1. A traffic signal, for controlling vehicular traffic, comprising:a light source including a light emitting diode (LED) array,a power regulator associated with the light source and constructed and arranged to control input current to the light source, anda traffic signal controller remote from the light source and the power regulator, the traffic signal controller being constructed and arranged to provide an input voltage signal to the power regulator, with the input current being based on the input voltage signal.
2. The traffic signal of claim 1, wherein the LED array comprises at least one LED.
3. The traffic signal of claim 1, wherein the LED array comprises four LEDs arranged in two parallel braches of two series LEDs.
4. The traffic signal of claim 1, wherein the light source and power regulator are provided together in a traffic signal housing.
5. The traffic signal of claim 1, wherein the traffic signal controller is constructed and arranged to provide a fixed-frequency, variable duty-cycle DC signal to the power regulator.
6. The traffic signal of claim 5, wherein the power regulator includes a microcontroller constructed arranged to sense the fixed-frequency, variable duty-cycle signal from the traffic signal controller.
7. The traffic signal of claim 6, wherein the microcontroller generates a second fixed-frequency, variably duty-cycle signal in response to sensing the fixed-frequency, variable duty-cycle signal from the traffic signal controller, the second fixed-frequency, variably duty-cycle signal controls a Metal Oxide Silicon Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) of the power regulator to control the input current flowing to the light source.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of varying the input current includes varying the input current based on time of day.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of varying the input current includes varying the input current based on present weather conditions near the light source.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of varying the input current includes varying the current based on ambient temperature near the light source.
20. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of varying the input current includes varying the current based on an age of the light source.
21. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of varying the input current includes varying the current based on a number of hours that the light source had been illuminated. |