Sustainable outdoor lighting system

• US 8,308,318 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2009
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• 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, Fredric S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Neils, Peggy A.
• Application Number:
  US12/434,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20100277097A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 362/84, 362/231, 362/276, 362/802, 362/249.02, 362/153.1
• 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 street light, the method comprising:

utilizing a sensor disposed in signal communication with a controller to determine whether a critical time period exists, the critical time period being when a vehicle approaches a roadway intersection;

determining whether a non-critical time period exists utilizing a controller, the non-critical time period being a time period other than the critical time period;

if the controller determines that a non-critical time period exists, then energizing one or more first light emitting elements thereby generating primary illumination of a first wavelength range over a target area of the street utilizing the controller, the first wavelength range extending from 560 nm to 610 nm; and

if the controller via the sensor has determined that a critical period exists, then both energizing one or more second light emitting elements thereby generating secondary illumination of a second wavelength range toward the target area of the street, the second wavelength range extending from either 500 nm to 550 nm or from 610 nm to 660 nm, and energizing the one or more first light emitting elements thereby generating the primary illumination of the first wavelength range over the target area utilizing the controller, such that both the primary illumination and the secondary illumination are combined within at least a portion of the target area of the street thereby enhancing at least one visual property within the at least a portion of the target area of the street during the critical time period.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. The method of claim 5, 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. The method of claim 1, wherein when both the primary illumination and the secondary illumination are combined, the at least one visual property is enhanced under scotopic conditions within the at least a portion of the target area of the street.

7. A system for generating street light, the system comprising:

a sensor configured to determine whether a critical time period or a non-critical time period exists, the critical time period being when a vehicle approaches a roadway intersection, the non-critical time period being a time period other than the critical time period;

a controller disposed in signal communication with the sensor and configured to determine whether the sensor is activated, activation of the sensor being indicative of the existence of a critical time period;

if the sensor is not activated, then the controller is configured to generate a signal to induce one or more first light emitting elements to generate primary illumination of a first wavelength range over a target area of the street, the first wavelength range extending from 560 nm to 610 nm; and

if the sensor is activated indicating a critical time period, then the controller is further configured to generate another signal to induce one or more second light emitting elements to generate secondary illumination of a second wavelength range toward the target area of the street, the second wavelength range extending from either 500 nm to 550 nm or from 610 nm to 660 nm, and to induce the one or more first light emitting elements to generate the primary illumination of the first wavelength range over the target area of the street, such that the primary illumination and the secondary illumination are combinable within at least a portion of the target area of the street thereby enhancing at least one visual property within the at least a portion of the target area of the street during the critical time period.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one visual property comprises at least one of:

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

9. The system of claim 7, 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 system of claim 7, 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 system of claim 7, 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 system of claim 11, wherein the one or more first light emitting elements and the one or more second light emitting element each comprise at least one of:

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