| abstract |
Flash tube and lamp monitoring systems. The flash tube intensity monitoring system includes: a human eye spectral response photodiode for producing analog signals, each of which is directly proportional to the intensity of each flash from the flash tube; electronics for converting each of the analog signals to a digital time function proportional to the intensity of the corresponding flash; and electronics, including a microprocessor, for monitoring each of the digital time functions, for flagging those time functions which are below a preselected minimum, and for sending a fault signal when a preselected number of consecutive time functions are below the pre-selected minimum. The monitoring system and flash tube are, preferably, incorporated into single unit for easy installation in the fuselage of an aircraft. The lamp monitoring system includes: a light pickup; a photodiode for producing an analog signal which is directly proportional to the intensity of the lamp being monitored; a line transceiver; an A/D converter; and a microcontroller. The microcontroller, which has a unique identification code, sends a command to the A/D converter only upon receipt of the matching poll command. |