Intelligent Area Lighting System

• US 20100201267A1
• Filed: 06/30/2008
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carmanah Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Carmanah Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Bourquin, Sean, Johnston, Brock, Hortsing, Damien
• Granted Patent: US 8,427,076 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/32
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/13 by using passive infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An area lighting system is composed of a plurality of lighting elements that are responsive to the movement and progression of a user through the area. Each lighting element comprises at least one light, means for powering the lighting element, a processor, communication means and is associated with a motion sensor. Detection of a user is communicated to other lighting elements that provide an appropriate level of illumination depending on the distance from the user. The lighting elements are substantially self-configurable and may be set for either a radial proximity lighting protocol or a path network lighting protocol.

Claims

1. A lighting element for use in a lighting system, comprising:

a light source;

a processor;

a detector for determining the coordinates of the lighting element;

a transceiver;

said processor being programmable to selectively cause said light source to illuminate according to the distance of said lighting element from an other lighting element upon receipt of a transmission from said other lighting element.

2. The lighting element of claim 1 wherein said transmission signals an event selected from among the group comprising:

the activation of said other lighting element and the detection of motion associated with said other lighting element.

3. The lighting element of claim 1 further comprising a power source for said lighting element.

4. The lighting element of claim 3 wherein said power source comprises a solar panel and a battery.

5. The lighting element of claim 1 wherein said lighting element is associated with a motion sensor.

6. The lighting element of claim 5 wherein said motion sensor is integral with said lighting element.

7. The lighting element of claim 5 wherein said processor is programmed to transmit a detection signal and coordinates of said lighting element upon receiving a signal from said motion sensor that motion has been detected.

8. The lighting element of claim 1 further comprising an ambient light sensor.

9. The lighting element of claim 1 wherein said detector is a GPS coordinate detector.

10. The lighting element of claim 1 wherein said lighting element is adapted to be operated in a radial proximity mode or configured in a path network lighting mode.

11. The lighting element of claim 1 wherein said processor is programmed to acquire a unique path segment identifier upon being field configured and to transmit said unique path segment identifier when signalling detection of motion associated with said lighting element.

12. The lighting element of claim 11 wherein said processor is programmed to map a path network and to selectively assign to said lighting element a junction illumination protocol.

13. The lighting element of claim 1 wherein said processor is further programmable to selectively cause said light source to illuminate according to the speed of movement detected by said other lighting element.

14. The lighting element of claim 2 further comprising a battery, a solar panel for charging said battery, a motion sensor and wherein said processor is programmed to transmit a detection signal and coordinates of said lighting element upon receiving a signal from said motion sensor that motion has been detected and is programmed to implement a lighting protocol upon receiving a transmission from an other lighting element signaling that an other lighting element has detected motion in the vicinity of said other lighting element.

15. The lighting element of claim 14 wherein said lighting protocol is a function of the distance between said lighting element and said other lighting element.

16. The lighting element of claim 15 wherein said lighting protocol determines a lighting parameter for said light source selected from among the group comprising:

intensity and rate of illumination.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein step of illuminating comprises illuminating at an intensity that is a function of the distance of said responding lighting means from said user.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein step of illuminating comprises illuminating at a rate that is a function of the distance of said responding lighting means from said user.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of communicating the presence of the presence of said user between lighting means.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein said step of communicating is through the intermediary of intermediate lighting means.

22. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of causing a first lighting means to illuminate at a first rate and instructing a second lighting means to illuminate at a second rate.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein said second rate is slower than said first rate.

24. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of sensing an ambient light level;

sending a light level signal to a processor, said processor determining that the ambient light level is below a predetermined level; and

, upon receiving the light level signal, instructing a lighting means to illuminate to a first level.

25. The method of claim 19 further comprising causing lighting means to illuminate according to their distance from said user and the speed of said user.

17. A method of illuminating an area comprising:

deploying a plurality of lighting means in said area;

detecting the presence of a user of the area in the vicinity of one of said lighting means;

a subset of said plurality of lighting means each responding to said detecting by illuminating its respective vicinity as a function of its distance from the user.

26. A guidance lighting system comprising:

a first identifying means;

a second identifying means;

a plurality of lighting elements between said first and second identifying means;

wherein said lighting elements selectively illuminate a path between said first and second identifying means upon receiving a request from a user.

28. The lighting system of claim 26 wherein said means to determine a location comprises a global positioning system.

29. The lighting system of claim 26, further comprising at least one power source to power said lighting elements and said control system.

27. A lighting system comprising:

a plurality of lighting elements;

at least one control system adapted to communicate with said lighting elements;

said control system further comprising means to determine a location of each of said lighting elements; and

said control system being programmed to instruct said lighting elements to illuminate at different rates based on said location.