EFFICIENT ILLUMINATION SYSTEM FOR LEGACY STREET LIGHTING SYSTEMS

• US 20110134239A1
• Filed: 12/03/2009
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LED Net Ltd.
• Original Assignee: LED Net Ltd.
• Inventors: VADAI, Ephraim, Shefi, Amit, Herbst, Tzvika
• Granted Patent: US 9,131,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/23 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/00 Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/086 with lighting device attached sideways of the standard, e.g. for roads and highways
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/006 of point-like light sources, e.g. incandescent or halogen lamps, with screw-threaded or bayonet base of sources having contact pins, wires or blades F21V19/0005; of LEDs or sources mounted on printed-circuit board F21V19/001
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/009 the casing being inside the housing of the lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0457 the sensor sensing the operating status of the lighting device, e.g. to detect failure of a light source or to provide feedback to the device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0471 the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0478 by means of an image recording device, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/59 with forced flow of the coolant
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/673 the fans being used for intake
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/74 with fins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/773 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/007 Array of lenses or refractors for a cluster of light sources, e.g. for arrangement of multiple light sources in one plane combination of two or more refractors F21V5/008
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• 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: H05B 45/345 Current stabilisation; Maintaining constant current
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3578 Emulating the electrical or functional characteristics of discharge lamps
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/48 : having LEDs organised in strings and incorporating parallel shunting devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/56 : involving measures to prevent abnormal temperature of the LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 : by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 : Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/72 : in street lighting

Abstract

An LED lamp for outdoor and large space lighting, particularly for streets, warehouses car parks and the like, is adapted for fitting into legacy light fittings designed for sodium bulbs and the like. The LED lamp comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged over a surface of the lamp, is rotatably connected through a rotatable electrical connection to a screw-in adaptor for insertion into a legacy screw-in socket, such that the screw in adaptor is rotatable independently of the lamp, so that the legacy screw in socket can be used even though the light fitting is too small to allow rotation of the LED lamp. Additional embodiments provide for cooling airflow through the light fitting, for temperature control of the LEDs, and for failure protection, to ensure a longest possible lamp lifetime.

Claims

1. A lighting device comprising an LED lamp for fitting into a light fitting having a screw-in socket, useful for outdoor or large space lighting, the LED lamp comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged over a surface of the lamp, the lamp being rotatably connected through a rotatable electrical connection to a screw-in adaptor for insertion into the screw-in socket, such that the screw in adaptor is rotatable independently of the lamp, the independent rotation of the screw-in adaptor thereby making an electrical connection through said socket even if the light fitting is insufficiently sized to allow rotation therein of the LED lamp.

2. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein said rotatable connection to said screw in adaptor comprises an inner and outer concentric ring on a first side of said connection, the concentric rings having a gap therebetween, and a third concentric ring on a second side of said connection, said third concentric ring being slidable into said gap to be snapped into position between said first and second concentric rings.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said lamp comprises a protection mechanism configured to

a) detect a failure of a light-emitting diode, and either one of:

b) provide rerouting of said connections around said failed light emitting diode, or

c) provide a voltage drop equivalent to said failed light emitting diode, thereby to maintain pre-existing voltage conditions at respective remaining diodes.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a heat sink thermally coupled to said surface for providing cooling.

5. The device of claim 4, further comprising a fan for driving cool air over said heat sink, said fan configured to draw said cool air from a first hole inserted in said closed fitting and to drive said air past said heat sink to a second hole inserted in said closed light fitting.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a heat sink thermally coupled to said surface, the heat sink comprising a jet cooler for circulating air about fins of said heat sink, said jet cooler comprising a vibratable membrane for driving said circulation.

7. The device of claim 1, said lamp being placed externally of a lighting cover.

8. The device of claim 1, said lamp being built around a cover dimensioned for placing over an opening of said closed light fitting, the lamp being built such that said surface with said light emitting diodes is on a first side of said cover and said controlling electronics is on a second side of said cover, and said first side is placed to face outwardly of said closed light fitting.

9. The device of claim 1, said lamp being built around a cover dimensioned for placing over an opening of said closed light fitting, the lamp being built such that said surface with said light emitting diodes is on an external side of said cover and said controlling electronics is connected on said external side with said light emitting diodes.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a temperature detector and being configured with a control loop to maintain said light emitting diodes substantially at predefined operating temperatures over time.

11. The device of claim 1, said lamp further comprising a transceiver for a wireless or power-line connection for remote control and monitoring, or for data transfer.

12. The device of claim 11, further configured to allow remote controlling of an intensity level of said lamp.

13. The device of claim 1, further configured to receive input from a movement detector for detecting movement in a vicinity of said device, and wherein said lamp is controllable for setting to a relatively high illumination state when movement is detected in said vicinity and to a relatively low illumination state when movement is not detected in said vicinity.

14. The device of claim 13, connected to other devices in a network, and configured to project detected movements such that individual device are switched on and off to provide advance light paths to detected pedestrians or vehicles.

15. The device of claim 1, further comprising a camera mounted with said lamp, and connected to receive power via said screw-in adaptor.

16. An LED lamp comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged over a surface and connected together via connections, and a protection mechanism configured to

a) detect a failure of a light-emitting diode, and

b) provide rerouting of said connections around said failed light emitting diode, or

c) provide a voltage drop equivalent to said failed light emitting diode, thereby to maintain pre-existing voltage conditions at respective remaining diodes.

17. The LED lamp of claim 16, further comprising a heat sink thermally coupled to said surface for cooling.

18. The device of claim 17, further comprising a fan for driving cool air over said heat sink, said fan configured to draw said cool air from a first hole inserted in said closed fitting and to drive said air past said heat sink to a second hole inserted in said closed light fitting.

19. The LED lamp of claim 16, the lamp being built around a cover dimensioned for placing over an opening of said closed light fitting, the lamp being built such that said surface with said light emitting diodes is on a first side of said cover and said controlling electronics is on a second side of said cover, and said first side is placed to face outwardly of said closed light fitting.

20. The LED lamp of claim 16, the lamp being built around a cover dimensioned for placing over an opening of said closed light fitting, the lamp being built such that said surface with said light emitting diodes is on an external side of said cover together with said controlling electronics.

21. The device of claim 16, further comprising a temperature detector and being configured with a control loop to maintain said light emitting diodes substantially at predefined operating temperatures over time.

22. The device of claim 16, said lamp further comprising a transceiver for a wireless or powerline connection for remote control and monitoring.

23. The device of claim 22, further comprising a camera configured for transmitting images over said wireless connection using said transceiver.

24. An LED lamp for fitting into a closed light fitting, the LED lamp comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes over a surface, a heat sink thermally coupled to said surface and a fan for driving cool air over said heat sink, said fan configured to draw said cool air from a first hole inserted in said closed fitting and to drive said air past said heat sink to a second hole inserted in said closed light fitting.

25. The LED lamp of claim 24, further comprising a transceiver for a wireless or powerline connection for remote control and monitoring, said lamp further comprising a camera, configured to transmit images using said wireless connection.

26. An LED lamp with controlling electronics, for fitting into a closed light fitting, the LED lamp comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes over a surface, the lamp being built around a cover dimensioned for placing over an opening of said closed light fitting, the lamp being built such that said surface with said light emitting diodes is on a first side of said cover and said controlling electronics is on a second side of said cover, and said first side is placed to face outwardly of said closed light fitting, said lamp further comprising a transceiver for a wireless connection for remote control and monitoring, said lamp further comprising a camera, configured to transmit images using said wireless connection.

27. A system for combined street-lighting and surveillance, comprising a plurality of outdoor lighting installations, each outdoor lighting installation comprising an LED lamp, the lamp being rotatably connected through a rotatable electrical connection to a screw-in adaptor for insertion into a screw-in socket of a respective installation, and at least some of said street lamps further comprising a camera, said cameras being connected to receive power via respective screw-in adaptors.

28. The system of claim 27, said streetlamps being networked together for communication, said networking providing control for said street lamps and said cameras and for transmitting images from said cameras to a controller.