Apparatus and method embedding a camera in an LED streetlight

• US 10,544,932 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2018
• Issued: 01/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clairvoyance, LLC
• Original Assignee: Clairvoyance, LLC
• Inventors: Gabriel, Wilfried, Eberl, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Duley, Janese
• Application Number:
  US16/109,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20180363894A1
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/086 with lighting device attached sideways of the standard, e.g. for roads and highways
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/088 with lighting device mounted on top of the standard, e.g. for pedestrian zones
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 11/16 using sheets without apertures, e.g. fixed
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/116 Fixing lighting devices to arms or standards F21V21/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/023 Power supplies in a casing F21V23/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0435 activated by remote control means
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0052 Audio or video equipment, e.g. televisions, telephones, cameras or computers; Remote control devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/103 of streets or roads
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19632 Camera support structures, e.g. attachment means, poles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1966 Wireless systems, other than telephone systems, used to communicate with a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/001 Concealed systems, e.g. disguised alarm systems to make covert systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

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.

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; and

a passive air channel separating the first compartment from and 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.

2. 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;

a third compartment, coupled to the second compartment, and configured to attach the street light to a vertical support; and

a passive air channel disposed between the first compartment and the second compartment, and configured to passively 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;

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. The LED street light according to claim 2, wherein a power supply for the LED array is disposed in one or more of the second compartment and the third compartment.

4. The LED street light according to claim 2, further comprising at least one antenna coupled to the second compartment and configured to transmit one or more images from the camera.

5. The LED street light according to claim 2, further comprising at least one antenna coupled to the attachment structure and configured to transmit one or more images from the camera.

6. The LED street light according to claim 2, wherein the camera comprises a pan-tilt-zoom camera.

7. A camera-equipped 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; and

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 apparatus 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 apparatus.

8. The LED street light according to claim 7, wherein the passive cooling air channel slopes at an angle from a bottom of the streetlight to a top thereof.

9. The LED street light according to claim 7, further comprising a shield device vertically oriented between the LED light compartment and the camera compartment, and configured to (i) block light from the array of LED lights from reaching the camera lens, and (ii) direct air into the cooling air channel.

10. The LED street light according to claim 7, wherein the camera compartment is disposed between the LED light compartment and the power supply compartment, and further comprising a light pole connection mechanism configured to couple the LED streetlight to a vertical light pole.

11. The LED street light according to claim 7, further comprising a light control unit disposed in at least one of the camera compartment and the power supply compartment.

12. The LED street light according to claim 7, wherein the power supply compartment is heavier than the camera compartment, and wherein the camera compartment is heavier than the LED light compartment.

13. The LED street light according to claim 7, further comprising at least one antenna configured to (i) receive commands from a remote center, and (ii) transmit plural captured images from the camera to the remote center.

14. 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 vertically below a plane of the LED array; and

heat manager structure for controlling light from the LED light module in accordance with a temperature in the LED light module.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising shield structure mounted on a bottom of the enclosure and configured to prevent light from the LED array from entering the camera lens.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising 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.

17. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a radio transmitter, a radio receiver, at least one processor, and at least one memory disposed within at least one of the camera module and the power supply module.

18. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a camera lens shield configured to pass incoming light to the camera lens but to render the camera lens substantially invisible from outside of the enclosure.

19. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising (i) wireless communications structure configured to communicate with a remote station, and (ii) wired communications structure configured to communicate with the remote station, and wherein camera control signals, camera images, and LED information are enabled to be communicated to the remote station over at least one of the wireless communications structure and the wired communications structure.

20. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a fan for forced convection of air from the LED module to the camera module.

21. A kit comprising the apparatus of claim 14.

22. 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;

supporting the enclosure to a vertical support;

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, and using the shield device to guide air into the passive cooling air channel;

providing power to the LED light array and to the camera from circuitry disposed in a power supply compartment of the enclosure;

heat-managing light output of the LED light array in accordance with a temperature in the LED light compartment; and

providing an antenna mounted on the top of the streetlight, configured to transmit and receive signals, the transmitted signals including image signals and the received signals including control signals.