WO2016071810A1

WO2016071810A1 - Led public lighting apparatus with network connectivity

Info

Publication number: WO2016071810A1
Application number: PCT/IB2015/058384
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mauro ABBATTISTA
Original assignee: Enel Sole Srl
Priority date: 2014-11-04
Filing date: 2015-10-30
Publication date: 2016-05-12

Abstract

LED public lighting apparatus (1) comprising: -a first container body (2) and at least one array of LEDs (3) housed in the first container body (2); -at least one support element (5) of the first container body ( 2 ); -a second container body (6) spaced apart from the first container body (2) by the aforementioned support element (5) and having an inner housing compartment (15). the LED public lighting apparatus (1) further comprises a Wi-Fi transceiver (30) such that the LED lighting apparatus (1) in addition to lighting a public area is such as to provide network connectivity, i.e. to act as an access node to a telecommunications network, for a plurality of external telecommunication terminals equipped with a Wi-Fi interface and positioned in a range of action of the Wi-Fi transceiver (30).

Description

"LED public lighting apparatus with network connectivity"

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of lighting apparatuses and, in particular, relates to an LED public lighting apparatus with network connectivity.

STATE OF THE ART

[0002] In the field of public lighting, lighting apparatuses that use semiconductor light sources such as LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) are being adopted with increasing success.

[0003] The use of LEDs allows producing public lighting apparatuses characterised by greater flexibility of use, greater energy efficiency and a higher modularity.

[0004] LED lighting apparatuses generally comprise a plurality of LEDs, equipped with related optics and reflectors, appropriate heat sinks and power supply means adapted to supply the necessary power supply current to the plurality of LEDs. An apparatus of the type indicated above is described in patent application EP2746652. [0005] The need is felt for an LED public lighting apparatus that is provided with additional functionalities compared to the lighting apparatuses of the prior art.

[0006] The object of this description is to make available an LED public lighting apparatus that meets the aforesaid need.

[0007] This purpose is achieved through an LED public lighting apparatus as generally defined in claim 1. Preferred and advantageous embodiments of the aforesaid lighting apparatus are defined in the appended dependent claims .

[0008] The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of particular embodiments, provided by way of example and, therefore, in no way limiting, in relation to the accompanying drawings, which are briefly described in the next paragraph.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1 is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of an LED public lighting apparatus.

[0010] Figure 2 is a side plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1.

[0011] Figure 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1. [0012] Figure 4 is a partial sectional side view of a part of the LED public lighting apparatus of Figure 1.

[0013] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a possible variant embodiment of the apparatus of Figure 1. DE TAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] With reference to the accompanying figures, the LED public lighting apparatus 1 (henceforth referred to, without thereby introducing any limitation, as "LED lighting apparatus") comprises a first container body 2 and at least one array of LEDs 3 housed in the first container body 2.

[0015] In the illustrative and non-limiting embodiment of Figure 1, the lighting apparatus 1 is installed on the top of a vertical support post 20 and is intended for the lighting of urban areas, for example, public areas such as bridges, pedestrian malls, squares, parks and gardens.

[0016] In the example shown, without thereby introducing any limitation, the LED lighting apparatus 1 comprises two arrays of LEDs 3 each arranged on a rectangular or square-shaped matrix. Henceforth, reference will be made to the example shown in the figures in which are provided two arrays of LEDs 3, it being understood that variant embodiments are possible in which is provided a single array of LEDs 3 or more than two arrays of LEDs and that these variant embodiments all fall within the claimed scope of protection.

[0017 ] According to a preferred embodiment, each of the LEDs of the arrays of LEDs 3 is surmounted or covered by a respective lens of an array of refraction lenses. Preferably, these lenses are injection moulded in polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) .

[0018] In the installation configuration, and during operation, of the LED lighting apparatus 1, the arrays of LEDs 3 are such as to direct the optical radiation emitted towards the ground of an urban area to be illuminated .

[0019] According to an embodiment, the first container body 2 comprises one or more housing seats adapted to house the arrays of LEDs 3, for example to house the printed circuit boards that support the arrays of LEDs 3. Said one or more housing seats are watertight, adapted to protect the arrays of LEDs from infiltrations of water, humidity or dust. [0020] The aforesaid one or more housing seats are closed by a protective screen 4 solidly fixed to the first container body 2 and that at least frontally to the LED arrays 3 is made of a material transparent to the optical radiation emitted by the arrays of LEDs. Preferably the protective screen 4 comprises a plate of glass or transparent crystal, possibly anti-reflection to reduce the coefficient of attenuation of the luminous radiation passing through.

[0021] The first container body 2 is preferably made of a thermally conductive material, for example metal, which preferably has a high thermal conductivity. More preferably, the first container body 2 is made of aluminium or an aluminium alloy, and is for example formed in one piece by die-casting. [0022] Preferably, the arrays of LEDs 3 are fixed on a support, such as a printed circuit board, fixed to and in contact with an inner wall of the first container body 2, so that it is possible to extract the heat produced by the LEDs and transfer it by conduction to the first container body 2. The extracted heat can thus be advantageously dissipated through the same first container body 2, which thus acts as a passive heat sink.

[0023] The first container body 2 is provided with a heat dissipation system comprising an array of through apertures 10 that pass through the first container body 2. Preferably, the through apertures 10 extend between two opposite sides of the first container body 2 crossing the thickness of the first container body 2 laterally in relation to the array of LEDs 3. More preferably, the array of through apertures 10 surrounds the at least one housing seat of the array of LEDs 3.

[002 ] According to a preferred embodiment, consistent with the example shown in the figures, the first container body 2 is essentially disc-shaped having a disc axis and the through apertures 10 are distributed around the disc axis along a portion of the outer circular rim of the first container body 2 or all along the aforesaid circular rim.

[0025] According to an embodiment, the first container body 2 comprises a central portion 11 of greater thickness and a lateral portion 12 of lesser thickness which surrounds the central portion 11. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the central portion 11 of greater thickness presents a projection of a truncated conical shape or rounded shape in relation to the lateral portion 12 of lesser thickness. According to a possible alternative embodiment, the aforesaid projection has a convex shape, for example in the form of a cap.

[0026] In the aforesaid embodiment, in which the central portion 11 is provided with greater thickness, the through openings 10 are preferably arranged along the side portion 12.

[0027 ] According to a preferred embodiment, the LED lighting apparatus 1 comprises at least one support element 5 of the first container body 2. In the particular example shown in the figures, the aforesaid support element 5 comprises two support arms 5 each having a first end portion 5' fixed to the first container body 2, in the example fixed to an outer edge of the first container body 2. In the embodiment shown, the two support arms 5 are arranged in diametrically opposite positions along a generatrix of a cone.

[ 0028 ] The support arms 5 may be of tubular bars or bars with a "U" or "C" profile, so that, inside at least one of them, a channel can be defined suitable to house at least one electrical interconnection element 9 (Figure 4), such as for example at least one unipolar or multipolar conductor provided with insulating sheath.

[ 0029 ] According to an embodiment, the LED lighting apparatus 1 comprises a second container body 6 spaced from the first container body 2 through the aforesaid support element 5, i.e., in the example, by means of the two arms 5. In particular, each of said arms 5 has a second end portion 5' ' , opposite to the first end portion, which is fixed to the second container body 6.

[ 0030 ] Preferably, the second container body 6 comprises a base portion 7 having an inner housing compartment 15 accessible via an aperture and a detachable lid 8, removably coupleable to the base portion 7 in correspondence of said aperture to occlude the interior compartment 15 and ensure a desired degree of water tightness of the interior compartment 15. In this embodiment, the aforesaid support element 5 of the first container body 2 is fixed to the detachable lid 8. In the particular example shown, the second ends 5' ' of the arms 5 are fixed to the detachable lid 8.

[0031 ] According to an embodiment, the second container body 6 has the shape of a truncated cone and the detachable lid 8 is a disc that represents the larger base of the truncated cone.

[0032 ] Preferably, the second container body 6, the detachable lid 8 and the arms 5 are made of metal, for example aluminium.

[0033] The LED public lighting apparatus 1 further comprises a Wi-Fi transceiver 30 such that the LED lighting apparatus 1, in addition to lighting a public area is such as to provide network connectivity, i.e., to act as an access node to a telecommunications network, for a plurality of external telecommunication terminals equipped with a Wi-Fi interface and positioned in a range of action of the Wi-Fi transceiver 30 of the LED lighting apparatus 1. For example, this range of action is between 50 m and 100 m inclusive.

[0034] With reference to Figure 4, according to a preferred embodiment, the Wi-Fi transceiver 30 comprises a Wi-Fi antenna 31 and an electronic transponder circuit 32 operatively connected to the Wi-Fi antenna 31. The aforesaid electronic transponder circuit 32 comprises for example a printed circuit board. For example, the Wi-Fi antenna 31 is fixed to the said printed circuit board and is in turn realised with printed circuit technology realised on a single or double layer. According to a preferred embodiment, the Wi-Fi antenna 31 is an omnidirectional antenna. [0035] Preferably, the Wi-Fi antenna 31 is disposed in a space between the first containment body 2 and the second containment body 6. Preferably, the electronic transponder circuit 32 is also placed in the space between the first containment body 2 and the second containment body 6.

[0036] According to an embodiment, the Wi-Fi transceiver 30 is fixed to the detachable lid 8 on the outside of the second containment body 6, in other words on the opposite side with respect to the base body 7 and the outside of this. For example, the printed circuit board of the electronic transponder circuit 32 is fixed to the detachable lid 8 via one or more fasteners 34 which allow distancing the printed circuit board from the detachable lid 8. [0037 ] Preferably, the Wi-Fi transceiver 30 comprises a protective radome 33 attached to the detachable lid 8 and which together with the detachable lid 8 defines a containment compartment 35 adapted to house and protect from external atmospheric agents and dust the Wi-Fi antenna 31 and the electronic transponder circuit 32. For example, the protective radome 32 is made of plastic transparent to the electromagnetic radiation of interest for the operation of the Wi-Fi.

[0038] According to an embodiment, the LED public lighting apparatus 1 comprises one or more connection interfaces 40,41 crossing the detachable lid 8 and able to interconnect the Wi-Fi transceiver 30 with data transport and/or power supply cables having ends which terminate inside the second container body 6. Such connection interfaces 40,41 comprise, for example:

- an Ethernet RJ45 socket with PoE -Power over Ethernet) 40, in the example soldered to the printed circuit board of the electronic transponder circuit 32, designed to receive a male Ethernet RJ32 connector attached to an end portion of an Ethernet cable 46; and/or

-an SPF (Small Form Factor pluggable transceiver) connector 41 designed to be connected to a conjugate connector of an optical fibre 55, for example an FC or LC connector . [0039] According to an embodiment, the LED public lighting apparatus 1 comprises a support device 42,43 housed in the inner housing compartment 15 of the second container body 6. The LED public lighting apparatus 1 also comprises a driver module 44 of the LED arrays 3, i.e., an electronic module adapted to provide to the LED arrays 3 a driving current required for the operation of the LEDs 3. The driver module 44 is attached to the support device 42,43 so that the driver module 44 is suspended in the inner housing compartment 15 of the second container body 6. Preferably, the driver module 44 is suspended in such a way that, in a configuration in which the LED public lighting apparatus 1 is installed, for example on a support post 20, the increased overall dimensions of the driver module 44 are in the vertical direction. In this regard it is possible to provide that the support device 42,43 includes one or more walls 42 perpendicular to the detachable lid 8 or transverse to the detachable lid 8, which are attached or integral to the latter, which protrude from the detachable lid 8 towards the inner housing compartment 15.

[0040] In the particular example shown in Figure 4, the support device 42,43 comprises a truncated-conical wall 42, internally hollow, and the driver module 44 is attached to said truncated-conical wall 42 placed on the side of the outer face thereof. The aforesaid internally hollow wall advantageously allows the passage through it of at least several connection cables or connectors housed inside the inner housing compartment 15.

[0041 ] According to an embodiment, the LED public lighting apparatus 1 comprises a PoE (Power over Ethernet) power supply module 45 also housed in the inner housing compartment 15 and attached to the support device 42,43. In the particular example shown in Figure 4, as already said, the support device 43 comprises an internally hollow truncated-conical wall 42 and the PoE power supply module 45 is attached to said truncated- conical wall 42 placed on the side of the outer face thereof .

[0042 ] According to a preferred embodiment, the PoE power supply module 45 is suspended from the support device 42,43 in such a way that, in a configuration in which the LED public lighting apparatus 1 is installed, for example on a support post 20, the increased overall dimensions of the PoE power supply module 45 are in the vertical direction.

[0043] In the example shown in Figure 4, the PoE power supply module 45 is operatively connected via the Ethernet cable 46 to the Wi-Fi transceiver 30, in the example through the connection interface 40. The PoE power supply module 45 is such as to supply to the Wi-Fi transceiver 30 both access to an Ethernet/ Internet network and thus data connectivity, and the power supply necessary for the operation of the Wi-Fi transceiver 30. According to an advantageous embodiment, the LED public lighting apparatus 1 is suitable to be selectively powered from the electric mains with a first power supply voltage value and with a second voltage value lower than the first power supply value and the PoE power supply module 45 is designed and configured to work with both said voltages. For example, the first voltage value is a low voltage value and the second voltage value is a safety extra-low voltage value SELV. For example, in the case where the power supply voltage of the LED pubic lighting apparatus 1 is an alternating voltage, the aforesaid first voltage value is greater than 50 VAC, for example equal to 230 VAC, and the second voltage value is less than or equal to 50 VAC, for example equal to 48 VAC. In this way it is advantageously possible to ensure the 24-hour functioning of the Wi-Fi transceiver 30, both during the night-time hours when the LED arrays 3 are turned on and the LED public lighting apparatus 1 is powered with the first voltage value and both during the daytime hours when the LED arrays 3 are turned off and the LED public lighting apparatus 1 is powered with the second voltage value.

[004 ] According to an embodiment, the LED public lighting apparatus 1 comprises a control and communication module 47 adapted to control the driver module 44 and adapted to communicate with a remote control device. The control and communication module 47 is also housed in the inner containment compartment 15 and fixed to the support device 42,43. In the particular example shown in Figure 4, as already said, the support device 42,43 comprises an internally hollow truncated- conical wall 42 and the control and communication module 47 is attached to said truncated-conical wall 42 placed on the side of the outer face thereof.

[0045] According to a preferred embodiment, the control and communication module 47 is suspended from the support device 42, 43 in such a way that, in a configuration in which the LED public lighting apparatus 1 is installed, for example on a support post 20, the increased overall dimensions of the control and communication module 47 are in the vertical direction. [0046] According to an embodiment, the control and communication module 47 comprises a DALI - Digital Addressable Lighting Interface - for communicating with the driver module 44 bidirectionally or a 1-lOV a data interface for communicating with said driver module 44 in a unidirectional manner. As can be seen in Figure 4, for the aforesaid reason, there is an interconnection cable 48, housed in the inner compartment 15, adapted to interconnect the control and communication module 47 with the driver module 44. The control and communication module 47 allows remotely controlling the driver module 44, for example, to turn on/off the LED arrays 3, to adjust the light output when on, to acquire information about the operating status of the public lighting apparatus and its components and to remotely communicate the status information acquired.

[0047] This control and communication module 47 can also be connected to the electrical transponder circuit 32, by means of a fast serial interface (for example a I2C or SPI interface) through which to receive information on the operating status of the aforesaid circuit 32, the data traffic (bit rate) and the number of users or remote units connected in a particular instant of time to the Wi-Fi transceiver 30.

[0048] Always with reference to Figure 4, according to an embodiment, the LED public lighting apparatus 1 comprises an electric connector 50 for power distribution housed in the inner housing compartment 15 and, for example, fixed to a horizontal wall 43 of the support device 42,43. The electric connector 50 is connected to an input power cable 51 coming from outside and for example passing inside the support post 20 and is such as to connect in parallel to the input power cable 51 an output power cable 52 for the remote control module 47, an output power cable 53 for the driver module 44 and an output power cable 54 for the PoE power supply module 45. [0049] According to an embodiment, the electrical interconnection between the driver module 44 and the LED arrays 3 is made by means of electrical interconnection elements and, for example, one or more cables 9, which extend from the second container body 6 to the first container body 2 passing inside the at least one support element 5.

[0050] According to an embodiment, the second container body 2 and in particular the base portion 7 comprise a cable-access opening occluded by one or more cable terminals 60 (visible in Figure 4) . In the particular example shown schematically in Figure 4, a single cable terminal 60 allows for the passage and a watertight clamping of the cables 51 and 55 or 51 and 56 (in general if cable 55 is present, cable 56 is not and vice versa) which as already explained are respectively a power cable and a fibre optic cable or a power cable and an Ethernet data cable.

[0051 ] According to a further embodiment, the second container body 6 can contain more than one cable terminal 60. In this case, with reference to Figure 1, in the base portion 7 of the second container body 6, there may be provided a lateral hole 26 which can be used for passing an electric cable for the power supply of an external apparatus, for example, anchored on the support 20, directly from within the second body 6 to the outside, or from inside the support 20 to the outside, without reducing the degree of IP protection apparatus 1, and managing the information and data directly with the Wi-Fi transceiver 30 present on the apparatus.

[0052 ] According to an embodiment, the LED public lighting apparatus 1 can be remotely controlled from the remote control module 47, for example by providing that it communicates with a remote control unit by means of powerline carrier transmission on the power cable 51. Alternatively or in addition, it is possible to provide that the aforesaid communication occurs via the Wi-Fi transceiver 30. In this case, it is necessary to provide a data connection between the remote control module 47 and the PoE power supply module 45 and/or directly between the remote control module 47 and the Wi-Fi transceiver 30.

[0053] According to an embodiment, the second container body 6 comprises at least one attachment element 16 adapted to secure the second container body 7 and therefore the entire LED lighting apparatus 1 to a support device. For example, with reference to Figure 1, the second container body 7 comprises an engagement seat 16 inside of which can be engaged the head of a vertical post 20. According to a further embodiment, the support element, for example the arms 5, and the first container body 2 are mutually detachably coupled so that it is possible to fix the first container body 2 to the support element, for example to the two arms 5, so as to turn the arrays of LEDs 3 toward the second container body 7 or in the opposite direction.

[0054] In the particular example shown, one can see that, in Figure 1, the arrays of LEDs 3 are oriented towards the second container body 6 and the LED lighting apparatus 1 is fixed to the head of a straight vertical post 20. In this embodiment, by making the first container body using a material that reflects electromagnetic radiation of interest for Wi-Fi, for example metal and glass, it is possible to re-direct the power emitted by the Wi-Fi antenna 31, so that the power emitted upwards is advantageously re-directed laterally.

[0055] While, in embodiment of Figure 5, the LED arrays 3 are oriented in a direction opposite the second container body 6 and the LED lighting apparatus 1 is suspended from a horizontal rope 22 by means of an attachment device 18. In this case, the provision of a projecting central portion 12 of the first container body 2, in the case in which the first container body 2 is made of a material that reflects electromagnetic radiation of interest for Wi-Fi, allows laterally redistributing a portion of power emitted by the Wi-Fi antenna 31.

[0056] As is clear from the above description, the LED public lighting apparatus fully allows achieving the intended purposes. In fact, the aforesaid apparatus, in addition to lighting public areas, advantageously allows, from a Wi-Fi access point, data connectivity to a plurality of communication terminals disposed within the operating range of the Wi-Fi transceiver 30. Such communication terminals can be both personal communication terminals, such as smart phones or tablets, and fixed installation devices in general, equipped with their own power supply that are part of systems that can be integrated in public lighting systems, such as Wi-Fi cameras, weather stations, pollution measurement stations and information devices that display variable messages.

[0057] Note that, by means of the LED lighting apparatus 1 according to this description, it is possible to provide a public lighting apparatus, such as, for example, a lamp post for public lighting comprising a lighting apparatus according to this description and a support post 18, a support bracket on a post or arm or an attachment device 18 to a rope 20 to which said LED lighting apparatus 1 is attached.

[0058] Without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the forms of implementation and construction details may be varied widely with respect to what has been described and illustrated purely by way of non- limiting example, without thereby departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. LED public lighting apparatus (1) comprising:

-a first container body (2) and at least one array of LEDs (3) housed in the first container body (2);

-at least one support element (5) of the first container body ( 2 ) ;

-a second container body (6) spaced apart from the first container body (2) by the aforementioned support element (5) and having an inner housing compartment (15); characterised in that the LED public lighting apparatus (1) further comprises a Wi-Fi transceiver (30) such that the LED lighting apparatus (1) in addition to lighting a public area is such as to provide network connectivity, i.e. to act as an access node to a telecommunications network, for a plurality of external telecommunication terminals equipped with a Wi-Fi interface and positioned in a range of action of the Wi-Fi transceiver (30) .

2. LED public lighting apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the Wi-Fi transceiver (30) comprises a Wi-Fi antenna (31) and an electronic transponder circuit (32) operatively connected to the Wi-Fi antenna (31) and wherein the Wi-Fi antenna (31) is placed in a space between the first containment body (2) and the second containment body (6) .

3. LED public lighting apparatus (1) according to claim 2, wherein the electronic transponder circuit (32) is also placed in the space between the first containment body (2) and the second containment body

(6) .

4. LED public lighting apparatus (1) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the second container body (6) comprises a base body (7) and a detachable lid (8) adapted to be detachably coupled to the base body

(7) , and wherein the Wi-Fi transceiver (30) is attached to the detachable lid (8) outside the second containment body ( 6 ) .

5. LED public lighting apparatus (1) according to claims 2 and 4, wherein the Wi-Fi transceiver (30) comprises a protective radome (33) attached to the detachable lid (8) and which together with the detachable lid (8) defines a containment compartment (35) adapted to house and protect from external atmospheric agents and dust the Wi-Fi antenna (31) and the electronic transponder circuit (32) .

6. LED public lighting apparatus (1) according to any one of the previous claims, comprising one or more connection interfaces (40, 41) crossing the detachable lid (8) and able to interconnect the Wi-Fi transceiver (30) with data transport and/or power supply cables having ends which terminate inside the second container body ( 6 ) .

7. LED public lighting apparatus (1) according to claim 6, wherein such connection interfaces (40, 41) comprise :

-an Ethernet RJ45 socket with PoE -Power Over Ethernet- ( 40 ), designed to receive a male Ethernet RJ45 connector attached to an end portion of an Ethernet cable (46); and/or

-an SPF Small Form Factor pluggable transceiver - connector (41) designed to be connected to a conjugate connector of an optical fibre (55) .

8. LED public lighting apparatus (1) according to any one of the previous claims, comprising:

-a support device (42, 43) housed in the inner housing compartment (15) of the second container body (6);

-a driver module (44) of the LED arrays (3) adapted to provide to the LED arrays (3) a driving current required for the operation of the LEDs (3); wherein the driver module (44) is attached to the support device (42, 43) so that the driver module (44) is suspended in the inner housing compartment (15) of the second container body (6) .

9. LED public lighting apparatus (1) according to claim 8, wherein the support device (42.43) comprises an internally hollow truncated-conical wall (42) and the driver module (44) is attached to said truncated-conical wall (42) placed on the side of the outer face thereof.

10. LED public lighting apparatus (1) according to claims 8 or 9, comprising a PoE-Power over Ethernet- power supply module (45) housed in the inner housing compartment (15) and attached to the support device (42, 43) .

11. LED public lighting apparatus (1) according to claim 10, wherein the PoE power supply module (45) is operatively connected via an Ethernet cable (46) to the Wi-Fi transceiver (30) and is such as to supply to the Wi-Fi transceiver (30) both access to an Ethernet/ Internet network, thus data connectivity, and the power supply necessary for the operation of the Wi- Fi transceiver (30) .

12. LED public lighting apparatus (1) according to claim 11, wherein the LED public lighting apparatus (1) is adapted to be selectively powered from the mains with a first power supply voltage value and with a second voltage value lower than the first power supply value and the PoE power supply module (45) is designed and configured to work with both said voltages.

13. Lamp post for public lighting, comprising an LED public lighting apparatus (1) according to any one of the previous claims and a support post (20,21), or post- mounted support bracket or an arm or an attachment device (18) to a rope (22) to which said LED lighting apparatus (1) is attached.