Sustainable outdoor lighting system for use in environmentally photo-sensitive area

• US 8,401,231 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2010
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BioLogical Illumination, LLC
• Original Assignee: BioLogical Illumination, LLC
• Inventors: Maxik, Fredric S., Bartine, David E., Soler, Robert R., Bastien, Valerie Ann, Schellack, James Lynn, Grove, Eliza Katar
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta, Bhavesh M
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANSARI, TAHMINA N
• Application Number:
  US12/942,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20120112640A1
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 382/103
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 35/00 Electric light sources using a combination of different types of light generation
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/18 using temperature feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/125 by using cameras
• 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

Provided herein are systems and methods for outdoor lighting, which generally include two or more light sources. One light source is a monochromatic light source producing a light with a peak wavelength of about 580 nm or above. A second light source is a polychromatic light source producing a green-tint white light. During a standby operational mode, a control system maintains the first light source illuminated. The control system, which includes an integrated imaging system, illuminates both the first light source and the second light source when the imaging system identifies a target in an illumination area. Methods of preparing and using such outdoor lighting system are also provided.

Claims

1. An environmentally sensitive outdoor lighting system, comprising:

a first light source that produces monochromatic light with a peak wavelength between about 580 nm and about 615 nm;

a second light source, wherein the second light source is a polychromatic LED light source producing a green-tint white light, and wherein illumination of both the first light source and the second light source produces a white light with a color rendering index of about 75 or above;

a control system electrically coupled to the first light source and the second light source; and

an imaging system integrated with the control system and providing an input to the control system, wherein the imaging system comprises a processor having image-recognition logic to differentiate between a target and another non-target moving object,

wherein the control system is programmed to illuminate the first light source in a standby operational mode, and illuminate both the first light source and the second light source when the imaging system detects a target within an illumination area; and

a communications module coupled to the control system, wherein the communications module provides external commands to the control system.

2. A method of providing outdoor lighting while minimizing spectral pollution, comprising:

providing a first light source and a second light source;

electrically coupling the first light source and the second light source to a control system, wherein the control system is integrated with an imaging system;

programming the control system to illuminate the first light source in a standby operational mode; and

programming the control system to illuminate both the first light source and the second light source when the imaging system detects a target within an illumination area,

wherein the first light source is a monochromatic light source producing light with a peak wavelength of about 580 nm or above, and wherein the second light source is a polychromatic LED light source producing a green-tint white light, and

wherein illumination of both the first light source and the second light source produces a white light with a color rendering index of about 75 or above.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the imaging system comprises a processor having image-recognition logic to differentiate between a target and another non-target moving object.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the imaging system comprises a CMOS image sensor.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

programming the control system to illuminate the first light source in a standby operational mode and maintain the second light source un-illuminated, despite the imaging system detecting a target, during an environmentally critical time period.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the environmentally critical time period is selected from the group consisting of:

sea turtle breeding periods, bird migration periods, plant growth periods, and plant activity cycles.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the imaging system comprises a CCD camera.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

coupling the control system to a communications module; and

programming the control system to illuminate both the first light source and the second light source in response to a command received from the communications module.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

transmitting a command to the communications module to illuminate the second light source during a security emergency.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the communications module is a wireless transducer.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the first light source is an LED light source.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the first light source is a low-pressure sodium light source.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein the first light source is an amber light source.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein the first light source produces monochromatic light with a peak wavelength between about 580 nm and about 660 nm.

15. An outdoor lighting system, comprising:

a first light source that produces monochromatic light with a peak wavelength above about 580 nm;

a second light source, wherein the second light source is a polychromatic LED light source producing a green-tint white light, and wherein illumination of both the first light source and the second light source produces a white light with a color rendering index about 75 or above;

a control system electrically coupled to the first light source and the second light source; and

an imaging system integrated with the control system and providing an input to the control system,

wherein the control system is programmed to illuminate the first light source in a standby operational mode, and illuminate both the first light source and the second light source when the imaging system detects a target within an illumination area.

16. The outdoor lighting system of claim 15, wherein the imaging system comprises a processor having image-recognition logic to differentiate between a target and another non-target moving object.

17. The outdoor lighting system of claim 15, wherein the imaging system comprises a CCD camera.

18. The outdoor lighting system of claim 15, wherein the imaging system comprises a CMOS image sensor.

19. The outdoor lighting system of claim 15, further comprising:

a communications module coupled to the control system, wherein the communications module provides external commands to the control system.

20. The outdoor lighting system of claim 15, wherein the communications module is a wireless transducer.

21. The outdoor lighting system of claim 15, wherein the first light source is an LED light source.

22. The outdoor lighting system of claim 15, wherein the first light source is a low-pressure sodium light source.

23. The outdoor lighting system of claim 15, wherein the first light source is an amber light source.

24. The outdoor lighting system of claim 15, wherein the first light source produces monochromatic light with a peak wavelength between about 580 nm and about 660 nm.

25. The outdoor lighting system of claim 15, wherein the first light source produces monochromatic light with a peak wavelength between about 580 nm and about 600 nm.

26. The outdoor lighting system of claim 15, wherein the control system is further programmed to illuminate the first light source in a standby operational mode, and maintain the second light source un-illuminated, despite the imaging system detecting a target, during an environmentally critical time period.

27. A method of providing environmentally sensitive outdoor lighting, comprising:

providing a first light source and a second light source on an outdoor fixture, wherein the first light source is a monochromatic light source producing light with a peak wavelength between about 580 nm and about 615 nm, and wherein the second light source is a polychromatic LED light source producing a green-tint white light;

electrically coupling the first light source and the second light source to a control system, wherein the control system is integrated with an imaging system, wherein the imaging system comprises a processor having image-recognition logic to differentiate between a target and another non-target moving object;

programming the control system to illuminate the first light source in a standby operational mode; and

programming the control system to illuminate both the first light source and the second light source when the imaging system detects a target within an illumination area, wherein illumination of both the first light source and the second light source produces a white light with a color rendering index of about 75 or above.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

programming the control system to illuminate the first light source in a standby operational mode and maintain the second light source un-illuminated, despite the imaging system detecting a target, during an environmentally critical time period.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the environmentally critical time period is selected from the group consisting of:

sea turtle breeding periods, bird migration periods, plant growth periods, and plant activity cycles.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

coupling the control system to a communications module; and

programming the control system to illuminate both the first light source and the second light source in response to a command received from the communications module.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

transmitting a command to the communications module to illuminate the second light source during a security emergency.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the communications module is a wireless transducer.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the first light source is an LED light source.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein the first light source is a low-pressure sodium light source.

35. A method of providing environmentally sensitive outdoor lighting, comprising:

providing a first light source and a second light source on an outdoor fixture, wherein the first light source is a monochromatic light source producing light with a peak wavelength between about 580 nm and about 615 nm, and wherein the second light source is a polychromatic LED light source producing a white light with a color rendering index of about 75 or above;

electrically coupling the first light source and the second light source to a control system, wherein the control system is integrated with an imaging system, wherein the imaging system comprises a processor having image-recognition logic to differentiate between a target and another non-target moving object;

programming the control system to illuminate the first light source in a standby operational mode; and

programming the control system to illuminate the second light source when the imaging system detects a target within an illumination area.

36. A lighting system, comprising:

means for producing monochromatic light with a peak wavelength between about 580 nm and about 615 nm;

means for producing a polychromatic green-tint white light, wherein the combined monochromatic and polychromatic light have a color rendering index of about 75 or above;

means for differentiating between a target and another non-target moving object; and

means for illuminating the means for producing monochromatic light during a standby operational mode, and illuminating both the means for producing monochromatic light and the means for producing a polychromatic light when the means for differentiating detects the within an illumination area.

37. The lighting system of claim 36, further comprising:

means for providing an external command to the means for illuminating.