SUSTAINABLE OUTDOOR LIGHTING SYSTEM

• US 20120087115A1
• Filed: 12/19/2011
• Published: 04/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lighting Science Group Corporation (Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: Lighting Science Group Corporation (Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P.)
• Inventors: Maxik, Frederic S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,491,153 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/231
• 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 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/103 of streets or roads
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light

Abstract

A method of generating light involves energizing one or more first light emitting elements thereby generating primary illumination of a first wavelength range over a target area, and energizing one or more second light emitting elements thereby generating secondary illumination of a second wavelength range toward the target area during a critical period. Both the primary illumination and the secondary illumination are combined within at least a portion of the target area thereby enhancing at least one visual property within the at least a portion of the target area.

Claims

1. A method of generating light, comprising:

energizing one or more first light emitting elements thereby generating primary illumination of a first wavelength range over a target area;

determining whether a sensor indicates that a light threshold level has been attained utilizing a controller; and

if the light threshold level has been attained, then energizing one or more second light emitting elements thereby generating secondary illumination of a second wavelength range toward the target area when the one or more first light emitting elements are energized utilizing the controller, such that both the primary illumination and the secondary illumination are combined within at least a portion of the target area thereby enhancing at least one visual property within the at least the portion of the target area.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the energizing of the one or more first light emitting elements to shift wavelengths of the one or more first light emitting elements.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the energizing of the one or more second light emitting elements to shift wavelengths of the one or more second light emitting elements.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second wavelength range corresponds to a substantially photopic wavelength range.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wavelength range corresponds to a substantially scotopic wavelength range.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wavelength range extends from 560 nm to 610 nm.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second wavelength range extends from either 500 nm to 550 nm or from 610 nm to 660 nm.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one visual property comprises at least one of:

color temperature, color rendering, depth perception, and night vision.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more first light emitting elements and the one or more second light emitting elements are disposed within a first light fixture.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more first light emitting elements are disposed within a first light fixture and the one or more second light emitting elements are disposed within a second light fixture.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more first light emitting elements comprise one or more light emitting diodes emitting the first wavelength range and the one or more second light emitting elements comprise one or more light emitting diodes emitting the second wavelength range.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more first light emitting diodes and the one or more second light emitting diodes each comprise at least one of:

one or more phosphor-conversion light emitting diodes and one or more monochromatic light emitting diodes.

13. A system for generating light, comprising:

one or more first light emitting elements that generate a primary illumination of a first wavelength range over the target area;

a controller configured to determine whether a sensor is activated; and

if the sensor is activated, then the controller is configured to generate a signal to induce one or more second light emitting elements to generate secondary illumination of a second wavelength range toward the target area, such that the primary illumination and the secondary illumination are combinable within at least a portion of the target area thereby enhancing at least one visual property within the at least the portion of the target area.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein wavelengths emitted by the one or more first light emitting elements during the primary illumination are shifted over time.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein wavelengths emitted by the one or more second light emitting elements during the secondary illumination are shifted over time.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the second wavelength range corresponds to a substantially photopic wavelength range.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the first wavelength range corresponds to a substantially scotopic wavelength range.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein power utilized to energize the one or more first light emitting elements are derived from a photovoltaic power source.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more first light emitting elements comprise at least one phosphor coated light emitting diode.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more first light emitting elements comprise at least one monochromatic light emitting diode.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein the first wavelength range extends from 560 nm to 610 nm.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein the second wavelength range extends from 500 nm to 550 nm.

23. The system of claim 13, wherein the second wavelength range extends from 610 nm to 660 nm.

24. A system for generating light, comprising:

one or more first light emitting elements that generate a primary illumination of a first wavelength range over a target area, wherein the first wavelength range extends from 560 nm to 610 nm;

a controller configured to determine whether a sensor indicates light threshold level has been attained;

if the light threshold level has been attained, the controller further configured to generate a signal to induce one or more second light emitting diodes to generate secondary illumination of a second wavelength range toward the target area, such that both the primary illumination and the secondary illumination are combinable within at least a portion of the target area thereby enhancing at least one visual property within the at least the portion of the target area, wherein the at least one visual property comprises at least one of;

color temperature, color rendering, depth perception, and night vision, and wherein the second wavelength range extends from 500 nm to 550 nm or from 610 nm to 660 nm.