OUTDOOR FLUORESCENT LIGHTING FIXTURES AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20110060701A1
• Filed: 09/03/2010
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Verfuerth, Neal R., Wetenkamp, Kenneth J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,866,582 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/500
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/033 the surface being a wall or like vertical structure, e.g. building facade
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/036 by means of a rigid support, e.g. bracket or arm
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/086 with lighting device attached sideways of the standard, e.g. for roads and highways
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/088 with lighting device mounted on top of the standard, e.g. for pedestrian zones
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/02 Wall, ceiling, or floor bases; Fixing pendants or arms to the bases F21V21/08 takes precedence; bases for movable standing lamps F21V21/06
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/116 Fixing lighting devices to arms or standards F21V21/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0471 the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0478 by means of an image recording device, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/10 Outdoor lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/103 of streets or roads
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/107 of the exterior of buildings
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/00 Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/02 Signs, boards, or panels, illuminated by artificial light sources positioned in front of the insignia
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 15/00 Boards, hoardings, pillars, or like structures for notices, placards, posters, or the like

Abstract

A system for mounting an outdoor fluorescent lamp lighting fixture to a pole includes a compression sleeve configured to receive and tighten around the pole, a pivot base fixed to the compression sleeve, a mount configured for securing to the fluorescent lamp lighting fixture and for pivotally coupling to the pivot base, where the mount includes multiple adjustment points configured to allow the mount to be fixed at varying angles relative to the pivot base.

Claims

1. A system for mounting a fluorescent lamp lighting fixture to a pole, comprising:

a compression sleeve configured to receive and tighten around the pole;

a pivot base fixed to the compression sleeve;

a mount configured for securing to the fluorescent lamp lighting fixture and for pivotally coupling to the pivot base;

wherein the mount includes a plurality of adjustment points configured to allow the mount to be fixed at varying angles relative to the pivot base.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the adjustment points are a plurality of pin holes.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the mount includes an opening and is configured to receive a panel to cover the opening.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the mount is configured to house electronics and the panel is configured for removal for providing user access to the electronics without requiring a user to decouple the mount from the fluorescent lamp lighting fixture.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the mount is configured to rotate at least forty-five degrees relative to the pivot base.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the mount is configured to rotate about ninety degrees relative to the pivot base.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the mount is configured to rotate no more than ninety degrees relative to the pivot base.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the mount includes a side wall which covers a portion of the pivot base when the mount is coupled to the pivot base.

9. A mounting system for mounting an elongated fluorescent lamp lighting fixture to a pole, the mounting system comprising:

a mount having a saddle clamp configured to tighten around the pole, the mount configured to be secured to the fluorescent lamp lighting fixture and wherein the mount extends cross-wise to the length of the fluorescent lamp lighting fixture.

10. The mounting system of claim 9, wherein the fluorescent lamp lighting fixture has a length that is at least one and one-half times its width.

11. An outdoor lighting fixture, comprising:

a housing;

a mounting assembly coupled to the housing and configured for coupling to a pole for holding the outdoor lighting fixture above the ground;

a first ballast and a second ballast within the housing and configured to provide controlled current to a first lamp set and a second lamp set;

a circuit configured to cause the first lamp set to illuminate by default and to determine when the first lamp set has reached an end of life;

wherein the circuit is further configured to cause the second lamp set to illuminate rather than the first lamp set based on the determination that the first lamp set has reached the end of life.

12. The outdoor lighting fixture of claim 11, further comprising:

a photocell coupled to the housing and configured to provide an output signal to the circuit; and

wherein the circuit determines when the first lamp set has reached an end of life based on the output signal.

13. The outdoor lighting fixture of claim 11, wherein the first ballast is configured to provide a signal to the circuit indicative of the current provided to the first lamp set;

and wherein the circuit determines when the first lamp has reached an end of life based on the signal.

14. The outdoor lighting fixture of claim 11, wherein the circuit is configured to log the time of use of the first lamp set and to determine when the first lamp set has reached an end of life based on the log of the time of use.

15. The outdoor lighting fixture of claim 11, wherein the circuit is configured to transmit a message to a remote source indicating that the circuit has determined that the first lamp set has reached the end of life.

16. The outdoor lighting fixture of claim 11, wherein the circuit is configured to transmit the message via a wired communication link.

17. The outdoor lighting fixture of claim 11, further comprising a radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to transmit the message via RF communications.

18. The outdoor lighting fixture of claim 11, wherein the circuit is configured to log time of use of the second lamp set after the circuit has switched to using the second lamp set for illumination.

19. The outdoor lighting fixture of claim 11, wherein the circuit is further configured to determine transmit a message to a remote source representative of the time of use of the second lamp set after the time of use has reached a threshold indicating that the second lamp set is near the end of its life.

20. The outdoor lighting fixture of claim 11, wherein the circuit is configured to cause an indicator to change states when it has switched to illuminating the second lamp set.

21. An outdoor lighting fixture, comprising:

a mounting system configured for coupling to existing outdoor lamp poles;

a housing coupled to the mounting system and configured to at least partially surround at least one fluorescent lamp;

a wireless transceiver coupled to at least one of the mounting system and the housing; and

a processing circuit coupled to the wireless transceiver;

wherein the processing circuit is configured to compile a log of events for the fluorescent lamp, and wherein the processing circuit is configured to transmit data based on information from the log to at least one remote source via radio frequency communications.

22. The outdoor lighting fixture of claim 21, wherein the processing circuit is electrically coupled to a relay configured to provide power to at least one ballast for the fluorescent lamp.

23. The outdoor lighting fixture of claim 21, wherein the processing circuit is configured to control the on/off state of the at least one ballast using at least one of a timer, a photocell, and a command input.

24. The outdoor lighting fixture of claim 21, wherein the housing is configured to at least partially surround a first lamp set and a second lamp set.

25. The outdoor lighting fixture of claim 24, wherein the first lamp set is a primary lamp set and the second lamp set is a backup lamp set.

26. The outdoor lighting fixture of claim 24, wherein the circuit is configured to cause the first lamp set to illuminate by default and to determine when the first lamp set has reached an end of life.

27. The outdoor lighting fixture of claim 26, wherein the circuit is further configured to cause the second lamp set to illuminate rather than the first lamp set based on the determination that the first lamp set has reached the end of life.

28. The outdoor lighting fixture of claim 21, wherein the housing includes at least one vent configured to allow moisture to escape from the housing.

29. The outdoor lighting fixture of claim 28, wherein the vent is controlled by an element that allows the moisture to escape from the housing while preventing water from entering the housing when a vacuum develops within the housing.

30. The outdoor lighting fixture of claim 21, wherein the transceiver is configured to receive a command input from a remote source and the processing circuit is configured to implement the command input.

31. A method of replacing outdoor lighting fixtures, comprising:

identifying a municipality having a plurality of existing outdoor lighting fixtures;

estimating a number of the existing outdoor lighting fixtures;

estimating a cost of operating the existing outdoor lighting fixtures over a time period using actual or projected electricity rates;

determining a projected cost savings attainable over the time period by replacing the existing outdoor lighting fixtures with new fluorescent outdoor lighting fixtures;

generating at least one of a report or a graphical user interface displaying at least the projected cost savings; and

delivering new fluorescent outdoor lighting fixtures to the municipality.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of quantifying an actual cost savings to the municipality resulting from replacement of the existing outdoor lighting fixtures with the new fluorescent outdoor lighting fixtures.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising the step of establishing a purchase price for the new fluorescent outdoor lighting fixtures to the municipality based at least in part on the actual cost savings.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising the steps of generating a bill to the municipality based on the purchase price and transmitting the bill to the municipality.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of arranging for payment of the purchase price using the actual cost savings.

36. A system for illuminating a display, comprising:

an outdoor fluorescent lamp lighting fixture;

an adaptor configured for coupling to the display;

at least one of a compression sleeve or a saddle clamp securely engageable to the adaptor;

a pivot base coupled to the one of the compression sleeve or the saddle clamp;

a mount coupled to the fluorescent lamp lighting fixture and pivotally coupled to the pivot base, so that the outdoor fluorescent lamp lighting fixture is adjustably positionable in any one or more of a plurality of positions to illuminate the display.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the display comprises a billboard.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the adaptor is configured for placement proximate a lower edge of the display so that the outdoor fluorescent lamp lighting fixture projects light upwardly over the display.

39. The system of claim 38, further comprising a cover disposed over the outdoor fluorescent lamp lighting fixture.