ROAD ILLUMINATION SYSTEM

• US 20140320025A1
• Filed: 12/19/2012
• Published: 10/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daniel Assoulin
• Original Assignee: Daniel Assoulin
• Inventors: Assoulin, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US14/366,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20140320025A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/154
• 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 23/0471 the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/103 of streets or roads
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A road illumination system having sensors detecting approaching vehicles and operating thereupon and via a controller switches associated with street lights is provided herein. The system turns street lights off when no vehicles are present and spares thereby electricity. The system activates the street lights groupwise, to supply enough illumination with a minimal amount and complexity of equipment. The system further has an extended ability to identify malfunctioning and exceptional situations, in which is activates the street lights continuously. The system is a distributed wireless one, and may be configured remotely.

Claims

1. A road illumination system comprising:

at least one sensor arranged to detect an approaching vehicle on a road;

a plurality of switches, each associated with a street light and arranged to switch the street light on and off; and

a controller arranged to receive a vehicle detection from the at least one sensor and activate, via a communication link, switches associated with a specified group of street lights for a specified period, wherein an activation speed is higher than a maximal vehicle speed,

wherein the specified group comprises at least the street lights within the shorter of;

the distance of one kilometer ahead of the vehicle; and

the distance between the vehicle and the vehicle'"'"'s horizon, and the specified period is at least an estimated travelling period across the specified group of street lights,

wherein each switch is arranged to switch off its associated street light, after a specified period in which no activation signal is received from the controller, and

wherein each switch is further arranged to switch on constantly its associated street light, upon detection of malfunctioning of the communication link.

2. The road illumination system of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one sensor comprises at least one pair of a first sensor and a consecutive second sensor,

the controller is further arranged to identify a detection error of the first sensor by receiving a detection from the second sensor without prior detection by the first sensor, and

the controller is further arranged to activate the street lights positioned between the first and the second sensors, via the respective switches, continuously.

3. The road illumination system of claim 1, wherein the controller is arranged to switch off street lights singly or groupwise after a period with no passing vehicles or a specified distance after the last vehicle has passed.

4. The road illumination system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface communicating with and allowing configuration of the controller.

5. The road illumination system of claim 1, wherein a specified number of street lights after each sensor use LED lamps.

6. The road illumination system of claim 1, wherein the communication link comprises a hop-by-hop distributed communication link between one or more of the sensors and the switches.

7. A road illumination method comprising:

detecting approaching vehicles,

calculating an illumination distance,

activating street lights to illuminate the calculated distance,

controlling street lights groupwise,

turning off street lights behind last vehicles,

identifying loss of communication, and

operating the street light continuously upon malfunction identification.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the activating is carried out by communicating with the street lights via a wireless communication link.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising identifying malfunctioning sensors and identifying malfunctioning switches, and operating the street light continuously upon malfunction identification.