WO2014016812A2

WO2014016812A2 - Situational enhanced lighting system

Info

Publication number: WO2014016812A2
Application number: PCT/IB2013/056152
Authority: WO
Inventors: Willem Peter Van Der Brug
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
Priority date: 2012-07-27
Filing date: 2013-07-26
Publication date: 2014-01-30
Also published as: WO2014016812A3

Abstract

A lighting network (100) and lighting unit (LU1 ) are disclosed. The lighting network (100) includes a plurality of lighting units (LU1 - LU8). The lighting units (LU1 - LU8)) including a light producing mechanism (1 1 ), a communication interface (12) and a light level controller (13) that is arranged to control a dim level of the light producing mechanism. A controller (20) is arranged to send an increase dim level control signal to set a dim level of the lighting unit (LU1 ). The dim level of the lighting unit (LU1 ) can be set to above 100% of full nominal power of the lighting unit (LU1 ) to temporally provide enhanced lighting.

Description

SITUATIONAL ENHANCED LIGHTING SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a system for providing enhanced lighting and, more particularly, an outdoor lighting system that is capable of increasing light level output at a particular location during an emergency situation.

In outdoor lighting networks, management systems are known that allow for energy consumption management via intelligent dimming control. The conventional management systems also offer insight in to the operational status of lighting units deployed in the outdoor lighting network. For example, the conventional management systems can monitor a failure state, an impending failure state or if the lighting unit is close to end-of-life.

Conventional outdoor lighting networks can be designed for an optimal cost/performance ratio during normal operation. The maximum driver/lighting unit power requirements will be balanced against the lifetime of the driver/lighting unit so that the total cost of ownership/management is low or the lowest possible. This can be achieved using, for example, electronic drivers for the lighting units that can select a specific power level for the lighting unit. To set the optimal cost/performance ratio, the lighting unit may be dimmed below nominal maximum power (i.e., below the maximum light level output).

In the area serviced by the outdoor lighting network, emergency situations (e.g., an automobile accident) can occur at locations near where a lighting unit (e.g., a streetlight) that is part of the outdoor lighting network is installed. When the emergency situation occurs, the highest priority is the saving of lives and the safety of the rescue personnel. In such emergency situations, it is accepted for the owner/operator of the outdoor light network to allow for a higher cost-per-hour of the lighting unit.

For example, if there is for instance a fire, smoke may obscure sight creating an unsafe situation. More light at that location can help alleviate the problem. In the case of injured people, more light facilitates the work of the medical/rescue personnel attending to the injured people.

The conventional management systems discussed above may be equipped with a manual override function. The conventional manual override function, however, only allows a user to assign a specific dim level to the lighting unit up to 100% light level output. But as discussed above, in certain situations, it is desirable to exceed 100% light level output. But the conventional management systems cannot meet this need.

Accordingly, a need exists in the art for systems and methods to address the shortcomings of the conventional management systems described above.

One aspect of the present invention is related to a manual override capability for a lighting management system that can set the light level of a lighting unit to above 100% of full nominal power during an emergency situation.

One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a lighting network including a plurality of lighting units. The lighting units include a light producing mechanism, a communication interface and a light level controller arranged to control a dim level of the light producing mechanism. A controller is arranged to send an increase dim level control signal to set a dim level of one or more of the lighting units. The increase dim level control signal can set the dim level of the lighting unit to above 100% of full nominal power for the lighting unit. In another embodiment of the present invention, the controller includes timeout feature that returns the lighting unit that received the increase dim level to a previous dim level.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a lighting unit includeing a light producing mechanism, a light level controller arranged to control a dim level of the light producing mechanism based upon a control signal and a communication interface arranged to at least receive the control signal. The light level controller is capable of changing, in accordance with the control signal, the dim level of the light producing mechanism to above 100% of full nominal power for the lighting unit.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the lighting unit further includes an input device to request that the dim level of the light producing mechanism be changed.

In general, the various aspects and embodiments of the present invention may be combined and coupled in any way possible within the scope of the invention. The subject matter that is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows an outdoor lighting system according to an embodiment of the invention.

As shown in Fig. 1 , an outdoor lighting system 100 includes a control unit 20 (e.g., a service center) and one or more lighting units 1 (LU1 - LU8). The control unit 20 may be located near or at a remote location from the LUs (LU1 - LU8). The central control unit 20 includes a communication unit 21 . The communication unit 21 is used to communicate with the LUs (LU1 - LU8). The control unit 20 is communicatively coupled to the LUs (LU1 - LU8), either directly or indirectly. For example, the control unit 20 may be in direct communication via a wired and/or wireless/wireless-mesh connection or an indirect communication via a network such as the Internet, Intranet, a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a local area network (LAN), a terrestrial broadcast system, a cable network, a satellite network, a wireless network, power line or a telephone network (POTS), as well as portions or combinations of these and other types of networks.

The control unit 20 includes algorithms for operating, invoking on/off time and sequencing, dimming time and percentage, and other control functions. The control unit 20 may also perform data logging of parameters such as run-hours or energy use, alarming and scheduling functions.

The LU 1 includes a light producing mechanism 1 1 , a communication interface 12 and a light level controller 13. The light level controller 13 may be, for example, a dimmable ballast. Electronic or digital ballast uses solid state electronic circuitry to provide the proper starting and operating electrical condition to power fluorescent lamps, HID lamps or LED lamps. By controlling the operating electrical conditions, the LU 1 can be set at different dim levels.

The communication interface 12, as noted above, may be any suitable communication arrangement to transfer data to and/or from the control unit 20. In this regard, via the communication interface 12, each LU (LU1 - LU8) is in communication with the control unit 20 directly and/or via another LU. The communication interface 12 enables command, control, and monitoring of the LU 1 . In another embodiment, a segment controller 30 may act as data concentrator for a plurality of LUs (LU1 - LU8). The segment controller 30 can also include various functionality of the control unit 20 such as dimming control/manual override functionality for the plurality of LUs (LU1 - LU8) that are controlled/grouped by the segment controller 30. The segment controller 30 is in communication with the control unit 20 and with one or more LUs in the group. For example, a radio frequency (RF)/ power line (PL) bridge may communicatively couple the LU 1 to the segment controller 30. In this embodiment, the control unit 20 is used to control the segment controller(s) 30 and manage the data coming from the segment controller(s) 30.

The dim level or light level output by the LUs (LU1 - LU8) is set, via the light level controller 13, based upon a power level signal from the control unit 20. When assigning a dim level to each of the LUs (LU1 - LU8), the control unit 20 is able to assign dim levels above 100% (full nominal power). This allows for a manual override capability to extend to dim levels above 100%. As shown in Fig. 1 , for example, the dim levels of LU2, LU3 and LU4 may be increased when a situation 40 occurs. The situation 40 is any temporary occurrence that may benefit from increased lighting, e.g., a car mechanical problem, an accident, a fire, a crime scene, or rescue site.

There is, however, a trade off for operating above 100% nominal power. For example, a High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamp can often operate at N times the nominal maximum power level at the cost of a N⁶ lower lifetime. In this case, if the HID lamp operates at 200% Lumen Output for 1 hour, the lifetime of the HID lamp will be reduced by 64 hours. If operated at 200% Lumen output for 6 hours then the lifetime will be reduced by about 400 hours. However, in comparison to a total expected lifetime of 40,000 hours, these are not overly significant reductions for the HID lamp.

To avoid failure of the LU 1 , the control unit 20 may include a timeout feature that will return the LU 1 that has been set to over 100% lighting level output to the typical or normal dim level. The timeout feature may implemented using a software algorithm, a hardware timer or combination of both. For example, in the case of the dim level dim level being set at 200% lumen level, after 1 hour the LU 1 will automatically returns to the normal dim level setting unless a new 200% dim level command is received within the timeout period. The timeout time can be made dependent on the lumen percentage, e.g., 5 minutes in the case of 300% output (750 hours lifetime reduction per hour).

In other embodiments, the control unit 20 includes algorithms and/or a database 22 for handling a maximum load on fuses in a power supply of the LUs (LU1 - LU8). Based upon the maximum load of a fuse, the control unit 20 can control (or provide information to a user) how many LUs (LU1 - LU8) to override. The control unit 20 may also determine that the light level of one or more other LUs (LU1 - LU8) connected to the same fuse must be lowered to accommodate the dim level increase. The control unit 20 may also include algorithms and/or the database 22 to determine max dim override percentages and/or override timeouts based upon fuse specifications and ratings.

Outdoor lighting networks are increasingly becoming intelligent, with sensors, actuators and cameras in the lighting unit/pole installations that can respectively detect the presence of objects and/or emergency situations and communicate relevant information to the control unit 20 and/or the segment controller 30. The information can be used to determine if the dim level of the LUs (LU1 - LU8) should be increased. For example, the control unit 20 and/or the segment controller 30 may use image recognition technology to automatically make the determinate or the information reviewed by a user to make the determination. The LUs (LU1 - LU8) may also be equipped with an input devices, e.g., a manual actuator, microphone, etc., to allow or a person to request that the dim level of the LU be increased.

In addition, the control unit 20 and/or the segment controller 30 may be communicatively coupled to other systems or networks such as the emergency 91 1 system to enable increasing the dim level at a particular LU based upon an emergency situation at or near the LU. In this regard, if an emergency situation is reported via the 91 1 system, the dim levels of the LUs in the vicinity of the reported address or location can be increased.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth a few of the many forms that the invention can take. The above examples are merely illustrative of several possible embodiments of various aspects of the present invention, wherein equivalent alterations and/or modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon reading and understanding of the present invention and the annexed drawings. In particular, regard to the various functions performed by the above described components (devices, systems, and the like), the terms (including a reference to a "means") used to describe such components are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated to any component, such as hardware or combinations thereof, which performs the specified function of the described component (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the illustrated implementations of the disclosure. The principles of the present invention are implemented as any combination of hardware, firmware and software. Moreover, the software is preferably implemented as an application program tangibly embodied on a program storage unit or computer readable storage medium consisting of parts, or of certain devices and/or a combination of devices. The application program may be uploaded to, and executed by, a machine comprising any suitable architecture. The computer platform may also include an operating system and microinstruction code. The various processes and functions described herein may be either part of the microinstruction code or part of the application program, or any combination thereof, which may be executed by a CPU, whether or not such computer or processor is explicitly shown. In addition, various other peripheral units may be connected to the computer platform such as an additional data storage unit and a printing unit.

Although a particular feature of the present invention may have been illustrated and/or described with respect to only one of several implementations, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other implementations as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application. Furthermore, references to singular components or items are intended, unless otherwise specified, to encompass two or more such components or items. Also, to the extent that the terms "including", "includes", "having", "has", "with", or variants thereof are used in the detailed description and/or in the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term "comprising".

The present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. However, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the present invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations. It is only the claims, including all equivalents that are intended to define the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 . A lighting network (100) comprising:

a plurality of lighting units (LU1 - LU8)) including a light producing mechanism (1 1 ), a communication interface (12) and a light level controller (13) arranged to control a dim level of the light producing mechanism; and a controller (20) arranged to send an increase dim level control signal, via the communication interface (12), control to at least one of the plurality of lighting units (LU1 - LU8) to set a dim level of the at least one of the plurality of lighting units (LU1 - LU8),

wherein the increase dim level control signal can set the dim level of the at least one of the plurality of lighting units (LU1 - LU8) to above 100% of full nominal power for the at least one of the plurality of lighting units (LU1 - LU8).

2. The lighting network (100) according to claim 1 , wherein the controller (20) further includes timeout feature that returns the at least one of the plurality of lighting units (LU1 - LU8) to a previous dim level.

3. The lighting network (100) according to claim 2, wherein the timeout feature is set based upon an amount of increase over the full nominal power.

4. The lighting network (100) according to claim 1 , wherein the increase dim level control signal is sent by the controller (2) when a temporary situation (40) occurs near one or more of the plurality of lighting units (LU1 - LU8).

5. The lighting network (100) according to claim 1 , wherein the controller (20) further includes maximum fuse load feature to ensure that a rated fuse load is not exceed for the at least one of the plurality of lighting units (LU1 - LU8).

6. The lighting network (100) according to claim 1 , wherein the controller (20) further includes maximum fuse load feature to determine a max dim override percentage and/or override timeout based upon fuse ratings for the at least one of the plurality of lighting units (LU1 - LU8).

7. The lighting network (100) according to claim 1 further comprising a segment controller (30) arranged to be a data concentrator for a subset of the plurality of lighting units (LU1 - LU8).

8. The lighting network (100) according to claim 1 , wherein the controller (20) is further arranged to receive a request to send the increase dim level control signal.

9. The lighting network (100) according to claim 8, wherein the controller (20) is arranged to determine based upon the request whether to send the increase dim level control signal.

10. The lighting network (100) according to claim 8, wherein the request is from one or more of the plurality of lighting units (LU1 - LU8).

1 1 . The lighting network (100) according to claim 8, wherein the request is from an information system that is communicatively coupled to the lighting network (100).

12. A lighting unit (LU1 ) comprising:

a light producing mechanism (1 1 );

a light level controller (13) arranged to control a dim level of the light producing mechanism (1 1 ) based upon a control signal; and

a communication interface (12) arranged to at least receive the control signal,

wherein the light level controller (13) is capable of setting, in

accordance with the control signal, the dim level of the light producing mechanism to above 100% of full nominal power for the lighting unit (LU1 ).

13. The lighting unit (LU1 ) according to claim 12, wherein the light

producing mechanism (1 1 ) is an HID lamp.

14. The lighting unit (LU1 ) according to claim 13, wherein the light level controller (13) is a dimmable ballast.

15. The lighting unit (LU1 ) according to claim 12 further comprising an input device to request that the dim level of the light producing mechanism (12) be changed.

1 6. The lighting unit (LU1 ) according to claim 12 further comprising data detection devices to arranged to gather information to determine if the dim level is to be changed.

17. The lighting unit (LU1 ) according to claim 12, wherein the light

producing mechanism (1 1 ) is a LED lamp.