LIGHTING SYSTEMS

• US 20120286770A1
• Filed: 05/10/2012
• Published: 11/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schreder SA
• Original Assignee: Schreder SA
• Inventors: Schröder, Helmut, Brand, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 9,408,280 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/113
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/00 Arrangements for measuring currents or voltages or for indicating presence or sign thereof G01R5/00 takes precedence; for measuring bioelectric currents or voltages A61B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/2516 Modular arrangements for computer based systems; using personal computers (PC's), e.g. "virtual instruments"
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/00 Arrangements for measuring electric power or power factor G01R7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/061 Details of electronic electricity meters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/72 in street lighting

Abstract

A lighting system is disclosed having a plurality of luminaires in which the energy usage of each luminaire can individually be metered using a luminaire controller having a metering circuit.

Claims

1. A metering circuit for a luminaire connectable between a mains supply and a luminaire, the metering circuit comprising:

a voltage measurement circuit providing a voltage output signal;

a current measurement circuit providing a current output signal; and

a processor connected to the voltage and current measurement circuits to receive the voltage and current output signals, and to provide signals representative of parameters associated with the voltage and current output signals.

2. A metering circuit according to claim 1, comprising:

a power supply connected to the processor for providing power thereto.

3. A metering circuit according to claim 1, implemented as an integrated circuit.

4. A luminaire controller comprising:

a mains input module connectable to a mains supply;

a metering circuit connected to the mains input module for measuring parameters of the mains supply input to the mains input module and for providing output signals indicative of the measured parameters, the measured parameters being indicative of energy consumption of a luminaire with which the luminaire controller is associated and of the luminaire controller itself; and

a central processing module connected to receive the output signals indicative of the measured parameters and for providing metered values of the mains supply connected to the mains input module.

5. A luminaire controller according to claim 4, comprising:

a memory for storing the metered values.

6. A luminaire controller according to claim 4, comprising:

a communications module connected to the central processing module, the communications module being operable for receiving the metered values from the central processing module and for transmitting the metered values to a remote location.

7. A luminaire controller according to claim 6, wherein the communications module comprises:

a wireless communications module.

8. A luminaire controller according to claim 7, wherein the wireless communications module operates in accordance with ZigBee protocol.

9. A luminaire controller according to claim 4, comprising:

a power supply module for supplying power control signals to the associated luminaire.

10. A luminaire controller according to claim 4, wherein the metering circuit comprises:

a voltage measurement module and a current measurement module, the measured parameters comprising respective voltage and current output signals.

11. A luminaire controller according to claim 10, wherein the metering circuit comprises:

a processor connected to the voltage and current measurement circuits to receive the voltage and current output signals, and to provide signals representative of parameters derived from the voltage and current output signals.

12. An energy metered lighting system comprising:

at least one luminaire;

a luminaire controller for controlling operation of each luminaire, each luminaire controller comprising;

a mains input module connectable to a mains supply;

a metering circuit connected to the mains input module for measuring parameters of the mains supply input to the mains input module and for providing output signals indicative of the measured parameters, the measured parameters being indicative of energy consumption of a luminaire with which the luminaire controller is associated and of the luminaire controller itself;

a central processing module connected to receive the output signals indicative of the measured parameters and for providing metered values of the mains supply connected to the mains input module; and

a communications module connected to the central processing module, the communications module being operable for receiving the metered values from the central processing module; and

a management system being wirelessly connectable to each luminaire controller for receiving the metered values, the communications module being operable for transmitting the metered values to the management system, the management system including a memory for storing the received metered values.

13. An energy metered lighting system according to claim 12, wherein each luminaire controller is wirelessly connected to a segment controller for transmitting the metered values thereto, the segment controller being operable for collecting metered values from luminaire controllers within its segment and for transmitting the collected metered values to the management system.

14. An energy metered lighting system according to claim 12, comprising:

a web-based interface connectable to the management system via an internet connection, the web-based interface being operable for providing user access to the management system and for obtaining information relating to the lighting system therefrom.