Patent Publication Number: US-9892638-B2

Title: Lighting unit, fixture and newtork

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the U.S. National Phase application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2014/079491, filed on Dec. 31, 2014, which claims the benefit of European Patent Application No. 14150046.2, filed on Jan. 2, 2014. These applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates generally to lighting units, and in particular to lighting units which comprise or are connected to one or more sensor modules. The present disclosure relates also to outdoor lighting fixtures comprising such lighting units, and to networks of such outdoor lighting fixtures. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various “intelligent” outdoor lighting networks have been proposed in recent years. Such outdoor lighting networks may be “intelligent” in the sense that, e.g., they can adapt to changes in vehicle traffic density and/or to changes in weather conditions. For instance, such outdoor lighting networks may be configured to dim-down outdoor lighting fixtures thereof at times when vehicle traffic density is very low, in order to save energy. Or such outdoor lighting networks may be configured to dim-up outdoor lighting fixtures thereof in areas where weather conditions are hazardous, in order to improve road safety. 
     Adding such “intelligence” to outdoor lighting networks typically involves at least one of: an increased bill of materials (BOM) for each lighting fixture; increased infrastructure costs; and increased installation/configuration costs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the present disclosure provides a lighting unit for an outdoor lighting fixture. The lighting unit comprises: a magnetic sensor module, such as anisotropic magnetoresistance sensor module; and a controller coupled to the sensor module. The controller is configured to: use the sensor module to determine a measurement of vehicle traffic within a region defined by a sensing range of the sensor module, and use the sensor module to determine a current orientation of the lighting unit. 
     The inventors realized that there are advantages to using the anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) sensor module to determine a measurement of vehicle traffic instead of using a more commonly-used sensor such as, say, an image sensor (reference is made, for example, to the Philips LumiMotion sensor). Of course AMR sensors tend to be relatively low cost, meaning their use can result in a reduced BOM. The inventors have realized that AMR sensors can also be used to determine a current orientation of the lighting unit, and, therefore, can be reused for additional applications, potentially further reducing the BOM by obviating the need for one or more additional sensors. 
     The measurement of vehicle traffic may comprise one or more of: a direction-of-travel measurement, e.g. indicated with respect to North; a traffic density measurement, e.g. indicated in terms of number vehicles per hour; and an estimated type of vehicle, e.g. car or bicycle; and an estimated size of vehicle. 
     In various embodiments, the lighting unit may further comprise a transmitter for communicating with a controller of an outdoor lighting network, wherein the lighting unit controller is further configured to use the transmitter to transmit an indication of said current orientation to the network controller during a pre-operational phase of the lighting unit. Thus, advantageously, the various embodiments can enable an additional “auto-commissioning” functionality that may provide savings in installation/configuration costs. This is because manually determining and noting an orientation of a lighting unit, i.e. by an installer or other technical personnel, tends to be time consuming, rather complicated and, therefore, expensive. 
     In various embodiments, the lighting unit may comprise a transmitter for communicating with a controller of an outdoor lighting network, and may be further configured to, during an operational phase of the lighting unit: determine a magnitude of change in said current orientation; and use the transmitter to transmit an indication of a fault to the network controller in response to determining that the magnitude of change exceeds a threshold. Thus, advantageously, claimed embodiments may provide further BOM savings and/or additional functionality by reusing one sensor for a further application, namely determining that a fault has occurred, e.g. that a lighting fixture has fallen over due to bad weather or has been knocked or by a vehicle. 
     In various embodiments, the controller of the lighting unit may be further configured to dim-down a light output of the lighting unit in response to determining that the measurement of vehicle traffic indicates that vehicle traffic density is below a threshold. Thus, advantageously, claimed embodiments may enable energy savings by tailoring the lighting unit&#39;s light output to real-time local requirements. It will be appreciated that in various embodiments the lighting unit is able dim-down autonomously, i.e. without requiring a centralized controller. 
     In various embodiments, the controller of the lighting unit may be configured to take said orientation into account when determining the measurement of vehicle traffic. For instance, the measurement of vehicle traffic may comprise a direction-of-travel measurement. The controller may be configured to determine one or more expected directions of traffic based on the orientation in conjunction with stored information about a physical layout of a road (or road network) in the vicinity of the lighting unit. The expected direction(s) may be used to interpret sensor measurements in order to more accurately determine the direction-of-travel measurement. 
     In various embodiments, said measurement of vehicle traffic may comprise a direction-of-travel measurement, and the direction-of-travel measurement is taken into account when determining the orientation. For instance, the direction-of-travel measurement may be used, in conjunction with stored information about a physical layout of a road (or road network) in the vicinity of the lighting unit, to interpret sensor measurements in order that the orientation may be determined more accurately. 
     In various embodiments, said current orientation may comprise, or be derived from, a measurement of yaw of the sensor module. 
     In various embodiments, said current orientation may comprise, or be derived from, at least one of: a measurement of pitch of the lighting unit with respect to a predefined direction; and a measurement of roll of the lighting unit with respect to a predefined direction. 
     In various embodiments, the indication of said current orientation may comprise an indication of a three-axis orientation of the lighting unit. 
     In various embodiments, the indication of said current orientation may comprise a pitch-compensated, and/or roll-compensated, indication of a bearing of the lighting unit with respect to north. 
     A second aspect of the present disclosure provides an outdoor lighting fixture comprising one or more of the lighting units described above. 
     A third aspect of the present disclosure provides an outdoor lighting network comprising a plurality of outdoor lighting fixtures described above, and a network controller in communication with the outdoor lighting fixtures. In various embodiments, the network controller may be arranged to: receive the indication of said current orientation from at least one of the outdoor lighting fixtures; and associate the indication of said current orientation with a logical address of the at least one of the outdoor lighting fixtures. 
     A fourth aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of installing and commissioning the outdoor lighting network described above, the method comprising: installing the plurality of outdoor lighting fixtures at respective locations; installing the network controller; receiving, by the network controller, the respective indication of said current orientation from each of the plurality of outdoor lighting fixtures; and associating, by the network controller, the respective indication of said current orientation of each of the plurality of outdoor lighting fixtures with a respective logical address thereof. 
     A fifth aspect of the present disclosure provides a computer program product comprising a computer program which, when executed by a controller of a lighting unit, the controller being coupled to a magnetic sensor module, causes the lighting unit to be configured in accordance with the any of the lighting unit embodiments described above. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts an external space illuminated by an outdoor lighting network in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  schematically shows a lighting unit of the outdoor lighting network of  FIG. 1  communicably coupled to a network controller of said outdoor lighting network. 
         FIGS. 3 a    &amp;  3   b  provide a schematic overview of a method installing and commissioning the outdoor lighting network of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the lighting unit of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , indicating respective pitch, roll and yaw axes of the lighting unit. 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart which summarizes a method of using a sensor module of the lighting unit of  FIG. 2  to determine a measurement of vehicle traffic. 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart which summarizes a method of indicating, by a lighting fixture of the outdoor lighting network of  FIG. 1 , to a controller of the outdoor lighting network, that the lighting fixture has experienced a fault. 
         FIG. 7  shows an example of the response of the sensor module of the lighting unit of  FIG. 2  to vehicles in a sensing region of the sensor module. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an outdoor lighting network  100  according to one embodiment is arranged to illuminate an outdoor space, which in this instance is part of a road network. The outdoor lighting network  100  comprises a plurality of lighting fixtures  105 . The outdoor lighting network  100  further comprises a network control system (not shown in  FIG. 1 ; ref.  235  in  FIG. 2 ) in communication with the lighting fixtures  105 . 
     Each of the lighting fixtures  105  comprises either one or two lighting units  110 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . (In other embodiments, the lighting fixtures  105  may each comprise more than two lighting units  110 .) Each of the lighting fixtures  105  further comprises a vertical pole which is secured to the ground and which is arranged to support the lighting unit(s)  110  at a certain distance (e.g., three meters) above the ground. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , each of the lighting units  110  comprises one or more light sources  200 , driver  205  which is connected to the light source(s)  200 , and a controller  210  (hereinafter, the “lighting controller”) which is connected to the driver  205 . Each of the lighting units  110  further comprises a magnetic sensor module  215 , which in this embodiment is an AMR sensor module  215 , connected to the lighting controller  210 , an optional global positioning system (GPS) module  220  (shown in dashed lines) connected to the lighting controller  210 , and a transmitter  225  which is connected to the lighting controller  210 . The lighting controller  210  comprises memory  210   a . The transmitter  225  is suitable for transmitting data to a receiver  230  of the network control system  235 . 
     The network control system  235  further comprises a controller  240  (hereinafter, the “network controller”) which is connected to the receiver  230  and which is configured to receive and process data therefrom. 
     The transmitter  225  and the receiver  230  may be part of respective transceivers, thereby enabling two-way communication between the lighting units  110  and the network control system  235 . 
     In various embodiments, any one or more of the light source(s)  200 , the driver  205 , the AMR sensor module  215 , the GPS module  220  the transmitter/transceiver  225  and the receiver/transceiver  230  may be components which are known per se to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore these components per se will not be described in any detail herein. 
     A method  300  of installing and commissioning the outdoor lighting network  100  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 3 a    and  3   b.    
     Referring to  FIG. 3 a   , the method  300  comprises installing and at least partially configuring (at step S 300 ) the network controller  240 , and installing and at least partially configuring (at step S 305 ) the lighting fixtures  105 . It will be appreciated that there are various different orders in which the network controller  240  and the lighting fixtures  105  may be installed and configured. For instance, some or all of the lighting fixtures  105  may be installed before the network controller  240  is installed, and then configuration could be done in a separate, later phase. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 b   , installing and at least partially configuring each of the lighting fixtures  105  (i.e., step S 305 ) comprises the following sub-steps. 
     First, the lighting controller  210  activates the AMR sensor module  215  (at sub-step S 305 - 0 ). 
     After activation, the AMR sensor module  215  measures the earth&#39;s magnetic field (at sub-step S 305 - 05 ). The measurement(s) may be stored in a memory (not shown) of the AMR sensor module  215 . The measurement(s) may be stored in the memory  210   a  of the lighting controller  210 . 
     Then the lighting controller  210  uses the AMR sensor module  215  to determine a current orientation of the lighting unit  110  (at sub-step S 305 - 10 ), based on the measurement(s) obtained during sub-step S 305 - 05 . Specifically, the AMR sensor module  215  determines its own current orientation, which the lighting controller  210  converts into the current orientation of the lighting unit  110  based on the orientation of the AMR sensor module  215  relative to the lighting unit  110 . 
     The AMR sensor module  215  determines its own current orientation in a conventional manner. Referring briefly to  FIG. 4 , its current orientation may comprise, or be derived from, a measurement of yaw of the AMR sensor module  215 . For instance, the measurement of yaw may comprise a bearing of the AMR sensor module  215  with respect to magnetic north. Various embodiments may be arranged to derive a measurement of yaw (Y) of the lighting unit  110  from the measurement of yaw of the AMR sensor module  215 . The current orientation may additionally comprise a measurement of pitch (P) of the lighting unit  110  with respect to a predefined direction and/or a measurement of roll (R) of the lighting unit  110  with respect to a predefined direction. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 3 b   , the lighting controller  210  completes step S 305  by sending an indication of current orientation to the network controller  240  (at sub-step S 305 - 15 ). As will be appreciated from the two immediately-preceding paragraphs, the indication of current orientation may indicate a three-axis orientation of the lighting unit  110 . Alternatively, the indication of said current orientation may comprise a pitch-compensated and/or roll-compensated indication of a bearing of the lighting unit  110  with respect to magnetic north. In embodiments where the lighting unit  110  comprises the GPS unit  220 , the lighting controller  210  may also send an indication of current location (at step S 305 ), comprising GPS coordinates indicative of where the lighting unit  110  is located. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 3 a   , the method  300  further comprises receiving, by the network controller  240  (at step S 310 ), respective orientation information from each of the lighting fixtures  105 . The orientation information from each of the lighting fixtures  105  comprises the indication of current orientation (sent at sub-step S 305 - 15 ). In embodiments where the lighting unit  110  comprises the GPS unit  220 , the network controller  240  may also receive (at step S 310 ), respective location information from each of the lighting fixtures  105 ; the location information from each of the lighting fixtures  105  comprises the indication of current location (sent at sub-step S 305 - 15 ). 
     The method  300  further comprises associating, by the network controller  240  (at step S 315 ), the orientation information with respective identifiers of the lighting fixture  105 . For instance, the network controller  240  may enter the orientation information and matching identifiers in a look-up table stored in a memory (not shown) of the network controller  240 . Following step S 315 , the method  300  ends. 
     Advantageously, the network controller  240  can use the orientation information to distinguish between two or more lighting units  110  which are located near each other, e.g. two or more lighting units  110  from the same lighting fixture  105  (whose GPS coordinates would therefore be very similar). With regard to twin-lighting-unit lighting fixtures  105  of the type shown in  FIG. 1 , for example, respective yaw measurements from the two lighting units  110  of a given lighting fixture  105  would be substantially 180 degrees apart. For instance, the network controller  240  could determine that an east-facing lighting unit  110  and a west-facing lighting unit  110  are both comprised in a given lighting fixture  105  because they have similar GPS coordinates (the given lighting fixture  105  would be identifiable from the GPS coordinates). The network controller  240  could also determine, from a lighting plan showing where the given lighting fixture  105  is located with respect to a road network, that the west-facing lighting unit  110  is the one which is arranged to illuminate a road&#39;s southbound lane, whereas the east-facing lighting unit  110  is the one which is arranged to illuminate the corresponding northbound lane. Thus the orientation information, particularly in combination with the location information, may enable “automatic commissioning” of the lighting network  100 . 
     Also, in various embodiments the lighting units  110  can be mounted at different orientations with respect to their respective lighting fixtures  105 . In such embodiments, the orientation information may be used to determine whether a given lighting unit  110  had been mounted in accordance with an intended orientation for that lighting unit  110 , e.g. as defined in a lighting plan. 
     After all of the lighting fixture  105  have been installed and configured (at least partially), and the orientation information has been associated with the respective identifiers of the lighting fixture  105  at the network controller  240 , a “pre-operational” phase of the outdoor lighting network  100  is complete and an “operational phase” can begin. Some optional operational-phase behaviors of the outdoor lighting network  100  will now be described. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a method  500  of using the AMR sensor module  215  to determine a measurement of vehicle traffic density will now be described. It will be appreciated that the measurement will be representative of vehicle traffic density within a region (hereinafter, the “sensing region”) defined by a sensing range of the AMR sensor module  215 , which range may be e.g. between four and twelve meters. 
     First (at step S 500 ), optionally the lighting controller  210  uses the AMR sensor module  215  to measure the earth&#39;s magnetic field over a predetermined period of time. 
     Next (at step S 505 ), optionally the lighting controller  210  identifies changes in the magnetic field measurements collected during step S 500 , and performs a statistical analysis on these changes to thereby determine one or more properties of the environment within the sensing region. For instance, the lighting controller  210  may determine that the changes were caused by vehicles passing through the sensing region and, therefore, that a lane of a road (or a part thereof) extends through the sensing region, along with the general direction in which it extends through the sensing region. As part of this optional step, the lighting controller  210  stores the one or more properties that it determined, for later use in determining the measurement of vehicle traffic density. 
     Next, the lighting controller  210  uses the AMR sensor module  215  to take a plurality of measurements of the earth&#39;s magnetic field (at step S 510 ), and then determines whether there is a change in the magnetic field measurements which exceeds a predetermined “vehicle threshold” (at step S 515 ). The vehicle threshold can be obtained through routine experimentation based on at least one of: the type of sensor being used; the position at which the sensor is mounted; and the type of traffic that is to be monitored. 
     If there is no change in the magnetic field measurements which exceeds the predetermined vehicle threshold, the lighting controller repeats steps S 510  and S 515 . 
     If there is a change in the magnetic field measurements which exceeds the predetermined vehicle threshold, the lighting controller  210  determines (at step S 520 ) that a vehicle passed through the sensing region. The lighting controller  210  may then store relevant information in its memory  210   a  (or elsewhere), such as the time the vehicle passed through the sensing region, the direction in which the vehicle was travelling etc. 
     The method  500  may be performed repeatedly in order to determine, over time, the measurement of vehicle traffic density. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a method  600  of indication a fault to the network controller  240  will now be described. 
     First (at step S 600 ), the lighting controller  210  uses the AMR sensor module  215  to take a plurality of measurements of the earth&#39;s magnetic field. This step might have been performed as part of another method or process, e.g. the above-described method  500  of using the AMR sensor module  215  to determine a measurement of vehicle traffic density. 
     Next (at step S 605 ), the lighting controller  210  determines whether there is a change in the magnetic field measurements which exceeds a predetermined “fault threshold” (at step S 515 ). The fault threshold can be obtained through routine experimentation based on at least one of: the type of sensor being used; the position at which the sensor is mounted; and the manner in which the sensor has been mounted, e.g. on a pole which is expected to “swing” to a certain extent in some weather conditions (such as strong winds). 
     If there is no change in the magnetic field measurements which exceeds the predetermined fault threshold, the lighting controller repeats steps S 600  and S 605 . 
     If there is a change in the magnetic field measurements which exceeds the predetermined fault threshold, the lighting controller  210  determines (at step S 610 ) that a fault has occurred, e.g. that the lighting fixture  105  has fallen over or has been knocked over. The lighting controller  210  may then transmit an indication of the fault to the network controller  240 . 
     The method  600  may be performed continually in order to detect the fault soon after it has occurred. 
     The methods  300 ,  500 ,  600  described above may, for example, be carried out by one or more general purpose processors executing a suitable computer program, as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     For information, and a better understanding of the foregoing description,  FIG. 7  shows empirical measurements obtained by the AMR sensor module  215  according to one embodiment; the vertical axis represents the magnitude of response of the AMR sensor module  215 , and the horizontal axis represents time. As shown in  FIG. 7 , a car travelling through the sensing region of the AMR sensor module  215  during time T 1  causes a change in the magnetic field measurements which exceeds the predetermined vehicle threshold, and so the lighting controller  210  determines that a vehicle passed through the sensing region. Also as shown in  FIG. 7 , a van travelling into the sensing region of the AMR sensor module  215  during time T 2  causes a larger change in the magnetic field measurements, which exceeds the predetermined vehicle threshold, and so the lighting controller  210  determines that a larger vehicle entered through the sensing region. 
     The foregoing description was given by way of example only. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate numerous modifications and alternative embodiments which fall within the scope of the claims herein. For example, it will be appreciated that in various embodiments the steps S 515  and S 520  may (at least in part) be performed by the network controller  240 ; i.e. the lighting units  110  may take the sensor measurements and forward them to the network controller  240  to process in order to determine a measure of vehicle traffic density. Similar comments apply to steps S 605  and S 610 . 
     The foregoing description discusses the AMR sensor module  200 . The term “sensor module” is used herein to refer to an apparatus including one or more sensors of same or different types; the AMR sensor module  200  comprises at least one AMR sensor. A given sensor module unit may have any one of a variety of mounting arrangements for the sensor(s), enclosure/housing arrangements and shapes, and/or electrical and mechanical connection configurations. Additionally, a given sensor module optionally may be associated with (e.g., include, be coupled to and/or packaged together with) various other components (e.g., control circuitry) relating to the operation of the sensor(s). 
     The foregoing description discusses the light source(s)  200 . The term “light source” should be understood to refer to any one or more of a variety of radiation sources, including, but not limited to, LED-based sources (including one or more LEDs as defined above), incandescent sources (e.g., filament lamps, halogen lamps), fluorescent sources, phosphorescent sources, high-intensity discharge sources (e.g., sodium vapor, mercury vapor, and metal halide lamps), lasers, other types of electroluminescent sources, candle-luminescent sources (e.g., gas mantles, carbon arc radiation sources), photo-luminescent sources (e.g., gaseous discharge sources), cathode luminescent sources using electronic satiation, galvano-luminescent sources, crystallo-luminescent sources, kine-luminescent sources, thermo-luminescent sources, triboluminescent sources, sonoluminescent sources, radio luminescent sources, and luminescent polymers. 
     The foregoing description discusses the light unit  110 . The term “lighting unit” is used herein to refer to an apparatus including one or more light sources of same or different types. A given lighting unit may have any one of a variety of mounting arrangements for the light source(s), enclosure/housing arrangements and shapes, and/or electrical and mechanical connection configurations. Additionally, a given lighting unit optionally may be associated with (e.g., include, be coupled to and/or packaged together with) various other components (e.g., control circuitry) relating to the operation of the light source(s). 
     The foregoing description discusses the lighting fixture  110 . The term “lighting fixture” is used herein to refer to an implementation or arrangement of one or more lighting units in a particular form factor, assembly, or package. 
     The foregoing description discusses the lighting controller  210  and the network controller  240 . The term “controller” is used herein generally to describe various apparatus relating to the operation of one or more light sources or other devices. A controller can be implemented in numerous ways (e.g., such as with dedicated hardware) to perform various functions discussed herein. A “processor” is one example of a controller which employs one or more microprocessors that may be programmed using software (e.g., microcode) to perform various functions discussed herein. A controller may be implemented with or without employing a processor, and also may be implemented as a combination of dedicated hardware to perform some functions and a processor (e.g., one or more programmed microprocessors and associated circuitry) to perform other functions. Examples of controller components that may be employed in various embodiments of the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, conventional microprocessors, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). In various implementations, a processor or controller may be associated with one or more storage media (generically referred to herein as “memory,” e.g., volatile and non-volatile computer memory such as RAM, PROM, EPROM, and EEPROM, floppy disks, compact disks, optical disks, magnetic tape, etc.). In some implementations, the storage media may be encoded with one or more programs that, when executed on one or more processors and/or controllers, perform at least some of the functions discussed herein. Various storage media may be fixed within a processor or controller or may be transportable, such that the one or more programs stored thereon can be loaded into a processor or controller so as to implement various aspects of the present invention discussed herein. 
     The terms “transmitter”, “receiver” and “transceiver” are used herein in a generic sense to refer to any type of apparatus suitable for, respectively, transmitting a signal, receiving a signal and both transmitting a signal and receiving a signal. 
     The terms “program” or “computer program” are used herein in a generic sense to refer to any type of computer code (e.g., software or microcode) that can be employed to program one or more processors or controllers. 
     The foregoing description discusses the outdoor lighting network  100 . The term “network” as used herein refers to any interconnection of two or more devices (including controllers or processors) that facilitates the transport of information (e.g. for device control, data storage, data exchange, etc.) between any two or more devices and/or among multiple devices coupled to the network. As should be readily appreciated, various implementations of networks suitable for interconnecting multiple devices may include any of a variety of network topologies and employ any of a variety of communication protocols. Additionally, in various networks according to the present disclosure, any one connection between two devices may represent a dedicated connection between the two systems, or alternatively a non-dedicated connection. In addition to carrying information intended for the two devices, such a non-dedicated connection may carry information not necessarily intended for either of the two devices (e.g., an open network connection). 
     The invention is not limited to any particular method for receiving data, nor to any particular method for transmitting data. 
     It should be appreciated that all combinations of the foregoing concepts and additional concepts discussed in greater detail below (provided such concepts are not mutually inconsistent) are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. In particular, all combinations of claimed subject matter appearing at the end of this disclosure are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein.