Systems, methods, and devices for providing a luminaire inductively coupled to a power transmission line

• US 9,307,591 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2014
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Industries Holdings Ireland
• Inventors: Haensgen, Gregg James, Banting, John Fredrick
• Primary Examiner(s): CAVALLARI, DANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US14/215,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20140268701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/085 of high-built type, e.g. street light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/02 the elements being transformers, impedances or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/103 of streets or roads
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3725 Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/375 using buck topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/38 using boost topology

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices for providing a luminaire inductively coupled to a power transmission line include a current transformer containing a plurality of tap points, and a plurality of tap switches that can be coupled to the tap points. The plurality of tap switches are connected to a microcontroller. Further, the systems, methods, and devices include an energy storage device, and LED light source(s). In some instances the current transformer powers the LED light source(s), and in other instances, the current transformer charges the energy storage device and the energy storage device in turn powers the LED light source(s), and in yet other instances, a combination of powering directly from the current transformer or energy storage device may be switched back and forth depending on a variety of parameters.

Claims

1. An outdoor luminaire comprising:

a housing that is mechanically coupled to a power transmission line;

at least one light source coupled to the housing;

a current transformer to inductively couple the at least one light source to the power transmission line and comprising at least one tap point; and

at least one tap switch coupled to the at least one tap point and controlled by a microcontroller,

wherein the at least one light source is dimmed based at least in part on a selective engagement of the at least one tap switch by the microcontroller.

2. The outdoor luminaire of claim 1, wherein the housing houses the current transformer containing the at least one tap point.

3. The outdoor luminaire of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source comprises an LED light source.

4. The outdoor luminaire of claim 1, wherein the housing is mechanically coupled to the power transmission line by being clamped around the power transmission line.

5. The outdoor luminaire of claim 1, further comprising:

an energy storage device,

wherein the current transformer charges the energy storage device and the energy storage device powers the at least one light source; and

a photosensor connected to the microcontroller,

wherein the photosensor provides an indication to the microcontroller for when the energy storage device is to be engaged to power the light source.

6. An outdoor luminaire, comprising:

a housing that is configured to mechanically couple to a power transmission line;

at least one light source coupled to the housing,

wherein the at least one light source is powered by a current transformer, wherein the current transformer is configured to inductively couple to the power transmission line; and

a communication module powered by the current transformer,

wherein the communication module is configured to wirelessly broadcast status data associated with one or more operating parameters of the outdoor luminaire.

7. An outdoor luminaire, comprising:

a housing that is configured to mechanically couple to a power transmission line;

at least one light source coupled to the housing

a current transformer configured to inductively couple the at least one light source to the power transmission line;

an energy storage device,

wherein the current transformer charges the energy storage device and the energy storage device powers the at least one light source; and

at least one of a photosensor and a motion sensor connected to a microcontroller,

wherein the at least one of the photosensor and the motion sensor are configured to provide an indication to the microcontroller for when to engage the energy storage device to power the light source.

8. A luminaire comprising:

a current transformer containing a plurality of tap points;

a plurality of tap switches that are adapted to be coupled to the plurality of tap points,

wherein the plurality of tap switches are coupled to a microcontroller; and

at least one LED light source.

9. The luminaire of claim 8, further comprising an energy storage device, wherein the current transformer charges the energy storage device and the energy storage device powers the at least one LED light source.

10. The luminaire of claim 9, further comprising:

a photosensor connected to the microcontroller, wherein the photosensor provides an indication to the microcontroller for when to engage the energy storage device to power the LED light source.

11. The luminaire of claim 9, further comprising:

a motion sensor connected to the microcontroller, wherein the motion sensor provides an indication to the microcontroller for when to engage the energy storage device to power the LED light source.

12. The luminaire of claim 8, wherein the current transformer is inductively coupled to a power transmission line.

13. The luminaire of claim 8, wherein the luminaire is clamped to a power transmission line.

14. The luminaire of claim 8, wherein the at least one LED light source is dimmable based at least in part on selective engagement of one or more of the plurality of tap switches by the microcontroller.

15. The luminaire of claim 8, wherein the current transformer and the at least one LED light source are located each in separate housings.