WO2017196166A1

WO2017196166A1 - Street light system

Info

Publication number: WO2017196166A1
Application number: PCT/NL2017/050286
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Geerard Oege Adema; Franciscus Petrus Den Ridder
Original assignee: Chezz Partners B.V.
Priority date: 2016-05-09
Filing date: 2017-05-09
Publication date: 2017-11-16
Also published as: NL2016739B1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a street light system, comprising: an array of at least two street lights, each comprising: a pole; a fixture having a light source; a light control configured to adjust an operation of the light source; and a sensor; and a system controller, in communication with the sensors of at least two street lights in the array to receive information and in communication with the light control of at least one street light in the array to provide control information to adjust the operation of the light source of the at least one street light in the array, based on the information. In contrast with the prior art, which prescribed environmental sensors to determine external aspects, like weather, day or night, traffic and the like, the present disclosure is distinguished in that the sensor comprises an operation monitor configured to monitor operational performance of the light source and provide the controller with operational performance information, and the controller is configured to provide the control information to the light control based on the operational performance information of at least one other street light in the array.

Description

STREET LIGHT SYSTEM

The present disclosure relates to a street light system comprising an array of at least two street lights, each comprising: a pole; and a fixture having a light source. Normally, such systems are a collection of independently operating street lights, where a centralised switch is or controlled switches at the street lights are employed to switch the street lights in the array on or off.

The prior art systems have a number of drawbacks.

Older light sources may have a different light production than new light sources. This may be evident in differences in light colour and/or intensity and/or other visible aspects. Some light sources may exhibit flickering, whereas other light sources in the array appear to burn constant.

Battery powered street lights, for example having further a solar panel, may shut down when a battery charge is depleted, whilst other street lights in the array still have a sufficient charge to stay turned on.

It is acknowledged here that WO-2014/147524 relates to an outdoor lighting network, provided with environmental sensors to adapt lighting based on parameters determined by said sensors, such as weather sensors, day-or-night sensors, traffic sensors, movement sensors, sensors to sense environmental light, and the like. WO-2012/143814 discloses an outdoor lighting network, where a user control may comprise a light sensor, limited to adapting performance of the entire system based on global measurements. The known light measurements allow generic adaptation of performance of all street lights in a network simultaneously, based on the combined measured performance of all street lights.

In the present disclosure a marked improvement over the prior art street light system is envisaged, to which end a street light system is distinguished by comprising: an array of at least two street lights, each comprising: a pole; a fixture having a light source; and a light control configured to adjust an operation of the light source; ; and a system controller, in communication with the sensors of at least two street lights in the array to receive information and in

communication with the light control of at least one street light in the array to provide control information to adjust the operation of the light source of the at least one street light in the array, based on the information, wherein each street light comprises an operation monitor configured to monitor operational performance of the light source and provide the controller with operational performance information, and the controller is configured to provide the control information to the light control based on the operational performance information of at least one other street light in the array.

This approach according to the present disclosure allows for fine adjustment of individual street lights in an array, for example to compensate for degradation of a single light source in one of the street light light, or low battery levels (if the street light is battery powered, for example a solar street light) by adapting performance of immediately neighbouring street lights.

The operation monitor may further also monitor other components, if provided, such as a communication module, a solar panel and a battery.

With a system according to the present disclosure performance and/or operation of at least one street light and in particular the light source thereof may be adapted to performance and/or operation of at least one other street lamp in the array. In contrast, the above referenced prior art publications are exclusively directed at global adaptation of all street lights in the array. For example, it is possible to approximate compensation for flicker in one street light by adjusting the performance and/or operation of preferably a neighbouring street light to at least burn brighter, at times when the flickering street light periodically turns darker or even off. The same applies in the absence of flicker, but when an older light source yields less light than a newer one. A newer light source may then be driven to compensate for the slowly failing older light source, to at least try to approximate a total light yield. In the alternative, when a light source of at least one street light in the array burns less brightly, the performance and/or operation of preferably at least neighbouring street light (in particular the light sources thereof) can be adjusted to match the lower burning street light to at least try to approximate homogenous lighting from all street lights. Likewise, if a battery powered street light is expected to be able burn for a shorter period than desired, for example with 5 hours of darkness remaining in the night and one particular battery powered street light is anticipated to be able to burn at full power for four burn hours on a remaining battery charge, the street light in question can be toned down to ensure that it stays on for the entire remaining period of darkness. The other street lights may then also be toned down, with an objective of homogeneity in mind, or toned up, with an objective of total light yield in mind. If a battery of one particular street light exhibits structurally a lower load than batteries of other street lights in the array, this may provide an indication of a need to replace the battery and/or a solar panel for charging the battery. Communications with a central may provide means to this end, where decisions about maintenance and/or replacement of components can be based on monitoring information from the street light itself, to deduce trends therefrom about the components and their overall functioning.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described below in the context of preferred embodiments, referring to the appended drawings, and/or may be defined in the appended dependent claims. Regardless of the nature or place where such preferences are disclosed, it is emphasized here that the scope of protection is exclusively defined in the appended independent claim and may even encompass alternatives for features specifically defined therein.

In a potential embodiment the system controller is configured to provide control information for individual adjustment of operation of a plurality of light sources based on at least one consideration from a group, comprising: uniform light from a plurality of street lights in the array, potentially per group of street lights; a desired total light production from a plurality of street lights in the array; colour; intensity; brightness; light source age, and the like.

In an additional or as an alternative embodiment, the communication module of at least one street light is configured for communication with the system controller via any one or more than one type of communication from a group comprising: wireless communication,

communication via dedicated wiring, communication over power supply cables, and the like.

In an additional or as an alternative embodiment, the system controller is integrated in the light control of at least one street light.

In an additional or as an alternative embodiment, the system controller is located or in data communicating contact with a remote location.

In an additional or as an alternative embodiment, at least one of the street lights of the array comprises a battery having a charge and/or discharge monitor connected to the light control, and a solar panel connected to the battery. In such an embodiment, preferably, the system controller is configured to provide control information for individual adjustment of operation of a plurality of light sources based on at least one consideration from a group, comprising: remaining battery charge; battery power usage; and the like.

Herein below, a description is provided of a preferred embodiment of a street light system according to the present disclosure, referring to the appended drawing, in which:

Figure 1 exemplifies a street light system in an embodiment of the present disclosure; and Figure 2 exemplifies a schematic representation of a street light in a system according to figure 1.

In the embodiment of figures 1 and 2, the street light system 1 comprises an array of at least two street lights 10, each comprising: a pole 9; a fixture 13 accommodating a light source 6; a light control 4 configured to adjust an operation of the light source 6; and an operation monitor 5 which is configured to monitor operational performance of the light source 6. Further, the street light comprises a solar panel 8 in combination with a battery 7. By connecting the operation monitor 5 via the power supply circuitry, it may monitor power consumption of the light source 6 to distil performance information regarding the light source 6. Alternatively, a sensor that may be separate from the power supply circuitry, may be provided to monitor more visually detectable performance information, such as intensity, brightness, colour, flickering, and the like.

Positions of the light control 4 and the operation monitor 5 may be interchanged, with the light control 4 at the position of the monitor 5 in figure 1 and vice versa. The operation monitor may comprise a CPU (Central Processing Unit) in combination with a sensor or monitor. The light control 4 may comprise an electronic ballast.

The street light system 1 further comprises a system controller 12, which may be a remote terminal or server, or even an app on a mobile device such as a smart phone. The controller 12 is in communication via a wireless network, such as the internet 11 , with the operation monitors 5 of at least two street lights 10 in the array to receive performance information with respect to the light sources 6 thereof. To this end the street lights 10 may have a communication module 3 and an antenna 2 in case of wireless operation. The controller 12 is further in communication with the light control 4 of at least one street light 10 in the array to provide control information to adjust the operation of the at least one light source 6 based on performance information of at least one other street light 10 in the array.

The system controller 12 is configured to provide control information for individual adjustment of operation of a plurality of light sources 6 to the light control 4 based on at least one consideration from a group, comprising: uniform light from a plurality of street lights 10 in the array, potentially per group of street lights; a desired total light production from a plurality of street lights 10 in the array; colour; intensity; brightness; light source age, and the like.

Reference is made here to the adjustment per group. Remote street lights 10 in the array have less effect relative to one another, than more proximate street lamps 10. Therefore, it may suffice, to achieve the set goals of the present disclosure, to detect and identify which of the street lights 10 in the array exhibits compensable performance and/or operation. Subsequently, the controller 12 may identify neighbouring street lights 10, as far as two, three or four position in the array, in both directions, and send to the light controls 4 of these street lights 10 in the array control information to adjust the operation of the light sources 6 based on performance information of at least the one street light 10 in the array exhibiting the compensable behaviour.

The communication module 3 of at least one street light is configured for communication with the system controller 12 via wireless communications, such as 3G, 4G, WiFi, Bluetooth, ZigBee or the like. However, communication via dedicated wiring and/or communication over power supply cables, and the like, is by no means excluded.

The system controller 12 may alternatively be integrated in the light control 4 of at least one street light. If all street lights 10 have a light control 4 with integrated system controller 12, master-slave principles may be employed to avoid authority or control conflicts.

If the system controller is located or in data communicating contact with a remote location, such as the terminal or server in figure 1 , most likely the light controls 4 may be embodied as simple as possible.

In the shown embodiment, at least one of the street lights of the array comprises a battery 7 and a solar panel 8 connected to the battery 7. In such an embodiment, the operation monitor 5 may have the form of a charge and/or discharge monitor connected to the light source 6. In such a case, the system controller 12 may be configured to provide control information for individual adjustment of operation of a plurality of light sources 6 based on at least one consideration from a group, comprising: remaining battery 7 charge; battery power usage through charge and/or discharge monitor 5; and so on. Information from the monitor may be used even to decide on maintenance on or component replacement in a particular street light of the array, when a trend is detected, such as degradation of the light source or of the battery, efficiency of a solar panel for charging the battery, et cetera.

Above an embodiment of the present disclosure is provided, but the scope of protection is exclusively determined on the basis of the appended independent claim, which even encompasses alternatives for features defined therein. The dependent claims and the embodiment description relate merely to preferred embodiments, without any limitation on the scope of protection resulting from said preferred embodiments and dependent claims.

Claims

1. Street light system, comprising:

- an array of at least two street lights, each comprising: a pole; a fixture having a light source; and a light control configured to adjust an operation of the light source; and

- a system controller, in communication with the sensor to receive information and in

communication with the light control of at least one street light in the array to provide control information to adjust the operation of the light source of the at least one street light in the array, based on the information,

CHARACTERISED IN THAT

each street light comprises an operation monitor configured to monitor operational performance of the light source and provide the controller with operational performance information, and the controller is configured to provide the control information to the light control based on the operational performance information of at least one other street light in the array.

2. Street light system of claim 1, wherein the system controller is configured to provide control information for individual adjustment of operation of a plurality of light sources based on at least uniform light from a plurality of street lights in the array, potentially per group of street lights.

3. Street light system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the system controller is configured to provide control information for individual adjustment of operation of a plurality of light sources based on at least a desired total light production from a plurality of street lights in the array.

4. Street light system of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the system controller is configured to provide control information for individual adjustment of operation of a plurality of light sources based on at least colour.

5. Street light system of at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the system controller is configured to provide control information for individual adjustment of operation of a plurality of light sources based on at least of one light intensity; and brightness.

6. Street light system of at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the system controller is configured to provide control information for individual adjustment of operation of a plurality of light sources based on at least light source age.

7. Street light system of at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the communication module of at least one street light is configured for communication with the system controller via any one or more than one type of communication from a group comprising: wireless

communication, communication via dedicated wiring, communication over power supply cables, and the like.

8. Street light system of any one or more than one of the preceding claims, wherein the system controller is integrated in the light control of at least one street light.

9. Street light system of any one or more than one of the preceding claims, wherein the system controller is located or in data communicating contact with a remote location.

10. Street light system of any one or more than one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the street lights of the array comprises a battery having a charge and/or discharge monitor connected to the light control, and a solar panel connected to the battery.

11. Street light system of claim 10, wherein the system controller is configured to provide control information for individual adjustment of operation of a plurality of light sources based on at least one consideration from a group, comprising: remaining battery charge; battery power usage; and the like.