Apparatus and method embedding a camera in an LED streetlight
First Claim
1. An LED street light, comprising:
- a first compartment having an LED array configured to illuminate an area beneath the street light;
a second compartment, coupled to the first compartment, having a camera directed toward the area beneath the street light, the second compartment also having a window covering the camera such that the camera can receive light from area beneath the street light, but passers-by in the area beneath the street light do not see the camera, a camera lens being disposed vertically below a plane of the LED array;
a third compartment, coupled to the second compartment, and configured to attach the street light to a vertical support;
a passive air channel separating the first compartment from the second compartment, and configured to direct air from the area beneath the street light to an area above the street light to enhance thermal insulation between the first compartment and the second compartment, each of the first compartment and the second compartment being weatherproofed, at least with respect to the air channel, wherein a power supply for the LED array is disposed in one of the second compartment and the third compartment;
heat management structure configured to reduce light output of the LED array in response to an increase in temperature in the first compartment;
shield structure mounted on a bottom of the street light and configured to prevent light from the LED array from entering the camera lens, and to guide air into the passive air channel; and
an antenna mounted on the top of the street light and configured to transmit and receive signals, the transmitted signals including image signals and the received signals including control signals.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method embedding a camera in a street light includes structure and/or function whereby the street light has a first compartment having an LED array configured to illuminate an area beneath the street light. A second compartment is coupled to the first compartment and has a camera directed toward the area beneath the street light. A third compartment is coupled to the second compartment and is configured to attach the street light to a vertical support. A passive air channel is disposed between the first compartment and the second compartment, and is configured to direct air from beneath the street light to the top of the street light. Preferably, the power supply for the LED array is disposed in a compartment different than the first compartment.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An LED street light, comprising:
-
a first compartment having an LED array configured to illuminate an area beneath the street light; a second compartment, coupled to the first compartment, having a camera directed toward the area beneath the street light, the second compartment also having a window covering the camera such that the camera can receive light from area beneath the street light, but passers-by in the area beneath the street light do not see the camera, a camera lens being disposed vertically below a plane of the LED array; a third compartment, coupled to the second compartment, and configured to attach the street light to a vertical support; a passive air channel separating the first compartment from the second compartment, and configured to direct air from the area beneath the street light to an area above the street light to enhance thermal insulation between the first compartment and the second compartment, each of the first compartment and the second compartment being weatherproofed, at least with respect to the air channel, wherein a power supply for the LED array is disposed in one of the second compartment and the third compartment; heat management structure configured to reduce light output of the LED array in response to an increase in temperature in the first compartment; shield structure mounted on a bottom of the street light and configured to prevent light from the LED array from entering the camera lens, and to guide air into the passive air channel; and an antenna mounted on the top of the street light and configured to transmit and receive signals, the transmitted signals including image signals and the received signals including control signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. An LED streetlight, comprising:
-
an LED light compartment having an array of LED lights disposed to direct light to an area to be observed; a camera compartment coupled to but thermally insulated from the LED light compartment, the camera compartment having a camera with a lens that is (i) disposed vertically below said array of LED lights, and (ii) disposed to capture an image from the area to be observed; a power supply compartment coupled to at least one of the LED light compartment and the camera compartment, the power supply compartment configured to support a power supply of said array of LED lights; a passive cooling air channel disposed between the LED light compartment and the camera compartment to enhance thermal insulation between the first compartment and the second compartment, each of the first compartment and the second compartment being weatherproofed, at least with respect to the air channel; heat management structure configured to reduce light output of the array of LED lights in response to an increase in temperature in the LED light compartment; and wireless communications structure configured to communicate with a remote station, wherein camera control signals, camera images, and LED information are enabled to be communicated to the remote station over the wireless communications structure. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. Streetlight-mounted camera apparatus, comprising:
-
an enclosure having an LED light module, a camera module, and a power supply module, the camera module being separated from the LED light module by at least on passive air cooling channel extending from a bottom of the enclosure to a top thereof, the passive air cooling channel enhancing thermal insulation between the LED light module and the camera module, each of the LED light module and the camera module being weatherproofed, at least with respect to the air channel; the LED light module having an array of LED lights disposed to provide light onto an area below the streetlight, an LED light power supply being disposed in at least one of the camera module and the power supply module; the camera module supporting a camera having a lens disposed to capture light from the area below the streetlight, the camera lens being disposed vertically below a plane of the LED array; the power supply module having mounting structure configured to mount the enclosure on a streetlight post; shield structure mounted on the bottom of the enclosure and configured to prevent light from the LED array from entering the camera lens, and to guide air into the passive air cooling channel; heat management structure configured to reduce light output of the array of LED lights in response to an increase in temperature in the LED light module; and an antenna mounted on the top of the enclosure and configured to transmit and receive signals, the transmitted signals including image signals and the received signal including control signals. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A method of imaging a lighted area from a streetlight, comprising:
- illuminating an area below the streetlight with an LED light array disposed in an LED light compartment of an enclosure;
capturing an image of the illuminated area below the streetlight with a camera mounted in a camera compartment coupled to the LED light compartment; cooling the LED light compartment by providing at least one passive cooling air channel between the LED light compartment and the camera compartment, from a bottom of the enclosure to a top thereof, the at least one passive cooling air channel enhancing thermal insulation between the LED light compartment and the camera compartment, each of the LED light compartment and the camera compartment being weatherproofed, at least with respect to the air channel; shielding light from the LED array from entering a lens of the camera using a shield device; providing power to the LED light array and to the camera from circuitry disposed in a power supply compartment of the enclosure; supporting the enclosure on a streetlight support structure; managing the heat in the LED light array by reducing light output of the LED light array in response to an increase in temperature in the LED light compartment; and using a wireless communications structure to communicate with a remote station, wherein camera control signals, camera images, and LED information are communicated to the remote station over the wireless communications structure.
- illuminating an area below the streetlight with an LED light array disposed in an LED light compartment of an enclosure;
Specification