Abstract:
A system for lighting roadways utilizes LED lighting systems recessed into roadside barriers. The LED lighting element includes a number of LEDs fixed in an elongated formation. The LED lighting element is inserted into the barrier&#39;s recessed area in a generally vertical orientation. This results in the LED lighting system generating a horizontal sheet of light along the barrier.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/592,656, Filed Jul. 30, 2004.  
         [0002]     1.Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     This invention relates to roadway lighting. In particular, this invention relates to highway barrier lighting systems utilizing Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).  
         [0004]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     Conventional roadway lighting is accomplished with overhead light standards mounted to a structure (e.g. a crash barrier or other structure serving as a physical barrier). Conventional overhead luminaries are glary, and the light that is emitted is uncontrolled, resulting in light trespass. Light trespass is an issue when a viaduct or roadway passes over or near a populated area. Conventional overhead lighting systems provide relatively high light levels over a very large horizontal area including the shoulder. However, the edge or shoulder is not highlighted but rather visually blended into the roadway scene. The overhead and diffuse (multidirectional) nature of the conventional lighting does not enhance small target visibility. Small targets are visually lost under conventional roadway lighting.  
         [0006]     In the field of roadway lighting, the desire to improve small target visibility has been frustrated by the use of conventional overhead lighting. Direct overhead illumination by unfocused (diffuse, propagating in all directions) light makes small objects/targets invisible. Previous unsuccessful attempts to address the issue of small target visibility include development of asymmetric overhead light sources.  
         [0007]     A need remains in the art for an alternative strategy of lighting, which reduces light trespass into a populated or other light sensitive area, enhances small target visibility, and reduces energy consumption without compromising the safety of motorists/travelers.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0008]     An object of the present invention is to provide roadway lighting systems which reduce light trespass, enhance small target visibility, and reduce energy consumption without compromising the safety of motorists/travelers. This object is accomplished using an LED system for providing lighting for roadways, as well as viaducts, pathways, etc. The LED system provides a strategy to mitigate light trespass and light pollution, and highlight roadway edges when motorist/traveler guidance is critical.  
         [0009]     The present roadway lighting system provides guidance to travelers, defines the edges of the roadway, illuminates animals or vehicles stopped on the shoulder, indicates on-ramp and off-ramp locations, and enhances safety of merging traffic. The LED lighting system illuminates with uni-directional lighting and thereby eliminates the problem of small target visibility.  
         [0010]     The LED system provides the necessary illumination to enhance motorist guidance (beam illumination) and highlight disabled vehicles (field illumination).  
         [0011]     Additionally, the low energy use and long lamp life of LED systems reduces maintenance and operating costs.  
         [0012]     Apparatus for lighting a roadway according to the present invention comprises an elongated barrier unit which is placed along the side of the roadway, generally parallel to the roadway. The barrier unit forms a recessed area in its roadway-facing surface. Within the recessed are of the barrier is installed an LED lighting element having a plurality of LEDs fixed in an elongated formation, oriented in a generally vertical orientation. This results in the LED lighting element providing an approximately horizontal sheet of light along the barrier.  
         [0013]     The barrier might be, for example, a continuous cast-in-place barrier, a discrete crash barrier, a snow fence, a tunnel wall, a guard rail, or a bollard.  
         [0014]     The roadway could be, for example, a viaduct, a highway, an on-ramp or off-ramp, or the like.  
         [0015]     The LED lighting element can be powered in a number of ways, including via a generator, a battery, a fuel cell, a photovoltaic system, or an electrical power supply. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  is an isometric drawing showing a cast-in-place roadside barrier with a recessed LED lighting system according to the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is an isometric drawing showing a crash barrier having a recessed LED lighting system according to the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a photograph of a barrier lighting system according to the present invention, in use.  
         [0019]      FIGS. 4-1  through  4 - 5  (prior art) show electrical and lighting details for conventional roadway lighting systems, called luminaires. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]     Historically, roadways and highways are lighted using luminaries on tall poles located on the edge of the pavement. This LED system provides an alternative to tall poles by providing vertical or near vertical sheet illuminance on the shoulder, thus increasing small target visibility and highlighting any animals motorists stopped on the shoulder. Since the described LED luminaire lights the vertical or near vertical sides of the barrier, the outer edge of the road is highlighted and delineated, providing excellent guidance especially during inclement weather conditions.  
         [0021]     Low power consumption, minimal light trespass on adjacent properties, and minimal light pollution, especially in non-urban areas, makes this an ideal lighting system for roadways and highways with continuous barriers, construction barriers or rail structures.  
         [0022]     The strategy for lighting a viaduct, roadway, or pathway according to the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 1-3 .  FIG. 4  (prior art) shows some typical roadway lighting systems. The present strategy of lighting reduces light trespass into a populated or other light sensitive area, enhances small target visibility, and reduces energy consumption without compromising the safety of motorists/travelers.  
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is an isometric drawing showing a cast-in-place barrier  102  with a recessed LED lighting system  106  according to the present invention. LED lighting element  106  includes a plurality of LEDs aligned in an elongated configuration. Barrier  102  has a recessed area  104  into which lighting element  106  is placed. Power connection  110  provides power to lighting element  106 . Junction box  108  is cast in place in barrier  102 .  
         [0024]     The LED luminaire  106  is mounted vertically and is recessed into the barrier  102 . The aiming of the luminaire provides light grazing on the barrier surface.  
         [0025]     The vertically or near vertically mounted LED luminaire  106  provides uni-directional light along the barrier face. Since the luminaire is integrated into the barrier  102 , it does not cause a hazardous projection and does not compromise the crash function of the barrier.  
         [0026]     The present roadside lighting system accentuates the roadway shoulder and barrier  102  by providing both beam and field contributions of the photometric distribution. The beam contribution of the LED system highlights obstacles such as the crash barrier  102 . The field contribution of the LED system spills light onto the roadway shoulder or other target. Disabled motorists, for example, become more visible to oncoming traffic and very little light will escape (minimize light trespass and pollution) from the roadway structures.  
         [0027]     The low energy use and long lamp life of LED systems  106  reduce maintenance and operating costs.  
         [0028]      FIG. 2  is an isometric drawing showing a discrete crash barrier  202  having a recessed LED lighting system  206  according to the present invention. This barrier lighting system is similar to that shown in  FIG. 1 , in that barrier  202  includes a recessed area  204 , into which LED element  206  is placed. LED element  206  is oriented vertically, and provides a horizontal sheet of light across barrier  202 . In this example, barrier  202  is a Type 7 crash barrier, and includes a snow fence post  208 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 3  is a photograph of a barrier lighting system according to the present invention, in use on a roadway at night. A demonstration of the LED barrier illumination method was performed in December 2003. In co-operation with the Colorado Department of Transportation an unused ramp along the Denver metro stretch of Interstate 25 was fitted with temporarily mounted LED strips. A commercially available LED 24 inch strip luminaire was modified to include only white LEDs. In addition, only 12 inches (continuous length) of the strip was illuminated. The modified LED strips were mounted vertically on the barriers to provide horizontal lighting in the direction of travel. The demonstration barrier lighting was set at 80 feet; each unit cast light along the barrier for approximately 60 feet. The guidance and illumination achieved by the LED system are demonstrated in  FIG. 3 . The arrows indicate the light cast by several of the LED illumination units.  
         [0030]      FIGS. 4-1  through  4 - 5  (prior art) show electrical and lighting details for several conventional roadway lighting systems, called luminaires, from the Colorado Department of Transportation.  FIG. 4-1  is a side view of a luminaire attached under a bridge.  FIG. 4-2A  is a plan view of the electrical splice block for the luminaire.  FIG. 4-2B  is a section view of the splice block of  FIG. 4-2A , with its cover removed.  FIG. 4-3  is a side cutaway view of the buried electrical cable used to power the luminaire.  FIG. 4-4  is a side cutaway schematic view of the wiring within a pole foundation.  FIG. 4-5A  is a plan view of a barrier luminaire.  FIG. 4-5B  is an elevation drawing of the barrier luminaire of  FIG. 4-5A , and  FIG. 4-5C  is a section view of the barrier of  FIGS. 4-5A  and  4 - 5 B.  
         [0031]     It will be appreciated by one versed in the art that there are many possible variations on these designs, but all are typified by LED lighting systems installed recessed areas of roadside barriers which provide a generally horizontal sheet of light across the barrier. Some known and anticipated variations are described below:  
         [0032]     Variations include mounting the LED luminaire in a snow fence, guardrail or other roadside structure, a bollard, a bridge footing, or a tunnel wall. Barriers are made from a variety of geometries. Deployment of the LED lighting system is compatible with most conceivable barrier geometries.  
         [0033]     The LED luminaries can be connected to electrical power supplies or operated from a portable power supply such as generator, fuel cell, or battery storage. In addition, alternative renewable supply such as photovoltaic assemblies can also be used as the power source.