Distributed street lights monitoring, command and control combined with solar photo voltaic cell

• US 9,215,778 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2013
• Issued: 12/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Petra Solar, Inc. (Petra Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Petra Solar, Inc. (Petra Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Amarin, Ruba Akram, Kutkut, Nasser
• Primary Examiner(s): CRAWFORD, JASON
• Application Number:
  US14/059,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20140111098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 315149-152, 362/145, 362/183, 320/DIG.36, 320/101, 136/206
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/22 with communication between the lamps and a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/72 in street lighting

Abstract

Monitoring, command, control, and management of a street light may be provided. First, an amount of light may be determined. Next, a status of the street light may be determined based on the determined amount of light. Then, a current status of the street light may be determined. The current status may be compared with the determined status. Based on the comparison, the current status of the street light may be altered.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining an amount of light, wherein determining the amount of light comprises;

determining an amount of energy generated by a solar panel over a period of time, the solar panel located in proximity to a street light and configured to supply energy to the street light; and

determining the amount of light based on the amount of energy generated by the solar panel;

determining a status of the street light based on the determined amount of light;

determining a current status of the street light;

comparing the current status with the determined status; and

altering, based on the comparison, the current status of the street light.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the amount of light based on the amount of energy generated by the solar panel comprises:

receiving a mapping table of the amount of energy generated and the amount of light; and

performing a lookup operation in the mapping table to determine the amount of light.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the amount of energy generated comprises determining the amount of energy generated from the solar panel wherein the solar panel is mounted on the street light.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the status of the street light based on the determined amount of light comprises determining the status of the street light based on the determined amount of light and a lighting policy wherein the lightening policy comprises a mapping of the amount of light and the status of the street light corresponding to the amount of light.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the status of the street light based on the determined amount of light comprises determining the status of the street light based on the determined amount of light and a lighting policy wherein the lightening policy comprises dusk to down schedule.

6. A system comprising:

a street light, and

a controller connected to the street light, wherein the controller is configured to;

determine an amount of light wherein the controller being configured to determine the amount of light comprises the controller being configured to;

determine an amount of energy generated by a solar panel located in proximity to the street light and configured to supply energy to the street light;

perform a lookup operation in a first table comprising a mapping of the amount of energy and the amount of light, and

determine the amount of light based on the lookup operation;

determine a status of the street light based on the determined amount of light;

determine a current status of the street light;

compare the current status and the determined status; and

alter, based on the comparison, the current status of the street light.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to receive the first table from a network operation center.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to receive the first table from the network operation center from a smart grid communication interface.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the determined amount of energy generated by the solar panel comprises a moving average of the amount of energy generated by the solar panel.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein determining the status of the street light based on the determined amount of light comprises:

receiving a second table comprising a mapping of the amount of light and the status of the street light corresponding to the amount of light; and

performing a lookup operation in the second table to determine the status of the street light.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the second table is received as a lightning from a network operation center.

12. A system comprising:

a network operation system configured to manage a plurality of street lights, the network operation center comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions which when executed by the processor cause the network operation center to;

determine an amount of light associated with a predetermined geographical area, wherein determining the amount of light associated with the predetermined geographical area comprises;

determining an amount of energy generated from at least one solar panel over a period of time, the at least one solar panel located in the predetermined geographical area, the at least one solar panel configured to supply energy to a one of the plurality of street lights, and

determining the amount of light based on the received amount of energy generated;

determine a status of the plurality of street lights in the predetermined geographical area based on the determined amount of light; and

generate commands to change the current status of each of the plurality of street lights to the determined status.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the instructions which when executed by the processor further cause the network operation center to:

determine at least one access point located in the predetermined geographical area; and

send the generated commands to the at least one access point.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one access point is configured to forward the generated commands to a plurality of controllers wherein each of the plurality of controllers are configured to a control the current status of the one of the plurality of street lights.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of controllers are further configured to:

compare the current status of the one of the plurality of street lights; and

change the current status to the determined status based on the comparison.