Lighting fixture having an integrated communications system

• US 10,247,406 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2015
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ExteNet Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ExteNet Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Abbott, Eric B., Larsen, Tormod, Alt, Michael R., Asta, Jr., Timothy P.
• Primary Examiner(s): May, Robert J
• Application Number:
  US14/928,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20170122546A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/085 of high-built type, e.g. street light
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/086 with lighting device attached sideways of the standard, e.g. for roads and highways
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/035 the solar unit being integrated within the support for the lighting unit, e.g. within or on a pole
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/00 Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/103 of streets or roads
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/44 using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna , e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspectH01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/205 providing an omnidirectional coverage turnstile aerials H01Q21/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/72 in street lighting

Abstract

In one aspect, a lighting fixture includes a pole having a first section and a second section. The second section of the pole includes a radio frequency (RF) transparent material. The lighting fixture also includes a light housing coupled to the first section of the pole and a light source in the light housing. The lighting fixture further includes an antenna assembly in the second section of the pole. The antenna assembly is configured to wirelessly communicate with a user equipment device (UE). The lighting fixture also includes a communications backhaul interface coupled to the antenna assembly.

Claims

1. A lighting fixture, comprising:

a pole having a first section and a second section, wherein the second section of the pole comprises a radio frequency (RF) transparent material;

a light housing coupled to the first section of the pole;

a light source in the light housing;

an antenna assembly in the second section of the pole, wherein the antenna assembly is configured to wirelessly communicate with a user equipment device (UE); and

a communications backhaul interface coupled to the antenna assembly,

wherein the pole further includes a third section and wherein the second section is between the first section and third section.

2. The lighting fixture of claim 1, further comprising a rod axially disposed within the second section of the pole, wherein the antenna assembly is mounted to the rod and the second section encloses the rod and the antenna assembly.

3. The lighting fixture of claim 2, wherein the antenna assembly comprises three or more antennas radially mounted around a circumference of the rod.

4. The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the communications backhaul interface is configured to wirelessly communicate with a communications network over an air interface.

5. The lighting fixture of claim 4, wherein the pole further comprises a fourth section above the first section and the second section, the fourth section comprises a second RF transparent material, and the communications backhaul interface is in the fourth section.

6. The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the first section and the second section have approximately the same circumference.

7. The lighting fixture of claim 1, further comprising:

a base coupled to the pole; and

a radio resource device in the base, wherein the antenna assembly is coupled to the communications backhaul interface via the radio resource device.

8. The lighting fixture of claim 7, wherein the base includes a lockable access door having an open position and a closed position, the lockable access door inhibits access to the radio resource device when in the closed position, and the lockable access door allows access to the radio resource device when in the open position.

9. The lighting fixture of claim 1, further comprising a second antenna assembly in the light housing, wherein the light housing comprises a second RF transparent material that encloses the second antenna assembly and the light source.

10. The lighting fixture of claim 1, further comprising a power module coupled to a primary power source via a power cable.

11. The lighting fixture of claim 10, wherein the power module is coupled to a backup battery via a communications cable, wherein the backup battery is remotely located relative to the lighting fixture.

12. The lighting fixture of claim 1, further comprising a power module coupled to a primary power source, via a communications cable, to receive electrical power using power over Ethernet.

13. The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the first section of the pole comprises a photovoltaic material that is configured to convert sunlight into electrical energy.

14. The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the first section of the pole comprises a thermoelectric material that is configured to convert a difference in temperature between an interior of the pole and an exterior of the pole into electrical energy.

15. The lighting fixture of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of;

a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a traffic congestion sensor, an automobile accident sensor, a pedestrian counter sensor, a bio-hazard sensor, and a nuclear isotope sensor,

wherein the at least one sensor is configured to determine sensor data and communicate the determined sensor data to a remote processor via the communications backhaul interface.

16. The lighting fixture of claim 1, further comprising an electronic display device coupled to the pole, wherein the electronic display device is configured to display information received via the communications backhaul interface.

17. The lighting fixture of claim 1, further comprising a kiosk configured to display information responsive to an input received from a user.

18. The lighting fixture of claim 1, further comprising a camera in the pole and coupled with the backhaul interface, wherein the camera is configured to transmit a video stream from the camera to a remote processor via the backhaul interface.

19. The lighting fixture of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to controllably adjust a down-tilt of the antenna assembly.