LED Signals and Alarm Notifications

The CloudBox provides clear visual and auditory signals to notify users about system status, battery levels, and temperature conditions. These signals, through the system’s LEDs and alarm sounds, help users quickly identify issues like low battery or high temperature, ensuring smooth and uninterrupted race timing.

This article will detail the meaning behind the CloudBox's LED indicators, as well as the sound alarms triggered for low battery and high temperature situations.

LED Signals

The CloudBox uses a combination of two main LEDs—Power LED and Start LED—to indicate its operational status during boot, normal operation, and error conditions.

1. Power LED (Blue)

• Solid Blue: This indicates that the CloudBox is powered on and operational.

2. Start LED (Red/Blue)

• Solid Red during Boot: The Start LED remains solid red during the first 10 seconds of boot, along with the Power LED being blue and the cooler being on.

• Blinking Red every 1000 ms: After the first 10 seconds of boot, if the system is OK, the Start LED will blink red once every second (1000 ms) to indicate that the CloudBox has completed booting and is functioning normally. The cooler will turn off at this stage.

• Solid Red: When the system is in standby and ready for operation after boot, the Start LED remains solid red.

• Blue during Timing Session: During a timing session, the Start LED turns blue to indicate that a session is active.

• Blinking Red every 250 ms (Reader Issue): If the CloudBox cannot detect the RFID reader (or if there’s an issue with the reader), the Start LED will blink rapidly (every 250 ms). This indicates the system is searching for the reader or encountering a reader-related issue.

• Blinking Red every 3000 ms (System Updating): If the CloudBox is undergoing a system update, the Start LED will blink red every 3000 ms, indicating that the system is updating its firmware or software.

3. Other LED Indications

• USB Detection: When a USB Pen Drive is connected for backups, the CloudBox will emit a light sequence with the LED flashing every 500 ms for 2 seconds to indicate the drive is recognized and backup processing has started.

Alarm Sounds and Notifications

The CloudBox is equipped with audible alarms to notify users of critical battery and temperature conditions. These alarms are essential to avoid system failures due to power loss or overheating.

1. Low Battery Alarm

The CloudBox monitors its internal power levels to ensure optimal performance. When the battery voltage drops below specific thresholds, the system triggers alerts and alarms.

• Optimal Voltage Range: The optimal voltage range for the CloudBox is 25V to 29V.

• Warning Threshold: When the battery voltage drops to 24V, a warning notification is sent to connected users to alert them of the low power level.

• Critical Threshold: If the voltage drops further to 23V, a sound alarm is triggered, warning users that immediate action is required to prevent shutdown. The sound alarm pattern is:

  • 1000 ms ON / 500 ms OFF (repeating).

This ensures that users have time charge the device before it runs out of battery.

2. High Temperature Alarm

The CloudBox also monitors its internal temperature to avoid overheating. If the temperature exceeds safe limits, the system triggers alarms and turns on its cooling mechanism.

• Optimal Temperature Range: The optimal operating temperature for the CloudBox is between 0°C and 60°C.

• Warning Threshold: When the internal temperature reaches 70°C, a warning notification is sent to connected users, and the system's cooling fan is activated to prevent further temperature increases.

• Critical Threshold: If the temperature reaches 78°C, a sound alarm is triggered to notify users of the critical temperature. This alarm pattern is:

  • 500 ms ON / 500 ms OFF (repeating).

At this point, the system will either throttle performance to reduce heat or prepare for an emergency shutdown to prevent hardware damage.

Summary of LED and Alarm Signals

Condition	LED Signal	Alarm Signal	Action
Power On	Power LED: Solid Blue	None	System ready
Boot Sequence (First 10s)	Start LED: Solid Red	None	Initializing
Boot Completed (OK)	Start LED: Blinks Red every 1000 ms	None	System ready
Timing Session Active	Start LED: Solid Blue	None	Session in progress
Reader Not Detected	Start LED: Blinks Red every 250 ms	None	Searching for RFID reader
System Updating	Start LED: Blinks Red every 3000 ms	None	Firmware/software update
USB Detection	Start LED: Flashes every 500 ms (for 2 seconds)	None	USB drive detected
Low Battery Warning (24V)	Start LED: No change	Warning notification sent	Replace or charge battery
Critical Battery (23V)	Start LED: No change	1000 ms ON / 500 ms OFF sound alarm	Replace or charge battery immediately
High Temp Warning (70°C)	Start LED: No change	Warning notification sent	Cooling fan activated
Critical Temperature (78°C)	Start LED: No change	500 ms ON / 500 ms OFF sound alarm	Cool down or shut down the device

Conclusion

The CloudBox uses a combination of LED signals and alarm sounds to notify users of system status, battery levels, and temperature conditions. Understanding these indicators ensures that users can respond quickly to prevent downtime or system failures, whether due to power loss or overheating. By paying attention to the LED patterns and alarm signals, you can ensure that your CloudBox operates smoothly during critical race timing events.