Sustainable outdoor lighting system and associated methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A light fixture comprising:
- a light source;
an ambient light sensor;
a traffic sensor having a detection field;
a microcontroller functionally coupled to the light source, the ambient light sensor, and the traffic sensor;
a housing disposed substantially about the light source; and
a support having a first end attached to the housing and a second end attached to a surface;
wherein the ambient light sensor is configured to measure an ambient light intensity;
wherein the microcontroller is programmed to determine if the ambient light intensity is approximately equal to or less than a threshold intensity;
wherein the light source is configured to emit light having an intensity proportional to the ambient light intensity;
wherein the traffic sensor is configured to make a measurement related to a target within the detection field;
wherein one of the traffic sensor and the microcontroller is configured to determine a distance of a target within the detection field;
wherein the microcontroller is configured to operate the light source to emit light within a wavelength range corresponding to a scotopic wavelength range when the target is within a first distance range;
wherein the microcontroller is configured to operate the light source to emit light within a wavelength range corresponding to a photopic wavelength range when the target is within a second distance range; and
wherein the second distance range is generally nearer the light fixture than the first distance range.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A light fixture is described that measures the ambient light intensity and determines whether to provide illumination. The light fixture may further determine a traffic status proximate the fixture and adjust the illumination accordingly. A network of light fixtures is also provided, the light fixtures communicating data to each other and determining illumination states therefrom.
-
Citations
71 Claims
-
1. A light fixture comprising:
-
a light source; an ambient light sensor; a traffic sensor having a detection field; a microcontroller functionally coupled to the light source, the ambient light sensor, and the traffic sensor; a housing disposed substantially about the light source; and a support having a first end attached to the housing and a second end attached to a surface;
wherein the ambient light sensor is configured to measure an ambient light intensity;wherein the microcontroller is programmed to determine if the ambient light intensity is approximately equal to or less than a threshold intensity; wherein the light source is configured to emit light having an intensity proportional to the ambient light intensity; wherein the traffic sensor is configured to make a measurement related to a target within the detection field; wherein one of the traffic sensor and the microcontroller is configured to determine a distance of a target within the detection field; wherein the microcontroller is configured to operate the light source to emit light within a wavelength range corresponding to a scotopic wavelength range when the target is within a first distance range; wherein the microcontroller is configured to operate the light source to emit light within a wavelength range corresponding to a photopic wavelength range when the target is within a second distance range; and wherein the second distance range is generally nearer the light fixture than the first distance range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A light fixture comprising:
-
a light source comprising a first light emitting element and a second light emitting element, the first light emitting element being configured to emit light having a first wavelength range that corresponds to a substantially scotopic wavelength range and the second light emitting element being configured to emit light having a second wavelength range that corresponds to a substantially photopic wavelength range; an ambient light sensor comprising a photovoltaic device; a traffic sensor having a detection field directed generally toward a street; a communication device a microcontroller functionally coupled to the light source, the ambient light sensor, the traffic sensor, and the communication device; a housing disposed substantially about the light source; and a support having a first end attached to the housing and a second end attached to a surface; wherein the ambient light sensor is configured to measure an ambient light intensity; wherein the microcontroller includes software configured to determine if the ambient light intensity is approximately equal to or less than a threshold intensity; wherein the light source is configured to emit light having an intensity proportional to the ambient light intensity; wherein the light source is configured to emit light having a first intensity and a second intensity; wherein each of the first light emitting element and second light emitting element comprise a cluster of light emitting diodes (LEDs); wherein the traffic sensor is selected from the group of traffic sensors consisting of optical sensor and acoustic sensor; wherein the traffic sensor is configured to measure a traffic status including at least one of traffic volume, traffic direction, and traffic speed; wherein the traffic sensor is configured to make a measurement related to a target within the detection field; wherein one of the traffic sensor and the microcontroller is configured to determine a distance based on the measurement of the traffic sensor; wherein the microcontroller is configured to operate the light source to emit light within the first wavelength range when the target is within a first distance range; wherein the microcontroller is configured to operate the light source to emit light within the second wavelength range when the target is within a second distance range; wherein the second distance range is generally nearer the light fixture than the first distance range; and wherein the communication device is a communication device selected from the group of communication devices consisting of radio devices, computer network devices, visible light devices, and acoustic devices. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A network of light fixtures comprising:
a plurality of light fixtures comprising; a light source; an ambient light sensor; a communication device; a traffic sensor having a detection field; a microcontroller functionally coupled to the light source, the ambient light sensor, the communication device, and the traffic sensor; a housing disposed substantially about the light source; and a support structure having a first end attached to the housing and a second end attached to a surface; wherein the ambient light sensor is configured to measure an ambient light intensity;
wherein the microcontroller is programmed to determine if the ambient light intensity is approximately equal to or less than a threshold intensity; and
wherein the light is configured to emit light having an intensity proportional to the ambient light intensity;wherein the traffic sensor is configured to make a measurement related to a target within the detection field; wherein one of the traffic sensor and the microcontroller is configured to determine a distance based on the measurement of the traffic sensor; wherein the microcontroller is configured to operate the light source to emit light within a wavelength range corresponding to a scotopic wavelength range when the target is within a first distance range; wherein the microcontroller is configured to operate the light source to emit light within a wavelength range corresponding to a photopic wavelength range when the target is within a second distance range; and wherein the second distance range is generally nearer the light fixture than the first distance range; and wherein the communication device of each of the plurality of light fixtures are configured to transmit data. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
33. A method of operating a light fixture that includes a light source, an ambient light sensor, and a traffic sensor having a detection field, comprising the steps of:
-
receiving an ambient light measurement from the ambient light sensor; determining if the ambient light measurement is at or below a threshold measurement; determining a distance of a target within the detection field; determining if the target is within one of a first distance range and a second distance range; and energizing the light source to emit a light responsive to both the ambient light measurement and the distance of the target; wherein the light source is energized to emit a light having an intensity that is proportional to the ambient light measurement; wherein the determination that the target is within the first distance range results in the step of energizing the light source to emit light within a wavelength range corresponding to a scotopic wavelength range; and wherein the determination that the target is within the second distance range results in the step of energizing the light source to emit light within a wavelength range corresponding to a photopic wavelength range; and wherein the second distance range is generally nearer the light fixture than the first distance range. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
-
-
44. A method of operating a light fixture including a light source, a traffic sensor having a detection field, and an ambient light sensor, the method comprising the steps of:
-
receiving an ambient light measurement from the ambient light sensor; determining if the light measurement reaches a threshold measurement; receiving a measurement from the traffic sensor indicating a traffic status, the traffic status including the distance of a target within the detection field; and energizing the light source to emit a light that is responsive to at least one of the traffic status and the ambient light measurement; wherein the light source is energized to a first state causing the light source to emit light having a wavelength range corresponding to a substantially scotopic wavelength range when the traffic status is within a first status range; and wherein the light source is energized to a second state causing the light source to emit light having a wavelength range corresponding to a substantially photopic wavelength range when the traffic status is within a second status range. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 71)
-
-
50. A method of operating a network of light fixtures including at least a first light fixture and a second light fixture, each light fixture including a light source, an ambient light sensor, a traffic sensor having a detection field, and a communication device, the method comprising the steps of:
-
receiving an ambient light measurement from the ambient light sensor of the first light fixture; determining if the light measurement reaches a threshold measurement; receiving a measurement from the traffic sensor of the first light fixture indicating a first traffic status including a distance of a target within the detection field; energizing the light source of the first light fixture to a state to emit a light that is proportional to at least one of the first traffic status and the ambient light measurement; transmitting data from the first light fixture to the second light fixture; receiving a measurement from the traffic sensor of the second light fixture indicating a second traffic status; determining a first estimated status by interpreting a combination of the data and the second traffic status including a distance of the target from the second light fixture; and energizing the light source of the second light fixture to a state to emit a light that is proportional to at least one of the second traffic status, the first estimated status, and the ambient light measurement; wherein the light source of each of the first light fixture and the second light fixture is energized to emit light within a wavelength range corresponding to a scotopic wavelength range when the target is within a first distance range; wherein the light source of each of the first light fixture and the second light fixture is energized to emit light within a wavelength range corresponding to a photopic wavelength range when the target is within a second distance range; and wherein the second distance range is generally nearer the respective light fixture than the first distance range. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
-
-
61. A method of operating a light fixture having a light source and a traffic sensor, the method comprising the steps of:
-
receiving a first target measurement from the traffic sensor; determining an approximate first distance from the first target measurement; energizing the light source to a first condition causing the light source to emit light having a wavelength range corresponding to a substantially scotopic wavelength range; receiving a second target measurement from the traffic sensor; determining an approximate second distance from the second target measurement; and energizing the light source to a second condition causing the light source to emit light having a wavelength range corresponding to a substantially photopic wavelength range wherein the second distance is generally nearer the light fixture than the first distance. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
-
Specification