Photoelectric controller for electric street lighting
First Claim
1. A method for determining a failure in a street light having a street light controller monitoring apparatus having a particular information signature, recording the data, and storing the data for retrieval, the method comprising:
- a) applying a specific frequency activation signal and a code key from an exciter positioned proximate to the street light controller monitoring apparatus;
b) detecting a data signal at the exciter from the street light controller monitor, said data signal produced by modulating a specific frequency in response to a measured current parameter;
c) receiving at the exciter the street light controller data from the data signal;
d) associating the street light controller current magnitude with the information signature for said street light controller monitor unit; and
e) storing the data and phase conductor information in the memory of the exciter for downloading to a host computer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electric street light controller apparatus and monitoring method allows automatic street light turn-on and turn-off characteristics to be field programmable using RFID technology, lamp current magnitude recording, auxiliary sensor input, diagnostic alarming and data storage for later retrieval in a remote electric street lighting monitoring system. The apparatus and method includes, from a remotely located exciter apparatus using an antenna to transmit a specific frequency and code key to the antenna of an electric street light control and monitoring apparatus associated with the electric street light allowing remote wireless field programming of turn-on light levels, turn-off light levels, rate of change of light levels, specific turn-on, turn-off, and turn back on sequences during dark hours, and specific remote wireless sensors or internal sensor inputs useful for radiological, biological, chemical, or environmental sensing and alarming. Additionally the method and apparatus includes a method of providing automatic diagnostics for the street lamp bulb, starter and self diagnostics of the controller itself.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for determining a failure in a street light having a street light controller monitoring apparatus having a particular information signature, recording the data, and storing the data for retrieval, the method comprising:
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a) applying a specific frequency activation signal and a code key from an exciter positioned proximate to the street light controller monitoring apparatus; b) detecting a data signal at the exciter from the street light controller monitor, said data signal produced by modulating a specific frequency in response to a measured current parameter; c) receiving at the exciter the street light controller data from the data signal; d) associating the street light controller current magnitude with the information signature for said street light controller monitor unit; and e) storing the data and phase conductor information in the memory of the exciter for downloading to a host computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An integrated remote monitoring system for monitoring en an electric street light, the monitoring system comprising:
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a) a microcontroller unit; b) an antenna coupled to the microcontroller unit; c) receiving means connected to the microcontroller unit; d) transmitting means connected to the microcontroller unit; e) at least one sensor input connected to at least one external sensor; f) a super capacitor for electrically powering the integrated monitoring system during a loss of power to said streetlight , said super capacitor being capable of being charged from multiple power sources including radio frequency energy transmitted by an exciter. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for remotely monitoring an electric street light, the method comprising:
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a) providing at least one street light photocontroller and monitor integrally coupled to said street light, said street light photocontroller and monitor comprising a microcontroller, an antenna coupled to said microcontroller, and at least one sensor coupled to a microcontroller; b) obtaining input data on the present condition of the streetlight by way of the at least one sensor; c) transmitting the input data from said at least one sensor to said microcontroller; d) comparing said input data to a set of baseline data stored in non-volatile EEPROM memory in said microcontroller; e) generating a fault indicator warning condition if said input data is outside of said baseline data; f) transmitting an electronic signal containing said fault indicator warning through the antenna; g) holding all data in said non-volatile EEPROM memory during a power loss. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of monitoring parametric data in a network of electric Street light controllers, the method comprising:
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a) providing at least one remote monitoring node including at least one programmable radio frequency identification (RFID) device wherein each streetlight controller contain an REID device; b) obtaining parametric data from said electric street light controller network; c) imputing said parametric data into the at least one monitoring node; d) storing said parametric data on the at least one programmable RFID device; e) querying said at least one programmable REID device for said parametric data. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification