Method and system for an electronically adaptive photometry for roadway lighting

• US 9,380,684 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2014
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Current Lighting Solutions, LLC (f/k/a GE Lighting Solutions, LLC) (American Industrial Partners)
• Original Assignee: GE Lighting Solutions LLC (Savant Systems, LLC)
• Inventors: Mayer, Mark J., Saha, Koushik, Payne, Kevin Carr
• Primary Examiner(s): Tan, Vibol
• Application Number:
  US14/252,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20150296597A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/12 by screwing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0464 the sensor sensing the level of ambient illumination, e.g. dawn or dusk sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/005 with an elongated shape to cooperate with linear light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/04 Optical design
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/10 Construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/103 of streets or roads
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/00 Combination of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/72 in street lighting

Abstract

Provided is an outdoor lighting assembly including at least one lighting arrays having one or more light sources configured for lighting a plurality of zones. At least one controller is operatively coupled to the at least one lighting array. The controller is configured to independently change optical outputs of the one or more light sources in each of the zones.

Claims

1. An outdoor lighting assembly, comprising:

a multi-part reflector configured to reflect light in a plurality of lighting zones from the plurality of light sources;

at least one lighting array including a plurality of light sources configured for lighting the plurality of lighting zones; and

at least one controller (i) operatively coupled to the plurality of light sources and (ii) configured to receive a single control signal including data associated with each of the plurality of light sources of the at least one lighting array, and to independently control and adjust each of the plurality of light sources based the single control signal; and

wherein responsive to the received single control signal, the controller produces output signals for all of the plurality of light sources, wherein each output signal includes characteristics corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of light sources, and

wherein optical outputs of each of the plurality of light sources are controlled in accordance with the respective characteristics thereof based on the output signal received at each of the plurality of light sources.

2. The outdoor lighting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one controller comprises at least one printed circuit board operative to addressably control the lighting of the plurality of lighting zones.

3. The outdoor lighting assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least the plurality of light sources are arranged to have a nadir direction for illuminating at least one area within the plurality of lighting zones to define nadir zones.

4. The outdoor lighting assembly of claim 3, wherein the at least one controller is configured to process telemetry data inputs to control optical outputs in at least one of the nadir zones and horizon zones.

5. The outdoor lighting assembly of claim 4, wherein the telemetry data inputs are stored in at least one of a group of a data table, a base station, a mobile robotic unit, and a satellite.

6. The outdoor lighting assembly of claim 5, wherein the at least one printed circuit board having at least one jumper, the at least one jumper having leads connected to the at least one or more light sources;

the at least one jumper in electronically operative arrangement with at least one connector;

the at least one printed circuit board having programmable units for controlling optical outputs in at least one of the nadir zones and the horizon zones to effectuate changing light source characteristics;

wherein the programmable units have at least one first input for controlling optical outputs within predetermined angle ranges within the nadir zones;

wherein the programmable units have at least one second input for controlling optical outputs within the horizon zone to electronically change optical output within predetermined angle ranges within the horizon zone; and

wherein the at least one first input and the at least one of a plurality of second inputs operate to automatically or manually control optical outputs of the plurality of light sources based on dynamic or predetermined scenic conditions.

7. The outdoor lighting assembly according to claim 6, wherein scenic conditions are converted into computer readable data usable to trigger optical output change operations.

8. The outdoor lighting assembly according to claim 7 wherein the outdoor lighting assembly is configured to have a radio-frequency transmitter for transmitting telemetry information to other outdoor lighting assemblies having telemetry receivers using received telemetry data to change optical outputs in nadir zones and horizon zones of the other outdoor lighting assemblies by triggering other luminance change operations in the other outdoor lighting assemblies.

9. The outdoor lighting assembly according to claim 8 wherein the at least one controller operates to independently address the at least one lighting array.

10. A method of controlling distribution of light to an outdoor lighting assembly including at least one lighting array including a plurality of light sources configured for lighting a plurality of lighting zones, the method comprising:

reflecting, via a multi-part reflector light in a plurality of lighting zones from the plurality of light sources;

receiving a single control signal, via a controller coupled to the plurality of light sources, the single control signal including data associated with each of the plurality of light sources of the at least one lighting array, to independently control and adjust each of the plurality of light sources;

processing the received single control signal to produce output signals for all of the plurality of light sources, wherein each output signal includes having characteristics corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of light sources; and

controlling optical outputs of each of the plurality of light sources in accordance with the respective characteristics thereof based on the output signal received at each of the plurality of light sources.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the controlling includes distributing light to each of the plurality of lighting zones, respectively.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the outdoor lighting assembly includes one or more modules configured for driving the plurality of light sources.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the outdoor lighting assembly includes one or more modules configured for driving the the plurality of light sources, respectively.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the control signal is user programmable.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the processing includes determining at least one from the group including a voltage level and a modulation level of the control signal.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the characteristic includes at least one from the group including intensity, and distribution angle.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the the plurality of light sources include light emitting diodes (LEDs).

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more modules include LED drivers;

and

wherein the LED drivers in the controller are integrated into a single module.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the controlling includes changing the characteristics of each of the plurality of light sources.