AU2021101383A4 - Intelligent street light on/off on the object movement - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to intelligent monitoring and controlling of streetlights. Dr. Parag Jain Dr. Deepak Arya Gaurav Chaturvedi Gaurav Gupta B.S. Bhatnagar Love Verma Lekhika Shishodia TOTAL NO OF SHEET: 003 NO OF FIG: 04 RNRG FIG. 1depicts in asimplified and representative form, ahigh level diagram of astreet light monitoring and control system in accordance with one or more embodiments; FIG. 2is apartial sectional side elevation view illustrating an exemplary dimmable outdoor lighting fixture apparatus with acontroller module according to one embodiment.

Description

The invention relates to intelligent monitoring and controlling of streetlights.

Dr. Parag Jain Dr. Deepak Arya Gaurav Chaturvedi Gaurav Gupta B.S. Bhatnagar Love Verma Lekhika Shishodia TOTAL NO OF SHEET: 003 NO OF FIG: 04

RNRG

FIG. 1depicts in asimplified and representative form, ahigh level diagram of astreet light monitoring and control system in accordance with one or more embodiments;

FIG. 2is apartial sectional side elevation view illustrating an exemplary dimmable outdoor lighting fixture apparatus with acontroller module according to one embodiment.

Australian Government IP Australia Innovation Patent Australia Patent Title: INTELLIGENT STREET LIGHT ON/OFF ON THE OBJECT MOVEMENT

Name and address of patentees(s): Dr. Parag Jain Roorkee Institute of Technology, 8-Km Dehradun Road, Puhana Roorkee-247667, Haridwar, (UK) India. Dr. Deepak Arya Roorkee Institute of Technology, 8-Km Dehradun Road, Puhana Roorkee-247667, Haridwar, (UK) India. Gaurav Chaturvedi Roorkee Institute of Technology, 8-Km Dehradun Road, Puhana Roorkee-247667, Haridwar, (UK) India. Gaurav Gupta Roorkee Institute of Technology, 8-Km Dehradun Road, Puhana Roorkee-247667, Haridwar, (UK) India. B.S. Bhatnagar Roorkee Institute of Technology, 8-Km Dehradun Road, Puhana Roorkee-247667, Haridwar, (UK) India. Love Verma Roorkee Institute of Technology, 8-Km Dehradun Road, Puhana Roorkee-247667, Haridwar, (UK) India. Lekhika Shishodia Roorkee Institute of Technology, 8-Km Dehradun Road, Puhana Roorkee-247667, Haridwar, (UK) India. Complete Specification: Australian Government.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Our Invention is related to an intelligent street light on/off on the object movement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Streetlights form a major load for an electrical distribution system; especially in urban areas. It is challenging for the utility companies to bill their clients for the streetlights connected to their services.

This is due to the fact that streetlights are not generally metered as are most other loads in the distribution system and thus estimates of power consumption are often used for billing purposes. Due to the diverse types of ballasts and lamps deployed, the fact that wide variations from nominal power consumption for a given type of ballast and lamp are possible, along with unpredictable line conditions and lack of actual data from different sites; power consumption estimations for streetlight plants or systems are often inaccurate. Basically billing systems currently use a standard metering mechanism which does not account for such variations.

The current system of billing assumes an input power consumption for each luminaire, and it estimates the transition times based on the length of an average night and the average ballast. The inability of the current system to provide or use realistic data regarding power consumption for streetlights is affecting both the clients (cities, municipalities, etc.) and the utility companies in an adverse manner.

Area and street lighting is one of the most important elements of a city's infrastructure. For such extensive lighting installations, it is desirable to know the locations of individual luminaires for maintenance and other purposes involving planning and billing. In many instances, maintenance and installation crews installing luminaires record the luminaire locations by their GPS coordinates.

The GPS coordinates are often provided by GPS receivers carried by the installation crews as part of a crew's personal data assistant. It occasionally happens that luminaires are moved and their new location coordinates are not recorded. This introduces bookkeeping errors and increases the city's overhead in maintaining the lighting infrastructure. It may also result in incorrectly locating and therefore misinterpreting data provided by non-illumination functions that are associated with, and physically proximate to, the luminaire.

It is also desirable for infrastructure managers to know if and when a luminaire has received a substantial physical shock so that the luminaire may be examined for damage and also to have a record of the time and characterization of the event for summarizing the facts of the incident causing the physical shock.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION 1. The objective of the invention is a methods associated with monitoring and controlling streetlights include monitoring light levels and voltage levels at corresponding streetlights and controlling the streetlights to set and the invention is also including a maintain a particular light output at the respective streetlights or providing power consumption estimates for respective streetlights based on the voltage levels and light levels. 2. The other objective of the invention is a streetlight controller for a streetlight includes a microcontroller a first sensor to sense a light level from a lamp within the streetlight a second sensor operative to sense a voltage level on a power supply for the streetlight and the invention is also a switching network coupled with the microcontroller and operative to adjust the light level of the lamp and also methods includes monitoring a light level and voltage level and adjusting a light level estimating power consumption, or facilitating maintenance in accordance with the light level and voltage level. 3. The other objective of the invention is a local gateway or a central controller and database a street lighting fixture and street lamp used in street lighting containing an accelerometer that is used to detect and characterize acceleration events on a street lighting fixture. The accelerometer readings may be combined with GPS technology to determine a relocation of the street lighting fixture a lighting control system is the lighting control system is electrically coupled to a load circuit for controlling indoor and outdoor lighting. 4. The other objective of the invention is a configured to provide low-level night light from the night light when measured light levels and detected motion are below threshold values and to automatically turn on the indoor and outdoor lighting and simultaneously turn off the night light when measured light levels and detected motion are above the threshold values.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disclosed embodiments may be advantageously employed to facilitate utility meter reading without requiring manual reading of residential or commercial/industrial meters or localized wireless readings obtained from vehicles traversing local streets.

Instead, utilities and other meter data consumers can obtain meter information via lighting control systems that control and/or monitor outdoor lighting fixtures via RF mesh networks and/or PLC-based local networks, with the lighting control system obtaining the meter data by communications through the general purpose network and the lighting system network.

This usage of the outdoor lighting infrastructure as a conduit for utility meter information may thus save vast resources of utility companies in staffing manual meter reading operations and/or the expense of constructing and maintaining dedicated network infrastructures.

A number of different light management systems are known. One type of light management system utilizes a motion detector or sensor. In such systems, room lights are turned off, turned on and/or are dimmed according to a detected level of motion within the room.

There is a continual push to reduce energy consumption, because of rising energy costs and negative environmental impacts of energy usage and energy generation. Therefore, there is a need for improved light management systems, devices and methods which help to conserve energy.

The present invention is directed to a device and system for and method of controlling a load circuit, such as a load circuit coupled to a room light. A system, in accordance with the embodiments of the invention comprises a switch unit for coupling to the load circuit. The switch unit is preferably configured to replace a standard light switch and secure to an electrical receptacle box on a wall.

The switch unit preferably has a manual switch for manually controlling the room light through the load circuit. The manual switch is preferably a momentary switch, which herein describes a touch switch that is depressed to change the operation of the switch unit and then returns to its original position.

However, it is understood that any other type of switch for manually controlling the room light through the load circuit, such as a rheostat, a toggle or a flip switch are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. The switch unit also has a light unit, also referred to herein as a night light, for emitting low level room light when the manual switch opens the load circuit to turn the room light off, or when current that is drawn through the load circuit reaches a predetermined value.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the switch unit has a motion sensor, wherein the motion sensor is configured to instruct the switch unit to adjust room lighting by adjusting the level of light emitting from the room light, the night light or both, based on a level of detected motion within an area around the switch unit.

For example, when no motion is detected by the motion sensor in the area around the switch unit, then the sensor, after a time delay, instructs the switch unit to dim the room light, dim the night light, shut the room light off, shut the night light off or a combination thereof. Likewise, when the motion detector detects motion within the area around the switch unit, then the motion sensor instructs the switch unit to increase the level of room lighting by turning the room light on, turning the night light on, brightening the room light, brightening the night light or a combination thereof.

Preferably, the switch unit has a micro-processor for programming modes of operation, including setting the time delay value for when the room light and/or night light are shut off or dimmed in the absence of detected motion. Preferably, the micro-processor is programmable through an internal dip switch, the manual switch or a combination thereof. For example, during the installation of the switch unit, a technician actuates the internal dip switch to place the switch unit in program mode.

Then the technician can toggle through options, including automatic operation or manual operation of the room light and automatic or manual operation of the night light. In yet further embodiments, the switch unit is programmable to have the room lights and/or the night light turn on and/or off based on the time of day. For example, the switch unit is programmable to have the night light capabilities only during the hours of 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the manual switch of the switch unit is a momentary switch with the night light and the motion detector integrated into the momentary switch. The motion sensor is preferably an infrared motion sensor and the night light preferably comprises light emitting diodes (LEDs).

In this preferred embodiment, dimming the night light is accomplished by providing a pulsed current to the LEDs, such that the LEDs shut on and off to give an apparent dimming effect. Alternatively, or in addition to providing a pulsed current, dimming the night light is accomplished the by disabling one or more of the light emitting diodes.

In accordance with still further embodiments of the invention, the switch unit has a light detector for measuring a level of room lighting. The light sensor is preferably configured to turn on, turn off, and/or dim the room light and/or the night light based on a level of detected room lighting. For example, if the load circuit is open and the night light is on, when the light sensor detects that there is a sufficient level of room lighting coming from, for example sun light or from lights in adjacent room(s), then the light sensor instructs the switch unit to turn the night light off, turn the room light off, dim the room light or any combination thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DIAGRAM

FIG. 1 depicts in a simplified and representative form, a high level diagram of a street light monitoring and control system in accordance with one or more embodiments; FIG. 2 is a partial sectional side elevation view illustrating an exemplary dimmable outdoor lighting fixture apparatus with a controller module according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3 depicts a representative block diagram of a controller for a streetlight in accordance with one or more embodiments; FIG. 4 depicts a representative high level flow chart which illustrates various aspects of deploying and using the system of FIG. 1 in accordance with one or more embodiments;

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1, a simplified and representative high level diagram of a street light monitoring and control system in accordance with one or more embodiments will be briefly discussed and described. FIG. 1 shows an overview of the system which allows the control of individual streetlights or a network of streetlights from a central location or multiple locations. The streetlight system 100 comprises a plurality of streetlights111. Each streetlight111 comprises a streetlight controller which enables, facilitates, or otherwise supports monitoring and control of the streetlight as well as communications, wired or wireless, between the streetlights and other entities, e.g., local gateway 102, etc., in the system.

Local gateway 102 communicates through an appropriate communications media (such as cell modem, wired internet, etc.) to a central controller and database 103 (alternatively referred to as a central database or central). It will be appreciated that the central controller and database can be comprised of one or more servers and databases in one or more locations that collectively operate as a repository of data and a central control point for the overall system.

Generally, before the streetlights 111 are installed, the constituent elements or components, e.g., ballast, lamp, and capacitor combinations, are profiled or characterized using a component profiling station 108. The data or information collected via the component profiling station 108 is sent to the central database 103. The streetlights 111 are prepared and entered into inventory with the appropriate ballast/capacitor/lamp/etc. (component) combination by the distribution install technician 107 before they are installed.

This ensures that the system knows the characteristics of a particular ballast, lamp, luminaire combination for a given configuration of streetlight 111. As the streetlights or luminaires are installed in the field by the field install technician 104 a, data (data-logs and other information) for each is collected using, e.g., a hand held computing device 104 to communicate directly or through the local gateway 102 to each streetlight (via associated streetlight controller 201) and possibly the central database 103.

Among other uses, the central database allows a roadway lighting engineer 109 to make schedule changes to the streetlights (ON, OFF, Levels, times, etc.). Maintenance reports may be sent to the performance contractor 110 by the central database 103. Information can be gathered and included in energy reports (metering or power consumption), which can be sent to the utility company 105 and the streetlight plant owner 106 from the central database 103.

Fig.2: The system 202 may be operatively interconnected (e.g., via the network 210) with one or more bridging components 215, such as a wireless network via a Cellular CDPD modem or other wireless interface 215 a or an internet connection 215 b providing data exchange and other communication by and between one or more devices of the mesh network system 10 such as the light fixtures 100, and/or the meters 30 such that the processor-based lighting control system 202 receives data from and/or provides data to the devices 140, 100, 30.

The processing element 220 in these embodiments may execute a program to implement a data and control center system to allow gathering of meter data 252 from one or more of the meters 30 that are communicatively coupled (continuously or intermittently) with the mesh network 10. A given meter 30 may be read using an RF connection between with one of the RF-enabled lighting fixtures 100 of the mesh network 10 as shown in FIG. 1 and/or using a power line connection 604 (PLC-based) with one or more PLC-enabled fixtures 100 of an outdoor lighting network.

FIG. 3, a representative block diagram of a controller 201 for a streetlight in accordance with one or more embodiments will be discussed and described. FIG. 3 depicts the streetlight controller 201 in block diagram form as it is interfaced to the system. A microprocessor or microcontroller 330 with appropriate firmware and memory controls the operation of the streetlight controller 201, stores configuration data and maintains data-logs, and processes incoming and initiates outgoing communications and messages to/from the local gateway 102, other streetlight controllers, etc.

The lamp sensor 205 provides a first signal 332 that is indicative of the light intensity from the lamp within the streetlight 111. This first signal 332 is amplified by a variable gain circuit 334 before being applied to an analog to digital input of the microcontroller 330. Adjustment of the gain of the variable gain circuit 334 is controlled by the microcontroller 330. The lamp sensor also provides a second signal 336 indicative of the temperature of the lamp sensor to the microcontroller 330. This signal can be used by the microcontroller 330 to compensate for temperature and line voltage effects on the output of the lamp sensor (first signal 332).

A real time clock circuit 337 interfaces to the microcontroller to provide time and day information to the microcontroller 330. A temperature sensor 338 provides local system temperature to the microcontroller 330. This temperature is often substantially less than the temperature of the lamp sensor 205 due to the proximity of the lamp sensor to the lamp.

Controller power supply 340 interfaces to the power line 342 and provides regulated power for operation of the streetlight controller 201. A voltage monitoring circuit 344 which can comprise an appropriate resistive divider, differential amplifier, op-amp circuit, combination thereof, etc. provides the microcontroller 330 with a signal indicative of the line voltage of the power line 342.

RF wireless radio 346 which can comprise a model AC4490-100 from Aerocomm Inc. located in Lenexa, Kans. provides wireless communication between the microcontroller 330 in streetlight controller 201, other streetlight controllers 201 in other streetlights 111, the portable computing device 104, or the local gateway 102. Similar or identical RF wireless radios (not shown) may be present in these devices to receive and transmit data. The RF wireless radio in one streetlight 111 may relay the data to/from another RF wireless radio 346 in another streetlight 111. Thus, the streetlights and other components containing wireless radios may comprise a mesh network.

Ballast power control circuitry 348 interfaces to microcontroller 330 and responsive to the microcontroller, functions to turn a ballast circuit 350 on and off. The ballast circuit 350 regulates power applied to the lamp (not specifically shown) within the streetlight 111. The ballast circuit may interface to a base capacitance 352 and a plurality of switched capacitors 354. In addition, the microcontroller 330 interfaces through triac switching circuitry 356 to control the amount of power that is delivered to the lamp via the ballast circuit 350.

The triac switching circuit together with the switching capacitors and ballast is one embodiment of a switching network which can be used to adjust or set light levels of a lamp in a streetlight. Basically, the microcontroller 330 controls the triac switching circuitry 356 to select particular ones of the switched capacitors 354 that are coupled in parallel with the base capacitance 352 and thus the total capacitance that is coupled to the ballast circuit 350.

In this manner the amount of power that is delivered to the lamp is controlled or adjustable and thus the light level of the lamp can be adjusted and a particular light output or light level can be obtained. As suggested by FIG. 3, the capacitors and ballast circuit are typically not a specific part of streetlight controller 201 (although a portion may be) and typically will be contained within the body of the streetlight or luminaire.

FIG. 3 is thus illustrative of a controller 201 for a streetlight that includes a microcontroller or microprocessor, a first sensor coupled with or to the microcontroller and operative to sense a light level from a lamp within the streetlight, and a second sensor coupled with or to the microcontroller and operative to sense a voltage level of a power supply, e.g., on a power line supplying power to the streetlight or relevant portions thereof.

The controller further includes a switching network that is coupled with or to the microcontroller and is operative to adjust the light level of the lamp, i.e., set the light level to a desired level based on outputs from the first and second sensors by selectively adjusting the switching network.

The microcontroller is operative to facilitate an estimate of energy usage or power consumption for the streetlight (determined or calculated by the microcontroller or by another entity, e.g., the central server or database from information supplied by the microcontroller) based on the light level and the voltage level in accordance with one or more concepts further noted below. The switching network includes one or more of a plurality of switching capacitors that may be selectively used, e.g., via a triac switching circuit controllable by the microcontroller, to adjust the light level

Referring to FIG. 4, a representative high level flow chart which illustrates various aspects of deploying and using the system of FIG. 1 in accordance with one or more embodiments will be discussed and described. Some processes associated with deployment of the FIG. 1 system or carried out by the various elements of the system 100 are shown in FIG. 4 together with one or more interested actors. When a streetlight plant owner 106 desires to install the system 100, the streetlight plant owner may perform a field survey 401 wherein potential installation and/or retrofit locations can be determined.

A feasibility study may be undertaken 403 to validate the applicability of the system. Once approval is obtained 405 to deploy one or more sites, detailed information is assembled 407 for each such site. Typically, the plant administrator/owner 408, 106 or agents are involved with 401-407. The detailed information for each site can comprise, e.g.,

1. Fixture Model number 2. Lamp Model number 3. Ballast Model Number 4. Manufacturer's Capacitor Model Number 5. Igniter Model Number 6. Nominal line voltage

Each ballast, lamp, luminaire, etc. combination is profiled using the component profiling station 108 if the combination is not already approved 409, in which case no action is necessary 411.

This includes sourcing or obtaining the appropriate combination of components 413, 415. The particular combination of components is profiled or characterized using various capacitor combinations 417. This profile or characterization data is then sent 419 to the central database 103. Once a combination has been profiled, it is not necessary for the component profiling technician to perform this process the next time this combination is slated for installation as indicated at 411. The component profiling technician 420 or the like is involved in 409-419.

Once the information on a particular combination of components is in the central database 103, the distribution install technician 426, 107 may acquire streetlight components for an installation 421. The distribution install technician enters and sends data 423 incorporating information related to components that have been acquired to the central database 103. The streetlight may then be assembled 425 by distribution install technician 426,107. An installation report may then be generated and obtained or provided 427 from the central database 103 for use by the field install technician 432, 104 a. The field install technician may then install the streetlights 429 with the resulting data including streetlight controller 201 identification sent 431 to the central database 103 via the hand held device 104 (lumen conductor) or from the streetlight controller 201 and local gateway 102.

The roadway lighting engineer 438, 109 may select streetlights 433 to set schedules and configuration parameters 435 in the central database 103. The central database 103 then sends configuration data to the corresponding streetlight controllers 437. Note that various portions of the processes in FIG. 4 may be repeated as needed, e.g., for additional streetlights, etc.

WE CLAIMS 1) Our Invention intelligent street light on/off on the object movement is a methods associated with monitoring and controlling streetlights include monitoring light levels and voltage levels at corresponding streetlights and controlling the streetlights to set. The invention is also including a maintain a particular light output at the respective streetlights or providing power consumption estimates for respective streetlights based on the voltage levels and light levels. The invention is a streetlight controller for a streetlight includes a microcontroller a first sensor to sense a light level from a lamp within the streetlight a second sensor operative to sense a voltage level on a power supply for the streetlight. The invention is also a switching network coupled with the microcontroller and operative to adjust the light level of the lamp and also methods includes monitoring a light level and voltage level and adjusting a light level estimating power consumption, or facilitating maintenance in accordance with the light level and voltage level. The invented methods may be performed all or in part at a streetlight a local gateway or a central controller and database a street lighting fixture and street lamp used in street lighting containing an accelerometer that is used to detect and characterize acceleration events on a street lighting fixture. The accelerometer readings may be combined with GPS technology to determine a relocation of the street lighting fixture a lighting control system is the lighting control system is electrically coupled to a load circuit for controlling indoor and outdoor lighting. The invented technology also a lighting control system includes a control module with a night light for providing low-level night light illumination and one or more sensors for operatively controlling the indoor and outdoor lighting and the night light in response to measured light levels and detected motion. The invented technology is also configured to provide low-level night light from the night light when measured light levels and detected motion are below threshold values and to automatically turn on the indoor and outdoor lighting and simultaneously turn off the night light when measured light levels and detected motion are above the threshold values. 2) According to claim# the invention a methods associated with monitoring and controlling streetlights include monitoring light levels and voltage levels at corresponding streetlights and controlling the streetlights to set and the invention is also including a maintain a particular light output at the respective streetlights or providing power consumption estimates for respective streetlights based on the voltage levels and light levels. 3) According to claim,2# the invention a streetlight controller for a streetlight includes a microcontroller a first sensor to sense a light level from a lamp within the streetlight a second sensor operative to sense a voltage level on a power supply for the streetlight and the invention is also a switching network coupled with the microcontroller and operative to adjust the light level of the lamp and also methods includes monitoring a light level and voltage level and adjusting a light level estimating power consumption, or facilitating maintenance in accordance with the light level and voltage level.

4) According to claiml,2,3# the invention a local gateway or a central controller and database a street lighting fixture and street lamp used in street lighting containing an accelerometer that is used to detect and characterize acceleration events on a street lighting fixture. The accelerometer readings may be combined with GPS technology to determine a relocation of the street lighting fixture a lighting control system is the lighting control system is electrically coupled to a load circuit for controlling indoor and outdoor lighting. ) According to claiml,2,3# the invention a configured to provide low-level night light from the night light when measured light levels and detected motion are below threshold values and to automatically turn on the indoor and outdoor lighting and simultaneously turn off the night light when measured light levels and detected motion are above the threshold values.

FOR Dr. Parag Jain Dr. Deepak Arya Gaurav Chaturvedi Gaurav Gupta B.S. Bhatnagar Love Verma Lekhika Shishodia 17 Mar 2021

TOTAL NO OF SHEET: 003 NO OF FIG: 04 2021101383

FIG. 1 depicts in a simplified and representative form, a high level diagram of a street light monitoring and control system in accordance with one or more embodiments;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional side elevation view illustrating an exemplary dimmable outdoor lighting fixture apparatus with a controller module according to one embodiment.

FOR Dr. Parag Jain Dr. Deepak Arya Gaurav Chaturvedi Gaurav Gupta B.S. Bhatnagar Love Verma Lekhika Shishodia 17 Mar 2021

TOTAL NO OF SHEET: 003 NO OF FIG: 04 2021101383

FIG. 3 depicts a representative block diagram of a controller for a streetlight in accordance with one or more embodiments;

FOR Dr. Parag Jain Dr. Deepak Arya Gaurav Chaturvedi Gaurav Gupta B.S. Bhatnagar Love Verma Lekhika Shishodia 17 Mar 2021

TOTAL NO OF SHEET: 003 NO OF FIG: 04 2021101383

FIG. 4 depicts a representative high level flow chart which illustrates various aspects of deploying and using the system of FIG. 1 in accordance with one or more embodiments;