Supervision and control of airport lighting and ground movements

Abstract

A monitoring and control system controls multiple lights and monitors their operation through two-way communication over power lines. An interface is connected to receive control signals for at least one of the lights from the central computer and to transmit monitoring data concerning the lights to the central computer. The interface communicates over the power lines with light controlling and monitoring devices in the field to transmit the control signals over the power lines to the light controlling and monitoring devices and to receive the monitoring data over the power lines from the light controlling and monitoring devices.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A monitoring and control system for monitoring and controlling field lighting at an airfield, the monitoring and control system comprising: 
 a plurality of lighting means positioned at remote locations about the surface of said airfield;    a central computer remotely located from said plurality of lighting means;    power distribution means connecting said plurality of lighting means to a source of electrical energy;    interface means connected to receive control signals for at least one of said plurality of said lighting means from said central computer and to transmit monitoring data concerning said lighting means to said central computer, said interface means being connected for controlling said plurality of lighting means using said power distribution means for transmitting light control signals and receiving light monitoring data from said plurality of lighting means; and    light controlling and monitoring means connected between said power distribution means and at least one of said plurality of lighting means for receiving said light control signals from said interface means for operating said at least one of said plurality of lighting means and for transmitting light monitoring data to said interface means using said power distribution means.    
     
     
         2 . The monitoring and control system of  claim 1 , further including motion sensors associated with said lighting means, said motion sensors being electronically interconnected with said central computer by means of said interface means for detection of moving traffic on the surface of said airfield.  
     
     
         3 . The monitoring and control system of  claim 1 , wherein said lighting means are capable of operating under a plurality of different operating parameters and wherein said operating parameters of said lighting means are varied such that said lighting means are at least one of lit up and extinguished in response to said control signals.  
     
     
         4 . The monitoring and control system of  claim 1 , wherein said lighting means are capable of operating under a plurality of different operating parameters and wherein said operating parameters of said lighting means are varied to provide intensity regulation.  
     
     
         5 . The monitoring and control system of  claim 1 , wherein said lighting means are capable of operating under a plurality of different operating parameters and wherein said operating parameters of said lighting means are switched to display stop bars on said airfield surface.  
     
     
         6 . The monitoring and control system of  claim 1 , wherein said lighting means are capable of operating under a plurality of different operating parameters and wherein said operating parameters of said lighting means are switched to display center lines on said airfield surface.  
     
     
         7 . The monitoring and control system of  claim 1 , wherein said lighting means are capable of operating under a plurality of different operating parameters and wherein said operating parameters of said lighting means are switched to display discrete sectional areas on said airfield surface.  
     
     
         8 . A method for monitoring and controlling field lighting at an airfield, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of lighting means positioned at remote locations about the surface of said airfield;    providing a central computer remotely located from said plurality of lighting means;    connecting power distribution means between said plurality of lighting means and a source of electrical energy;    connecting interface means for receiving control signals for at least one of said plurality of said lighting means from said central computer and transmitting monitoring data concerning said lighting means to said central computer, said interface means being connected for controlling said plurality of lighting means using said power distribution means for transmitting light control signals and receiving light monitoring data from said plurality of lighting means; and    connecting light controlling and monitoring means between said power distribution means and at least one of said plurality of lighting means for receiving said light control signals from said interface means for operating said at least one of said plurality of lighting means and for transmitting light monitoring data to said interface means using said power distribution means.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further including the step of transmitting signals from said central computer to motion sensors associated with said lighting means to enable selective addressing of said motion sensors and to control the operation of said motion sensors for detecting moving traffic on the surface of said airfield.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said lighting means are capable of operating under a plurality of different operating parameters and wherein said operating parameters of said lighting means are varied such that said lighting means are at least one of lit up and extinguished in response to said control signals.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said lighting means are capable of operating under a plurality of different operating parameters and wherein said operating parameters of said lighting means are varied to provide intensity regulation.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said lighting means are capable of operating under a plurality of different operating parameters and wherein said operating parameters of said lighting means are switched to display stop bars on said airfield surface.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said lighting means are capable of operating under a plurality of different operating parameters and wherein said operating parameters of said lighting means are switched to display center lines on said airfield surface.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said lighting means are capable of operating under a plurality of different operating parameters and wherein said operating parameters of said lighting means are switched to display discrete sectional areas on said airfield surface.  
     
     
         15 . A monitoring and control system for monitoring and controlling lighting in an area, the monitoring and control system comprising: 
 a plurality of lighting means positioned at remote locations about said area;    a central computer remotely located from said plurality of lighting means;    power distribution means connecting said plurality of lighting means to a source of electrical energy;    interface means connected to receive control signals for at least one of said plurality of said lighting means from said central computer and to transmit monitoring data concerning said lighting means to said central computer, said interface means being connected for controlling said plurality of lighting means using said power distribution means for transmitting light control signals and receiving light monitoring data from said plurality of lighting means; and    light controlling and monitoring means connected between said power distribution means and at least one of said plurality of lighting means for receiving said light control signals from said interface means for operating said at least one of said plurality of lighting means and for transmitting light monitoring data to said interface means using said power distribution means.    
     
     
         16 . The monitoring and control system of  claim 15 , further including motion sensors associated with said lighting means, said motion sensors being electronically interconnected with said central computer by means of said light controlling and monitoring means for detection of moving objects in said area.  
     
     
         17 . The monitoring and control system of  claim 15 , wherein said lighting means are capable of operating under a plurality of different operating parameters and wherein said operating parameters of said lighting means are varied such that said lighting means are at least one of lit up and extinguished in response to said control signals.  
     
     
         18 . The monitoring and control system of  claim 15 , wherein said lighting means are capable of operating under a plurality of different operating parameters and wherein said operating parameters of said lighting means are varied to provide intensity regulation.  
     
     
         19 . The monitoring and control system of  claim 15 , wherein said lighting means are capable of operating under a plurality of different operating parameters and wherein said operating parameters of said lighting means are switched to display discrete sectional areas in said area.  
     
     
         20 . The monitoring and control system of  claim 15 , wherein said interface means is connected for controlling said plurality of lighting means using said power distribution means for transmitting light control signals and receiving light monitoring data from said plurality of lighting means independently by use of a unique address for each lighting means.  
     
     
         21 . A method for monitoring and controlling lighting of an area, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of lighting means positioned at remote locations about an area;    providing a central computer remotely located from said plurality of lighting means;    connecting power distribution means between said plurality of lighting means and a source of electrical energy;    connecting interface means for receiving control signals for at least one of said plurality of said lighting means from said central computer and transmitting monitoring data concerning said lighting means to said central computer, said interface means being connected for controlling said plurality of lighting means using said power distribution means for transmitting light control signals and receiving light monitoring data from said plurality of lighting means; and    connecting light controlling and monitoring means between said power distribution means and at least one of said plurality of lighting means for receiving said light control signals from said interface means for operating said at least one of said plurality of lighting means and for transmitting light monitoring data to said interface means using said power distribution means.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further including the step of transmitting signals from said central computer to motion sensors associated with said lighting means to enable selective addressing of said motion sensors and to control the operation of said motion sensors for detecting moving objects in said area.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said lighting means are capable of operating under a plurality of different operating parameters and wherein said operating parameters of said lighting means are varied such that said lighting means are at least one of lit up and extinguished in response to said control signals.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said lighting means are capable of operating under a plurality of different operating parameters and wherein said operating parameters of said lighting means are varied to provide intensity regulation.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said lighting means are capable of operating under a plurality of different operating parameters and wherein said operating parameters of said lighting means are switched to display discrete sectional areas in said area.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said step of connecting said interface means comprises connecting said interface means for controlling said plurality of lighting means using said power distribution means for transmitting light control signals and receiving light monitoring data from said plurality of lighting means independently by use of a unique address for each lighting means.