Light Signal

Abstract

A light signal, in particular for rail-bound traffic routes, includes a control device which controls a light source, and an optical system for visualizing a signal term. In order to more precisely adjust brightness boundaries, light distribution and phantom light intensity, a transmission-controllable smart-glass element is provided in an aperture segment of the light flow.

Claims

1-8. (canceled)

9. A light signal, comprising: a light source producing a light flow; a control device controlling said light source; an optical system for visualizing a signal term; and a transmission-controllable smart-glass element provided in an aperture segment of the light flow.

10. The light signal according to claim 9, wherein said smart-glass element is disposed between said light source and said optical system.

11. The light signal according to claim 9, wherein said control device is configured to set a transmission of said smart-glass element.

12. The light signal according to claim 9, which further comprises at least one ambient light sensor connected to said control device.

13. The light signal according to claim 9, wherein said smart-glass element includes a plurality of separate, transmission-adjustable, circular-segment-shaped smart-glass discs.

14. The light signal according to claim 9, wherein said smart-glass element projects into the light flow.

15. The light signal according to claim 14, wherein said smart-glass element projects into one part of the light flow.

16. The light signal according to claim 9, wherein said smart-glass element is one of a plurality of smart-glass elements projecting to varying degrees into the light flow.

17. The light signal according to claim 9, wherein the light signal is configured to be disposed along a rail-bound traffic route.

Description

[0017] The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of figurative representations, in which;

[0018] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of the light signal, of a known type, which is already described further above and

[0019] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a light signal of a claimed type in the same manner of representation as FIG. 1.

[0020] FIG. 2 shows a light signal, in which a smart-glass element 9 is arranged between the LED light source 2 and the optical system 3. In the exemplary embodiment the smart-glass element 9 consists of two separate smart-glass discs 10 and 11, which project to varying degrees in the light flow. Aside from the control signal for the LED light source 2, the control device 7 additionally also generates the control signals for the degree of transmission of the smart-glass discs 10 and 11. The last control signals may be entirely different in order to set the desired light distribution. In such cases the phantom effect can be reduced and at the same time a near and far range illumination can take place taking into consideration a curvy track route, in particular for the far range. The diffusion discs 5/FIG. 1 typically used for these requirements are therefore no longer required. The transmission-controllable smart-glass element 9 produces a considerably more precise adjustability of the requirements that may be relevant to the permissible brightness boundaries, if necessary also with continuous light intensity control for day, dusk and night operation, as well as the spatial distribution and the phantom light intensity.