Method for controlling a streetlight

• US 9,253,853 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2010
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schreder SA
• Original Assignee: Schreder SA
• Inventors: Schrder, Helmut, Brand, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Lam, Tuan T
• Application Number:
  US13/994,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20130313992A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,873 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/20 Responsive to malfunctions or to light source life; for protection
• 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

A method for controlling a streetlight that is provided to illuminate a portion of the street, the method being performed by a controlling device having a memory accessible by a processor which controls a steering module which steering module is operatively coupled to the streetlight.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a streetlight that is provided to illuminate a portion of a street, the method being performed by a controlling device having a memory accessible by a processor which controls a steering module, which steering module is operatively coupled to the streetlight, the method comprising:

storing in said memory a predetermined maximum illumination intensity value Imax for said portion of the street;

storing in said memory a maximum illumination intensity output value Omax of said streetlight;

storing in said memory input/output values of said streetlight, said input values being control signals for said streetlight and said output values being corresponding percentages of said maximum illumination intensity output value of said streetlight;

storing in said memory a maintenance factor Mf of said streetlight, said factor being a percentage of decrease of maximum illumination intensity output over a lifetime of said streetlight;

storing and keeping up-to-date in said memory a running hours value RH of said streetlight;

storing in said memory a maximum running hours value Mrh of said streetlight thereby defining the lifetime of the streetlight;

calculating in said processor an actual percentage of said maximum illumination intensity output value % actual of said streetlight by a formula;

2. The method for controlling a streetlight according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises:

storing in said memory an illumination percentage % ill for said portion of the street, which is a percentage of said predetermined maximum illumination intensity value Imax;

a formula for calculating said % actual being;

3. The method for controlling a streetlight according to claim 1, wherein said controlling device comprises a communication module, the method comprising:

updating at least one parameter in the memory via said communication module.

4. The method for controlling a streetlight according to claim 1, wherein said controlling device comprises a clock, and the method comprises:

storing in said memory time values at which said streetlight is to be switched on and off; and

switching on and off said streetlight at said time values.

5. The method for controlling a streetlight according to claim 4, wherein said switching on said streetlight comprises:

for a predetermined warm-up time, steering said streetlight using said steering module to transmit a control signal relating to a maximum illumination intensity output so that for said predetermined warm-up time, said streetlight will warm up; and

after said predetermined warm-up time, steering said streetlight using said steering module to transmit said actual control signal to said streetlight.

6. The method for controlling a streetlight according to claim 2, wherein said controlling device comprises a communication module, the method comprising:

updating at least one parameter in the memory via said communication module.

7. The method for controlling a streetlight according to claim 2, wherein said controlling device comprises a clock, and the method comprises:

storing in said memory time values at which said streetlight is to be switched on and off; and

switching on and off said streetlight at said time values.

8. The method for controlling a streetlight according to claim 3, wherein said controlling device comprises a clock, and the method comprises:

storing in said memory time values at which said streetlight is to be switched on and off; and

switching on and off said streetlight at said time values.

9. The method for controlling a streetlight according to claim 7, wherein said switching on said streetlight comprises:

for a predetermined warm-up time, steering said streetlight using said steering module to transmit a control signal relating to a maximum illumination intensity output so that, for said predetermined warm-up time, said streetlight will warm up; and

after said predetermined warm-up time, steering said streetlight using said steering module to transmit said actual control signals to said streetlight.

10. The method for controlling a streetlight according to claim 8, wherein said switching on said streetlight comprises:

for a predetermined warm-up time, steering said streetlight using said steering module to transmit a control signal relating to a maximum illumination intensity output so that, for said predetermined warm-up time, said streetlight will warm up; and

after said predetermine warm-up time, steering said streetlight using said steering module to transmit said actual control signals to said streetlight.

11. An apparatus for controlling a streetlight that is provided to illuminate a portion of a street, the apparatus comprising:

a specially programmed processor for controlling a steering for module that, in operation, is coupled to the streetlight; and

a memory accessible by the processor for non-transitory storing of a program for execution by the processor to control the streetlight via the steering module, the memory including;

a predetermined maximum illumination intensity value Imax for said portion of the street;

a maximum illumination intensity output value Omax of said streetlight;

input/output values of said streetlight, said input values being control signals for said streetlight and said output values being corresponding percentages of said maximum illumination intensity output value of said streetlight;

a maintenance factor Mf of said streetlight, said factor being the percentage of decrease of maximum illumination intensity output over the lifetime of said streetlight;

a running hours value RH of said streetlight;

a maximum running hours value Mrh of said streetlight thereby defining the lifetime of the streetlight;

said processor being configured to perform steps of;

calculating an actual percentage of said maximum illumination intensity output value % actual of said streetlight a formula;

12. A controlling device for controlling a streetlight, having a steering module and a lamp, the controlling device comprising:

a memory accessible by a processor which controls said steering module, said memory being operable for non-transitory storing of a program for execution by the processor to control the lamp via the steering module, the memory including;

a predetermined maximum illumination intensity value Imax for said portion of the street;

a maximum illumination intensity output value Omax of said streetlight;

input/output values of said street light, said input values being control signals for said streetlight and said output values being corresponding percentages of said maximum illumination intensity output value of said streetlight;

a maintenance factor Mf of said streetlight, said factor being a percentage of decrease of maximum illumination intensity output over a lifetime of said streetlight;

a running hours value RH of said streetlight;

a maximum running hours value Mrh of said streetlight thereby defining the lifetime of the streetlight; and

a specially programmed processor for controlling the lamp via the steering module, the processor being configured to perform steps of;

calculating an actual percentage of said maximum illumination intensity output value % actual of said streetlight by a formula;

13. The controlling device according to claim 12, further comprising:

a communication module through which parameters in said memory are updatable.

14. The controlling device according to claim 12, further comprising:

a clock for providing time values at which said streetlight is switched on and off.

15. The controlling device according to claim 13, further comprising:

a clock for providing time values at which said streetlight is switched on and off.