ENERGY-EFFICIENT SOLAR-POWERED OUTDOOR LIGHTING
First Claim
1. A solar-powered outdoor lighting system comprising:
- a flexible photovoltaic solar collector panel curved at least part way around a generally cylindrical light pole and attached to the light pole so that the panel is generally vertical;
a luminaire connected to the pole;
at least one battery operatively connected to the solar collector panel and the luminaire;
an active controller system comprising a maximum power point tracking charge controller adapted to charge said at least one battery, and a load controller adapted for management of energy delivery to said luminaire, wherein said management of energy delivery is adapted to turn on, turn off, dim and brighten said luminaire;
at least one motion sensor connected to said pole and operatively connected to said load controller;
wherein said load controller is adapted, in response to said motion sensor sensing motion near the pole when the luminaire is in a dimmed state, to increase power to said luminaire to brighten said luminaire at least while said motion is detected.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
One or more outdoor lights may operate independently with sensing and control processes mainly on-pole, or may communicate as a networked array of poles, wherein a master/coordinating pole/node transmits signals from the networked array to a control station, and receive signals from the control station for the networked array, via call phone and/or satellite. Independent poles and/or the networked array of poles may be adapted for energy-saving processes; cooperation with the grid; renewable power production and storage by means of solar panels and associated batteries; and/or to provide Wi-Fi hot-spots, public safety alarms, information or data-analysis to the public or customers. An energy-saving active control system controls charging of the batteries and distribution of energy from the solar panel and/or the batteries, so that the batteries remain undamaged, and the light(s) remain operation even during the winter or other long periods of clouds and diffuse light. The active control of energy distribution by a load controller function may include dimming during the night, except when sensors detect motion, and, in extreme cloudy or diffuse-light periods, increasing increments of dimming and/or load shedding, to preserve the batteries and operability.
212 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A solar-powered outdoor lighting system comprising:
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a flexible photovoltaic solar collector panel curved at least part way around a generally cylindrical light pole and attached to the light pole so that the panel is generally vertical; a luminaire connected to the pole; at least one battery operatively connected to the solar collector panel and the luminaire; an active controller system comprising a maximum power point tracking charge controller adapted to charge said at least one battery, and a load controller adapted for management of energy delivery to said luminaire, wherein said management of energy delivery is adapted to turn on, turn off, dim and brighten said luminaire; at least one motion sensor connected to said pole and operatively connected to said load controller; wherein said load controller is adapted, in response to said motion sensor sensing motion near the pole when the luminaire is in a dimmed state, to increase power to said luminaire to brighten said luminaire at least while said motion is detected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 29, 31)
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15. A method of controlling an outdoor lighting system comprising:
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providing a flexible solar collector panel curved at least part way around a generally cylindrical light pole so that the solar collector is generally vertical; providing a luminaire connected to the pole; providing at least one battery operatively connected to the solar collector panel and the luminaire; providing at least one motion sensor on said pole; actively controlling energy delivery from said at least one battery to said luminaire, by turning on, dimming and turning off said luminaire according to at least one mode of operation, said at least one mode of operation comprising a normal operation mode comprising turning said luminaire on at dusk to full brightness for a first predetermined amount of time, and, after said first predetermined amount of time, dimming said luminaire to a first fraction of said full brightness, until said at least one motion sensor detects a motion event near said pole and then increasing energy delivery to said luminaire for a second predetermined amount of time, followed by reducing energy delivery to said luminaire to dim said luminaire, so that the luminaire is dimmed to less than full brightness in between motion events. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 32)
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Specification