Street lighting device for communicating with observers and associated methods

• US 9,255,670 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2014
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lighting Science Group Corporation (Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: Lighting Science Group Corporation (Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P.)
• Inventors: Zhou, Ran, Schellack, James Lynn, Oostdyk, Mark Andrew, Widjaja, Addy S., Maxik, Fredric S., Bartine, David E., Soler, Robert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Tracie Y
• Application Number:
  US14/275,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20140301070A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 362/153, 362/153.1, 404 9- 16, 340/815.9, 340/815.73, 340/815.74
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/60 Optical arrangements integrated in the light source, e.g. for improving the colour rendering index or the light extraction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/032 the surface being a floor or like ground surface, e.g. pavement
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/03 rechargeable by exposure to light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/006 the substrate being distinct from the light source holder
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/505 of reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/74 with fins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/02 for roads, paths or the like
• 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: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• 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 thoroughfare lighting device may include a housing configured to be attached to a thoroughfare surface, having a top surface, a proximal face, a distal face, and first and second opposing sidewalls, a driver circuit, a plurality of light-emitting diodes electrically coupled to the driver circuit comprising a first set of LEDs configured to emit a generally white light, and a second set of LEDs configured to emit colored light that is observable by an observer. The lighting device may also include an optic carried by the housing and positioned in optical communication with the plurality of LEDs. The color of light emitted by the second set of LEDs may be selectable to indicate a condition of the thoroughfare in a direction of travel of the observer. Additionally, the first sidewall may taper in a direction of the distal face.

Claims

1. A thoroughfare lighting device configured to be positioned adjacent to a thoroughfare comprising:

a housing comprising;

a base member,

a sidewall extending generally upwardly from the base member,

a driver circuit, and

a top section comprising an optic, a first set of LEDs configured to emit a generally white light, and a second set of LEDs configured to emit colored light, each of the first and second sets of LEDs being electrically coupled to the driver circuit;

a communication device electrically coupled to the driver circuit;

wherein the first set of LEDs are positioned so as to emit light at an angle below a plane that is parallel to a plane defined by a surface of the thoroughfare;

wherein the second set of LEDs are positioned so as to emit light at an angle approximately parallel to or above a plane that is parallel to the plane defined by the surface of the thoroughfare;

wherein the color of light emitted by the second set of LEDs is selected to indicate a condition of the associated thoroughfare in a direction of travel of the observer;

wherein the communication device is configured to receive information related to a condition of the thoroughfare; and

wherein the driver circuit is configured to operate the first and second sets of LEDs responsive to the information received from the communication device.

2. The thoroughfare lighting device according to claim 1 wherein the first and second of LEDs are configured to selectively illuminate individual lanes of the associated thoroughfare.

3. The thoroughfare lighting device according to claim 2 wherein the driver circuit is configured to operate the second set of LEDs to emit light so as to indicate a condition in a first lane of the associated thoroughfare and not indicate a condition in a second lane of the associated thoroughfare.

4. The thoroughfare lighting device according to claim 3 wherein the communication device is configured to receive information related to travel of an emergency vehicle including a lane of travel of the emergency vehicle;

and wherein the driver circuit is configured to selectively operate the second set of LEDs to indicate the lane of travel of the emergency vehicle.

5. The thoroughfare lighting device according to claim 1 further comprising a traffic sensor electrically coupled to the driver circuit;

wherein the traffic sensor is configured to sense a traffic pattern and generate information regarding traffic on the associated thoroughfare; and

wherein the driver circuit is configured to operate at least one of the first and second of LEDs responsive to the information generated by the traffic sensor.

6. The thoroughfare lighting device according to claim 5 wherein the communication device is configured to transmit the information generated by the traffic sensor to at least one of another thoroughfare lighting device and a traffic monitoring center.