp body is switched to emit light by a signal controller, if yes, step 602 is performed, otherwise, step 605 is performed. In step 602, the luminosity of the lamp body is sensed. In step 603, it is determined whether the luminance of the lamp body meets a first predetermined value, if so, the process returns to step 601, otherwise, the process proceeds to step 604. In step 604, a first fault signal is issued. In step 605, it is determined whether the light controller switches the lamp body to off, if so, go to step 606, otherwise go to step 601. In step 606, the luminosity of the lamp body is sensed. In step 607, it is determined whether the luminance of the lamp body meets a second predetermined value lower than the first predetermined value, if yes, go back to step 605, otherwise go to step 608. In step 608, a second fault signal is issued, the second fault signal being different from the first fault signal.

More specifically, step 601 further includes a detailed step as follows. According to the signal of the signal controller to the traffic signal lamp, the present on/off state of the lamp body is detected. For example, when the lamp control signal includes a high level voltage, it is determined that the lamp body is in a lighting (i.e., illuminating) state. Otherwise, go to step 605.

Step 603 also includes a detailed step as follows. When the current state of the lamp body is determined to be the light-emitting state, it is then determined whether the luminance of the lamp body is greater than zero (e.g., the first preset value is a positive number), if so, it indicates that the current state of the lamp body is indeed the lighting (i.e., light-emitting) state, otherwise, step 604 is performed.

In other embodiments, step 603 further includes a detailed step as follows. When the current state of the lamp body is determined to be the light-emitting state, the first preset value (e.g., a brightness range) is obtained according to a comparison table, and then it is determined whether the luminance of the lamp body is greater than the first preset value, if so, it indicates that the lamp body is actually in the light-on (i.e., light-emitting) state and the brightness thereof is within the qualified range, otherwise, it indicates that the current brightness of the lamp body is not within the qualified range, and step 604 should be performed.

Step 604 further includes synchronously sending a first fault signal to the outside when the luminosity of the lamp body is determined to meet the first preset value. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and in other embodiments, the first failure signal may be issued to the outside for a specific period (for example, a specific time of day, week or month).

Step 605 also includes a detailed step as follows. The current on-off state of the lamp body of the traffic signal lamp is detected according to the lamp control signal of the signal controller to the lamp body, for example, when the lamp control signal comprises low level voltage, the current state of the lamp body is judged to be the off state. Otherwise, go to step 601.

Step 607 also includes a detailed step as follows. When the current state of the lamp body is determined to be the off state, it is then determined whether the luminosity of the lamp body is zero (e.g., the second preset value is zero), if so, it indicates that the current state of the lamp body is indeed the off state, otherwise, step 608 is performed.

In other embodiments, step 607 may include the following detailed steps. When the current state of the lamp body is determined to be the extinguished state, the second preset value (e.g., a brightness range) is obtained according to a comparison table, and then it is determined whether the luminosity of the lamp body meets the second preset value, if so, it represents that the current brightness of the lamp body meets the specification of the extinguished state, otherwise, it represents that the current brightness (e.g., over-bright) of the lamp body is not within the qualified range, and step 608 should be performed.

Step 608 further includes, when the luminosity of the lamp body is determined to meet the second preset value, synchronously sending a second fault signal to the outside. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and in other embodiments, the second failure signal may be issued to the outside for a specific period (for example, a specific time of day, week or month).

It should be understood that the first failure signal represents a message that the lamp body should be lit but not lit (or has insufficient brightness), and the second failure signal represents a message that the lamp body should not be lit but lit (or has excessive brightness), so that the second failure signal is different from the first failure signal.

Finally, the above-described embodiments are not intended to limit the invention, and those skilled in the art should be able to make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A fault detection device for a traffic signal light, comprising:

a communication module;

at least one sensing device, which is positioned on a traffic light and faces a light body of the traffic light, and is used for sensing the luminosity of the light body; and

a main control unit electrically connected with the sensing device and the communication module,

when the main control unit detects that the lamp body is controlled to emit light and judges that the luminosity sensed by the sensing device on the lamp body does not accord with a preset value, the main control unit sends a fault signal through the communication module.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing device comprises:

a light sensing element facing the lamp body for receiving the light from the lamp body and correspondingly emitting a light sensing signal; and

and the detection circuit is electrically connected with the light sensing element and the main control unit and is used for converting the sensing signal into a light intensity signal and transmitting the light intensity signal to the main control unit so that the main control unit can judge whether the luminosity accords with the preset value.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the sensing device further comprises:

a light collecting cylinder, the two opposite ends of the light collecting cylinder are respectively provided with a bottom and an opening, the opening is positioned between the bottom and the lamp body and faces the lamp body,

wherein the light sensing element is fixed in the light collecting cylinder and receives the light of the lamp body from the opening; and

a light-transmitting cover located in the light-collecting tube and covering the light-sensing element.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the outer wall of the light collecting cylinder contains light absorbing color or light reflecting color.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the imaginary extensions of the two opposite sides of the light collecting cylinder pass through the upper and lower edges of the lamp body, respectively.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the main control unit synchronously sends the fault signal to the outside when determining that the luminosity does not meet the predetermined value; or

The main control unit sends the fault signal to the outside in a specific time interval after judging that the luminosity does not accord with the preset value.

7. A traffic light system, comprising:

at least one traffic signal lamp, which comprises a shell and a plurality of lamp bodies, wherein the lamp bodies are exposed from the front side surface of the shell together, and the lamp bodies respectively emit light rays with different colors;

a signal controller electrically connected to the plurality of lamp bodies for switching on/off of one of the plurality of lamp bodies at a proper time; and

a fault detection device, comprising:

a communication module;

a plurality of sensing devices, which are positioned on the traffic light and face the front side surface of the shell together, and the number of the sensing devices is the same as that of the plurality of lamp bodies, and each sensing device is used for sensing the luminosity of the light emitted by one of the plurality of lamp bodies; and

a main control unit electrically connected to the signal controller, the sensing devices and the communication module for determining whether the luminosity of the light emitted by one of the lamp bodies meets a predetermined value,

when the main control unit detects that the signal controller switches one of the plurality of lamp bodies to emit light and judges that the luminosity of the one of the plurality of lamp bodies does not accord with the specific preset value, the main control unit sends a fault signal through the communication module.

8. The traffic light system of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of sensing devices comprises:

a light sensing element facing and facing one of the plurality of lamp bodies for receiving the light of the one of the plurality of lamp bodies and correspondingly emitting a corresponding light sensing signal; and

and the detection circuit is electrically connected with the light sensing element and the main control unit and is used for converting the light sensing signal into a light intensity signal and transmitting the light intensity signal to the main control unit so that the main control unit can judge whether the light intensity signal meets the specific preset value or not.

9. The traffic light system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the traffic light further comprises a plurality of eaves, the plurality of eaves are located on the front side of the housing, and each of the plurality of eaves covers one of the plurality of light bodies; and

each light sensing element is connected with one of the plurality of light eaves, the upper edge of the machine shell or the lower edge of the machine shell.

10. The traffic light system of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of sensing devices further comprises:

a light collecting cylinder connected to a bottom surface of one of the lamp eaves, wherein two opposite ends of the light collecting cylinder respectively have a bottom and an opening, the opening is located between the bottom and the one of the lamp bodies, and the light sensing element is configured in the light collecting cylinder so as to receive the light of the one of the lamp bodies from the opening; and

and the light transmitting cover is positioned in the light collecting cylinder and covers the light sensing element.

11. The traffic light system as recited in claim 10, wherein an outer wall of the light collection canister of each of the plurality of sensing devices comprises a light absorbing color or a light reflecting color.

12. The traffic light system of claim 7, wherein the traffic light is a traffic light or a double flashing yellow light.

13. The traffic light system according to claim 7, wherein the number of the at least one traffic light is plural, and the number of the at least one sensing device is plural, wherein the number of the plurality of light bodies of the plurality of traffic lights is the same as the number of the plurality of sensing devices, so that the signal controller is electrically connected to the plurality of light bodies of the plurality of traffic lights respectively for sequentially switching on and off of the plurality of light bodies of the plurality of traffic lights.

14. A method for detecting faults of traffic lights is characterized by comprising the following steps:

judging whether a lamp body is switched to emit light by a signal controller;

when the signal controller is judged to switch the lamp body to emit light, the luminosity of the lamp body is sensed;

judging whether the luminosity of the lamp body accords with a first preset value or not; and

when the luminosity of the lamp body is judged not to be in accordance with the first preset value, a first fault signal is sent out.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein when the signal controller is determined not to switch the lamp body to emit light, the method further comprises:

sensing the luminosity of the lamp body;

judging whether the luminosity of the lamp body accords with a second preset value or not; and

and when the luminosity of the lamp body is judged not to be in accordance with the second preset value, a second fault signal different from the first fault signal is sent out, wherein the second preset value is lower than the first preset value.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein when the luminance of the lamp body is determined not to be within the first predetermined value, the method further comprises:

a first fault signal is issued simultaneously or at a specific time interval.