Tethering indicator fixtures to illumination fixtures

A parking facility illumination and space indicator system includes a lighting fixture configured to emit an illumination light to illuminate a parking facility and an indicator fixture coupled to the lighting fixture by a first electrical cable. The indicator fixture is configured to indicate availability of one or more parking spaces in the parking facility. The system further includes a sensor coupled to the lighting fixture by a second electrical cable. The sensor is configured to sense availability of the one or more parking spaces for parking. The lighting fixture is configured to provide power to the indicator fixture over the first electrical cable and to the sensor over the second electrical cable. The indicator fixture indicates the availability of the one or more parking spaces based on space availability information from the sensor.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to lighting solutions, and more particularly to indicator fixtures tethered to lighting fixtures.

BACKGROUND

Many parking garages use indicator fixtures to indicate parking space availability. Parking garage space availability indicator systems are typically powered independently from parking garage lighting fixtures that are provided for illumination of parking garages. Adding a separate power infrastructure to a parking garage for space indicator fixtures may be expensive and/or structurally challenging. Thus, using the power infrastructure of the illumination lighting system of parking garages to power indicator fixtures may be desirable.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates generally to lighting solutions, and more particularly to indicator fixtures tethered to lighting fixtures. In an example embodiment, a parking facility illumination and space indicator system includes a lighting fixture configured to emit an illumination light to illuminate a parking facility and an indicator fixture coupled to the lighting fixture by a first electrical cable. The indicator fixture is configured to indicate availability of one or more parking spaces in the parking facility. The system further includes a sensor coupled to the lighting fixture by a second electrical cable. The sensor is configured to sense availability of the one or more parking spaces for parking. The lighting fixture is configured to provide power to the indicator fixture over the first electrical cable and to the sensor over the second electrical cable. The indicator fixture indicates the availability of the one or more parking spaces based on space availability information from the sensor.

In another example embodiment, a parking facility illumination and space indicator system includes a lighting fixture configured to emit a light to illuminate a parking facility, where the lighting fixture includes a sensor configured to sense availability of one or more parking spaces. The system further includes an indicator fixture to indicate the availability of the one or more parking spaces in the parking garage based on space availability information from the sensor. The indicator fixture is coupled to the lighting fixture by an electrical cable, where the lighting fixture provides power to the indicator fixture over the electrical cable.

In another example embodiment, a parking facility illumination and space indicator system includes a lighting fixture configured to emit a light to illuminate a parking facility and an indicator fixture including a sensor configured to sense availability of one or more parking spaces. The indicator fixture is configured to indicate the availability of the one or more parking spaces based on space availability information from the sensor. The indicator fixture is coupled to the lighting fixture by an electrical cable, and the lighting fixture provides power to the indicator fixture over the electrical cable.

The drawings illustrate only example embodiments and are therefore not to be considered limiting in scope. The elements and features shown in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the example embodiments. Additionally, certain dimensions or placements may be exaggerated to help visually convey such principles. In the drawings, reference numerals used in different drawings designate like or corresponding, but not necessarily identical, elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure relates generally to indicator fixtures that are tethered to lighting fixtures. In particular, indicator fixtures that are used to indicate parking space availability in a parking facility, such as a parking garage or lot, can be tethered to lighting fixtures that are used for illumination of the parking garage or lot. Using a distributed low voltage power (DLVP) backbone, power over Ethernet (PoE) or other cabled approaches, indicator fixtures that are used for indicating parking space availability can be tied into the existing lighting infrastructure and can leverage the communication and controls features built into the existing lighting fixtures and lighting system. For example, indicator fixtures may be installed on a per-parking-spot basis or may be zoned such that an indicator fixture is used to indicate availability of one of several (e.g., two or eight) parking spaces.

The availability of parking spaces may be sensed by sensors that can also be tethered to the lighting fixtures. For example, sensors may be distributed in a parking garage or lot in a manner that matches the distribution of the indicator fixtures, where an indicator light operates in conjunction with a respective sensor. Multiple sensors may be associated with a single indicator fixture, or multiple indicator fixtures may be associated with a single sensor. Each indicator fixture may be Class 2 fixture that requires less than 5 watts, eliminating the need for wiring a conduit for the short runs between the indicator fixtures and the lighting fixtures.

Turning to the drawings,FIG. 1is a system100of parking space indicator fixtures tethered to illumination lighting fixtures according to an example embodiment. In some example embodiments, the system100may be deployed in a parking garage or a parking lot. As illustrated inFIG. 1, the system100may include a first lighting fixture102and a second lighting fixture104. For example, the lighting fixtures102,104may be light emitting diode (LED) lighting fixtures. The lighting fixtures102,104may emit lights to illuminate the parking garage. For example, the lighting fixture102may emit a light to illuminate primarily an area of a parking garage that includes a number of parking spaces, and the lighting fixture104may emit a light to illuminate primarily another area of the parking garage that includes a number of other parking spaces.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the system100may also include indicator fixtures106,108,110that are connected to the lighting fixture102. The indicator fixture106is connected to the lighting fixture102by an electrical cable128, the indicator fixture108is connected to the lighting fixture102by an electrical cable130, and the indicator fixture110is connected to the lighting fixture102by an electrical cable132. The lighting fixture102may provide power to the indicator fixtures106,108,110over the respective electrical cables128,130,132. The lighting fixture102may also communicate with the indicator fixtures106,108,110over the respective electrical cables128,130,132. Alternatively or in addition, the lighting fixture102may communicate with the indicator fixtures106,108,110wirelessly.

In some example embodiments, the system100may also include indicator fixtures112,114that are coupled to the lighting fixture104. The indicator fixture112is connected to the lighting fixture104by an electrical cable134, and the indicator fixture114is connected to the lighting fixture104by an electrical cable136. The lighting fixture104may provide power to the indicator fixtures112,114over the respective electrical cables134,136. The lighting fixture104may also communicate with the indicator fixtures112,114over the respective electrical cables134,136. Alternatively or in addition, the lighting fixture104may communicate with the indicator fixtures112,114wirelessly.

The system100may further include indicator fixtures116,118that are daisy chained with the indicator fixture106. For example, the indicator fixture116may be coupled to the indicator fixture106by an electrical cable146, and the indicator fixture118may be coupled to the indicator fixture116by an electrical cable148. The lighting fixture102may provide power and communicate with the indicator fixtures116,118over the cables128,146,148. Alternatively or in addition, the lighting fixture102may communicate with the indicator fixtures116,118wirelessly.

In some example embodiments, each indicator fixture106,108,110,112,114,116,118, may include an LED light source that emits a light. The LED light source may include one or more discrete light emitting diodes (LEDs), one or more organic LEDs (OLEDs), an LED chip on board that includes one or more discrete LEDs, and/or an array of discrete LEDs. In some alternative embodiments, the indicator fixture may include another type of light source without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

In some example embodiments, the indicator fixtures may emit different color lights to indicate availability and unavailability of parking spaces associated with the indicator fixtures106,108,110,112,114,116,118. For example, the indicator fixture106may emit a green light to indicate that one or more parking spaces associated with the indicator fixture106are available (i.e., open), and the indicator fixture106may emit a red light to indicate that no parking space associated with the indicator fixture106is available. Alternatively or in addition, each indicator fixture may blink its lights, display a text or a number, or otherwise indicate the availability and unavailability of one or more parking spaces associated with the indicator fixture by means of the light emitted by the indicator fixture.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the system100may include sensors120,122,124,126. The sensor120is coupled to the lighting fixture102by an electrical cable138, and the sensor122is coupled to the lighting fixture102by an electrical cable140. The sensor124is coupled to the lighting fixture104by an electrical cable142, and the sensor126is coupled to the lighting fixture104by an electrical cable144. Each sensor120,122,124,126may be located in a parking garage to sense availability of one or more parking spaces associated with the particular sensor. The sensors120,122,124,126may each include a camera, a motion sensor, an RFID reader, a magnetic sensor, and/or another type of sensor that may be used to sense availability of one or more parking spaces.

To illustrate, the sensors120,122,124,126may each include a camera that can perform a pixel analysis to determine whether one or more parking spaces are occupied. Each sensor120,122,124,126may communicate the result of the pixel analysis (e.g., whether and how parking spaces are available) to the respective lighting fixtures102,104, which may provide the information (or a related command) to the respective one or more indicator fixtures106-118. Alternatively, the sensors120,122,124,126may provide the result of the pixel analysis or an appropriate command to the respective one or more indicator fixtures106-118without passing the information through the lighting fixtures102,104.

In some example embodiments, the lighting fixtures102may perform pixel analysis after receiving information, such as one or more images, from one or both sensors120,122to determine whether one or more parking spaces are occupied or available. The lighting fixtures104may also perform pixel analysis after receiving information, such as one or more images, from one or both sensors124,126to determine whether one or more parking spaces are occupied or available.

In some alternative embodiments, a remote device that receives sensor information, such as one or more images, from one or both sensors120,122,124,126may perform pixel analysis to determine whether one or more parking spaces are occupied or available. The remote device may receive the sensor information from the sensors120,122,124,126through the respective lighting fixtures102,104, directly from the sensors120,122,124,126, or through another device such as a network router and/or gateway.

In some example embodiments, one or more of the sensors120,122,124,126may include an RFID reader. RFID tags may be placed/installed in parking spaces such that a vehicle that is parked in a parking space blocks and prevents reading of the respective RFID tag by the respective RFID reader (i.e., one of the sensors120,122,124,126). When parking spaces associated with the sensors120,122,124,126are available (i.e., unblocked by parked vehicles), the sensors120,122,124,126can successfully read respective RFID tags. To illustrate with respect to the sensor120and a particular parking space, an RFID tag may be placed/installed in the particular parking space such that a car that is parked in the parking space prevents the sensor120(i.e., the RFID reader) from reading the RFID tag. When the particular parking space is unoccupied, the sensor120can successfully read the RFID tag.

Each sensor120,122,124,126may determine whether a respective one or more parking spaces are available based on whether the particular sensor120,122,124,126can read the respective one or more RFID tags. Alternatively or in addition, each sensor120,122,124,126may provide sensor information to the respective lighting fixture102,104indicating whether the sensors120,122,124,126are able to read the respective one or more RFID tags. The lighting fixture102,104may provide the received information or an appropriate command to the respective one or more indicator fixtures106-118. Alternatively, the sensors120,122,124,126may provide the result of the sensor information or an appropriate command to the respective one or more indicator fixtures106-118without passing the information through the lighting fixtures102,104.

In some example embodiments, one or more of the sensors120,122,124,126may include a magnetic sensor that is used in a similar manner as described with RFID readers. For example, magnets may be placed or installed in parking spaces such that parked cars would interfere with the magnetic fields sensed by the sensors120,122,124,126with respect to respective parking spaces. The information can be provided to the lighting fixtures102,104or to the indicator fixtures106-118in a similar manner as described above.

In some example embodiments, the lighting fixture102may provide power to with the sensors120,122over the cables138,140, and the lighting fixture104may provide power to the sensors124,126over the cables142,144. The lighting fixture102may also communicate with the sensors120,122over the cables138,140, and the lighting fixture104may also communicate with the sensors124,126over the cables142,144. Alternatively or in addition, the lighting fixture102may communicate with the sensors120,122wirelessly, and the lighting fixture104may communicate with the sensors124,126wirelessly. To illustrate, the sensors120,122may communicate space availability information to the lighting fixture102via the respective electrical cable138,140or wirelessly, and the sensors124,126may communicate space availability information to the lighting fixture104via the respective electrical cable142,144or wirelessly.

The electrical cables used to electrically couple the lighting fixtures102,104, the indicator fixtures106-118, and the sensors120-126may be Ethernet cables (e.g., CAT 5, CAT 5e, CAT 6) or another type of cable that can be used to provide power from the lighting fixtures102,104to the indicator fixtures106-118and the sensors120-126. As described above, the electrical cables138,140,142,144may also be used for communication between the lighting fixtures102,104, the indicator fixtures106-118, and the sensors120-126.

In some example embodiments, the lighting fixture102includes a power module152and a controller154. The power module152may include an AC/DC converter to convert AC power to DC power that can be provided to the indicator fixtures106,108,110,116,118, and the sensors120,122. In some example embodiments, the power module152may be the driver of the lighting fixture102that also provides power to the LED light sources of the lighting fixture102. The power module152may receive AC power (e.g., at 120 VAC) from a power mains or other AC power supply (e.g., a generator) via an electrical connection150and may generate DC power (e.g., less than 60 VDC, approximately 60 VDC, and/or more than 60 VDC, etc.) that is provided to the indicator fixtures106,108,110,116,118, and the sensors120,122via the respective electrical cables128,130,132,146,148,138,140. In some alternative embodiments, the power module152may receive input DC power via the connection150and may generate output DC power that is provided to the indicator fixtures106,108,110,116,118, and the sensors120,122. For example, the input DC power may be provided by a battery or another DC power source, and the power module152may include a DC/DC converter that generates the output DC power. In some example embodiments, the power module152may be a Class 2 power source.

In some example embodiments, the controller154(e.g., a microcontroller or a microprocessor that can execute a software code) of the lighting fixture102may control the indicator fixtures106,108,110,116,118based on space availability information received from the sensors120,122. For example, the controller154may receive space availability information from the sensor120via the electrical cable138or wirelessly and control the color of the light emitted by the indicator fixture106based on the information by sending the information or a control command to the indicator fixture106via the electrical cable128. Alternatively or in addition, the controller154may control the indicator fixture106to blink the light emitted by the indicator fixture106based on the space availability information. The controller154may also control the indicator fixture106to display the number of available parking spaces. In some example embodiments, the controller154may control the other indicator fixtures108,110,116,118in a similar manner as described with respect to the indicator fixture106. The controller154may also control overall operations of the indicator fixtures106,108,110,116,118including the powering on and off the indicator fixtures106,108,110,116,118. The controller154may also control overall operations of the sensors120-126including the powering on and off the sensors120-126. The lighting fixture102may communicate with the indicator fixtures106,108,110,116,118via the respective electrical cables or wirelessly to control the operations of the indicator fixtures106,108,110,116,118.

In some example embodiments, the lighting fixture104includes a power module156and a controller158. The power module156may operate in a similar manner as the power module152to provide power to the indicator fixtures112,114, and the sensors124,126. For example, the power module156may receive AC power (e.g., at 120 VAC) from the power mains or another AC power supply (e.g., a generator) via the electrical connection150and may generate DC power (e.g., less than 60 VDC, approximately 60 VDC, and/or more than 60 VDC, etc.) that is provided to the indicator fixtures112,114, and the sensors124,126via the respective electrical cables134,136,142,144. In some alternative embodiments, the power module156may receive input DC power via the connection150and may generate output DC power that is provided to the indicator fixtures112,114and the sensors124,126. For example, the input DC power may be provided by a battery or another DC power source, and the power module156may include a DC/DC converter that generates the output DC power.

In some example embodiments, the controller158may operate in a similar manner as the controller154to control operations of the indicator lights112,114. For example, the controller158may control operations of the indicator fixture112based on space availability information from the sensor124received wirelessly or via the cable142. As another example, the controller158may control operations of the indicator fixture114based on space availability information from the sensor126received wirelessly or via the cable144. To control the operation of the indicator fixtures112,114by the controller158as described above, the lighting fixture104may communicate with the indicator fixtures112,114via the respective electrical cables or wirelessly. In general, the controllers154,156may execute respective software codes to perform some of the operations described herein with respect to the lighting fixtures102,104.

In some example embodiments, wired and/or wireless communication infrastructure of the lighting fixtures102,104may be used to remotely control operations of the indicator fixtures106-118and/or the sensors120-126. For example, the communication infrastructure that is used to control operations of the lighting fixtures102,104may be used to configure, control, etc. operations of the indicator fixtures106-118and the sensors120-126, for example, through the lighting fixtures102,104or independent of the lighting fixtures102,104. To illustrate, a person may use a local or remote management device (e.g., a laptop) to communicate with and control operations of the indicator fixtures106-118and the sensors120-126using the communication infrastructure used to manage the lighting fixtures102,104. By using the control, power and/or communication infrastructures of the illumination light system of a parking garage or lot, cost and structural challenges associated with separate power and communication infrastructures for an indicator fixtures system may be reduced or avoided.

Although a configuration of lighting fixtures, indicator fixtures, and sensors are shown inFIG. 1, the system100may have other configurations without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Further, although particular numbers of lighting fixtures, indicator fixtures, and sensors are shown inFIG. 1, the system100may include fewer or more system elements than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, the system100may include fewer or more than two lighting fixtures. As another example, fewer or more indicator fixtures and sensors than shown may be coupled to the each lighting fixture. In some example embodiments, the power module of each lighting fixture may be the LED driver of the lighting fixture or may be integrated with the LED driver of the lighting fixture. In some example embodiments, the controller of each lighting fixture may control other operations of the lighting fixture as well as the respective indicator fixtures.

FIG. 2is a system200of the parking space indicator fixtures106-118tethered to illumination lighting fixtures202,204according to another example embodiment. As illustrated inFIG. 2, the system200includes the lighting fixture202and the lighting fixture204that may be used for illumination of a parking garage or lot. The system200further includes the indicator fixtures106,108,110, that are described above with respect to the system100, coupled to the lighting fixture202by the electrical cables128,130,132. The system200also includes the indicator fixtures112,114that are described above with respect to the system100, coupled to the lighting fixture204by the electrical cables134,136.

In some example embodiments, the lighting fixture202may include a sensor206, a power module208, and a controller210. The sensor206may sense availability of one or more parking spaces in the parking garage in a similar manner as described with respect to the sensors120,122,124,126of the system100. For example, the sensor206may be the sensor120integrated with the lighting fixture202. To illustrate, the sensor206may be a motion/occupancy sensor, a camera, an RFID reader, a magnetic sensor, etc.

The power module208may correspond to the power module152of the lighting fixture102of the system100. For example, the power module208may generate DC power from AC or from DC power received via the connection150. The lighting fixture202may provide the DC power generated by the power module208to the indicator fixtures106,108,110,116,118over the electrical cables128,130,132,146,148. The power module208may also provide power to the sensor206over an electrical wiring of the lighting fixture202. In some example embodiments, the power module208may be the driver of the lighting fixture202that also provides power to the LED light sources of the lighting fixture202.

In some example embodiments, the controller210may generally correspond to the controller154of the lighting fixture102. For example, the controller210may control the indicator fixtures106,108,110,116,118based on parking space availability information from the sensor206in the manner as described above with respect to the system100ofFIG. 1. The lighting fixture202may also communicate with the indicator fixtures106,108,110,116,118over the respective electrical cables128,130,132,146,148or wirelessly to control the indicator fixtures to emit a particular color of light, to blink, to display text or a number indicative of available parking spaces, etc.

In some example embodiments, the lighting fixture204may include a sensor212, a power module214, and a controller216that operate in a similar manner as described with respect to the lighting fixture202. To illustrate, the power module214may provide power (e.g., less than 60 VDC, approximately 60 VDC, and/or more than 60 VDC, etc.) to the indicator fixtures112,114via the cables134,136. The power module214may also provide power to the sensor212and the controller216.

In some example embodiments, the controller210may control the indicator fixtures112,114based on parking space availability information from the sensor212in a similar manner as described above with respect to the controllers158,202. The lighting fixture202may also communicate with the indicator fixtures112,114over the respective electrical cables134,136or wirelessly to control the indicator fixtures112,114to emit a particular color of light, to blink, to display text or a number indicative of available parking spaces, etc. in a similar manner as described above. In general, the controllers210,216may execute respective software codes to perform some of the operations described herein with respect to the lighting fixtures202,204.

In some alternative embodiments, the system200may include more or fewer lighting fixtures and indicator fixtures than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Further, in some alternative embodiments, the lighting fixtures may each include more than one sensor without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, a sensor may be omitted from some of the lighting fixtures of the system200, where the sensing for availability of a parking space is performed by a separate sensor as shown inFIG. 1or by a standalone sensor. In such embodiments, a lighting fixture without the sensor may still provide power to the indicator fixtures tethered from the particular lighting fixture.

FIG. 3is a system300of parking space indicator fixtures tethered to illumination lighting fixtures102,104according to another example embodiment. As illustrated inFIG. 3, the system300includes the lighting fixture102and the lighting fixture104described above with respect to the system100. The system300may further include indicator fixtures306,308,310that are coupled to the lighting fixture102by electrical cables128,130,132, respectively. The system300may also include indicator fixtures312,314that are coupled to the lighting fixture104by electrical cables134,136, respectively. The lighting fixture102may provide power to and communicate with the indicator fixtures306,308,310over the electrical cables128,130,132, and the lighting fixture104may provide power to and communicate with the indicator fixtures312,314, over the electrical cables134,136. The power module152of the lighting fixture102may generate output DC power from input AC or DC power as described above and provide the output DC power to the indicator fixtures306,308,310in a similar manner as described above.

In some example embodiments, the indicator fixture306includes a sensor316, the indicator fixture308includes a sensor318, and the indicator fixture310includes a sensor320. The sensors316,318,320may each be a motion/occupancy sensor, a camera, an RFID-based sensor, a magnetic sensor, etc. that operate in a similar manner as described above with respect to the sensors120-126of the system100ofFIG. 1. In some example embodiments, each sensor316,318,320may be powered by the power provided to the respective indicator fixture by the lighting fixture102.

In some example embodiments, the controller154of the lighting fixture102may control the indicator fixtures306,308,310to indicate availability of parking spaces in a similar manner as described above. For example, the lighting fixture102may receive space availability information from the sensor316via the cable128or wirelessly and communicate with the indicator fixture306to emit a particular color of light, blink, display text or a number to indicate the availability or unavailability of parking spaces associated with the sensor316(i.e., parking spaces monitored by the sensor316). The lighting fixture102may communicate with the indicator fixtures306via the cable128or wirelessly. The lighting fixture102may receive parking space availability information from the sensors318,320, and control the respective indicator fixtures308,310, in a similar manner.

In some example embodiments, the lighting fixture104may provide power to the indicator fixtures312,314in a similar manner as described with respect to the lighting fixture102and the indicator fixtures306,308,310of the system300and the lighting fixture104and the indicator fixtures112,114ofFIG. 1. The lighting fixture104may also control operations of the indicator fixture312, which includes a sensor322, based on space availability information from the sensor322with respect to one or more parking spaces monitored by the sensor322. For example, the controller158may communicate with the indicator fixture312to control the space availability indicated by the indicator fixture312. The lighting fixture104may also control the indicator fixture314, which may not include an integrated sensor, based on space availability information from the sensor322of the indicator fixture312or from another sensor.

In some alternative embodiments, the system300may include more or fewer lighting fixtures and indicator fixtures than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Further, in some alternative embodiments, the indicator fixtures may each include more than one sensor without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

FIG. 4is a system400of parking space indicator fixtures tethered to illumination lighting fixtures according to another example embodiment. As illustrated inFIG. 4, the system400includes the lighting fixtures102,104described above, and the indicator fixtures106-118that are tethered to the lighting fixtures102,104in the same manner as shown inFIG. 1. The system400also includes the sensors120,122(described with respect toFIG. 1) coupled to and powered by the lighting fixture102, and the sensors124,126(described with respect toFIG. 1) coupled to and powered by the lighting fixture104. The system400also includes a sensor402connected to the lighting fixture104and that operates in a similar manner as the sensors124,126.

In some example embodiments, the system400further includes a central controller404that can control the operations of the indicator fixtures106-118of the system400. For example, the central controller404may include a microcontroller or microprocessor that can execute a software code to perform some operations described with respect to the system400. For example, space availability information from the sensors120-126,402may be transmitted to the central controller404through the respective lighting fixtures102,104that are connected to and power the sensors120-126,402.

To illustrate, the sensors120-126,402may wirelessly or via the respective electrical cables transmit space availability information to the respective lighting fixtures102,104, and the lighting fixtures102,104may transmit the information from the different sensors120-126,402to the central controller404wirelessly or via wired communication. The central controller404may process the space availability information from the different sensors120-126,402and communicate with the indicator fixtures106-118with or without going through the respective lighting fixtures102,104. In some example embodiments, the sensors120-126,402may provide the space availability information to the central controller404without going through the respective lighting fixtures.

In some alternative embodiments, the system400may include more or fewer lighting fixtures and indicator fixtures than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Further, in some alternative embodiments, the system400may include more or fewer sensors than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some example embodiments, the lighting fixtures, the indicator fixtures, and the sensors may be connected in a different configuration than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

FIG. 5is a system500of parking space indicator fixtures tethered to illumination lighting fixtures102,104according to another example embodiment. As illustrated inFIG. 5, the system500includes the lighting fixtures102,104described above. The system500also includes indicator fixtures502,504,506,508,510, that are powered by the lighting fixture102. The system500further includes the sensors512,514,516,518, that are also powered by the lighting fixture102. As illustrated inFIG. 5, the indicator fixture502, the sensor512, and the indicator fixture504are coupled to the lighting fixture102in a daisy-chain configuration. The sensor514, the indicator fixture506, the sensor516, and the indicator fixture508are also coupled with the lighting fixture102in a daisy-chain configuration. The indicator fixture510and the sensor518are also daisy chained with the lighting fixture102. The lighting fixture102may communicate with the indicator fixtures502-510and the sensors512-518via the cables that are used to provide electrical power to the indicator fixtures502-510and the sensors512-518. Alternatively or in addition, the lighting fixture102may communicate with the indicator fixtures502-510and the sensors512-518wirelessly. For example, the sensor512may receive power from the lighting fixture102via electrical cables including the electrical cable128and send sensor information to the lighting fixture102or to another controller (e.g., a central controller) wirelessly.

In some example embodiments, the system500includes indicator fixtures520,522, and the sensors524,526, that are coupled to the lighting fixture104. For example, the indicator fixture520and the sensor524may be daisy-chained with the lighting fixture104as shown inFIG. 5.

In some example embodiments, the indicator fixtures502,504,506,508,510,520,522, may correspond to the indicator fixtures described above with respect toFIGS. 1-4. In some example embodiments, the sensors512,514,516,518,524,526, may correspond to the sensors described above with respect toFIGS. 1-4.

In some example embodiments, one or more of the sensors512,514,516,518,524,526may be associated with one or more of the indicator fixtures502,504,506,508,510,520,522such that the one or more of the indicator fixtures indicate the availability of parking space based on information from one or more of the sensors. For example, the indicator fixtures502and504may blink or otherwise indicate availability/unavailability of parking space (e.g., a single parking space or multiple parking spaces) based on sensor information from the sensor512. As another example, the indicator fixture506may blink or otherwise indicate the availability/unavailability of parking space based on sensor information from the sensor514with respect to one or more parking spaces (e.g., a row of four parking spaces) monitored by the sensor514.

In general, the communications described above with respect to the systems100-500may be based on signals that are compliant with one or more communication standards such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low energy (BLE), etc. Further, the electrical cables connecting the indicator fixtures, sensors and lighting fixtures described with respect to the systems100-500may be part of a distributed low voltage power (DLVP) backbone, Power over Ethernet (PoE) or other cabled-connection structures and methods that may be used for power distribution and/or communication.

Although particular embodiments have been described herein in detail, the descriptions are by way of example. The features of the embodiments described herein are representative and, in alternative embodiments, certain features, elements, and/or steps may be added or omitted. Additionally, modifications to aspects of the embodiments described herein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims, the scope of which are to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass modifications and equivalent structures.