US20120020060A1 - Energy-efficient solar-powered outdoor lighting - Google Patents
Energy-efficient solar-powered outdoor lighting Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20120020060A1 US20120020060A1 US13/128,395 US200913128395A US2012020060A1 US 20120020060 A1 US20120020060 A1 US 20120020060A1 US 200913128395 A US200913128395 A US 200913128395A US 2012020060 A1 US2012020060 A1 US 2012020060A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- pole
- light
- luminaire
- solar
- energy
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 161
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 108
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 28
- 238000012384 transportation and delivery Methods 0.000 claims description 45
- 238000007726 management method Methods 0.000 claims description 38
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 29
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 claims description 19
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000002829 reductive effect Effects 0.000 claims description 9
- 229910021417 amorphous silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000005282 brightening Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 abstract description 30
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 abstract description 26
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 abstract description 25
- 238000007405 data analysis Methods 0.000 abstract description 2
- 206010021033 Hypomenorrhoea Diseases 0.000 abstract 1
- 238000004146 energy storage Methods 0.000 description 59
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 35
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 description 29
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 24
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 23
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 21
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 19
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 19
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 15
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 15
- 238000005286 illumination Methods 0.000 description 15
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 15
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 14
- 239000010409 thin film Substances 0.000 description 14
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 13
- 230000008439 repair process Effects 0.000 description 13
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 12
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 11
- 230000006978 adaptation Effects 0.000 description 9
- 230000006399 behavior Effects 0.000 description 9
- 238000004134 energy conservation Methods 0.000 description 9
- 238000013024 troubleshooting Methods 0.000 description 9
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 8
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 8
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 8
- 238000009423 ventilation Methods 0.000 description 8
- 238000003491 array Methods 0.000 description 7
- 239000003990 capacitor Substances 0.000 description 7
- 238000011068 loading method Methods 0.000 description 7
- 238000004458 analytical method Methods 0.000 description 6
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 description 6
- UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrogen Chemical compound [H][H] UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 5
- 230000004931 aggregating effect Effects 0.000 description 5
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000001257 hydrogen Substances 0.000 description 5
- 229910052739 hydrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 5
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 5
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 4
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000009286 beneficial effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000001010 compromised effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 4
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000005457 optimization Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000036961 partial effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000012800 visualization Methods 0.000 description 4
- DGAQECJNVWCQMB-PUAWFVPOSA-M Ilexoside XXIX Chemical compound C[C@@H]1CC[C@@]2(CC[C@@]3(C(=CC[C@H]4[C@]3(CC[C@@H]5[C@@]4(CC[C@@H](C5(C)C)OS(=O)(=O)[O-])C)C)[C@@H]2[C@]1(C)O)C)C(=O)O[C@H]6[C@@H]([C@H]([C@@H]([C@H](O6)CO)O)O)O.[Na+] DGAQECJNVWCQMB-PUAWFVPOSA-M 0.000 description 3
- 230000002776 aggregation Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000004220 aggregation Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000003466 anti-cipated effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000001351 cycling effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000003792 electrolyte Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000005265 energy consumption Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000010408 film Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000011010 flushing procedure Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000035876 healing Effects 0.000 description 3
- 229910001507 metal halide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 150000005309 metal halides Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- -1 nickel metal hydride Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- 230000037361 pathway Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000004417 polycarbonate Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229920000515 polycarbonate Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 230000011664 signaling Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000011734 sodium Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229910052708 sodium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 230000001502 supplementing effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000001960 triggered effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000013022 venting Methods 0.000 description 3
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron Chemical compound [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000004743 Polypropylene Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000011149 active material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000013475 authorization Methods 0.000 description 2
- 235000000332 black box Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000013078 crystal Substances 0.000 description 2
- 210000005069 ears Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000008570 general process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000036541 health Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000010354 integration Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005304 joining Methods 0.000 description 2
- 208000018910 keratinopathic ichthyosis Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 230000007774 longterm Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000006855 networking Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229910021420 polycrystalline silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 229920001155 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 238000010248 power generation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000007670 refining Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005096 rolling process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000013589 supplement Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000000153 supplemental effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000002195 synergetic effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000008685 targeting Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000002618 waking effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229910004613 CdTe Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910017612 Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- ZEFNOZRLAWVAQF-UHFFFAOYSA-N Dinitolmide Chemical compound CC1=C(C(N)=O)C=C([N+]([O-])=O)C=C1[N+]([O-])=O ZEFNOZRLAWVAQF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000004593 Epoxy Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910001218 Gallium arsenide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- WHXSMMKQMYFTQS-UHFFFAOYSA-N Lithium Chemical compound [Li] WHXSMMKQMYFTQS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- KHGNFPUMBJSZSM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Perforine Natural products COC1=C2CCC(O)C(CCC(C)(C)O)(OC)C2=NC2=C1C=CO2 KHGNFPUMBJSZSM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229920006355 Tefzel Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000002745 absorbent Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002250 absorbent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001154 acute effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004378 air conditioning Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000036626 alertness Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000454 anti-cipatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000003542 behavioural effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007664 blowing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000015556 catabolic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920001577 copolymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000007797 corrosion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005260 corrosion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002178 crystalline material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910021419 crystalline silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000013500 data storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000006731 degradation reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000593 degrading effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001934 delay Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003599 detergent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009792 diffusion process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009429 electrical wiring Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007772 electrode material Substances 0.000 description 1
- QHSJIZLJUFMIFP-UHFFFAOYSA-N ethene;1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethene Chemical compound C=C.FC(F)=C(F)F QHSJIZLJUFMIFP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229920000840 ethylene tetrafluoroethylene copolymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000001747 exhibiting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011152 fibreglass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004519 grease Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009499 grossing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003112 inhibitor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052742 iron Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- JEIPFZHSYJVQDO-UHFFFAOYSA-N iron(III) oxide Inorganic materials O=[Fe]O[Fe]=O JEIPFZHSYJVQDO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000002955 isolation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052744 lithium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- GELKBWJHTRAYNV-UHFFFAOYSA-K lithium iron phosphate Chemical compound [Li+].[Fe+2].[O-]P([O-])([O-])=O GELKBWJHTRAYNV-UHFFFAOYSA-K 0.000 description 1
- 238000013507 mapping Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052987 metal hydride Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000000813 microbial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007935 neutral effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052759 nickel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N nickel Substances [Ni] PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000010943 off-gassing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012261 overproduction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003647 oxidation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007254 oxidation reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229930192851 perforin Natural products 0.000 description 1
- 230000000737 periodic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004382 potting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000644 propagated effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- QQONPFPTGQHPMA-UHFFFAOYSA-N propylene Natural products CC=C QQONPFPTGQHPMA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011160 research Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011347 resin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920005989 resin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009420 retrofitting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000565 sealant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004065 semiconductor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000035945 sensitivity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007493 shaping process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000344 soap Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007921 spray Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000006641 stabilisation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011105 stabilization Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000019635 sulfation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005670 sulfation reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000009897 systematic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 231100000331 toxic Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- 230000002588 toxic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007704 transition Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002834 transmittance Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003245 working effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21S2/00—Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21S8/00—Lighting devices intended for fixed installation
- F21S8/08—Lighting devices intended for fixed installation with a standard
- F21S8/085—Lighting devices intended for fixed installation with a standard of high-built type, e.g. street light
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21S8/00—Lighting devices intended for fixed installation
- F21S8/08—Lighting devices intended for fixed installation with a standard
- F21S8/085—Lighting devices intended for fixed installation with a standard of high-built type, e.g. street light
- F21S8/088—Lighting devices intended for fixed installation with a standard of high-built type, e.g. street light with lighting device mounted on top of the standard, e.g. for pedestrian zones
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21S9/00—Lighting devices with a built-in power supply; Systems employing lighting devices with a built-in power supply
- F21S9/02—Lighting devices with a built-in power supply; Systems employing lighting devices with a built-in power supply the power supply being a battery or accumulator
- F21S9/03—Lighting devices with a built-in power supply; Systems employing lighting devices with a built-in power supply the power supply being a battery or accumulator rechargeable by exposure to light
- F21S9/035—Lighting devices with a built-in power supply; Systems employing lighting devices with a built-in power supply the power supply being a battery or accumulator rechargeable by exposure to light the solar unit being integrated within the support for the lighting unit, e.g. within or on a pole
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21S9/00—Lighting devices with a built-in power supply; Systems employing lighting devices with a built-in power supply
- F21S9/04—Lighting devices with a built-in power supply; Systems employing lighting devices with a built-in power supply the power supply being a generator
- F21S9/043—Lighting devices with a built-in power supply; Systems employing lighting devices with a built-in power supply the power supply being a generator driven by wind power, e.g. by wind turbines
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21V14/00—Controlling the distribution of the light emitted by adjustment of elements
- F21V14/02—Controlling the distribution of the light emitted by adjustment of elements by movement of light sources
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21V29/00—Protecting lighting devices from thermal damage; Cooling or heating arrangements specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
- F21V29/50—Cooling arrangements
- F21V29/70—Cooling arrangements characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
- F21V29/71—Cooling arrangements characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks using a combination of separate elements interconnected by heat-conducting means, e.g. with heat pipes or thermally conductive bars between separate heat-sink elements
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21V29/00—Protecting lighting devices from thermal damage; Cooling or heating arrangements specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
- F21V29/50—Cooling arrangements
- F21V29/70—Cooling arrangements characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
- F21V29/74—Cooling arrangements characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks with fins or blades
- F21V29/76—Cooling arrangements characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks with fins or blades with essentially identical parallel planar fins or blades, e.g. with comb-like cross-section
- F21V29/763—Cooling arrangements characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks with fins or blades with essentially identical parallel planar fins or blades, e.g. with comb-like cross-section the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21V29/00—Protecting lighting devices from thermal damage; Cooling or heating arrangements specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
- F21V29/50—Cooling arrangements
- F21V29/70—Cooling arrangements characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
- F21V29/83—Cooling arrangements characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L31/00—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
- H01L31/04—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof adapted as photovoltaic [PV] conversion devices
- H01L31/052—Cooling means directly associated or integrated with the PV cell, e.g. integrated Peltier elements for active cooling or heat sinks directly associated with the PV cells
- H01L31/0521—Cooling means directly associated or integrated with the PV cell, e.g. integrated Peltier elements for active cooling or heat sinks directly associated with the PV cells using a gaseous or a liquid coolant, e.g. air flow ventilation, water circulation
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
- H02J7/34—Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering
- H02J7/35—Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering with light sensitive cells
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02S—GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES
- H02S40/00—Components or accessories in combination with PV modules, not provided for in groups H02S10/00 - H02S30/00
- H02S40/30—Electrical components
- H02S40/38—Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B47/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light sources in general, i.e. where the type of light source is not relevant
- H05B47/10—Controlling the light source
- H05B47/175—Controlling the light source by remote control
- H05B47/19—Controlling the light source by remote control via wireless transmission
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B47/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light sources in general, i.e. where the type of light source is not relevant
- H05B47/20—Responsive to malfunctions or to light source life; for protection
- H05B47/21—Responsive to malfunctions or to light source life; for protection of two or more light sources connected in parallel
- H05B47/22—Responsive to malfunctions or to light source life; for protection of two or more light sources connected in parallel with communication between the lamps and a central unit
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21S8/00—Lighting devices intended for fixed installation
- F21S8/08—Lighting devices intended for fixed installation with a standard
- F21S8/081—Lighting devices intended for fixed installation with a standard of low-built type, e.g. landscape light
- F21S8/083—Lighting devices intended for fixed installation with a standard of low-built type, e.g. landscape light of bollard type, i.e. with lighting fixture integrated into the standard or mounted on top of it and having substantially the same diameter
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21V21/00—Supporting, suspending, or attaching arrangements for lighting devices; Hand grips
- F21V21/02—Wall, ceiling, or floor bases; Fixing pendants or arms to the bases
- F21V21/03—Ceiling bases, e.g. ceiling roses
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21V23/00—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices
- F21V23/04—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices the elements being switches
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21W—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
- F21W2131/00—Use or application of lighting devices or systems not provided for in codes F21W2102/00-F21W2121/00
- F21W2131/10—Outdoor lighting
- F21W2131/103—Outdoor lighting of streets or roads
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED
- F21Y2115/00—Light-generating elements of semiconductor light sources
- F21Y2115/10—Light-emitting diodes [LED]
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W84/00—Network topologies
- H04W84/18—Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- Y02B20/00—Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps
- Y02B20/30—Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- Y02B20/00—Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps
- Y02B20/40—Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- Y02B20/00—Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps
- Y02B20/72—Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps in street lighting
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02D—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE
- Y02D30/00—Reducing energy consumption in communication networks
- Y02D30/70—Reducing energy consumption in communication networks in wireless communication networks
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
- Y02E10/50—Photovoltaic [PV] energy
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
- Y02E10/70—Wind energy
- Y02E10/76—Power conversion electric or electronic aspects
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E70/00—Other energy conversion or management systems reducing GHG emissions
- Y02E70/30—Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T29/00—Metal working
- Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
- Y10T29/49002—Electrical device making
Definitions
- the field of the invention is outdoor lighting or other electric-powered devices, and apparatus, hardware, and software for efficient-energy management of said lighting or devices. Aspects of the invention may be applied to an array of outdoor lighting or other electric-powered devices, wherein network apparatus, hardware, and software are provided for monitoring and managing said array, and, optionally, for analyzing information gathered from said array for dissemination to customers.
- the invention is an energy-efficient system comprising at least one outdoor light, powered by solar panels and/or batteries, and may include other electrically-powered devices.
- the invented energy management system actively manages the available energy and controls the power or energy delivered to the load, in ways that allow said light and/or other devices to effectively operate and serve the users even through low-sun-shine days, weeks, or months.
- the preferred adaptations actively control battery charging, and actively control power delivered to the load, in contrast to conventional control methods wherein the system is passively controlled by the load.
- the preferred embodiments protect the batteries of the system from draining below their low-end threshold, even when operating over extended periods of low-sunshine days, whereas the conventional control methods allow the load to draw more energy than is available in the storage system/battery and frequently result in the load “turning itself off” and in battery damage.
- the invented system may be applied to an array of outdoor lights, which array may be networked, preferably wirelessly, and which may comprise additional apparatus, hardware and/or software for monitoring and managing said array.
- the array comprises multiple outdoor lights that may operate mainly in an independent mode wherein sensing, communication, and control processes take place between the various lights of the array. Further communication and control may be provided between the array and a control station (or “headquarters”) by means of a master or “coordinating” node that transmits and receives signals to the control station via call phone and/or satellite.
- the system may be tied to the interne for dissemination of data and/or data analysis gathered by means of the multiple poles/devices of the array.
- the independent-array and/or the master-to-station network and communications may be adapted for energy-saving processes; power-receiving from or power-providing to the grid; renewable power production and storage by means of solar panels and/or wind turbines and associated batteries or other storage equipment; and/or to provide Wi-Fi hot-spots, public safety alarms, information, or advertising to the public or information/analysis to customers.
- An objective of the invention is to provide active control of the lighting system, comprising one or more lights, to result in energy-efficient lighting operation that remains operative and effective even through many cloudy days or inclement weather.
- An objective of the invention is to provide intelligent monitoring and control of outdoor lighting systems, and, preferably, of arrays of multiple lights wirelessly networked together.
- the preferred embodiments of these arrays are called “wireless intelligent outdoor lighting systems” (WIOLS) are adapted to operate in areas where there are no data communication lines available (i.e. no “hard-wired” system or “land-line”).
- WIOLS wireless intelligent outdoor lighting systems
- the preferred embodiments accept a virtually unlimited number of “nodes” or connection points of the components to be controlled, wherein the nodes are preferably connection points for lights but may be other electrical devices.
- the preferred embodiments are adapted to generate the power to operate the outdoor lighting system in remote areas either from nearby power sources such as the utility grid or from a renewable energy source.
- Such renewable energy sources including associated batteries, may be mounted on, or adjacent to, the outdoor lighting poles of the preferred embodiments.
- the outdoor lighting system shall allow for nodes to be added in the future, that is, after the initial system has been installed, and for these nodes to be automatically integrated to the network via “self-discovery” in which they are each assigned a unique location identification (ID).
- the self-discovery system, and assignment of location ID may be accomplished via a global positioning system (GPS) system tool that identifies the latitude and longitude of the node location.
- GPS global positioning system
- the system may have intelligence built-in to the array of lights or other components, for example, intelligence for energy-saving processes, energy-storage management, and grid-array cooperation, WI-FI and public-safety alarms, and advertising or information dissemination.
- Said intelligence built-in to the array allows and/or supplements the operation of the array in independent mode, wherein the intelligent processes take place between the nodes of the array rather than between each node and a control station.
- intelligence may be provided and controlled through an intelligent remote control station (“headquarters”) to execute intelligent activities in response to or in anticipation of events.
- Said intelligent remote control station may communicate to and control said array through preferably a single component/node of the array that is the single “master” or single “coordinating” node of the array.
- the control station may communicate with the coordinating component/node, and the coordinating component/node communicates to the multiple slave components/nodes of the array, rather than each component/node being controlled individually by the control station.
- the multiple slave components/nodes of the array are preferably connected to, and engage in two-way communication with, only the coordinating component/node, rather than each slave component/node being connected directly to, and communicating directly with, a control station.
- Embodiments of the invention may comprise lighting equipment, light poles, solar panels and/other renewable power production, energy storage equipment, and/or WIOLS equipment, and hardware, firmware, and/or software for said WIOLS network operation and preferably for active control of battery charging and energy delivery to lights or other loads.
- Preferred embodiments are described in the following Detailed Description, but it is to be understood that the invention may be embodied in many different ways within the broad scope of the claims, and the invention is not necessarily limited to these details, materials, designs, appearances, and/or specific interrelationships of the components.
- FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of a light pole system according to the invention, the light pole being anchored to a concrete base.
- FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment in FIG. 1 , with the decorative light fixture removed.
- FIG. 3 is top, cross-sectional view of the light pole of FIGS. 1 and 2 , viewed along the line 3 - 3 in FIG. 2 , and illustrating to best advantage one embodiment of an adjustable connection between the light pole and the concrete base, and one embodiment of a battery system provided in the lower section of the pole.
- FIG. 4 is a top, cross-sectional view of the battery compartment of FIG. 4 , shown with pole and sleeve access doors removed for access to the batteries.
- FIG. 5 is a top, cross-sectional view of an alternative battery compartment, without a sleeve and with a single access door through a side of the pole.
- FIG. 6 is a top, cross-sectional view of a middle section of the pole of FIGS. 1 and 2 , illustrating the preferred flexible amorphous photovoltaic panel applied to the outside of the pole, and a sleeve system for cooling the photovoltaic panel and allowing air flow to continue up to the LED light fixture.
- FIG. 7 is a top, cross-sectional view of the LED fixture of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 .
- FIG. 8 is a side, perspective view of the LED Fixture of FIGS. 1 , 2 , and 7 .
- FIG. 9 is a partial, cross-sectional side view of the bottom section of the light pole containing a cooling sleeve and one or more batteries, illustrating natural air flow up through the sleeve.
- the rain skirt has been removed from this embodiment.
- FIG. 10 is a side perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention, which comprises a portable light pole with LED fixture, said light pole being hinged to a portable base and so being pivotal from a generally horizontal position for transport or storage to a vertical position for use.
- FIG. 11 is a side, perspective view of another embodiment comprising a decorative light fixture at the top of the pole plus an arm and traffic light extending from the pole.
- FIG. 12 is a side, perspective view of another embodiment of the invented light pole system for use by a highway, wherein the battery system is buried in the ground instead of being contained inside the pole or inside the base, and wherein the pole may be a break-away pole, both features being for improved safety in the event of a vehicle hitting the pole.
- FIG. 13 is a schematic illustration of sunlight hitting the preferred vertical, amorphous photovoltaic panel adhered to the light pole, wherein morning and evening light hit the sheet at close to perpendicular to the sheet surface and the noon sunlight hits the sheet surface at an acute angle.
- FIG. 14 illustrates the common conception of power production (for example, watt-hours) vs. time that is expected to be produced from a light-active device over a day.
- FIG. 15 schematically illustrates the actual power produced (for example, watt-hours) vs. time, by embodiments of the invention, wherein power production from the morning and evening sun is higher than expected.
- the curve illustrates a power production increase from early morning until mid or late morning, and then a dip in production due top the sharp incident angle of sunlight around noon when the sun rays hit the pole at sharp angles to the photovoltaic panel.
- FIG. 16 schematically illustrates that the preferred photovoltaic panel is provided around most of the circumference of the pole, so that said panel is available and catches the suns rays during the entire day.
- FIG. 17 is a partial detail view of an alternative, especially-preferred lower pole vent, wherein air is taken in between the pole flange and the base, through spaces between the bolts that secure and raise the pole slightly above the base.
- FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an alternative solar-powered light system including a connection (shown schematically) to a utility grid.
- FIG. 19 is a schematic of one embodiment of a wireless mesh network according to the invention.
- FIGS. 20A-D are schematics of example network processes according to embodiments of the invention, wherein an event is raised and subsequently “passed along” to multiple poles that comprise the best connection pathway at the time, until the NOC coordinator pole (also called the “master node” or “coordinator pole/node”) communicates the event/information to headquarters (also called Network Operations Center or “NOC”).
- NOC coordinator pole also called the “master node” or “coordinator pole/node”
- headquarters also called Network Operations Center or “NOC”.
- FIG. 21 is a schematic of a “look-ahead” traffic lighting system according to one embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 22 is a schematic of one lighting unit that may be installed on a pole for one, but not the only, embodiment of a peak load delay energy conservation system, wherein said lighting unit does not comprise a solar panel due to the pole/unit's particular cooperative connection to the electric grid.
- pole/units that cooperate with the grid may also comprise a solar panel or other renewable energy source for generating energy.
- FIG. 23 is a schematic that portrays the general architecture of the preferred population of light poles and other device on or near the light poles and the preferred network according to one embodiment of the invention.
- the devices at the far left of the figure are devices powered by the solar engine; secure two-way communication is provided by the smart mesh from the far left to the far right of the figures and wide-area aggregation of data/information is performed by content services and provided to customers by the Network Operations Center (NOC) at the far right of the figure.
- NOC Network Operations Center
- FIG. 24 is a schematic that portrays various “layers” of the preferred embodiments of the invented array and network systems.
- FIG. 25 is a schematic that portrays an “Event Delivery Pipeline” according to one embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 26 is a schematic that portrays a “Device Management Pipeline” according to one embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 27 is a schematic portrayal of a “Light Delivery Stack” comprising reflection, generation, focusing, distribution, and shaping, with the result being light delivered “to the ground”.
- FIG. 28 is a schematic portrayal of modular approaches to solar-based electricity generation in embodiments of the invention.
- FIG. 29A is one embodiment of a collar that may be used to retrofit a pole with a solar-panel and energy storage. It may be noted that the solar panel is preferably flexible and may be installed on/incorporated into a flexible, semi-rigid, or even a rigid structure as desired for attachment to the pole.
- FIGS. 29B and C illustrate connection of the half-cylindrical retrofit collar onto an existing pole, wherein the solar PV panel is on the outside surface of the collar, the collar is mounted to the pole with the PV panel typically facing south in the northern hemisphere, and with wiring from the solar collar to the light fixture.
- FIG. 30 is a portrayal of one embodiment of an integral light unit, comprising solar collector fabric panel, LED light engine, battery pack and charger, controller/code unit(s) and modem, so that the entirely or substantially self-contained (“integral”) unit may be attached to a pole without modification of the pole or insertion of apparatus into the pole.
- integral light unit comprising solar collector fabric panel, LED light engine, battery pack and charger, controller/code unit(s) and modem, so that the entirely or substantially self-contained (“integral”) unit may be attached to a pole without modification of the pole or insertion of apparatus into the pole.
- FIG. 31A-C are views of the preferred, but not the only, invented LED module, shown with mounting bracket, wherein multiple of said modules are used to form an LED engine.
- FIGS. 32 A-D are views of multiple of the LED modules of FIGS. 31A-C arrangement on a plate/baffle for pointing in one direction or multiple different directions (here, shown pointing in three directions) and for installation in a lighting fixture.
- FIGS. 33 A-E illustrates the plate with multiple LED modules of FIGS. 32 A-D installed into a square “shoe-box-style” light fixture.
- FIGS. 34 and 35 illustrate basic logic flow diagrams of some embodiments of the active lighting control process, including error/alert indication processes.
- FIG. 36 schematically summarizes the operation of the preferred active control system according to embodiments of the invention.
- FIG. 37 is a schematic wiring diagram of the preferred active control system.
- FIGS. 38 and 39 are side views of the preferred solar-powered pole assembly, with an amorphous photovoltaic panel “wrapped” around the round pole, and with a shoe-box-style LED-module luminaire supported at the top of the pole.
- FIG. 40 is a plot of the preferred battery charging control process of the active control system.
- FIG. 41 is a plot of battery voltage vs. remaining amp-hours, used in preferred embodiments of the active control system.
- FIG. 42 is a plot of the current/voltage curve and the power output curve (watts vs. volts) for the preferred charge controller using Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) technology/algorithms, to transfer maximum power to batteries even though PV array and batteries are operating at different volts.
- MPPT Maximum Power Point Tracking
- FIG. 43 is a perspective view of the preferred LED module, removed from any attachment bracket and containing four of the preferred LEDs.
- FIG. 44 is a plot of expected lifetime vs. junction temperature plot for the preferred LEDs contained in the module of FIG. 42 , wherein the preferred LEDs operate close to the 350 mAmp curve for an expected life of over 50,000 hours, and probably approximately 60,000 hours.
- FIG. 45A-C are bottom views (looking up from the ground) of three alternative LED modules arrangements, wherein a number of the LED modules of FIG. 43 may be chosen, arranged, and tilted in various ways, to achieve a desired lighting pattern.
- FIG. 46 is a plot of luminaire power vs. time, in a normal operating mode for the preferred outdoor lighting system, wherein the preferred active control system turns the light on to full power at dusk for a predetermined amount of time, then dims the light, except for motion-detection events, and the raised light power to full-on for a predetermined amount of time before dawn.
- This normal operation mode saves energy compared to conventional lighting controls, wherein the light is on all night, and may be further modified according to energy-savings modes that further reduce/control luminaire and other peripheral power.
- FIG. 47 is a schematic example of the normal operating mode of FIG. 46 (N1), and example further modifications (E1, E2) for further energy savings. Details of E1 and E2 are given later in this document.
- FIG. 48 is a schematic of an example of load-shedding, which may be required for further energy savings, if dimming of the light is not sufficient to protect the batteries and operability of the system.
- FIG. 49 is a plot of photovoltaic cell efficiency vs. time, for many types of PV cells, wherein the preferred PV material is shown to be in the range of 12-16 percent efficiency, and typically 13%.
- FIG. 50 is a plot of test data from a solar-powered pole operating without any tie to the grid, wherein the light met lighting needs through many weeks of sky cover (clouds, overcast) in a safe range for the batteries.
- FIGS. 51A and B are a plot (split onto two sheets) of operation of six solar-powered poles, without any tie to the grid, operating according to an embodiment of the active control system, wherein the poles successfully met lighting needs through many weeks of low sunshine days, even through January, when the light poles met said lighting needs by being dimmed according to energy-savings modes described later in this document.
- FIGS. 1-18 portray some, but not the only, embodiments of solar-powered light poles and lights that may form a “population” of poles for arrays and networks and/or be implemented as single or multiple, non-networked lighting poles.
- FIGS. 19-33E schematically portray some, but not the only, embodiments of arrays of outdoor lighting and other powered devices that are preferably managed as embodiments of the invented wireless intelligent outdoor lighting system (WIOLS) and that are preferably autonomous in that they may be operated at least part of the time by power other than the electrical grid. Included in FIGS.
- WIOLS wireless intelligent outdoor lighting system
- FIGS. 34-51B are portrayals of method steps, programming, and apparatus for the preferred outdoor lighting system that is actively controlled to achieve surprising results even over extended periods of cloudy and overcast winter days.
- FIGS. 34-51B are portrayals of method steps, programming, and apparatus for the preferred outdoor lighting system that is actively controlled to achieve surprising results even over extended periods of cloudy and overcast winter days.
- 34-51B include examples of the results achieved with the preferred embodiments of active control, even while using a photovoltaic cell material that is nominally low-efficiency when compared to many non-amorphous PV cell materials, but that is very effective in cloudy or overcast (“shady”) environments.
- Preferred embodiments utilize a cooling system that may greatly increase battery life and efficiency of the entire system.
- Preferred embodiments also utilize efficient, versatile LED light fixtures that may be used for all or nearly all street light styles without the need to separately engineer LED fixtures for each lamp/fixture style desired by the public, government, or neighborhood.
- Preferred embodiments have a visually-integrated appearance, preferably without flat panels of solar cells, and preferably with minimal or no unaesthetic protuberances and exposed equipment.
- the preferred solar-powered outdoor lighting utilizes a photovoltaic panel(s), for example amorphous photovoltaic laminate (PVL), and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to produce light, over a several-night period even during inclement, cloudy, or overcast weather conditions.
- the invention comprises a light pole having a vertical portion covered by a flexible photovoltaic panel for being contacted by sunlight, and an LED light fixture powered by said photovoltaic panel via a battery or other energy storage device.
- the preferred flexible panel is a sheet of amorphous thin-film photovoltaic material(s) surrounding a significant portion of the circumference of the pole at least in one region along the length of the pole, and, preferably along the majority of the length of the pole.
- the light pole is specially-adapted for cooling of the photovoltaic panel and the batteries contained within the pole, if any.
- the pole also may be specially-adapted for cooling the LED light fixture. Said cooling is important for achieving the high efficiencies of power production and storage, over long equipment lives, as exhibiting by the preferred embodiments
- the preferred light pole may be similar in exterior appearance to conventional light poles, in that the pole profile is generally smooth and of generally the same or similar diameter all the way along the length of the pole.
- the photovoltaic panel fits snugly against the pole outer surface and requires no brackets, racks or other protruding structure.
- the LED fixture is at or near the top of the pole, is generally a vertical cylinder of the same or similar diameter as the pole, and may be convectively cooled by air flow up through the pole.
- This “in-pole” style of LED fixture eliminates the need for the difficult engineering task of adapting the many common styles of outdoor light fixtures to use LEDs. Further, because the preferred battery system is concealed either inside the pole, inside a base holding the pole, or buried below the grade level of the ground or street, there is no need for a large box or protruding battery structure on or near the pole.
- a conventional-looking lighting fixture may be provided in addition to the preferred LED fixture.
- Said conventional-looking lighting fixture may extend horizontally or from atop the pole, and may be purely decorative, or may have a minimal or token light-emitting device therein.
- Such a decorative light fixture may more easily meet with approval from the public and/or may blend in with traditional street lights that remain in an area.
- the single LED light-producing section may be engineered and installed, while preserving various aesthetic options for the city, county, or neighborhood and/or while allowing the new solar-powered lights to “blend in” with the street lights already in place.
- the decorative light fixtures may be light-weight and designed to break-away in high winds or storms, thus minimizing the damage to the pole, surrounding property, and/or people.
- the array of LEDs emit light from at least three and preferably four generally vertical sides of the fixture.
- the LED light fixture may emit light out in patterns extending 180 degrees-360 degrees around the fixture, for example.
- the LED fixture comprises heat exchange or other cooling means in order to lower the temperature of the LEDs and the associated equipment.
- fixtures may have adjustable-direction LED modules that may be directed to emit light in various directions for fine-tuning to desired light patterns.
- an outdoor light pole having the features described above, is provided on, and hinged to, a portable base.
- the battery system may be located in, and provide additional weight for, the base.
- the solar-powered outdoor lighting system is connected to the utility grid, so that the photovoltaic panel may provide energy to the grid during peak-demand daylight hours, and so that, if needed or desired, low cost night-time electricity may be provided by the grid to the outdoor lighting system, to power the light and/or charge batteries.
- batteries or other storage devices are provided that may also be charged during the daylight hours, for providing power to the lighting system during the night hours, and/or providing power to the lighting system in the event of a grid failure or natural catastrophe that interrupts grid power supply.
- venting and/or air channels are provided in the pole to allow cooling by natural convection air flow through the pole and the light fixture.
- heating equipment may be provided in one or areas of the pole to protect equipment and/or enhance operation during extreme cold.
- FIG. 1 portrays one embodiment of a solar-powered street light 10 , comprising a pole 12 with a panel 14 of thin-film photovoltaic material attached thereto.
- the panel 14 is preferably selected from commercially-available amorphous silicon (non-crystalline) photovoltaic materials that produce electrical energy when exposed to sunlight.
- One source of material for the panel 14 is Uni-Solar (United Solar Ovonic), which flexible, non-framed laminates that may be used in embodiments of the invention, under the name of UNI-SOLAR® “solar laminates” or “photovoltaic laminates.”
- photovoltaic laminates such as the UNI-SOLAR solar laminates are preferred
- thin-film light-active materials being developed, or to be developed in the future, may be used in embodiments of the invention, wherein said materials being developed or to be developed may be used in the place of the panel 14 described herein.
- photovoltaic material may be applied directly to the pole 12 in the form of a liquid having components that later polymerize or “set up” on the pole and retain the photovoltaic material on said pole.
- the flexible photovoltaic panels described herein may be provided as a flexible sheet attached to the pole, or as other thin-film materials applied to the pole and taking the form of the pole, that is, preferably curving at least 180 degrees around the pole, and, more preferably, at least 225 degrees around the pole.
- the panel 14 preferably is a thin, flexible sheet that is preferably adhered to the pole by adhesive.
- the panel 14 may be a single, continuous sheet with “self-stick” adhesive on a rear surface, and that, upon peeling off of a protective backing, may be directly applied to the pole.
- the integral adhesive makes attachment of the panel 14 simple and inexpensive. No bracket, rack, covering, casing, or guard is needed over or around the preferred panel, and this simplicity of attachment preserves the aesthetics of the preferred slim and smooth profile of the pole. Less-preferably, multiple, separate panels may be adhesively applied to the post 12 and operatively connected.
- the preferred panel 14 extends continuously around the pole along a significant amount of the circumference (preferably at least 225 degrees and more preferably about 270 degrees) of the pole in order to be directly exposed to sunlight all through the daylight hours. As illustrated in FIGS. 13-16 , this coverage of the pole will expose the panel 14 to the suns rays generally from sunrise to sunset, in order to maximize solar-power generation.
- the panel 14 preferably covers 1 ⁇ 2-3 ⁇ 4 of the length of the pole, extending from its upper edge 20 at a location near the top of the pole to its lower edge 22 several feet above the base 24 supporting the pole. It is preferred that the lower edge 22 be high enough from the ground or street level that passers-by or vandals cannot easily reach the panel 14 to cut, pry off, or otherwise damage the panel.
- connection of the pole 12 to the base 24 may be clone in various ways, each typically being adjustable so that, at the time of installation, the pole may be turned to orient the panel 14 optimally to catch sunlight through the day.
- the adjustable connection shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 to best advantage, includes a pole base flange 26 having multiple, curved slots 28 through which bolts extend, so that the bolts may be tightened to secure the pole to the base 24 after the pole is rotated to the desired orientation.
- the connection of the decorative light fixture ( 50 , discussed below), may also be adjustable, so that, given any orientation of the pole, the decorative light fixture may be secured/tightened to point in the desired direction, for example, over a street or sidewalk.
- the main, or only, light-producing unit of the preferred street light 10 is a light-emitting diode (LED) fixture at or near the top of the pole 12 .
- the preferred LED fixture 40 has a cylindrical outer surface and is coaxial with, and of generally the same diameter as, the upper end of the pole 12 .
- This LED fixture may emit light out in a 360 degree pattern, or, may be adapted by LED and/or reflector placement and shape to emit various patterns of light as needed for a particular setting.
- the decorative light fixture 50 is portrayed in FIG. 1 as a box-style fixture on a horizontal aim, but may be other fixtures
- the decorative light fixture 50 comprises a housing 52 and connecting arm 54 that are the same or similar to conventional fixtures.
- the decorative light fixture 50 has no internal or external workings to produce light, no bulb and no wiring, as the fixture 50 is merely a “token” or “fake” light fixture simulating the appearance that the public is used to.
- the decorative light 50 may have a conventional lens that contributes to the fixture looking normal during the day.
- Alternative decorative light fixtures may be provided, for example, a “gas lamp” glass globe that extends up coaxially from the LED fixture 40 , or a curved-arm with conical housing 60 as shown in FIG. 12 .
- a decorative fixture may make the overall appearance of the street light 10 more desirable for the public or the governmental/transportation agency installing and maintaining the street light 10 . This may make the overall appearance of the street light 10 match or complement pre-existing fixtures or the style or desires of a neighborhood. Having a decorative light fixture 50 may be reassuring and comforting to the public, as they will automatically recognize the street light 10 as a light for public safety, rather than worrying that the structure is an antenna or transmitter, surveillance structure, or some other undesirable structure in the their neighborhood, for example.
- the decorative light fixture 50 may be adapted to provide some light output, for example, a single LED or other minimal light source to further enhance the aesthetics of the street light 10 .
- a minimal light source will light the interior of the housing and/or the fixture lens, to prevent the decorative fixture from appearing to be burnt-out, and to suggest to passers-by that the fixture 50 is indeed providing light as is customary and comfortable for the public.
- said decorative light fixture 50 may comprise said minimal light source, it is preferred that the LED light fixture provide at least 80 percent, and preferably at least 90 percent, of the light from the system 10 , 10 ′.
- FIG. 2 illustrates the light pole in use with the decorative, non-lighting or minimally-lighting fixture 50 removed, in which form the street light 10 ′ is fully functional for providing the desired amount of light for the street or neighborhood by means of the LED fixture 40 .
- This version of street light 10 ′ has, therefore, no significant protrusions from its elongated, vertical structure, and has a slim, sleek appearance that, over time, may become preferred for many settings.
- FIG. 3 illustrates the adjustable connection of the pole 12 to the base 24 , and shows the internals, in cross-section, of the storage system 60 with batteries 62 stored in the lower section 64 of the pole and operatively connected to the panel 14 .
- the batteries 62 store the energy provided by the solar panel during the day or previous days, and power the LED fixture 40 during the night.
- the battery system is adapted to store enough energy to power, when fully charged, the LED fixture 40 for several nights with little or no additional charging and without any outside energy input.
- the battery system preferably stores enough energy to power the LED fixture for at least 5 nights and, more preferably, 5-9 nights equating to at least 50 hours, and preferably about 50-100 hours or more depending upon the number of hours in a night.
- the street light 10 , 10 ′ is capable of autonomously illuminating (that is, with only the energy provided by the stored energy from solar collection) the surroundings for several, and preferably at least 5 nights, even when the light 10 , 10 ′ is located in an overcast, inclement, hazy or smoggy location, all of which conditions will diminish the intensity of the daytime sun hitting the panel 14 .
- the large amount of energy stored in the batteries during days of clearer weather is sufficient to “carry the light through” cloudy and inclement weather for about a week, until improved sunlight conditions return.
- the preferred amorphous thin-film panel 14 is more shade-tolerant than conventional crystalline solar cells, and is therefore expected to be more efficient and effective than banks or racks of crystalline solar cells.
- the light 10 ′′ may be tied to the utility grid, for example, for providing power to the grid during the day and preferably also charging batteries during the day, and then receiving less expensive power from the grid during the night and/or also receiving power from the batteries as a supplemental/backup power source.
- connection to the grid is shown schematically as G 1 (underground) or G 2 (above-ground) and one of skill in the art, given the disclosure herein, will understand how to build, install, and manage said connections. Especially beneficial management of said connections, preferably of an array of lights/poles, to the grid has been invented and is discussed below.
- a grid-tied embodiment that also has battery storage capability may provide the benefit of supplementing the grid during peak electricity-usage hours, while also being capable of being autonomous (independent of the grid) operation in the event of disaster or other grid outage.
- an inverter and control and measurement systems G 3 in FIG. 18 ) will be added, for example, inside the pole, to cooperate with the utility grid and measure and record the system's energy contribution to the grid.
- Controllers are provided to manage charging of the batteries and delivery of energy to the lighting system and/or other components.
- Control of the operative connection between the batteries 62 and panel 14 and the operative connection between the batteries and the LED fixture 40 and other components may be done by electronics, circuitry, and/or semiconductors, for example, control board 80 shown in FIG. 7 .
- the controller(s) preferably continually monitor(s) battery voltage and temperature to determine battery health, to improve both battery performance and life. As further described later in this document, said controller(s) preferably control the speed and the amount that the batteries are charged and discharged, which can significantly affect battery life.
- the batteries of the preferred embodiments are expected to exhibit longer lives, and better performance, than prior art batteries installed in solar-powered light systems.
- a first controller function delivers a low-current (trickle) charge from the solar collector panel 14 to the batteries. This controller also preferably limits the maximum voltage to a voltage that will not damage or degrade the battery/batteries.
- a second controller function draws current from the battery/batteries and delivers it to the LED fixture and other electric device(s) requiring power from the batteries. The minimum battery voltage is also protected by the controller to prevent excess battery drain.
- the controller(s) may dim the lights during part or all of the night to reduce the amount of energy being consumed while still providing some lighting of the surroundings.
- the controller(s) may turn the light on based on a signal from a photocell and/or a motion sensor, and off with a timeclock, for example.
- the controller system(s) may comprise computer logic, memory, timers, ambient light sensors, transmitters, receivers, and/or data recording and/or output means.
- Said controller systems may comprise only electronics and apparatus to operate the single light 10 , 10 ′ in which it resides, or may additionally comprise electronics and apparatus that communicate with a central control station and/or with other street lights.
- Said communication is preferably accomplished wirelessly, for example, by means of a “multiple-node” or “mesh” network via cell-phone radio or satellite communication, as will be discussed in more detail later in this document.
- Such a network of multiple street lights (“multiple poles”) and a central control station may allow monitoring, and/or control of, the performance of individual lights and groups of lights, for example, the lights on a particular street or in a particular neighborhood or parking lot. Such performance monitoring and/or control may enhance public safety and improve maintenance and reduce the cost of said maintenance.
- a central control station may take the form of, or be supplemented by, a server accessible via an internet website, for example.
- the entire system for storing and using energy preferably uses only direct current (DC). Benefits of this include that LED lights use DC energy; the DC system is low-voltage, easy to install and maintain, and does not require a licensed electrician; and energy is not lost in conversion from DC to AC.
- DC direct current
- the preferred batteries are sealed lead-acid AGM-type batteries or gel-cell batteries, nickel metal hydride batteries, or lithium batteries, for example. It is desirable to maintain the batteries 62 within a moderate temperature range, for example, 40-90 degrees F. as exposure of the batteries to temperatures outside that range will tend to degrade battery performance and life. Daily battery performance may be reduced by more than 50 percent by cold weather, and batteries may stop working entirely in very low temperatures. Further, high temperatures tend to also degrade battery performance and life.
- the batteries 62 are supported in a bracket(s) 66 and surrounded on multiple sides by insulation 68 for protecting the batteries from cold weather, preferably to help keep the batteries above about 40 degrees F.
- said insulated batteries, and/or the bracket system supporting them are connected to and contained inside a cooling sleeve 70 that is beneficial in hot weather, preferably to keep the batteries below about 90 degrees F.
- the cooling sleeve 70 is concentric with, and the same general shape as the wall of the pole 12 .
- the sleeve 70 is of smaller diameter compared to the pole, for example, 2-4 inches smaller diameter, forming an annular air flow space 72 inside the pole along the length of the lower section 64 of the pole.
- Said vents 74 , and the open top of the flow space 72 that preferably communicates with the LED light fixture 40 are examples of at least one lower pole vent and at least one upper pole vent adapted for ventilation of at least a portion of the pole by natural convection up through said at least one portion of the pole.
- the flow space 72 or alternative internal spaces for draft up the pole, communicates with the LED light fixture, but alternative ventilation systems may be independent from the LED light fixture. Referring to FIG. 17 , there is shown another, alternative lower pole vent.
- the lower pole vent of FIG. 17 is provided (instead of vents 74 ) by providing spaces around the flange of the pole 12 ′ by virtue of the flange being spaced from the base 24 by a bolt system that may be used to level the flange (make the pole vertical) on a base on uneven ground.
- the bottom end of the pole 12 ′ has a bottom end opening (not shown) into which the air flows (instead of flowing into vents 74 ), and said bottom end opening is in fluid communication with the annular space 72 or other interior axial spaces inside the pole for creating the ventilation draft described elsewhere in this disclosure.
- FIG. 5 an alternative battery system 80 is shown, wherein no cooling sleeve is provided, but air may flow up through the battery section through axial spaces 82 around the batteries 62 .
- Insulation 68 is preferably provided at and near the pole inner surface and extending most of the way to the batteries 62 , however, with the exception of the axial spaces 82 that provide channels for air flow up through the system 80 .
- FIGS. 4 and 5 both have access doors systems 76 , 86 that allow insertion, maintenance, and removal of the batteries 62 from the lower section 64 .
- the access door system of FIG. 4 comprises both a door 77 in the pole and a door 78 in the sleeve 70 .
- the sleeve door 78 of FIG. 4 may be insulated, so that the batteries are surrounded circumferentially by insulation, or, in alternative embodiments the sleeve door 78 may be un-insulated or even eliminated.
- the access door system 86 of FIG. 5 comprises only a door in the pole, and is insulated, so that the batteries are surrounded circumferentially by insulation.
- Other bracket, insulation, and door configurations may be effective, as will be understood by one of skill in the art after reading this disclosure.
- FIG. 6 illustrates the internal structure of the middle section 90 of the pole 12 , wherein the flexible panel 14 is wrapped and adhered to the pole outer surface.
- the preferred pole is a hollow, straight (or right) cylinder, and the preferred panel 14 is applied continuously around at least 225 degrees of the pole, so that sunlight “collection” is maximized.
- other pole shapes may be effective if the corners are rounded to allow the panel 14 to bend gently around said corners.
- a square, rectangular, or polygonal pole, with rounded corners may be effective, with the panel 14 still being provided in a single panel, and not needing to be held in brackets or frames on the various flat sides of the poles.
- an axially-extending sleeve 92 Inside the middle section 90 of the pole 12 is an axially-extending sleeve 92 , which creates an annular space 94 that extends through the entire middle section 90 .
- This annular space 94 fluidly communicates with the annular air flow space 72 , or other air flow spaces 82 of the lower section 64 , so that air vents from the lower section 64 through space 94 of the middle section 90 and to the LED fixture 40 , as further described below. Ventilation by air flow up through the middle section 90 of the pole keeps the inner surface of the panel 14 cooler than the outer surface that is “collecting” the sun light. This may be important for efficient operation of the solar panel 14 , to maintain a temperature gradient between the higher temperature outer surface and the cooler inner surface of the panel.
- the pole middle section 90 may be made without a sleeve 92 , in which the hollow interior of the pole might serve in place of space 94 as the air vent chimney in fluid communication with spaces 72 or 82 and the LED fixture.
- the middle section 90 may house long-term energy storage 100 comprising capacitors, fuel cells and/or a hydrogen storage tank, for example.
- Capacitors would have the advantage that they would not be as affected by heat and cold as are batteries. Typically, capacitors would have longer lives than batteries, for example, up to about 20 years, compared to 2-5 years for batteries.
- Fuel cells could be used for applications that require longer autonomy than 5 days.
- the fuel cell and hydrogen storage tank could be integrated into the middle section 90 or lower section 64 of the pole, or into the base or an underground container. Venting similar to that required for the battery system would be required for off-gassing.
- FIGS. 7 and 8 portray transverse cross-section, and side perspective, views, respectively, of the preferred LED fixture 40 positioned above the middle section 90 of the pole.
- the fixture is preferably cylindrical and longer axially than it is in diameter.
- the fixture 40 is preferably the same diameter as the pole middle section, and comprises preferably a constant or nearly-constant-diameter housing 142 .
- the housing 142 is substantially hollow with an open bottom end 144 in fluid communication with the middle section 90 and a closed upper end 146 . Vents 148 are provided near the upper end 146 to allow air that flows up through the pole 12 to pass through the fixture 40 and then exit at or near the top of the fixture.
- Open bottom end 144 and vents 148 may be considered examples of a lower vent and an upper vent adapted for ventilation of said light fixture by natural convection up through the light fixture.
- Other venting systems comprising at least one lower vent and at least one upper vent may be used, including, but not necessary limited to, systems that utilize upwards draft from/through at least portions of the pole to create/enhance ventilation of the LED light fixture.
- LEDs are smaller, more efficient, longer-lasting, and less expensive. LEDs use less energy than other light sources to provide the necessary lighting desired for a street light. LED may last up to 100,000 hours, or up to 10 times longer than other lighting sources, which makes LEDs last the life of the pole and the entire light system in general, especially when said LEDs are housing and cooled by the apparatus of the preferred embodiments.
- LED lights 150 are arranged around the entire, or at least a significant portion of the, circumference of fixture 40 .
- LED's are arranged in multiple vertical column units 155 , and said column units 155 are spaced around the circumference of the fixture 40 to point LED light out from the fixture 360 degrees around the fixture.
- LED's may be provided around only part of the circumference of the fixture, for example, only around 180 degrees of the fixture to shine light generally forward and to the sides, but not toward the back.
- Six of the LED column units 155 are provided, each with five LEDs, but more or fewer units and LEDs may be effective.
- Reflectors 154 are provided on some or all sides of each LED and may be positioned and slanted to reflect light outward and preferably slightly downward as needed for a particular environment.
- the preferred arrangement of LEDs results in their being, in effect, columns and rows of LEDs.
- each LED column unit 155 At the back of each LED column unit 155 are located cooling fins 160 , protruding into the hollow interior space 162 of the housing 142 for exposure to air flowing upward from the middle section. Heat exchange from the fins and adjacent equipment to the flowing air cools each unit 155 , to remove much of the heat produced from the LED's. This heat exchange is desired to keep the LED's in the range of about 20-80 degrees, F and, more preferably, in the range of 30-80 degrees F. LED performance and life are typically optimal when operated at approximately 30 degrees F., but a range of operation temperature (for example, 20-80 degrees F.) may be tolerated due to the inherent long lives of LEDs.
- control board 80 In the center of the fixture in FIG. 7 , one may see an example control board 80 , as discussed previously.
- other equipment may be provided inside the fixture 40 , extending through to or on the outside of the fixture 40 , or in/on stem 166 or the rain cap C at the top of the fixture 40 .
- Such equipment may include, for example, a camera and/or recorder for a security system, wireless network radio, antenna, motion sensor, and/or photocell. If provided on the outside, it is desirable to have such equipment consistent with the contour/shape of the fixture, for example, to be flush with, or to protrude only slightly from, the housing 142 outer surface.
- control boards 80 and other equipment, if any, located inside the fixture 40 may be cooled by the upwardly-flowing air inside the fixture, in some embodiments, or, in other embodiments, may need to be insulated from their surroundings, depending on the heat balance in the LED fixture.
- FIG. 9 portrays air being pulled into the lower section of the pole through slits 74 and continuing to flow up past the batteries and up through the pole, by natural convection.
- the entire pole 12 will preferably be ventilated and designed to create an upward draft of air through the pole 12 .
- This air flow cools the battery section and the LEDs, for improved operation and greater efficiency.
- the air flow may cool the circuit board and any other equipment that may be provided in LED fixture, depending on the heat balance in the fixture, or said circuit board and other equipment may need to be insulated to keep the LEDs from heating them beyond desirable temperatures.
- heating equipment may be provided in one or areas of the pole to protect equipment and/or enhance operation during extreme cold.
- Cable or film heating means may be effective, and may be controlled by a thermal sensor and controller.
- FIG. 10 portrays an alternative embodiment of the invention, which is a portable, pivotal outdoor light 200 .
- Light 200 comprises a pole with attached flexible panel 14 of amorphous thin-film photovoltaic material, LED fixture 40 at the top of the pole, and a heavy but portable base 224 that is neither connected to, nor buried in, the ground.
- the pole is hinged at 226 to the base 224 , for tilt-up installation at the use site.
- a lock (not shown) may secure the pole in the upending position until it is desired to remove and move the portable light 200 to storage or another location.
- Batteries may be provided in the portable base 224 .
- FIG. 11 portrays an alternative embodiment 300 that includes a traffic light as well as a street light.
- the pole 12 , panel 14 , base 24 , LED fixture 40 , and decorative fixture 50 are the same or similar to those described above for the embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2 .
- An arm 302 extends from the middle section of the pole, to a position over a street intersection, for example.
- a traffic light 304 hangs from the arm 302 , and is powered by the solar-powered system already described for the other embodiments.
- a control board and/or other apparatus and electronics will be provided to control the traffic light, in accordance with programs and instructions either programmed into the circuitry/memory of the embodiment 300 and/or received from a control network and/or central control station.
- FIG. 12 portrays a break-away, road-side outdoor light 400 embodiment, which has its battery system 402 buried in a vault in the ground rather than being in the lower section of the pole.
- the electrical connection between the batteries and the panel, the batteries and the LED fixture extend underground.
- the rest of the light 400 is the same or similar as the embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2 , except that the lower section does not contain batteries, and the decorative light is a different one of many possible styles.
- the lower section of the pole may have a sleeve for encouraging draft and air flow up to the LED fixture, but does not need to contain brackets for batteries.
- An access door may be provided, for example, to check on or maintain wiring or connections that may be reachable from the lower section.
- Adaptations such as break-away bolts, are provided to allow the pole to break-away when hit by a vehicle, as is required for many highway lights. Having the battery system buried in the ground enhances safety because vehicles will not crash into the full mass of the pole plus base plus battery system. Alternatively, batteries could be located in a buried base, to which the pole may be bolted.
- the pole may be steel or aluminum, and may have rust resistant coatings applied for extending underground.
- FIGS. 13-16 illustrate the improved efficiency and effectiveness of the preferred embodiments of the invention.
- Sunlight hits the flexible amorphous panel 14 from all directions on its path “across the sky.”
- the preferred continuous panel around at least 225 degrees of the pole circumference and along a substantial amount of the length of the pole, provides a large target that the sunlight hits “straight on” as much as is possible.
- the preferred cylindrical shape of the pole, and, hence, of the panel provides a curved target that catches light from dawn to dusk.
- the preferred outdoor light embodiments are what may be called “visually integrated,” as they contain a great amount of operational capability inside and on a sleek, slim, and generally conventional-looking pole and installation.
- the preferred outdoor light embodiments do not include any flat-panel or framed solar cells.
- the pole has few if any protrusions, except for the optional rain shirt S which may be designed in many non-obtrusive ways, and an optional rain cap C that also may be designed in non-obtrusive ways.
- said decorative light fixture may be considered a protrusion, but one that is expected and conventional-appearing.
- Most or all of the pole and its associated equipment, except for the decorative light preferably varies only about 20 or less percent from the constant or substantially-constant diameter of the main (middle) section of the pole.
- the attachment of the preferred flexible amorphous light-active panel, or light-active materials of the future, is done simply and without racks, brackets, frames, and other complex or protruding material.
- the panel appears to simply be the side of the pole, for example, a painted or coated section of the pole wall.
- the preferred pole is a straight cylinder (with a constant diameter all along the middle section of the pole) that may be painted a dark color like black to match or blend with the dark color of the panel.
- the panel is not an ugly or strange-looking structure that would irritate the public, customers, or property owners who desire an aesthetically pleasing lighting system, and the panel does not have a high-tech appearance that might attract v vandals or pranksters.
- some embodiments of the invention may comprise the preferred LED fixture by itself and/or the preferred LED fixture in use with supports and equipment other than those shown herein. Also, some embodiments of the invention may comprise the preferred solar-powered pole by itself and/or connected to and powering equipment not comprising any light source, powering non-LED lights, and/or powering equipment other than is shown herein.
- WIOLS Wireless Intelligent Outdoor Lighting System
- Preferred embodiments preferably comprise at least one, and preferably multiple, separate wireless independent networks, which each preferably comprise multiple “slave” devices and at least one “master” (also called “coordinating” device).
- Each wireless independent network comprises individual slave devices at a plurality of node locations that “talk” to each other via a mesh network.
- the preferred slave devices of the network are primarily outdoor lighting devices with wireless communication capability, although other wireless and electrical devices may be included in the network.
- Each of the slave devices is equipped with a wireless modem that communicates with adjacent nodes/slave devices. The range of each device reaches nodes at least two devices away in order to allow for the system to remain operational even if one node is lost or otherwise fails in any way.
- Each of these devices is called a “slave” device, because each depends on other nodes/devices to pass information back & forth.
- the preferred single master (coordinating) device of each mesh network communicates via wireless modem to all of its “slave” devices.
- the mesh network allows for both self-discovery and bridging the gap when any given node is “lost” for any reason.
- the master device has a radio in it (either cell or satellite), which communicates the monitoring and control information to the control station.
- the master device may comprise an outdoor lighting device and/or other wireless and electrical devices. See, for example, FIGS. 19 and 20 A-D that illustrate multiple, but by no means all, of possible arrangements for a master-slave mesh network for wireless, preferably autonomous light systems, which lighting systems may also comprise additional powered equipment, such as alarms public service displays, WI-FI hot-spots, etc., as discussed elsewhere in this document.
- the control station has a connection to the internet so that the system can be both monitored and controlled from anywhere with internet access.
- the control station is connected to a main server that contains the web site for connection to the internet. If any given node fails, that information (a “trouble” signal) is passed on thru the network to the control station so that it can be addressed.
- the wireless network can be simplified by use of LED's or lasers that can be modulated for communication.
- Simple photodetectors can be used in conjunction with the LED's or lasers for purposes of detecting an object in the area that interrupts the communication (via LED's or lasers) between adjacent nodes or devices, that is, typically between adjacent poles.
- the wireless intelligent outdoor lighting system may comprise anticipating the direction to be traveled by an object or human.
- Motion sensors on the WIOLS along a road can detect the direction that a vehicle is traveling and light the next few neighboring lights in the direction of the traveling vehicle (while leaving other lights off or dimmed). At intersections, lights in any viable direction for travel are lit until the vehicle has begun travel along a particular route from that intersection, at which time the lights ahead of that vehicle light up while the other routes dim or are turned off.
- motion sensors on the WIOLS can detect the direction that a person is traveling and light the poles in the direction that the person is moving, or create some other illumination pattern that promotes safety, alertness, or other desirable goals.
- the motion sensors in/on poles A and B allow the intelligent network to determine the direction and speed of travel.
- Lights A and B are immediately illuminated.
- Lights C and G are illuminated ahead of the vehicle, lighting its way ahead of its path of travel.
- lights D and G are illuminated, anticipating the direction of travel along one of the two streets. If the vehicle turns and begins to travel along “Oak Street”, then poles E and F are illuminated. If the vehicle continues to travel along “Apple Street”, then poles H and I are illuminated.
- poles/lights A-I may be considered individual nodes in a wireless mess network, wherein typically all but one are slave poles/nodes, and said one is a master.
- poles/lights A-I will preferably all be part of a single mesh network and the network may communicate with a control station via the master pole/light, as schematically portrayed in FIGS. 19 and 20 A-D.
- poles/nodes are adapted to be the slaves and which is adapted to be the master may be done according to various criteria, including optimal location for the master pole/nodes cell or satellite communication with the internet, and/or proximity to support and maintenance structure, for example.
- on-pole refers to actions that are specific to one pole (the pole itself) that do not relate to other poles. For example, motion sensed at a single pole in a parking lot will increase the light level for just that pole, and does not involve other poles.
- cross-poles means that a series or group of poles are involved, for example, a series of poles along a street. As a car passes at least two poles, the motion information (speed, direction of travel) must be communicated to the other poles along the street in order to ‘light the way’ ahead of the cars travel path.
- public outdoor lighting arrays such as in preferred embodiments of the WIOLS, form a ready-made wireless infrastructure, and are ideally suited to wireless communication for public safety, or with the proper protocols and security, for public access to the internet.
- Such adaptations for example, public safety communication for alarms and/or signaling to the public, and/or public access to the internet, may be provided by fitting one of more nodes/devices/poles of the WIOLS with supplemental equipment, such as alarm speakers, electronic signage, and/or internet “Wi-Fi hot spot” hardware and software.
- a wireless intelligent outdoor lighting system When combined with an energy storage device, a wireless intelligent outdoor lighting system (WIOLS) can also respond to power outages when connected on the grid to create an uninterruptible power supply (called herein “UPS”).
- the WIOLS detects the loss of grid power and communicates with the utility company to determine how to place power from the energy storage device back onto the grid.
- the WIOLS can also act as a UPS in a small localized energy grid, eliminating or supplementing backup power generators. The behaviors would be similar to that on the larger power grid.
- the preferred embodiments comprise adaptations for independent processes, such as independent monitoring, control, and output (light, alarms or other communication, etc.), which independent comprise sensing, communication and control only between the nodes/devices/poles of an individual WIOLS.
- independent processes such as independent monitoring, control, and output (light, alarms or other communication, etc.)
- independent comprise sensing, communication and control only between the nodes/devices/poles of an individual WIOLS.
- the preferred array may be considered an independent array and/or an independent network of nodes.
- the preferred embodiments comprise adaptation for non-independent processes, such as communication between the master node/device/pole of the WIOLS and a control station.
- each of the preferred light poles employs batteries, recharged by solar panels, that may be used to transmit signals to multiple of the other slaves, and the master preferably also employs a battery(ies) to transmit signals to a remote location.
- the master preferably also employs a battery(ies) to transmit signals to a remote location.
- This independent communication between the light poles of each WIOLS create the “independent” feature of each WIOLS, in that at least one, and preferably several, sensing and control tasks are handle between the multiple poles without requiring control from the control station.
- the preferred WIOLS each also have a self-discovery feature for self-identification of new nodes and integration of the new nodes onto the network.
- the especially-preferred nodes/devices/poles of each WIOLS are each powered by a battery and can use solar panels to recharge the battery.
- each outdoor light of the WIOLS has a wireless modem and controller forming a wireless network, for monitoring and control of its devices to allow for adjustment for low battery conditions and the ability to measure excess power generated by the devices to be placed back on the grid, for example, for being applied for a credit to the account.
- the master node/device/pole may also communicate to, or receive from, the control station information and instructions about said low battery conditions and/or excess power.
- Outdoor lighting arrays particularly in public settings provide a ready made wireless infrastructure, since nearly all municipalities and many public roadways utilize light poles. In such settings, it is desirable for individual outdoor lighting nodes, within an array of outdoor lighting, to behave in an interdependent manner.
- the main components of the preferred WIOLS are the master and slave outdoor lighting devices and the server at the control station.
- the slave device consists of a outdoor lighting structure with lighting fixture, network board with a micro controller, power supply, electronics as required for the mesh network, and zero, one or more devices that act as sensors or active devices. There is also a wireless modem “on-board” each slave device.
- An AC to DC power supply connects it to an AC system if available. If no power is available, a wind generator and/or a solar collector powers the system. Power can be stored to an energy storage device, such as a battery, capacitors, fuel cells, or devices that store and release hydrogen.
- the master wireless outdoor lighting device has all of the same components as the slave device with the addition of a cell or satellite radio.
- the cell or satellite network is already in place, which provides the wireless communication to the control station.
- WIOLS Wired Networking & Control
- the main objective of one group of preferred embodiments is to provide a system to delay or off-load electrical energy usage to hours of the day when load on the utility grid is lower.
- these preferred embodiments have an integral battery or other energy storage system that is recharged by the electrical grid during off-peak load times of the day.
- the stored energy in the batteries or other energy storage system can be utilized to provide power to the grid during peak load periods and/or to provide power to a light or other electrical device on or near the preferred embodiment during peak load periods.
- the stored energy in the batteries or other energy storage system may optionally provide power to said light or other electrical device during power outages.
- the system/device may be “autonomous” in that it may be powered by an integral renewable energy collection system such as a solar collector and/or wind energy device.
- an integral renewable energy collection system such as a solar collector and/or wind energy device.
- the integral solar collector, wind energy and/or stored energy in the batteries or other energy storage system may be utilized to provide power to the grid during periods. Therefore, in such autonomous embodiments, the device may then be “self-powered” during prolonged periods of power outage.
- These preferred embodiments may be accomplished by integrating the battery or other energy storage device and other necessary system components (described below) into the light fixture itself so that it can be installed as a complete unit to an existing or new pole.
- some or all of said battery or other storage device and/or other necessary system components may be manufactured and installed separate and/or distanced from the light fixture, for example, when a new pole is provided with some or all of this equipment inside the pole or inside the base below the pole.
- a photocell turns on the light, which is powered by the energy storage pack (including said battery(s) and/or other storage system), so that no electrical load is added to the grid during peak load periods.
- the energy storage pack including said battery(s) and/or other storage system
- the light will then continue to be powered by the energy storage pack, however, the batteries will then be charged by the line voltage (grid) during the time period when peak loading is no longer an issue (in the early morning hours, for example) via the energy storage pack charger.
- the LEDs, control board and all other system components are operated on DC voltage.
- the energy storage pack preferably only needs enough power to carry the light thru the peak loading period for one night (typically only 3-4 hours post dusk), but, optionally, may be designed for enough power to provide power to the grid during said peak loading period. The energy storage pack will then be charged in the morning for later use that evening or night.
- dimming capability to reduce the light output after the first hour.
- Such a dimming capability may allow the light to have a much higher lumen output when it first turns on & then dims it down as the night progresses and less light is needed.
- Another option is to include a motion sensor over-ride that will immediately turn the light back up to full brightness when motion is detected near the pole, for example, motion of a person, a bicycle, or a vehicle. Both of these features allow the light to be “tuned” to the specific application requirements and to conserve as much energy as possible. This will allow the energy storage pack to be as small as possible to reduce costs and to reduce the size and weight of the fixture. See, particularly, the section entitled “Active Control for Energy-Efficient Lighting” later in this document.
- the additional feature of having a wireless control board allows the settings on the light to be changed remotely and allows for the fixture system performance to be monitored remotely.
- the power company may check to see how each of the lights are performing and confirm that the light is running off of battery power for the full amount of time required for the peak loading period.
- the owner of the light may check the status of all system features, the battery health, and whether any maintenance items need attention, for example, LEDs that need to be replaced and battery chargers that are not working properly, etc.
- Solar powered light poles and/or specially-adapted LED light fixtures as described earlier in this document, and/or other solar collector light systems, may be used in embodiments of the WIOLS described herein.
- Major energy contribution is provided by said solar collectors, and therefore typically such poles/lights need only be connected to the grid and controlled/monitored remotely so as to properly manage the luminosity and power during the peak load hours and then to ensure that the energy storage pack is recharged during off-peak hours.
- This “insurance”, of being connected to the grid may be particularly beneficial in cloudy climates, during inclement months, or where the grid needs can benefit from the solar-collected power during peak load times.
- this system can also respond to power outages when connected on the grid to create an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS).
- UPS Uninterruptible Power Supply
- the intelligent outdoor lighting system detects the loss of grid power and communicates with the utility company to determine how to place power from the energy storage device back onto the grid.
- the preferred intelligent outdoor lighting system can also act as a UPS in a small localized energy grid, eliminating or supplementing backup power generators. The behaviors of the intelligent outdoor lighting system for a small localized energy grid would be similar to those for the larger power grid.
- FIG. 22 An example of one peak load delay conservation system that uses an integral light, storage and control unit 600 is schematically portrayed in FIG. 22 , wherein said integral unit 600 comprises the following elements listed by call-out number: fixture box 602 , such as “shoebox” or “cobrahead” or other standard or custom light fixture housing or body; lens 604 connected to said box 602 ; fixture arm and/or bracket 606 to mount fixture to pole; energy storage pack 608 , which may comprise batteries or other energy storage apparatus; energy storage pack charger 610 ; LED light engine 612 , which may be of various designs, but is preferably the modular LED system described elsewhere in this document; motion sensor & photocell 614 ; and control board w/ wireless modem and/or cell phone radio 616 .
- fixture box 602 such as “shoebox” or “cobrahead” or other standard or custom light fixture housing or body
- lens 604 connected to said box 602 ; fixture arm and/or bracket 606 to mount fixture to pole; energy storage pack 608 , which may comprise
- peak load delay conservation systems could also be installed on existing or new light/equipment poles with the elements called-out for FIG. 22 being provided in separated housings and/or in spaced-apart locations on the pole.
- a particularly important feature of the preferred embodiments that may be autonomous (that may be powered by a source other than the grid) and that may also cooperate with the grid, is that the preferred embodiments provide power from their energy storage devices to the local electrical device (light or other local component) specifically during times of peak load on the grid and also manage the power between the energy storage device and the local electrical device (light or other local component) to ensure adequate power to that local electrical device during said peak load hours.
- the management system is adapted to store energy when possible and use the stored energy in an efficient and controlled manner during peak load hours. This way, demand on the grid during those peak hours is reduced, and local devices (lights, alarms, and/or security cameras) that must be turned on for public safety and security are indeed turned on and adequately powered.
- This management of power to the local electrical device (light or other local component) during the grid's peak load hours enhances the autonomous characteristics of the preferred embodiments.
- These management features may be included in systems that do not have self-power capability, that is, wherein the energy storage devices are charged by the grid during non-peak-load hours.
- These management features may be included in systems that are self-powered (i.e. through solar and/or wind), wherein the energy storage device is charged by the solar and/or wind systems (and optionally by the grid only during non-peak hours), with the added features that the self-powered systems may feed power back to the grid during peak-load hours and/or assuming there is sufficient self-power production for powering the public-safety- and security-related local devices.
- ACD Autonomous Connected Devices
- WIOLS Wireless Intelligent Outdoor Lighting System
- ACDs may be especially beneficial in remote areas and rural settlements, municipalities, housing associations, industrial complexes, developing countries, or other entities or regions that have no option to connect to a grid, want/need to have no connection to the grid, or want substantial autonomy but are willing to cooperate with the grid by supplying the grid with energy some times and accepting energy from the grid at other times.
- One group of embodiments of the latter category self-powering combined with cooperation with the grid is described in the section “Peak Load Delay Energy Conservation System” earlier in this document. While the preferred ADC's are powered by solar engines (solar panels and/or other solar devices), wind-powered engines may be used instead or in addition to the solar engines.
- ACD Autonomous Connected Devices
- the preferred solar engine collects solar energy using photovoltaics, controls the flow of solar energy, stores solar energy for optimal use, and delivers energy at the right voltage and current to devices.
- the smart wireless mesh that is preferably used to connect said ACD organizes itself, repairs connectivity issues automatically, communicates data seamlessly, and cooperates in group activities.
- An ADC network may be used to aggregate information widely, monitor issues remotely, manage operational excellence, and analyze behavioral & environmental trends over large geographies, so that said analysis may be shared with customers and/or the public.
- ACD devices benefit from being autonomous yet connected.
- a population of remotely managed street and area lights according to ACD embodiments may be economical and effective where the cost of trenching to deliver power is cost-prohibitive.
- Grid-neutral outdoor lighting may be installed, according to embodiments of the invented ACD networks, that offsets wired energy usage by collecting, metering and returning solar energy to the grid, for example according to the Peak Load Delay systems described earlier in this document.
- ACD applications examples of ACD applications, features, and benefits may include:
- the preferred ACD system architecture comprises devices that are powered by the solar engine, either on-pole, near-pole, and/or in the general vicinity of the preferred wireless communication from the pole.
- Secure two-way communications between the poles and the NOC coordinator poles (for example, master poles) and the Internet and/or headquarters (for example, control station) are accomplished by a “smart” mesh network.
- Both content customers (such as weather service or traffic planners, for example) and management customers may receive content via the Internet.
- An ACD needs power, performs activities (e.g., lighting, Wi-Fi, video,) makes decisions, monitors operational and environmental data and participates in collective behavior.
- the preferred ACD system may be described as having an Application Layer (A 1 ) (e.g., power profile applications, light-the-way applications, grid neutral metering, which utilize on-device and collective intelligence algorithms (A 2 ).
- a 1 Application Layer
- the preferred ACD system has event Driven OS w/Driver Abstraction (e.g., TinyOS) (B 1 ), which utilizes unique event-driven device drivers for device capabilities (B 2 ).
- the preferred ACD system comprises hardware (chipsets, sensors, radios, etc) (C 1 ), preferably utilizing a system that is flexible and expandable as the hardware evolves (C 2 ), for example, as protocols, radios and sensors evolve.
- the Power Abstraction Layer (D 1 ) of the preferred ACD system utilizes standardized and normalized power delivery (D 2 ).
- the preferred smart wireless mesh connects ACDs into a self-organizing, self-repairing mesh that enables low-power, two-way communications; remote troubleshooting and repair; system monitoring and management; environmental sensing; collective intelligence; and wide area content aggregation and analytics.
- the “Smart Wireless Mesh Network” of the preferred ACD comprises each “population” (each networked group, each wirelessly-connected plurality of ACDs) having a Gateway Node, which performs low to high bandwidth mapping as “NOC coordinator,” initiates mesh forming as “mesh coordinator”, and oversees mesh healing.
- Each population of ACDs also has Router Nodes that aid in locating other nodes, cache data for “sleeping children” poles (hibernating or unused at the time), and that reinforce “good” paths.
- Each population of ACDs also has End Nodes, which feature minimal energy use, wake to connect on demand, and are activity & connection independent.
- Isolated Devices needing slow uni-cast connectivity for monitoring and maintenance (e.g., environmental sensors); Collective Devices needing slow multi-cast connectivity for group behavior (e.g., “light the way”); and Streaming Devices need fast uni-cast connectivity for real-time throughput (e.g., contextual advertising).
- the supportability of the preferred Smart Wireless Mesh may be illustrated by response to an event such as device connectivity loss, whereafter:
- Scheduled report-back job flags a customer's non-reporting node; 2. Service sends a device down alert to device manager's mobile phone; 3. Device ping confirms—no connectivity; 4. In-field support tech dispatched; 5. Ground-level panel opened; 6. Reset button pushed; and 7. After a short time, status lights indicate all systems are operational! Or, after mesh connectivity lost, the response may be: 1. Report-back job indicates a mesh coordinator node is down; 2. Device in adjacent mesh is remotely repurposed; 3. End node program replaced with mesh coordinator program—OTA; 4. Device remotely reset; 5. New mesh coordinator finds orphaned nodes, reforms mesh; and 6. Support tech dispatched, resets old mesh coordinator, re-joins as end node.
- the preferred smart wireless mesh is “open” yet secure, for example, the smart wireless mesh is open in that it adheres to the ZigBee protocol (i.e., IEEE 802.15.4-2006 standard for wireless personal area networks) and allows any device supporting ZigBee to join the mesh at anytime.
- ZigBee protocol i.e., IEEE 802.15.4-2006 standard for wireless personal area networks
- the smart wireless mesh is secure in that it features a quarantine (a period of time with limited connectivity while behavior is watched and deemed proper for device type, or not), for example, verified, then isolated, then meshed, then monitored, then managed.
- the wireless mesh comprises selectable paths, whereby the connectivity path is selected based on sensitivity of data being moved, for example, unprotected data is moved by unencrypted ZigBee over 802.15.4 (mesh forming and healing, collective behavior, for example); protected date is moved by E2E tunnel-mode VPN using IPv6 over 802.15.4 (remotely updating security keys over-the-air, change operating profile, for example).
- Events connect sub-systems within a single device, devices within a smart wireless mesh, the mesh network with content services in the Network Operations Center (control station). Events have triggers that percolate up through HW & OS abstractions; that are discrete (single-instance, occurring once—e.g., motion detector registers a change) or are continuous (multi-instance, streaming over time—e.g., battery current). Events are classified along three dimensions, specifically, type (info
- the monitoring processes of the ACD network delivers service and customer scoped events from the field to the Network Operations Center as they occur, enabling alerts when predefined conditions are met to facilitate cost-effective maintenance and aggregation of operational and environmental data over large populations of devices to facilitate troubleshooting and value-added content. See the Event Delivery Pipeline in FIG.
- Identify refers to a unique device ID (identification) resolved to assembly IDs, manufacturer, installer, support, service log and customer; wherein “De-Dupe” refers to multi-path routing with delivery delays can cause duplications that get collapsed using unique identifiers; wherein “Normalize” refers to device and sub-system version differences being normalized on the way in, to maintain consistency at the NOC; and wherein “Tag” refers to metadata derived from context and route being added to events on the way in (duplicate plus alternate routes).
- the management processes of the ACD network operate on sets of devices, selected at the Network Operations Center, then targeted with events delivered using the smart wireless mesh to enable remote device reset (like CTRL+ALT+DEL), whole system inventory (e.g., assembly ids, HW/SW/FW versions); data, profile & SW/FW updates over the air; and programmed tasks (e.g., stream video every night at 10 PM for 5 minutes). See the Device Management Pipeline of FIG.
- the box “Query” refers to leveraging of Internet search technology to query populations of devices that meet specific characteristics; wherein “Select” refers to sorting and sifting to further refine the set of devices and creating a narrowly targeted set to select and operate on; wherein “Apply” refers to defining a task, scheduling a job containing one or more tasks then applying the job to the set of selected devices; and wherein “Verify” refers to leveraging monitoring, verifying the job and tasks were executed, events were delivered to devices, actions performed and results achieved.
- content services may be a feature of the preferred ACD and/or other wireless network.
- content services are enabled that comprise management such as troubleshooting and repair, inventory control w/updatable code, profiles and data, and scheduled device or population jobs/tasks.
- content services are enabled that comprise “visualization” features, such as overlays (Google maps, insolation, energy costs), customer dashboards w/KPIs for devices, and redistributable “widgets” for partner networks.
- content services are enabled that comprise monitoring such as granular event logging over time, predefined thresholds with actions, and automatic actions or email/text alerts. Also, content services are enabled that comprise analytics, such as searching, sorting and refining devices by attributes, and correlating operational with environmental and location to feed back into optimizations and roadmap.
- Enabling new social & business models from populations of devices requires a services system with redundant, commodity HW paradigm (like Google—i.e., 5 ⁇ 9's of reliability via quick healing), real-time and batch inbound processing pipeline to maintain data integrity, a presentation layer rich with visualization and Web 2.0 sharing (e.g., widgets), and data interfaces/schema for converting and then delivering data to customers in any format (e.g., XML schema and connectors for SOAP).
- these services comprise location-based visualization with overlays and real-time search engine based filtering; auto and manual metadata tagging to support powerful analytics; and creating jobs w/tasks then targeting devices for delivery and execution.
- ACD services are connected to the Internet, so they must be designed securely by employing a Threat Model.
- a Threat Model will comprise Assets & Risks analysis and Vulnerabilities and Safeguards analysis.
- Periodic Security Assessments should also be made, including intrusion detection, DoS; and independent security certification, if required by customers.
- the outline below lists some, but not all, of the preferred features/options that may be included in various embodiments of the ACD invention. This outline is organized into the following three categories: features provided and/or programmed mainly, or entirely, “on device,” that is, on the pole and/or the lighting or equipment unit on the pole; features of the preferred smart wireless mesh for the ACD's; and content services.
- mesh providers such as self-organizing, repairing, route optimization via feedback, etc.
- mesh networking is used to meet the goals of ACDs, for example, the following features.
- Delivering said content services may be in one or more directions, for example, gathering of information from a population (multiple) networked poles for transmittal preferably to a master pole and then to a control station for processing and/or use, or (in the opposite direction) dissemination of information, advertising, alarms, or other content by the control station to the master pole and then to one or more of the slave poles in the network.
- Solar-powered retrofit outdoor lighting system may be provided according to some embodiments of the invention, which retrofit systems may be attached to an existing pole, for example a conventional street light pole, conventional public safety alarm pole, or conventional security camera pole, to convert the existing pole to a solar-powered system.
- an existing pole for example a conventional street light pole, conventional public safety alarm pole, or conventional security camera pole, to convert the existing pole to a solar-powered system.
- retrofit systems may also be attached to new poles that are not erected or in service, for example, if the community/industry desires the modular approach of attaching embodiments of the invented autonomous and/or wireless to poles that they already own and have stockpiled, or that they want to purchase because such conventional poles are “known commodities.”
- the main objective is to make such existing and/or new poles “autonomous” in that it/they can be powered by an integral renewable energy collection system such as a solar collector.
- the energy storage system preferably provides enough stored energy to keep the system running for at least 5 days of low-to-limited solar radiation (for example during a week-long-spell of cloudy weather).
- the solar-retrofit poles will be self-powered during the day to power the electrical device if needed during the day, and, as existing poles are typically already tied to the grid, to provide solar power to the grid during the day (during peak load periods). Then, at night, when the demands on the grid are less, such retrofit poles will be powered by grid.
- energy storage devices such as batteries
- energy storage devices may be included for emergency back-up during power outages.
- Such emergency back-up energy storage devices would not require as much energy storage as the autonomous system, as one would expect such a storage device to be required to power the pole for at most a few hours during grid repair.
- the solar-retrofit system is preferably adapted so that the retrofit system is visually integrated with the existing pole/system to minimize the “modified appearance” of the retrofitted system.
- the retrofitted system preferably looks similar to a standard pole after the modification has been made. This may accomplish two things, specifically, public acceptance and vandalism-resistance.
- the finished retrofit pole product looks similar to a standard light pole and therefore is more readily accepted by the public. Also, because the retrofit pole looks like a standard pole, it is less likely to be targeted by vandals; if there were obvious equipment and protrusions mounted to the pole, vandals might be tempted to steal the solar collector or otherwise tamper with or destroy said equipment/protrusions.
- the retrofit systems provide an important public safety benefit. During periods of a power outage (grid or utility power), a retrofit light, public alarm, and/or security camera will still be able to operate, thus providing a safer environment at night.
- the retrofit system comprises the integration of a solar collector and other necessary system components (described below), and preferably an emergency energy storage module, into a retrofit “package” so that it can be retrofitted & installed as an independent self-supported system onto an existing or new pole.
- a solar collector is attached to the outside surface of a collar 700 .
- the collector can be a flexible photovoltaic layer 710 that is attached, grown, or woven onto the surface of the collar.
- the collar subtends an arc of at least 180 degrees.
- energy storage devices 720 Preferably embedded in the collar are energy storage devices 720 , which may be sized and designed for emergency use as described above.
- Such devices may be batteries, capacitors, fuel cells, or devices that store and release hydrogen.
- the collar is then mounted or otherwise attached onto an existing utility or light pole, with wiring extending from the solar collar to the light fixture. In this manner, replacing installing the collar would also install an autonomous power system for the light pole, and/or at least (depending on the size and capability of said energy storage devices) an energy storage device for emergency grid outages, as described above.
- FIG. 30 Another embodiment of a retrofit solar-powered outdoor lighting system is to include the solar collector and the energy storage device, preferably with control hardware/firmware/software, in the body of or integrally connected to the light fixture, such as the integral unit 800 portrayed in FIG. 30 (described below in more detail).
- the preferred embodiment would have a lightweight PV layer/panel on the top of the replacement light fixture.
- the light fixture itself would contain a lightweight energy storage device, which in its preferred embodiment, is a high energy density ultra or super capacitor. In this manner, replacing the light fixture would also install an autonomous power system for the light pole and/or at least (depending on the size and capability of said energy storage devices) an energy storage device for emergency grid outages, as described above.
- the solar collectors charge the energy storage devices during daylight hours, then the energy storage devices supply power to the light fixture at night or (depending on the size and capability of said energy storage devices) during the night only if there is a grid-outage.
- the a retrofit solar-powered pole may power systems other than lighting, such as stand-alone radio and antenna equipment at remote sites, or any other application that requires a self-powered source for support of the equipment.
- the retrofit solar-powered pole may comprise additional or alternative features to achieve various objectives.
- the lighting control system may consist of motion sensors, photocells, time-clocks, or any other type of control to turn the light (or other powered equipment) on and off or to provide any other control required for the specific application.
- the preferred methods and apparatus for retrofitting existing light poles with solar panels and batteries comprises the solar panels and batteries being integral parts of a unit that is applied to the existing pole, so that the solar panels and batteries are not installed separately.
- the benefits are ease of installation, better reliability (separate components are more subject to damage or improper installation), and overall lower cost compared to the conventional installation of separate solar panel and battery components on an existing pole.
- Multiple retrofit options are possible, with the two preferred options being a combined solar-panel and battery unit applied to the generally cylindrical side surface of an existing pole (separate from the light or other powered equipment), or a combined solar-panel, battery, and light/powered-equipment unit connected to the existing pole in locations where a conventional light might be connected. These two options are discussed in more detail as follows.
- a collar may comprise the preferred flexible solar panel on a flexible or semi-rigid frame that is adapted to be snapped/installed around a pole.
- Said collar may comprise pockets/receiving spaces for batteries or other energy-storage devices.
- the preferably-flexible solar panel or solar “fabric” may be installed on or incorporated into a variety of flexible or rigid panel, layered composites, or other solar-panel structure with regions or pockets for receiving battery/storage apparatus, wherein said solar-panel structure is mounted onto, flexed or bent around, or otherwise attached to an existing pole.
- said collar that incorporates an outer layer of a solar collector material and an inner layer of batteries may be used as the retrofit solar collection and energy storage system that generally mimics or takes the outer generally cylindrical form of the existing pole, to power outdoor light(s) or other powered equipment that is already connected to, or that is retrofit to, the pole.
- Said outdoor light(s) typically are separate piece(s) that are installed separate from the collar, for example, a conventional light, an embodiment of an invented LED light engine, or other light fixture at or near the top of the pole.
- Said other powered equipment is typically separate pieces(s) that are installed separate from the collar, also typically at or near the top of the pole.
- said fabric, flexible or rigid panel, layered composite, or other layered material combines a solar collector and energy storage device into a single integrated unit, which is installed separate from but is operatively connected to the light or other powered equipment.
- an integrated unit 800 comprising preferably all of the solar panel, batteries, and LED light engine, may be attached to the existing pole preferably at or near the top of the pole.
- This integrated unit therefore, is positioned where one would expect a conventional outdoor light to be placed on the pole, with no need for a solar-collector and/or battery collar on the generally cylindrical side surface of the pole.
- fixture box 802 such as a “shoebox” or “cobrahead” or other standard or custom fixture housing or body, wherein the fixture box may have a thin film photovoltaic (PV) layer 818 attached to it to convert light into electrical power, which PV layer is preferably on a generally horizontal top surface of box 802 and which may replace the solar collector mounted on the pole or may augment that PV collector; lens 804 preferably connected to the box 802 and/or to the LED light engine 812 ; fixture arm and/or bracket 806 to mount fixture to pole; energy storage pack 808 , which may comprise a lightweight energy storage pack; such as the preferred high energy density ultra or super capacitor, batteries, or other energy storage apparatus; energy storage pack charger 810 ; LED light engine 812 , which may be of various designs, but is preferably the modular LED system described elsewhere in this document; motion sensor and photocell 814 ; control board w/wireless modem and/or cell phone radio 816
- peak load delay conservation systems could also be installed on existing or new light/equipment poles with the elements called-out for FIG. 30 being provided in separated housings and/or in spaced-apart locations on or in the pole.
- a modular LED system may be adapted to be part of either new (OEM) or existing (retrofit) outdoor lighting fixtures.
- the preferred modular LED system will allow any and all required lighting distribution patterns to be emulated, including some lighting distribution patterns that can not typically be achieved by conventional light fixtures.
- the advantages of the more efficient, and preferably modular, LED lighting systems can be adapted to traditional light fixtures, for example, by being installed in traditional light fixtures that are already in use or are stockpiled, or by being installed in newly-purchased traditional light fixture housings because a community/industry prefers the appearance of the traditional housing and/or wishes to match existing lights.
- each module 1010 may be provided with each module preferably containing multiple light emitting diodes 1030 (LEDs).
- Multiple of said modules 1010 are mounted to a sheet metal plate or baffle 1012 , as illustrated in FIGS. 32A-D , to create a light fixture comprising a modular LED light engine 1020 .
- the baffle is then attached to the interior of a light fixture 1014 , as illustrated in FIGS. 33A-E .
- many different light fixtures may be used, as it is the light engine 1020 , and it is the particular the number, arrangement, and directing of modules 1010 that is the major determining factor of the light intensity and light pattern.
- each module 1010 is preferably the same as the others in said light engine 1020 , with said multiple modules being arranged on the baffle 1012 and each modules being directed (pointed) in a direction, so that the sum total of the specially-arranged and specially-directed modules is the desired light distribution pattern (or simply “light pattern”).
- the appropriate modules required to achieve the desired lighting distribution pattern are mounted to the baffle and aimed in the direction needed for the specific pattern.
- modules can be combined in different configurations as required, with the “adaptation” or “adjustment” to obtain the desired light pattern preferably consisting of: mounting the modules on the baffle in a particular design arrangement and pivoting the LED housing 1022 of each module relative to its bracket 1024 to direct each module (independently from all the others) as desired.
- Each module 1010 preferably has multiple LEDs, for example, four LEDs 1030 , in a single row along the length of the module housing 1022 . All four LEDs 1030 preferably “pointed” in the same direction inside the LED housing 1022 , with “directing” of the module, and, hence, of the light, being done by said pivoting and then locking of the module in the desired orientation relative to the plane of the baffle, and, hence, relative to the surrounding landscape, roads, and/or buildings, etc.
- the LED housing 1022 may be locked in place by a bolt/screw system 1032 or other lock/latch, preferably at the time of manufacture of the light fixture with light engine (if the desired light pattern is known), at the time of installation of the light engine 1020 in an existing fixture, and/or at the time of installation of the light fixture on the pole, for example.
- Each bracket 1024 may comprise one or more members that may pivotally receives the LED housing 1022 so that the LEDs may be swung in a direction preferably perpendicular to the length of the LED row for said directing of the LED module.
- two or more ears 1034 may be fixed to the baffle 1012 , and receive the housing 1022 so that is pivots on an axis parallel to the length of the LED row.
- the ears 1034 may be considered part of the module, and/or may be considered part of the baffle 1012 , depending on one's perspective.
- the LEDs 1030 are mounted to, or less preferably connected to, a circuit board along with required drivers and circuiting for the LEDs. Said circuit board, drivers, and circuits for the LEDs are not shown in FIGS. 25-27 , but may be contained within each module housing 1022 . Also contained with the module housing may be heat sink material to draw heat away from the LEDs as required, as will be understood after reading this document and after viewing FIG. 7 , which portrays a generally cylindrical light engine as opposed to the generally planar light engine of FIGS. 31-33 .
- modules 1010 may be arranged on variously-sized and shaped plates, baffles, cylinders, cones, boxes, or other support structures, wherein the light pattern and the outward appearance and aesthetics of the light fixture with light engine will be determined by said support structure, said arrangement of the modules on the support structure, and said directing of each module.
- a lens assembly with reflectors may help achieve the specific distribution (pattern) required.
- LED lighting system One main advantage of this system is the ability to achieve improved performance from the LED lighting system within a traditional light fixture.
- Traditional outdoor light fixtures typically utilize high pressure sodium (HPS) or metal halide (MH) light sources. These traditional light bulbs scatter light in all directions, so the fixture box requires reflector assemblies to collect and re-direct the light in the required direction to achieve the distribution desired.
- LED's are a highly directional source of lighting and do not scatter their light in all directions like HPS or MH light sources.
- the preferred modular LED sources utilize the directional lighting characteristics of LEDs to create lighting patterns that are directed and yet still cover the desired area to be lit. This not only optimizes the light pattern, but is more effective in delivering light to only where it is needed and not into unwanted areas. Therefore, this modular lighting system also reduces light pollution.
- This modular LED system Another key feature of this modular LED system relates to light egress.
- Normal outdoor light fixtures require shielding (in many cases consisting of a sheet metal shroud) to prevent light egress into adjacent areas. For example, if there is parking lot lighting next to a residential area, then often some sort of shielding is required.
- the shielding capability is built-in to the design of the modules on the side of the fixture that requires the shielding so that no external shielding is required.
- the shielding is achieved via the highly directional, focused lighting of the modular system, by selecting, placing, and directing the modular LEDs to the provide light of desired coverage in desired directions (desired size, shape, and intensity of lighting pattern).
- Other advantages include the ability to achieve “Dark Sky” compliance, which requires that no light can project up above the fixture into the sky.
- any shape or size of light fixture box can be retrofitted with embodiments of the invented modular LED system. Because of the small modular size of each modular LED component, even odd sizes and small fixture assemblies can accommodate, and operatively cooperate with, this system. This allows it to be utilized in nearly all types of conventional fixtures and in custom-designed fixtures.
- the modular LED system shown in FIGS. 31-33E will have specific advantages compared to conventional lighting.
- the modular LED system allows lighting designers and engineers to design a lighting system that is currently largely unachievable.
- the challenge with current lighting systems is that they rely on light sources that throw light everywhere (uncontrolled light—throwing light in every direction).
- outdoor light fixtures have had an enclosure (with or without a glass lens to enclose the light source) to protect the source and a lamp on the inside of this enclosure.
- the light source was a gas lamp or a candle that threw light everywhere. If you wanted to light a larger area you would increase the amount of light produced at the source.
- the two lighting functions that are difficult to achieve with these traditional light sources are control and uniformity.
- the best lighting system is one that provides even illumination across a given area or site.
- said illumination is difficult to achieve with a standard HID system. For example, when poles are close to a residential area the light is difficult to control.
- a sheet metal plate is attached to the side of the fixture to “shield” the light from the residential area.
- the light starts out as a directional source, because each LED is a point source. No reflectors are required and all of the light is utilized to illuminate only the area that is required. Many LED light fixture manufacturers have taken an approach to only consider this natural efficiency of LED's in the design of their fixtures and to assemble them within a light fixture body in the required standard configurations (or “pre-set” configurations) to achieve a specific standard distribution pattern (one of the standard five distribution patterns).
- Embodiments of the invented modular LED system overcome the challenges of both HID lamp sources and the limitations associated with a typical “pre-set” LED system.
- the cooperative efforts of these multiple modules allows a greater overall uniformity to be achieved.
- the light can actually be focused on the areas that are far away from the pole to achieve lower max to min ratios. This greatly improves uniformity.
- the modular system also allows virtually any distribution pattern to be achieved by adjusting the angle and pitch of the modules to achieve the desired lighting. This can be done either by the engineer designing the lighting system, at the factory, or in the field. No shielding is required because the modules can be “aimed” away from the area of light trespass.
- the invented modular LED system allow each fixture to be “customized”, the overall lighting system (network of poles) can be designed to work together in a unique or custom way to achieve an overall lighting system for that specific site or area.
- the LED module is designed in such a way to allow the adaptation of the lensing at the module to change the shape or focus of the light.
- the lens cover is designed to accommodate standard lenses so that the distribution pattern of an individual module can be changed to allow additional design flexibility. Also, this brings down the cost of manufacturing, as only the lens cover (framework for holding the lenses) is a custom part specific to the module. The lenses are mass produced at a lower price.
- Each of the modules has the electronic drivers “on board” with a control wire that allows the adjustment of the light level remotely. This is achieved by sending a signal over the control wire (or wirelessly—see next option). Without the wireless option these settings are changed via an RS232 port (or equivalent) connected to a control board that is in turn connected to the modules and controls the function of the modules.
- the control board has time clocks and/or other algorithms that control the light output of the modules. See, for example, the section entitled “Active Control for Energy-Efficient Lighting” later in this document.
- Each module (and/or set of modules) can be controlled wirelessly over a wireless network so that changes to lighting can be done after the fixture has been installed on the pole. This can be done remotely and globally (over a whole network of fixtures/poles). Preferably, as discussed in item 2 immediately above, the individual modules may be controlled in this wireless manner.
- Each module can be adjusted via the control wire (or wirelessly). Thus, the distribution pattern and direction of illumination can be controlled remotely. This could be achieved with micro controllers or small motors to physically change the direction or “aim” of the modules.
- the modules in FIGS. 31-33E are well-adapted for independent tilting of each modules and/or for tilting of groups of modules together.
- Other modules may be designed and adjustably connected to the plate/baffle or other support structure that are even more adjustable, for example, by both pan and tilt adjustments. Again, these adjustments may be individually done and/or done by groups.
- Pan/tilt Solid State option The “direction” of the light produced by the modules could be achieved by having multiple LEDs in a wide range of distribution angles and only illuminating those LEDs pointing in the direction of the desired distribution pattern (and leaving the other un-needed LEDs dark). With such a system, if the pattern needs to change, then the control system would “douse” (or turn off) the LEDs not needed and illuminate the ones that are directed in the desired vector(s) for the new pattern.
- each module and/or each LED could be controlled via the control wire (or wireless control). This could be utilized by a municipality to indicate certain conditions in the city. For example, changing the street lights in the city to a RED color in an area that may be at risk for fire would indicate to the residents that they should leave the area. If there is a condition in a certain part of the city that required police attention, the lights could be green in color. In addition to changing the color of the light, other functions could be achieved. For example the lights could be blinked on and off, or intensified (brighter light) to indicate an emergency situation.
- Wireless communications channels give the ability to provide wireless connection of poles to the internet via wireless modems in each individual pole (“slave” pole), with a “master” or coordinator pole transmitting data via cell phone or satellite radio to a master station with connection to internet.
- the WCC also enables the use of both high bandwidth & low bandwidth capabilities (channels) that can be selected based on individual system/network requirements.
- High bandwidth speed is preferably greater than or equal to 11,000 kbps (kilobits per second), and especially in a range of 11,000-50,000 kbps (kilobits per second), and low bandwidth speed is preferably 20-250 kbps (kilobits per second).
- the low bandwidth channel is utilized to conserve energy of the system.
- the high bandwidth mode is then employed (for example, turn on camera).
- the preferred embodiments may be self-acting, with event “awareness”, wherein actions of each individual pole are taken based on that pole's “view” of it's local sensor data (solar collection data, motion sensor data, wind or barometric pressure, etc.).
- Cooperative/Community Actions may also be included in the preferred processes of the poles and network, wherein the operation of the pole(s) (and attached devices/systems) change/respond with respect to adjacent poles within the community.
- Pole/Node Management may include actions needed for “light the way”, power delivery to/from the grid, and/or content services.
- the preferred poles and network are made with a large amount of modularity, for example, by using an “open” architecture, which may include the utilization of standard open protocols, hardware and architecture, with universal bussing that allows the implementation of new systems, and/or devices that may be needed on the poles.
- an “open” architecture which may include the utilization of standard open protocols, hardware and architecture, with universal bussing that allows the implementation of new systems, and/or devices that may be needed on the poles.
- WI-FI routers may be provided. Both for “on-pole” devices and “off-pole” devices, the long-term supportability of the system is provided by the control system self-healing and repair functions, together with the capability of ground level access and repair.
- Security System/Network protection
- Security is designed to limit connectivity and access based on who is attempting to connect to the network; new devices will immediately connect to the network, but under a systematic quarantine period to determine device type & authorization level.
- FIGS. 34 and 35 illustrate basic logic flow diagrams of the active lighting control process, and error/alert indication processes, according some embodiments of the invention.
- the preferred active control determines or predicts available energy and determine or predict load demand (typically a lighting load), and then controls the load by modifying the lighting output and/or lighting timing, with said active control monitoring the system for error/alert that require modification to, or shedding of the lighting or peripherals to prevent damage or failure of the system.
- the system may increase lighting on an as-needed basis while reducing energy consumption at other times.
- the technology may indicate lighting system error/alert conditions over the primary illumination device of the lighting system.
- the technology may be also embodied as methods, apparatuses, manufactures, and/or the like.
- a processor determines the current and/or predicted energy availability and/or demand for lighting. For example, this determination may be based on a charge, current, or voltage level of a battery circuit, historical data regarding energy collection (e.g.
- a lighting system may be configured to provide more light when sufficient energy is currently available while reducing the light output when less energy is currently available and/or when future energy generation is predicted to be limited.
- the lighting system then adapts and/or selects a light output profile according to the determined current and/or predicted energy availability and demand for lighting.
- a lighting profile may include configuration of a light output level, a duration during which a configured light output level is provided, whether the lighting system is enabled (e.g., enabled during the night, disabled during the day), and/or the like.
- the lighting system then provides light according to the adapted and/or selected light output profile.
- the general process shown in FIG. 35 may be performed by a micro-controller, a micro-processor, a programmable logic controller, a digital signal processor, other processor, and/or the like.
- the process begins at a decision block where a processor monitors for an onset of an error/alert condition.
- an error/alert condition may include detection of partial failures, degraded performance, reaching a point of a maintenance interval, and/or the like. If the processor detects no error/alert condition, the process remains at the decision block.
- the processor may blink and/or strobe an error/alert code via the primary illumination device of the lighting system to indicate the determined error/alert condition.
- a passing pedestrian and/or motorist may notice the error/alert code and notify the relevant lighting system operator. The operator may then dispatch maintenance and/or repair persons to correct the error/alert condition.
- the process flows to next decision block, wherein the processor monitors for the termination of the error/alert condition. For example, this may include detecting if the lighting system has been repaired, has functioned normally for a predefined time period, a register has been cleared, and/or the like. If the processor detects termination of the error/alert condition, the process flows back to the beginning, otherwise, processing continues to further modification of the lighting system.
- processor-readable media including magnetically or optically readable computer discs, hard-wired or preprogrammed chips, nanotechnology memory, biological memory, or other data storage media.
- processor implemented instructions, data structures, screen displays, and other data under aspects of the invention may be distributed over the Internet or over other networks (including wireless networks), on a propagated signal on a propagation medium (e.g., an electromagnetic wave(s), a sound wave, etc.) over a period of time, or they may be provided on any analog or digital network (packet switched, circuit switched, mesh, or other scheme).
- the overall and main objectives of the invented active control for energy-efficient lighting are to conserve energy in solar-powered outdoor lighting systems, so that they can be implemented in regions and climates in which conventional wisdom would predict ineffectiveness, spotty performance, and/or failure because of frequently cloudy or inclement days.
- the invented active control for energy-efficient lighting actively manages battery charging, manages the available energy, and controls the power or energy delivered to the load.
- the lighting system delivers effective lighting according to the needs/preferences of the community or business, while protecting the battery from becoming damaged and short-lived because of draining below its low end threshold.
- the preferred systems vary greatly from conventional solar-powered street light systems that, instead of actively controlling the load, are actually passively controlled by the load.
- the load draws more energy than is available in the battery of the conventional lighting system, the load then “turns itself out” because the battery does not have enough energy left to support the load.
- the preferred embodiments of the invented active control for energy-efficient lighting include some or all of the following features.
- the preferred system actively monitors all critical system components to assure maximum performance while conserving energy, with decisions on energy management made based on system programming along with sensor input.
- the preferred system in many embodiments may be remotely controlled via wireless system by a remote station such as a utility as required for energy delivery to the grid during peak loading situations. Both energy storage (preferably batteries) and solar production may be controlled. Logs and records data are kept for use by the system to determine future actions, for example, for predicting future energy availability and demand for lighting.
- the system may have multiple energy operational modes based on current and predicted future conditions, wherein the preferred modes are described in detail later in this disclosure.
- the system delivers power to system devices preferably according to one of these energy savings modes as required to conserve energy for future demand when current energy production is low.
- the energy management system can support lighting systems and other loads (devices requiring energy), and the device-specific control criteria of each load determine the energy delivery to that specific device.
- the preferred system's “load shedding” features may control priorities relating to which devices need to be supported when energy stores are low.
- FIG. 36 summarizes the operation of the preferred control system.
- Energy produced (solar) is delivered to the batteries for storage or directly to the grid.
- the energy management system determines how the energy is delivered to the loads or the grid. This may be done according to the control system algorithms and historical data, along with sensor input.
- the system may also be controlled by the utility company as required. Solar and/or stored energy in the batteries may be delivered to the grid during peak demand in the middle of the day.
- the preferred active control systems may comprise, or be implemented with, other energy-efficient and/or “smart” systems discussed earlier in this document, for example, wireless intelligent outdoor lighting systems (WIOLS), peak load delay energy conservation systems, and autonomous connected devices.
- WIOLS wireless intelligent outdoor lighting systems
- peak load delay energy conservation systems for example, the preferred active control system may comprise and/or be implemented with multiple of the following features:
- Light-the-Way Two or more motion sensors, within a population of poles, are triggered by motion of a person or vehicle and cause the population to calculate an approximate direction and speed and light the way ahead of the person/vehicle. Each successive motion sensor trigger provides an opportunity to adjust the direction and speed to keep lighting the way for said person/vehicle.
- the light-the-way algorithm preferably resides on every pole in the population.
- one pole within a population of poles includes a pan-tilt camera.
- a vector is calculated and used to point the camera at the person/vehicle and follow as long as the person/vehicle is within the scope of the poles and range of the camera.
- the light threshold for photo cells across a population of poles varies based on manufacturing tolerances, plus individual poles experience different amounts of light based on location and shadowing.
- Photo cells across a population of poles can be used to coordinate a single “light on” and “light off” time for the entire population.
- An average, or a minimum or maximum for both the on-time and the off-time can be calculated each 24-hour period and used to implement coordinated on/off times for the population.
- the preferred active control system For what may be called generation optimization, the preferred active control system must determine what to do with energy being generated by the solar skin as a function of the customer, the time of day, the time of year, and the state of energy demands from a single-pole-, multiple-pole—(if a population of poles is in use), and utility-wide—(if tied to the grid) point of view, the security scenario (for example, pedestrians and/or vehicles in need of lighting), and the state of the battery pack. The preferred active control system performs this optimization to prioritize energy delivery to lighting, peripherals, the battery pack, and/or to the grid in grid-tied embodiments.
- the management algorithms may include modification of energy delivery to the lighting and/or to peripherals in order to protect the battery pack and to ultimately protect the entire lighting system.
- this active control is crucial to maintaining operability of the system and preventing damage to the batteries, over long cloudy or winter days.
- this active control is crucial to managing the synergistic relationship between the lighting pole/array, wherein the grid may rely on the pole/array for energy inverted directly onto the grid in real time when demand matches generation (e.g., afternoon air conditioning peak matches afternoon generation peak), or for battery-stored energy at other times, but wherein the pole/may may rely on the grid for energy input during the darkest months of the winter.
- the energy management algorithms such as N1, E1, E2, etc. modes described later in this document, as a function of battery voltage may be relatively simple for a single load (for example, LED lighting). However, for each added load, the algorithms become more complex. With a transport layer load (wireless radios) plus myriad other peripherals (video, security gate, emergency call box, etc.), the energy management algorithms' scope includes the management of a prioritized list of “loads” that can be toggled on/off or reduced in functionality/consumption as a function of battery voltage, and, in grid-connected embodiments, may also include algorithms for drawing energy from the grid through the battery charger to refill.
- the preferred apparatus comprises an LED-based luminaire, a photocell, a control board, a charge controller, a solar collector (or solar collector panel) a battery subsystem (composed of 6-8 batteries, a battery enclosure and wiring harnesses), three motion sensors, and the pole assembly. See FIG. 37 .
- the solar collector captures light during daytime hours and passes it onto the charge controller.
- the charge controller manages the power provided from the solar collector to optimize the power to be stored in the batteries.
- the batteries hold stored electrical energy and release it to power the LED luminaire and other system electronics.
- Various modes of energy release are determined and managed by the control board.
- the control board uses input from the photocell to determine when to turn the luminaire on (and off at dawn), and uses energy-saving algorithms to manage energy to the luminaire. These algorithms take into account the charged state of the battery subsystem, the photocell output, the state of the motions sensors, and the anticipated time before dawn. Certain variables that determine the degree of power management can be user-selected.
- E1, E2, and E3 modes, etc. are detailed later in this document; it will be understood by those of skill in the art, after reading this document, that these algorithms/methods are described for a system that is based on 12 volts, but that these algorithms/methods could be scaled to systems based on other voltages, for example, 24 or 36 volts.
- the light pole assembly is the structural element of the overall system, and contains compartments and channels for the various subsystems and wiring.
- the preferred light pole assembly is portrayed in FIGS. 38 and 39 , shown with a box-style lighting fixture.
- the pole 1112 provides the structural support for the luminaire 1140 , and the channel for all the wiring inside that connects the other subsystems. It also provides the outer surface and structural support for the solar collector 1114 . Compartments or holes in the pole are provided for various subsystems depending on whether they need to communicate to the outside world or whether they can be wholly contained inside the pole.
- Those subsystems include the batteries/battery enclosures, control board, battery charge controller, solar collector wiring, motion sensors, and RS-232 ports.
- the preferred pole 1112 is of single piece construction, and is made from ASTM steel (10 gauge IPS tube) and is black powder coated to provide protection to the pole from the elements.
- a battery compartment 1162 is contained in the lower 10′′ diameter portion (enlarged diameter relative to the rest of the pole) of the pole with a secured door to allow access for installation and maintenance of the battery subsystem. Openings are provided at the bottom and top of the pole assembly to allow natural convective air to enter the interior of the pole to cool the batteries.
- the solar collector is wrapped around the smaller-diameter portion of the pole, from above the larger-diameter pole bottom end nearly to the top end of the pole. Thus, the solar collector preferably extends about 20 feet along the pole.
- Openings in the pole allow for electrical connection between the solar collector and the charge controller. Three openings above the top of the battery chamber allow for the mounting and electrical connection of the motion sensors.
- the control board is mounted at the top of the battery chamber.
- the luminaire is supported by an arm that is mounted at the top of the pole. All electrical wiring required for the luminaire and associated electronics are channeled through the interior of the pole.
- the preferred solar collector is a thin-film photovoltaic device that converts sunlight into electrical energy.
- the solar collector operates from about 15 volts on the low end (with lower current flow at this lower voltage) up to 15% over the rated 33 volts and 136 watts.
- the initial operation will be 15% over the ratings, but will stabilize to the nominal collector specifications within a few months (due to the Staebler-Wronski effect). This stabilization is well-characterized and understood in the thin film photovoltaic industry.
- the center line of the solar collector faces approximately in the direction of the sun at its highest point in the sky and wraps 225 degrees around the pole to collect light in the morning and evening hours.
- the preferred thin-film solar collector is highly shade-tolerant, both as far as individual cells within the collector and the collector as a whole.
- a solar collector is comprised of multiple solar cells. If solar cells are connected in series, a shaded cell within the collector can begin to consume current (as opposed to create current). This not only degrades the overall performance of the collector, but can create hot spots in the collector that can be damaging to the collector.
- the solar collectors used by the present Inventors and Applicant Inovus Solar, Inc. have bypass diodes that prevent shaded portions of the collector from consuming current. This preserves the performance of the collector and prevents the build up of hot spots.
- the thin film material that Ruins the active photovoltaic component in the Inventors' and Applicant's collector is more effective at converting sunlight on cloudy days.
- Daylight is composed of direct sunlight and diffuse or scattered sunlight.
- cloudy days almost all the light that reaches the collector is diffuse sunlight.
- Inventors'/Applicant's thin film collector converts this diffuse sunlight into usable energy nearly 20% better than crystalline or polycrystalline Si collectors.
- the solar collector is conformably attached to the surface of the pole by means of rivets and a strong heat tolerant adhesive (an ethylene propylene copolymer adhesive-sealant with microbial inhibitor).
- a strong heat tolerant adhesive an ethylene propylene copolymer adhesive-sealant with microbial inhibitor.
- the solar collector fits snugly against the pole, itself taking the generally-cylindrical shape of the pole. Because the collector is conformably attached, it does not incur any additional wind loading onto the system. This is a decided advantage compared to flat panels that incur a high wind load (or snow load) and thus may not be suitable for many sites. It is virtually impossible for natural events to dislodge the collector, and it is highly resistant to vandalism.
- the covering for the solar collector is a durable ETFE (e.g. Tefzel®) high light-transmissive polymer.
- ETFE e.g. Tefzel®
- This polymer coating not only provides a durable physical shield for the collector's solar cells, but also a durable chemical shield, protecting them from water, salt spray, etc. It can be easily wash with water and detergents.
- Measured power generation on Inventors'/Applicant's poles according to embodiments of the invention has been measured at least 50 Watts at Boise, Id., U.S.A. during the month of November, with energy generated well in excess of 300 Watt-hours.
- the actual performance of the system depends on the location of the installation. Many factors influence this including shading from adjacent buildings or structures and weather patterns in the area installed.
- Inventors'/Applicant's preferred solar collector is currently the Unisolar PVL 136, specifications for which may be obtained from the company Unisolar and/or from appendices in the provisional U.S. application of which this application claims benefit and which are incorporated by reference into this document.
- the battery charge controller is connected between the solar collector and the battery subsystem.
- the charge controller controls the current and voltage delivered to the batteries and optimizes the charging conditions to the battery to assure that the batteries are not overcharged, preferably according to the multi-step process portrayed in FIG. 40 .
- the multi-step process features an auto-equalize step (to 14.5V) every 28 days or if low charge, that is preferably 3 hours of over-voltage charge to reduce plate sulfation.
- the charge controller provides for low voltage disconnect (LVD) at 11.0V (and reconnect when 12 V is again reached), to prevent damage to the batteries from over-draining. Battery charge is monitored through voltage level, as shown in FIG. 41 .
- the Inventors and Applicant use an advanced Maximum Power Point Tracking technology that converts the voltage from the solar panel that is above the battery voltage into usable energy that can be stored in the batteries.
- Older technologies including PWM (pulse width modulation) charge controllers, are unable to do this.
- the batteries are a 12V system and the solar panel is a 30-33V system, significant energy can be converted from the solar panel for storage in the batteries. This enables the system to generate energy on sunny days (or even mostly-sunny days) typically well in excess of what is consumed at night. This excess is stored in the batteries.
- the preferred Morningstar SunSaver MPPT-15 Maximum Power Point Tracking algorithms provide 90% more efficient operation (compared to conventional PWM charge controllers), transferring maximum power to batteries even though PV array and batteries operating at different voltages.
- Specifications for the Morningstar SunSaver system may be obtained from the company Morningstar and/or from appendices in the provisional U.S. application of which this application claims benefit and which are incorporated by reference into this document.
- MPPT controllers are apparatus and methods known to those of skill in the art, and will be understood by those of skill in the art after reading this disclosure; MPPT controllers are available from various manufacturers.
- the charge controller is designed to tolerate harsh environments.
- the fully solid-state electronics are encapsulated in an epoxy potting to prevent moisture and harmful chemicals from degrading the electronics.
- the casing is a rugged die cast aluminum, and the terminals are marine rated.
- the operating temperature range is specified from ⁇ 40 degrees C. to +60 degrees C.
- each battery stores 26 Amp-hours for a total of 156 Amp-hours. See FIG. 41 .
- the battery subsystem can accommodate up to 8 batteries in parallel.
- the battery dimensions of 6.56′′ ⁇ 6.97′′ ⁇ 4.92′′ allows them to be placed in an insulated battery enclosure (2 in each enclosure) and fit within the pole base, preserving the aesthetics of the preferred pole.
- the preferred batteries utilize Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) technology that immobilizes the battery's electrolyte in a fiberglass mat.
- AGM Absorbent Glass Mat
- This leak-proof design means that the electrolyte will not spill is the casing is damaged. It is the reason these batteries are approved to be shipped by air by both the D.O.T. and the I.A.T.A.
- AGM batteries provide superior tolerance to heat and low humidity, as little-to-no water is lost under high heat and/or low humidity. This preserves battery life well beyond simple lead-acid or gel batteries under these conditions.
- AGM batteries also provide recombining of the oxygen with hydrogen to form water during charging. This not only prevents loss of gas and maintains the water for the electrolyte.
- the battery chamber in the pole is cooled by a process, described earlier in this document, that draws cool air up through the interior of the pole.
- the active control system is capable of monitoring each individual battery pack and isolating the rest of the system if one battery (or set of batteries) goes bad, for example, if a battery cannot hold a charge. This is accomplished by disconnecting (via relays or other switching means) the bad batteries from the good batteries in the system. If allowed to stay connected to the system, the bad batteries would otherwise bring down the voltage and performance of the entire system. Left unchecked, it could potentially cause the entire system to degenerate to the point of failure. By disconnecting the bad batteries, the rest of the battery storage system will continue to operate (albeit at a lower overall storage capacity) until the bad batteries are replaced.
- the battery casing and lid are made of a non-conductive and high impact resin. The material is also resistant to chemicals and to flammability.
- the plates within the battery are optimized for surface area via porous electrode materials. This increases energy density and optimizes capacity.
- the battery enclosures are made of polypropylene, with an insulating layer between the battery casing and the battery enclosure walls.
- a wire harness connects all the batteries in parallel, and is made of marine grade wiring.
- the Inventors' and Applicant's current preferred and approved batteries are PowerSonic's Model 12260. Specifications for which may be obtained from the company PowerSonic and/or from appendices in the provisional U.S. application of which this application claims benefit and which are incorporated by reference into this document.
- SLA-AGM type batteries (sealed lead acid, absorbant glass mat) have been preferred, but they have approximately a 4 year life and must be recycled (lead acid, being potentially toxic).
- LiFE PO3 Lithium Iron Phosphate
- LiFE PO3 Lithium Iron Phosphate
- the preferred lighting fixture comprises a 12 volt LED lamp source.
- the preferred LED modules and mounting brackets for the modules are described earlier in this document, with examples portrayed in FIGS. 30-33E .
- FIG. 43 provides a close-up view of the preferred LED module, detached from any mounting bracket.
- a 0-5V PWM line connects the control board to the drivers on the LED engine. The modulated pulses from the control board determine how the drivers output current to the LED's, thus affecting the LEDs' lumen output.
- Each LED has a nominal raw output of 100 lumens/Watt at a thermal pad temperature of 25 degrees C. (Philips data sheet). Slightly lower luminous output will be experienced as the pad temperature rises. Pad temperature under operation has been measured at 50 degrees C., so luminous raw output per LED may drop to 93% of nominal output (Philips data sheet).
- the LEDs are mounted on a PCA (printed circuit assembly), and each LED has a small glass lens to create an initial desired illumination pattern.
- a high transmittance polycarbonate layer that fits closely over the LED's. This polycarbonate layer has additional lensing and reflective surfaces to generate the final desired illumination pattern from each LED.
- the assembly of the PCA with LED's, the polycarbonate lenses, a heatsink, and wiring comprises a module.
- the preferred 8-module light fixture operates at 50 Watts or about 1.5 W per LED. Under operation, the heatsink has been measured at 40 degrees C. at a 25 degree C. ambient temperature. The temperature gradient between heatsink and thermal pad is 7 degrees C./Watt, so the pad temperature under those conditions is 50 degrees C.
- the temperature gradient between pad and LED junction is 10 degrees C./Watt (Philips data sheet). So, under these conditions, the junction temperature is 65 degrees C. The net temperature gradient between ambient and junction is thus roughly 40 degrees C. Even at ambient temperatures of 60 degrees C. (140 degrees F.), the junction temperature should remain around 100 degrees C. This is important from a lifetime and reliability standpoint.
- FIG. 44 is a plot of lifetime for Philips LED's as a function of junction temperature.
- the preferred lighting fixture operates at 450 mA, so the trend will be closer to the 350 mA trend line than the 700 mA trend line.
- B 10 is the value at which 10% of the population is expected to fail
- L 70 defines a lumen maintenance failure when a unit delivers less than 70% of its initial output. So the lifetime at (B 10 , L 70 ) is the expected stress time (at a 90% confidence level) at which 10% of the population is expected to have either failed or has degraded by more than 30% from the initial light output.
- a junction temperature 100 deg. C., there should be plenty of margin for maintaining a 60,000 hour LED lifetime.
- FIGS. 45A-C illustrate multiple, but not the only, possible arrangements for the LED modules, including a regular eight-module arrangement ( FIG. 45A ), a more random eight-module arrangement ( FIG. 45B ), and a twelve-module arrangement ( FIG. 45C ).
- FIG. 45A a regular eight-module arrangement
- FIG. 45B a more random eight-module arrangement
- FIG. 45C a twelve-module arrangement
- other styles of lighting fixtures may be used on the pole assembly, to match preexisting fixtures or the preferences of the customer.
- Illuminance is a key parameter to assessing the ability of the luminaire to put light onto a surface.
- illuminance on the surface at certain distances away from the pole are important.
- Measured illuminance from the Inventors' and Applicant's Type 2 luminaire at a 25 ft. pole height is 0.1 footcandles at 50 ft. This is roughly equivalent to the illuminance of a 100 watt High Pressure Sodium or Metal Halide luminaire after the bulb has burned in. This illuminance is created when running the luminaire at 50 watts total power (6.25 watts/module). Total luminaire Efficacy is 45 lumens/watt.
- LED Driver is preferably a SuperTex HV9910, high efficiency PWM driven control IC.
- the controller consists of a microprocessor-based PCA and the associated firmware that controls the functions described herein.
- the PCA comprises Microchip's PIC18F6622 microprocessor, various logic components, power circuitry, an RS232 serial port, and low voltage connectors and circuitry for connection to other electrical subsystems/components. Most of the electrical connections to other subsystems are either for sensing the various states of those subsystems or for managing power to those subsystems.
- the control board senses the following:
- the control board sends a 0-5V PWM output to the LED drivers in the luminaire to control the drive currents.
- the PWM values are determined via the microprocessor by executing the energy management algorithms (detailed below), which take into account values from the photocell, motion sensor and battery system.
- the control board communicates to the outside world via the RS232 serial port. Simple serial port communication programs can “talk” with the control board. Communication via the RS232 is primarily for reporting and testing.
- the control board is currently mounted inside the pole at the top of the battery compartment, at an angle to allow access to the RS232 connector. It is conformally coated with a protective film to guard against degradation from environmental extremes such as moisture, chemicals and salt air.
- Motion sensors detect movement during low light or nighttime conditions. There are three motion sensors mounted on the light pole. They are low profile and unobtrusive (black body blends in with the pole). The motion detectors are capable of sensing motion out to 10 meters. Yet they have high a high S/N ratio and are low power consumption. Any motion detected is fed back to the controller board which then decides how to brighten the illumination of the LED's. Key variables in the algorithms include the current state of illumination and the battery voltage.
- the preferred motion sensors are Panasonic's Model AMN14111 “black”.
- the photocell detects the ambient light conditions, and is primarily active within the system around dusk and dawn. Detected light level is used to adjust the resistance of the photodetector in the photocell circuitry.
- the control board senses the change in resistance of the photocell and uses it to determine when to turn the luminaire on (generally at dusk) and when to turn the luminaire off (generally at dawn).
- the photocell is a twist-lock mounted device that mounts onto standard photocell interfaces on the top of light fixture boxes.
- the electronics are conformally coated to withstand environmental extremes and are enclosed inside a UV resistant, high impact polypropylene case. It is also rated to operate from ⁇ 40 deg C. to +70 deg C.
- the current photocell is the Fisher-Pierce 7760-ESS.
- the wiring harness connects the batteries in parallel and connects all the subsystems. All wiring is Marine-grade, UL1426 approved wire. All connectors are initially coated with dielectric grease to prevent oxidation and corrosion of the metal contacts. All main power lines (from solar collector to charge controller & from charge controller to load and batteries) are fused (5 amps).
- the photocell turns on the light at 100% (factory preset) normal power. It stays at 100% for two hours (factory preset) then dims down to 25% brightness (factory preset) for the balance of the night w/ motion sensor over-ride. If motion is detected it immediately brightens up to 100% for 10 minutes after the last-detected motion. It then dims back down to the lower setting over one minute. Towards dawn, the light will brighten back up to full brightness approximately 30 minutes (factory preset) prior to dawn. When the photocell threshold for dawn is crossed, the light will turn off.
- FIG. 47 portrays examples of how system conditions can be utilized to determine the appropriate energy modes based on current states to modify power delivered, to the light or other loads, beyond or instead of the “normal” changes over time shown in FIG. 46 .
- the voltage of the batteries (on the right of the figure) is one indicator of how much energy is available in the battery storage. As the battery voltage drops, the energy mode is adjusted so that energy can be conserved.
- the Ah decision block is referring to the solar production (in Amp-Hours, Ah) from the previous day. This Ah information is also an indicator of whether or not energy needs to be conserved. On any given day, if the energy produced is less than normal, then the energy mode is adjusted to conserve energy, over and above the adjustments shown in FIG. 46 , preferably during the following night.
- Modes E1 through E6 Energy Savings Modes are available (modes E1 through E6), and selection of the modes is determined by the measuring the battery voltage at the end of the day.
- modes E1 and E2 the light is still brought up to full brightness initially & then dimmed down to less than 25% brightness down to a minimum brightness (for example, of 5-10%).
- modes E3 through E5 the light is brought up to 80%, 70% and 50% of full brightness initially, and then dimmed down to less than 25% brightness down to as low as 7.5%.
- the time at which the light is brightened back up before dawn in also scaled back so that it is not up at full brightness for as long as normal mode.
- Vnb> 12.5 then increase light to 100.0% for 10 minutes & then dim down to 50% over 6 minutes; If 12.0 ⁇ Vnb ⁇ 12.5 then increase light to 100.0% for 8 minutes & then dim down to 50% over 4 minutes; If 11.5 ⁇ Vnb ⁇ 12.0 then increase light to 100.0% for 6 minutes & then dim down to 40% over 4 minutes; If 11.0 ⁇ Vnb ⁇ 11.5 then increase light to 100.0% for 4 minutes & then dim down to 30% over 2 minutes; If 10.5 ⁇ Vnb ⁇ 11.0 then increase light to 100.0% for 2 minutes & then dim down to 30% over 2 minute; If 10.0 ⁇ Vnb ⁇ 10.5 then increase light to 50% for 1 minute & then dim down to 20% over 1 minute; If Vnb ⁇ 10.0 then light remains off.
- Time clock can be set according to two modes: a. Clock Mode; b. Timer Mode (uses the photo cell to determine pre-dawn and post-dusk times). There are two settings for Timer Mode: 1. “On”-Timer sets the amount of time the light turns on post-dusk; 2. “Off”-Timer sets the amount of time the light turns on pre-dawn.
- the Clock Mode allows the user to set the pre-dawn and pre-dusk ON times in hours and minutes. The lights will turn OFF based on the Timer Mode ON and OFF settings. Note that the factory default setting for the Timer Mode ON and OFF timers is 2 hrs.
- All battery voltages shall be verified by checking for at least 30 seconds. For example, if the battery voltage drops below 10.0 volts, it must stay below 10.0 volts for 30 seconds before turning the light off. Once the voltage goes above 10.0 volts, it must stay above 10.0 volts for at least 30 seconds before turning the light back on again (or performing actions per the rules above)
- the light turns on at 100% at dusk & remains on for 2 hours.
- the light dims down to 50% and remains at 50% until the motion sensor activates the light back up to 100% for 10 minutes.
- the light then dims back down to 50% over the next 6 minutes.
- the light turns on at 100% at dawn and remains on for 2 hours then shuts off.
- the unit then switches to charging mode (lights off) until dusk mode. Note that both dusk and dawn modes are determined by a photocell.
- Time clock setting is timer on & off (dawn 2 ( ⁇ 0.5) hours & dusk 2 hours).
- the light turns on at 100% at dusk & remains on for 2 hours.
- the light dims down to 20% and remains at 20% until the motion sensor activates the light back up to 100% for 2 minutes.
- the light then dims back down to 20% over the next 2 minutes.
- the light turns on at 100% at dawn and remains on for 1 hour then shuts off.
- the unit then switches to charging mode (lights off) until dusk mode.
- the night battery voltage Vnb; if Vnb ever drops below 20 volts then turn light off.
- Vnb> 25 then increase light to 100% for 10 minutes & then dim down to 50% over 6 minutes; If 24 ⁇ Vnb ⁇ 25 then increase light to 100% for 8 minutes & then dim down to 40% over 4 minutes; If 23 ⁇ Vnb ⁇ 24 then increase light to 100% for 6 minutes & then dim down to 30% over 4 minutes; If 22 ⁇ Vnb ⁇ 23 then increase light to 100% for 4 minutes & then dim down to 25% over 2 minutes; If 21 ⁇ Vnb ⁇ 22 then increase light to 100% for 2 minutes & then dim down to 20% over 2 minute; If 20 ⁇ Vnb ⁇ 21 then increase light to 50% for 1 minute & then dim down to 15% over 1 minute; If Vnb ⁇ 20.0 then light remains off.
- All battery voltages shall be verified by checking for at least 30 seconds. For example, if the battery voltage drops below 20 volts, it must stay below 20 volts for 30 seconds before turning the light off. Once the voltage goes above 20 volts, it must stay above 20 volts for at least 30 seconds before turning the light back on again (or performing actions per the rules above).
- Vnb 24.96 & remains below 25 for more than 30 seconds.
- the light then dims down to 40% over the next 4 minutes.
- the motion sensor activates it again & it brings it back up to 100% for 8 minutes, then dims down 40% over the next 4 minutes.
- the battery voltage remains above 24 volts until 2 hrs. before dawn at which time it brings the light back up to 100%. During these 2 hrs. the voltage drops below 21 volts, so the light is dimmed down to 50% until the photocell turns the light off at dawn.
- Peak Power Peak Power
- Dusk Reference Dusk Reference
- Dawn Reference and Dim Down Time
- Peak Power Pp, and is adjustable in Hidden Menu
- “On” time at Dusk (in minutes) Tk, and is adjustable in Local Programming, and default is 120
- “Off” time pre-Dawn (in minutes) Tn; and is adjustable in Local Programming, and default is 30
- Dimmed down percentage Dp, and is adjustable in Local Programming, and default is 25
- Night-time (during the night) battery voltage Vnb
- Ending battery voltage from previous day Veb.
- the photocell will “start the timer” for Future Night Timer at dusk & the photocell will “stop the timer” in the morning in order to determine what the value (Nt) will be for the second night. Nt will be saved to EEPROM so that it is not lost when the unit is reset. A check will be put in place to prevent any unusable Nt values from being saved. If a timer value is changed in local programming after it has already begun running it will not be used until the next time that timer starts.
- the photocell turns on the light at dusk & keeps the light on for the pre-set time period Tk (in minutes), at which time it gradually (over one min) dims it down to a lower power level defined by Dp.
- the program continues to monitor for motion even while running its motion detection timer. Timer will be reset each time motion is detected.
- the timer can be set according to the following options. Timer Mode may use the photo cell to determine the time period of the night. Photocell values for dusk and dawn can be set in the Hidden Menu. Defaults are 600 for Dawn and 700 for Dusk. These will need to be more precisely determined with testing. Dawn will be determined by monitoring the photocell value at an adequate level of brightness. Dusk will be determined by monitoring the photocell value at an adequate level of darkness. A photocell value greater than the Dusk setpoint will be considered night. A photocell value less than the Dawn setpoint will be considered day. There will be a sufficiently large deadband between the two setpoints. A trigger time of one minute will be given to each Dawn/Dusk setpoint. The light will never be on when the photocell reading is below the Dawn setpoint once the trigger time criteria has been met.
- Timer Mode There are two settings for Timer Mode, which are: 1) “On”-Timer sets the amount of time the light turns on to full brightness at dusk; and 2) “Off”-Timer sets the amount of time the light dims back up to full brightness pre-dawn.
- the Timer Mode allows the user to set the pre-dawn and pre-dusk ON times in minutes. The lights will turn on & off based on the Timer Mode ON and OFF settings.
- the factory default setting for the Timer Mode ON timer is 2 hrs. (variable Tk)
- the factory default setting for the Timer Mode OFF timer is 0.5 hr. (variable Tn).
- All battery voltages shall be verified by checking for at least 30 seconds. For example, if the battery voltage drops below 10.0 volts, it must stay below 10.0 volts for 30 seconds before turning the light off. Once the voltage goes above 10.5 volts, it must stay above 10.5 volts for at least 30 seconds before turning the light back on again (or performing an action per the rules above).
- Photocell turns the light on at 100% at dusk & remains on for 2 hours, at which time the light dims down to 25% power over the next minute.
- the light remains at the dimmed down light level state until the motion sensor is activated, at which time the light is brought back up to 100% for 10 minutes.
- the light then dims back down to 25% power over the next minute.
- the light dims back up to 100% 30 minutes pre-dawn and remains on until the photocell shuts the light off.
- Photocell turns the light on at 100% at dusk & remains on for 2 hours, at which time the light dims down to 12.5% power (50% of Dp) over the next minute.
- the light remains at the dimmed down light level state until the motion sensor is activated, at which time the light is brought back up to 80% for 4 minutes.
- the light then dims back down to 12.5% power over the next minute.
- the light dims back up to 100% 0.5 hr. pre-dawn and remains on until the photocell shuts the light off.
- a minimum Ah threshold will be set to eliminate noise that could create false counts on the Ah Min and Ah Hours readings.
- the following numbered list comprises requests in firmware to facilitate testing and diagnosing problems. It is assumed that that there is a test tool available that allows communication with the control board and to pass along test and diagnostic parameters, as well as receiving responses/output from the control board.
- Nightly energy consumption for the Inovus VisiaTM 100 luninaire is from 84 watt-hours to 206 watt-hours.
- the main function of the Load Shedding System is to maintain power to the most important loads as energy conservation modes are incorporated.
- the loads When energy stores in the batteries drop below the predetermined levels, the loads will begin to be “shed” (disconnected from the power source, that is, the batteries).
- the Secondary Loads First WIFI and then LED Luminaire) are shed first.
- the control board sends a control signal to each required load shed relay (in turn) as required to conserve energy while still maintain power to the Primary Loads.
- the preferred solar collector is an amorphous, rather than a crystalline material, and, while it is fairly low in efficiency compared to many recently-developed photovoltaic cell materials, the preferred solar collector has features described herein, and the invented active control system has features described herein, that result in surprisingly effective and successful solar-powered outdoor lighting.
- FIG. 49 research data over the years for many different photovoltaic cells is shown, with efficiencies currently ranging from approximately 5-43% for different photovoltaic cells.
- Efficiency in FIG. 49 is defined as the maximum watts per square meter of solar collector surface area compared to solar irradiance over the earth. The average irradiance or solar insolation over the entire earth (as an average) is approximately 164 watts per square meter. So, a solar collector that is 40% efficient would produce approximately 66 watts.
- FIG. 49 includes the solar collector, used in the preferred embodiments of the invention (marked “Inovus,” for Applicant Inovus Solar, Inc.).
- This collector is in the category of amorphous SiH (stabilized) photovoltaic cells and has improved over the years to approximately 13% efficiency. Although this efficiency is low compared to many photovoltaic cells that are available, the preferred embodiments are able, because of special features of this amorphous photovoltaic cell material, and because of the preferred active control methods, to achieve surprising results even through winter and/or extended cloudy periods.
- the preferred solar collector material is much more shade tolerant than non-amorphous solar panels, which is am important advantage above and beyond the advantage of being economical compared to the high-efficiency (greater than 25% efficient, for example) PV cells.
- the vertically-mounted “wrapped” configuration of the solar collector on a round pole is superior in two ways.
- the collector always has a good portion of its surface area facing the sun. So, if there is great sun in the morning, but limited sun after noon, then the total for the day is still good due to the morning collection.
- the system can collect much more than a conventional system because a conventional system only faces the optimum location at noon—missing out on possible opportunities in the morning or late afternoon.
- the second advantage of the preferred system is the fact that the angle of the sun with respect to the solar collector is optimum in the morning & late afternoon (when the sun is lower in the sky) and also in the winter. These are the times when it is typically more important to collect as much energy as possible (because the days are shorter in the winter). In the summer, there is plenty of sun, so the preferred system performs well, too, even though it is optimized (by design) for winter operation.
- the batteries can only store a set amount of energy, there is no way that the storage system could be large enough to store energy from the summer to use in the winter. Therefore, all “overproduction” in the summer is basically wasted.
- maximizing (focusing on) the winter performance in the preferred embodiments every possible bit of solar energy is “squeezed out” and also conserved during operation over the winter nights, to keep the system operational over the winter.
- the preferred embodiments of the invention produce about 20% of the normal (sunny day). This allows the system to always have some energy available, even if it can only turn the light on (at a lower dimmed down state) for a couple of hours at the beginning of the night.
- FIGS. 50 and 51A and B illustrate these surprising results for autonomous poles (not tied to the grid) that operated independently from each other (not networked for the purpose of these tests), wherein long periods of successful operation of the outdoor lighting was accomplished, without any tie to or contribution of energy from the electrical grid, without any replacement of the batteries, and without any energy input into the batterys or any part of the lighting system except from the amorphous PV cell material on each pole.
- FIG. 50 one may see long periods of days and weeks of sky cover (measured in hours during the day, defined as “cloudy” or “overcast” as judged from the local weather report), but the system maintained minimum battery voltage above the important benchmark of approximately 11 volts all through the roughly two month winter period, except for the “waving tree limb” incident in December, described above.
- FIGS. 51A and B which represent a different test, of a set of poles operating over about 2.5 winter months (the graph being split roughly in two), multiple poles operating independent of each other and autonomously (not tied to the grid) all performed continuously at or above 11 volts throughout the winter, despite long stretches of little or no sunshine per day.
- a solar-powered outdoor lighting system comprising: a flexible photovoltaic solar collector panel curved at least 180 degrees around a generally cylindrical light pole and attached to the light pole so that the panel is generally vertical; a lighting fixture connected to the pole and comprising multiple light emitting diodes (LEDs); at least one battery operatively connected to the solar collector panel and the LEDs; an active controller system comprising a maximum power point tracking charge controller adapted to charge said at least one battery, and a load controller adapted for management of energy delivery to said LEDs, wherein said management of energy delivery is adapted to turn on, turn off, dim and brighten said LEDs; at least one motion sensor connected to said pole and operatively connected to said load controller; wherein said load controller is adapted, in response to said motion sensor sensing motion near the pole when the LEDs are in a dimmed state, to increase power to said LEDs to brighten said LEDs at least while said motion is detected.
- LEDs light emitting diodes
- Said active controller may be adapted to dim said LEDs when said at least one battery falls to a battery voltage in the range of 1-2 volts above a minimum safe battery voltage, said minimum safe battery voltage being a voltage below which battery damage occurs.
- Said solar-collector preferably is amorphous silicon (non-crystalline) photovoltaic material having an efficiency in sunshine in the range of 10-16%.
- Said active controller system may be adapted to determine an amount to dim said LEDs, during a nighttime at least when said at least one motion sensor is not sensing motion near the pole, based on battery voltage of said at least one battery at dusk prior to said nighttime.
- said active control system may be adapted to determine an amount to dim said LEDs, during a nighttime at least when said at least one motion sensor is not sensing motion near the pole, based on energy production in amp-hours by said solar collector panel in a previous time period comprising one or more days.
- said active control system may be adapted to determine an amount to dim said LEDs, during a nighttime at lease when said at least one motion sensor is not sensing motion near the pole, based on historical data of energy collection by the solar collector over a period one year earlier.
- the active control system may be adapted to disconnect any battery that fails, for example, by failing to hold a charge.
- Said active controller system may be adapted to turn on said LEDs and bring said LEDs to full brightness at said dusk, and then dim the LEDs down to 25% or less brightness down after a predetermined amount of time and throughout the nighttime except for times during the nighttime when said at least one motion sensor senses motion near said pole.
- said active controller system may be adapted to turn on said LEDs at dusk at a reduced brightness in the range of 50%-80% of full brightness, to dim the LEDs down to less than 25% brightness after a predetermined amount of time throughout the nighttime except for times during the nighttime when said at least one motion sensor senses motion near said pole.
- said active controller (or said load controller) may be adapted, in response to said motion sensor sensing motion near the pole when the LEDs are in a dimmed state, to increase power to said LEDs to brighten said LEDs to 50-80% of full brightness while said motion is detected.
- said active controller system may be adapted to turn on said LEDs at dusk at a reduced brightness in the range of 50-80% of full brightness, and then dim the LEDs down to a range of 7.5%-25% of full brightness after a predetermined amount of time and throughout the nighttime except for times when said at least one motion sensor sensed motion near said pole.
- the lighting system may also comprise peripheral devices on said pole powered by said at least one battery, and wherein said active controller system is adapted to shed loads connected to the battery by turning off said peripheral devices to conserve battery energy.
- Said active controller system may be adapted to brighten said LEDs in response to said at least one motion detector only when said motion is below about 10 feet from the ground and only when said motion is not continuous.
- the preferred embodiments of the invention may be methods of controlling an outdoor lighting system, for example, comprising: providing a flexible solar collector panel curved at least 180 degrees around a generally cylindrical light pole so that the solar collector is generally vertical; providing a lighting fixture connected to the pole and comprising multiple light emitting diodes (LEDs); providing at least one battery operatively connected to the solar collector panel and the LEDs; providing at least one motion sensor on said pole; actively controlling energy delivery from said at least one battery to said LEDs, by turning on, dimming and turning off said LEDs according to at least one mode of operation, said at least one mode of operation comprising a normal operation mode comprising turning said LEDs on at dusk to full brightness for a first predetermined amount of time, and, after said first predetermined amount of time, dimming said LEDs to a first fraction of said full brightness, until said at least one motion sensor detects a motion event near said pole and then increasing energy delivery to said LEDs for a second predetermined amount of time starting when said at least one motion sensor no longer detects said
- the methods may include actively controlling energy delivery from said at least one battery to said LEDs by increasing energy delivery to said LEDs for a third predetermined amount of time before dawn so that said LEDs remain at full brightness until dawn.
- the methods may include dimming said LEDs when said at least one battery falls to a battery voltage in the range of 1-2 volts above a minimum safe battery voltage, said minimum safe battery voltage being a voltage below which battery damage occurs.
- the methods may include determining dimming based on battery voltage, previous amp-hours production, and/or historical data or weather or solar collector performance/production.
- the methods may include at least one mode of operation includes at least one energy-saving mode comprising turning said LEDs on at dusk to a second fraction of full brightness for said first predetermined amount of time, and then dimming said LEDs to a further-reduced third fraction of full brightness, until said at least one motion sensor detects a motion event near said pole and then increasing energy delivery to said LEDs for said second predetermined amount of time to said second fraction of full brightness, and, when said at least one motion sensor no longer detects said motion event, reducing energy delivery to said LEDs to dim said LEDs again to said third fraction of full brightness, so that the LEDs are dimmed to said third fraction of full brightness in between motion events.
- Said second fraction of full brightness may be in the range of 50%-80% of full brightness, and said third fraction is 7.5%-25% of full brightness.
- Said methods may include brightening said LEDs to said third fraction of full brightness for a third predetermined amount of time before dawn.
Abstract
One or more outdoor lights may operate independently with sensing and control processes mainly on-pole, or may communicate as a networked array of poles, wherein a master/coordinating pole/node transmits signals from the networked array to a control station, and receive signals from the control station for the networked array, via call phone and/or satellite. Independent poles and/or the networked array of poles may be adapted for energy-saving processes; cooperation with the grid; renewable power production and storage by means of solar panels and associated batteries; and/or to provide Wi-Fi hot-spots, public safety alarms, information or data-analysis to the public or customers. An energy-saving active control system controls charging of the batteries and distribution of energy from the solar panel and/or the batteries, so that the batteries remain undamaged, and the light(s) remain operation even during the winter or other long periods of clouds and diffuse light. The active control of energy distribution by a load controller function may include dimming during the night, except when sensors detect motion, and, in extreme cloudy or diffuse-light periods, increasing increments of dimming and/or load shedding, to preserve the batteries and operability.
Description
- This application claims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/114,993, filed Nov. 14, 2009, entitled “Energy Efficient Lighting Control,” and claims priority benefit of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 12/533,701, filed Jul. 31, 2009, entitled “Wireless Autonomous Solar-Powered Outdoor Lighting and Energy and Information Management Network”, the entire disclosures of said provisional application and said non-provisional application being incorporated herein by this reference.
- The field of the invention is outdoor lighting or other electric-powered devices, and apparatus, hardware, and software for efficient-energy management of said lighting or devices. Aspects of the invention may be applied to an array of outdoor lighting or other electric-powered devices, wherein network apparatus, hardware, and software are provided for monitoring and managing said array, and, optionally, for analyzing information gathered from said array for dissemination to customers.
- The invention is an energy-efficient system comprising at least one outdoor light, powered by solar panels and/or batteries, and may include other electrically-powered devices. The invented energy management system actively manages the available energy and controls the power or energy delivered to the load, in ways that allow said light and/or other devices to effectively operate and serve the users even through low-sun-shine days, weeks, or months. The preferred adaptations actively control battery charging, and actively control power delivered to the load, in contrast to conventional control methods wherein the system is passively controlled by the load. Thus, the preferred embodiments protect the batteries of the system from draining below their low-end threshold, even when operating over extended periods of low-sunshine days, whereas the conventional control methods allow the load to draw more energy than is available in the storage system/battery and frequently result in the load “turning itself off” and in battery damage.
- The invented system may be applied to an array of outdoor lights, which array may be networked, preferably wirelessly, and which may comprise additional apparatus, hardware and/or software for monitoring and managing said array. In preferred embodiments, the array comprises multiple outdoor lights that may operate mainly in an independent mode wherein sensing, communication, and control processes take place between the various lights of the array. Further communication and control may be provided between the array and a control station (or “headquarters”) by means of a master or “coordinating” node that transmits and receives signals to the control station via call phone and/or satellite. The system may be tied to the interne for dissemination of data and/or data analysis gathered by means of the multiple poles/devices of the array. The independent-array and/or the master-to-station network and communications may be adapted for energy-saving processes; power-receiving from or power-providing to the grid; renewable power production and storage by means of solar panels and/or wind turbines and associated batteries or other storage equipment; and/or to provide Wi-Fi hot-spots, public safety alarms, information, or advertising to the public or information/analysis to customers.
- An objective of the invention is to provide active control of the lighting system, comprising one or more lights, to result in energy-efficient lighting operation that remains operative and effective even through many cloudy days or inclement weather. An objective of the invention is to provide intelligent monitoring and control of outdoor lighting systems, and, preferably, of arrays of multiple lights wirelessly networked together. The preferred embodiments of these arrays are called “wireless intelligent outdoor lighting systems” (WIOLS) are adapted to operate in areas where there are no data communication lines available (i.e. no “hard-wired” system or “land-line”). The preferred embodiments accept a virtually unlimited number of “nodes” or connection points of the components to be controlled, wherein the nodes are preferably connection points for lights but may be other electrical devices. The preferred embodiments are adapted to generate the power to operate the outdoor lighting system in remote areas either from nearby power sources such as the utility grid or from a renewable energy source. Such renewable energy sources, including associated batteries, may be mounted on, or adjacent to, the outdoor lighting poles of the preferred embodiments.
- The outdoor lighting system shall allow for nodes to be added in the future, that is, after the initial system has been installed, and for these nodes to be automatically integrated to the network via “self-discovery” in which they are each assigned a unique location identification (ID). The self-discovery system, and assignment of location ID, may be accomplished via a global positioning system (GPS) system tool that identifies the latitude and longitude of the node location.
- The system may have intelligence built-in to the array of lights or other components, for example, intelligence for energy-saving processes, energy-storage management, and grid-array cooperation, WI-FI and public-safety alarms, and advertising or information dissemination. Said intelligence built-in to the array allows and/or supplements the operation of the array in independent mode, wherein the intelligent processes take place between the nodes of the array rather than between each node and a control station.
- In addition to, or in place of portions of, the independent-mode intelligence of the array, intelligence may be provided and controlled through an intelligent remote control station (“headquarters”) to execute intelligent activities in response to or in anticipation of events. Said intelligent remote control station may communicate to and control said array through preferably a single component/node of the array that is the single “master” or single “coordinating” node of the array. Thus, the control station may communicate with the coordinating component/node, and the coordinating component/node communicates to the multiple slave components/nodes of the array, rather than each component/node being controlled individually by the control station. Thus, the multiple slave components/nodes of the array are preferably connected to, and engage in two-way communication with, only the coordinating component/node, rather than each slave component/node being connected directly to, and communicating directly with, a control station.
- Embodiments of the invention may comprise lighting equipment, light poles, solar panels and/other renewable power production, energy storage equipment, and/or WIOLS equipment, and hardware, firmware, and/or software for said WIOLS network operation and preferably for active control of battery charging and energy delivery to lights or other loads. Preferred embodiments are described in the following Detailed Description, but it is to be understood that the invention may be embodied in many different ways within the broad scope of the claims, and the invention is not necessarily limited to these details, materials, designs, appearances, and/or specific interrelationships of the components.
-
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of a light pole system according to the invention, the light pole being anchored to a concrete base. -
FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment inFIG. 1 , with the decorative light fixture removed. -
FIG. 3 is top, cross-sectional view of the light pole ofFIGS. 1 and 2 , viewed along the line 3-3 inFIG. 2 , and illustrating to best advantage one embodiment of an adjustable connection between the light pole and the concrete base, and one embodiment of a battery system provided in the lower section of the pole. -
FIG. 4 is a top, cross-sectional view of the battery compartment ofFIG. 4 , shown with pole and sleeve access doors removed for access to the batteries. -
FIG. 5 is a top, cross-sectional view of an alternative battery compartment, without a sleeve and with a single access door through a side of the pole. -
FIG. 6 is a top, cross-sectional view of a middle section of the pole ofFIGS. 1 and 2 , illustrating the preferred flexible amorphous photovoltaic panel applied to the outside of the pole, and a sleeve system for cooling the photovoltaic panel and allowing air flow to continue up to the LED light fixture. -
FIG. 7 is a top, cross-sectional view of the LED fixture of the embodiment ofFIGS. 1 and 2 . -
FIG. 8 is a side, perspective view of the LED Fixture ofFIGS. 1 , 2, and 7. -
FIG. 9 is a partial, cross-sectional side view of the bottom section of the light pole containing a cooling sleeve and one or more batteries, illustrating natural air flow up through the sleeve. The rain skirt has been removed from this embodiment. -
FIG. 10 is a side perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention, which comprises a portable light pole with LED fixture, said light pole being hinged to a portable base and so being pivotal from a generally horizontal position for transport or storage to a vertical position for use. -
FIG. 11 is a side, perspective view of another embodiment comprising a decorative light fixture at the top of the pole plus an arm and traffic light extending from the pole. -
FIG. 12 is a side, perspective view of another embodiment of the invented light pole system for use by a highway, wherein the battery system is buried in the ground instead of being contained inside the pole or inside the base, and wherein the pole may be a break-away pole, both features being for improved safety in the event of a vehicle hitting the pole. -
FIG. 13 is a schematic illustration of sunlight hitting the preferred vertical, amorphous photovoltaic panel adhered to the light pole, wherein morning and evening light hit the sheet at close to perpendicular to the sheet surface and the noon sunlight hits the sheet surface at an acute angle. -
FIG. 14 illustrates the common conception of power production (for example, watt-hours) vs. time that is expected to be produced from a light-active device over a day. -
FIG. 15 schematically illustrates the actual power produced (for example, watt-hours) vs. time, by embodiments of the invention, wherein power production from the morning and evening sun is higher than expected. The curve illustrates a power production increase from early morning until mid or late morning, and then a dip in production due top the sharp incident angle of sunlight around noon when the sun rays hit the pole at sharp angles to the photovoltaic panel. -
FIG. 16 schematically illustrates that the preferred photovoltaic panel is provided around most of the circumference of the pole, so that said panel is available and catches the suns rays during the entire day. -
FIG. 17 is a partial detail view of an alternative, especially-preferred lower pole vent, wherein air is taken in between the pole flange and the base, through spaces between the bolts that secure and raise the pole slightly above the base. -
FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an alternative solar-powered light system including a connection (shown schematically) to a utility grid. -
FIG. 19 is a schematic of one embodiment of a wireless mesh network according to the invention. -
FIGS. 20A-D are schematics of example network processes according to embodiments of the invention, wherein an event is raised and subsequently “passed along” to multiple poles that comprise the best connection pathway at the time, until the NOC coordinator pole (also called the “master node” or “coordinator pole/node”) communicates the event/information to headquarters (also called Network Operations Center or “NOC”). -
FIG. 21 is a schematic of a “look-ahead” traffic lighting system according to one embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 22 is a schematic of one lighting unit that may be installed on a pole for one, but not the only, embodiment of a peak load delay energy conservation system, wherein said lighting unit does not comprise a solar panel due to the pole/unit's particular cooperative connection to the electric grid. In alternative embodiments, as discussed later in this document, pole/units that cooperate with the grid may also comprise a solar panel or other renewable energy source for generating energy. -
FIG. 23 is a schematic that portrays the general architecture of the preferred population of light poles and other device on or near the light poles and the preferred network according to one embodiment of the invention. The devices at the far left of the figure are devices powered by the solar engine; secure two-way communication is provided by the smart mesh from the far left to the far right of the figures and wide-area aggregation of data/information is performed by content services and provided to customers by the Network Operations Center (NOC) at the far right of the figure. -
FIG. 24 is a schematic that portrays various “layers” of the preferred embodiments of the invented array and network systems. -
FIG. 25 is a schematic that portrays an “Event Delivery Pipeline” according to one embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 26 is a schematic that portrays a “Device Management Pipeline” according to one embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 27 is a schematic portrayal of a “Light Delivery Stack” comprising reflection, generation, focusing, distribution, and shaping, with the result being light delivered “to the ground”. -
FIG. 28 is a schematic portrayal of modular approaches to solar-based electricity generation in embodiments of the invention. -
FIG. 29A is one embodiment of a collar that may be used to retrofit a pole with a solar-panel and energy storage. It may be noted that the solar panel is preferably flexible and may be installed on/incorporated into a flexible, semi-rigid, or even a rigid structure as desired for attachment to the pole. -
FIGS. 29B and C illustrate connection of the half-cylindrical retrofit collar onto an existing pole, wherein the solar PV panel is on the outside surface of the collar, the collar is mounted to the pole with the PV panel typically facing south in the northern hemisphere, and with wiring from the solar collar to the light fixture. -
FIG. 30 is a portrayal of one embodiment of an integral light unit, comprising solar collector fabric panel, LED light engine, battery pack and charger, controller/code unit(s) and modem, so that the entirely or substantially self-contained (“integral”) unit may be attached to a pole without modification of the pole or insertion of apparatus into the pole. -
FIG. 31A-C are views of the preferred, but not the only, invented LED module, shown with mounting bracket, wherein multiple of said modules are used to form an LED engine. -
FIGS. 32 A-D are views of multiple of the LED modules ofFIGS. 31A-C arrangement on a plate/baffle for pointing in one direction or multiple different directions (here, shown pointing in three directions) and for installation in a lighting fixture. -
FIGS. 33 A-E illustrates the plate with multiple LED modules ofFIGS. 32 A-D installed into a square “shoe-box-style” light fixture. -
FIGS. 34 and 35 illustrate basic logic flow diagrams of some embodiments of the active lighting control process, including error/alert indication processes. -
FIG. 36 schematically summarizes the operation of the preferred active control system according to embodiments of the invention. -
FIG. 37 is a schematic wiring diagram of the preferred active control system. -
FIGS. 38 and 39 are side views of the preferred solar-powered pole assembly, with an amorphous photovoltaic panel “wrapped” around the round pole, and with a shoe-box-style LED-module luminaire supported at the top of the pole. -
FIG. 40 is a plot of the preferred battery charging control process of the active control system. -
FIG. 41 is a plot of battery voltage vs. remaining amp-hours, used in preferred embodiments of the active control system. -
FIG. 42 is a plot of the current/voltage curve and the power output curve (watts vs. volts) for the preferred charge controller using Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) technology/algorithms, to transfer maximum power to batteries even though PV array and batteries are operating at different volts. -
FIG. 43 is a perspective view of the preferred LED module, removed from any attachment bracket and containing four of the preferred LEDs. -
FIG. 44 is a plot of expected lifetime vs. junction temperature plot for the preferred LEDs contained in the module ofFIG. 42 , wherein the preferred LEDs operate close to the 350 mAmp curve for an expected life of over 50,000 hours, and probably approximately 60,000 hours. -
FIG. 45A-C are bottom views (looking up from the ground) of three alternative LED modules arrangements, wherein a number of the LED modules ofFIG. 43 may be chosen, arranged, and tilted in various ways, to achieve a desired lighting pattern. -
FIG. 46 is a plot of luminaire power vs. time, in a normal operating mode for the preferred outdoor lighting system, wherein the preferred active control system turns the light on to full power at dusk for a predetermined amount of time, then dims the light, except for motion-detection events, and the raised light power to full-on for a predetermined amount of time before dawn. This normal operation mode saves energy compared to conventional lighting controls, wherein the light is on all night, and may be further modified according to energy-savings modes that further reduce/control luminaire and other peripheral power. -
FIG. 47 is a schematic example of the normal operating mode ofFIG. 46 (N1), and example further modifications (E1, E2) for further energy savings. Details of E1 and E2 are given later in this document. -
FIG. 48 is a schematic of an example of load-shedding, which may be required for further energy savings, if dimming of the light is not sufficient to protect the batteries and operability of the system. -
FIG. 49 is a plot of photovoltaic cell efficiency vs. time, for many types of PV cells, wherein the preferred PV material is shown to be in the range of 12-16 percent efficiency, and typically 13%. -
FIG. 50 is a plot of test data from a solar-powered pole operating without any tie to the grid, wherein the light met lighting needs through many weeks of sky cover (clouds, overcast) in a safe range for the batteries. -
FIGS. 51A and B are a plot (split onto two sheets) of operation of six solar-powered poles, without any tie to the grid, operating according to an embodiment of the active control system, wherein the poles successfully met lighting needs through many weeks of low sunshine days, even through January, when the light poles met said lighting needs by being dimmed according to energy-savings modes described later in this document. - Referring to the Figures, there may be seen some, but not the only, embodiments of the invention.
FIGS. 1-18 portray some, but not the only, embodiments of solar-powered light poles and lights that may form a “population” of poles for arrays and networks and/or be implemented as single or multiple, non-networked lighting poles.FIGS. 19-33E schematically portray some, but not the only, embodiments of arrays of outdoor lighting and other powered devices that are preferably managed as embodiments of the invented wireless intelligent outdoor lighting system (WIOLS) and that are preferably autonomous in that they may be operated at least part of the time by power other than the electrical grid. Included inFIGS. 19-33E are portrayals of management and monitoring processes, layering of capabilities and apparatus that make the preferred network possible, light-capture schemes, and LED module and light fixture options. The LED-module-light-fixture options may comprise conventional-appearing light fixture housings fit with embodiments of the invented LED modules, which may be used in addition to, or in place of, the “in-pole” LED light fixture featured inFIGS. 1-18 . Included inFIGS. 34-51B are portrayals of method steps, programming, and apparatus for the preferred outdoor lighting system that is actively controlled to achieve surprising results even over extended periods of cloudy and overcast winter days.FIGS. 34-51B include examples of the results achieved with the preferred embodiments of active control, even while using a photovoltaic cell material that is nominally low-efficiency when compared to many non-amorphous PV cell materials, but that is very effective in cloudy or overcast (“shady”) environments. - There is a need for an outdoor lighting system that is highly efficient in collecting and storing energy from the suns rays, and in using said energy over several nights to light a surrounding area even through inclement, overcast periods of time. Preferred embodiments utilize a cooling system that may greatly increase battery life and efficiency of the entire system. Preferred embodiments also utilize efficient, versatile LED light fixtures that may be used for all or nearly all street light styles without the need to separately engineer LED fixtures for each lamp/fixture style desired by the public, government, or neighborhood. Preferred embodiments have a visually-integrated appearance, preferably without flat panels of solar cells, and preferably with minimal or no unaesthetic protuberances and exposed equipment.
- The preferred solar-powered outdoor lighting utilizes a photovoltaic panel(s), for example amorphous photovoltaic laminate (PVL), and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to produce light, over a several-night period even during inclement, cloudy, or overcast weather conditions. In one embodiment, the invention comprises a light pole having a vertical portion covered by a flexible photovoltaic panel for being contacted by sunlight, and an LED light fixture powered by said photovoltaic panel via a battery or other energy storage device. The preferred flexible panel is a sheet of amorphous thin-film photovoltaic material(s) surrounding a significant portion of the circumference of the pole at least in one region along the length of the pole, and, preferably along the majority of the length of the pole. The light pole is specially-adapted for cooling of the photovoltaic panel and the batteries contained within the pole, if any. In embodiments wherein the LED light fixture is “in-pole,” as described below, the pole also may be specially-adapted for cooling the LED light fixture. Said cooling is important for achieving the high efficiencies of power production and storage, over long equipment lives, as exhibiting by the preferred embodiments
- The preferred light pole may be similar in exterior appearance to conventional light poles, in that the pole profile is generally smooth and of generally the same or similar diameter all the way along the length of the pole. The photovoltaic panel fits snugly against the pole outer surface and requires no brackets, racks or other protruding structure. In
FIGS. 1 , 2, 7, 8, 10-13, and 18, the LED fixture is at or near the top of the pole, is generally a vertical cylinder of the same or similar diameter as the pole, and may be convectively cooled by air flow up through the pole. This “in-pole” style of LED fixture eliminates the need for the difficult engineering task of adapting the many common styles of outdoor light fixtures to use LEDs. Further, because the preferred battery system is concealed either inside the pole, inside a base holding the pole, or buried below the grade level of the ground or street, there is no need for a large box or protruding battery structure on or near the pole. - In the event that the purchaser or public wish the lighting system to match or be reminiscent of previously-installed or other conventional street lights, a conventional-looking lighting fixture may be provided in addition to the preferred LED fixture. Said conventional-looking lighting fixture may extend horizontally or from atop the pole, and may be purely decorative, or may have a minimal or token light-emitting device therein. Such a decorative light fixture may more easily meet with approval from the public and/or may blend in with traditional street lights that remain in an area. By using a combination of the LED fixture and a decorative fixture, the single LED light-producing section may be engineered and installed, while preserving various aesthetic options for the city, county, or neighborhood and/or while allowing the new solar-powered lights to “blend in” with the street lights already in place. Further, the decorative light fixtures may be light-weight and designed to break-away in high winds or storms, thus minimizing the damage to the pole, surrounding property, and/or people.
- In the “in-pole” light fixture of
FIGS. 1 , 2, 7, 8, 10-13, and 18, the array of LEDs emit light from at least three and preferably four generally vertical sides of the fixture. The LED light fixture may emit light out in patterns extending 180 degrees-360 degrees around the fixture, for example. The LED fixture comprises heat exchange or other cooling means in order to lower the temperature of the LEDs and the associated equipment. - Other examples of invented light fixtures are described later in this document and are shown in
FIGS. 22 , 29, and 30-33E, which fixtures do not have LEDs and lenses on three or four sides and do not necessarily have vertical LED groupings. Instead, fixtures may have adjustable-direction LED modules that may be directed to emit light in various directions for fine-tuning to desired light patterns. - In another embodiment, an outdoor light pole, having the features described above, is provided on, and hinged to, a portable base. In such an embodiment, the battery system may be located in, and provide additional weight for, the base.
- In some embodiments, the solar-powered outdoor lighting system is connected to the utility grid, so that the photovoltaic panel may provide energy to the grid during peak-demand daylight hours, and so that, if needed or desired, low cost night-time electricity may be provided by the grid to the outdoor lighting system, to power the light and/or charge batteries. Preferably, even in such embodiments tied to the grid, batteries or other storage devices are provided that may also be charged during the daylight hours, for providing power to the lighting system during the night hours, and/or providing power to the lighting system in the event of a grid failure or natural catastrophe that interrupts grid power supply.
- In the preferred embodiments, venting and/or air channels are provided in the pole to allow cooling by natural convection air flow through the pole and the light fixture. Optionally, heating equipment may be provided in one or areas of the pole to protect equipment and/or enhance operation during extreme cold.
- Referring now specifically to
FIGS. 1-18 , there are shown several, but not the only, embodiments of the apparatus that may be used in invented lighting systems.FIG. 1 portrays one embodiment of a solar-poweredstreet light 10, comprising apole 12 with apanel 14 of thin-film photovoltaic material attached thereto. Thepanel 14 is preferably selected from commercially-available amorphous silicon (non-crystalline) photovoltaic materials that produce electrical energy when exposed to sunlight. One source of material for thepanel 14 is Uni-Solar (United Solar Ovonic), which flexible, non-framed laminates that may be used in embodiments of the invention, under the name of UNI-SOLAR® “solar laminates” or “photovoltaic laminates.” - While currently-available flexible photovoltaic laminates, such as the UNI-SOLAR solar laminates are preferred, it is envisioned that thin-film light-active materials being developed, or to be developed in the future, may be used in embodiments of the invention, wherein said materials being developed or to be developed may be used in the place of the
panel 14 described herein. For example, it is envisioned that photovoltaic material may be applied directly to thepole 12 in the form of a liquid having components that later polymerize or “set up” on the pole and retain the photovoltaic material on said pole. Thus, the flexible photovoltaic panels described herein may be provided as a flexible sheet attached to the pole, or as other thin-film materials applied to the pole and taking the form of the pole, that is, preferably curving at least 180 degrees around the pole, and, more preferably, at least 225 degrees around the pole. - The
panel 14 preferably is a thin, flexible sheet that is preferably adhered to the pole by adhesive. Thepanel 14 may be a single, continuous sheet with “self-stick” adhesive on a rear surface, and that, upon peeling off of a protective backing, may be directly applied to the pole. The integral adhesive makes attachment of thepanel 14 simple and inexpensive. No bracket, rack, covering, casing, or guard is needed over or around the preferred panel, and this simplicity of attachment preserves the aesthetics of the preferred slim and smooth profile of the pole. Less-preferably, multiple, separate panels may be adhesively applied to thepost 12 and operatively connected. - The preferred
panel 14 extends continuously around the pole along a significant amount of the circumference (preferably at least 225 degrees and more preferably about 270 degrees) of the pole in order to be directly exposed to sunlight all through the daylight hours. As illustrated inFIGS. 13-16 , this coverage of the pole will expose thepanel 14 to the suns rays generally from sunrise to sunset, in order to maximize solar-power generation. Thepanel 14 preferably covers ½-¾ of the length of the pole, extending from itsupper edge 20 at a location near the top of the pole to itslower edge 22 several feet above the base 24 supporting the pole. It is preferred that thelower edge 22 be high enough from the ground or street level that passers-by or vandals cannot easily reach thepanel 14 to cut, pry off, or otherwise damage the panel. - Connection of the
pole 12 to the base 24 may be clone in various ways, each typically being adjustable so that, at the time of installation, the pole may be turned to orient thepanel 14 optimally to catch sunlight through the day. The adjustable connection, shown inFIGS. 1 and 3 to best advantage, includes apole base flange 26 having multiple,curved slots 28 through which bolts extend, so that the bolts may be tightened to secure the pole to the base 24 after the pole is rotated to the desired orientation. The connection of the decorative light fixture (50, discussed below), may also be adjustable, so that, given any orientation of the pole, the decorative light fixture may be secured/tightened to point in the desired direction, for example, over a street or sidewalk. - The main, or only, light-producing unit of the
preferred street light 10 is a light-emitting diode (LED) fixture at or near the top of thepole 12. Thepreferred LED fixture 40 has a cylindrical outer surface and is coaxial with, and of generally the same diameter as, the upper end of thepole 12. This LED fixture, as will be discussed further below, may emit light out in a 360 degree pattern, or, may be adapted by LED and/or reflector placement and shape to emit various patterns of light as needed for a particular setting. - The
decorative light fixture 50 is portrayed inFIG. 1 as a box-style fixture on a horizontal aim, but may be other fixtures Thedecorative light fixture 50 comprises ahousing 52 and connectingarm 54 that are the same or similar to conventional fixtures. Thedecorative light fixture 50, however, has no internal or external workings to produce light, no bulb and no wiring, as thefixture 50 is merely a “token” or “fake” light fixture simulating the appearance that the public is used to. Thedecorative light 50 may have a conventional lens that contributes to the fixture looking normal during the day. Alternative decorative light fixtures may be provided, for example, a “gas lamp” glass globe that extends up coaxially from theLED fixture 40, or a curved-arm withconical housing 60 as shown inFIG. 12 . - The inclusion of a decorative fixture may make the overall appearance of the
street light 10 more desirable for the public or the governmental/transportation agency installing and maintaining thestreet light 10. This may make the overall appearance of thestreet light 10 match or complement pre-existing fixtures or the style or desires of a neighborhood. Having adecorative light fixture 50 may be reassuring and comforting to the public, as they will automatically recognize thestreet light 10 as a light for public safety, rather than worrying that the structure is an antenna or transmitter, surveillance structure, or some other undesirable structure in the their neighborhood, for example. - Alternatively, the
decorative light fixture 50 may be adapted to provide some light output, for example, a single LED or other minimal light source to further enhance the aesthetics of thestreet light 10. Such a minimal light source will light the interior of the housing and/or the fixture lens, to prevent the decorative fixture from appearing to be burnt-out, and to suggest to passers-by that thefixture 50 is indeed providing light as is customary and comfortable for the public. While saiddecorative light fixture 50 may comprise said minimal light source, it is preferred that the LED light fixture provide at least 80 percent, and preferably at least 90 percent, of the light from thesystem -
FIG. 2 illustrates the light pole in use with the decorative, non-lighting or minimally-lighting fixture 50 removed, in which form thestreet light 10′ is fully functional for providing the desired amount of light for the street or neighborhood by means of theLED fixture 40. This version ofstreet light 10′ has, therefore, no significant protrusions from its elongated, vertical structure, and has a slim, sleek appearance that, over time, may become preferred for many settings. -
FIG. 3 illustrates the adjustable connection of thepole 12 to thebase 24, and shows the internals, in cross-section, of thestorage system 60 withbatteries 62 stored in thelower section 64 of the pole and operatively connected to thepanel 14. Thebatteries 62 store the energy provided by the solar panel during the day or previous days, and power theLED fixture 40 during the night. The battery system is adapted to store enough energy to power, when fully charged, theLED fixture 40 for several nights with little or no additional charging and without any outside energy input. The battery system preferably stores enough energy to power the LED fixture for at least 5 nights and, more preferably, 5-9 nights equating to at least 50 hours, and preferably about 50-100 hours or more depending upon the number of hours in a night. Thus, thestreet light panel 14. In other words, the large amount of energy stored in the batteries during days of clearer weather is sufficient to “carry the light through” cloudy and inclement weather for about a week, until improved sunlight conditions return. The preferred amorphous thin-film panel 14 is more shade-tolerant than conventional crystalline solar cells, and is therefore expected to be more efficient and effective than banks or racks of crystalline solar cells. - In alternative embodiments, the light 10″ (see
FIG. 18 ) may be tied to the utility grid, for example, for providing power to the grid during the day and preferably also charging batteries during the day, and then receiving less expensive power from the grid during the night and/or also receiving power from the batteries as a supplemental/backup power source. InFIG. 18 , connection to the grid is shown schematically as G1 (underground) or G2 (above-ground) and one of skill in the art, given the disclosure herein, will understand how to build, install, and manage said connections. Especially beneficial management of said connections, preferably of an array of lights/poles, to the grid has been invented and is discussed below. - A grid-tied embodiment that also has battery storage capability may provide the benefit of supplementing the grid during peak electricity-usage hours, while also being capable of being autonomous (independent of the grid) operation in the event of disaster or other grid outage. In such embodiments, an inverter and control and measurement systems (G3 in
FIG. 18 ) will be added, for example, inside the pole, to cooperate with the utility grid and measure and record the system's energy contribution to the grid. - Controllers are provided to manage charging of the batteries and delivery of energy to the lighting system and/or other components. Control of the operative connection between the
batteries 62 andpanel 14 and the operative connection between the batteries and theLED fixture 40 and other components may be done by electronics, circuitry, and/or semiconductors, for example,control board 80 shown inFIG. 7 . The controller(s) preferably continually monitor(s) battery voltage and temperature to determine battery health, to improve both battery performance and life. As further described later in this document, said controller(s) preferably control the speed and the amount that the batteries are charged and discharged, which can significantly affect battery life. Combined with the preferred cooling system for managing battery temperature, the batteries of the preferred embodiments are expected to exhibit longer lives, and better performance, than prior art batteries installed in solar-powered light systems. - A first controller function delivers a low-current (trickle) charge from the
solar collector panel 14 to the batteries. This controller also preferably limits the maximum voltage to a voltage that will not damage or degrade the battery/batteries. A second controller function draws current from the battery/batteries and delivers it to the LED fixture and other electric device(s) requiring power from the batteries. The minimum battery voltage is also protected by the controller to prevent excess battery drain. During prolonged periods of inclement weather and low daytime energy generation, the controller(s) may dim the lights during part or all of the night to reduce the amount of energy being consumed while still providing some lighting of the surroundings. The controller(s) may turn the light on based on a signal from a photocell and/or a motion sensor, and off with a timeclock, for example. - The controller system(s) may comprise computer logic, memory, timers, ambient light sensors, transmitters, receivers, and/or data recording and/or output means. Said controller systems may comprise only electronics and apparatus to operate the
single light - The entire system for storing and using energy preferably uses only direct current (DC). Benefits of this include that LED lights use DC energy; the DC system is low-voltage, easy to install and maintain, and does not require a licensed electrician; and energy is not lost in conversion from DC to AC.
- The preferred batteries are sealed lead-acid AGM-type batteries or gel-cell batteries, nickel metal hydride batteries, or lithium batteries, for example. It is desirable to maintain the
batteries 62 within a moderate temperature range, for example, 40-90 degrees F. as exposure of the batteries to temperatures outside that range will tend to degrade battery performance and life. Daily battery performance may be reduced by more than 50 percent by cold weather, and batteries may stop working entirely in very low temperatures. Further, high temperatures tend to also degrade battery performance and life. - In the preferred configuration shown in
FIG. 4 , thebatteries 62 are supported in a bracket(s) 66 and surrounded on multiple sides byinsulation 68 for protecting the batteries from cold weather, preferably to help keep the batteries above about 40 degrees F. Further, said insulated batteries, and/or the bracket system supporting them, are connected to and contained inside a coolingsleeve 70 that is beneficial in hot weather, preferably to keep the batteries below about 90 degrees F. The coolingsleeve 70 is concentric with, and the same general shape as the wall of thepole 12. Thesleeve 70 is of smaller diameter compared to the pole, for example, 2-4 inches smaller diameter, forming an annularair flow space 72 inside the pole along the length of thelower section 64 of the pole. Air enters the intake vents, for example, slits 74 around the pole inFIGS. 1 and 2 , and flows up through theannular space 72 past the bracket(s) 66 andbatteries 62 to cool saidbatteries 62. Said vents 74, and the open top of theflow space 72 that preferably communicates with theLED light fixture 40, are examples of at least one lower pole vent and at least one upper pole vent adapted for ventilation of at least a portion of the pole by natural convection up through said at least one portion of the pole. Preferably, theflow space 72, or alternative internal spaces for draft up the pole, communicates with the LED light fixture, but alternative ventilation systems may be independent from the LED light fixture. Referring toFIG. 17 , there is shown another, alternative lower pole vent. The lower pole vent ofFIG. 17 is provided (instead of vents 74) by providing spaces around the flange of thepole 12′ by virtue of the flange being spaced from the base 24 by a bolt system that may be used to level the flange (make the pole vertical) on a base on uneven ground. The bottom end of thepole 12′ has a bottom end opening (not shown) into which the air flows (instead of flowing into vents 74), and said bottom end opening is in fluid communication with theannular space 72 or other interior axial spaces inside the pole for creating the ventilation draft described elsewhere in this disclosure. - In
FIG. 5 , analternative battery system 80 is shown, wherein no cooling sleeve is provided, but air may flow up through the battery section throughaxial spaces 82 around thebatteries 62.Insulation 68 is preferably provided at and near the pole inner surface and extending most of the way to thebatteries 62, however, with the exception of theaxial spaces 82 that provide channels for air flow up through thesystem 80. - One may note that the designs shown in
FIGS. 4 and 5 both haveaccess doors systems 76, 86 that allow insertion, maintenance, and removal of thebatteries 62 from thelower section 64. The access door system ofFIG. 4 comprises both adoor 77 in the pole and adoor 78 in thesleeve 70. Thesleeve door 78 ofFIG. 4 may be insulated, so that the batteries are surrounded circumferentially by insulation, or, in alternative embodiments thesleeve door 78 may be un-insulated or even eliminated. The access door system 86 ofFIG. 5 comprises only a door in the pole, and is insulated, so that the batteries are surrounded circumferentially by insulation. Other bracket, insulation, and door configurations may be effective, as will be understood by one of skill in the art after reading this disclosure. -
FIG. 6 illustrates the internal structure of themiddle section 90 of thepole 12, wherein theflexible panel 14 is wrapped and adhered to the pole outer surface. It should be noted that the preferred pole is a hollow, straight (or right) cylinder, and the preferredpanel 14 is applied continuously around at least 225 degrees of the pole, so that sunlight “collection” is maximized. However, other pole shapes may be effective if the corners are rounded to allow thepanel 14 to bend gently around said corners. For example, a square, rectangular, or polygonal pole, with rounded corners, may be effective, with thepanel 14 still being provided in a single panel, and not needing to be held in brackets or frames on the various flat sides of the poles. - Inside the
middle section 90 of thepole 12 is an axially-extendingsleeve 92, which creates anannular space 94 that extends through the entiremiddle section 90. Thisannular space 94 fluidly communicates with the annularair flow space 72, or otherair flow spaces 82 of thelower section 64, so that air vents from thelower section 64 throughspace 94 of themiddle section 90 and to theLED fixture 40, as further described below. Ventilation by air flow up through themiddle section 90 of the pole keeps the inner surface of thepanel 14 cooler than the outer surface that is “collecting” the sun light. This may be important for efficient operation of thesolar panel 14, to maintain a temperature gradient between the higher temperature outer surface and the cooler inner surface of the panel. Thus, it is not desirable to have insulation between thepanel 14 and thepole 12. The polemiddle section 90 may be made without asleeve 92, in which the hollow interior of the pole might serve in place ofspace 94 as the air vent chimney in fluid communication withspaces - The
middle section 90 may house long-term energy storage 100 comprising capacitors, fuel cells and/or a hydrogen storage tank, for example. Capacitors would have the advantage that they would not be as affected by heat and cold as are batteries. Typically, capacitors would have longer lives than batteries, for example, up to about 20 years, compared to 2-5 years for batteries. Fuel cells could be used for applications that require longer autonomy than 5 days. The fuel cell and hydrogen storage tank could be integrated into themiddle section 90 orlower section 64 of the pole, or into the base or an underground container. Venting similar to that required for the battery system would be required for off-gassing. -
FIGS. 7 and 8 portray transverse cross-section, and side perspective, views, respectively, of thepreferred LED fixture 40 positioned above themiddle section 90 of the pole. The fixture is preferably cylindrical and longer axially than it is in diameter. Thefixture 40 is preferably the same diameter as the pole middle section, and comprises preferably a constant or nearly-constant-diameter housing 142. Thehousing 142 is substantially hollow with an openbottom end 144 in fluid communication with themiddle section 90 and a closedupper end 146.Vents 148 are provided near theupper end 146 to allow air that flows up through thepole 12 to pass through thefixture 40 and then exit at or near the top of the fixture. Openbottom end 144 and vents 148 may be considered examples of a lower vent and an upper vent adapted for ventilation of said light fixture by natural convection up through the light fixture. Other venting systems comprising at least one lower vent and at least one upper vent may be used, including, but not necessary limited to, systems that utilize upwards draft from/through at least portions of the pole to create/enhance ventilation of the LED light fixture. There also may be ventilation systems for the LED light fixture that are independent from pole ventilation. - Compared to other light sources, LEDs are smaller, more efficient, longer-lasting, and less expensive. LEDs use less energy than other light sources to provide the necessary lighting desired for a street light. LED may last up to 100,000 hours, or up to 10 times longer than other lighting sources, which makes LEDs last the life of the pole and the entire light system in general, especially when said LEDs are housing and cooled by the apparatus of the preferred embodiments.
-
Multiple LED lights 150 are arranged around the entire, or at least a significant portion of the, circumference offixture 40. LED's are arranged in multiplevertical column units 155, and saidcolumn units 155 are spaced around the circumference of thefixture 40 to point LED light out from the fixture 360 degrees around the fixture. In alternative embodiments, LED's may be provided around only part of the circumference of the fixture, for example, only around 180 degrees of the fixture to shine light generally forward and to the sides, but not toward the back. Six of theLED column units 155 are provided, each with five LEDs, but more or fewer units and LEDs may be effective.Reflectors 154 are provided on some or all sides of each LED and may be positioned and slanted to reflect light outward and preferably slightly downward as needed for a particular environment. The preferred arrangement of LEDs results in their being, in effect, columns and rows of LEDs. - At the back of each
LED column unit 155 are located coolingfins 160, protruding into the hollowinterior space 162 of thehousing 142 for exposure to air flowing upward from the middle section. Heat exchange from the fins and adjacent equipment to the flowing air cools eachunit 155, to remove much of the heat produced from the LED's. This heat exchange is desired to keep the LED's in the range of about 20-80 degrees, F and, more preferably, in the range of 30-80 degrees F. LED performance and life are typically optimal when operated at approximately 30 degrees F., but a range of operation temperature (for example, 20-80 degrees F.) may be tolerated due to the inherent long lives of LEDs. - In the center of the fixture in
FIG. 7 , one may see anexample control board 80, as discussed previously. Optionally, other equipment may be provided inside thefixture 40, extending through to or on the outside of thefixture 40, or in/onstem 166 or the rain cap C at the top of thefixture 40. Such equipment may include, for example, a camera and/or recorder for a security system, wireless network radio, antenna, motion sensor, and/or photocell. If provided on the outside, it is desirable to have such equipment consistent with the contour/shape of the fixture, for example, to be flush with, or to protrude only slightly from, thehousing 142 outer surface. Thecontrol boards 80 and other equipment, if any, located inside thefixture 40 may be cooled by the upwardly-flowing air inside the fixture, in some embodiments, or, in other embodiments, may need to be insulated from their surroundings, depending on the heat balance in the LED fixture. -
FIG. 9 portrays air being pulled into the lower section of the pole throughslits 74 and continuing to flow up past the batteries and up through the pole, by natural convection. As provided by the structure of the pole and pole internals discussed above, theentire pole 12 will preferably be ventilated and designed to create an upward draft of air through thepole 12. This air flow cools the battery section and the LEDs, for improved operation and greater efficiency. The air flow may cool the circuit board and any other equipment that may be provided in LED fixture, depending on the heat balance in the fixture, or said circuit board and other equipment may need to be insulated to keep the LEDs from heating them beyond desirable temperatures. While other solar-powered outdoor lights have been proposed, none to the inventor's knowledge have a cooling feature, and the inventor believes that the preferred embodiments will exhibit increased efficiency and long-life, due to the special combination of LEDs and cooling for batteries and LEDs. Optionally, heating equipment may be provided in one or areas of the pole to protect equipment and/or enhance operation during extreme cold. Cable or film heating means may be effective, and may be controlled by a thermal sensor and controller. - Some, but not all, alternative light fixtures are discussed later in this document. See, for example, FIGS. 22 and 29-33E.
-
FIG. 10 portrays an alternative embodiment of the invention, which is a portable, pivotaloutdoor light 200.Light 200 comprises a pole with attachedflexible panel 14 of amorphous thin-film photovoltaic material,LED fixture 40 at the top of the pole, and a heavy butportable base 224 that is neither connected to, nor buried in, the ground. The pole is hinged at 226 to thebase 224, for tilt-up installation at the use site. A lock (not shown) may secure the pole in the upending position until it is desired to remove and move theportable light 200 to storage or another location. Batteries may be provided in theportable base 224. -
FIG. 11 portrays analternative embodiment 300 that includes a traffic light as well as a street light. Thepole 12,panel 14,base 24,LED fixture 40, anddecorative fixture 50 are the same or similar to those described above for the embodiment inFIGS. 1 and 2 . Anarm 302 extends from the middle section of the pole, to a position over a street intersection, for example. Atraffic light 304 hangs from thearm 302, and is powered by the solar-powered system already described for the other embodiments. A control board and/or other apparatus and electronics will be provided to control the traffic light, in accordance with programs and instructions either programmed into the circuitry/memory of theembodiment 300 and/or received from a control network and/or central control station. -
FIG. 12 portrays a break-away, road-sideoutdoor light 400 embodiment, which has itsbattery system 402 buried in a vault in the ground rather than being in the lower section of the pole. The electrical connection between the batteries and the panel, the batteries and the LED fixture extend underground. The rest of the light 400 is the same or similar as the embodiment inFIGS. 1 and 2 , except that the lower section does not contain batteries, and the decorative light is a different one of many possible styles. The lower section of the pole may have a sleeve for encouraging draft and air flow up to the LED fixture, but does not need to contain brackets for batteries. An access door may be provided, for example, to check on or maintain wiring or connections that may be reachable from the lower section. Adaptations, such as break-away bolts, are provided to allow the pole to break-away when hit by a vehicle, as is required for many highway lights. Having the battery system buried in the ground enhances safety because vehicles will not crash into the full mass of the pole plus base plus battery system. Alternatively, batteries could be located in a buried base, to which the pole may be bolted. The pole may be steel or aluminum, and may have rust resistant coatings applied for extending underground. -
FIGS. 13-16 , as discussed above in the Summary of the Invention, illustrate the improved efficiency and effectiveness of the preferred embodiments of the invention. Sunlight hits the flexibleamorphous panel 14 from all directions on its path “across the sky.” The preferred continuous panel around at least 225 degrees of the pole circumference and along a substantial amount of the length of the pole, provides a large target that the sunlight hits “straight on” as much as is possible. The preferred cylindrical shape of the pole, and, hence, of the panel, provides a curved target that catches light from dawn to dusk. - The preferred outdoor light embodiments are what may be called “visually integrated,” as they contain a great amount of operational capability inside and on a sleek, slim, and generally conventional-looking pole and installation. The preferred outdoor light embodiments do not include any flat-panel or framed solar cells. The pole has few if any protrusions, except for the optional rain shirt S which may be designed in many non-obtrusive ways, and an optional rain cap C that also may be designed in non-obtrusive ways. In embodiments having a decorative light fixture, said decorative light fixture may be considered a protrusion, but one that is expected and conventional-appearing. Most or all of the pole and its associated equipment, except for the decorative light, preferably varies only about 20 or less percent from the constant or substantially-constant diameter of the main (middle) section of the pole.
- Particularly, the attachment of the preferred flexible amorphous light-active panel, or light-active materials of the future, is done simply and without racks, brackets, frames, and other complex or protruding material. Thus, the panel appears to simply be the side of the pole, for example, a painted or coated section of the pole wall. The preferred pole is a straight cylinder (with a constant diameter all along the middle section of the pole) that may be painted a dark color like black to match or blend with the dark color of the panel. The panel is not an ugly or strange-looking structure that would irritate the public, customers, or property owners who desire an aesthetically pleasing lighting system, and the panel does not have a high-tech appearance that might attract v vandals or pranksters.
- It should be noted that, while the preferred embodiments are outdoor lighting systems, that some embodiments of the invention may comprise the preferred LED fixture by itself and/or the preferred LED fixture in use with supports and equipment other than those shown herein. Also, some embodiments of the invention may comprise the preferred solar-powered pole by itself and/or connected to and powering equipment not comprising any light source, powering non-LED lights, and/or powering equipment other than is shown herein.
- Preferred embodiments preferably comprise at least one, and preferably multiple, separate wireless independent networks, which each preferably comprise multiple “slave” devices and at least one “master” (also called “coordinating” device). Each wireless independent network comprises individual slave devices at a plurality of node locations that “talk” to each other via a mesh network. The preferred slave devices of the network are primarily outdoor lighting devices with wireless communication capability, although other wireless and electrical devices may be included in the network. Each of the slave devices is equipped with a wireless modem that communicates with adjacent nodes/slave devices. The range of each device reaches nodes at least two devices away in order to allow for the system to remain operational even if one node is lost or otherwise fails in any way. Each of these devices is called a “slave” device, because each depends on other nodes/devices to pass information back & forth.
- The preferred single master (coordinating) device of each mesh network communicates via wireless modem to all of its “slave” devices. The mesh network allows for both self-discovery and bridging the gap when any given node is “lost” for any reason. The master device has a radio in it (either cell or satellite), which communicates the monitoring and control information to the control station. The master device may comprise an outdoor lighting device and/or other wireless and electrical devices. See, for example, FIGS. 19 and 20A-D that illustrate multiple, but by no means all, of possible arrangements for a master-slave mesh network for wireless, preferably autonomous light systems, which lighting systems may also comprise additional powered equipment, such as alarms public service displays, WI-FI hot-spots, etc., as discussed elsewhere in this document.
- The control station has a connection to the internet so that the system can be both monitored and controlled from anywhere with internet access. The control station is connected to a main server that contains the web site for connection to the internet. If any given node fails, that information (a “trouble” signal) is passed on thru the network to the control station so that it can be addressed. There may be more than one master device connected to a main server, each master device acting as the primary control interface between the main server (typically at the control station) and its respective separate wireless independent network (typically, the array of components/nodes).
- The wireless network can be simplified by use of LED's or lasers that can be modulated for communication. Simple photodetectors can be used in conjunction with the LED's or lasers for purposes of detecting an object in the area that interrupts the communication (via LED's or lasers) between adjacent nodes or devices, that is, typically between adjacent poles.
- One of many applications for a wireless independent and intelligent network according to the invention is illustrated in
FIG. 21 , wherein the network and its devices are used for anticipatory control of lighting. For example, the wireless intelligent outdoor lighting system (WIOLS) may comprise anticipating the direction to be traveled by an object or human. Motion sensors on the WIOLS along a road can detect the direction that a vehicle is traveling and light the next few neighboring lights in the direction of the traveling vehicle (while leaving other lights off or dimmed). At intersections, lights in any viable direction for travel are lit until the vehicle has begun travel along a particular route from that intersection, at which time the lights ahead of that vehicle light up while the other routes dim or are turned off. Similarly, in a parking lot or a park, motion sensors on the WIOLS can detect the direction that a person is traveling and light the poles in the direction that the person is moving, or create some other illumination pattern that promotes safety, alertness, or other desirable goals. - Referring specifically to
FIG. 21 , when a vehicle is in Position P1 traveling along the street, the motion sensors in/on poles A and B allow the intelligent network to determine the direction and speed of travel. Lights A and B are immediately illuminated. Lights C and G are illuminated ahead of the vehicle, lighting its way ahead of its path of travel. As the vehicle approaches the intersection (Position P2), lights D and G are illuminated, anticipating the direction of travel along one of the two streets. If the vehicle turns and begins to travel along “Oak Street”, then poles E and F are illuminated. If the vehicle continues to travel along “Apple Street”, then poles H and I are illuminated. Once the vehicle has traveled beyond the lighted path of travel, the poles are dimmed down to the low light level or turned off until the next event sensed by the motion sensor. In this scenario, poles/lights A-I may be considered individual nodes in a wireless mess network, wherein typically all but one are slave poles/nodes, and said one is a master. Thus, poles/lights A-I will preferably all be part of a single mesh network and the network may communicate with a control station via the master pole/light, as schematically portrayed in FIGS. 19 and 20A-D. The selection of which poles/nodes are adapted to be the slaves and which is adapted to be the master may be done according to various criteria, including optimal location for the master pole/nodes cell or satellite communication with the internet, and/or proximity to support and maintenance structure, for example. It may be noted that “on-pole” refers to actions that are specific to one pole (the pole itself) that do not relate to other poles. For example, motion sensed at a single pole in a parking lot will increase the light level for just that pole, and does not involve other poles. It may be noted that “across-poles” means that a series or group of poles are involved, for example, a series of poles along a street. As a car passes at least two poles, the motion information (speed, direction of travel) must be communicated to the other poles along the street in order to ‘light the way’ ahead of the cars travel path. - In an outdoor public lighting system, it can be desirable for individual outdoor lighting nodes to behave in an interdependent manner. A damaged or missing light needs to have that status communicated to a central control, so that repairs can be made or adjacent lights can temporarily compensate for the missing/damaged light. For security reasons, a specific activity in a certain location within the array may cause a particular node to change it parameters (i.e. adjusting luminosity or sending out some sort of communication) triggered by motion sensors, etc. Also during times of transition between light and dark (i.e. dawn and dusk), it is desirable to control of the array of lights as a group to adjusts the luminosity with respect to the ambient lighting conditions. In addition, public outdoor lighting arrays, such as in preferred embodiments of the WIOLS, form a ready-made wireless infrastructure, and are ideally suited to wireless communication for public safety, or with the proper protocols and security, for public access to the internet. Such adaptations, for example, public safety communication for alarms and/or signaling to the public, and/or public access to the internet, may be provided by fitting one of more nodes/devices/poles of the WIOLS with supplemental equipment, such as alarm speakers, electronic signage, and/or internet “Wi-Fi hot spot” hardware and software.
- When combined with an energy storage device, a wireless intelligent outdoor lighting system (WIOLS) can also respond to power outages when connected on the grid to create an uninterruptible power supply (called herein “UPS”). The WIOLS detects the loss of grid power and communicates with the utility company to determine how to place power from the energy storage device back onto the grid. The WIOLS can also act as a UPS in a small localized energy grid, eliminating or supplementing backup power generators. The behaviors would be similar to that on the larger power grid.
- Therefore, the preferred embodiments comprise adaptations for independent processes, such as independent monitoring, control, and output (light, alarms or other communication, etc.), which independent comprise sensing, communication and control only between the nodes/devices/poles of an individual WIOLS. When adapted and operating in this independent mode, the preferred array may be considered an independent array and/or an independent network of nodes.
- In addition, the preferred embodiments comprise adaptation for non-independent processes, such as communication between the master node/device/pole of the WIOLS and a control station. Preferably each of the preferred light poles employs batteries, recharged by solar panels, that may be used to transmit signals to multiple of the other slaves, and the master preferably also employs a battery(ies) to transmit signals to a remote location. Thus, an important and novel features of the preferred embodiments is that multiple poles of a single network comprise equipment and programming on or in the pole that adapts said multiple poles of a particular WIOLS to communicate with each other. This independent communication between the light poles of each WIOLS create the “independent” feature of each WIOLS, in that at least one, and preferably several, sensing and control tasks are handle between the multiple poles without requiring control from the control station. The preferred WIOLS each also have a self-discovery feature for self-identification of new nodes and integration of the new nodes onto the network. The especially-preferred nodes/devices/poles of each WIOLS are each powered by a battery and can use solar panels to recharge the battery. Preferably, each outdoor light of the WIOLS has a wireless modem and controller forming a wireless network, for monitoring and control of its devices to allow for adjustment for low battery conditions and the ability to measure excess power generated by the devices to be placed back on the grid, for example, for being applied for a credit to the account. Optionally, the master node/device/pole, as described above, may also communicate to, or receive from, the control station information and instructions about said low battery conditions and/or excess power. Outdoor lighting arrays, particularly in public settings provide a ready made wireless infrastructure, since nearly all municipalities and many public roadways utilize light poles. In such settings, it is desirable for individual outdoor lighting nodes, within an array of outdoor lighting, to behave in an interdependent manner. It is also desirable for the lighting fixtures and/or devices connected to these outdoor light poles to behave in an intelligent manner to enhance security and safety, while minimizing energy costs. In addition, because public outdoor lighting arrays form a ready-made wireless infrastructure, they are ideally suited to wireless communication for public safety, or with the proper protocols and security, for public access to the interne.
- The main components of the preferred WIOLS are the master and slave outdoor lighting devices and the server at the control station. The slave device consists of a outdoor lighting structure with lighting fixture, network board with a micro controller, power supply, electronics as required for the mesh network, and zero, one or more devices that act as sensors or active devices. There is also a wireless modem “on-board” each slave device. An AC to DC power supply connects it to an AC system if available. If no power is available, a wind generator and/or a solar collector powers the system. Power can be stored to an energy storage device, such as a battery, capacitors, fuel cells, or devices that store and release hydrogen.
- The master wireless outdoor lighting device has all of the same components as the slave device with the addition of a cell or satellite radio. The cell or satellite network is already in place, which provides the wireless communication to the control station.
- The outline below lists some, but not all, of the preferred features/options that may be included in various embodiments of the WIOLS invention. Following are preferred “supportability” features:
-
- 1.1 It is preferred to include, in the WIOLS wireless controller/programming, a method for separation of operational parameters from code, with the following preferred features:
- 1.1.1 All operational parameters that affect how the systems and algorithms behave are abstracted out of the code, leaving behind variables in the code that are evaluated at system start;
- 1.1.2 Operational parameters are stored separately from code in a profile that is easily read and processed by the code;
- 1.1.2.1 Said profile should be easy to replace in its entirety;
- 1.1.2.2 Individual values for operational parameters in said profile should be easy to replace;
- 1.1.3 On system restart or reset, all systems and algorithms flush their values for operational parameters then re-read and re-process operational parameters from the profile;
- 1.2 A method for an operator or maintenance personnel to reset the device at ground level (i.e. standing on the street), like a reset button. Pushing this button is the equivalent to power cycling the system, which causes all hardware, firmware and software to re-initialize, re-read and re-process all operational parameters;
- 1.3 A method for indicating device system status, like a 3-color light or set of lights (e.g., green, yellow, red) at ground level that conveys one of three states: operating properly, operating but there is an issue needing attention, and not operating. This provides ground level feedback regarding whether to push the reset button as well as whether or not pushing the reset button resolved the issue.
- 1.4 As another example, the processor may blink and/or strobe an error code via the primary illumination device of the lighting system to indicate the determined error condition. In an environment where the lighting system is employed as a street light or other lighting pole, a passing pedestrian and/or motorist may notice the error code and notify the relevant lighting system operator. The operator may then dispatch maintenance and/or repair persons to correct the error condition. In addition, by employing the primary illumination device of the lighting system to indicate the determined error condition, error conditions signaling capability may be provided without additional components and only minimal increase in system complexity.
- 1.5 A method for providing a ground-level memory card reader (e.g., CompactFlash™, SmartMedia™):
- 1.5.1 Memory card reader is bootable, meaning that, on reset, the card reader is checked for a set of operational parameters and if they exist, these operational parameters are used instead of any others that may be onboard;
- 1.5.2 System logging persists on a memory card in the ground level slot so that the card can easily be replaced, with logging data taking back for more thorough analysis than can reasonably occur in the field; and
- 1.5.3 Amount of memory for operational parameters and logging is easily increased by replacing lower capacity card with higher capacity card over time.
- 1.6 Methods and algorithms are used that create modularity of systems on the device in order to:
- 1.6.1 Facilitate unit testing as the number of components increases;
- 1.6.2 More easily enable in-field, black-box replacing as a cost-effective support strategy in the field; and
- 1.6.3 So that replaced modules are sent back to the manufacturer or certified service representative for troubleshooting, repair and recirculation.
- 1.7 Methods and algorithms are used to enabling an expandable bus architecture on the device to enable in-field hardware feature expandability over time (e.g., new sensor, high bandwidth radio, video camera).
- 1.1 It is preferred to include, in the WIOLS wireless controller/programming, a method for separation of operational parameters from code, with the following preferred features:
- Following are “Wireless Networking & Control” features that are preferably included in various embodiments of the WIOLS invention:
-
- 2.1 The following features are preferred “on-pole”, that is, on EACH individual POLE or on a plurality of poles in the wireless network:
- 2.1.1 Algorithms to perform all functions in above through a wireless network and set of commands and protocols.
- 2.1.2 Preferably included “on-pole” for event management:
- 2.1.2.1 Algorithms for monitoring and storing discrete and continuous triggers, interpreting triggers and translating them into events to be published;
- 2.1.2.3 Algorithms for subscribing to and receiving events with specified attributes as a way of performing a task in response to a published event;
- 2.1.2.4 Algorithms for interpreting one or a collection of conditions, assessing their severity and then determining whether a warning or error condition exists;
- 2.1.2.5 Algorithms around scheduling jobs at predefined times and/or with predefined frequencies to perforin tasks; and
- 2.1.2.6 Algorithms enabling the way an event is treated throughout the system to be dictated by the classification and characteristics of the event itself.
- 2.1.3 For joining a network and self-organizing:
- 2.1.3.1 Algorithms for initialization processes that include broadcasting across frequencies and channels to find other devices within range; and
- 2.1.3.2 Algorithms surrounding whether to join an existing network versus creating a new network in response to other devices located within range, their functions within the network, their capabilities and the breadth of the networks they share.
- 2.2 The following features are preferred to be “Across-Poles” (that is, between multiple poles):
- 2.2.1 Algorithms around how, where, and how redundantly to register a device's capabilities on a network;
- 2.2.2 Algorithms for determining connectivity issues on the network, routing around issues, repairing issues and reestablishing routes once repaired;
- 2.2.3 Algorithms for favoring efficient routing, penalizing inefficient routing and adjusting both over time based on changeable definitions of efficiency;
- 2.2.4 Algorithms for locating and sharing resources on the network as resource availability and location changes over time;
- 2.2.5 Algorithms for securing the network against unauthorized “network joins” and ensuring intra-network communications cannot easily be intercepted and interpreted;
- 2.2.6 Algorithms for using monitoring events across a population of devices to determine a coordinated action to take like lighting the way ahead of a walker along a pathway or turning on a video camera based on triangulation of multiple device motion sensors, such as:
- 2.2.6.1 Algorithms that detect motion (direction and velocity) and estimate the future direction and location of the moving object as a function of time; and
- 2.2.6.2 Algorithms that activate devices based on the anticipated location of the moving object per the algorithms in (i.e. turning on or brightening lights or turning on/waking up security cameras ahead of a moving car or moving person).
- 2.2.7 Algorithms for aggregating events over populations of devices, rolling up event information based on criteria, interpreting low-level event information and using it to create new higher-order events;
- 2.2.8 Algorithms for determining the location of a device based on known fixed locations and triangulation of multiple device radio signals;
- 2.2.9 Algorithms that allow poles in a network to look for and sense different sensors that come into range of the wireless sensor(s) on the poles;
- 2.2.10 Algorithms that allow poles in a network to identify and categorize the different types of sensors that come into range of the wireless sensor(s) on the poles;
- 2.2.11 Algorithms that allow poles in a network to communicate with the different types of sensors that come into range of the wireless sensor(s) on the poles; and
- 2.2.12 Algorithms that allow poles in a network to activate certain function on the different types of sensors that come into range of the wireless sensor(s) on the poles.
- 2.3 Regarding Content and Information Delivery (for example, gathering of weather or other information from networked devices by communication from one of more nodes/poles of a WIOLS to the control station, and/or providing messages, advertising, and public information that may be communicated from the control station to one of more nodes/poles of a WIOLS and then to the public):
- 2.3.1 Algorithms involving securely bridging a low-power, low-bandwidth network and a medium-power, high-bandwidth network, or providing secure gateway capabilities between the two networks;
- 2.3.2 Algorithms for aggregating information across populations of devices and securely delivering this information through a broadband wireless infrastructure to a WIOLS-manufacturer-operated network operations center; and
- 2.3.3 Algorithms for guaranteed or best-efforts delivery of information to the network operations center based on the classification of the information.
- 2.4 Regarding Management that may be preferred and/or necessary for the business of operating and maintaining a WIOLS:
- 2.4.1 Algorithms around creating and managing user/customer accounts and passwords with associated roles and permissions that span different kinds of customers as well as the needs of the WIOLS manufacturer itself;
- 2.4.2 Algorithms that enable authentication of individual users to specific accounts and roles with associated permissions, and that track failed authentication attempts for intrusion detection security;
- 2.4.3 Algorithms for authorizing individual users/customers to access and use only their devices and associated data;
- 2.4.4 Algorithms for detecting when security might be compromised anywhere in the system and taking action once security is believed to be compromised such as locking out a user or customer, denying access to devices or data, locking out parts of the system globally or by customer and flushing all security keys requiring re-initialization throughout the system of all security subsystems;
- 2.4.5 Algorithms for creating sets of devices that meet pre-defined conditions then proactively and remotely managing these devices including resetting, updating firmware, updating operational parameters, triggering on-demand information delivery, troubleshooting issues, overriding operation for prescribed periods of time, etc.;
- 2.4.6 Analytical algorithms that operated on aggregated information at the WIOLS manufacturer's network operations center and provide customers with all manner of operational and environmental insights;
- 2.4.7 Algorithms that allow a network of poles to manage power being pulled from the power grid or placed back onto the power grid, such as:
- 2.4.7.1 Algorithms that allow a network of poles on the grid to put power onto the grid a desired times, either as certain criteria are sensed and met on the grid, or via a command from a central command center or a Network Operation Center (NOC); and
- 2.4.7.2 Algorithms to draw power from the grid at desired times, as certain criteria are sensed and met on the grid, or via a command from a NOC.
- 2.4.8 Algorithms to vary the control signal to the load(s) to test its operation (i.e. to test the ability of the light to run full brightness and dim down to various dimming levels). See, also, the section entitled “Active Control for Energy-Efficient Lighting” later in this document.
- 2.5 Regarding community assistance and relations, or advertising to the community:
- 2.5.1 Algorithms relating to advertising and other information that may be announced and/or displayed on one or more of the nodes/poles of a WIOLS, preferably powered by renewable systems and energy storage systems that are also powering lights for the community:
- 2.5.1.1 Methods for leveraging the convenient locations of street lighting and the surface area provided to offer advertising inventory;
- 2.5.1.2 Methods and algorithms for providing programmable inventory on a pole that includes advertising inventory and time-based rotation of ad inventory;
- 2.5.1.3 Methods and algorithms for selecting collections of poles that meet various criteria (e.g., location, amount of foot traffic based on motion triggers, average monthly temperature) and then delivering programmable ad inventory to poles meeting the criteria;
- 2.5.1.4 Methods and algorithms for wirelessly determining additional context from a passerby (e.g., mobile device brand and service provider) and enabling more targeted advertising based on this additional context; and
- 2.5.1.5 Algorithms for determining the direction a passerby is heading, identifying poles in that direction and then streaming advertising across poles along the passerby's path to overcome bandwidth limitations, provider a longer and richer ad experience or both.
- 2.5.2 Algorithms regarding/providing Wi-Fi hotspots:
- 2.5.2.1 Methods for including mobile broadband routers on poles in order to offer community Wi-Fi hotspots;
- 2.5.2.2 Algorithms for leveraging sensor information (e.g., motion) and system parameters (e.g., time of day, available battery energy) to enable or disable Wi-Fi hotspot capability; and
- 2.5.2.3 Methods for enabling/disabling and changing the behavior of Wi-Fi hotspots remotely, from a network operations center.
- 2.5.3 Algorithms regarding/providing financial transactions:
- 2.5.3.1 Methods and algorithms for securely receiving, aggregating, uploading and reconciling financial transactions from RF devices within range.
- 2.5.1 Algorithms relating to advertising and other information that may be announced and/or displayed on one or more of the nodes/poles of a WIOLS, preferably powered by renewable systems and energy storage systems that are also powering lights for the community:
- 2.1 The following features are preferred “on-pole”, that is, on EACH individual POLE or on a plurality of poles in the wireless network:
- The main objective of one group of preferred embodiments is to provide a system to delay or off-load electrical energy usage to hours of the day when load on the utility grid is lower. Specifically, these preferred embodiments have an integral battery or other energy storage system that is recharged by the electrical grid during off-peak load times of the day. The stored energy in the batteries or other energy storage system can be utilized to provide power to the grid during peak load periods and/or to provide power to a light or other electrical device on or near the preferred embodiment during peak load periods. The stored energy in the batteries or other energy storage system may optionally provide power to said light or other electrical device during power outages.
- Optionally, the system/device may be “autonomous” in that it may be powered by an integral renewable energy collection system such as a solar collector and/or wind energy device. The integral solar collector, wind energy and/or stored energy in the batteries or other energy storage system may be utilized to provide power to the grid during periods. Therefore, in such autonomous embodiments, the device may then be “self-powered” during prolonged periods of power outage.
- These preferred embodiments may be accomplished by integrating the battery or other energy storage device and other necessary system components (described below) into the light fixture itself so that it can be installed as a complete unit to an existing or new pole. Alternatively, some or all of said battery or other storage device and/or other necessary system components may be manufactured and installed separate and/or distanced from the light fixture, for example, when a new pole is provided with some or all of this equipment inside the pole or inside the base below the pole.
- Some, but not all, of the modes of operation of these preferred embodiments may be described as follows. Each night during peak load periods, when it first starts to get dark outside, a photocell turns on the light, which is powered by the energy storage pack (including said battery(s) and/or other storage system), so that no electrical load is added to the grid during peak load periods. Once the peak loading time period has passed, the light will then continue to be powered by the energy storage pack, however, the batteries will then be charged by the line voltage (grid) during the time period when peak loading is no longer an issue (in the early morning hours, for example) via the energy storage pack charger. The LEDs, control board and all other system components are operated on DC voltage. The energy storage pack preferably only needs enough power to carry the light thru the peak loading period for one night (typically only 3-4 hours post dusk), but, optionally, may be designed for enough power to provide power to the grid during said peak loading period. The energy storage pack will then be charged in the morning for later use that evening or night.
- Additional features may be added, for example, dimming capability to reduce the light output after the first hour. Such a dimming capability, for example, may allow the light to have a much higher lumen output when it first turns on & then dims it down as the night progresses and less light is needed. Another option is to include a motion sensor over-ride that will immediately turn the light back up to full brightness when motion is detected near the pole, for example, motion of a person, a bicycle, or a vehicle. Both of these features allow the light to be “tuned” to the specific application requirements and to conserve as much energy as possible. This will allow the energy storage pack to be as small as possible to reduce costs and to reduce the size and weight of the fixture. See, particularly, the section entitled “Active Control for Energy-Efficient Lighting” later in this document.
- The additional feature of having a wireless control board, for example as described earlier in this document, allows the settings on the light to be changed remotely and allows for the fixture system performance to be monitored remotely. For example, the power company may check to see how each of the lights are performing and confirm that the light is running off of battery power for the full amount of time required for the peak loading period. The owner of the light may check the status of all system features, the battery health, and whether any maintenance items need attention, for example, LEDs that need to be replaced and battery chargers that are not working properly, etc.
- Solar powered light poles and/or specially-adapted LED light fixtures, as described earlier in this document, and/or other solar collector light systems, may be used in embodiments of the WIOLS described herein. Major energy contribution is provided by said solar collectors, and therefore typically such poles/lights need only be connected to the grid and controlled/monitored remotely so as to properly manage the luminosity and power during the peak load hours and then to ensure that the energy storage pack is recharged during off-peak hours. This “insurance”, of being connected to the grid, may be particularly beneficial in cloudy climates, during inclement months, or where the grid needs can benefit from the solar-collected power during peak load times.
- When the energy storage device holds a sufficient amount of energy, this system can also respond to power outages when connected on the grid to create an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). The intelligent outdoor lighting system detects the loss of grid power and communicates with the utility company to determine how to place power from the energy storage device back onto the grid. The preferred intelligent outdoor lighting system can also act as a UPS in a small localized energy grid, eliminating or supplementing backup power generators. The behaviors of the intelligent outdoor lighting system for a small localized energy grid would be similar to those for the larger power grid.
- An example of one peak load delay conservation system that uses an integral light, storage and
control unit 600 is schematically portrayed inFIG. 22 , wherein saidintegral unit 600 comprises the following elements listed by call-out number:fixture box 602, such as “shoebox” or “cobrahead” or other standard or custom light fixture housing or body;lens 604 connected to saidbox 602; fixture arm and/orbracket 606 to mount fixture to pole;energy storage pack 608, which may comprise batteries or other energy storage apparatus; energystorage pack charger 610;LED light engine 612, which may be of various designs, but is preferably the modular LED system described elsewhere in this document; motion sensor &photocell 614; and control board w/ wireless modem and/orcell phone radio 616. While such integral units are preferred, it will be understood by those in skill in the art reading and viewing this document and its figures, that peak load delay conservation systems according to embodiments of the invention could also be installed on existing or new light/equipment poles with the elements called-out forFIG. 22 being provided in separated housings and/or in spaced-apart locations on the pole. - Those of skill in the field of electrical grid management will be able to construct systems that detect peak load periods on the grid and/or that detect when loads exceed a predetermined level in smaller power grids such as a residence, that control electrical devices to reduce power demand and/or that use power from stored power sources (such as batteries) to supplement power demand during periods of peak loads. After reading this disclosure, those of skill in the art will understand how to recharge, during off-peak hours, the energy storage devices (preferably batteries) of the preferred outdoor lighting systems of the invention, and how to monitor power being fed back to the grid from autonomous lighting systems according to embodiments of the invention, so as to bill energy credits to the utility company.
- A particularly important feature of the preferred embodiments that may be autonomous (that may be powered by a source other than the grid) and that may also cooperate with the grid, is that the preferred embodiments provide power from their energy storage devices to the local electrical device (light or other local component) specifically during times of peak load on the grid and also manage the power between the energy storage device and the local electrical device (light or other local component) to ensure adequate power to that local electrical device during said peak load hours. The management system is adapted to store energy when possible and use the stored energy in an efficient and controlled manner during peak load hours. This way, demand on the grid during those peak hours is reduced, and local devices (lights, alarms, and/or security cameras) that must be turned on for public safety and security are indeed turned on and adequately powered. This management of power to the local electrical device (light or other local component) during the grid's peak load hours enhances the autonomous characteristics of the preferred embodiments. These management features may be included in systems that do not have self-power capability, that is, wherein the energy storage devices are charged by the grid during non-peak-load hours. These management features may be included in systems that are self-powered (i.e. through solar and/or wind), wherein the energy storage device is charged by the solar and/or wind systems (and optionally by the grid only during non-peak hours), with the added features that the self-powered systems may feed power back to the grid during peak-load hours and/or assuming there is sufficient self-power production for powering the public-safety- and security-related local devices.
- Many of the invented lighting networks, with or without additional or alternative powered equipment (such as alarms, Wi-Fi hotspots, advertising or public information dissemination, for example) are autonomous, in that they may be powered by preferably renewable energy sources and, therefore, may be separate from and not dependent or co-operational with the electric grid, or they may be self-powered during at least part of the time but may also cooperate with the grid to provide energy to the grid and/or accept energy from the grid only at certain times. Such Autonomous Connected Devices (ACD) combine a solar engine, for example as described elsewhere in this document, with a smart wireless mesh, such as described elsewhere in this document, for example, in the section Wireless Intelligent Outdoor Lighting System (WIOLS). Much of the apparatus shown in previously-discussed figures of this document may be used in the ACD's, for example,
FIGS. 1-17 and 19-21, as will understood from the descriptions and discussions of those figures; additional apparatus and methods are discussed below. - ACDs may be especially beneficial in remote areas and rural settlements, municipalities, housing associations, industrial complexes, developing countries, or other entities or regions that have no option to connect to a grid, want/need to have no connection to the grid, or want substantial autonomy but are willing to cooperate with the grid by supplying the grid with energy some times and accepting energy from the grid at other times. One group of embodiments of the latter category (self-powering combined with cooperation with the grid) is described in the section “Peak Load Delay Energy Conservation System” earlier in this document. While the preferred ADC's are powered by solar engines (solar panels and/or other solar devices), wind-powered engines may be used instead or in addition to the solar engines.
- It will be understood that many features of the ADCs overlap with the features of the WIOLS, as a WIOLS is the preferred form of monitoring and controlling a ADC network but WIOLS technology may be applied in either ADC's or grid-dependent devices. In addition to providing lighting to entities or regions such as are listed above, ACD's, and their WIOLS, may provide one or more of said powered equipment, including devices to provide “content services” such as information gathering (or weather conditions, fire or floor conditions, etc., or information dissemination such as advertising or warnings in the form of digital or other visual displays or audible announcements. Thus, Autonomous Connected Devices (ACD) combine a solar engine providing self-contained power with as smart wireless mesh for connectivity and content services to enable new social and business models to be built from populations of devices.
- The preferred solar engine collects solar energy using photovoltaics, controls the flow of solar energy, stores solar energy for optimal use, and delivers energy at the right voltage and current to devices. The smart wireless mesh that is preferably used to connect said ACD organizes itself, repairs connectivity issues automatically, communicates data seamlessly, and cooperates in group activities.
- An ADC network may be used to aggregate information widely, monitor issues remotely, manage operational excellence, and analyze behavioral & environmental trends over large geographies, so that said analysis may be shared with customers and/or the public.
- ACD devices benefit from being autonomous yet connected. For example, a population of remotely managed street and area lights according to ACD embodiments, may be economical and effective where the cost of trenching to deliver power is cost-prohibitive. Grid-neutral outdoor lighting may be installed, according to embodiments of the invented ACD networks, that offsets wired energy usage by collecting, metering and returning solar energy to the grid, for example according to the Peak Load Delay systems described earlier in this document.
- Examples of ACD applications, features, and benefits may include:
- 1. Remotely monitored & managed, grid-tied LED retrofits that may provide a remote physical security installation with light, video, security gate and sensor fencing.
2. Ubiquitous broadband internet access provided preferably by multiple of the poles in an ACD network.
3. Power, light and internet access for third world village libraries.
4. Lighting, Wi-Fi hotspots, and video cameras on poles of a single ACD network;
5. Monitoring & management allowing operational and environmental data gathering over wide areas of network apparatus and/or wide areas of land, therefore allowing alerts, inventory control, and information dissemination not previously possible in such an efficient and accurate manner.
6. New social & business models possible by using the invented ACD, as information gathering, information dissemination, and energy and internet access may be available to more people and more efficiently and accurately.
7. Simplicity and adaptations that allow off-the-shelf components to be used in the ACD.
8. Employing of “smart” data and “dumb” code.
9. Keeping components separate, loosely bound and stateless.
10. Comprising a secure, low-power backhaul for monitoring & management of diverse populations of devices.
11. Aggregates operational & environmental content across wide geographic areas using ubiquitous infrastructure elements like light poles.
12. The preferred solar engine employed in ACD networks generalizes solar collection, power management, energy storage and power delivery.
13. Manufacture and install-time power delivery configuration (e.g., voltage, current, wiring harnesses).
14. Maximize energy budget over time by optimizing solar collection via optimizing the PV “skin” plus charge controller, and by smart usage profiles via optimizing sensors plus control board plus algorithms.
15. Granular operational data, including PV, charge controller and battery metrics, and consumption metering of device activities, including dumping energy back onto the grid.
16. Remotely updatable firmware & profiles. - As portrayed in
FIG. 23 , the preferred ACD system architecture comprises devices that are powered by the solar engine, either on-pole, near-pole, and/or in the general vicinity of the preferred wireless communication from the pole. Secure two-way communications between the poles and the NOC coordinator poles (for example, master poles) and the Internet and/or headquarters (for example, control station) are accomplished by a “smart” mesh network. Both content customers (such as weather service or traffic planners, for example) and management customers may receive content via the Internet. - An ACD needs power, performs activities (e.g., lighting, Wi-Fi, video,) makes decisions, monitors operational and environmental data and participates in collective behavior. As portrayed in
FIG. 24 , the preferred ACD system may be described as having an Application Layer (A1) (e.g., power profile applications, light-the-way applications, grid neutral metering, which utilize on-device and collective intelligence algorithms (A2). Also, the preferred ACD system has event Driven OS w/Driver Abstraction (e.g., TinyOS) (B1), which utilizes unique event-driven device drivers for device capabilities (B2). Also, the preferred ACD system comprises hardware (chipsets, sensors, radios, etc) (C1), preferably utilizing a system that is flexible and expandable as the hardware evolves (C2), for example, as protocols, radios and sensors evolve. The Power Abstraction Layer (D1) of the preferred ACD system utilizes standardized and normalized power delivery (D2). - The preferred smart wireless mesh connects ACDs into a self-organizing, self-repairing mesh that enables low-power, two-way communications; remote troubleshooting and repair; system monitoring and management; environmental sensing; collective intelligence; and wide area content aggregation and analytics. Smart Wireless Mesh-Topology
- The “Smart Wireless Mesh Network” of the preferred ACD comprises each “population” (each networked group, each wirelessly-connected plurality of ACDs) having a Gateway Node, which performs low to high bandwidth mapping as “NOC coordinator,” initiates mesh forming as “mesh coordinator”, and oversees mesh healing. Each population of ACDs also has Router Nodes that aid in locating other nodes, cache data for “sleeping children” poles (hibernating or unused at the time), and that reinforce “good” paths. Each population of ACDs also has End Nodes, which feature minimal energy use, wake to connect on demand, and are activity & connection independent. Then device functionality is overlaid atop the mesh topology of Isolated Devices needing slow uni-cast connectivity for monitoring and maintenance (e.g., environmental sensors); Collective Devices needing slow multi-cast connectivity for group behavior (e.g., “light the way”); and Streaming Devices need fast uni-cast connectivity for real-time throughput (e.g., contextual advertising).
- The supportability of the preferred Smart Wireless Mesh may be illustrated by response to an event such as device connectivity loss, whereafter:
- 1. Scheduled report-back job flags a customer's non-reporting node;
2. Service sends a device down alert to device manager's mobile phone;
3. Device ping confirms—no connectivity;
4. In-field support tech dispatched;
5. Ground-level panel opened;
6. Reset button pushed; and
7. After a short time, status lights indicate all systems are operational!
Or, after mesh connectivity lost, the response may be:
1. Report-back job indicates a mesh coordinator node is down;
2. Device in adjacent mesh is remotely repurposed;
3. End node program replaced with mesh coordinator program—OTA;
4. Device remotely reset;
5. New mesh coordinator finds orphaned nodes, reforms mesh; and
6. Support tech dispatched, resets old mesh coordinator, re-joins as end node. - The preferred smart wireless mesh is “open” yet secure, for example, the smart wireless mesh is open in that it adheres to the ZigBee protocol (i.e., IEEE 802.15.4-2006 standard for wireless personal area networks) and allows any device supporting ZigBee to join the mesh at anytime.
- The smart wireless mesh is secure in that it features a quarantine (a period of time with limited connectivity while behavior is watched and deemed proper for device type, or not), for example, verified, then isolated, then meshed, then monitored, then managed. The wireless mesh comprises selectable paths, whereby the connectivity path is selected based on sensitivity of data being moved, for example, unprotected data is moved by unencrypted ZigBee over 802.15.4 (mesh forming and healing, collective behavior, for example); protected date is moved by E2E tunnel-mode VPN using IPv6 over 802.15.4 (remotely updating security keys over-the-air, change operating profile, for example).
- The preferred ACDs are widely distributed and therefore, event driven. Events connect sub-systems within a single device, devices within a smart wireless mesh, the mesh network with content services in the Network Operations Center (control station). Events have triggers that percolate up through HW & OS abstractions; that are discrete (single-instance, occurring once—e.g., motion detector registers a change) or are continuous (multi-instance, streaming over time—e.g., battery current). Events are classified along three dimensions, specifically, type (info|warning|error|monitor|manage); scope (device|mesh|service|customer); and risk (low|medium|high).
- The monitoring processes of the ACD network delivers service and customer scoped events from the field to the Network Operations Center as they occur, enabling alerts when predefined conditions are met to facilitate cost-effective maintenance and aggregation of operational and environmental data over large populations of devices to facilitate troubleshooting and value-added content. See the Event Delivery Pipeline in
FIG. 25 , wherein the box “Identify” refers to a unique device ID (identification) resolved to assembly IDs, manufacturer, installer, support, service log and customer; wherein “De-Dupe” refers to multi-path routing with delivery delays can cause duplications that get collapsed using unique identifiers; wherein “Normalize” refers to device and sub-system version differences being normalized on the way in, to maintain consistency at the NOC; and wherein “Tag” refers to metadata derived from context and route being added to events on the way in (duplicate plus alternate routes). - The management processes of the ACD network operate on sets of devices, selected at the Network Operations Center, then targeted with events delivered using the smart wireless mesh to enable remote device reset (like CTRL+ALT+DEL), whole system inventory (e.g., assembly ids, HW/SW/FW versions); data, profile & SW/FW updates over the air; and programmed tasks (e.g., stream video every night at 10 PM for 5 minutes). See the Device Management Pipeline of
FIG. 26 , wherein the box “Query” refers to leveraging of Internet search technology to query populations of devices that meet specific characteristics; wherein “Select” refers to sorting and sifting to further refine the set of devices and creating a narrowly targeted set to select and operate on; wherein “Apply” refers to defining a task, scheduling a job containing one or more tasks then applying the job to the set of selected devices; and wherein “Verify” refers to leveraging monitoring, verifying the job and tasks were executed, events were delivered to devices, actions performed and results achieved. - As discussed briefly elsewhere in this document, “content services” may be a feature of the preferred ACD and/or other wireless network. Content aggregated across wide populations of devices, combined with the ability to reach out a touch an individual device remotely, enables services such as customer account creation, user identification, and authorization; device identification and provisioning; and account and device disablement. Also, content services are enabled that comprise management such as troubleshooting and repair, inventory control w/updatable code, profiles and data, and scheduled device or population jobs/tasks. Also, content services are enabled that comprise “visualization” features, such as overlays (Google maps, insolation, energy costs), customer dashboards w/KPIs for devices, and redistributable “widgets” for partner networks. Also, content services are enabled that comprise monitoring such as granular event logging over time, predefined thresholds with actions, and automatic actions or email/text alerts. Also, content services are enabled that comprise analytics, such as searching, sorting and refining devices by attributes, and correlating operational with environmental and location to feed back into optimizations and roadmap.
- Enabling new social & business models from populations of devices requires a services system with redundant, commodity HW paradigm (like Google—i.e., 5×9's of reliability via quick healing), real-time and batch inbound processing pipeline to maintain data integrity, a presentation layer rich with visualization and Web 2.0 sharing (e.g., widgets), and data interfaces/schema for converting and then delivering data to customers in any format (e.g., XML schema and connectors for SOAP). Preferably, these services comprise location-based visualization with overlays and real-time search engine based filtering; auto and manual metadata tagging to support powerful analytics; and creating jobs w/tasks then targeting devices for delivery and execution.
- ACD services are connected to the Internet, so they must be designed securely by employing a Threat Model. Such a Threat Model will comprise Assets & Risks analysis and Vulnerabilities and Safeguards analysis. Periodic Security Assessments should also be made, including intrusion detection, DoS; and independent security certification, if required by customers.
- The outline below lists some, but not all, of the preferred features/options that may be included in various embodiments of the ACD invention. This outline is organized into the following three categories: features provided and/or programmed mainly, or entirely, “on device,” that is, on the pole and/or the lighting or equipment unit on the pole; features of the preferred smart wireless mesh for the ACD's; and content services.
- There is a collection of structural elements, methods, and algorithms that reside on preferably each device.
- 1.1 SOLAR DEVICE
- 1.1.1 Device design elements and algorithms for maximizing solar collection capabilities:
- 1.1.1.1 Relationship between pole height, location on solar isolation map and amp-hours;
- 1.1.1.2 Relationship between pole diameter, location & amp-hours; and
- 1.1.1.3 Relationship between PV efficiency and 1.1.5.1 or 1.1.5.2.
- 1.1.2 Hardware and interfaces for configuring power delivery options like voltage and current during manufacturing and/or installation to support multiple different device activities (e.g., lighting, security gate, broadband wireless.)
- 1.1.3 Configurable wiring harness(es) and routing to support multiple device activities powered on-device (e.g., lighting, video and broadband wireless at the top of the device, USB attachments at ground level) and off-device (e.g., security gate and sensor fence.)
- 1.1.4 Granular operational and environmental data logging to correlate solar collection and charge characteristics as a function of location and environmental information (e.g., average daily sunshine, temperature, pressure, humidity.)
- 1.1.5 Algorithms for determining when and how much energy to invert back onto the grid as a function of device operational and environmental parameters.
- 1.1.6 Algorithms for minimizing energy consumption as a function of device operational and environmental parameters as well as sensor triggers like photo cell and motion.
- 1.1.7 A separable solar engine kit that includes solar collector, charge controller, energy storage, delivery and wireless monitoring backhaul; along with all the connectors—mechanical, electrical & software/firmware interface—to enable third parties to install our solar engine on other types of devices.
- 1.2 LIGHT DELIVERY STACK (See
FIG. 27 ) - 1.2.1 Delineate light delivery into distinct layers with unique parameters that can be independently adjusted to meet overall intensity and shape requirements cost effectively.
- 1.2.2 A whole-luminaire, high efficiency lens that integrates diffusion technology for smoothing light distribution where there are hotspots with Fresnel lens technology to direct light at precise wide angles to achieve standard IES luminaire distribution types I thru V and sufficient environmental protection to achieve IP65/66 approval.
- 1.2.3 A luminaire mounting plate with highly adjustable LED module mounts that enable cost effective, highly variable lighting patterns outside of the standard IES types I thru V, along with algorithms for how to adjust modules to achieve a given light distribution.
- 1.3 MODULARITY (SEE
FIG. 28 ) - 1.3.1 Mechanical modularity of devices that allows different activities to be attached and configured easily at manufacturing time, installation time or even in the field post install (e.g., Inovus Solar LED shoebox, Lithonia LED shoebox, shoebox lighting plus Sony internet video camera and PowerFence high-voltage sensor fence.)
- 1.3.2 Harness, conduit and wiring that enables batteries to be located off-board, meaning off the device yet wired into the device.
- 1.3.3 Well defined abstractions with interfaces to allow wireless connectivity hardware and protocols to evolve over time and be upgraded without affecting the architecture or higher-level applications relying upon this connectivity.
- 1.4 DIAGNOSTICS & REPAIR
- 1.4.1 Algorithms to diagnose which Energy Storage Unit pack(s) has a bad or failing Energy Storage Unit.
- 1.4.2 Algorithms to determine whether the Light Sensitive Device is failing or failed.
- 1.4.3 Algorithms to determine whether any of the Motion Sensing or Occupancy Sensing devices are failing or failed.
- 1.4.4 Algorithms to determine whether any of the Light Emitting Devices (i.e. LED modules) are failing or failed.
- 1.4.5 Algoritluns to determine whether the AC/DC power converter is failing or failed.
-
- 1.4.5.1 Algorithms to reset AC/DC power converter (either wirelessly or via hardwire connection)
- 1.4.6 Algorithms to determine whether the Charge Controller (device converting energy from the Power Generator to energy to be stored or consumed) is failing or failed.
- 1.4.6.1 Algorithms to reset Charge Controller (either wirelessly or via hardwire connection)
- 1.4.7 Algorithms to determine whether the Power Generator (i.e. Solar Panel) is failing or failed.
- 1.4.8 Algorithms to determine whether the power inverter is failing or failed.
- 1.4.8.1 Algorithms to reset power inverter (either wirelessly or via hardwire connection)
- 1.4.9 Algorithms to determine whether the Control Board is failing or failed.
- 1.4.9.1 Algorithms to reset Control Board (either wirelessly or via hardwire connection);
- 1.4.9.2 Algorithms to test various subsystems and/or subroutines on the Control Board (either wirelessly or via hardwire connection);
- 1.4.9.3 Algorithms to put selected subsystems and/or subroutines in selected states (either wirelessly or via hardwire connection); and
- 1.4.9.4 Algorithms to reset various subsystems and/or subroutines on the Control Board, including entire Control Board (either wirelessly or via hardwire connection)
- 1.4.10 Algorithms to determine whether other devices (such as a security camera) are failing or failed.
- 1.4.11 Algorithms to reset those other devices (either wirelessly or via hardwire connection)
- 1.5 SUPPORTABILITY
- 1.5.1 All operational parameters that affect how the systems and algorithms behave are abstracted out of the code, leaving behind variables in the code that are evaluated at system start
- 1.5.2 Operational parameters are stored separately from code in a profile that is easily read and processed by the code
- 1.5.3.1 The profile should be easy to replace in its entirety
- 1.5.3.2 Individual values for operational parameters in the profile should be easy to replace
- 1.5.3 On system restart or reset, all systems and algorithms flush their values for operational parameters then re-read and re-process operational parameters from the profile
- 1.5.4 A method for resetting the device at ground level (i.e. standing on the street), like a reset button. Pushing this button is the equivalent to power cycling the system, which causes all hardware, firmware and software to re-initialize, re-read and re-process all operational parameters
- 1.5.5 A method for indicating device system status, like a 3-color light or set of lights (e.g., green, yellow, red) at ground level that conveys one of three states: operating properly, operating but there is an issue needing attention, and not operating. This provides ground level feedback regarding whether to push the reset button as well as whether or not pushing the reset button resolved the issue.
- 1.5.6 A method for providing a ground-level memory card reader (e.g., CompactFlash, SmartMedia)
- 1.5.7 Memory card reader is bootable, meaning on reset the card reader is checked for a set of operational parameters and if exists, these operational parameters are used instead of any others that may be onboard
- 1.5.8 System logging persists on a memory card in the ground level slot so that the card can easily be replaced, with logging data taking back for more thorough analysis than can reasonably occur in the field
- 1.5.9 Amount of memory for operational parameters and logging is easily increased by replacing lower capacity card with higher capacity card over time
- 1.5.10 Methods and algorithms for creating modularity of systems on the device
- 1.5.11 Facilitate unit testing as the number of components increases
- 1.5.12 More easily enable in-field, black-box replacing as a cost effective support strategy in the field
- 1.5.13 Replaced modules are sent back to Inovus Solar or certified service rep for troubleshooting, repair and recirculation
- 1.5.14 Methods and algorithms for enabling an expandable bus architecture on the device to enable in-field hardware feature expandability over time (e.g., new sensor, high bandwidth radio, video camera)
- 1.6 ENVIRONMENTAL SENSING
- 1.6.1 Methods for collecting and logging environmental data (e.g., luminosity, temperature, humidity, pressure, wind speed) for later use and correlation with other information like device operational parameters.
- 1.6.2 Methods for adding, configuring and enabling sensors on a device during manufacturing, installation and/or in the field.
- The basics of mesh networks are known by mesh providers, such as self-organizing, repairing, route optimization via feedback, etc. However, some unique innovations occur in how mesh networking is used to meet the goals of ACDs, for example, the following features.
- 2.1 MESH
- 2.1.1 Methods for providing different backhaul channels to meet the characteristics of different types of device data (e.g., low bandwidth, best efforts, open channel; high bandwidth, guaranteed delivery, VPN channel)
- 2.1.2 Algorithm for selecting a backhaul channel based on the characteristics of a specific type of device data, that is, data-driven backhaul channels (e.g., for small size, non-critical, insensitive data, use low bandwidth, best efforts, open channel; for streaming, real-time sensitive data, use high bandwidth, guaranteed delivery, VPN channel)
- 2.1.3 Method and algorithms for periodically polling the mesh, checking differences in the responses, using these differences to determine when individual devices are unresponsive and then taking action: sending alerts, repurposing a nearby functioning device to assume unresponsive device's role, dispatching field support to reset or troubleshoot if necessary, etc.
- 2.2 QUARANTINE
- 2.2.1 A method for allowing formerly unknown devices to join a mesh, but to limit the functionality of the device—and therefore its risk to the overall system—until the device successfully passes several well defined phases of quarantine.
- 2.2.2 Algorithms for describing what behavior and conditions must be met for each phase of quarantine and then determining when a specific unknown device successfully meets these conditions.
- 2.3 COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE
- 2.3.1 A method for sharing information wirelessly with a collection of devices, having each device in the collection perform tasks to make one or more determinations, and then sharing these determinations with other devices in the collection yielding a result that causes a change in the behavior of a collection (e.g., two or more lighting devices determine a walker's direction and speed and then light the way ahead of the walker.)
- 2.3.2 An algorithm for lighting the way ahead of a moving object (e.g., walker, automobile.)
- 2.3.3 An algorithm for pointing a POV video camera in the direction of meaningful activity and following that activity as it moves.
- 2.3.4 An algorithm for using motion triggered lighting across a large collection of lighting devices as a way of indicating where potentially meaningful activity is occurring (e.g., border crossing, college campus.)
- 2.3.5 An algorithm for targeting advertisements to devices that follow an individual user as they move.
- 2.3.6 Algorithms around how, where and how redundantly to register a device's capabilities on a network
- 2.3.7 Algorithms for determining connectivity issues on the network, routing around issues, repairing issues and reestablishing routes once repaired
- 2.3.8 Algorithms for favoring efficient routing, penalizing inefficient routing and adjusting both over time based on changeable definitions of efficiency
- 2.3.9 Algorithms for locating and sharing resources on the network as resource availability and location changes over time
- 2.3.10 Algorithms for securing the network against unauthorized network joins and ensuring intra-network communications cannot easily be intercepted and interpreted
- 2.3.11 Algorithms for using monitoring events across a population of devices to determine a coordinated action to take like lighting the way ahead of a walker along a pathway or turning on a video camera based on triangulation of multiple device motion sensors
- 2.3.11.1 Algorithms that detect motion (direction and velocity) and estimate the future direction and location of the moving object as a function of time.
- 2.3.11.2 Algorithms that activate devices based on the anticipated location of the moving object per the algorithms in 5.2.3.1. (i.e. turning on or brightening lights or turning on/waking up security cameras ahead of a moving car or moving person.)
- 2.3.12 Algorithms for determining the location of a device based on known fixed locations and triangulation of multiple device radio signals
- 2.3.13 Algorithms that allow devices in a network to look for and sense different sensors that come into range of the wireless sensor(s) on the devices.
- 2.3.14 Algorithms that allow devices in a network to identify and categorize the different types of sensors that come into range of the wireless sensor(s) on the devices.
- 2.4 REMOTE TROUBLESHOOTING
- 2.4.1 A method and algorithms for periodically querying a population of devices for connectivity, comparing these snapshots differentially and determining when individual devices have lost connectivity
- 2.4.3 A method for remotely resetting a device, which has the effect of cycling the power on the device, flushing all runtime memory and then reloading and restarting all systems on the device.
- 2.5 EVENT MANAGEMENT
- 2.5.1 Algorithms for monitoring and storing discrete and continuous triggers, interpreting triggers and translating them into events to be published
- 2.5.2 Algorithms for subscribing to and receiving events with specified attributes as a way of performing a task in response to a published event
- 2.5.3 Algorithms for interpreting one or a collection of conditions, assessing their severity and then determining whether a warning or error condition exists.
- 2.5.4 Algorithms around scheduling jobs at predefined times and/or with predefined frequencies to perform tasks
- 2.5.5 Algorithms enabling the way an event gets treated throughout the system to be dictated by the classification and characteristics of the event itself
- 2.5.6 Algorithms for aggregating events over populations of devices, rolling up event information based on criteria, interpreting low-level event information and using it to create new higher-order events
- 2.5.7 Algorithms involving securely bridging a low-power, low-bandwidth network and a medium-power, high-bandwidth network, or providing secure gateway capabilities between the two networks.
- 2.5.8 Algorithms for aggregating information across populations of devices and securely delivering this information through a broadband wireless infrastructure to an Inovus operated network operations center.
- 2.5.9 Algorithms for guaranteed or best-efforts delivery of information to the network operations center based on the classification of the information.
- Methods and elements for delivering content services via ACD's are described below, which content services may be delivered by a single ACD but more preferably are delivered by a network of multiple ACD's. Delivering said content services may be in one or more directions, for example, gathering of information from a population (multiple) networked poles for transmittal preferably to a master pole and then to a control station for processing and/or use, or (in the opposite direction) dissemination of information, advertising, alarms, or other content by the control station to the master pole and then to one or more of the slave poles in the network.
- 3.1 MONITORING
- 3.1.1 Methods for setting thresholds for values generated by devices or populations of devices that when met, cause actions to be taken like sending an email or text alert, raising other events, etc.
- 3.2 MANAGEMENT
- 3.2.1 Methods for defining a task or set of dependent tasks to be delivered to populations of devices and then executed.
- 3.2.2 Methods for defining jobs, comprised of a task or group of dependent tasks, that can be scheduled for delivery and execution to a population of devices.
- 3.2.3 Algorithms around creating and managing user/customer accounts and passwords with associated roles and permissions that span different kinds of customers as well as the needs of Inovus itself
- 3.2.4 Algorithms that enable authentication of individual users to specific accounts and roles with associated permissions, and tracks failed authentication attempts for intrusion detection security
- 3.2.5 Algorithms for authorizing individual users/customers to access and use only their devices and associated data
- 3.2.6 Algorithms for detecting when security might be compromised anywhere in the system and taking action once security is believed to be compromised such as locking out a user or customer, denying access to devices or data, locking out parts of the system globally or by customer and flushing all security keys requiring re-initialization throughout the system of all security subsystems.
- 3.2.7 Algorithms for creating sets of devices that meet pre-defined conditions then proactively and remotely managing these devices including resetting, updating firmware, updating operational parameters, triggering on-demand information delivery, troubleshooting issues, overriding operation for prescribed periods of time, etc.
- 3.2.8 Analytical algorithms that operated on aggregated information at the Inovus network operations center and provide customers with all manner of operational and environmental insights.
- 3.2.9 Algorithms that allow a network of devices to manage power being pulled from the power grid or placed back onto the power grid.
- 3.2.9.1 Algorithms that allow a network of devices on the grid to put power onto the grid a desired times, either as certain criteria are sensed and met on the grid, or via a command from a central command center or a Network Operation Center (NOC).
- 3.2.9.2 Algorithms to draw power from the grid at desired times, as certain criteria are sensed and met on the grid, or via a command from a NOC.
- 3.2.10 Algorithms to vary the control signal to the load(s) to test its operation (i.e. to test the ability of the light to run full brightness and dim down to various dimming levels). See, also, the section entitled “Active Control for Energy-Efficient Lighting” later in this document.
- 3.3 VISUALIZATION
- 3.3.1 Algorithms for placing devices on a map based on precise location, and then overlaying weather, insolation, energy cost, other meaningful data. over these mapped devices.
- 3.3.2 Methods for graphically illustrating key monitoring metrics for devices (e.g., KPI, ROI) in a dashboard.
- 3.3.3 Methods for enabling the distribution of summary monitoring information on populations of devices to other websites as widgets.
- 3.4 ANALYTICS
- 3.4.1 Methods and algorithms for quickly searching, refining and sorting sets of devices based on device attributes.
- 3.4.2 Methods for correlating attributes across large populations of devices and then deriving insights based on the correlations.
- Solar-powered retrofit outdoor lighting system may be provided according to some embodiments of the invention, which retrofit systems may be attached to an existing pole, for example a conventional street light pole, conventional public safety alarm pole, or conventional security camera pole, to convert the existing pole to a solar-powered system. Alternatively, while the following description focuses on retrofit of existing poles that may already be erected and may already be in conventional service, said “retrofit” systems may also be attached to new poles that are not erected or in service, for example, if the community/industry desires the modular approach of attaching embodiments of the invented autonomous and/or wireless to poles that they already own and have stockpiled, or that they want to purchase because such conventional poles are “known commodities.” The main objective is to make such existing and/or new poles “autonomous” in that it/they can be powered by an integral renewable energy collection system such as a solar collector. The energy storage system preferably provides enough stored energy to keep the system running for at least 5 days of low-to-limited solar radiation (for example during a week-long-spell of cloudy weather).
- The solar-retrofit poles will be self-powered during the day to power the electrical device if needed during the day, and, as existing poles are typically already tied to the grid, to provide solar power to the grid during the day (during peak load periods). Then, at night, when the demands on the grid are less, such retrofit poles will be powered by grid. Thus, energy storage devices, such as batteries, are typically not needed for these retrofit poles, but energy storage devices (in the form of retrofit modules) may be included for emergency back-up during power outages. Such emergency back-up energy storage devices would not require as much energy storage as the autonomous system, as one would expect such a storage device to be required to power the pole for at most a few hours during grid repair.
- The solar-retrofit system is preferably adapted so that the retrofit system is visually integrated with the existing pole/system to minimize the “modified appearance” of the retrofitted system. The retrofitted system preferably looks similar to a standard pole after the modification has been made. This may accomplish two things, specifically, public acceptance and vandalism-resistance. The finished retrofit pole product looks similar to a standard light pole and therefore is more readily accepted by the public. Also, because the retrofit pole looks like a standard pole, it is less likely to be targeted by vandals; if there were obvious equipment and protrusions mounted to the pole, vandals might be tempted to steal the solar collector or otherwise tamper with or destroy said equipment/protrusions.
- In addition to saving grid energy compared to conventional poles, the retrofit systems provide an important public safety benefit. During periods of a power outage (grid or utility power), a retrofit light, public alarm, and/or security camera will still be able to operate, thus providing a safer environment at night.
- The retrofit system comprises the integration of a solar collector and other necessary system components (described below), and preferably an emergency energy storage module, into a retrofit “package” so that it can be retrofitted & installed as an independent self-supported system onto an existing or new pole. As illustrated in
FIGS. 29 A-C, in a preferred retrofit embodiment, a solar collector is attached to the outside surface of acollar 700. The collector can be a flexiblephotovoltaic layer 710 that is attached, grown, or woven onto the surface of the collar. The collar subtends an arc of at least 180 degrees. Preferably embedded in the collar areenergy storage devices 720, which may be sized and designed for emergency use as described above. Such devices may be batteries, capacitors, fuel cells, or devices that store and release hydrogen. The collar is then mounted or otherwise attached onto an existing utility or light pole, with wiring extending from the solar collar to the light fixture. In this manner, replacing installing the collar would also install an autonomous power system for the light pole, and/or at least (depending on the size and capability of said energy storage devices) an energy storage device for emergency grid outages, as described above. - Another embodiment of a retrofit solar-powered outdoor lighting system is to include the solar collector and the energy storage device, preferably with control hardware/firmware/software, in the body of or integrally connected to the light fixture, such as the
integral unit 800 portrayed inFIG. 30 (described below in more detail). The preferred embodiment would have a lightweight PV layer/panel on the top of the replacement light fixture. The light fixture itself would contain a lightweight energy storage device, which in its preferred embodiment, is a high energy density ultra or super capacitor. In this manner, replacing the light fixture would also install an autonomous power system for the light pole and/or at least (depending on the size and capability of said energy storage devices) an energy storage device for emergency grid outages, as described above. - The solar collectors charge the energy storage devices during daylight hours, then the energy storage devices supply power to the light fixture at night or (depending on the size and capability of said energy storage devices) during the night only if there is a grid-outage.
- There are different ways this invention may be used. For example, the a retrofit solar-powered pole may power systems other than lighting, such as stand-alone radio and antenna equipment at remote sites, or any other application that requires a self-powered source for support of the equipment. The retrofit solar-powered pole may comprise additional or alternative features to achieve various objectives. For example, the lighting control system may consist of motion sensors, photocells, time-clocks, or any other type of control to turn the light (or other powered equipment) on and off or to provide any other control required for the specific application.
- The preferred methods and apparatus for retrofitting existing light poles with solar panels and batteries comprises the solar panels and batteries being integral parts of a unit that is applied to the existing pole, so that the solar panels and batteries are not installed separately. The benefits are ease of installation, better reliability (separate components are more subject to damage or improper installation), and overall lower cost compared to the conventional installation of separate solar panel and battery components on an existing pole. Multiple retrofit options are possible, with the two preferred options being a combined solar-panel and battery unit applied to the generally cylindrical side surface of an existing pole (separate from the light or other powered equipment), or a combined solar-panel, battery, and light/powered-equipment unit connected to the existing pole in locations where a conventional light might be connected. These two options are discussed in more detail as follows.
- As schematically portrayed in
FIG. 29A , a collar may comprise the preferred flexible solar panel on a flexible or semi-rigid frame that is adapted to be snapped/installed around a pole. Said collar may comprise pockets/receiving spaces for batteries or other energy-storage devices. The preferably-flexible solar panel or solar “fabric” may be installed on or incorporated into a variety of flexible or rigid panel, layered composites, or other solar-panel structure with regions or pockets for receiving battery/storage apparatus, wherein said solar-panel structure is mounted onto, flexed or bent around, or otherwise attached to an existing pole. Thus, said collar that incorporates an outer layer of a solar collector material and an inner layer of batteries may be used as the retrofit solar collection and energy storage system that generally mimics or takes the outer generally cylindrical form of the existing pole, to power outdoor light(s) or other powered equipment that is already connected to, or that is retrofit to, the pole. Said outdoor light(s) typically are separate piece(s) that are installed separate from the collar, for example, a conventional light, an embodiment of an invented LED light engine, or other light fixture at or near the top of the pole. Said other powered equipment is typically separate pieces(s) that are installed separate from the collar, also typically at or near the top of the pole. Thus, said fabric, flexible or rigid panel, layered composite, or other layered material combines a solar collector and energy storage device into a single integrated unit, which is installed separate from but is operatively connected to the light or other powered equipment. - As schematically portrayed in
FIG. 30 , anintegrated unit 800 comprising preferably all of the solar panel, batteries, and LED light engine, may be attached to the existing pole preferably at or near the top of the pole. This integrated unit therefore, is positioned where one would expect a conventional outdoor light to be placed on the pole, with no need for a solar-collector and/or battery collar on the generally cylindrical side surface of the pole. Theintegral unit 800 inFIG. 30 represents one embodiment of retrofit solar-powered outdoor lighting system that comprises preferably all of:fixture box 802, such as a “shoebox” or “cobrahead” or other standard or custom fixture housing or body, wherein the fixture box may have a thin film photovoltaic (PV)layer 818 attached to it to convert light into electrical power, which PV layer is preferably on a generally horizontal top surface ofbox 802 and which may replace the solar collector mounted on the pole or may augment that PV collector;lens 804 preferably connected to thebox 802 and/or to theLED light engine 812; fixture arm and/or bracket 806 to mount fixture to pole;energy storage pack 808, which may comprise a lightweight energy storage pack; such as the preferred high energy density ultra or super capacitor, batteries, or other energy storage apparatus; energystorage pack charger 810;LED light engine 812, which may be of various designs, but is preferably the modular LED system described elsewhere in this document; motion sensor andphotocell 814; control board w/wireless modem and/orcell phone radio 816. While such integral units are preferred, it will be understood by those in skill in the art reading and viewing this document and its figures, that peak load delay conservation systems according to embodiments of the invention could also be installed on existing or new light/equipment poles with the elements called-out forFIG. 30 being provided in separated housings and/or in spaced-apart locations on or in the pole. - A modular LED system may be adapted to be part of either new (OEM) or existing (retrofit) outdoor lighting fixtures. The preferred modular LED system will allow any and all required lighting distribution patterns to be emulated, including some lighting distribution patterns that can not typically be achieved by conventional light fixtures. The advantages of the more efficient, and preferably modular, LED lighting systems can be adapted to traditional light fixtures, for example, by being installed in traditional light fixtures that are already in use or are stockpiled, or by being installed in newly-purchased traditional light fixture housings because a community/industry prefers the appearance of the traditional housing and/or wishes to match existing lights.
- As illustrated by the preferred embodiments in
FIGS. 31 (A-C),separate modules 1010, may be provided with each module preferably containing multiple light emitting diodes 1030 (LEDs). Multiple of saidmodules 1010 are mounted to a sheet metal plate orbaffle 1012, as illustrated inFIGS. 32A-D , to create a light fixture comprising a modularLED light engine 1020. The baffle is then attached to the interior of alight fixture 1014, as illustrated inFIGS. 33A-E . As discussed elsewhere in this document, many different light fixtures may be used, as it is thelight engine 1020, and it is the particular the number, arrangement, and directing ofmodules 1010 that is the major determining factor of the light intensity and light pattern. - The structure and operation of each
module 1010 is preferably the same as the others in saidlight engine 1020, with said multiple modules being arranged on thebaffle 1012 and each modules being directed (pointed) in a direction, so that the sum total of the specially-arranged and specially-directed modules is the desired light distribution pattern (or simply “light pattern”). The appropriate modules required to achieve the desired lighting distribution pattern are mounted to the baffle and aimed in the direction needed for the specific pattern. Thus, several modules can be combined in different configurations as required, with the “adaptation” or “adjustment” to obtain the desired light pattern preferably consisting of: mounting the modules on the baffle in a particular design arrangement and pivoting theLED housing 1022 of each module relative to itsbracket 1024 to direct each module (independently from all the others) as desired. - Each
module 1010 preferably has multiple LEDs, for example, fourLEDs 1030, in a single row along the length of themodule housing 1022. All fourLEDs 1030 preferably “pointed” in the same direction inside theLED housing 1022, with “directing” of the module, and, hence, of the light, being done by said pivoting and then locking of the module in the desired orientation relative to the plane of the baffle, and, hence, relative to the surrounding landscape, roads, and/or buildings, etc. TheLED housing 1022 may be locked in place by a bolt/screw system 1032 or other lock/latch, preferably at the time of manufacture of the light fixture with light engine (if the desired light pattern is known), at the time of installation of thelight engine 1020 in an existing fixture, and/or at the time of installation of the light fixture on the pole, for example. Eachbracket 1024 may comprise one or more members that may pivotally receives theLED housing 1022 so that the LEDs may be swung in a direction preferably perpendicular to the length of the LED row for said directing of the LED module. For example, two ormore ears 1034 may be fixed to thebaffle 1012, and receive thehousing 1022 so that is pivots on an axis parallel to the length of the LED row. Theears 1034 may be considered part of the module, and/or may be considered part of thebaffle 1012, depending on one's perspective. - In the preferred LED module, the
LEDs 1030 are mounted to, or less preferably connected to, a circuit board along with required drivers and circuiting for the LEDs. Said circuit board, drivers, and circuits for the LEDs are not shown inFIGS. 25-27 , but may be contained within eachmodule housing 1022. Also contained with the module housing may be heat sink material to draw heat away from the LEDs as required, as will be understood after reading this document and after viewingFIG. 7 , which portrays a generally cylindrical light engine as opposed to the generally planar light engine ofFIGS. 31-33 . It will also be understood thatmultiple modules 1010 may be arranged on variously-sized and shaped plates, baffles, cylinders, cones, boxes, or other support structures, wherein the light pattern and the outward appearance and aesthetics of the light fixture with light engine will be determined by said support structure, said arrangement of the modules on the support structure, and said directing of each module. In addition, or as a partial or total replacement for said directing of the modules, a lens assembly with reflectors may help achieve the specific distribution (pattern) required. - One main advantage of this system is the ability to achieve improved performance from the LED lighting system within a traditional light fixture. Traditional outdoor light fixtures typically utilize high pressure sodium (HPS) or metal halide (MH) light sources. These traditional light bulbs scatter light in all directions, so the fixture box requires reflector assemblies to collect and re-direct the light in the required direction to achieve the distribution desired. LED's are a highly directional source of lighting and do not scatter their light in all directions like HPS or MH light sources. The preferred modular LED sources utilize the directional lighting characteristics of LEDs to create lighting patterns that are directed and yet still cover the desired area to be lit. This not only optimizes the light pattern, but is more effective in delivering light to only where it is needed and not into unwanted areas. Therefore, this modular lighting system also reduces light pollution.
- There are five basic distribution patterns identified for outdoor lighting. These are type I, II, III, IV and IV. Not only will the preferred modular LED system, described above with reference to
FIGS. 31-33E , allow these distribution patterns to be met, but additional and project specific (site specific) distribution patterns can also be achieved. - Another key feature of this modular LED system relates to light egress. Normal outdoor light fixtures require shielding (in many cases consisting of a sheet metal shroud) to prevent light egress into adjacent areas. For example, if there is parking lot lighting next to a residential area, then often some sort of shielding is required. With this modular system, the shielding capability is built-in to the design of the modules on the side of the fixture that requires the shielding so that no external shielding is required. The shielding is achieved via the highly directional, focused lighting of the modular system, by selecting, placing, and directing the modular LEDs to the provide light of desired coverage in desired directions (desired size, shape, and intensity of lighting pattern). Other advantages include the ability to achieve “Dark Sky” compliance, which requires that no light can project up above the fixture into the sky.
- Virtually any shape or size of light fixture box can be retrofitted with embodiments of the invented modular LED system. Because of the small modular size of each modular LED component, even odd sizes and small fixture assemblies can accommodate, and operatively cooperate with, this system. This allows it to be utilized in nearly all types of conventional fixtures and in custom-designed fixtures.
- It will be understood after reading and viewing this document that the modular LED system shown in
FIGS. 31-33E , and other modular LED systems embodiments according to the invention, will have specific advantages compared to conventional lighting. Specifically, the modular LED system allows lighting designers and engineers to design a lighting system that is currently largely unachievable. The challenge with current lighting systems is that they rely on light sources that throw light everywhere (uncontrolled light—throwing light in every direction). Historically, outdoor light fixtures have had an enclosure (with or without a glass lens to enclose the light source) to protect the source and a lamp on the inside of this enclosure. A hundred years ago the light source was a gas lamp or a candle that threw light everywhere. If you wanted to light a larger area you would increase the amount of light produced at the source. The two lighting functions that are difficult to achieve with these traditional light sources are control and uniformity. - Since the gas lamp, lighting fixtures have not improved dramatically. Most current lighting systems still have a single extremely bright light source (HID—Metal Halide or High Pressure Sodium) that throws light everywhere.
- To get light somewhat under control, and in order to achieve a few standard distribution patterns (in the lighting world identified as types I thru V), many different and varied reflector configurations have been developed over the years to attempt to “direct” the light in a pattern that is more useable for the specific application, that is, to light the specific area that needs illumination. HID lamps are not directional and so reflectors have been required to attempt control of lighting patterns. Such conventional light plus reflector systems are only somewhat improved from the original way it was done long ago, that is, with no reflector.
- Regarding uniformity, it is understood by all lighting designers that the best lighting system is one that provides even illumination across a given area or site. The closer that conventional light poles are placed to each other, the lower maximum to minimum ratios (bright and dark areas) and better or more even illumination can be achieved. This is because the brightest area of the light is close to the source. Additionally, when a unique site or area needs to be illuminated, said illumination is difficult to achieve with a standard HID system. For example, when poles are close to a residential area the light is difficult to control. Typically a sheet metal plate is attached to the side of the fixture to “shield” the light from the residential area.
- Regarding standard LED fixtures, the light starts out as a directional source, because each LED is a point source. No reflectors are required and all of the light is utilized to illuminate only the area that is required. Many LED light fixture manufacturers have taken an approach to only consider this natural efficiency of LED's in the design of their fixtures and to assemble them within a light fixture body in the required standard configurations (or “pre-set” configurations) to achieve a specific standard distribution pattern (one of the standard five distribution patterns).
- Embodiments of the invented modular LED system, on the other hand, overcome the challenges of both HID lamp sources and the limitations associated with a typical “pre-set” LED system. By pointing each module towards the area that needs to be illuminated, the cooperative efforts of these multiple modules allows a greater overall uniformity to be achieved. The light can actually be focused on the areas that are far away from the pole to achieve lower max to min ratios. This greatly improves uniformity.
- The modular system also allows virtually any distribution pattern to be achieved by adjusting the angle and pitch of the modules to achieve the desired lighting. This can be done either by the engineer designing the lighting system, at the factory, or in the field. No shielding is required because the modules can be “aimed” away from the area of light trespass.
- Not only does the invented modular LED system allow each fixture to be “customized”, the overall lighting system (network of poles) can be designed to work together in a unique or custom way to achieve an overall lighting system for that specific site or area.
- Other unique qualities and features, not necessarily represented by the modular LED embodiments of
FIGS. 31-33E , but preferred in alternative embodiments of the invented modular LED systems include: - 1. Multiple or different lenses on a standard lens cover. The LED module is designed in such a way to allow the adaptation of the lensing at the module to change the shape or focus of the light. The lens cover is designed to accommodate standard lenses so that the distribution pattern of an individual module can be changed to allow additional design flexibility. Also, this brings down the cost of manufacturing, as only the lens cover (framework for holding the lenses) is a custom part specific to the module. The lenses are mass produced at a lower price.
- 2. Individual dimming of modules. Each of the modules has the electronic drivers “on board” with a control wire that allows the adjustment of the light level remotely. This is achieved by sending a signal over the control wire (or wirelessly—see next option). Without the wireless option these settings are changed via an RS232 port (or equivalent) connected to a control board that is in turn connected to the modules and controls the function of the modules. The control board has time clocks and/or other algorithms that control the light output of the modules. See, for example, the section entitled “Active Control for Energy-Efficient Lighting” later in this document.
- 3. Wireless control option. Each module (and/or set of modules) can be controlled wirelessly over a wireless network so that changes to lighting can be done after the fixture has been installed on the pole. This can be done remotely and globally (over a whole network of fixtures/poles). Preferably, as discussed in
item 2 immediately above, the individual modules may be controlled in this wireless manner. - 4. Pan/tilt option. Each module can be adjusted via the control wire (or wirelessly). Thus, the distribution pattern and direction of illumination can be controlled remotely. This could be achieved with micro controllers or small motors to physically change the direction or “aim” of the modules. It should be noted that the modules in
FIGS. 31-33E are well-adapted for independent tilting of each modules and/or for tilting of groups of modules together. Other modules may be designed and adjustably connected to the plate/baffle or other support structure that are even more adjustable, for example, by both pan and tilt adjustments. Again, these adjustments may be individually done and/or done by groups. - 5. Pan/tilt Solid State option. The “direction” of the light produced by the modules could be achieved by having multiple LEDs in a wide range of distribution angles and only illuminating those LEDs pointing in the direction of the desired distribution pattern (and leaving the other un-needed LEDs dark). With such a system, if the pattern needs to change, then the control system would “douse” (or turn off) the LEDs not needed and illuminate the ones that are directed in the desired vector(s) for the new pattern.
- 6. Solid state redundancy option. With the superfluous multiple LED system stated above in
item 5, the “unlit” LEDs could alternatively be utilized to turn “on” when an adjacent LED burned out. This would allow the module to last longer (for example the initial LEDs would burn for 50,000 hours. After the performance started to degrade, then the “old” LED would be turned off and the “new” adjacent LED would be turned on to replaced the old one. - 7. Color changing. The color of each module and/or each LED could be controlled via the control wire (or wireless control). This could be utilized by a municipality to indicate certain conditions in the city. For example, changing the street lights in the city to a RED color in an area that may be at risk for fire would indicate to the residents that they should leave the area. If there is a condition in a certain part of the city that required police attention, the lights could be green in color. In addition to changing the color of the light, other functions could be achieved. For example the lights could be blinked on and off, or intensified (brighter light) to indicate an emergency situation.
- 8. Software Design option. The lighting designer or engineer can utilize embodiments of the modular LED software program to design the lighting system to his/her specifications. This software option allows the information relating to each module (the rotation/tilt, etc.) to be easily communicated to the factory so that the specific distribution pattern can be set. This software tool also gives the engineer much greater flexibility in design. If there is a specific site that has unique lighting requirements, each individual fixture can be configured as required.
- Some embodiments of the invention, therefore, may be described as autonomous outdoor lighting systems according to any of the features described herein, Energy production (such as solar), storage of energy, and control of the outdoor lighting, its poles, and the mesh network for said poles may be included in the preferred embodiments. Wireless communications channels (WCC) give the ability to provide wireless connection of poles to the internet via wireless modems in each individual pole (“slave” pole), with a “master” or coordinator pole transmitting data via cell phone or satellite radio to a master station with connection to internet. The WCC also enables the use of both high bandwidth & low bandwidth capabilities (channels) that can be selected based on individual system/network requirements. High bandwidth speed is preferably greater than or equal to 11,000 kbps (kilobits per second), and especially in a range of 11,000-50,000 kbps (kilobits per second), and low bandwidth speed is preferably 20-250 kbps (kilobits per second). For example, under normal conditions, the low bandwidth channel is utilized to conserve energy of the system. Upon the detection of an event (for example, motion sensor activated), the high bandwidth mode is then employed (for example, turn on camera). Also, the preferred embodiments may be self-acting, with event “awareness”, wherein actions of each individual pole are taken based on that pole's “view” of it's local sensor data (solar collection data, motion sensor data, wind or barometric pressure, etc.). Cooperative/Community Actions may also be included in the preferred processes of the poles and network, wherein the operation of the pole(s) (and attached devices/systems) change/respond with respect to adjacent poles within the community. This includes small network actions (10-100 poles), city-wide actions, and/or large area networks, and part of this includes the “self-organizing” & “self-recognition” of new poles joining the network characteristic of Mesh or ZigBee networks.
- Remote configuration is also preferably included in the processes of the poles/network, wherein changes to the wireless controller can be done remotely via the internet web interface, which this includes new programming, firmware, upgrades, troubleshooting and repair (system reset if required), etc. Pole/Node Management may include actions needed for “light the way”, power delivery to/from the grid, and/or content services.
- The preferred poles and network are made with a large amount of modularity, for example, by using an “open” architecture, which may include the utilization of standard open protocols, hardware and architecture, with universal bussing that allows the implementation of new systems, and/or devices that may be needed on the poles.
- In some poles/networks, financial transactions may be communicated via RF, security cameras may provide data and video to law enforcement, and WI-FI routers may be provided. Both for “on-pole” devices and “off-pole” devices, the long-term supportability of the system is provided by the control system self-healing and repair functions, together with the capability of ground level access and repair. Security (System/Network protection) is designed to limit connectivity and access based on who is attempting to connect to the network; new devices will immediately connect to the network, but under a systematic quarantine period to determine device type & authorization level.
- Active control of the preferred outdoor lighting system provides effective energy-efficient operation even through extended periods of low-sunshine days. This is especially important in autonomous systems not connected to the grid, but may be important also in systems that are both solar-powered and grid-connected for overall energy conservation.
FIGS. 34 and 35 illustrate basic logic flow diagrams of the active lighting control process, and error/alert indication processes, according some embodiments of the invention. The preferred active control determines or predicts available energy and determine or predict load demand (typically a lighting load), and then controls the load by modifying the lighting output and/or lighting timing, with said active control monitoring the system for error/alert that require modification to, or shedding of the lighting or peripherals to prevent damage or failure of the system. By adapting the amount and timing of light output, the system may increase lighting on an as-needed basis while reducing energy consumption at other times. In addition, the technology may indicate lighting system error/alert conditions over the primary illumination device of the lighting system. The technology may be also embodied as methods, apparatuses, manufactures, and/or the like. - The general process shown in
FIG. 34 , and specific embodiments developed therefrom for active lighting control, may be performed by a micro-controller, a micro-processor, a programmable logic controller, a digital signal processor, other processor, and/or the like, for example. Flowing from a start block, a processor determines the current and/or predicted energy availability and/or demand for lighting. For example, this determination may be based on a charge, current, or voltage level of a battery circuit, historical data regarding energy collection (e.g. energy generated during the previous day or week), energy cost data, predicted generation capability (e.g., based on a weather report received over a network connection, inferred from past energy generation, or provided by a operator), historical data regarding motion detection, and/or the like. For example, a lighting system may be configured to provide more light when sufficient energy is currently available while reducing the light output when less energy is currently available and/or when future energy generation is predicted to be limited. - The lighting system then adapts and/or selects a light output profile according to the determined current and/or predicted energy availability and demand for lighting. As described later in this disclosure, a lighting profile may include configuration of a light output level, a duration during which a configured light output level is provided, whether the lighting system is enabled (e.g., enabled during the night, disabled during the day), and/or the like. The lighting system then provides light according to the adapted and/or selected light output profile.
- The general process shown in
FIG. 35 , and specific embodiments developed therefrom for indication of a lighting system error/alert condition, may be performed by a micro-controller, a micro-processor, a programmable logic controller, a digital signal processor, other processor, and/or the like. The process begins at a decision block where a processor monitors for an onset of an error/alert condition. For example, an error/alert condition may include detection of partial failures, degraded performance, reaching a point of a maintenance interval, and/or the like. If the processor detects no error/alert condition, the process remains at the decision block. If the processor detects an onset of an error/alert condition, processing flows to the next step wherein the processor determines the error/alert condition. After determining the error/alert condition, processing flows to the next step(s) of the processor modulating the lighting system output according to the determined error/alert condition. As one example, the processor may blink and/or strobe an error/alert code via the primary illumination device of the lighting system to indicate the determined error/alert condition. In an environment where the lighting system is employed as a street light or other lighting pole, a passing pedestrian and/or motorist may notice the error/alert code and notify the relevant lighting system operator. The operator may then dispatch maintenance and/or repair persons to correct the error/alert condition. In addition, by employing the primary illumination device of the lighting system to indicate the determined error/alert condition, error/alert conditions signaling capability may be provided without additional components and only minimal increase in system complexity. From the modulating step, the process flows to next decision block, wherein the processor monitors for the termination of the error/alert condition. For example, this may include detecting if the lighting system has been repaired, has functioned normally for a predefined time period, a register has been cleared, and/or the like. If the processor detects termination of the error/alert condition, the process flows back to the beginning, otherwise, processing continues to further modification of the lighting system. - Aspects of the invention may be stored or distributed on processor-readable media, including magnetically or optically readable computer discs, hard-wired or preprogrammed chips, nanotechnology memory, biological memory, or other data storage media. Indeed, processor implemented instructions, data structures, screen displays, and other data under aspects of the invention may be distributed over the Internet or over other networks (including wireless networks), on a propagated signal on a propagation medium (e.g., an electromagnetic wave(s), a sound wave, etc.) over a period of time, or they may be provided on any analog or digital network (packet switched, circuit switched, mesh, or other scheme).
- Further details of multiple embodiments are provided in the following disclosure and drawings filed herewith. In general, the description of these embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. For example, while processes or blocks are presented in a given order, alternative embodiments may perform routines having steps, or employ systems having blocks, in a different order, and some processes or blocks may be deleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and/or modified. Each of these processes or blocks may be implemented in a variety of different ways. Also, while processes or blocks are at times shown as being performed in series, these processes or blocks may instead be performed in parallel, or may be performed at different times.
- The overall and main objectives of the invented active control for energy-efficient lighting are to conserve energy in solar-powered outdoor lighting systems, so that they can be implemented in regions and climates in which conventional wisdom would predict ineffectiveness, spotty performance, and/or failure because of frequently cloudy or inclement days. The invented active control for energy-efficient lighting actively manages battery charging, manages the available energy, and controls the power or energy delivered to the load. As a result, even in said cloudy or inclement regions/climates, the lighting system delivers effective lighting according to the needs/preferences of the community or business, while protecting the battery from becoming damaged and short-lived because of draining below its low end threshold. The preferred systems vary greatly from conventional solar-powered street light systems that, instead of actively controlling the load, are actually passively controlled by the load. When the load draws more energy than is available in the battery of the conventional lighting system, the load then “turns itself out” because the battery does not have enough energy left to support the load.
- The preferred embodiments of the invented active control for energy-efficient lighting include some or all of the following features. The preferred system actively monitors all critical system components to assure maximum performance while conserving energy, with decisions on energy management made based on system programming along with sensor input. The preferred system in many embodiments may be remotely controlled via wireless system by a remote station such as a utility as required for energy delivery to the grid during peak loading situations. Both energy storage (preferably batteries) and solar production may be controlled. Logs and records data are kept for use by the system to determine future actions, for example, for predicting future energy availability and demand for lighting. The system may have multiple energy operational modes based on current and predicted future conditions, wherein the preferred modes are described in detail later in this disclosure. The system delivers power to system devices preferably according to one of these energy savings modes as required to conserve energy for future demand when current energy production is low. The energy management system can support lighting systems and other loads (devices requiring energy), and the device-specific control criteria of each load determine the energy delivery to that specific device. The preferred system's “load shedding” features may control priorities relating to which devices need to be supported when energy stores are low.
-
FIG. 36 summarizes the operation of the preferred control system. Energy produced (solar) is delivered to the batteries for storage or directly to the grid. The energy management system then determines how the energy is delivered to the loads or the grid. This may be done according to the control system algorithms and historical data, along with sensor input. The system may also be controlled by the utility company as required. Solar and/or stored energy in the batteries may be delivered to the grid during peak demand in the middle of the day. - The preferred active control systems may comprise, or be implemented with, other energy-efficient and/or “smart” systems discussed earlier in this document, for example, wireless intelligent outdoor lighting systems (WIOLS), peak load delay energy conservation systems, and autonomous connected devices. For example, the preferred active control system may comprise and/or be implemented with multiple of the following features:
- a) energy conservation by dimming lights, and/or load shedding;
b) energy conservation by operating at lower power levels when demand is low, for example, utilizing low power low-bandwidth wireless most of the time, then switching to the high bandwidth only when required;
c) cooperating with the grid, by supplying the grid in peak load hours, and being recharged in non-peak hours;
d) for an array of light poles, using a master-slave system, wherein preferably none of the slaves communicate with the control station but poles may change their roles in the array network based on strength of signal, and/or error/alert signals, for example, wherein network communication/control is switched to other routes through the array if one or mores poles is/are “down” or sending weak signals;
e) adding additional poles by “self-discovery”;
a quarantine system for self-discovery addition of poles to the network;
g) Wi-Fi hot-spots provided by the poles/network; and/or
h) a “Look-ahead” traffic light system; - Features of the preferred active control system that are particularly important for energy conservation are systems that may be called the “Light-the-Way,” “Point-the-Camera,” and “Coordinated On/Off.” These involve sensors on one or more poles in a population/array of poles from which the control system receives input signals that are used for subsequent lighting modification and/or security action. In a light-the-way system, two or more motion sensors, within a population of poles, are triggered by motion of a person or vehicle and cause the population to calculate an approximate direction and speed and light the way ahead of the person/vehicle. Each successive motion sensor trigger provides an opportunity to adjust the direction and speed to keep lighting the way for said person/vehicle. The light-the-way algorithm preferably resides on every pole in the population.
- In a point-the-camera system, preferably one pole within a population of poles includes a pan-tilt camera. As a person or vehicle passes by two or more lights in the population, a vector is calculated and used to point the camera at the person/vehicle and follow as long as the person/vehicle is within the scope of the poles and range of the camera.
- In a coordinated on/off system, the light threshold for photo cells across a population of poles varies based on manufacturing tolerances, plus individual poles experience different amounts of light based on location and shadowing. Photo cells across a population of poles can be used to coordinate a single “light on” and “light off” time for the entire population. An average, or a minimum or maximum for both the on-time and the off-time can be calculated each 24-hour period and used to implement coordinated on/off times for the population.
- These and other methods of best-leveraging solar energy generated during daylight hours and stored energy during nighttime hours may be managed via the preferred active control system. For what may be called generation optimization, the preferred active control system must determine what to do with energy being generated by the solar skin as a function of the customer, the time of day, the time of year, and the state of energy demands from a single-pole-, multiple-pole—(if a population of poles is in use), and utility-wide—(if tied to the grid) point of view, the security scenario (for example, pedestrians and/or vehicles in need of lighting), and the state of the battery pack. The preferred active control system performs this optimization to prioritize energy delivery to lighting, peripherals, the battery pack, and/or to the grid in grid-tied embodiments. The management algorithms may include modification of energy delivery to the lighting and/or to peripherals in order to protect the battery pack and to ultimately protect the entire lighting system. In embodiments without any tie to the grid, this active control is crucial to maintaining operability of the system and preventing damage to the batteries, over long cloudy or winter days. In grid-connected embodiments, this active control is crucial to managing the synergistic relationship between the lighting pole/array, wherein the grid may rely on the pole/array for energy inverted directly onto the grid in real time when demand matches generation (e.g., afternoon air conditioning peak matches afternoon generation peak), or for battery-stored energy at other times, but wherein the pole/may may rely on the grid for energy input during the darkest months of the winter.
- The energy management algorithms, such as N1, E1, E2, etc. modes described later in this document, as a function of battery voltage may be relatively simple for a single load (for example, LED lighting). However, for each added load, the algorithms become more complex. With a transport layer load (wireless radios) plus myriad other peripherals (video, security gate, emergency call box, etc.), the energy management algorithms' scope includes the management of a prioritized list of “loads” that can be toggled on/off or reduced in functionality/consumption as a function of battery voltage, and, in grid-connected embodiments, may also include algorithms for drawing energy from the grid through the battery charger to refill.
- At night there is no solar energy generation, but, for poles tied to the grid, cheap nighttime energy from the grid can be used to top of the battery pack. This “topping off” of the battery pack is especially effective in cases where expensive daytime energy demands have depleted the battery to threshold levels. Also en mass, a utility company may elect to push cheap energy out to these highly distributed storage devices at night, leveraging the battery charger to fill the battery packs, so that immediate local energy can be delivered later to meet peak demands.
- The preferred apparatus comprises an LED-based luminaire, a photocell, a control board, a charge controller, a solar collector (or solar collector panel) a battery subsystem (composed of 6-8 batteries, a battery enclosure and wiring harnesses), three motion sensors, and the pole assembly. See
FIG. 37 . - The solar collector captures light during daytime hours and passes it onto the charge controller. The charge controller manages the power provided from the solar collector to optimize the power to be stored in the batteries. The batteries hold stored electrical energy and release it to power the LED luminaire and other system electronics. Various modes of energy release are determined and managed by the control board. The control board uses input from the photocell to determine when to turn the luminaire on (and off at dawn), and uses energy-saving algorithms to manage energy to the luminaire. These algorithms take into account the charged state of the battery subsystem, the photocell output, the state of the motions sensors, and the anticipated time before dawn. Certain variables that determine the degree of power management can be user-selected. The preferred algorithm sets, named E1, E2, and E3 modes, etc., are detailed later in this document; it will be understood by those of skill in the art, after reading this document, that these algorithms/methods are described for a system that is based on 12 volts, but that these algorithms/methods could be scaled to systems based on other voltages, for example, 24 or 36 volts.
- The light pole assembly is the structural element of the overall system, and contains compartments and channels for the various subsystems and wiring. The preferred light pole assembly is portrayed in
FIGS. 38 and 39 , shown with a box-style lighting fixture. Thepole 1112 provides the structural support for theluminaire 1140, and the channel for all the wiring inside that connects the other subsystems. It also provides the outer surface and structural support for thesolar collector 1114. Compartments or holes in the pole are provided for various subsystems depending on whether they need to communicate to the outside world or whether they can be wholly contained inside the pole. Those subsystems include the batteries/battery enclosures, control board, battery charge controller, solar collector wiring, motion sensors, and RS-232 ports. Specifically, thepreferred pole 1112 is of single piece construction, and is made from ASTM steel (10 gauge IPS tube) and is black powder coated to provide protection to the pole from the elements. Abattery compartment 1162 is contained in the lower 10″ diameter portion (enlarged diameter relative to the rest of the pole) of the pole with a secured door to allow access for installation and maintenance of the battery subsystem. Openings are provided at the bottom and top of the pole assembly to allow natural convective air to enter the interior of the pole to cool the batteries. The solar collector is wrapped around the smaller-diameter portion of the pole, from above the larger-diameter pole bottom end nearly to the top end of the pole. Thus, the solar collector preferably extends about 20 feet along the pole. Openings in the pole allow for electrical connection between the solar collector and the charge controller. Three openings above the top of the battery chamber allow for the mounting and electrical connection of the motion sensors. The control board is mounted at the top of the battery chamber. The luminaire is supported by an arm that is mounted at the top of the pole. All electrical wiring required for the luminaire and associated electronics are channeled through the interior of the pole. - The preferred solar collector is a thin-film photovoltaic device that converts sunlight into electrical energy. The solar collector operates from about 15 volts on the low end (with lower current flow at this lower voltage) up to 15% over the rated 33 volts and 136 watts. The initial operation will be 15% over the ratings, but will stabilize to the nominal collector specifications within a few months (due to the Staebler-Wronski effect). This stabilization is well-characterized and understood in the thin film photovoltaic industry. The center line of the solar collector faces approximately in the direction of the sun at its highest point in the sky and wraps 225 degrees around the pole to collect light in the morning and evening hours. The preferred thin-film solar collector is highly shade-tolerant, both as far as individual cells within the collector and the collector as a whole. Generally, a solar collector is comprised of multiple solar cells. If solar cells are connected in series, a shaded cell within the collector can begin to consume current (as opposed to create current). This not only degrades the overall performance of the collector, but can create hot spots in the collector that can be damaging to the collector. The solar collectors used by the present Inventors and Applicant Inovus Solar, Inc., however, have bypass diodes that prevent shaded portions of the collector from consuming current. This preserves the performance of the collector and prevents the build up of hot spots. Regarding the collector as a whole, the thin film material that Ruins the active photovoltaic component in the Inventors' and Applicant's collector is more effective at converting sunlight on cloudy days. Daylight is composed of direct sunlight and diffuse or scattered sunlight. During cloudy days, almost all the light that reaches the collector is diffuse sunlight. Inventors'/Applicant's thin film collector converts this diffuse sunlight into usable energy nearly 20% better than crystalline or polycrystalline Si collectors.
- The solar collector is conformably attached to the surface of the pole by means of rivets and a strong heat tolerant adhesive (an ethylene propylene copolymer adhesive-sealant with microbial inhibitor). In the preferred generally-cylindrical pole, therefore, the solar collector fits snugly against the pole, itself taking the generally-cylindrical shape of the pole. Because the collector is conformably attached, it does not incur any additional wind loading onto the system. This is a decided advantage compared to flat panels that incur a high wind load (or snow load) and thus may not be suitable for many sites. It is virtually impossible for natural events to dislodge the collector, and it is highly resistant to vandalism.
- The covering for the solar collector is a durable ETFE (e.g. Tefzel®) high light-transmissive polymer. This polymer coating not only provides a durable physical shield for the collector's solar cells, but also a durable chemical shield, protecting them from water, salt spray, etc. It can be easily wash with water and detergents.
- Measured power generation on Inventors'/Applicant's poles according to embodiments of the invention has been measured at least 50 Watts at Boise, Id., U.S.A. during the month of November, with energy generated well in excess of 300 Watt-hours. The actual performance of the system depends on the location of the installation. Many factors influence this including shading from adjacent buildings or structures and weather patterns in the area installed. Inventors'/Applicant's preferred solar collector is currently the Unisolar PVL 136, specifications for which may be obtained from the company Unisolar and/or from appendices in the provisional U.S. application of which this application claims benefit and which are incorporated by reference into this document.
- The battery charge controller is connected between the solar collector and the battery subsystem. The charge controller controls the current and voltage delivered to the batteries and optimizes the charging conditions to the battery to assure that the batteries are not overcharged, preferably according to the multi-step process portrayed in
FIG. 40 . In addition to the main steps shown inFIG. 40 , the multi-step process features an auto-equalize step (to 14.5V) every 28 days or if low charge, that is preferably 3 hours of over-voltage charge to reduce plate sulfation. Also, the charge controller provides for low voltage disconnect (LVD) at 11.0V (and reconnect when 12 V is again reached), to prevent damage to the batteries from over-draining. Battery charge is monitored through voltage level, as shown inFIG. 41 . - The Inventors and Applicant use an advanced Maximum Power Point Tracking technology that converts the voltage from the solar panel that is above the battery voltage into usable energy that can be stored in the batteries. Older technologies, including PWM (pulse width modulation) charge controllers, are unable to do this. Because the batteries are a 12V system and the solar panel is a 30-33V system, significant energy can be converted from the solar panel for storage in the batteries. This enables the system to generate energy on sunny days (or even mostly-sunny days) typically well in excess of what is consumed at night. This excess is stored in the batteries.
- As portrayed in
FIG. 42 , the preferred Morningstar SunSaver MPPT-15 Maximum Power Point Tracking algorithms provide 90% more efficient operation (compared to conventional PWM charge controllers), transferring maximum power to batteries even though PV array and batteries operating at different voltages. Specifications for the Morningstar SunSaver system may be obtained from the company Morningstar and/or from appendices in the provisional U.S. application of which this application claims benefit and which are incorporated by reference into this document. MPPT controllers are apparatus and methods known to those of skill in the art, and will be understood by those of skill in the art after reading this disclosure; MPPT controllers are available from various manufacturers. - The charge controller is designed to tolerate harsh environments. The fully solid-state electronics are encapsulated in an epoxy potting to prevent moisture and harmful chemicals from degrading the electronics. The casing is a rugged die cast aluminum, and the terminals are marine rated. The operating temperature range is specified from −40 degrees C. to +60 degrees C.
- Preferably, six batteries are connected in parallel in a 12-volt system. Each
battery stores 26 Amp-hours for a total of 156 Amp-hours. SeeFIG. 41 . The battery subsystem can accommodate up to 8 batteries in parallel. The battery dimensions of 6.56″×6.97″×4.92″ allows them to be placed in an insulated battery enclosure (2 in each enclosure) and fit within the pole base, preserving the aesthetics of the preferred pole. - The preferred batteries utilize Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) technology that immobilizes the battery's electrolyte in a fiberglass mat. This leak-proof design means that the electrolyte will not spill is the casing is damaged. It is the reason these batteries are approved to be shipped by air by both the D.O.T. and the I.A.T.A. AGM batteries provide superior tolerance to heat and low humidity, as little-to-no water is lost under high heat and/or low humidity. This preserves battery life well beyond simple lead-acid or gel batteries under these conditions. AGM batteries also provide recombining of the oxygen with hydrogen to form water during charging. This not only prevents loss of gas and maintains the water for the electrolyte. In the case of too-rapid charging (something that is unlikely to happen with solar collector charging), there is a vent valve for excess gas to escape. To further combat high temperature conditions, the battery chamber in the pole is cooled by a process, described earlier in this document, that draws cool air up through the interior of the pole. The active control system is capable of monitoring each individual battery pack and isolating the rest of the system if one battery (or set of batteries) goes bad, for example, if a battery cannot hold a charge. This is accomplished by disconnecting (via relays or other switching means) the bad batteries from the good batteries in the system. If allowed to stay connected to the system, the bad batteries would otherwise bring down the voltage and performance of the entire system. Left unchecked, it could potentially cause the entire system to degenerate to the point of failure. By disconnecting the bad batteries, the rest of the battery storage system will continue to operate (albeit at a lower overall storage capacity) until the bad batteries are replaced.
- The battery casing and lid are made of a non-conductive and high impact resin. The material is also resistant to chemicals and to flammability. The plates within the battery are optimized for surface area via porous electrode materials. This increases energy density and optimizes capacity. The battery enclosures are made of polypropylene, with an insulating layer between the battery casing and the battery enclosure walls. A wire harness connects all the batteries in parallel, and is made of marine grade wiring. The Inventors' and Applicant's current preferred and approved batteries are PowerSonic's Model 12260. Specifications for which may be obtained from the company PowerSonic and/or from appendices in the provisional U.S. application of which this application claims benefit and which are incorporated by reference into this document.
- SLA-AGM type batteries (sealed lead acid, absorbant glass mat) have been preferred, but they have approximately a 4 year life and must be recycled (lead acid, being potentially toxic). A possible alternative is LiFE PO3 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries that may have a 12-15 year life and be entirely environmentally inert (iron-based).
- The preferred lighting fixture comprises a 12 volt LED lamp source. The preferred LED modules and mounting brackets for the modules are described earlier in this document, with examples portrayed in
FIGS. 30-33E . Also,FIG. 43 provides a close-up view of the preferred LED module, detached from any mounting bracket. Preferably, there are 8 modules of LED's, with each module containing 4 LED's, for a total of 32 LED's. A 0-5V PWM line connects the control board to the drivers on the LED engine. The modulated pulses from the control board determine how the drivers output current to the LED's, thus affecting the LEDs' lumen output. Each LED has a nominal raw output of 100 lumens/Watt at a thermal pad temperature of 25 degrees C. (Philips data sheet). Slightly lower luminous output will be experienced as the pad temperature rises. Pad temperature under operation has been measured at 50 degrees C., so luminous raw output per LED may drop to 93% of nominal output (Philips data sheet). - The LEDs are mounted on a PCA (printed circuit assembly), and each LED has a small glass lens to create an initial desired illumination pattern. There is a high transmittance polycarbonate layer that fits closely over the LED's. This polycarbonate layer has additional lensing and reflective surfaces to generate the final desired illumination pattern from each LED. The assembly of the PCA with LED's, the polycarbonate lenses, a heatsink, and wiring comprises a module. The preferred 8-module light fixture operates at 50 Watts or about 1.5 W per LED. Under operation, the heatsink has been measured at 40 degrees C. at a 25 degree C. ambient temperature. The temperature gradient between heatsink and thermal pad is 7 degrees C./Watt, so the pad temperature under those conditions is 50 degrees C. The temperature gradient between pad and LED junction is 10 degrees C./Watt (Philips data sheet). So, under these conditions, the junction temperature is 65 degrees C. The net temperature gradient between ambient and junction is thus roughly 40 degrees C. Even at ambient temperatures of 60 degrees C. (140 degrees F.), the junction temperature should remain around 100 degrees C. This is important from a lifetime and reliability standpoint.
-
FIG. 44 is a plot of lifetime for Philips LED's as a function of junction temperature. The preferred lighting fixture operates at 450 mA, so the trend will be closer to the 350 mA trend line than the 700 mA trend line. B10 is the value at which 10% of the population is expected to fail, and L70 defines a lumen maintenance failure when a unit delivers less than 70% of its initial output. So the lifetime at (B10, L70) is the expected stress time (at a 90% confidence level) at which 10% of the population is expected to have either failed or has degraded by more than 30% from the initial light output. At a junction temperature of 100 deg. C., there should be plenty of margin for maintaining a 60,000 hour LED lifetime. - The preferred lighting fixture, using eight modules arranged in various patterns, can optimize the lighting distribution to meet Type 1-5 Lighting Patterns, which lighting patterns are known in the lighting industry.
FIGS. 45A-C illustrate multiple, but not the only, possible arrangements for the LED modules, including a regular eight-module arrangement (FIG. 45A ), a more random eight-module arrangement (FIG. 45B ), and a twelve-module arrangement (FIG. 45C ). As described elsewhere in this document, other styles of lighting fixtures may be used on the pole assembly, to match preexisting fixtures or the preferences of the customer. - Illuminance is a key parameter to assessing the ability of the luminaire to put light onto a surface. For
Type 2 lighting patterns, which are possible from the LED modules arrangement shown inFIG. 45A (but with the two central modules preferably tilted slightly outward), illuminance on the surface at certain distances away from the pole are important. Measured illuminance from the Inventors' and Applicant'sType 2 luminaire at a 25 ft. pole height is 0.1 footcandles at 50 ft. This is roughly equivalent to the illuminance of a 100 watt High Pressure Sodium or Metal Halide luminaire after the bulb has burned in. This illuminance is created when running the luminaire at 50 watts total power (6.25 watts/module). Total luminaire Efficacy is 45 lumens/watt. - Currently-approved LED's for the luminaire are the Philips Rebel LXML-PWC1-0100 and the Cree XREWHT-L1-0000-00C01 and XREWHT-L1-0000-00D01. The LED Driver is preferably a SuperTex HV9910, high efficiency PWM driven control IC.
- The controller consists of a microprocessor-based PCA and the associated firmware that controls the functions described herein. The PCA comprises Microchip's PIC18F6622 microprocessor, various logic components, power circuitry, an RS232 serial port, and low voltage connectors and circuitry for connection to other electrical subsystems/components. Most of the electrical connections to other subsystems are either for sensing the various states of those subsystems or for managing power to those subsystems. The control board senses the following:
- 1) The amount of light detected by the photocell, and manages the algorithms in response to the light detected.
- 2) Whether motion is detected by any of the motion sensors, and manages the algorithms in response to the motion detected.
- 3) The voltage of the battery system, and manages the selection of the energy savings modes from that information.
- 4) The current sent from the charge controller to the battery system, and reports that amount.
- To manage the light output by the LED light fixture, the control board sends a 0-5V PWM output to the LED drivers in the luminaire to control the drive currents. The PWM values are determined via the microprocessor by executing the energy management algorithms (detailed below), which take into account values from the photocell, motion sensor and battery system. The control board communicates to the outside world via the RS232 serial port. Simple serial port communication programs can “talk” with the control board. Communication via the RS232 is primarily for reporting and testing. The control board is currently mounted inside the pole at the top of the battery compartment, at an angle to allow access to the RS232 connector. It is conformally coated with a protective film to guard against degradation from environmental extremes such as moisture, chemicals and salt air.
- Motion sensors detect movement during low light or nighttime conditions. There are three motion sensors mounted on the light pole. They are low profile and unobtrusive (black body blends in with the pole). The motion detectors are capable of sensing motion out to 10 meters. Yet they have high a high S/N ratio and are low power consumption. Any motion detected is fed back to the controller board which then decides how to brighten the illumination of the LED's. Key variables in the algorithms include the current state of illumination and the battery voltage. The preferred motion sensors are Panasonic's Model AMN14111 “black”.
- The photocell detects the ambient light conditions, and is primarily active within the system around dusk and dawn. Detected light level is used to adjust the resistance of the photodetector in the photocell circuitry. The control board senses the change in resistance of the photocell and uses it to determine when to turn the luminaire on (generally at dusk) and when to turn the luminaire off (generally at dawn). The photocell is a twist-lock mounted device that mounts onto standard photocell interfaces on the top of light fixture boxes. The electronics are conformally coated to withstand environmental extremes and are enclosed inside a UV resistant, high impact polypropylene case. It is also rated to operate from −40 deg C. to +70 deg C. The current photocell is the Fisher-Pierce 7760-ESS.
- The wiring harness connects the batteries in parallel and connects all the subsystems. All wiring is Marine-grade, UL1426 approved wire. All connectors are initially coated with dielectric grease to prevent oxidation and corrosion of the metal contacts. All main power lines (from solar collector to charge controller & from charge controller to load and batteries) are fused (5 amps).
- As portrayed in
FIG. 46 , toward the end of the day, as it starts to get dark, the photocell turns on the light at 100% (factory preset) normal power. It stays at 100% for two hours (factory preset) then dims down to 25% brightness (factory preset) for the balance of the night w/ motion sensor over-ride. If motion is detected it immediately brightens up to 100% for 10 minutes after the last-detected motion. It then dims back down to the lower setting over one minute. Towards dawn, the light will brighten back up to full brightness approximately 30 minutes (factory preset) prior to dawn. When the photocell threshold for dawn is crossed, the light will turn off. -
FIG. 47 portrays examples of how system conditions can be utilized to determine the appropriate energy modes based on current states to modify power delivered, to the light or other loads, beyond or instead of the “normal” changes over time shown inFIG. 46 . For example, the voltage of the batteries (on the right of the figure) is one indicator of how much energy is available in the battery storage. As the battery voltage drops, the energy mode is adjusted so that energy can be conserved. On the left of the figure, the Ah decision block is referring to the solar production (in Amp-Hours, Ah) from the previous day. This Ah information is also an indicator of whether or not energy needs to be conserved. On any given day, if the energy produced is less than normal, then the energy mode is adjusted to conserve energy, over and above the adjustments shown inFIG. 46 , preferably during the following night. - Energy Savings Modes are available (modes E1 through E6), and selection of the modes is determined by the measuring the battery voltage at the end of the day. During modes E1 and E2 the light is still brought up to full brightness initially & then dimmed down to less than 25% brightness down to a minimum brightness (for example, of 5-10%). During modes E3 through E5, the light is brought up to 80%, 70% and 50% of full brightness initially, and then dimmed down to less than 25% brightness down to as low as 7.5%. The time at which the light is brightened back up before dawn in also scaled back so that it is not up at full brightness for as long as normal mode. If the battery voltage drops below a minimum level (Vnb<11V), the controller enters the lowest energy savings mode, E6, and the light is turned off. It will not be allowed to turn on at all until the batteries are charged to 12V. Normal mode N1 and energy-savings modes E1-E6 are detailed below in three different programming versions.
- Look at daily production data from previous day: Total Amp-hours produced=Ah; and Ending battery voltage (that evening)=Veb.
- If Ah>=14.4 and Veb>=12.5 then Mode=N1;
If Ah>=14.4 and 12.0<Veb<12.5 then Mode=E1;
If Ah>=14.4 and 11.5<Veb<12.0 then Mode=E2;
If Ah>=14.4 and 11.0<Veb<11.5 then Mode=E3;
If Ah>=14.4 and 10.5<Veb<11.0 then Mode=E4;
If Ah>=14.4 and 10<Veb<10.5 then Mode=E5;
If Ah>=14.4 and Veb<10.0 then Mode=E6;
If 12.8<Ah<14.4 and Veb>=12.5 then Mode=E1;
If 12.8<Ah<14.4 and 12.0<Veb<12.5 then Mode=E2;
If 12.8<Ah<14.4 and 11.5<Veb<12.0 then Mode=E3;
If 12.8<Ah<14.4 and 11.0<Veb<11.5 then Mode=E4;
If 12.8<Ah<14.4 and 10.5<Veb<11.0 then Mode=E5;
If 12.8<Ah<14.4 and Veb<10.5 then Mode=E6;
If 11.2<Ah<12.8 and Veb>=12.5 then Mode=E2;
If 11.2<Ah<12.8 and 12.0<Veb<12.5 then Mode=E3;
If 11.2<Ah<12.8 and 11.5<Veb<12.0 then Mode=E4;
If 11.2<Ah<12.8 and 11.0<Veb<11.5 then Mode=E5;
If 11.2<Ah<12.8 and Veb<11.0 then Mode=E6;
If 9.6<Ah<11.2 and Veb>=12.5 then Mode=E3;
If 9.6<Ah<11.2 and 12.0<Veb<12.5 then Mode=E4;
If 9.6<Ah<11.2 and 11.5<Veb<12.0 then Mode=E5;
If 9.6<Ah<11.2 and Veb<11.5 then Mode=E6;
If 8.0<Ah<9.6 and Veb>=12.5 then Mode=E4;
If 8.0<Ah<9.6 and 12.0<Veb<12.5 then Mode=E5;
If 8.0<Ah<9.6 and Veb<12.0 then Mode=E6;
If 6.4<Ah<8.0 and Veb>=12.5 then Mode=E5;
If 6.4<Ah<8.0 and Veb<12.5 then Mode=E6.
During the nighttime hours the battery is continuously monitored. The night battery voltage=Vnb, and If Vnb ever drops below 10 volts then turn light off and won't come on until Vnb>=10.5 volts. - Light turns on (full-brightness) at dusk & then turns down to 50% w/ time clock (time-clock factory pre-set for 2 hrs. after dusk—‘Timer’ mode); light then turns up to full-
brightness 2 hrs before dawn; motion sensor over-ride turns light up to full-brightness immediately then dims down according to the following motion sensor dim-up/down rules, which apply to all modes (N1 thru E5): - If Vnb>=12.5 then increase light to 100.0% for 10 minutes & then dim down to 50% over 6 minutes; If 12.0<Vnb<12.5 then increase light to 100.0% for 8 minutes & then dim down to 50% over 4 minutes; If 11.5<Vnb<12.0 then increase light to 100.0% for 6 minutes & then dim down to 40% over 4 minutes; If 11.0<Vnb<11.5 then increase light to 100.0% for 4 minutes & then dim down to 30% over 2 minutes; If 10.5<Vnb<11.0 then increase light to 100.0% for 2 minutes & then dim down to 30% over 2 minute; If 10.0<Vnb<10.5 then increase light to 50% for 1 minute & then dim down to 20% over 1 minute; If Vnb<10.0 then light remains off.
- Light turns on (full-brightness) at dusk & then turns down to 40% w/ time clock; light then turns up to full-brightness×number of hrs before dawn (if dawn timer mode set); motion sensor over-ride per listing above.
- Light turns on (full-brightness) at dusk & then turns down to 30% w/ time clock; light then turns up to full-brightness×number of hrs before dawn (if dawn timer mode set); motion sensor over-ride per listing above.
- Light turns on (full-brightness) at dusk & then turns down to 25% w/ time clock; light then turns up to full-brightness 0.75 times the number of hrs before dawn (if dawn timer mode set); and motion sensor over-ride per listing above.
- Light turns on (full-brightness) at dusk & then turns down to 20% w/ time clock; light then turns up to full-brightness 0.5 times the number of hrs before dawn (if dawn timer mode set); motion sensor over-ride per listing above.
- Light turns on (full-brightness) at dusk & then turns down to 15% w/ time clock; light then turns up to full-brightness 0.25 times the number of hrs before dawn (if dawn timer mode set); motion sensor over-ride per listing above.
- Light turns off & remains off until Vnb>10.0.
- Time clock can be set according to two modes: a. Clock Mode; b. Timer Mode (uses the photo cell to determine pre-dawn and post-dusk times). There are two settings for Timer Mode: 1. “On”-Timer sets the amount of time the light turns on post-dusk; 2. “Off”-Timer sets the amount of time the light turns on pre-dawn. The Clock Mode allows the user to set the pre-dawn and pre-dusk ON times in hours and minutes. The lights will turn OFF based on the Timer Mode ON and OFF settings. Note that the factory default setting for the Timer Mode ON and OFF timers is 2 hrs.
- All battery voltages shall be verified by checking for at least 30 seconds. For example, if the battery voltage drops below 10.0 volts, it must stay below 10.0 volts for 30 seconds before turning the light off. Once the voltage goes above 10.0 volts, it must stay above 10.0 volts for at least 30 seconds before turning the light back on again (or performing actions per the rules above)
- Total Watt-hours produced; Ah=15.6; Starting battery voltage (morning of November 1st); Vsb=12.2V; Ending battery voltage (evening of November 1st); Veb=13.1V; Time clock setting is timer on & off (
dawn 2 hrs &dusk 2 hrs). - The light turns on at 100% at dusk & remains on for 2 hours. The light dims down to 50% and remains at 50% until the motion sensor activates the light back up to 100% for 10 minutes. The light then dims back down to 50% over the next 6 minutes. The light turns on at 100% at dawn and remains on for 2 hours then shuts off. The unit then switches to charging mode (lights off) until dusk mode. Note that both dusk and dawn modes are determined by a photocell.
- Ah=11.8, Vsb=12.0V, Veb=11.7; Time clock setting is timer on & off (dawn 2 (×0.5) hours &
dusk 2 hours). - The light turns on at 100% at dusk & remains on for 2 hours. The light dims down to 20% and remains at 20% until the motion sensor activates the light back up to 100% for 2 minutes. The light then dims back down to 20% over the next 2 minutes. The light turns on at 100% at dawn and remains on for 1 hour then shuts off. The unit then switches to charging mode (lights off) until dusk mode.
- Look at daily production data from previous day: Total Watt-hours produced=Wh; starting battery voltage (morning of previous day)=Vsb; ending battery voltage (that evening)=Veb.
- If Wh>=180 and Veb>=25.0 then Mode=N1;
If Wh>=180 and 24.0.0<Veb<25.0 then Mode=E1;
If Wh>=180 and 23.0<Veb<24.0 then Mode=E2;
If Wh>=180 and 22.0<Veb<23.0 then Mode=E3;
If Wh>=180 and 21.0<Veb<22.0 then Mode=E4;
If Wh>=180 and 20.0<Veb<21.0 then Mode=E5;
If Wh>=180 and Veb<20.0 then Mode=E6;
If 160<Wh<180 and Veb>=25.0 then Mode=N1;
If 160<Wh<180 and 24.0<Veb<25.0 then Mode=E2;
If 160<Wh<180 and 23.0<Veb<24.0 then Mode=E3;
If 160<Wh<180 and 22.0<Veb<23.0 then Mode=E4;
If 160<Wh<180 and 21.0<Veb<22.0 then Mode=E5;
If 160<Wh<180 and Veb<21.0 then Mode=E6;
If 140<Wh<160 and Veb>=25.0 then Mode=E1;
If 140<Wh<160 and 24.0<Veb<25.0 then Mode=E3;
If 140<Wh<160 and 23.0<Veb<24.0 then Mode=E4;
If 140<Wh<160 and 22.0<Veb<23.0 then Mode=E5;
If 140<Wh<160 and Veb<22.0 then Mode=E6;
If 120<Wh<140 and Veb>=25.0 then Mode=E3;
If 120<Wh<140 and 24.0<Veb<25.0 then Mode=E4;
If 120<Wh<140 and 23.0<Veb<24.0 then Mode=E5;
If 120<Wh<140 and Veb<23.0 then Mode=E6;
If 100<Wh<120 and Veb>=25.0 then Mode=E4;
If 100<Wh<120 and 24.0<Veb<25.0 then Mode=E5;
If 100<Wh<120 and Veb<24.0 then Mode=E6;
If 80<Wh<100 and Veb>=25.0 then Mode=E5;
If 80<Wh<100 and Veb<25.0 then Mode=E6;
If Wh<80 then Mode=E6;
If Veb<20.0 then Mode=E6
During the night-time hours the battery is continuously monitored. The night battery voltage=Vnb; if Vnb ever drops below 20 volts then turn light off. In any of the modes below, the low light level (when light is not at 100% per timeclock/photocell) setting shall be as follows:
If Vnb>=25 then low light level is 50%;
If 24<Vnb<25 then low light level is 50%;
If 23<Vnb<24 then low light level is 40%;
If 22<Vnb<23 then low light level is 30%;
If 21<Vnb<22 then low light level is 30%;
If 20<Vnb<21 then low light level is 20%;
If Vnb<20.0 then turn light off. - Light turns on (full-brightness) at dusk & then turns down to 50% w/ time clock (Time-clock factory pre-set for 2 hrs. after dusk—‘Timer’ mode); Light then turns up to full-
brightness 2 hrs before dawn; Motion sensor over-ride turns light up to full-brightness immediately then dims down according to the following motion sensor dim-up/down rules apply to all modes (E1 thru E6): - If Vnb>=25 then increase light to 100% for 10 minutes & then dim down to 50% over 6 minutes; If 24<Vnb<25 then increase light to 100% for 8 minutes & then dim down to 40% over 4 minutes; If 23<Vnb<24 then increase light to 100% for 6 minutes & then dim down to 30% over 4 minutes; If 22<Vnb<23 then increase light to 100% for 4 minutes & then dim down to 25% over 2 minutes; If 21<Vnb<22 then increase light to 100% for 2 minutes & then dim down to 20% over 2 minute; If 20<Vnb<21 then increase light to 50% for 1 minute & then dim down to 15% over 1 minute; If Vnb<20.0 then light remains off.
- Light turns on (full-brightness) at dusk & then turns down to 40% w/ time clock; Light then turns up to full-brightness×number of hrs before dawn (if dawn timer mode set); Motion sensor over-ride per chart above.
- Light turns on (full-brightness) at dusk & then turns down to 30% w/ time clock; ight then turns up to full-brightness×number of hrs before dawn (if dawn timer mode set); Motion sensor over-ride per chart above.
- Light turns on (full-brightness) at dusk & then turns down to 25% w/ time clock; Light then turns up to full-brightness 0.75× number of hrs before dawn (if dawn timer mode set); Motion sensor over-ride per chart above
- Light turns on (full-brightness) at dusk & then turns down to 20% w/ time clock; Light then turns up to full-brightness 0.5× number of hrs before dawn (if dawn timer mode set); Motion sensor over-ride per chart above.
- Light turns on (full-brightness) at dusk & then turns down to 15% w/ time clock; Light then turns up to full-brightness 0.25× number of hrs before dawn (if dawn timer mode set); Motion sensor over-ride per chart above.
- Light turns off & remains off until Vnb>20
- Time clock can be set according to two modes: a. Clock Mode=time of day (lights off at 10 p.m.); b. Timer Mode=Set to turn on according to timer (2-hr. timer). There are two options in timer mode: 1. “On”-Timer sets the amount of time the light turns on post-dusk; 2. “Off”-Timer sets the amount of time the light turns on pre-dawn (for example the factory pre-set is 2 hrs. for “On” & “Off” timers). The timer can also be set in both time-clock for “on” & timer “off” mode which allows the user to set the on time at 10 p.m. & also have the light turn on for an hour pre-dawn.
- All battery voltages shall be verified by checking for at least 30 seconds. For example, if the battery voltage drops below 20 volts, it must stay below 20 volts for 30 seconds before turning the light off. Once the voltage goes above 20 volts, it must stay above 20 volts for at least 30 seconds before turning the light back on again (or performing actions per the rules above).
- An example for the night of November 1st to November 2nd, Looking at daily production data from November 1st: Total Watt-hours produced; Wh=195.21; Starting battery voltage (morning of November 1st); Vsb=24.43V; Ending battery voltage (evening of November 1st); Veb=26.24V; Time clock setting is timer on & off (
dawn 2 hrs &dusk 2 hrs). Light turns on to 100% at dawn & remains on for 2 hrs. At this time Vnb=25.54, so the light dims down to 50% & remains at 50% until the motion sensor activates the light back up to 100% for 10 minutes. The light then dims back down to 50%. At this time Vnb=24.96 & remains below 25 for more than 30 seconds. The light then dims down to 40% over the next 4 minutes. The motion sensor activates it again & it brings it back up to 100% for 8 minutes, then dims down 40% over the next 4 minutes. The battery voltage remains above 24 volts until 2 hrs. before dawn at which time it brings the light back up to 100%. During these 2 hrs. the voltage drops below 21 volts, so the light is dimmed down to 50% until the photocell turns the light off at dawn. - Create a hidden menu that allows certain variables to be stored in non-volatile memory. User access to these variables may be restricted. These variables should include: Peak Power (Pp); Dusk Reference; Dawn Reference; and Dim Down Time, wherein: Peak Power=Pp, and is adjustable in Hidden Menu; “On” time at Dusk (in minutes)=Tk, and is adjustable in Local Programming, and default is 120; “Off” time pre-Dawn (in minutes)=Tn; and is adjustable in Local Programming, and default is 30; Night time period (# minutes it is dark at night)=Nt; Dimmed down percentage=Dp, and is adjustable in Local Programming, and default is 25; Night-time (during the night) battery voltage=Vnb; and Ending battery voltage from previous day=Veb.
- If Veb>=12.5 then Mode=N1;
If 12.0=<Veb<12.5 then Mode=E1;
If 11.5=<Veb<12.0 then Mode=E2;
If 11.0=<Veb<11.5 then Mode=E3;
If 10.5=<Veb<11.0 then Mode=E4;
If 10.0=<Veb<10.5 then Mode=E5;
If Veb<10.0 then Mode=E6;
For the first full cycle, the system will operate according to the factory pre-sets. The default Nighttime period will be set to 24 hours. The photocell will “start the timer” for Future Night Timer at dusk & the photocell will “stop the timer” in the morning in order to determine what the value (Nt) will be for the second night. Nt will be saved to EEPROM so that it is not lost when the unit is reset. A check will be put in place to prevent any unusable Nt values from being saved. If a timer value is changed in local programming after it has already begun running it will not be used until the next time that timer starts. - The photocell turns on the light at dusk & keeps the light on for the pre-set time period Tk (in minutes), at which time it gradually (over one min) dims it down to a lower power level defined by Dp. Dp is the dimmed percentage from the Peak Power (Pp) setting. For example, if the ‘normal’ Peak Power (Pp) condition consumes 48 Watts (4 amps at 12 volts), and Dp=0.25, then the dimmed down percentage is 25% and would reduce the power consumed to 12 Watts (or 1 amp at 12 volts).
- At Nt−x*Tn number of minutes pre-dawn, the light is turned back up to full-brightness. So if Nt=480 min., x=100% and Tn is 60 minutes, then Nt-Tn=420 minutes. So, after the light turns on at night (per the photocell), it dims down per Tk, then brightens back up to full brightness after 420 minutes until the photocell turns it off at dawn.
- The photocell overrides the timer. If dawn occurs before the predawn timer has finished running the light will be turned off. The light should never be on while the sun is out. In the event that the Dawn Reference is crossed before a true dawn event (i.e. a “false dawn event”), it is possible that the Future Night Timer value becomes too short, and the light could be FULL ON for hours the following night. To prevent this from happening, a true Dawn Timer should be implemented such that after Tn minutes, if the Dawn Reference is not crossed, the light will dim back down to its appropriate dim down percentage. All other conditions and algorithms remain unchanged. If the Dawn Reference is crossed during the countdown of Tn (i.e. real dawn), the light will turn OFF. During the nighttime hours the battery is continuously monitored. The night battery voltage=Vnb. If Vnb ever drops below 10 volts then turn light off and don't turn on until Vnb>=10.5 volts.
- Light turns on (full-brightness) at dusk & then turns down to lower light level (per Dp) after the time period Tk. Light then turns up to full-brightness Tn number of minutes before dawn. During the night (when in the dimmed down state), motion sensor over-ride turns light up to full-brightness immediately then dims down according to the following, wherein the following motion sensor dim-up/down rules apply to all modes (N1 thru E5):
- If Mode=N1 then increase power to 100.0% for 10 minutes & then dim down over 1 minute; If Mode=E1 then increase power to 100.0% for 8 minutes & then dim down over 1 minute; If Mode=E2 then increase power to 100.0% for 6 minutes & then dim down over 1 minute; If Mode=E3 then increase power to 80.0% for 4 minutes & then dim down over 1 minute; If Mode=E4 then increase power to 70.0% for 2 minutes & then dim down over 1 minute; If Mode=E5 then increase power to 50% for 1 minute & then dim down over 1 minute; If Mode=E6 then light remains off. The program continues to monitor for motion even while running its motion detection timer. Timer will be reset each time motion is detected.
- Light turns on (full-brightness) at dusk & then smoothly (over one minute) ramps down to 80% (of Dp) after Tk minutes. Light then turns up to full-
brightness 80% of Tn minutes before dawn. Motion sensor over-ride per rule list above. - Light turns on (full-brightness) at dusk & then smoothly (over one minute) ramps down to 60% (of Dp) after Tk minutes. Light then turns up to full-
brightness 60% of Tn minutes before dawn. Motion sensor over-ride per rule list above. - Light turns on (full-brightness) at dusk & then smoothly (over one minute) ramps down to 50% (of Dp) after Tk minutes. Light then turns up to full-
brightness 50% of Tn minutes before dawn. Motion sensor over-ride per rule list above. - Light turns on (full-brightness) at dusk & then smoothly (over one minute) ramps down to 40% (of Dp) after Tk minutes. Light then turns up to full-
brightness 40% of Tn minutes before dawn. Motion sensor over-ride per rule list above. - Light turns on (full-brightness) at dusk & then smoothly (over one minute) ramps down to 30% (of Dp) after Tk minutes. Light then turns up to full-
brightness 30% of Tn minutes before dawn. Motion sensor over-ride per rule list above. - Light turns off & remains off until Vnb>10.5.
- The timer can be set according to the following options. Timer Mode may use the photo cell to determine the time period of the night. Photocell values for dusk and dawn can be set in the Hidden Menu. Defaults are 600 for Dawn and 700 for Dusk. These will need to be more precisely determined with testing. Dawn will be determined by monitoring the photocell value at an adequate level of brightness. Dusk will be determined by monitoring the photocell value at an adequate level of darkness. A photocell value greater than the Dusk setpoint will be considered night. A photocell value less than the Dawn setpoint will be considered day. There will be a sufficiently large deadband between the two setpoints. A trigger time of one minute will be given to each Dawn/Dusk setpoint. The light will never be on when the photocell reading is below the Dawn setpoint once the trigger time criteria has been met.
- There are two settings for Timer Mode, which are: 1) “On”-Timer sets the amount of time the light turns on to full brightness at dusk; and 2) “Off”-Timer sets the amount of time the light dims back up to full brightness pre-dawn. The Timer Mode allows the user to set the pre-dawn and pre-dusk ON times in minutes. The lights will turn on & off based on the Timer Mode ON and OFF settings. Note that the factory default setting for the Timer Mode ON timer is 2 hrs. (variable Tk), and the factory default setting for the Timer Mode OFF timer is 0.5 hr. (variable Tn).
- The relationship of PWM to the percentage of power is based on the
equation 100*(1−PWM)̂2=Power %. Such that a duty cycle of 0.2=64%, 0.5=25%, and a duty cycle of 0.9=1%. - All battery voltages shall be verified by checking for at least 30 seconds. For example, if the battery voltage drops below 10.0 volts, it must stay below 10.0 volts for 30 seconds before turning the light off. Once the voltage goes above 10.5 volts, it must stay above 10.5 volts for at least 30 seconds before turning the light back on again (or performing an action per the rules above).
- Starting battery voltage (morning of November 1st); Vsb=12.2V; Ending battery voltage (evening of November 1st); Veb=13.1V; Factory pre-sets for Tk=120 & Tn=30 (
dusk 2 hrs & pre-dawn 0.5 hr.); Dp=0.25; Mode=N1; and Light is turned on & off by the photocell. - Photocell turns the light on at 100% at dusk & remains on for 2 hours, at which time the light dims down to 25% power over the next minute. The light remains at the dimmed down light level state until the motion sensor is activated, at which time the light is brought back up to 100% for 10 minutes. The light then dims back down to 25% power over the next minute. The light dims back up to 100% 30 minutes pre-dawn and remains on until the photocell shuts the light off.
- Starting battery voltage Vsb=12.0 V; Ending battery voltage Veb=11.3 V; Factory pre-sets for Tk=120 & Tn=30 (
dusk 2 hrs & pre-dawn 0.5 hr.); Dp=0.25; Mode=E3; and Light is turned on & off by the photocell. - Photocell turns the light on at 100% at dusk & remains on for 2 hours, at which time the light dims down to 12.5% power (50% of Dp) over the next minute. The light remains at the dimmed down light level state until the motion sensor is activated, at which time the light is brought back up to 80% for 4 minutes. The light then dims back down to 12.5% power over the next minute. The light dims back up to 100% 0.5 hr. pre-dawn and remains on until the photocell shuts the light off.
- A minimum Ah threshold will be set to eliminate noise that could create false counts on the Ah Min and Ah Hours readings.
- The following numbered list comprises requests in firmware to facilitate testing and diagnosing problems. It is assumed that that there is a test tool available that allows communication with the control board and to pass along test and diagnostic parameters, as well as receiving responses/output from the control board.
- 1) Ability to provide external commands which dictate a specific duty cycle to be output from control board PWM output line to drivers in the LED engine.
2) Ability to send response from control board regarding duty cycle of PWM pulses just sent. This needs to be done either through an automatic reporting algorithm (information reported periodically or at set intervals) or on issue of a “manual” command to do so.
3) Ability to “manually override” data for the following variables and input an artificial value for that variable.
a) “On” time at Dusk (in minutes)=Tk
b) “Off” time pre-Dawn (in minutes)=Tn
c) Night time period (# minutes it is dark at night)=Nt
d) Dimmed down percentage=Dp
e) Night-time (during the night) battery voltage=Vnb
f) Ending battery voltage from day just completed=Veb
4. Ability to report the status of the variables listed in 3) above any time a command to report those variables is given. - Change Data Dump's frequency to seconds. Data Dump values can be imported into an Excel.csv file with column headings.
- Nightly energy consumption for the
Inovus Visia™ 100 luninaire (featuring 8 LED modules, in arrangement similar toFIG. 45A ) is from 84 watt-hours to 206 watt-hours. - The main function of the Load Shedding System is to maintain power to the most important loads as energy conservation modes are incorporated.
- Power is retained to Primary Loads (Gate Motor and Pan-tilt Camera), which are the most critical functions in the example shown in
FIG. 48 . Because of this, these are the loads that will remain connected to power the longest. - When energy stores in the batteries drop below the predetermined levels, the loads will begin to be “shed” (disconnected from the power source, that is, the batteries). The Secondary Loads (First WIFI and then LED Luminaire) are shed first. The control board sends a control signal to each required load shed relay (in turn) as required to conserve energy while still maintain power to the Primary Loads.
- The preferred solar collector is an amorphous, rather than a crystalline material, and, while it is fairly low in efficiency compared to many recently-developed photovoltaic cell materials, the preferred solar collector has features described herein, and the invented active control system has features described herein, that result in surprisingly effective and successful solar-powered outdoor lighting.
- Referring to
FIG. 49 , research data over the years for many different photovoltaic cells is shown, with efficiencies currently ranging from approximately 5-43% for different photovoltaic cells. Efficiency inFIG. 49 is defined as the maximum watts per square meter of solar collector surface area compared to solar irradiance over the earth. The average irradiance or solar insolation over the entire earth (as an average) is approximately 164 watts per square meter. So, a solar collector that is 40% efficient would produce approximately 66 watts. The key forFIG. 49 represents various photovoltaic cells, under the general categories of A=multijunction concentrators and single junction GaAs; B=Crystalline Si Cells; C=thin-film technologies; and D=emerging PV. The subsets of the key are: A1=three-junction (2-terminal monolithic); A2=two-junction (2-terminal, monolithic); A3=single crystal; A4=concentrator; A5=thin film; B1=single crystal; B2=multicrystalline; B3=thick Si film; C1=Cu(In,Ga)Se2; C2=CdTe; C3=amorphous SiH (stabilized); C4=Nano, micro, poly-Si; C5=multipjunction polycrystalline; D1=dye-sensitized cells; and D2=organic cells (various technologies). -
FIG. 49 includes the solar collector, used in the preferred embodiments of the invention (marked “Inovus,” for Applicant Inovus Solar, Inc.). This collector is in the category of amorphous SiH (stabilized) photovoltaic cells and has improved over the years to approximately 13% efficiency. Although this efficiency is low compared to many photovoltaic cells that are available, the preferred embodiments are able, because of special features of this amorphous photovoltaic cell material, and because of the preferred active control methods, to achieve surprising results even through winter and/or extended cloudy periods. The preferred solar collector material is much more shade tolerant than non-amorphous solar panels, which is am important advantage above and beyond the advantage of being economical compared to the high-efficiency (greater than 25% efficient, for example) PV cells. It is better at collecting solar energy when it is cloudy, and it is also better at collecting scattered and incident light; see the discussion of shade-tolerance and collection of diffused light earlier in this Example. The inventors contend that cloudy/diffuse-light days are when performance of a solar-powered lighting system is most critical; when the collection opportunity is hampered by shade/diffuse light, the preferred amorphous PV cell material is actually is more efficient under such conditions than a crystalline PV system. - The vertically-mounted “wrapped” configuration of the solar collector on a round pole, in the preferred embodiments, is superior in two ways. First of all, the collector always has a good portion of its surface area facing the sun. So, if there is great sun in the morning, but limited sun after noon, then the total for the day is still good due to the morning collection. The system can collect much more than a conventional system because a conventional system only faces the optimum location at noon—missing out on possible opportunities in the morning or late afternoon. The second advantage of the preferred system is the fact that the angle of the sun with respect to the solar collector is optimum in the morning & late afternoon (when the sun is lower in the sky) and also in the winter. These are the times when it is typically more important to collect as much energy as possible (because the days are shorter in the winter). In the summer, there is plenty of sun, so the preferred system performs well, too, even though it is optimized (by design) for winter operation.
- Because the batteries can only store a set amount of energy, there is no way that the storage system could be large enough to store energy from the summer to use in the winter. Therefore, all “overproduction” in the summer is basically wasted. By maximizing (focusing on) the winter performance in the preferred embodiments, every possible bit of solar energy is “squeezed out” and also conserved during operation over the winter nights, to keep the system operational over the winter. Even on the cloudiest day, the preferred embodiments of the invention produce about 20% of the normal (sunny day). This allows the system to always have some energy available, even if it can only turn the light on (at a lower dimmed down state) for a couple of hours at the beginning of the night. In testing, such dimmed-down operation being possible for only a couple of hours has only happened once, in Houston, Tex. testing, when a pole reached the lowest energy mode, but said lowest energy mode was due to “false motion” events. A tree with a light source behind it was shining towards the motion detector, and the wind blowing the tree was interpreted as motion (the IR detector saw the heat from the light & therefore the motion). To avoid such events, programming was changed to ignore continuous motion and treat it as an error/alert condition to be ignored after a certain period of time. “Continuous” in this context may be set by the manufacturer, for example, and preferably means in the range of motion at least every two minutes for a set time period in the range of 30-minutes. Aiming the motion detectors down, so that motion above about 10 feet high would be ignored, has also been found to be effective, so that human and vehicular traffic is sensed but not swaying trees limbs.
- Therefore, because of the synergistic effects of the superior performance of the selected amorphous PV cell material in shade and diffused light, and the energy-saving active control discussed above, surprising results have been achieved in testing of the preferred embodiments.
FIGS. 50 and 51A and B illustrate these surprising results for autonomous poles (not tied to the grid) that operated independently from each other (not networked for the purpose of these tests), wherein long periods of successful operation of the outdoor lighting was accomplished, without any tie to or contribution of energy from the electrical grid, without any replacement of the batteries, and without any energy input into the batterys or any part of the lighting system except from the amorphous PV cell material on each pole. - In
FIG. 50 , one may see long periods of days and weeks of sky cover (measured in hours during the day, defined as “cloudy” or “overcast” as judged from the local weather report), but the system maintained minimum battery voltage above the important benchmark of approximately 11 volts all through the roughly two month winter period, except for the “waving tree limb” incident in December, described above. InFIGS. 51A and B, which represent a different test, of a set of poles operating over about 2.5 winter months (the graph being split roughly in two), multiple poles operating independent of each other and autonomously (not tied to the grid) all performed continuously at or above 11 volts throughout the winter, despite long stretches of little or no sunshine per day. Even during the dark days of January, only a few of the poles came near to dropping to 11 volts, at which increased dimming action per the energy-savings mode E6 kept the poles operating successfully, at least at dimmed condition, during the crucual periods after dusk and before dawn, and upon motion being sensed. Up an increase in sunshine late in January, the batteries all rebounded to a range of 12-12.5 volts. - Preferred embodiments may therefore be described as including: A solar-powered outdoor lighting system comprising: a flexible photovoltaic solar collector panel curved at least 180 degrees around a generally cylindrical light pole and attached to the light pole so that the panel is generally vertical; a lighting fixture connected to the pole and comprising multiple light emitting diodes (LEDs); at least one battery operatively connected to the solar collector panel and the LEDs; an active controller system comprising a maximum power point tracking charge controller adapted to charge said at least one battery, and a load controller adapted for management of energy delivery to said LEDs, wherein said management of energy delivery is adapted to turn on, turn off, dim and brighten said LEDs; at least one motion sensor connected to said pole and operatively connected to said load controller; wherein said load controller is adapted, in response to said motion sensor sensing motion near the pole when the LEDs are in a dimmed state, to increase power to said LEDs to brighten said LEDs at least while said motion is detected. Said active controller may be adapted to dim said LEDs when said at least one battery falls to a battery voltage in the range of 1-2 volts above a minimum safe battery voltage, said minimum safe battery voltage being a voltage below which battery damage occurs. Said solar-collector preferably is amorphous silicon (non-crystalline) photovoltaic material having an efficiency in sunshine in the range of 10-16%. Said active controller system may be adapted to determine an amount to dim said LEDs, during a nighttime at least when said at least one motion sensor is not sensing motion near the pole, based on battery voltage of said at least one battery at dusk prior to said nighttime. Or, said active control system may be adapted to determine an amount to dim said LEDs, during a nighttime at least when said at least one motion sensor is not sensing motion near the pole, based on energy production in amp-hours by said solar collector panel in a previous time period comprising one or more days. Or, said active control system may be adapted to determine an amount to dim said LEDs, during a nighttime at lease when said at least one motion sensor is not sensing motion near the pole, based on historical data of energy collection by the solar collector over a period one year earlier. The active control system may be adapted to disconnect any battery that fails, for example, by failing to hold a charge. Said active controller system may be adapted to turn on said LEDs and bring said LEDs to full brightness at said dusk, and then dim the LEDs down to 25% or less brightness down after a predetermined amount of time and throughout the nighttime except for times during the nighttime when said at least one motion sensor senses motion near said pole. Or, said active controller system may be adapted to turn on said LEDs at dusk at a reduced brightness in the range of 50%-80% of full brightness, to dim the LEDs down to less than 25% brightness after a predetermined amount of time throughout the nighttime except for times during the nighttime when said at least one motion sensor senses motion near said pole. Or, said active controller (or said load controller) may be adapted, in response to said motion sensor sensing motion near the pole when the LEDs are in a dimmed state, to increase power to said LEDs to brighten said LEDs to 50-80% of full brightness while said motion is detected. Or, said active controller system may be adapted to turn on said LEDs at dusk at a reduced brightness in the range of 50-80% of full brightness, and then dim the LEDs down to a range of 7.5%-25% of full brightness after a predetermined amount of time and throughout the nighttime except for times when said at least one motion sensor sensed motion near said pole. The lighting system may also comprise peripheral devices on said pole powered by said at least one battery, and wherein said active controller system is adapted to shed loads connected to the battery by turning off said peripheral devices to conserve battery energy. Said active controller system may be adapted to brighten said LEDs in response to said at least one motion detector only when said motion is below about 10 feet from the ground and only when said motion is not continuous. Also, the preferred embodiments of the invention may be methods of controlling an outdoor lighting system, for example, comprising: providing a flexible solar collector panel curved at least 180 degrees around a generally cylindrical light pole so that the solar collector is generally vertical; providing a lighting fixture connected to the pole and comprising multiple light emitting diodes (LEDs); providing at least one battery operatively connected to the solar collector panel and the LEDs; providing at least one motion sensor on said pole; actively controlling energy delivery from said at least one battery to said LEDs, by turning on, dimming and turning off said LEDs according to at least one mode of operation, said at least one mode of operation comprising a normal operation mode comprising turning said LEDs on at dusk to full brightness for a first predetermined amount of time, and, after said first predetermined amount of time, dimming said LEDs to a first fraction of said full brightness, until said at least one motion sensor detects a motion event near said pole and then increasing energy delivery to said LEDs for a second predetermined amount of time starting when said at least one motion sensor no longer detects said motion event, followed by reducing energy delivery to said LEDs to dim said LEDs, so that the LEDs are dimmed to less than full brightness in between motion events. The methods may include actively controlling energy delivery from said at least one battery to said LEDs by increasing energy delivery to said LEDs for a third predetermined amount of time before dawn so that said LEDs remain at full brightness until dawn. The methods may include dimming said LEDs when said at least one battery falls to a battery voltage in the range of 1-2 volts above a minimum safe battery voltage, said minimum safe battery voltage being a voltage below which battery damage occurs. The methods may include determining dimming based on battery voltage, previous amp-hours production, and/or historical data or weather or solar collector performance/production. The methods may include at least one mode of operation includes at least one energy-saving mode comprising turning said LEDs on at dusk to a second fraction of full brightness for said first predetermined amount of time, and then dimming said LEDs to a further-reduced third fraction of full brightness, until said at least one motion sensor detects a motion event near said pole and then increasing energy delivery to said LEDs for said second predetermined amount of time to said second fraction of full brightness, and, when said at least one motion sensor no longer detects said motion event, reducing energy delivery to said LEDs to dim said LEDs again to said third fraction of full brightness, so that the LEDs are dimmed to said third fraction of full brightness in between motion events. Said second fraction of full brightness may be in the range of 50%-80% of full brightness, and said third fraction is 7.5%-25% of full brightness. Said methods may include brightening said LEDs to said third fraction of full brightness for a third predetermined amount of time before dawn.
- Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to one of skill in the art after reading this disclosure and viewing the drawings. Although this invention is described herein and in the drawings with reference to particular means, methods, materials and embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed particulars, but extends instead to all equivalents within the broad scope of the following claims.
Claims (32)
1. A solar-powered outdoor lighting system comprising:
a flexible photovoltaic solar collector panel curved at least part way around a generally cylindrical light pole and attached to the light pole so that the panel is generally vertical;
a luminaire connected to the pole;
at least one battery operatively connected to the solar collector panel and the luminaire;
an active controller system comprising a maximum power point tracking charge controller adapted to charge said at least one battery, and a load controller adapted for management of energy delivery to said luminaire, wherein said management of energy delivery is adapted to turn on, turn off, dim and brighten said luminaire;
at least one motion sensor connected to said pole and operatively connected to said load controller;
wherein said load controller is adapted, in response to said motion sensor sensing motion near the pole when the luminaire is in a dimmed state, to increase power to said luminaire to brighten said luminaire at least while said motion is detected.
2. A solar-powered outdoor lighting system as in claim 1 , wherein said active controller is adapted to dim said luminaire when said at least one battery falls to a battery voltage in the range of 1-2 volts above a minimum safe battery voltage, said minimum safe battery voltage being a voltage below which battery damage occurs.
3. A solar-powered outdoor lighting system as in claim 1 , wherein said solar-collector has an efficiency in sunshine in the range of 10-16%.
4. A solar-powered outdoor lighting system as in claim 1 , wherein said solar-collector is amorphous silicon (non-crystalline) photovoltaic material having an efficiency in sunshine in the range of 10-16%.
5. A solar-powered outdoor lighting system as in claim 1 , wherein said active controller system is adapted to determine an amount to dim said luminaire, during a nighttime at least when said at least one motion sensor is not sensing motion near the pole, based on battery voltage of said at least one battery at dusk prior to said nighttime.
6. A solar-powered outdoor lighting system as in claim 1 , wherein said active control system is adapted to determine an amount to dim said luminaire, during a nighttime at least when said at least one motion sensor is not sensing motion near the pole, based on energy production in amp-hours by said solar collector panel in a previous time period comprising one or more days.
7. A solar-powered outdoor lighting system as in claim 1 , wherein said active control system is adapted to determine an amount to dim said luminaire, during a nighttime at lease when said at least one motion sensor is not sensing motion near the pole, based on historical data of energy collection by the solar collector over a period one year earlier.
8. A solar-powered outdoor lighting system as in claim 1 , comprising multiple batteries and the active control system is adapted to disconnect any battery that fails.
9. A solar-powered outdoor lighting system as in claim 1 , wherein said active controller system is adapted to turn on said luminaire and bring said luminaire to full brightness at said dusk, and then dim the luminaire down to 25% or less brightness down after a predetermined amount of time and throughout the nighttime except for times during the nighttime when said at least one motion sensor senses motion near said pole.
10. A solar-powered outdoor lighting system as in claim 1 , wherein said active controller system is adapted to turn on said luminaire at dusk at a reduced brightness in the range of 50%-80% of full brightness, to dim the luminaire down to less than 25% brightness after a predetermined amount of time throughout the nighttime except for times during the nighttime when said at least one motion sensor senses motion near said pole.
11. A solar-powered outdoor lighting system as in claim 10 , wherein said load controller is adapted, in response to said motion sensor sensing motion near the pole when the luminaire is in a dimmed state, to increase power to said luminaire to brighten said LEDs to 50-80% of full brightness while said motion is detected.
12. A solar-powered outdoor lighting system as in claim 1 , wherein said active controller system is adapted to turn on said luminaire at dusk at a reduced brightness in the range of 50-80% of full brightness, and then dim the luminaire down to a range of 7.5%-25% of full brightness after a predetermined amount of time and throughout the nighttime except for times when said at least one motion sensor sensed motion near said pole.
13. A solar-powered outdoor lighting system as in claim 1 , further comprising peripheral devices on said pole powered by said at least one battery, and wherein said active controller system is adapted to shed loads connected to the battery by turning off said peripheral devices to conserve battery energy.
14. A solar-powered outdoor lighting system as in claim 1 , wherein said active controller system is adapted to brighten said luminaire in response to said at least one motion detector only when said motion is below about 10 feet from the ground and only when said motion is not continuous.
15. A method of controlling an outdoor lighting system comprising:
providing a flexible solar collector panel curved at least part way around a generally cylindrical light pole so that the solar collector is generally vertical;
providing a luminaire connected to the pole;
providing at least one battery operatively connected to the solar collector panel and the luminaire;
providing at least one motion sensor on said pole;
actively controlling energy delivery from said at least one battery to said luminaire, by turning on, dimming and turning off said luminaire according to at least one mode of operation, said at least one mode of operation comprising a normal operation mode comprising turning said luminaire on at dusk to full brightness for a first predetermined amount of time, and, after said first predetermined amount of time, dimming said luminaire to a first fraction of said full brightness, until said at least one motion sensor detects a motion event near said pole and then increasing energy delivery to said luminaire for a second predetermined amount of time, followed by reducing energy delivery to said luminaire to dim said luminaire, so that the luminaire is dimmed to less than full brightness in between motion events.
16. A method as in claim 15 , further comprising actively controlling energy delivery from said at least one battery to said luminaire by increasing energy delivery to said luminaire for a third predetermined amount of time before dawn so that said luminaire remain at full brightness until dawn.
17. A method as in claim 15 , comprising dimming said luminaire when said at least one battery falls to a battery voltage in the range of 1-2 volts above a minimum safe battery voltage, said minimum safe battery voltage being a voltage below which battery damage occurs.
18. A method as in claim 15 , wherein said solar collector has an efficiency in bright sunshine in the range of 10-16%.
19. A method as in claim 15 wherein said solar-collector is amorphous silicon photovoltaic material having an efficiency in bright sunshine in the range of 10-16%.
20. A method as in claim 15 , further comprising determining an amount to dim said luminaire, during a nighttime when said at least one motion sensor is not sensing motion near the pole, based on a method comprising measuring battery voltage of said at least one battery at dusk prior to said nighttime.
21. A method as in claim 15 , further comprising determining an amount to dim said luminaire, during a nighttime when said at least one motion sensor is not sensing motion near the pole, based on a method comprising measuring and recording energy production in amp-hours by said solar collector panel in a previous time period comprising one or more days.
22. A method as in claim 15 , further comprising determining an amount to dim said luminaire, during a nighttime when said at least one motion sensor is not sensing motion near the pole, based on a method comprising measuring and recording historical data of energy collection by the solar collector panel over a period one year earlier.
23. A method as in claim 15 , wherein said first fraction is 25% or less of full brightness.
24. A method as in claim 15 , wherein a plurality of batteries are provided and the method further comprises disconnected selected batteries of said plurality of batteries when said selected batteries fail.
25. A method as in claim 15 , further comprising not raising brightness of said luminaire in response to motion detected above about 10 from the ground and not raising brightness of said luminaire in response to continuous motion.
26. A method as in claim 15 , wherein said at least one mode of operation includes at least one energy-saving mode comprising turning said luminaire on at dusk to a second fraction of full brightness for said first predetermined amount of time, and then dimming said luminaire to a further-reduced third fraction of full brightness, until said at least one motion sensor detects a motion event near said pole and then increasing energy delivery to said luminaire for said second predetermined amount of time to said second fraction of full brightness, and, when said at least one motion sensor no longer detects said motion event, reducing energy delivery to said luminaire to dim said luminaire again to said third fraction of full brightness, so that the luminaire is dimmed to said third fraction of full brightness in between motion events.
27. A method as in claim 26 , wherein said second fraction of full brightness is in the range of 50%-80% of full brightness, and said third fraction is 7.5%-25% of full brightness.
28. A method as in claim 26 , comprising brightening said luminaire to said third fraction of full brightness for a third predetermined amount of time before dawn.
29. A solar-powered outdoor lighting system as in claim 1 , wherein said flexible photovoltaic solar collector panel curves at least 180 degrees around the generally cylindrical light pole.
30. A method of controlling an outdoor lighting system as in claim 15 , wherein the flexible solar collector panel curves at least 180 degrees around the generally cylindrical light pole.
31. A solar-powered outdoor lighting system as in claim 1 , wherein said luminaire comprises light emitting diodes (LEDs).
32. A method of controlling an outdoor lighting system as in claim 15 , wherein said luminaire comprises light emitting diodes (LEDs).
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/128,395 US20120020060A1 (en) | 2007-02-02 | 2009-11-16 | Energy-efficient solar-powered outdoor lighting |
US14/451,294 US20150021990A1 (en) | 2007-02-02 | 2014-08-04 | Energy-efficient solar-powered outdoor lighting |
Applications Claiming Priority (10)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US88800207P | 2007-02-02 | 2007-02-02 | |
US12/025,737 US7731383B2 (en) | 2007-02-02 | 2008-02-04 | Solar-powered light pole and LED light fixture |
US13743308P | 2008-07-31 | 2008-07-31 | |
US13743408P | 2008-07-31 | 2008-07-31 | |
US13743708P | 2008-07-31 | 2008-07-31 | |
US19019208P | 2008-08-27 | 2008-08-27 | |
US11499308P | 2008-11-14 | 2008-11-14 | |
US12/533,701 US8588830B2 (en) | 2007-02-02 | 2009-07-31 | Wireless autonomous solar-powered outdoor lighting and energy and information management network |
PCT/US2009/064659 WO2010057138A2 (en) | 2008-11-14 | 2009-11-16 | Energy-efficient solar-powered outdoor lighting |
US13/128,395 US20120020060A1 (en) | 2007-02-02 | 2009-11-16 | Energy-efficient solar-powered outdoor lighting |
Related Parent Applications (3)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/533,701 Continuation US8588830B2 (en) | 2007-02-02 | 2009-07-31 | Wireless autonomous solar-powered outdoor lighting and energy and information management network |
US12/533,701 Continuation-In-Part US8588830B2 (en) | 2007-02-02 | 2009-07-31 | Wireless autonomous solar-powered outdoor lighting and energy and information management network |
PCT/US2009/064659 A-371-Of-International WO2010057138A2 (en) | 2007-02-02 | 2009-11-16 | Energy-efficient solar-powered outdoor lighting |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US14/451,294 Continuation US20150021990A1 (en) | 2007-02-02 | 2014-08-04 | Energy-efficient solar-powered outdoor lighting |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20120020060A1 true US20120020060A1 (en) | 2012-01-26 |
Family
ID=41610976
Family Applications (3)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/533,701 Expired - Fee Related US8588830B2 (en) | 2007-02-02 | 2009-07-31 | Wireless autonomous solar-powered outdoor lighting and energy and information management network |
US13/128,395 Abandoned US20120020060A1 (en) | 2007-02-02 | 2009-11-16 | Energy-efficient solar-powered outdoor lighting |
US14/451,294 Abandoned US20150021990A1 (en) | 2007-02-02 | 2014-08-04 | Energy-efficient solar-powered outdoor lighting |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/533,701 Expired - Fee Related US8588830B2 (en) | 2007-02-02 | 2009-07-31 | Wireless autonomous solar-powered outdoor lighting and energy and information management network |
Family Applications After (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US14/451,294 Abandoned US20150021990A1 (en) | 2007-02-02 | 2014-08-04 | Energy-efficient solar-powered outdoor lighting |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (3) | US8588830B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2308197A4 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2010014925A2 (en) |
Cited By (144)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20100079610A1 (en) * | 2008-09-29 | 2010-04-01 | Masako Suehiro | Photographic apparatus and photographic control method, image display apparatus and image display method, and photographic system and control method thereof |
US20100093274A1 (en) * | 2008-10-15 | 2010-04-15 | Jian Xu | Fault-tolerant non-random signal repeating system for building electric control |
US20100281161A1 (en) * | 2009-04-30 | 2010-11-04 | Ucontrol, Inc. | Method, system and apparatus for automated inventory reporting of security, monitoring and automation hardware and software at customer premises |
US20110017256A1 (en) * | 2009-07-22 | 2011-01-27 | Osiris Isis Kether Stevens | Mountable thin film solar array system |
US20110109424A1 (en) * | 2009-11-06 | 2011-05-12 | Charles Huizenga | Wireless sensor |
US20110260880A1 (en) * | 2010-04-21 | 2011-10-27 | Lance Dean | Solar powered light and alarm system |
US20120093520A1 (en) * | 2009-03-26 | 2012-04-19 | Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. | Mesh node for a communication mesh network structure of a networked control system |
US20120146813A1 (en) * | 2010-12-13 | 2012-06-14 | Gilmore James C | Emergency beacon and system |
US20120302228A1 (en) * | 2011-05-26 | 2012-11-29 | Peter Gray | Remote Power Microgenerator Device and Method |
US20130096856A1 (en) * | 2011-10-12 | 2013-04-18 | Paul Oliver Caffrey | Systems and methods for adaptive possible power determinaton in power generating systems |
US20130103201A1 (en) * | 2008-06-02 | 2013-04-25 | Charles Huizenga | Intelligence in Distributed Lighting Control Devices |
US20130307382A1 (en) * | 2012-05-15 | 2013-11-21 | Garrsnlockr Llc | Method and apparatus for a solar powered storage system |
US20130335972A1 (en) * | 2010-11-08 | 2013-12-19 | Geroh Gmbh & Co. Kg | Mast |
US20140085870A1 (en) * | 2013-10-15 | 2014-03-27 | Mary Yacoub Abas | Rechargeable solar chip battery system |
US20140240968A1 (en) * | 2013-02-26 | 2014-08-28 | Cubed, LLC | Solar powered led portable light tower |
US20140265874A1 (en) * | 2013-03-14 | 2014-09-18 | Abl Ip Holding Llc | Adaptive Optical Distribution System |
RU2528627C2 (en) * | 2012-12-25 | 2014-09-20 | Федеральное государственное бюджетное образовательное учреждение высшего профессионального образования "Пензенская государственная технологическая академия" | Multifunctional hybrid alternative power plant |
RU2528626C2 (en) * | 2013-01-24 | 2014-09-20 | Федеральное государственное бюджетное образовательное учреждение высшего профессионального образования "Пензенская государственная технологическая академия | Self-contained power generator for street lamp |
US20140293591A1 (en) * | 2013-04-01 | 2014-10-02 | Ji Yong Kim | Flexible solar light |
CN104566129A (en) * | 2014-12-30 | 2015-04-29 | 苏州汉克山姆照明科技有限公司 | Lawn lighting LED lamp |
US9046235B2 (en) | 2013-08-12 | 2015-06-02 | Oswald A. Wilson | LED renewable energy lighting unit having a polygonal solar panel configuration about a horizontal or vertical pole |
US20150219725A1 (en) * | 2012-09-05 | 2015-08-06 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Low-voltage network with a dc-dc converter and method for testing a low-voltage battery |
WO2015120332A1 (en) * | 2014-02-07 | 2015-08-13 | The Coleman Company, Inc. | Guyline illuminator |
WO2015120463A1 (en) * | 2014-02-10 | 2015-08-13 | Big Belly Solar, Inc. | Dynamically adjustable nodes in a sensor network |
US9192019B2 (en) | 2011-12-07 | 2015-11-17 | Abl Ip Holding Llc | System for and method of commissioning lighting devices |
US9192026B2 (en) | 2013-03-14 | 2015-11-17 | Abl Ip Holding Llc | Veiling zone control |
US9236762B2 (en) | 2012-06-13 | 2016-01-12 | Clear Blue Technologies Inc. | System for the monitoring and maintenance of remote autonomously powered lighting installations |
US20160134157A1 (en) * | 2013-06-18 | 2016-05-12 | Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha | Charge control device |
CN106028582A (en) * | 2016-05-12 | 2016-10-12 | 探海(上海)智能科技有限公司 | Mesh-network-architecture-based intelligent illumination control system |
CN106287545A (en) * | 2016-11-02 | 2017-01-04 | 中安安轩安全产业发展有限公司 | A kind of high generated energy optical road lamp being applicable to guardrail integral |
US20170028863A1 (en) * | 2013-12-10 | 2017-02-02 | James A. Meringer | Solar Energy Systems |
US9564852B2 (en) | 2013-12-10 | 2017-02-07 | James A. Meringer | Solar-powered systems with solar cell support |
US20170055324A1 (en) * | 2015-08-21 | 2017-02-23 | Express Imaging Systems, Llc | Apparatus, retrofit kit, and method of energy efficient illumination using adjustment schedules |
US20170094743A1 (en) * | 2011-08-31 | 2017-03-30 | Chia-Teh Chen | Led security light and led security light control device thereof |
EP3017661B1 (en) | 2013-07-05 | 2017-04-05 | Philips Lighting Holding B.V. | A method for operating a communication device in a communication network, a communication device, a luminaire equipped with such communication device |
US9693428B2 (en) | 2014-10-15 | 2017-06-27 | Abl Ip Holding Llc | Lighting control with automated activation process |
US9726360B1 (en) * | 2014-09-25 | 2017-08-08 | CSC Holdings, LLC | Luminaires having a wireless antenna |
US9736369B2 (en) | 2013-07-18 | 2017-08-15 | Spo Systems Inc. Limited | Virtual video patrol system and components therefor |
US9781814B2 (en) | 2014-10-15 | 2017-10-03 | Abl Ip Holding Llc | Lighting control with integral dimming |
US20180031213A1 (en) * | 2016-07-29 | 2018-02-01 | John. T. Stegeman | Cobra arm enclosure device |
US20180305876A1 (en) * | 2017-04-25 | 2018-10-25 | MZC Foundation, Inc. | Apparatus, system, and method for smart roadway stud control and signaling |
US20190067502A1 (en) * | 2017-08-25 | 2019-02-28 | Dave Mashayamombe | Flexible solar panel system built into Existing Products and into recycled materials |
US10240734B1 (en) * | 2018-04-03 | 2019-03-26 | Metromax America Corporation | Outdoor lamp capable of changing colors |
US10274170B2 (en) * | 2017-07-13 | 2019-04-30 | Appleton Grp Llc | Drain system for a luminaire |
US10304055B2 (en) * | 2010-05-20 | 2019-05-28 | M-Kopa Ipr, Llc | Transaction processing and remote activation |
US20190253670A1 (en) * | 2011-11-14 | 2019-08-15 | Tseng-Lu Chien | LED Light Has Built-In Camera-Assembly to Capture Colorful Digital-Data Under Dark Environment |
US10389736B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2019-08-20 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols in integrated systems |
US10411495B2 (en) | 2012-06-13 | 2019-09-10 | Clear Blue Technologies Inc. | System for the monitoring and maintenance of remote autonomously powered lighting installations |
US10423309B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2019-09-24 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Device integration framework |
US10447491B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2019-10-15 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Premises system management using status signal |
US10451233B1 (en) * | 2018-07-10 | 2019-10-22 | Gama Sonic Usa, Inc. | Outdoor light pole with solar panel array |
US20190346099A1 (en) * | 2019-05-10 | 2019-11-14 | Tianya Lou | Intelligent Solar Road Lamp With Charging Function For Municipal Use |
US10495291B2 (en) | 2016-07-29 | 2019-12-03 | Labyrinth Technologies, Llc | Cobra arm enclosure device |
US10498830B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2019-12-03 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Wi-Fi-to-serial encapsulation in systems |
US10523689B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2019-12-31 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols over internet protocol (IP) networks |
US10522026B2 (en) | 2008-08-11 | 2019-12-31 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Automation system user interface with three-dimensional display |
US20200044468A1 (en) * | 2018-07-31 | 2020-02-06 | Ling Yung LIN | Mobile power supply module with light source |
US10559193B2 (en) | 2002-02-01 | 2020-02-11 | Comcast Cable Communications, Llc | Premises management systems |
US10616075B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2020-04-07 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols in integrated systems |
US10616244B2 (en) | 2006-06-12 | 2020-04-07 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Activation of gateway device |
US10619809B1 (en) * | 2018-10-04 | 2020-04-14 | King Abdulaziz University | Solar chimney street lighting pole |
US10666523B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2020-05-26 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols in integrated systems |
US20200169092A1 (en) * | 2018-11-23 | 2020-05-28 | Hall Labs Llc | Solar Power System with Individualized Energy Prediction |
US10672254B2 (en) | 2007-04-23 | 2020-06-02 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Method and system for providing alternate network access |
CN111246632A (en) * | 2020-01-17 | 2020-06-05 | 苏州仁甬得物联科技有限公司 | Ad hoc network light PWM energy-saving system |
US10691295B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2020-06-23 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | User interface in a premises network |
US10692356B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2020-06-23 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Control system user interface |
US10697620B2 (en) | 2018-06-21 | 2020-06-30 | Labyrinth Technologies, Llc | Flexible lighting and universal mounting system for municipal utility poles |
US20200212707A1 (en) * | 2018-12-31 | 2020-07-02 | Itron, Inc. | Solar hybrid battery for powering network devices over extended time intervals |
US10721087B2 (en) | 2005-03-16 | 2020-07-21 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Method for networked touchscreen with integrated interfaces |
US10735249B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2020-08-04 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Management of a security system at a premises |
US10741057B2 (en) | 2010-12-17 | 2020-08-11 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Method and system for processing security event data |
US10747216B2 (en) | 2007-02-28 | 2020-08-18 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Method and system for communicating with and controlling an alarm system from a remote server |
US10754304B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2020-08-25 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Automation system with mobile interface |
US10785319B2 (en) | 2006-06-12 | 2020-09-22 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | IP device discovery systems and methods |
US10841381B2 (en) | 2005-03-16 | 2020-11-17 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Security system with networked touchscreen |
US10930136B2 (en) | 2005-03-16 | 2021-02-23 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Premise management systems and methods |
US10979389B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2021-04-13 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Premises management configuration and control |
US10992784B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2021-04-27 | Control Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols over internet protocol (IP) networks |
US10999254B2 (en) | 2005-03-16 | 2021-05-04 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | System for data routing in networks |
US11043112B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2021-06-22 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Integrated security system with parallel processing architecture |
US20210207781A1 (en) * | 2018-12-17 | 2021-07-08 | Comptek Technologies, Llc | Battery storage vault and utility pole system |
US11089122B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2021-08-10 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Controlling data routing among networks |
USD928987S1 (en) | 2019-02-21 | 2021-08-24 | Labyrinth Technologies, Llc | Municipal infrastructure pole |
US11113950B2 (en) | 2005-03-16 | 2021-09-07 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Gateway integrated with premises security system |
US11146637B2 (en) | 2014-03-03 | 2021-10-12 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Media content management |
US11153266B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2021-10-19 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Gateway registry methods and systems |
US11149926B2 (en) | 2016-07-29 | 2021-10-19 | Labyrinth Technologies, Llc | Luminaire control device with universal power supply |
US11172423B2 (en) | 2018-12-31 | 2021-11-09 | Itron, Inc. | Solar-powered access point for load balancing network traffic across backhaul networks |
US11182060B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2021-11-23 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Networked touchscreen with integrated interfaces |
US11184831B2 (en) | 2018-12-31 | 2021-11-23 | Itron, Inc. | Solar-powered relay for coupling remotely-located leaf nodes to a wireless network |
US11184322B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2021-11-23 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols in integrated systems |
US11190578B2 (en) | 2008-08-11 | 2021-11-30 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Integrated cloud system with lightweight gateway for premises automation |
US11190044B2 (en) * | 2019-04-25 | 2021-11-30 | Hyundai Motor Company | Charging control method and charging control system using energy generated from solar roof |
US11201755B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2021-12-14 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Premises system management using status signal |
US11204156B2 (en) | 2016-07-29 | 2021-12-21 | Labyrinth Technologies, Llc | Systems and methods for aggregating edge signals in a mesh network |
US11212192B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2021-12-28 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols in integrated systems |
US11218878B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2022-01-04 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols in integrated systems |
US11223226B2 (en) * | 2019-09-26 | 2022-01-11 | Williamsrdm, Inc. | Covert smart solar power system and method of use |
US11237714B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2022-02-01 | Control Networks, Inc. | Control system user interface |
US11240059B2 (en) | 2010-12-20 | 2022-02-01 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Defining and implementing sensor triggered response rules |
US11244545B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2022-02-08 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Cross-client sensor user interface in an integrated security network |
US11258625B2 (en) | 2008-08-11 | 2022-02-22 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Mobile premises automation platform |
US11277465B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2022-03-15 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Generating risk profile using data of home monitoring and security system |
US11288346B1 (en) * | 2014-03-03 | 2022-03-29 | Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. | System and method for authenticating users using weak authentication techniques, with differences for different features |
US11296950B2 (en) | 2013-06-27 | 2022-04-05 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Control system user interface |
US11310199B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2022-04-19 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Premises management configuration and control |
US11316958B2 (en) | 2008-08-11 | 2022-04-26 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Virtual device systems and methods |
US11316753B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2022-04-26 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols in integrated systems |
US11343380B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2022-05-24 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Premises system automation |
US11368327B2 (en) | 2008-08-11 | 2022-06-21 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Integrated cloud system for premises automation |
USD957039S1 (en) | 2020-01-13 | 2022-07-05 | Labyrinth Technologies, Llc | Enclosure with extension |
US11398147B2 (en) | 2010-09-28 | 2022-07-26 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Method, system and apparatus for automated reporting of account and sensor zone information to a central station |
US11405463B2 (en) | 2014-03-03 | 2022-08-02 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Media content management |
US11412027B2 (en) | 2007-01-24 | 2022-08-09 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Methods and systems for data communication |
US11423756B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2022-08-23 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols in integrated systems |
US11424980B2 (en) | 2005-03-16 | 2022-08-23 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Forming a security network including integrated security system components |
US20220292996A1 (en) * | 2008-03-15 | 2022-09-15 | James R. Selevan | Sequenced guiding systems for vehicles and pedestrians |
US11451409B2 (en) | 2005-03-16 | 2022-09-20 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Security network integrating security system and network devices |
US20220325860A1 (en) * | 2021-04-12 | 2022-10-13 | Gary Thomas Osborne | Apparatus for a solar light |
US11489812B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2022-11-01 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Forming a security network including integrated security system components and network devices |
US11496568B2 (en) | 2005-03-16 | 2022-11-08 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Security system with networked touchscreen |
US11582065B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2023-02-14 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Systems and methods for device communication |
US11601810B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2023-03-07 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols in integrated systems |
US11615697B2 (en) | 2005-03-16 | 2023-03-28 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Premise management systems and methods |
US11646907B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2023-05-09 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols in integrated systems |
US11677577B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2023-06-13 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Premises system management using status signal |
US11700142B2 (en) | 2005-03-16 | 2023-07-11 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Security network integrating security system and network devices |
US11706279B2 (en) | 2007-01-24 | 2023-07-18 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Methods and systems for data communication |
US11706045B2 (en) | 2005-03-16 | 2023-07-18 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Modular electronic display platform |
US11729255B2 (en) | 2008-08-11 | 2023-08-15 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Integrated cloud system with lightweight gateway for premises automation |
US11750414B2 (en) | 2010-12-16 | 2023-09-05 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Bidirectional security sensor communication for a premises security system |
US11744234B2 (en) * | 2018-02-23 | 2023-09-05 | Spectrum Brands, Inc. | Aquarium system and methods to increase light intensity due to motion |
US11758026B2 (en) | 2008-08-11 | 2023-09-12 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Virtual device systems and methods |
US11792036B2 (en) | 2008-08-11 | 2023-10-17 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Mobile premises automation platform |
US11792330B2 (en) | 2005-03-16 | 2023-10-17 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication and automation in a premises management system |
US11811845B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2023-11-07 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols over internet protocol (IP) networks |
US11816323B2 (en) | 2008-06-25 | 2023-11-14 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Automation system user interface |
US11831462B2 (en) | 2007-08-24 | 2023-11-28 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Controlling data routing in premises management systems |
US11874449B2 (en) | 2016-04-12 | 2024-01-16 | Jonathan Jacques | Pyramidal wall sections |
US11916928B2 (en) | 2008-01-24 | 2024-02-27 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols over internet protocol (IP) networks |
US11916870B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2024-02-27 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Gateway registry methods and systems |
US11921544B1 (en) * | 2021-08-30 | 2024-03-05 | Glenn Joseph Bronson | Ground accessible IOT base and block with enclosures |
US11962672B2 (en) | 2023-05-12 | 2024-04-16 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Virtual device systems and methods |
Families Citing this family (397)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8011140B2 (en) * | 2001-07-10 | 2011-09-06 | Steven Durham | Information display shelter |
US20080029720A1 (en) * | 2006-08-03 | 2008-02-07 | Intematix Corporation | LED lighting arrangement including light emitting phosphor |
US7731383B2 (en) | 2007-02-02 | 2010-06-08 | Inovus Solar, Inc. | Solar-powered light pole and LED light fixture |
US9196770B2 (en) * | 2007-03-27 | 2015-11-24 | Newdoll Enterprises Llc | Pole-mounted power generation systems, structures and processes |
US8035320B2 (en) | 2007-04-20 | 2011-10-11 | Sibert W Olin | Illumination control network |
AU2008271871B2 (en) * | 2007-06-29 | 2014-01-09 | Carmanah Technologies Corp. | Intelligent area lighting system |
US10321528B2 (en) * | 2007-10-26 | 2019-06-11 | Philips Lighting Holding B.V. | Targeted content delivery using outdoor lighting networks (OLNs) |
US8600800B2 (en) | 2008-06-19 | 2013-12-03 | Societe Stationnement Urbain Developpements et Etudes (SUD SAS) | Parking locator system including promotion distribution system |
WO2010014925A2 (en) | 2008-07-31 | 2010-02-04 | Ming Solar, Inc. | Wireless autonomous solar-powered outdoor lighting and energy and information management network |
CA2733046A1 (en) * | 2008-08-06 | 2010-02-11 | David Smyth | An electrical power distribution installation |
FR2941328B1 (en) * | 2009-01-19 | 2012-11-02 | Commissariat Energie Atomique | METHOD FOR PREDICTING THE ELECTRIC PRODUCTION OF A PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE |
US9257865B2 (en) | 2009-01-22 | 2016-02-09 | Techtronic Power Tools Technology Limited | Wireless power distribution system and method |
US8436542B2 (en) * | 2009-05-04 | 2013-05-07 | Hubbell Incorporated | Integrated lighting system and method |
EP2262350A1 (en) * | 2009-06-10 | 2010-12-15 | iLEDs GmbH | Lighting unit, network of lighting units and method for controlling the light intensity of a lighting network comprising at least one lighting unit |
US8369997B2 (en) * | 2010-04-28 | 2013-02-05 | David Valin | Solar panel wind turbine communication server network apparatus method and mechanism |
US7789524B2 (en) * | 2009-08-05 | 2010-09-07 | Lawrence E Anderson | Solar or wind powered light |
US9236637B2 (en) | 2009-08-05 | 2016-01-12 | Lawrence Everett Anderson | Electric vehicle solar charging system |
US8022667B2 (en) * | 2011-02-03 | 2011-09-20 | Lawrence Everett Anderson | Electric vehicle charging system |
AT509035B1 (en) * | 2009-11-11 | 2013-07-15 | Illumination Network Systems Gmbh | LIGHTING DEVICE AND LIGHTING SYSTEM |
ES2751980T3 (en) | 2009-12-11 | 2020-04-02 | Stationnement Urbain Dev Et Etudes | Provision of municipal services using mobile devices and a sensor network |
US9749823B2 (en) | 2009-12-11 | 2017-08-29 | Mentis Services France | Providing city services using mobile devices and a sensor network |
EP2524012B1 (en) * | 2010-01-11 | 2014-12-03 | Liebherr-Hausgeräte Ochsenhausen GmbH | Surface coatings with anti-ice characteristics |
CA2791924A1 (en) * | 2010-03-01 | 2011-09-09 | Led Roadway Lighting Ltd. | Gps-based streetlight wireless command and control system |
IT1398776B1 (en) * | 2010-03-02 | 2013-03-18 | Hutter | REMOTE SENDING TECHNIQUE OF THE OPERATING CONDITIONS OF THE LAMPS OF PART OF A PUBLIC LIGHTING SYSTEM. |
ES2346283B1 (en) * | 2010-03-03 | 2011-09-05 | Miguel Salamanques Claver | CONTROL SYSTEM AND MANAGEMENT OF ENERGY RECHARGE, COMMUNICATION AND LIGHTING. |
US8686665B2 (en) * | 2010-03-08 | 2014-04-01 | Virticus Corporation | Method and system for lighting control and monitoring |
IT1399892B1 (en) * | 2010-03-15 | 2013-05-09 | Spi Tecno Srl | SYSTEM FOR PUBLIC LIGHTING |
CA2696542A1 (en) * | 2010-03-15 | 2011-09-15 | Carmanah Technologies Corp. | Improved solar lighting radio communication method and apparatus |
DE202010003952U1 (en) * | 2010-03-19 | 2010-07-22 | Luger, Siegfried | Outdoor light, especially street light, and electronic composite of several outdoor lights |
TW201220952A (en) | 2010-03-29 | 2012-05-16 | Koninkl Philips Electronics Nv | Network of heterogeneous devices including at least one outdoor lighting fixture node |
WO2011123920A1 (en) * | 2010-04-07 | 2011-10-13 | Carmanah Technologies Corp. | Distributed control intelligent lighting array |
US20110270420A1 (en) * | 2010-04-09 | 2011-11-03 | Kent Tabor | Motion control enhanced radio frequency control system and method |
DE102010014974A1 (en) * | 2010-04-14 | 2011-10-20 | GRAH Automotive d.o.o. | Street lighting system has communication unit which performs wireless communication between controller and individual road lamps through wireless local area network (WLAN) |
ES2389531B1 (en) * | 2010-04-28 | 2013-09-09 | Univ De Alcala En Su Represent Vicerector Inno Y Nuevas Tec Jose Antonio Gutierrez De Mesa | SMART AUTOMATIC IGNITION SYSTEM OF THE LIGHTING OF TUNNEL LIGHTS, HIGHWAYS, HIGHWAYS AND ROADS. |
US20110138377A1 (en) * | 2010-05-04 | 2011-06-09 | Phat Energy Corporation | Renewable Energy Monitoring System & Method |
DE102010046299B4 (en) * | 2010-09-22 | 2012-05-03 | E:Cue Control Gmbh | Lighting system with a power supply device, control device for a lighting system and method for controlling a lighting system |
US20120086560A1 (en) * | 2010-10-07 | 2012-04-12 | General Electric Company | Outdoor lighting system |
US8398435B2 (en) | 2011-05-05 | 2013-03-19 | General Electric Company | Receptacle connector between controller and lighting fixture |
US20120086561A1 (en) * | 2010-10-07 | 2012-04-12 | General Electric Company | Outdoor lighting system |
US8864514B2 (en) | 2010-10-07 | 2014-10-21 | General Electric Company | Controller device |
US20120091900A1 (en) * | 2010-10-15 | 2012-04-19 | Bernard Fournier | Outdoor lighting system |
DE102010049121B8 (en) * | 2010-10-21 | 2014-06-18 | Hochschule Anhalt (Fh) | Method for illuminating roads, paths, squares or rooms and communication unit for use in the method |
US10564613B2 (en) | 2010-11-19 | 2020-02-18 | Hubbell Incorporated | Control system and method for managing wireless and wired components |
US20120126721A1 (en) * | 2010-11-19 | 2012-05-24 | Lumination Llc | Gps-based lighting control system |
US20170354018A1 (en) * | 2010-11-19 | 2017-12-07 | Ge Lighting Solutions Llc | Gps-based lighting control system |
US20120140748A1 (en) * | 2010-12-07 | 2012-06-07 | John Carruthers | End point control method |
US8641241B2 (en) * | 2010-12-14 | 2014-02-04 | Bridgelux, Inc. | Gimbaled LED array module |
WO2012090142A2 (en) * | 2010-12-28 | 2012-07-05 | Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. | Outdoor lighting network control system |
US9198264B2 (en) | 2010-12-30 | 2015-11-24 | Koninklijke Philips N.V. | Policy-based OLN light management system |
JP2014505977A (en) * | 2011-01-12 | 2014-03-06 | 東莞巨揚電器有限公司 | Detecting illumination device for module having electromagnetic wave wireless communication and control method used therefor |
US8833985B2 (en) | 2011-02-04 | 2014-09-16 | Progress Solar Solutions, LLC | Mobile solar-powered light tower |
WO2012142447A1 (en) * | 2011-04-13 | 2012-10-18 | Amerlux, Llc | Directionally controllable street lamp |
JP2012226993A (en) * | 2011-04-20 | 2012-11-15 | Panasonic Corp | Illumination system |
FR2975544B1 (en) * | 2011-05-19 | 2015-03-27 | Scheiber Sa | CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR CONTROLLING THE ELECTRICAL POWER SUPPLY OF A PLURALITY OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WITH CONTINUOUS CURRENT |
US9195243B2 (en) * | 2011-05-24 | 2015-11-24 | Aten International Co., Ltd. | System and method of safe and effective energy usage and conservation for data centers with rack power distribution units |
KR101100228B1 (en) | 2011-05-25 | 2011-12-28 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | A lighting system, and a method of setting a address for a lighting device, and managing and controlling thereof |
CN102548118B (en) * | 2011-06-29 | 2014-02-26 | 许昌学院 | Light-emitting diode (LED) illuminating system |
US9265111B2 (en) | 2011-07-01 | 2016-02-16 | Koninklijke Philips N.V. | Lighting requirements generation system and method |
US8593268B2 (en) * | 2011-08-08 | 2013-11-26 | Vincent Valetutti | Time clock control for outside lighting |
CN102622959B (en) * | 2011-08-10 | 2014-05-21 | 许昌学院 | LED display system |
US20130044488A1 (en) * | 2011-08-17 | 2013-02-21 | G. Albert Hreish | Combination Lamp and Wireless Network Access System |
ITMO20110219A1 (en) * | 2011-08-25 | 2013-02-26 | Meta System Spa | PERFECT LIGHTING SYSTEM |
WO2013030779A1 (en) * | 2011-09-02 | 2013-03-07 | Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. | Device and method for controlling a node of a wireless network |
GB201115322D0 (en) * | 2011-09-06 | 2011-10-19 | Electric Car Charging Company Ltd | An improved lamp column |
US20130063032A1 (en) * | 2011-09-12 | 2013-03-14 | Full Spectrum Solutions | Induction lamp connected light node |
US20130063026A1 (en) * | 2011-09-12 | 2013-03-14 | Keith Stickley | Towed Vehicle Light-Sensitive External Lighting Control Device |
US20130064136A1 (en) * | 2011-09-14 | 2013-03-14 | Nexgrid, Llc | System, device and method for implementing a photovoltaic-based communications network |
CN103765718B (en) * | 2011-09-16 | 2016-03-16 | 株式会社日立制作所 | Electric power distribution system |
WO2013042017A1 (en) * | 2011-09-22 | 2013-03-28 | Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. | Imaging service using outdoor lighting networks |
FR2980832B1 (en) * | 2011-09-30 | 2014-09-26 | 2Iser | LIGHTING DEVICE CONTAINING CAMERA AND SENSORS AND SENDING WIRELESS DATA |
US8838026B2 (en) * | 2011-09-30 | 2014-09-16 | Qualcomm Incorporated | Methods and apparatus for improving NFC data exchange configuration parameter update mechanisms |
US20130081676A1 (en) * | 2011-10-02 | 2013-04-04 | Scuint Corporation | Multi-Purpose Solar Panel |
US9348381B2 (en) | 2011-10-19 | 2016-05-24 | Zeco Systems Pte Ltd | Methods and apparatuses for charging of electric vehicles |
WO2013064979A1 (en) * | 2011-10-31 | 2013-05-10 | Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. | Enhanced lighting network to serve mobile cellular users and method of operation thereof |
US9313275B2 (en) * | 2011-11-16 | 2016-04-12 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | Communication protocol for energy-harvesting devices |
GB2497958B (en) | 2011-12-23 | 2018-06-27 | Braghiroli Marco | Photovoltaic sleeve for street lights and the like |
US9801261B2 (en) * | 2012-01-05 | 2017-10-24 | Bright Light Systems, Inc. | Systems and methods for providing high-mast lighting |
AU2013207399B2 (en) | 2012-01-05 | 2016-04-14 | Phoenix Products, Llc | Systems and methods for providing high-mast lighting |
US9468076B2 (en) | 2012-01-20 | 2016-10-11 | Koninklijke Philips N.V. | Methods and apparatus for management of outdoor lighting networks |
DE102012204446A1 (en) * | 2012-03-20 | 2013-09-26 | Wobben Properties Gmbh | Method for configuring a wind energy plant and wind energy plant |
CN104221065B (en) * | 2012-03-28 | 2017-10-31 | 飞利浦灯具控股公司 | The system and method that traffic administration is carried out using lighting mains |
ES2424916B1 (en) * | 2012-04-03 | 2014-12-09 | Jesús Alberto Menéndez López | Lighting Management System on roads with traffic |
US8766545B2 (en) | 2012-04-19 | 2014-07-01 | Xerox Corporation | Selective street light control apparatus, systems, and methods |
DE102012206691A1 (en) | 2012-04-24 | 2013-10-24 | Zumtobel Lighting Gmbh | Road and path lighting system |
JP6223428B2 (en) | 2012-05-02 | 2017-11-01 | フィリップス ライティング ホールディング ビー ヴィ | A method for adaptively controlling lighting based on traffic information in outdoor lighting networks |
WO2013175251A1 (en) * | 2012-05-24 | 2013-11-28 | Elis Mantovani | Street light device for lighting streets and public or private areas |
ITVR20120125A1 (en) * | 2012-06-22 | 2013-12-23 | Algorab S R L | INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE SUPPORT OF A WIRELESS DATA TRANSMISSION AND COMMUNICATION. |
US9954374B1 (en) | 2014-05-23 | 2018-04-24 | Energous Corporation | System and method for self-system analysis for detecting a fault in a wireless power transmission Network |
US10218227B2 (en) | 2014-05-07 | 2019-02-26 | Energous Corporation | Compact PIFA antenna |
US10223717B1 (en) | 2014-05-23 | 2019-03-05 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for payment-based authorization of wireless power transmission service |
US9143000B2 (en) | 2012-07-06 | 2015-09-22 | Energous Corporation | Portable wireless charging pad |
US10224982B1 (en) | 2013-07-11 | 2019-03-05 | Energous Corporation | Wireless power transmitters for transmitting wireless power and tracking whether wireless power receivers are within authorized locations |
US20150326070A1 (en) | 2014-05-07 | 2015-11-12 | Energous Corporation | Methods and Systems for Maximum Power Point Transfer in Receivers |
US9867062B1 (en) | 2014-07-21 | 2018-01-09 | Energous Corporation | System and methods for using a remote server to authorize a receiving device that has requested wireless power and to determine whether another receiving device should request wireless power in a wireless power transmission system |
US10199849B1 (en) | 2014-08-21 | 2019-02-05 | Energous Corporation | Method for automatically testing the operational status of a wireless power receiver in a wireless power transmission system |
US9838083B2 (en) | 2014-07-21 | 2017-12-05 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for communication with remote management systems |
US10211680B2 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2019-02-19 | Energous Corporation | Method for 3 dimensional pocket-forming |
US9900057B2 (en) | 2012-07-06 | 2018-02-20 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for assigning groups of antenas of a wireless power transmitter to different wireless power receivers, and determining effective phases to use for wirelessly transmitting power using the assigned groups of antennas |
US9941747B2 (en) | 2014-07-14 | 2018-04-10 | Energous Corporation | System and method for manually selecting and deselecting devices to charge in a wireless power network |
US10263432B1 (en) | 2013-06-25 | 2019-04-16 | Energous Corporation | Multi-mode transmitter with an antenna array for delivering wireless power and providing Wi-Fi access |
US10063106B2 (en) | 2014-05-23 | 2018-08-28 | Energous Corporation | System and method for a self-system analysis in a wireless power transmission network |
US9893768B2 (en) | 2012-07-06 | 2018-02-13 | Energous Corporation | Methodology for multiple pocket-forming |
US10199835B2 (en) | 2015-12-29 | 2019-02-05 | Energous Corporation | Radar motion detection using stepped frequency in wireless power transmission system |
US10965164B2 (en) | 2012-07-06 | 2021-03-30 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods of wirelessly delivering power to a receiver device |
US10211674B1 (en) | 2013-06-12 | 2019-02-19 | Energous Corporation | Wireless charging using selected reflectors |
US9124125B2 (en) | 2013-05-10 | 2015-09-01 | Energous Corporation | Wireless power transmission with selective range |
US10193396B1 (en) | 2014-05-07 | 2019-01-29 | Energous Corporation | Cluster management of transmitters in a wireless power transmission system |
US10291055B1 (en) | 2014-12-29 | 2019-05-14 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for controlling far-field wireless power transmission based on battery power levels of a receiving device |
US10206185B2 (en) | 2013-05-10 | 2019-02-12 | Energous Corporation | System and methods for wireless power transmission to an electronic device in accordance with user-defined restrictions |
US10211682B2 (en) | 2014-05-07 | 2019-02-19 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for controlling operation of a transmitter of a wireless power network based on user instructions received from an authenticated computing device powered or charged by a receiver of the wireless power network |
US10075008B1 (en) | 2014-07-14 | 2018-09-11 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for manually adjusting when receiving electronic devices are scheduled to receive wirelessly delivered power from a wireless power transmitter in a wireless power network |
US10256657B2 (en) | 2015-12-24 | 2019-04-09 | Energous Corporation | Antenna having coaxial structure for near field wireless power charging |
US9847677B1 (en) | 2013-10-10 | 2017-12-19 | Energous Corporation | Wireless charging and powering of healthcare gadgets and sensors |
US10063064B1 (en) | 2014-05-23 | 2018-08-28 | Energous Corporation | System and method for generating a power receiver identifier in a wireless power network |
US9948135B2 (en) | 2015-09-22 | 2018-04-17 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for identifying sensitive objects in a wireless charging transmission field |
US9876648B2 (en) | 2014-08-21 | 2018-01-23 | Energous Corporation | System and method to control a wireless power transmission system by configuration of wireless power transmission control parameters |
US9973021B2 (en) | 2012-07-06 | 2018-05-15 | Energous Corporation | Receivers for wireless power transmission |
US11502551B2 (en) | 2012-07-06 | 2022-11-15 | Energous Corporation | Wirelessly charging multiple wireless-power receivers using different subsets of an antenna array to focus energy at different locations |
US9939864B1 (en) | 2014-08-21 | 2018-04-10 | Energous Corporation | System and method to control a wireless power transmission system by configuration of wireless power transmission control parameters |
US10270261B2 (en) | 2015-09-16 | 2019-04-23 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods of object detection in wireless power charging systems |
US10141791B2 (en) | 2014-05-07 | 2018-11-27 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for controlling communications during wireless transmission of power using application programming interfaces |
US10186913B2 (en) | 2012-07-06 | 2019-01-22 | Energous Corporation | System and methods for pocket-forming based on constructive and destructive interferences to power one or more wireless power receivers using a wireless power transmitter including a plurality of antennas |
US9941707B1 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2018-04-10 | Energous Corporation | Home base station for multiple room coverage with multiple transmitters |
US10243414B1 (en) | 2014-05-07 | 2019-03-26 | Energous Corporation | Wearable device with wireless power and payload receiver |
US10230266B1 (en) | 2014-02-06 | 2019-03-12 | Energous Corporation | Wireless power receivers that communicate status data indicating wireless power transmission effectiveness with a transmitter using a built-in communications component of a mobile device, and methods of use thereof |
US9859756B2 (en) | 2012-07-06 | 2018-01-02 | Energous Corporation | Transmittersand methods for adjusting wireless power transmission based on information from receivers |
US9824815B2 (en) | 2013-05-10 | 2017-11-21 | Energous Corporation | Wireless charging and powering of healthcare gadgets and sensors |
US10063105B2 (en) | 2013-07-11 | 2018-08-28 | Energous Corporation | Proximity transmitters for wireless power charging systems |
US9843201B1 (en) | 2012-07-06 | 2017-12-12 | Energous Corporation | Wireless power transmitter that selects antenna sets for transmitting wireless power to a receiver based on location of the receiver, and methods of use thereof |
US9787103B1 (en) | 2013-08-06 | 2017-10-10 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for wirelessly delivering power to electronic devices that are unable to communicate with a transmitter |
US9899873B2 (en) | 2014-05-23 | 2018-02-20 | Energous Corporation | System and method for generating a power receiver identifier in a wireless power network |
US10992185B2 (en) | 2012-07-06 | 2021-04-27 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods of using electromagnetic waves to wirelessly deliver power to game controllers |
US10128699B2 (en) | 2014-07-14 | 2018-11-13 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods of providing wireless power using receiver device sensor inputs |
US9882430B1 (en) | 2014-05-07 | 2018-01-30 | Energous Corporation | Cluster management of transmitters in a wireless power transmission system |
US9887739B2 (en) | 2012-07-06 | 2018-02-06 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for wireless power transmission by comparing voltage levels associated with power waves transmitted by antennas of a plurality of antennas of a transmitter to determine appropriate phase adjustments for the power waves |
US10439448B2 (en) | 2014-08-21 | 2019-10-08 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for automatically testing the communication between wireless power transmitter and wireless power receiver |
US9847679B2 (en) | 2014-05-07 | 2017-12-19 | Energous Corporation | System and method for controlling communication between wireless power transmitter managers |
US9438045B1 (en) | 2013-05-10 | 2016-09-06 | Energous Corporation | Methods and systems for maximum power point transfer in receivers |
US10008889B2 (en) | 2014-08-21 | 2018-06-26 | Energous Corporation | Method for automatically testing the operational status of a wireless power receiver in a wireless power transmission system |
US10038337B1 (en) | 2013-09-16 | 2018-07-31 | Energous Corporation | Wireless power supply for rescue devices |
US10381880B2 (en) | 2014-07-21 | 2019-08-13 | Energous Corporation | Integrated antenna structure arrays for wireless power transmission |
US20140008993A1 (en) | 2012-07-06 | 2014-01-09 | DvineWave Inc. | Methodology for pocket-forming |
US9871398B1 (en) | 2013-07-01 | 2018-01-16 | Energous Corporation | Hybrid charging method for wireless power transmission based on pocket-forming |
US10224758B2 (en) | 2013-05-10 | 2019-03-05 | Energous Corporation | Wireless powering of electronic devices with selective delivery range |
US9859797B1 (en) | 2014-05-07 | 2018-01-02 | Energous Corporation | Synchronous rectifier design for wireless power receiver |
US9843213B2 (en) | 2013-08-06 | 2017-12-12 | Energous Corporation | Social power sharing for mobile devices based on pocket-forming |
US9368020B1 (en) | 2013-05-10 | 2016-06-14 | Energous Corporation | Off-premises alert system and method for wireless power receivers in a wireless power network |
US9853458B1 (en) | 2014-05-07 | 2017-12-26 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for device and power receiver pairing |
US10090699B1 (en) | 2013-11-01 | 2018-10-02 | Energous Corporation | Wireless powered house |
US9893555B1 (en) | 2013-10-10 | 2018-02-13 | Energous Corporation | Wireless charging of tools using a toolbox transmitter |
US9806564B2 (en) | 2014-05-07 | 2017-10-31 | Energous Corporation | Integrated rectifier and boost converter for wireless power transmission |
US10124754B1 (en) | 2013-07-19 | 2018-11-13 | Energous Corporation | Wireless charging and powering of electronic sensors in a vehicle |
US9891669B2 (en) | 2014-08-21 | 2018-02-13 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for a configuration web service to provide configuration of a wireless power transmitter within a wireless power transmission system |
US10205239B1 (en) | 2014-05-07 | 2019-02-12 | Energous Corporation | Compact PIFA antenna |
US9912199B2 (en) | 2012-07-06 | 2018-03-06 | Energous Corporation | Receivers for wireless power transmission |
US9825674B1 (en) | 2014-05-23 | 2017-11-21 | Energous Corporation | Enhanced transmitter that selects configurations of antenna elements for performing wireless power transmission and receiving functions |
US9991741B1 (en) | 2014-07-14 | 2018-06-05 | Energous Corporation | System for tracking and reporting status and usage information in a wireless power management system |
US20150042265A1 (en) * | 2013-05-10 | 2015-02-12 | DvineWave Inc. | Wireless powering of electronic devices |
US9941754B2 (en) | 2012-07-06 | 2018-04-10 | Energous Corporation | Wireless power transmission with selective range |
US9966765B1 (en) | 2013-06-25 | 2018-05-08 | Energous Corporation | Multi-mode transmitter |
US9831718B2 (en) | 2013-07-25 | 2017-11-28 | Energous Corporation | TV with integrated wireless power transmitter |
US9906065B2 (en) | 2012-07-06 | 2018-02-27 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods of transmitting power transmission waves based on signals received at first and second subsets of a transmitter's antenna array |
US10992187B2 (en) | 2012-07-06 | 2021-04-27 | Energous Corporation | System and methods of using electromagnetic waves to wirelessly deliver power to electronic devices |
US9859757B1 (en) | 2013-07-25 | 2018-01-02 | Energous Corporation | Antenna tile arrangements in electronic device enclosures |
US10103582B2 (en) | 2012-07-06 | 2018-10-16 | Energous Corporation | Transmitters for wireless power transmission |
US9887584B1 (en) | 2014-08-21 | 2018-02-06 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for a configuration web service to provide configuration of a wireless power transmitter within a wireless power transmission system |
US10050462B1 (en) | 2013-08-06 | 2018-08-14 | Energous Corporation | Social power sharing for mobile devices based on pocket-forming |
US9893554B2 (en) | 2014-07-14 | 2018-02-13 | Energous Corporation | System and method for providing health safety in a wireless power transmission system |
US10141768B2 (en) | 2013-06-03 | 2018-11-27 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for maximizing wireless power transfer efficiency by instructing a user to change a receiver device's position |
US10148097B1 (en) | 2013-11-08 | 2018-12-04 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for using a predetermined number of communication channels of a wireless power transmitter to communicate with different wireless power receivers |
US10312715B2 (en) | 2015-09-16 | 2019-06-04 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for wireless power charging |
US10090886B1 (en) | 2014-07-14 | 2018-10-02 | Energous Corporation | System and method for enabling automatic charging schedules in a wireless power network to one or more devices |
US9876394B1 (en) | 2014-05-07 | 2018-01-23 | Energous Corporation | Boost-charger-boost system for enhanced power delivery |
US9923386B1 (en) | 2012-07-06 | 2018-03-20 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for wireless power transmission by modifying a number of antenna elements used to transmit power waves to a receiver |
US9252628B2 (en) | 2013-05-10 | 2016-02-02 | Energous Corporation | Laptop computer as a transmitter for wireless charging |
US9899861B1 (en) | 2013-10-10 | 2018-02-20 | Energous Corporation | Wireless charging methods and systems for game controllers, based on pocket-forming |
US10128693B2 (en) | 2014-07-14 | 2018-11-13 | Energous Corporation | System and method for providing health safety in a wireless power transmission system |
US10291066B1 (en) | 2014-05-07 | 2019-05-14 | Energous Corporation | Power transmission control systems and methods |
US9793758B2 (en) | 2014-05-23 | 2017-10-17 | Energous Corporation | Enhanced transmitter using frequency control for wireless power transmission |
US9812890B1 (en) | 2013-07-11 | 2017-11-07 | Energous Corporation | Portable wireless charging pad |
US9882427B2 (en) | 2013-05-10 | 2018-01-30 | Energous Corporation | Wireless power delivery using a base station to control operations of a plurality of wireless power transmitters |
US9853692B1 (en) | 2014-05-23 | 2017-12-26 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for wireless power transmission |
US9876379B1 (en) | 2013-07-11 | 2018-01-23 | Energous Corporation | Wireless charging and powering of electronic devices in a vehicle |
PL399919A1 (en) * | 2012-07-12 | 2014-01-20 | Federico Elia | Connecting device for quick assembly and disassembly of the integrated light source |
CN102858060A (en) * | 2012-08-16 | 2013-01-02 | 浙江生辉照明有限公司 | Light emitting diode (LED) lamp and LED illumination network system |
WO2014066298A1 (en) * | 2012-10-22 | 2014-05-01 | Petra Sola, Inc. | Distributed street lights control with solar photovoltaic cell |
EP2747522A1 (en) * | 2012-12-20 | 2014-06-25 | Universite De Liege | Street lighting control, method, device and system |
FR3000623B1 (en) * | 2012-12-28 | 2018-04-27 | Sunna Design | METHOD FOR DYNAMICALLY CONTROLLING AN ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT |
US9258685B2 (en) * | 2012-12-31 | 2016-02-09 | Dialight Corporation | Lighting controller with integrated wide area network interface |
US9894852B2 (en) * | 2013-01-08 | 2018-02-20 | Semiosbio Technologies Inc. | Monitoring and control systems for the agricultural industry |
US9885451B2 (en) | 2013-01-28 | 2018-02-06 | Exposure Illumination Architects, Inc. | Systems and methods for an intermediate device structure |
FR3001857B1 (en) * | 2013-02-07 | 2017-12-29 | Inesocompany Ltd | LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEM |
WO2014130997A1 (en) * | 2013-02-25 | 2014-08-28 | International Development LLC | Luminaire having multiple sensors and independantly-controllable sources |
WO2014160519A1 (en) * | 2013-03-13 | 2014-10-02 | Eddins Scott | Color-changing lighting dynamic control |
US9273840B1 (en) | 2013-03-13 | 2016-03-01 | Marlin Braun | Integrated illumination system |
US10499477B2 (en) * | 2013-03-18 | 2019-12-03 | Signify Holding B.V. | Methods and apparatus for information management and control of outdoor lighting networks |
FR3004574B1 (en) * | 2013-04-16 | 2016-09-02 | Prodose | RAILWAY MONITORING DEVICE AND WORKING METHOD |
US9866279B2 (en) | 2013-05-10 | 2018-01-09 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for selecting which power transmitter should deliver wireless power to a receiving device in a wireless power delivery network |
US9538382B2 (en) | 2013-05-10 | 2017-01-03 | Energous Corporation | System and method for smart registration of wireless power receivers in a wireless power network |
US9537357B2 (en) | 2013-05-10 | 2017-01-03 | Energous Corporation | Wireless sound charging methods and systems for game controllers, based on pocket-forming |
US9843763B2 (en) | 2013-05-10 | 2017-12-12 | Energous Corporation | TV system with wireless power transmitter |
US9419443B2 (en) | 2013-05-10 | 2016-08-16 | Energous Corporation | Transducer sound arrangement for pocket-forming |
US9819230B2 (en) | 2014-05-07 | 2017-11-14 | Energous Corporation | Enhanced receiver for wireless power transmission |
WO2014184166A2 (en) * | 2013-05-13 | 2014-11-20 | Seneco A/S | Light control monitoring system |
WO2014184286A1 (en) * | 2013-05-15 | 2014-11-20 | Seneco A/S | Lighting unit having energy harvesting power management system |
US10103552B1 (en) | 2013-06-03 | 2018-10-16 | Energous Corporation | Protocols for authenticated wireless power transmission |
DE102014102678B4 (en) | 2013-06-13 | 2016-09-15 | Ice Gateway Gmbh | Apparatus and method for controlling a light source |
US10003211B1 (en) | 2013-06-17 | 2018-06-19 | Energous Corporation | Battery life of portable electronic devices |
KR20150000570A (en) * | 2013-06-25 | 2015-01-05 | 주식회사 케이엠더블유 | Street light dimming control method for reducing power consumption |
CN103345187B (en) * | 2013-07-01 | 2016-01-20 | 四川畅洋泰鼎科技有限公司 | Illuminating lamp wireless control system |
US10021523B2 (en) | 2013-07-11 | 2018-07-10 | Energous Corporation | Proximity transmitters for wireless power charging systems |
US9979440B1 (en) | 2013-07-25 | 2018-05-22 | Energous Corporation | Antenna tile arrangements configured to operate as one functional unit |
RU2615746C1 (en) * | 2013-08-06 | 2017-04-11 | Нек Корпорейшн | System of base station and wireless transmissional equipment |
TW201517743A (en) * | 2013-10-28 | 2015-05-01 | Yun-Shan Chang | Solar energy harvesting protecting sheath and back-side cover of mobile device |
US9621265B2 (en) | 2013-11-21 | 2017-04-11 | General Electric Company | Street lighting control, monitoring, and data transportation system and method |
US9622323B2 (en) | 2013-11-21 | 2017-04-11 | General Electric Company | Luminaire associate |
US10509101B2 (en) | 2013-11-21 | 2019-12-17 | General Electric Company | Street lighting communications, control, and special services |
US9646495B2 (en) | 2013-11-21 | 2017-05-09 | General Electric Company | Method and system for traffic flow reporting, forecasting, and planning |
ES2536937B1 (en) * | 2013-11-29 | 2016-03-09 | Guillermo MORENO RODRÍGUEZ | Device applicable to luminaires for the deployment of telecommunications networks and for the collection and processing of sensor and camera data |
WO2015088302A1 (en) * | 2013-12-09 | 2015-06-18 | Universite Internaltionale De Rabat | High-performance intelligently controlled solar lighting system with a plurality of charge stages |
WO2015103574A1 (en) * | 2014-01-06 | 2015-07-09 | Iowa Approach Inc. | Apparatus and methods for renal denervation ablation |
FI3099972T3 (en) * | 2014-01-30 | 2023-03-19 | Signify Holding Bv | Grouping lighting units |
US10075017B2 (en) | 2014-02-06 | 2018-09-11 | Energous Corporation | External or internal wireless power receiver with spaced-apart antenna elements for charging or powering mobile devices using wirelessly delivered power |
US9935482B1 (en) | 2014-02-06 | 2018-04-03 | Energous Corporation | Wireless power transmitters that transmit at determined times based on power availability and consumption at a receiving mobile device |
JP6842922B2 (en) | 2014-03-21 | 2021-03-17 | シグニファイ ホールディング ビー ヴィSignify Holding B.V. | Commissioning of remote-managed intelligent lighting devices |
US9966784B2 (en) | 2014-06-03 | 2018-05-08 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for extending battery life of portable electronic devices charged by sound |
US10158257B2 (en) | 2014-05-01 | 2018-12-18 | Energous Corporation | System and methods for using sound waves to wirelessly deliver power to electronic devices |
US10153645B1 (en) | 2014-05-07 | 2018-12-11 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for designating a master power transmitter in a cluster of wireless power transmitters |
US10170917B1 (en) | 2014-05-07 | 2019-01-01 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for managing and controlling a wireless power network by establishing time intervals during which receivers communicate with a transmitter |
US10153653B1 (en) | 2014-05-07 | 2018-12-11 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for using application programming interfaces to control communications between a transmitter and a receiver |
US9800172B1 (en) | 2014-05-07 | 2017-10-24 | Energous Corporation | Integrated rectifier and boost converter for boosting voltage received from wireless power transmission waves |
US9973008B1 (en) | 2014-05-07 | 2018-05-15 | Energous Corporation | Wireless power receiver with boost converters directly coupled to a storage element |
US10032364B2 (en) | 2014-05-15 | 2018-07-24 | Savant Systems, Llc | Standalone wireless lighting application |
US9876536B1 (en) | 2014-05-23 | 2018-01-23 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for assigning groups of antennas to transmit wireless power to different wireless power receivers |
TWM491299U (en) * | 2014-07-14 | 2014-12-01 | Sunvalue Co Ltd | Power generation column structure |
US9871301B2 (en) | 2014-07-21 | 2018-01-16 | Energous Corporation | Integrated miniature PIFA with artificial magnetic conductor metamaterials |
US10116143B1 (en) | 2014-07-21 | 2018-10-30 | Energous Corporation | Integrated antenna arrays for wireless power transmission |
US10068703B1 (en) | 2014-07-21 | 2018-09-04 | Energous Corporation | Integrated miniature PIFA with artificial magnetic conductor metamaterials |
CN104111611B (en) * | 2014-07-29 | 2017-04-12 | 江苏博云物联科技有限公司 | Patch switch and control system thereof |
EP2982900B1 (en) * | 2014-08-08 | 2019-12-04 | Falchetti, Gianni | Pole having external photovoltaic panels |
US9965009B1 (en) | 2014-08-21 | 2018-05-08 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for assigning a power receiver to individual power transmitters based on location of the power receiver |
US9917477B1 (en) | 2014-08-21 | 2018-03-13 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for automatically testing the communication between power transmitter and wireless receiver |
US20160057838A1 (en) * | 2014-08-25 | 2016-02-25 | General Electric Company | Extension interface for luminaires |
EP3195564B1 (en) * | 2014-09-16 | 2019-03-06 | Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) | Sensor system of master and slave sensors, and method therein |
US20180138737A1 (en) * | 2014-10-10 | 2018-05-17 | Iñaki IMAZ MAZQUIARAN | Solar charger for mobile devices |
US9582976B2 (en) * | 2014-10-16 | 2017-02-28 | Elwha Llc | Systems and methods for detecting and reporting hazards on a pathway |
JP6532147B2 (en) * | 2014-10-30 | 2019-06-19 | 株式会社ケイ・シー・エス | LED floodlight |
HUE042244T2 (en) * | 2014-11-10 | 2019-06-28 | Schreder | Method for the operation and expansion of a network of lights |
US9652985B2 (en) * | 2014-11-24 | 2017-05-16 | Seth Jamison Myer | Vehicle guidance system |
FR3029168B1 (en) | 2014-11-28 | 2017-01-06 | Armor | MARKING DEVICE FOR INSTALLATION ON A MAT AND ASSOCIATED INSTALLATION METHOD |
NL2013929B1 (en) | 2014-12-05 | 2016-10-11 | Gemex Consultancy B V | Power optimization for battery powered street lighting system. |
WO2016087909A1 (en) * | 2014-12-06 | 2016-06-09 | Kazemi Seyed Mohammad Hosein | Wlan provided by a lamp |
US10443820B2 (en) | 2014-12-09 | 2019-10-15 | Current Lighting Solutions, Llc | Plastic LED fixture housing with outer frame |
US10122415B2 (en) | 2014-12-27 | 2018-11-06 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for assigning a set of antennas of a wireless power transmitter to a wireless power receiver based on a location of the wireless power receiver |
EP3040600A1 (en) * | 2015-01-05 | 2016-07-06 | Schreder | Method for controlling the light distribution of a luminaire |
US20160249317A1 (en) * | 2015-01-22 | 2016-08-25 | Griffin Technology, Inc. | Wireless Array |
WO2016122002A1 (en) * | 2015-01-26 | 2016-08-04 | 재단법인 다차원 스마트 아이티 융합시스템 연구단 | Method and system for managing battery operation sensor |
US9893535B2 (en) | 2015-02-13 | 2018-02-13 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for determining optimal charging positions to maximize efficiency of power received from wirelessly delivered sound wave energy |
CN104676439A (en) * | 2015-03-16 | 2015-06-03 | 四川领创宝岩电子科技有限公司 | Energy-saving illumination road lamp utilizing body-building exercises to generate power |
DE102015204741A1 (en) * | 2015-03-16 | 2016-09-22 | Energiedata 4.0 Gmbh | lighting unit |
US10113725B2 (en) * | 2015-03-20 | 2018-10-30 | Energy Bank Incorporated | Lighting fixture |
JP6709233B2 (en) * | 2015-04-30 | 2020-06-10 | シグニファイ ホールディング ビー ヴィSignify Holding B.V. | Lighting-based monitoring |
US20170023191A1 (en) * | 2015-05-12 | 2017-01-26 | Anthony K. MAGNOTTA | Portable hybrid street light |
US10009980B2 (en) | 2015-05-18 | 2018-06-26 | Xicato, Inc. | Lighting communications gateway |
GB201508656D0 (en) * | 2015-05-20 | 2015-07-01 | Sunstone Ip Systems Ltd | Portable power generating apparatus |
BE1023298B1 (en) * | 2015-06-05 | 2017-01-26 | Schreder Sa | IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO LUMINAIRES |
CN105003880A (en) * | 2015-07-30 | 2015-10-28 | 哈尔滨金都太阳能科技有限公司 | Solar street lamp with alarm function |
CN108292493A (en) * | 2015-09-07 | 2018-07-17 | 索尼互动娱乐股份有限公司 | Information processing system, information processing unit, output device, program and recording medium |
US9906275B2 (en) | 2015-09-15 | 2018-02-27 | Energous Corporation | Identifying receivers in a wireless charging transmission field |
US10523033B2 (en) | 2015-09-15 | 2019-12-31 | Energous Corporation | Receiver devices configured to determine location within a transmission field |
US10199850B2 (en) | 2015-09-16 | 2019-02-05 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for wirelessly transmitting power from a transmitter to a receiver by determining refined locations of the receiver in a segmented transmission field associated with the transmitter |
US11710321B2 (en) | 2015-09-16 | 2023-07-25 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods of object detection in wireless power charging systems |
US9941752B2 (en) | 2015-09-16 | 2018-04-10 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods of object detection in wireless power charging systems |
US10158259B1 (en) | 2015-09-16 | 2018-12-18 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for identifying receivers in a transmission field by transmitting exploratory power waves towards different segments of a transmission field |
US9893538B1 (en) | 2015-09-16 | 2018-02-13 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods of object detection in wireless power charging systems |
US10008875B1 (en) | 2015-09-16 | 2018-06-26 | Energous Corporation | Wireless power transmitter configured to transmit power waves to a predicted location of a moving wireless power receiver |
US10186893B2 (en) | 2015-09-16 | 2019-01-22 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for real time or near real time wireless communications between a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver |
US10211685B2 (en) | 2015-09-16 | 2019-02-19 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for real or near real time wireless communications between a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver |
US9871387B1 (en) | 2015-09-16 | 2018-01-16 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods of object detection using one or more video cameras in wireless power charging systems |
US10778041B2 (en) | 2015-09-16 | 2020-09-15 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for generating power waves in a wireless power transmission system |
US10128686B1 (en) | 2015-09-22 | 2018-11-13 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for identifying receiver locations using sensor technologies |
US10027168B2 (en) | 2015-09-22 | 2018-07-17 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for generating and transmitting wireless power transmission waves using antennas having a spacing that is selected by the transmitter |
US10050470B1 (en) | 2015-09-22 | 2018-08-14 | Energous Corporation | Wireless power transmission device having antennas oriented in three dimensions |
US10135295B2 (en) | 2015-09-22 | 2018-11-20 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for nullifying energy levels for wireless power transmission waves |
US10020678B1 (en) | 2015-09-22 | 2018-07-10 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for selecting antennas to generate and transmit power transmission waves |
US10033222B1 (en) | 2015-09-22 | 2018-07-24 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for determining and generating a waveform for wireless power transmission waves |
US10153660B1 (en) | 2015-09-22 | 2018-12-11 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for preconfiguring sensor data for wireless charging systems |
US10135294B1 (en) | 2015-09-22 | 2018-11-20 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for preconfiguring transmission devices for power wave transmissions based on location data of one or more receivers |
US10734717B2 (en) | 2015-10-13 | 2020-08-04 | Energous Corporation | 3D ceramic mold antenna |
US10333332B1 (en) | 2015-10-13 | 2019-06-25 | Energous Corporation | Cross-polarized dipole antenna |
US9899744B1 (en) | 2015-10-28 | 2018-02-20 | Energous Corporation | Antenna for wireless charging systems |
US9853485B2 (en) | 2015-10-28 | 2017-12-26 | Energous Corporation | Antenna for wireless charging systems |
US10027180B1 (en) | 2015-11-02 | 2018-07-17 | Energous Corporation | 3D triple linear antenna that acts as heat sink |
US10063108B1 (en) | 2015-11-02 | 2018-08-28 | Energous Corporation | Stamped three-dimensional antenna |
US10135112B1 (en) | 2015-11-02 | 2018-11-20 | Energous Corporation | 3D antenna mount |
WO2017081538A2 (en) * | 2015-11-12 | 2017-05-18 | Garcia Sampayo Rosario | Photovoltaic device assembly that facilitates cleaning and component replacement and improves operating temperature conditions |
US10068468B2 (en) | 2015-12-16 | 2018-09-04 | General Electric Company | Control system for an outdoor communication system |
US11863001B2 (en) | 2015-12-24 | 2024-01-02 | Energous Corporation | Near-field antenna for wireless power transmission with antenna elements that follow meandering patterns |
US10256677B2 (en) | 2016-12-12 | 2019-04-09 | Energous Corporation | Near-field RF charging pad with adaptive loading to efficiently charge an electronic device at any position on the pad |
US10038332B1 (en) | 2015-12-24 | 2018-07-31 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods of wireless power charging through multiple receiving devices |
US10027159B2 (en) | 2015-12-24 | 2018-07-17 | Energous Corporation | Antenna for transmitting wireless power signals |
US10320446B2 (en) | 2015-12-24 | 2019-06-11 | Energous Corporation | Miniaturized highly-efficient designs for near-field power transfer system |
US10218207B2 (en) | 2015-12-24 | 2019-02-26 | Energous Corporation | Receiver chip for routing a wireless signal for wireless power charging or data reception |
US10079515B2 (en) | 2016-12-12 | 2018-09-18 | Energous Corporation | Near-field RF charging pad with multi-band antenna element with adaptive loading to efficiently charge an electronic device at any position on the pad |
US10008886B2 (en) | 2015-12-29 | 2018-06-26 | Energous Corporation | Modular antennas with heat sinks in wireless power transmission systems |
CN105554979A (en) * | 2015-12-30 | 2016-05-04 | 湖北文理学院 | Apparatus for controlling energy conservation of indoor illumination and monitoring people activities |
CN106937454A (en) * | 2015-12-31 | 2017-07-07 | 中惠创智无线供电技术有限公司 | A kind of intelligent road lamp management system with electric automobile wireless charging management function |
US10588202B1 (en) * | 2016-05-02 | 2020-03-10 | Technology For Humankind Llc | Communicative lighting systems |
ITUA20163636A1 (en) * | 2016-05-20 | 2017-11-20 | Fabrizio Cardillo | MULTIFUNCTIONAL PHOTOVOLTAIC LIGHTING POLE CONSTITUTING AN INTEGRATED LIGHTING SYSTEM. |
CN105864702B (en) * | 2016-05-25 | 2019-05-21 | 宁波圣亚光电科技有限公司 | Landscape Lamp |
US10667373B2 (en) * | 2016-06-08 | 2020-05-26 | Led Roadway Lighting Ltd. | Sensor platform for streetlights |
US20180042090A1 (en) * | 2016-08-02 | 2018-02-08 | Echelon Corporation | Systems, Apparatuses, and Methods for Lighting Management |
EP3504902B1 (en) * | 2016-08-29 | 2021-08-11 | Signify Holding B.V. | Outdoor lighting network as a contingency connectivity infrastructure |
US11197177B2 (en) | 2016-08-29 | 2021-12-07 | Signify Holding B.V. | Outdoor lighting network as a contingency connectivity infrastructure |
US10002468B2 (en) | 2016-09-02 | 2018-06-19 | Echostar Technologies International Corporation | Systems and methods for updating non-networked autonomous devices |
US10175690B2 (en) | 2016-09-02 | 2019-01-08 | Echostar Technologies International Corporation | Systems and methods for satellite-based on-board autonomous device deactivation |
CN106469940B (en) * | 2016-09-20 | 2019-06-14 | 张赛 | A kind of more equipment charge bogeys |
NL2017539B1 (en) * | 2016-09-27 | 2018-04-04 | Luminext B V | Street lighting module |
US10923954B2 (en) | 2016-11-03 | 2021-02-16 | Energous Corporation | Wireless power receiver with a synchronous rectifier |
US9867112B1 (en) * | 2016-11-23 | 2018-01-09 | Centurylink Intellectual Property Llc | System and method for implementing combined broadband and wireless self-organizing network (SON) |
KR102349607B1 (en) | 2016-12-12 | 2022-01-12 | 에너저스 코포레이션 | Methods of selectively activating antenna zones of a near-field charging pad to maximize wireless power delivered |
US11003978B2 (en) | 2016-12-14 | 2021-05-11 | Ajay Khoche | Programmable network node roles in hierarchical communications network |
US11138490B2 (en) | 2016-12-14 | 2021-10-05 | Ajay Khoche | Hierarchical combination of distributed statistics in a monitoring network |
US10680319B2 (en) | 2017-01-06 | 2020-06-09 | Energous Corporation | Devices and methods for reducing mutual coupling effects in wireless power transmission systems |
US10389161B2 (en) | 2017-03-15 | 2019-08-20 | Energous Corporation | Surface mount dielectric antennas for wireless power transmitters |
US10439442B2 (en) | 2017-01-24 | 2019-10-08 | Energous Corporation | Microstrip antennas for wireless power transmitters |
KR101819207B1 (en) * | 2017-02-15 | 2018-01-16 | 주식회사 이스온 | Multi-purpose pole with type of elevation |
WO2018157357A1 (en) * | 2017-03-02 | 2018-09-07 | 深圳瀚飞科技开发有限公司 | Multi-functional smart lamp |
DE102017205075A1 (en) * | 2017-03-27 | 2018-09-27 | Ford Global Technologies, Llc | Vehicle-based control of lighting |
WO2018183892A1 (en) | 2017-03-30 | 2018-10-04 | Energous Corporation | Flat antennas having two or more resonant frequencies for use in wireless power transmission systems |
US10741031B2 (en) | 2017-05-09 | 2020-08-11 | TekConnX, LLC | Threat detection platform with a plurality of sensor nodes |
US10511097B2 (en) | 2017-05-12 | 2019-12-17 | Energous Corporation | Near-field antennas for accumulating energy at a near-field distance with minimal far-field gain |
US11462949B2 (en) | 2017-05-16 | 2022-10-04 | Wireless electrical Grid LAN, WiGL Inc | Wireless charging method and system |
WO2018234204A1 (en) * | 2017-06-22 | 2018-12-27 | Philips Lighting Holding B.V. | Device and method for detecting tilt of an object |
US10848853B2 (en) | 2017-06-23 | 2020-11-24 | Energous Corporation | Systems, methods, and devices for utilizing a wire of a sound-producing device as an antenna for receipt of wirelessly delivered power |
CN107355724A (en) * | 2017-07-05 | 2017-11-17 | 佛山杰致信息科技有限公司 | One kind is easy to safeguard LED street lamp |
CN107504432A (en) * | 2017-07-27 | 2017-12-22 | 安徽工程大学 | A kind of intelligent high pole street lamp |
US11430022B1 (en) * | 2017-08-16 | 2022-08-30 | Energy Hub, Inc. | Enrollment verification in energy management |
US10344929B1 (en) | 2017-09-01 | 2019-07-09 | Heathco, Llc | Battery backup for lighting system |
EP3679721B1 (en) * | 2017-09-06 | 2021-11-03 | Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (PUBL) | Li-fi communications for selecting content for distribution across a sequence of displays along a vehicle pathway |
US11009197B2 (en) * | 2017-09-14 | 2021-05-18 | Dimitrios Lalos | Street light fitted with a smart wireless communication node |
US20200274482A1 (en) * | 2017-09-15 | 2020-08-27 | Y Outdoor Pty Ltd | Solar generator |
USD848361S1 (en) | 2017-10-06 | 2019-05-14 | Anaitte Vaccaro | Solar charger |
US10122219B1 (en) | 2017-10-10 | 2018-11-06 | Energous Corporation | Systems, methods, and devices for using a battery as a antenna for receiving wirelessly delivered power from radio frequency power waves |
US11342798B2 (en) | 2017-10-30 | 2022-05-24 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for managing coexistence of wireless-power signals and data signals operating in a same frequency band |
US10320052B2 (en) * | 2017-11-10 | 2019-06-11 | Phazr, Inc. | Wireless device with flexible neck |
CN108063482B (en) * | 2017-12-31 | 2020-07-31 | 深圳市越疆科技有限公司 | Charging control method and device, electronic equipment and charging control system |
US10518657B2 (en) * | 2018-01-24 | 2019-12-31 | Envision Solar International, Inc. | Light standard with electric vehicle (EV) charger |
US10615647B2 (en) | 2018-02-02 | 2020-04-07 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for detecting wireless power receivers and other objects at a near-field charging pad |
USD889017S1 (en) * | 2018-02-05 | 2020-06-30 | Icgh Investment And Consulting Gmbh | Street lamp |
USD887613S1 (en) * | 2018-02-05 | 2020-06-16 | Icgh Investment And Consulting Gmbh | Street lamp |
US11159057B2 (en) | 2018-03-14 | 2021-10-26 | Energous Corporation | Loop antennas with selectively-activated feeds to control propagation patterns of wireless power signals |
WO2019216777A1 (en) * | 2018-05-07 | 2019-11-14 | Allison Martijena Mario Alberto | Basic domestic solar energy system |
CN108447279A (en) * | 2018-05-18 | 2018-08-24 | 上海会为智能技术有限公司 | A kind of signal management method, apparatus, equipment and medium |
US10367318B1 (en) * | 2018-06-13 | 2019-07-30 | Paul Hoopengarner | Modular fixture for supplying power, control signals, and/or data communication to various devices |
US11515732B2 (en) | 2018-06-25 | 2022-11-29 | Energous Corporation | Power wave transmission techniques to focus wirelessly delivered power at a receiving device |
TWI672587B (en) * | 2018-07-20 | 2019-09-21 | 威剛科技股份有限公司 | Light-emitting control system and method |
CN109688678A (en) * | 2018-10-31 | 2019-04-26 | 深圳向云科技有限公司 | Wisdom city illumination management system and computer program product |
EP3877849A4 (en) * | 2018-11-09 | 2022-08-24 | Trackonomy Systems, Inc. | Distributed agent operating system and hardware instantiation to optimize global objectives |
US11437735B2 (en) | 2018-11-14 | 2022-09-06 | Energous Corporation | Systems for receiving electromagnetic energy using antennas that are minimally affected by the presence of the human body |
US10641246B1 (en) | 2018-11-20 | 2020-05-05 | International Business Machines Corporation | Wind-powered display |
RU193229U1 (en) * | 2018-11-30 | 2019-10-18 | Общество с ограниченной ответственностью "Энергоком Котельники" | SUPPORT DEVICES FOR OFFLINE POWER SUPPLY |
CN109302778A (en) * | 2018-12-11 | 2019-02-01 | 湖州明朔光电科技有限公司 | A kind of great power LED distributed energy storage intelligent street lamp control system |
KR20210117283A (en) | 2019-01-28 | 2021-09-28 | 에너저스 코포레이션 | Systems and methods for a small antenna for wireless power transmission |
US20220115978A1 (en) * | 2019-02-05 | 2022-04-14 | Yehoshua Fishler | Solar assisted electric transportation |
JP2022519749A (en) | 2019-02-06 | 2022-03-24 | エナージャス コーポレイション | Systems and methods for estimating the optimum phase for use with individual antennas in an antenna array |
WO2020208188A2 (en) * | 2019-04-12 | 2020-10-15 | Société des Produits Nestlé S.A. | Optimization of energy utilization in solar powered freezer or cooler system |
US11270338B2 (en) * | 2019-06-19 | 2022-03-08 | International Business Machines Corporation | Optimizing a digital display |
CN112344278A (en) * | 2019-08-08 | 2021-02-09 | 湖南耐普恩科技有限公司 | Light stores up integrative lamp |
US11235901B2 (en) | 2019-09-16 | 2022-02-01 | Lux Global Label Company, Llc | Method of die cutting a label |
WO2021055899A1 (en) | 2019-09-20 | 2021-03-25 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods of protecting wireless power receivers using multiple rectifiers and establishing in-band communications using multiple rectifiers |
EP4032169A4 (en) | 2019-09-20 | 2023-12-06 | Energous Corporation | Classifying and detecting foreign objects using a power amplifier controller integrated circuit in wireless power transmission systems |
US11381118B2 (en) | 2019-09-20 | 2022-07-05 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for machine learning based foreign object detection for wireless power transmission |
WO2021055898A1 (en) | 2019-09-20 | 2021-03-25 | Energous Corporation | Systems and methods for machine learning based foreign object detection for wireless power transmission |
US11337291B2 (en) * | 2019-10-18 | 2022-05-17 | Aaron L Myer | Smart light bulb with switch control |
US11015796B1 (en) * | 2019-11-26 | 2021-05-25 | M3 Innovation, LLC | Thermally dissipative unibody lighting structure |
WO2021119483A1 (en) | 2019-12-13 | 2021-06-17 | Energous Corporation | Charging pad with guiding contours to align an electronic device on the charging pad and efficiently transfer near-field radio-frequency energy to the electronic device |
US10985617B1 (en) | 2019-12-31 | 2021-04-20 | Energous Corporation | System for wirelessly transmitting energy at a near-field distance without using beam-forming control |
CN115085253A (en) * | 2020-01-08 | 2022-09-20 | 华为数字能源技术有限公司 | Position information acquisition method and device of controller |
CN111333184B (en) * | 2020-02-19 | 2021-11-02 | 中国科学院生态环境研究中心 | Biological ecological sewage treatment system capable of switching driving energy sources |
CN111465136A (en) * | 2020-04-11 | 2020-07-28 | 齐鲁交通信息集团有限公司 | Highway wisdom tunnel lighting control system |
US11799324B2 (en) | 2020-04-13 | 2023-10-24 | Energous Corporation | Wireless-power transmitting device for creating a uniform near-field charging area |
CN111550714A (en) * | 2020-05-19 | 2020-08-18 | 嘉兴辉宇传动技术有限公司 | Emergency indication lighting equipment |
NL2025859B1 (en) * | 2020-06-18 | 2022-02-17 | Schreder Sa | Method and system for performing management of a luminaire network |
US11483913B2 (en) * | 2020-06-29 | 2022-10-25 | Hampton Products International Corporation | Environmental control system and method for simulating circadian rhythms |
KR102430249B1 (en) * | 2020-07-17 | 2022-08-08 | 성창 주식회사 | System controlling IoT for monitoring of solar power and controlling lighting of street light |
CN111817421A (en) * | 2020-07-17 | 2020-10-23 | 安徽达尔智能控制系统股份有限公司 | Multipurpose solar power controller capable of using various batteries |
US10928712B1 (en) * | 2020-08-26 | 2021-02-23 | True North Services Inc. | Self contained covert camera system |
US11329843B1 (en) | 2020-08-28 | 2022-05-10 | Earthsystems Technologies, Inc. | Method for multichannel acquisition of geophysical data and system implementation |
US11300258B2 (en) | 2020-09-14 | 2022-04-12 | Heathco Llc | Rotationally adjustable outdoor security light |
AU2021221489A1 (en) * | 2020-12-02 | 2022-06-16 | Ecoquip Australia Pty Ltd | A Mobile Solar Power Unit Control System |
CN113052723B (en) * | 2021-04-17 | 2022-03-15 | 江苏洁诚智慧能源科技有限公司 | Distributed photovoltaic power generation system operation and maintenance intelligent management system based on cloud computing and Internet of things |
WO2022259107A1 (en) * | 2021-06-10 | 2022-12-15 | unnithan, bindu | An iot-based smart lighting system |
AU2021221723A1 (en) * | 2021-08-25 | 2022-01-13 | Hyperion Technology Pty Ltd | Apparatus, System and Method for Off-Grid Facilities & Traffic Management |
US11916398B2 (en) | 2021-12-29 | 2024-02-27 | Energous Corporation | Small form-factor devices with integrated and modular harvesting receivers, and shelving-mounted wireless-power transmitters for use therewith |
US11802672B1 (en) | 2022-02-21 | 2023-10-31 | William Ramsdell | Solar-powered lighting system |
US11862843B1 (en) * | 2022-03-21 | 2024-01-02 | Earth Scout, GBC | Underground sensor mount and telemetry device |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2006119700A1 (en) * | 2005-05-09 | 2006-11-16 | Sze Keun Chan | Solar powered led street lamp with automatic light control |
US20070199589A1 (en) * | 2006-02-10 | 2007-08-30 | Nova Corbyn, S.A. | Light signaling post |
US20100182774A1 (en) * | 2009-01-21 | 2010-07-22 | Kugel Jason J | Managing load power consumption based on stored energy rate |
US20110170283A1 (en) * | 2005-05-09 | 2011-07-14 | Sze Keun Chan | Solar Powered Led Street Lamp With Automatic Light Control |
Family Cites Families (69)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE2541536A1 (en) * | 1975-09-18 | 1977-03-24 | Licentia Gmbh | SOLAR GENERATOR |
US4062371A (en) * | 1976-05-19 | 1977-12-13 | Bolen Lawrence A | Walking cane |
US4200904A (en) * | 1978-04-14 | 1980-04-29 | Duc Doan | Solar powered street lighting system |
US4281369A (en) * | 1978-12-11 | 1981-07-28 | Batte Christopher L | Method and apparatus for solar power lighting |
US4224082A (en) * | 1979-06-26 | 1980-09-23 | Independent Power Company, Inc. | Multi-functional solar collector pole |
US4384317B1 (en) * | 1979-11-01 | 1999-07-13 | Flex O Lite Inc | Solar powered lighting system |
JPS639048Y2 (en) * | 1980-07-16 | 1988-03-17 | ||
US4404472A (en) * | 1981-12-28 | 1983-09-13 | General Electric Company | Maximum power control for a solar array connected to a load |
US4827645A (en) * | 1986-08-11 | 1989-05-09 | Clean Scene Advertising, Inc. | Illuminated trash receptacle |
US4718185A (en) * | 1986-11-07 | 1988-01-12 | Solar Signage, Inc. | Modular solar generating system |
IT1213713B (en) * | 1987-10-29 | 1989-12-29 | Monteveglio Bo A | AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY LIGHTING SYSTEM WITH PROGRAMMED, DISPLAYED AND EVENTUALLY CENTRALIZED SELF-DIAGNOSIS IN CONNECTION WITH THE POWER SUPPLY |
US4841416A (en) * | 1988-03-02 | 1989-06-20 | Todd Doss | Solar charging lamp |
USD309789S (en) * | 1988-11-25 | 1990-08-07 | Luce Nunzio A | Solar powered walk light |
US5149188A (en) * | 1991-04-01 | 1992-09-22 | Solar Outdoor Lighting, Inc. | Solar powered exterior lighting system |
US5217296A (en) * | 1991-04-11 | 1993-06-08 | Siemens Solar Industries, L.P. | Solar powered light |
US5121307A (en) * | 1991-09-09 | 1992-06-09 | Moore Charles M | Self contained solar powered strobe light |
IT1260524B (en) * | 1992-06-03 | 1996-04-09 | PROCEDURE FOR CHECKING THE OPERATING STATE OF LAMPS OF A PUBLIC LIGHTING NETWORK | |
CH685272A5 (en) * | 1993-06-29 | 1995-05-15 | Pms En Ag | Solar panels plant. |
US5637964A (en) * | 1995-03-21 | 1997-06-10 | Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. | Remote control system for individual control of spaced lighting fixtures |
CA2225159C (en) * | 1996-12-19 | 2006-10-17 | Showa Pole Co., Ltd. | Pole having solar cells |
US6035266A (en) * | 1997-04-16 | 2000-03-07 | A.L. Air Data, Inc. | Lamp monitoring and control system and method |
US6211627B1 (en) * | 1997-07-29 | 2001-04-03 | Michael Callahan | Lighting systems |
US6305602B1 (en) * | 1997-12-01 | 2001-10-23 | Diebold, Incorporated | Light monitoring system and method for automated transaction machine |
US6037758A (en) * | 1998-05-21 | 2000-03-14 | The Research Foundation Of State University Of New York | Load controller and method to enhance effective capacity of a photovoltaic power supply |
US6437692B1 (en) * | 1998-06-22 | 2002-08-20 | Statsignal Systems, Inc. | System and method for monitoring and controlling remote devices |
US6502044B1 (en) * | 1999-07-12 | 2002-12-31 | Acuity Brands Inc. | Self-diagnostic circuitry for emergency lighting fixtures |
US7202613B2 (en) * | 2001-05-30 | 2007-04-10 | Color Kinetics Incorporated | Controlled lighting methods and apparatus |
US7301457B2 (en) * | 2000-09-21 | 2007-11-27 | Solarbeam Security, Llc | Security system and perimeter beam tower |
ITTV20010055U1 (en) * | 2001-11-20 | 2003-05-20 | Gilberto Mattiuzzo | STRUCTURE OF TRANSFORMATION DEVICE OF SOLAR RADIATION ELECTRICAL ENERGY |
US6784357B1 (en) * | 2002-02-07 | 2004-08-31 | Chao Hsiang Wang | Solar energy-operated street-lamp system |
US20050039797A1 (en) * | 2002-02-14 | 2005-02-24 | Carlson Bengt A. | Pressure independent control valve |
US7110783B2 (en) * | 2002-04-17 | 2006-09-19 | Microsoft Corporation | Power efficient channel scheduling in a wireless network |
AU2003259506A1 (en) * | 2002-09-04 | 2004-03-29 | Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. | Master-slave oriented two-way rf wireless lighting control system |
US6990394B2 (en) * | 2002-12-24 | 2006-01-24 | Pasternak Barton A | Lighting control system and method |
US7178941B2 (en) * | 2003-05-05 | 2007-02-20 | Color Kinetics Incorporated | Lighting methods and systems |
CN2632919Y (en) * | 2003-07-02 | 2004-08-11 | 深圳香江塑料制品有限公司 | Solar glass light |
DE602004010281T2 (en) | 2003-08-20 | 2008-10-02 | New Energy Options, Inc., Littleton | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PREDICTING SOLAR ENERGY PRODUCTION |
JP4436121B2 (en) * | 2003-12-10 | 2010-03-24 | イーメックス株式会社 | Power storage device and method for manufacturing power storage device |
US6988809B2 (en) * | 2004-01-16 | 2006-01-24 | Mario Rabinowitz | Advanced micro-optics solar energy collection system |
US20060002110A1 (en) * | 2004-03-15 | 2006-01-05 | Color Kinetics Incorporated | Methods and systems for providing lighting systems |
US7052924B2 (en) * | 2004-03-29 | 2006-05-30 | Articulated Technologies, Llc | Light active sheet and methods for making the same |
USD529655S1 (en) * | 2004-04-29 | 2006-10-03 | Allsop, Inc. | Yard light |
WO2006010060A2 (en) * | 2004-07-09 | 2006-01-26 | Ezra Green | Remote access energy meter system and method |
JP4602074B2 (en) * | 2004-12-28 | 2010-12-22 | シャープ株式会社 | Photovoltaic generator installation support system and program |
USD517233S1 (en) * | 2005-03-30 | 2006-03-14 | Jerald Doppelt | Solar light for pathway |
US8306033B2 (en) * | 2005-03-31 | 2012-11-06 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing traffic control services |
US7891832B2 (en) * | 2005-05-18 | 2011-02-22 | Allsop, Inc. | Outdoor light with positionable solar collector |
CA2559142A1 (en) * | 2005-09-12 | 2007-03-12 | Acuity Brands, Inc. | Light management system having networked intelligent luminaire managers with enhanced diagnostics capabilities |
US20070159836A1 (en) * | 2006-01-06 | 2007-07-12 | Bin-Juine Huang | Solar photo-voltaic panel and light structure |
US8994276B2 (en) * | 2006-03-28 | 2015-03-31 | Wireless Environment, Llc | Grid shifting system for a lighting circuit |
US7827714B2 (en) * | 2006-04-28 | 2010-11-09 | Hubbell Incorporated | Pole mounted illuminated sign |
US20080137327A1 (en) * | 2006-09-22 | 2008-06-12 | Michael Gerard Hodulik | Grid-tied solar™ streetlighting |
CN200955683Y (en) * | 2006-09-30 | 2007-10-03 | 徐雪明 | Solar railding illuminating cap |
US7576545B2 (en) * | 2006-10-18 | 2009-08-18 | Honeywell International Inc. | Lithium-ion battery prognostic testing and process |
US7731383B2 (en) * | 2007-02-02 | 2010-06-08 | Inovus Solar, Inc. | Solar-powered light pole and LED light fixture |
WO2010057138A2 (en) | 2008-11-14 | 2010-05-20 | Inovus Solar, Inc. | Energy-efficient solar-powered outdoor lighting |
KR100852505B1 (en) | 2007-05-28 | 2008-09-03 | (주)인텍에프에이 | Power supplier for street lamp |
AU2008271871B2 (en) * | 2007-06-29 | 2014-01-09 | Carmanah Technologies Corp. | Intelligent area lighting system |
US20090080182A1 (en) * | 2007-09-25 | 2009-03-26 | Hi Huang | Street light with wind power generator |
ITTR20080002U1 (en) | 2008-06-06 | 2008-09-06 | Tecnologie E Servizi Innovativ | INTELLIGENT LED LAMP INTENDED FOR ENERGY SAVING, MONITORED AND CONTROLLED BY REMOTE MONITORING CENTER |
WO2010014925A2 (en) | 2008-07-31 | 2010-02-04 | Ming Solar, Inc. | Wireless autonomous solar-powered outdoor lighting and energy and information management network |
AU2008359997A1 (en) * | 2008-08-01 | 2010-02-04 | Petra Solar Inc. | System and method for utility pole distributed solar power generation |
WO2010050993A1 (en) | 2008-11-03 | 2010-05-06 | Myer Seth J | Solar-powered light pole and led light fixture |
CN101483952A (en) * | 2009-01-14 | 2009-07-15 | 潘允 | Intelligent solar road lamp control system and control method thereof |
US20100198420A1 (en) * | 2009-02-03 | 2010-08-05 | Optisolar, Inc. | Dynamic management of power production in a power system subject to weather-related factors |
US20100263660A1 (en) * | 2009-04-16 | 2010-10-21 | Steve Thorne | Solar Power Production and Metering |
US20100293045A1 (en) * | 2009-05-14 | 2010-11-18 | James Moeller Burns | Centralized Renewable Energy System With Fractional Ownership and a Method of Disaggregated Net Metering of its Renewable Energy Output Among Utility Customers Who Are Fractional Owners |
US8138630B2 (en) * | 2009-09-22 | 2012-03-20 | Ebay Inc. | Solar powered system with grid backup |
KR100956173B1 (en) | 2010-01-12 | 2010-05-06 | 김태현 | Street light of film type solar cell plate and constructing method thereof |
-
2009
- 2009-07-31 WO PCT/US2009/052443 patent/WO2010014925A2/en active Application Filing
- 2009-07-31 US US12/533,701 patent/US8588830B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2009-07-31 EP EP09803665.0A patent/EP2308197A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2009-11-16 US US13/128,395 patent/US20120020060A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2014
- 2014-08-04 US US14/451,294 patent/US20150021990A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2006119700A1 (en) * | 2005-05-09 | 2006-11-16 | Sze Keun Chan | Solar powered led street lamp with automatic light control |
US20110170283A1 (en) * | 2005-05-09 | 2011-07-14 | Sze Keun Chan | Solar Powered Led Street Lamp With Automatic Light Control |
US20070199589A1 (en) * | 2006-02-10 | 2007-08-30 | Nova Corbyn, S.A. | Light signaling post |
US20100182774A1 (en) * | 2009-01-21 | 2010-07-22 | Kugel Jason J | Managing load power consumption based on stored energy rate |
Cited By (232)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10559193B2 (en) | 2002-02-01 | 2020-02-11 | Comcast Cable Communications, Llc | Premises management systems |
US11588787B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2023-02-21 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Premises management configuration and control |
US11893874B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2024-02-06 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Networked touchscreen with integrated interfaces |
US11656667B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2023-05-23 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Integrated security system with parallel processing architecture |
US11368429B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2022-06-21 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Premises management configuration and control |
US10692356B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2020-06-23 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Control system user interface |
US10992784B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2021-04-27 | Control Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols over internet protocol (IP) networks |
US10979389B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2021-04-13 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Premises management configuration and control |
US11410531B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2022-08-09 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Automation system user interface with three-dimensional display |
US11043112B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2021-06-22 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Integrated security system with parallel processing architecture |
US10890881B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2021-01-12 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Premises management networking |
US11343380B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2022-05-24 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Premises system automation |
US11811845B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2023-11-07 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols over internet protocol (IP) networks |
US11310199B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2022-04-19 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Premises management configuration and control |
US11810445B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2023-11-07 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Cross-client sensor user interface in an integrated security network |
US11449012B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2022-09-20 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Premises management networking |
US10796557B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2020-10-06 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Automation system user interface with three-dimensional display |
US11782394B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2023-10-10 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Automation system with mobile interface |
US11489812B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2022-11-01 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Forming a security network including integrated security system components and network devices |
US10754304B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2020-08-25 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Automation system with mobile interface |
US11757834B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2023-09-12 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols in integrated systems |
US10735249B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2020-08-04 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Management of a security system at a premises |
US11537186B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2022-12-27 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Integrated security system with parallel processing architecture |
US11153266B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2021-10-19 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Gateway registry methods and systems |
US11277465B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2022-03-15 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Generating risk profile using data of home monitoring and security system |
US10691295B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2020-06-23 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | User interface in a premises network |
US10447491B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2019-10-15 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Premises system management using status signal |
US11677577B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2023-06-13 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Premises system management using status signal |
US11175793B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2021-11-16 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | User interface in a premises network |
US11082395B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2021-08-03 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Premises management configuration and control |
US11916870B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2024-02-27 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Gateway registry methods and systems |
US11159484B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2021-10-26 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Forming a security network including integrated security system components and network devices |
US11182060B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2021-11-23 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Networked touchscreen with integrated interfaces |
US11625008B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2023-04-11 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Premises management networking |
US11626006B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2023-04-11 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Management of a security system at a premises |
US11184322B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2021-11-23 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols in integrated systems |
US11378922B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2022-07-05 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Automation system with mobile interface |
US11244545B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2022-02-08 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Cross-client sensor user interface in an integrated security network |
US11201755B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2021-12-14 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Premises system management using status signal |
US11601397B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2023-03-07 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Premises management configuration and control |
US11037433B2 (en) | 2004-03-16 | 2021-06-15 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Management of a security system at a premises |
US10999254B2 (en) | 2005-03-16 | 2021-05-04 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | System for data routing in networks |
US11615697B2 (en) | 2005-03-16 | 2023-03-28 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Premise management systems and methods |
US11113950B2 (en) | 2005-03-16 | 2021-09-07 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Gateway integrated with premises security system |
US11792330B2 (en) | 2005-03-16 | 2023-10-17 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication and automation in a premises management system |
US11706045B2 (en) | 2005-03-16 | 2023-07-18 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Modular electronic display platform |
US10721087B2 (en) | 2005-03-16 | 2020-07-21 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Method for networked touchscreen with integrated interfaces |
US11496568B2 (en) | 2005-03-16 | 2022-11-08 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Security system with networked touchscreen |
US11367340B2 (en) | 2005-03-16 | 2022-06-21 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Premise management systems and methods |
US11451409B2 (en) | 2005-03-16 | 2022-09-20 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Security network integrating security system and network devices |
US11595364B2 (en) | 2005-03-16 | 2023-02-28 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | System for data routing in networks |
US11700142B2 (en) | 2005-03-16 | 2023-07-11 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Security network integrating security system and network devices |
US11424980B2 (en) | 2005-03-16 | 2022-08-23 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Forming a security network including integrated security system components |
US10841381B2 (en) | 2005-03-16 | 2020-11-17 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Security system with networked touchscreen |
US11824675B2 (en) | 2005-03-16 | 2023-11-21 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Networked touchscreen with integrated interfaces |
US10930136B2 (en) | 2005-03-16 | 2021-02-23 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Premise management systems and methods |
US10616244B2 (en) | 2006-06-12 | 2020-04-07 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Activation of gateway device |
US11418518B2 (en) | 2006-06-12 | 2022-08-16 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Activation of gateway device |
US10785319B2 (en) | 2006-06-12 | 2020-09-22 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | IP device discovery systems and methods |
US11418572B2 (en) | 2007-01-24 | 2022-08-16 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Methods and systems for improved system performance |
US11706279B2 (en) | 2007-01-24 | 2023-07-18 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Methods and systems for data communication |
US11412027B2 (en) | 2007-01-24 | 2022-08-09 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Methods and systems for data communication |
US11194320B2 (en) | 2007-02-28 | 2021-12-07 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Method and system for managing communication connectivity |
US11809174B2 (en) | 2007-02-28 | 2023-11-07 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Method and system for managing communication connectivity |
US10747216B2 (en) | 2007-02-28 | 2020-08-18 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Method and system for communicating with and controlling an alarm system from a remote server |
US10657794B1 (en) | 2007-02-28 | 2020-05-19 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Security, monitoring and automation controller access and use of legacy security control panel information |
US11132888B2 (en) | 2007-04-23 | 2021-09-28 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Method and system for providing alternate network access |
US11663902B2 (en) | 2007-04-23 | 2023-05-30 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Method and system for providing alternate network access |
US10672254B2 (en) | 2007-04-23 | 2020-06-02 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Method and system for providing alternate network access |
US11625161B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2023-04-11 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Control system user interface |
US11611568B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2023-03-21 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols over internet protocol (IP) networks |
US11646907B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2023-05-09 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols in integrated systems |
US11894986B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2024-02-06 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols in integrated systems |
US11237714B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2022-02-01 | Control Networks, Inc. | Control system user interface |
US10498830B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2019-12-03 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Wi-Fi-to-serial encapsulation in systems |
US10523689B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2019-12-31 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols over internet protocol (IP) networks |
US11722896B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2023-08-08 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols in integrated systems |
US11218878B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2022-01-04 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols in integrated systems |
US11212192B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2021-12-28 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols in integrated systems |
US11601810B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2023-03-07 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols in integrated systems |
US11316753B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2022-04-26 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols in integrated systems |
US10616075B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2020-04-07 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols in integrated systems |
US11632308B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2023-04-18 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols in integrated systems |
US10423309B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2019-09-24 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Device integration framework |
US11089122B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2021-08-10 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Controlling data routing among networks |
US10666523B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2020-05-26 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols in integrated systems |
US11582065B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2023-02-14 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Systems and methods for device communication |
US10389736B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2019-08-20 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols in integrated systems |
US11423756B2 (en) | 2007-06-12 | 2022-08-23 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols in integrated systems |
US11815969B2 (en) | 2007-08-10 | 2023-11-14 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Integrated security system with parallel processing architecture |
US11831462B2 (en) | 2007-08-24 | 2023-11-28 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Controlling data routing in premises management systems |
US11916928B2 (en) | 2008-01-24 | 2024-02-27 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Communication protocols over internet protocol (IP) networks |
US11769418B2 (en) * | 2008-03-15 | 2023-09-26 | James R. Selevan | Sequenced guiding systems for vehicles and pedestrians |
US20220292996A1 (en) * | 2008-03-15 | 2022-09-15 | James R. Selevan | Sequenced guiding systems for vehicles and pedestrians |
US9664814B2 (en) | 2008-06-02 | 2017-05-30 | Abl Ip Holding Llc | Wireless sensor |
US20130103201A1 (en) * | 2008-06-02 | 2013-04-25 | Charles Huizenga | Intelligence in Distributed Lighting Control Devices |
US10139787B2 (en) * | 2008-06-02 | 2018-11-27 | Abl Ip Holding Llc | Intelligence in distributed lighting control devices |
US11816323B2 (en) | 2008-06-25 | 2023-11-14 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Automation system user interface |
US11641391B2 (en) | 2008-08-11 | 2023-05-02 | Icontrol Networks Inc. | Integrated cloud system with lightweight gateway for premises automation |
US11368327B2 (en) | 2008-08-11 | 2022-06-21 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Integrated cloud system for premises automation |
US11190578B2 (en) | 2008-08-11 | 2021-11-30 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Integrated cloud system with lightweight gateway for premises automation |
US11792036B2 (en) | 2008-08-11 | 2023-10-17 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Mobile premises automation platform |
US11729255B2 (en) | 2008-08-11 | 2023-08-15 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Integrated cloud system with lightweight gateway for premises automation |
US11258625B2 (en) | 2008-08-11 | 2022-02-22 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Mobile premises automation platform |
US11758026B2 (en) | 2008-08-11 | 2023-09-12 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Virtual device systems and methods |
US11316958B2 (en) | 2008-08-11 | 2022-04-26 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Virtual device systems and methods |
US11711234B2 (en) | 2008-08-11 | 2023-07-25 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Integrated cloud system for premises automation |
US10522026B2 (en) | 2008-08-11 | 2019-12-31 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Automation system user interface with three-dimensional display |
US11616659B2 (en) | 2008-08-11 | 2023-03-28 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Integrated cloud system for premises automation |
US20100079610A1 (en) * | 2008-09-29 | 2010-04-01 | Masako Suehiro | Photographic apparatus and photographic control method, image display apparatus and image display method, and photographic system and control method thereof |
US20100093274A1 (en) * | 2008-10-15 | 2010-04-15 | Jian Xu | Fault-tolerant non-random signal repeating system for building electric control |
US20120093520A1 (en) * | 2009-03-26 | 2012-04-19 | Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. | Mesh node for a communication mesh network structure of a networked control system |
US11553399B2 (en) | 2009-04-30 | 2023-01-10 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Custom content for premises management |
US11601865B2 (en) | 2009-04-30 | 2023-03-07 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Server-based notification of alarm event subsequent to communication failure with armed security system |
US20100281161A1 (en) * | 2009-04-30 | 2010-11-04 | Ucontrol, Inc. | Method, system and apparatus for automated inventory reporting of security, monitoring and automation hardware and software at customer premises |
US11665617B2 (en) | 2009-04-30 | 2023-05-30 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Server-based notification of alarm event subsequent to communication failure with armed security system |
US11223998B2 (en) | 2009-04-30 | 2022-01-11 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Security, monitoring and automation controller access and use of legacy security control panel information |
US10813034B2 (en) | 2009-04-30 | 2020-10-20 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Method, system and apparatus for management of applications for an SMA controller |
US11129084B2 (en) | 2009-04-30 | 2021-09-21 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Notification of event subsequent to communication failure with security system |
US11778534B2 (en) | 2009-04-30 | 2023-10-03 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Hardware configurable security, monitoring and automation controller having modular communication protocol interfaces |
US10674428B2 (en) | 2009-04-30 | 2020-06-02 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Hardware configurable security, monitoring and automation controller having modular communication protocol interfaces |
US11356926B2 (en) | 2009-04-30 | 2022-06-07 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Hardware configurable security, monitoring and automation controller having modular communication protocol interfaces |
US11284331B2 (en) | 2009-04-30 | 2022-03-22 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Server-based notification of alarm event subsequent to communication failure with armed security system |
US11856502B2 (en) * | 2009-04-30 | 2023-12-26 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Method, system and apparatus for automated inventory reporting of security, monitoring and automation hardware and software at customer premises |
US20110017256A1 (en) * | 2009-07-22 | 2011-01-27 | Osiris Isis Kether Stevens | Mountable thin film solar array system |
US8854208B2 (en) | 2009-11-06 | 2014-10-07 | Abl Ip Holding Llc | Wireless sensor |
US20110109424A1 (en) * | 2009-11-06 | 2011-05-12 | Charles Huizenga | Wireless sensor |
US20110260880A1 (en) * | 2010-04-21 | 2011-10-27 | Lance Dean | Solar powered light and alarm system |
US8384556B2 (en) * | 2010-04-21 | 2013-02-26 | Gordon Ko | Solar powered light and alarm system |
US10304055B2 (en) * | 2010-05-20 | 2019-05-28 | M-Kopa Ipr, Llc | Transaction processing and remote activation |
US11398147B2 (en) | 2010-09-28 | 2022-07-26 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Method, system and apparatus for automated reporting of account and sensor zone information to a central station |
US11900790B2 (en) | 2010-09-28 | 2024-02-13 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Method, system and apparatus for automated reporting of account and sensor zone information to a central station |
US20130335972A1 (en) * | 2010-11-08 | 2013-12-19 | Geroh Gmbh & Co. Kg | Mast |
US20120146813A1 (en) * | 2010-12-13 | 2012-06-14 | Gilmore James C | Emergency beacon and system |
US11750414B2 (en) | 2010-12-16 | 2023-09-05 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Bidirectional security sensor communication for a premises security system |
US11341840B2 (en) | 2010-12-17 | 2022-05-24 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Method and system for processing security event data |
US10741057B2 (en) | 2010-12-17 | 2020-08-11 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Method and system for processing security event data |
US11240059B2 (en) | 2010-12-20 | 2022-02-01 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Defining and implementing sensor triggered response rules |
US20120302228A1 (en) * | 2011-05-26 | 2012-11-29 | Peter Gray | Remote Power Microgenerator Device and Method |
US10028351B2 (en) * | 2011-08-31 | 2018-07-17 | Chia-Teh Chen | LED security light and LED security light control device thereof |
US20170094743A1 (en) * | 2011-08-31 | 2017-03-30 | Chia-Teh Chen | Led security light and led security light control device thereof |
US9160172B2 (en) * | 2011-10-12 | 2015-10-13 | General Electric Company | Systems and methods for adaptive possible power determinaton in power generating systems |
US20130096856A1 (en) * | 2011-10-12 | 2013-04-18 | Paul Oliver Caffrey | Systems and methods for adaptive possible power determinaton in power generating systems |
US11632520B2 (en) * | 2011-11-14 | 2023-04-18 | Aaron Chien | LED light has built-in camera-assembly to capture colorful digital-data under dark environment |
US20190253670A1 (en) * | 2011-11-14 | 2019-08-15 | Tseng-Lu Chien | LED Light Has Built-In Camera-Assembly to Capture Colorful Digital-Data Under Dark Environment |
US9888548B2 (en) | 2011-12-07 | 2018-02-06 | Abl Ip Holding Llc | System for and method of commissioning lighting devices |
US10111308B2 (en) | 2011-12-07 | 2018-10-23 | Abl Ip Holding Llc | System for and method of commissioning lighting devices within a wireless network |
US9192019B2 (en) | 2011-12-07 | 2015-11-17 | Abl Ip Holding Llc | System for and method of commissioning lighting devices |
US20130307382A1 (en) * | 2012-05-15 | 2013-11-21 | Garrsnlockr Llc | Method and apparatus for a solar powered storage system |
US9715780B2 (en) * | 2012-05-15 | 2017-07-25 | Garrsnlockr Llc | Method and apparatus for a solar powered storage system |
US10411495B2 (en) | 2012-06-13 | 2019-09-10 | Clear Blue Technologies Inc. | System for the monitoring and maintenance of remote autonomously powered lighting installations |
US10205345B2 (en) | 2012-06-13 | 2019-02-12 | Clear Blue Technologies Inc. | System for the monitoring and maintenance of remote autonomously powered lighting installations |
US9780602B2 (en) | 2012-06-13 | 2017-10-03 | Clear Blue Technologies Inc. | System for the monitoring and maintenance of remote autonomously powered lighting installations |
US9236762B2 (en) | 2012-06-13 | 2016-01-12 | Clear Blue Technologies Inc. | System for the monitoring and maintenance of remote autonomously powered lighting installations |
US9983267B2 (en) * | 2012-09-05 | 2018-05-29 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Low-voltage network with a DC-DC converter and method for testing a low-voltage battery by employing pulses feed to the low-voltage battery to sense either voltage or current response |
US20150219725A1 (en) * | 2012-09-05 | 2015-08-06 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Low-voltage network with a dc-dc converter and method for testing a low-voltage battery |
RU2528627C2 (en) * | 2012-12-25 | 2014-09-20 | Федеральное государственное бюджетное образовательное учреждение высшего профессионального образования "Пензенская государственная технологическая академия" | Multifunctional hybrid alternative power plant |
RU2528626C2 (en) * | 2013-01-24 | 2014-09-20 | Федеральное государственное бюджетное образовательное учреждение высшего профессионального образования "Пензенская государственная технологическая академия | Self-contained power generator for street lamp |
US20140240968A1 (en) * | 2013-02-26 | 2014-08-28 | Cubed, LLC | Solar powered led portable light tower |
US20140265874A1 (en) * | 2013-03-14 | 2014-09-18 | Abl Ip Holding Llc | Adaptive Optical Distribution System |
US10716188B2 (en) * | 2013-03-14 | 2020-07-14 | Abl Ip Holding Llc | Adaptive optical distribution system |
US9497833B2 (en) * | 2013-03-14 | 2016-11-15 | Abl Ip Holding Llc | Adaptive optical distribution system |
US20160037612A1 (en) * | 2013-03-14 | 2016-02-04 | Abl Ip Holding Llc | Adaptive optical distribution system |
US9192029B2 (en) * | 2013-03-14 | 2015-11-17 | Abl Ip Holding Llc | Adaptive optical distribution system |
US10278260B2 (en) * | 2013-03-14 | 2019-04-30 | Abl Ip Holding Llc | Adaptive optical distribution system |
US20190239316A1 (en) * | 2013-03-14 | 2019-08-01 | Abl Ip Holding Llc | Adaptive optical distribution system |
US9192026B2 (en) | 2013-03-14 | 2015-11-17 | Abl Ip Holding Llc | Veiling zone control |
US8931914B2 (en) * | 2013-04-01 | 2015-01-13 | Ji Yong Kim | Flexible solar light lamp device |
US20140293591A1 (en) * | 2013-04-01 | 2014-10-02 | Ji Yong Kim | Flexible solar light |
US10181750B2 (en) * | 2013-06-18 | 2019-01-15 | Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha | Charge control device |
US20160134157A1 (en) * | 2013-06-18 | 2016-05-12 | Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha | Charge control device |
US11296950B2 (en) | 2013-06-27 | 2022-04-05 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Control system user interface |
EP3017661B1 (en) | 2013-07-05 | 2017-04-05 | Philips Lighting Holding B.V. | A method for operating a communication device in a communication network, a communication device, a luminaire equipped with such communication device |
US9930166B2 (en) | 2013-07-05 | 2018-03-27 | Philips Lighting Holding B.V. | Method for operating a communication device in a communication network, a communication device, a luminaire equipped with such communication device |
US9736369B2 (en) | 2013-07-18 | 2017-08-15 | Spo Systems Inc. Limited | Virtual video patrol system and components therefor |
US9046235B2 (en) | 2013-08-12 | 2015-06-02 | Oswald A. Wilson | LED renewable energy lighting unit having a polygonal solar panel configuration about a horizontal or vertical pole |
US20140085870A1 (en) * | 2013-10-15 | 2014-03-27 | Mary Yacoub Abas | Rechargeable solar chip battery system |
US20170028863A1 (en) * | 2013-12-10 | 2017-02-02 | James A. Meringer | Solar Energy Systems |
US10533717B2 (en) * | 2013-12-10 | 2020-01-14 | James A. Meringer | Solar energy systems |
US9564852B2 (en) | 2013-12-10 | 2017-02-07 | James A. Meringer | Solar-powered systems with solar cell support |
WO2015120332A1 (en) * | 2014-02-07 | 2015-08-13 | The Coleman Company, Inc. | Guyline illuminator |
WO2015120463A1 (en) * | 2014-02-10 | 2015-08-13 | Big Belly Solar, Inc. | Dynamically adjustable nodes in a sensor network |
US11405463B2 (en) | 2014-03-03 | 2022-08-02 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Media content management |
US11146637B2 (en) | 2014-03-03 | 2021-10-12 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Media content management |
US11288346B1 (en) * | 2014-03-03 | 2022-03-29 | Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. | System and method for authenticating users using weak authentication techniques, with differences for different features |
US11943301B2 (en) | 2014-03-03 | 2024-03-26 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Media content management |
US11852329B1 (en) * | 2014-09-25 | 2023-12-26 | CSC Holdings, LLC | Luminaires having a wireless antenna |
US11549676B1 (en) | 2014-09-25 | 2023-01-10 | CSC Holdings, LLC | Luminaires having a wireless antenna |
US9726360B1 (en) * | 2014-09-25 | 2017-08-08 | CSC Holdings, LLC | Luminaires having a wireless antenna |
US9693428B2 (en) | 2014-10-15 | 2017-06-27 | Abl Ip Holding Llc | Lighting control with automated activation process |
US9781814B2 (en) | 2014-10-15 | 2017-10-03 | Abl Ip Holding Llc | Lighting control with integral dimming |
CN104566129A (en) * | 2014-12-30 | 2015-04-29 | 苏州汉克山姆照明科技有限公司 | Lawn lighting LED lamp |
US20170055324A1 (en) * | 2015-08-21 | 2017-02-23 | Express Imaging Systems, Llc | Apparatus, retrofit kit, and method of energy efficient illumination using adjustment schedules |
US11874449B2 (en) | 2016-04-12 | 2024-01-16 | Jonathan Jacques | Pyramidal wall sections |
CN106028582A (en) * | 2016-05-12 | 2016-10-12 | 探海(上海)智能科技有限公司 | Mesh-network-architecture-based intelligent illumination control system |
US11149926B2 (en) | 2016-07-29 | 2021-10-19 | Labyrinth Technologies, Llc | Luminaire control device with universal power supply |
US11204156B2 (en) | 2016-07-29 | 2021-12-21 | Labyrinth Technologies, Llc | Systems and methods for aggregating edge signals in a mesh network |
US10260719B2 (en) * | 2016-07-29 | 2019-04-16 | Labyrinth Technologies, Llc | Cobra arm enclosure device |
US10495291B2 (en) | 2016-07-29 | 2019-12-03 | Labyrinth Technologies, Llc | Cobra arm enclosure device |
US20180031213A1 (en) * | 2016-07-29 | 2018-02-01 | John. T. Stegeman | Cobra arm enclosure device |
CN106287545A (en) * | 2016-11-02 | 2017-01-04 | 中安安轩安全产业发展有限公司 | A kind of high generated energy optical road lamp being applicable to guardrail integral |
US11753781B2 (en) | 2017-04-25 | 2023-09-12 | MZC Foundation, Inc. | Apparatus, system, and method for smart roadway stud control and signaling |
US11028543B2 (en) | 2017-04-25 | 2021-06-08 | MZC Foundation, Inc. | Apparatus, system, and method for smart roadway stud control and signaling |
US20180305876A1 (en) * | 2017-04-25 | 2018-10-25 | MZC Foundation, Inc. | Apparatus, system, and method for smart roadway stud control and signaling |
US10577763B2 (en) * | 2017-04-25 | 2020-03-03 | MZC Foundation, Inc. | Apparatus, system, and method for smart roadway stud control and signaling |
US10274170B2 (en) * | 2017-07-13 | 2019-04-30 | Appleton Grp Llc | Drain system for a luminaire |
US20190067502A1 (en) * | 2017-08-25 | 2019-02-28 | Dave Mashayamombe | Flexible solar panel system built into Existing Products and into recycled materials |
US11744234B2 (en) * | 2018-02-23 | 2023-09-05 | Spectrum Brands, Inc. | Aquarium system and methods to increase light intensity due to motion |
US20230354788A1 (en) * | 2018-02-23 | 2023-11-09 | Spectrum Brands, Inc. | Aquarium system and methods |
US10240734B1 (en) * | 2018-04-03 | 2019-03-26 | Metromax America Corporation | Outdoor lamp capable of changing colors |
US10823380B2 (en) | 2018-06-21 | 2020-11-03 | Labyrinth Technologies, Llc | Flexible lighting and universal mounting system for municipal utility poles |
US10697620B2 (en) | 2018-06-21 | 2020-06-30 | Labyrinth Technologies, Llc | Flexible lighting and universal mounting system for municipal utility poles |
US10451233B1 (en) * | 2018-07-10 | 2019-10-22 | Gama Sonic Usa, Inc. | Outdoor light pole with solar panel array |
US20200044468A1 (en) * | 2018-07-31 | 2020-02-06 | Ling Yung LIN | Mobile power supply module with light source |
US10619809B1 (en) * | 2018-10-04 | 2020-04-14 | King Abdulaziz University | Solar chimney street lighting pole |
US20200169092A1 (en) * | 2018-11-23 | 2020-05-28 | Hall Labs Llc | Solar Power System with Individualized Energy Prediction |
US20210207781A1 (en) * | 2018-12-17 | 2021-07-08 | Comptek Technologies, Llc | Battery storage vault and utility pole system |
US11296539B2 (en) * | 2018-12-31 | 2022-04-05 | Itron, Inc. | Solar hybrid battery for powering network devices over extended time intervals |
US11800428B2 (en) | 2018-12-31 | 2023-10-24 | Itron, Inc. | Solar-powered relay for coupling remotely-located leaf nodes to a wireless network |
US11184831B2 (en) | 2018-12-31 | 2021-11-23 | Itron, Inc. | Solar-powered relay for coupling remotely-located leaf nodes to a wireless network |
US11172423B2 (en) | 2018-12-31 | 2021-11-09 | Itron, Inc. | Solar-powered access point for load balancing network traffic across backhaul networks |
US20200212707A1 (en) * | 2018-12-31 | 2020-07-02 | Itron, Inc. | Solar hybrid battery for powering network devices over extended time intervals |
USD928987S1 (en) | 2019-02-21 | 2021-08-24 | Labyrinth Technologies, Llc | Municipal infrastructure pole |
US11190044B2 (en) * | 2019-04-25 | 2021-11-30 | Hyundai Motor Company | Charging control method and charging control system using energy generated from solar roof |
US20190346099A1 (en) * | 2019-05-10 | 2019-11-14 | Tianya Lou | Intelligent Solar Road Lamp With Charging Function For Municipal Use |
US11223226B2 (en) * | 2019-09-26 | 2022-01-11 | Williamsrdm, Inc. | Covert smart solar power system and method of use |
USD957039S1 (en) | 2020-01-13 | 2022-07-05 | Labyrinth Technologies, Llc | Enclosure with extension |
CN111246632A (en) * | 2020-01-17 | 2020-06-05 | 苏州仁甬得物联科技有限公司 | Ad hoc network light PWM energy-saving system |
US11754239B2 (en) * | 2021-04-12 | 2023-09-12 | Gary Thomas Osborne | Apparatus for a solar light |
US20220325860A1 (en) * | 2021-04-12 | 2022-10-13 | Gary Thomas Osborne | Apparatus for a solar light |
US11921544B1 (en) * | 2021-08-30 | 2024-03-05 | Glenn Joseph Bronson | Ground accessible IOT base and block with enclosures |
US11962672B2 (en) | 2023-05-12 | 2024-04-16 | Icontrol Networks, Inc. | Virtual device systems and methods |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP2308197A2 (en) | 2011-04-13 |
US8588830B2 (en) | 2013-11-19 |
WO2010014925A2 (en) | 2010-02-04 |
WO2010014925A3 (en) | 2010-05-20 |
US20100029268A1 (en) | 2010-02-04 |
US20150021990A1 (en) | 2015-01-22 |
EP2308197A4 (en) | 2014-04-16 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US20150021990A1 (en) | Energy-efficient solar-powered outdoor lighting | |
US20120143383A1 (en) | Energy-efficient utility system utilizing solar-power | |
EP2356371A2 (en) | Energy-efficient solar-powered outdoor lighting | |
WO2012064906A2 (en) | Energy-efficient utility system utilizing solar-power | |
US20200146132A1 (en) | Methods and apparatus for information management and control of outdoor lighting networks | |
US10485068B2 (en) | Methods, apparatus, and systems for providing occupancy-based variable lighting | |
US9125254B2 (en) | Lighting fixtures and methods of commissioning lighting fixtures | |
US9253847B2 (en) | Adaptive controlled outdoor lighting system and method of operation thereof | |
US8841859B2 (en) | LED lighting methods, apparatus, and systems including rules-based sensor data logging | |
US8954170B2 (en) | Power management unit with multi-input arbitration | |
US8368321B2 (en) | Power management unit with rules-based power consumption management | |
US8866408B2 (en) | Methods, apparatus, and systems for automatic power adjustment based on energy demand information | |
US20100270933A1 (en) | Power Management Unit with Power Metering | |
US20100301834A1 (en) | Low-Cost Power Measurement Circuit | |
US20100301773A1 (en) | Fixture with Individual Light Module Dimming | |
US20100302779A1 (en) | Fixture with Replaceable Light Bars | |
US20100295475A1 (en) | Power Management Unit with Ballast Interface | |
US20100301770A1 (en) | Power Management Unit with Lifetime Prediction | |
US20100295474A1 (en) | Power Management Unit with Modular Sensor Bus | |
US20100301768A1 (en) | Power Management Unit with Real Time Clock | |
US11339927B2 (en) | Methods, apparatus and systems for providing occupancy-based variable lighting | |
WO2013163350A1 (en) | Optimization of energy generation from a wrapped photovoltaic panel | |
AU2023201960A1 (en) | Methods, apparatus and systems for providing occupancy-based variable lighting | |
US11674668B2 (en) | Lighting fixtures and methods of commissioning lighting fixtures | |
KR102239580B1 (en) | Intelligent and natural disaster adaptive control system for wireless street lights powered by solarpanel |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: INOVUS SOLAR, INC., IDAHO Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:MYER, SETH JAMISON;COOPERRIDER, PAUL H.;GONZALEZ, DAVID;SIGNING DATES FROM 20110822 TO 20110912;REEL/FRAME:027062/0890 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |