Device and method for controlling streetlights

• US 8,081,801 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2010
• Issued: 12/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Hou-Hsien, Lee, Chang-Jung, Lo, Chih-Ping
• Primary Examiner(s): Tabatabai, Abolfazl
• Application Number:
  US12/853,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20110235857A1
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 382/104, 340/555, 340/641, 340/918, 340/982, 701/25, 701/93, 701/201, 701/202, 701/211, 405/57
• US Class Current: 382/104
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/125 by using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A method for controlling streetlights located at a streetlight control area using a streetlight power control system controls an image capturing device to capture digital images of at least one route section of the streetlight control area at a predetermined interval. Light of a streetlight corresponding to the streetlight power controller is automatically adjusted by turning on or off the streetlight and by increasing or decreasing the intensity of the streetlight.

Claims

1. A streetlight power controller, comprising:

an image capturing device operable to capture digital images of at least one route section of a streetlight control area at a predetermined interval, the route section comprising a first terminal and a second terminal;

a speed meter, a storage system, and at least one processor; and

a power management unit stored in the storage system and executable by the at least one processor, the power management unit comprising;

an image analysis module operable to detect whether a moving object approaches the first terminal of the route section, and to determine the second terminal of the route section based on movement of the moving object from the digital images;

a route determination module operable to control the speed meter to detect a speed of the moving object, and to calculate an estimated departure time of the moving object departing from the first terminal and an estimated arrival time of the moving object arriving at the second terminal based on the speed of the moving object and a route distance of the route section; and

a power control module operable to automatically adjust the intensity of a corresponding streetlight of the first terminal of the route section on the estimated departure time.

2. The streetlight power controller according to claim 1, wherein the power control module is further operable to turn off the streetlight of the first terminal or to decrease the intensity of the streetlight of the first terminal on the estimated departure time.

3. The streetlight power controller according to claim 1, wherein the power control module is operable to inform the streetlight power controller of the second terminal to automatically adjust the intensity of a corresponding streetlight of the second terminal on the estimated arrival time.

4. The streetlight power controller according to claim 3, wherein the power control module is further operable to turn on the streetlight of the second terminal or to increase the intensity of the streetlight of the second terminal on the estimated arrival time.

5. The streetlight power controller according to claim 1, wherein the image capturing device is a digital camera or a video camera for capturing the digital images in day or night.

6. A method for controlling streetlights located in a streetlight control area, each of the streetlights connecting to a streetlight power controller, the method comprising:

controlling an image capturing device of the streetlight power controller to capture digital images of at least one route section of the streetlight control area at a predetermined interval, the route section comprising a first terminal and a second terminal;

detecting whether a moving object approaches the first terminal of the route section from the digital images;

determining the second terminal of the route section based on movement of the moving object from the digital images upon the condition that the moving object approaching the first terminal;

controlling a speed meter of the streetlight power controller to detect a speed of the moving object;

calculating an estimated departure time of the moving object departing from the first terminal and an estimated arrival time of the moving object arriving at the second terminal based on the speed of the moving object and a route distance of the route section; and

automatically adjusting the intensity of a corresponding streetlight of the first terminal of the route section on the estimated departure time.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the corresponding streetlight of the first terminal is adjusted by turning off the streetlight of the first terminal or decreasing the intensity of the streetlight of the first terminal.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

informing the streetlight power controller of the second terminal to automatically adjust the intensity of a corresponding streetlight of the second terminal on the estimated arrival time.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the corresponding streetlight of the second terminal is adjusted by turning on the streetlight of the second terminal or increasing the intensity of the streetlight of the second terminal on the estimated arrival time.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein the host computer stores positions of terminals of the route sections in the streetlight control area, and the route distances of the route sections.

11. A non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a least one microprocessor of a streetlight power controller, causes the streetlight power controller to perform a method for controlling streetlights located in a streetlight control area, each of the streetlights connecting to a streetlight power controller, the method comprising:

controlling an image capturing device of the streetlight power controller to capture digital images of at least one route section of the streetlight control area at a predetermined interval, the route section comprising a first terminal and a second terminal;

detecting whether a moving object approaches the first terminal of the route section from the digital images;

determining the second terminal of the route section based on movement of the moving object from the digital images upon the condition that the moving object approaching the first terminal;

controlling a speed meter of the streetlight power controller to detect a speed of the moving object;

calculating an estimated departure time of the moving object departing from the first terminal and an estimated arrival time of the moving object arriving at the second terminal based on the speed of the moving object and a route distance of the route section; and

automatically adjusting the intensity of a corresponding streetlight of the first terminal of the route section on the estimated departure time.

12. The storage medium according to claim 11, wherein the corresponding streetlight of the first terminal is adjusted by turning off the streetlight of the first terminal or decreasing the intensity of the streetlight of the first terminal.

13. The storage medium according to claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

informing the streetlight power controller of the second terminal to automatically adjust the intensity of a corresponding streetlight of the second terminal on the estimated arrival time.

14. The storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the corresponding streetlight of the second terminal is adjusted by turning on the streetlight of the second terminal or increasing the intensity of the streetlight of the second terminal on the estimated arrival time.

15. The storage medium according to claim 11, wherein the host computer stores positions of terminals of the route sections in the streetlight control area, and the route distances of the route sections.