Patent ID: 12256475

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG.1illustrates a flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of a method for managing a luminaire of a luminaire network according to the present invention.

The method of the present invention allows performing management in a luminaire network comprising a plurality of luminaires. Each luminaire of said plurality of luminaires are configured to operate in accordance with at least one profile which defines one or more settings of the luminaire in function of time.

The luminaire typically comprises a light source, an optical element, one or more further components such as a sensor or a communication interface, and a driver for driving the light source and optionally for driving also one or more further components. Typically the luminaire is an outdoor luminaire as defined above with a luminaire head or a luminaire pole module having a housing comprising at least the light source and the optical element. The luminaire head may be mounted on a base, typically a pole, either in a post-top or side-entry configuration. Examples of such luminaire heads are disclosed in Dutch patent applications NL2023431 and NL2025081 in the name of the applicant which are included herein by reference.

A luminaire pole module may be part of a modular luminaire comprising multiple pole modules arranged one above the other. Examples such modular luminaires are disclosed in EP3076073B1, WO2019043045A1, WO2019053259A1, and NL2024248 in the name of the applicant which are included herein by reference.

Typically, the luminaire of the luminaire network may be installed in proximity to a neighboring pathway that can be taken by vehicles and/or pedestrians. The pathway may be a pathway on a lighting site suitable for outdoor luminaires. By lighting site for outdoor luminaires, it is meant roads, tunnels, industrial plants, stadiums, airports, harbors, rail stations, campuses, parks, cycle paths, pedestrian paths, or pedestrian zones for example, and outdoor luminaires can be used notably for the lighting of an outdoor area, such as roads and residential areas in the public domain, private parking areas and access roads to private building infrastructures, etc. In other embodiments according to the invention, the pathway may be located indoors, such as in a warehouse or an industry hall.

Management of an outdoor lighting network (OLN) may be remotely managed to control a lighting behaviour (e.g. scheduling of the on/off times of the luminaires and/or setting dimming levels of the lighting units) and/or to monitor luminaire characteristics (e.g. light source status, energy consumption, luminaire specifications, etc.). Management of outdoor lighting networks may provide one or more benefits to customers (e.g. municipalities) such as increased security, energy savings, reduced maintenance costs, and reduced lighting pollution, etc.

Various functional units of luminaires may be managed like so. For example, the functional unit may be any one of: a lighting unit, a display unit, an antenna unit, a sensing unit, a speaker unit, an air cleaning unit such as a UV light source, etc. The sensing unit may comprise a pollution sensor, a motion sensor, a humidity sensor, a light sensor, a temperature sensor, a visibility sensor, an image capturing sensor, a radar sensor, a sound sensor, a voice recorder, a CO2 sensor, a NOx sensor, a SOx sensor, a smoke sensor, a biological threat sensor, an infrared sensor, a thermal sensor. Depending on the functional unit, the utilization of the functional unit may differently affect or be affected by their local reality, part of their individual functional coverage.

The control system will typically be a remote central control system remote of the plurality of luminaires but could also be a distributed control systems, e.g. a control system where parts of the control system are located in one or more luminaires.

One or more luminaires of an outdoor luminaire network typically comprises an outdoor lighting controller (OLC) capable of managing one or more luminaires by means of communication protocols. The OLCs may form a large network in which the communication links are based, e.g. on IEEE 802.15.4 or on a LoRa wireless data communication technology. The network may be managed from the back-end by means of a plurality of segment controllers connecting the networks with the Internet. In such a solution an OLC includes a central processing unit (CPU) and a communication interface. In addition or alternatively, the OLC itself may be capable of communicating directly with the Internet.

Communication technologies used by OLNs include any one or more of: an IEEE 802.15.4-based protocol, such as a Zigbee protocol, WiFi, cellular (GPRS, 3G/4G/5G), LPWAN, e.g. a LoRaWAN or a SigFox, and power line communication networks.

As can be seen in the embodiment ofFIG.1, the method comprises the step S11of retrieving a position of one or more luminaires of the plurality of luminaires from a luminaire network database. The luminaire network database may comprise the position as a local referencing with respect to the neighboring pathway, or as a measurement made on site during installation of the luminaires, or as an position extracted from a map or a visual representation of a lighting site where luminaires are installed. In an embodiment, the position of the one or more luminaires may be defined by geo-localization coordinates, preferably by GPS coordinates. The position of the one or more luminaires may also be retrieved by processing information located in more than one luminaire network databases.

As can be seen in the embodiment ofFIG.1, the method comprises the step S12of selecting, based on the retrieved position, an infrastructure use and/or feature from an infrastructure database, said infrastructure database storing a plurality of different infrastructure uses and/or features. The infrastructure database may be a database managed by local authorities, e.g. municipalities, region, state, by infrastructure managing companies, and/or by companies aggregating mapping data. The infrastructure uses and/or features may comprise an indication of time and/or a indication of space. For example, geographical positions of the infrastructures may be stored in the infrastructure database. It is generally related to an increase or decrease of human activity in a specific local area during a given time period.

In an embodiment, the plurality of infrastructure uses and/or features are related to uses and/or features added to a pathway. By uses and/or features added to the pathway, it is meant all the uses and/or features which are modifying the regular course of the pathway, such as conflict areas, low speed areas, speed bumps, shared use by different users, traffic lights, temporary work areas, etc. The conflict area (see also the CIE 115-2010 standard) may be defined as an area where there is an increased potential for collision between road users, e.g. entry or exit lanes to the highway, crossroads, roundabouts, pedestrian crossings, etc.

In another embodiment, the plurality of infrastructure uses and/or features is related to uses and/or features neighboring a pathway. By uses and/or features neighboring a pathway, it is means all the uses and/or features belonging to the landscape surrounding the pathway, such as the presence of public buildings, transportation stops, parking lots, animal habitat zone, the presence of night life, residences, etc.

For example, in an embodiment, the infrastructure uses and/or features may indicate that the traffic will be dense in a certain area during a rush hour period due to the presence of a speed bump or a roundabout. In another embodiment, the infrastructures uses and/or features may indicate that a school is neighboring the street and running children are to be expected at the start and end of the school day. In yet another embodiment, the infrastructures uses and/or features may indicate that it is a street only for residential use with a low traffic density during the midst of the night. In still another embodiment, the infrastructures uses and/or features may indicated that there is a bus stop installed with a regular passage of buses following a given schedule.

Note that a plurality of infrastructure uses and/or features may be selected for a single luminaire and that a corresponding plurality of profiles may be determined for said luminaire. Additionally, the plurality of profiles may be a plurality of lighting profiles with time overlaps, and, for safety reasons, a profile with the light intensity maxima among the plurality of profiles may be determined.

More than one infrastructure uses and/or features may be selected for each luminaire. Depending on the position of the luminaire and the spatial extent of the infrastructure use and/or feature, the selected infrastructure use and/or feature may concern a plurality of luminaires or a single luminaire. Also, depending on the selected infrastructure use and/or feature, one or more functional units of the luminaire may be affected.

The selecting of the infrastructure use and/or feature may be performed manually by a user faced with a selection interface, and/or automatically by the control system. In an embodiment, a given infrastructure in the infrastructure database may be already associated with a limited list of infrastructure uses and/or features, and, when a position of a luminaire is within a predetermined range of the given infrastructure, the control system automatically selects the corresponding limited list of infrastructure uses and/or features and associates this list to the luminaire within range.

As can be seen in the embodiment ofFIG.1, the method comprises the step S13of determining, for each of the one or more luminaires, at least one profile based on the selected infrastructure use and/or feature. Depending on characteristics of the functional unit of the luminaire and on the selected infrastructure use and/or feature, said functional unit may be affected differently. The aim is to determine the at least one profile to improve the usage of the functional unit with respect to the local needs within its effective functional range.

For example, in an embodiment with a luminaire neighboring a risk prone area due to high traffic density during rush hour caused by a roundabout, a profile of an image-capturing device of the luminaire may be determined to increase during the rush hour the image capturing rate. In another embodiment with a luminaire neighboring a school, a profile of a lighting of the luminaire may be determined to increase the light intensity at the start and end of the school day in winter for safety reasons. In yet another embodiment with a luminaire located in a residential area, a profile of a speaker of the luminaire may be determined to be capped at a specific sound level during the wee hours of the night. In still another embodiment with a luminaire located next to a bus stop, a profile of a lighting of the luminaire may be coordinated with the passage schedule of buses.

It is noted that either at least one profile for future use based on the selected at least one infrastructure use and/or feature may be determined or at least one value representative for at least one profile for future use may be determined based on the selected at least one infrastructure use and/or feature. For example, a number of predetermined profiles may be stored in a memory and each predetermined profile may be associated with a unique identifier. Instead of determining the profile to be used, an identifier of the profile to be used may then be determined. In another example, the luminaire may be installed according to a default profile, and at least one difference value indicating the difference with the default profile may be determined. In yet another example, the luminaire may be operating according to a currently set profile, and at least one difference value indicating the difference with the currently set profile may be determined. Further it is noted that the control system may determine at least one profile for future use based on the selected at least one infrastructure use and/or feature or at least one value representative for at least one profile for future use may be determined based on the selected at least one infrastructure use and/or feature, and that further fine-tuning of the determined at least one profile or value may be done locally within the luminaire, e.g. based on real-time sensed data.

Preferably, the at least one profile comprises a lighting profile which defines one or more lighting settings of the luminaire in function of time. Preferably, the one or more lighting settings include one or more of the following: light intensity, lighting pattern, light spectrum (e.g. light colour), a dimming level, light distribution. By lighting pattern or light distribution, it is meant the distribution of the luminous intensity (expressed in candela, cd; or lumen/steradian, lm/sr) as a function of the emission direction of the light leaving the luminaire. The intensity distribution is contained within a spatial envelope of the emitted light.

In an embodiment, a plurality of infrastructure uses and/or features has been selected for a single luminaire. A weight may be associated to each of the plurality of infrastructure uses and/or features depending on their importance in terms of safety. The at least one profile may be determined taking into account the plurality of weighted infrastructure uses and/or features.

Additionally or alternatively, a plurality of profiles may be determined for a single functional unit of the single luminaire, each of the plurality of profiles corresponding to a different infrastructure use and/or feature.

FIG.2pictures a luminaire network according to an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention. The luminaire network comprises a control system24,25and a plurality of luminaires21a,21b,21c,21d,21e,21f,21g.

In the embodiment ofFIG.2, the control system24,25comprises a remote central control system24remote of the plurality of luminaires where parts of the control system24,25are located in one or more luminaires, located in outdoor luminaire controllers25in the embodiment ofFIG.2. The outdoor luminaire controller (OLC) may be capable of managing one or more luminaires by means of communication protocols. The OLCs may form a large network in which the communication links are based e.g. on IEEE 802.15.4 or on a LoRa wireless data communication technology. The network may be managed from the back-end, the central control system24, by means of a plurality of segment controllers (not shown) connecting the network with the Internet.

The central control system24may perform the step of retrieving a position of a first luminaire21aof the plurality of luminaires21a,21b,21c,21d,21e,21f,21gfrom a luminaire network database22. The position of the first luminaire21ais defined by GPS coordinates in the embodiment ofFIG.2. The luminaire network database22may be an internal database of a company having installed the first luminaire21a. Alternatively, the luminaire network database22may be a database from a local authority.

The central control system24may perform the step, based on the retrieved position, of selecting an infrastructure use and/or feature from an infrastructure database23, said infrastructure database23storing a plurality of different infrastructure uses and/or features. The infrastructure database23may be a database managed by local authorities, e.g. municipalities, region, state, by infrastructure managing companies, and/or by companies aggregating mapping data. The infrastructure uses and/or features may comprise an indication of time and/or an indication of space. For example, geographical positions of the infrastructures may be stored in the infrastructure database. It is generally related to an increase or decrease of human activity in a specific local area during a given time period. In the embodiment ofFIG.2, the infrastructure neighboring the first luminaire21acorresponds to a public administration building. Such infrastructure corresponds to a regular flow of people in and out the main entrance of the building during the working hours of the weekdays.

The central control system24may perform the step of determining, for the first luminaire21a, at least one profile based on the selected infrastructure use and/or feature. For example, the first luminaire21amay comprise a speaker diffusing information related to the neighboring public administration and the scheduling of the diffusion may be determined on the use of the infrastructure having a regular flow of people in and out the main entrance of the building during the working hours of the weekdays.

The central control system24may then perform the step of storing, for the first luminaire21a, the at least one profile in a memory of the corresponding luminaire. For example the first luminaire21amay be controlled by the associated luminaire controller25and the at least one profile is stored in the memory of the luminaire controller25.

Similar steps may be performed by the central control system24for a second luminaire21b, a third luminaire21c, a fourth luminaire21d, a fifth luminaire21e, a group of luminaires21f, and a sixth luminaire21g.

The second luminaire21bmay be positioned in proximity with a bar, which is an infrastructure affected with a night life activity, but also close to residences. So a lighting profile of the second luminaire21bmay be determined such that there is an increased lighting intensity during the late opening hours of the bar to improve safety conditions. Additionally, the lighting profile of the second luminaire21bmay be determined such that there is a change in a light temperature of the light emitted as the bar closing time is approaching, such that clients are not encouraged to stay after the closing hour for example.

The third luminaire21cmay be positioned at a junction of two streets, which can have a higher risk of accidents during rush hours. A profile for an image-capturing device of the third luminaire21cmay be determined to increase to image capturing rate during the rush hour. A lighting profile of the third luminaire21cmay also be determined to increase a lighting intensity during nighttime at this junction.

In another embodiment, image data associated with the third luminaire21cmay be retrieved, said image data picturing the junction of the two streets neighboring the third luminaire21c. For example the image data may be retrieved by the image-capturing device of the third luminaire21ccapturing said image data. Based on the retrieved image data, the at least one infrastructure use and/or feature may be selected, and at least one profile of the third luminaire21cmay be determined based on the selected at least one infrastructure use and/or feature. The at least one profile determined may be similar to the one described above.

The fourth luminaire21dmay be positioned close to a cathedral, a monument, and a square, which suggests infrastructures with a large number of people passing and stopping by during the day. The fourth luminaire21dmay comprise an antenna configured for Wi-Fi communication and a profile for this antenna may be determined during the day to increase bandwidth.

The fifth luminaire21emay be positioned close to a cultural building, e.g. a museum, with a bus stop nearby, and in a commercial area. The fifth luminaire21emay be equipped with a pollution sensor. When it is expected that the traffic will be dense in the future time period, the pollution sensor of the fifth luminaire21emay be activated to allow evaluating an air quality for the users. For the bus stop infrastructure feature, an indication of the time periods when the bus stop is used may be linked to the infrastructure use. The lighting profile of the fifth luminaire21emay then be set so that the light intensity is increased when the bus stop is expected to be in use, for example by coordinating a bus passage schedule and the lighting profile of the fifth luminaire21e.

In contrast, the group of luminaires21fmay be positioned along a street and no infrastructure use and/or feature has been selected or is present at a relatively close distance from the group of luminaires21f. The street neighbouring the group of luminaires21fmay be affected to a specific pathway type and associated to one or more corresponding predetermined lighting rules. The one or more predetermined lighting rules may help to determine a base lighting profile for the group of luminaires21f. In an embodiment, the third luminaire21cmay also be associated with the same base lighting profile of the group of luminaires21f, and the determined lighting profile may be more finely determined and modulated based on the based lighting profile and according to the selected infrastructure use and/or feature for the third luminaire21c.

In an embodiment, each luminaire of the group of luminaires21fmay be associated with at least one infrastructure use and/or feature from an infrastructure database, for example associated with an area having commercial use. The control system may then perform one or more actions based on the associated at least one infrastructure use and/or feature. For example, each luminaire of the group of luminaires21fmay be configured to operate in accordance with at least one profile which defines one or more settings of the luminaire in function of time, and the performing of the one or more actions may comprise transmitting, by the control system, a common profile common to the group of luminaires21f. Additionally or alternatively, the performing of the one or more actions may comprises performing a same action for the group of luminaires21f.

The sixth luminaire21gmay be positioned facing a pedestrian crossing. The sixth luminaire21gmay also be equipped with a proximity sensor. During nighttime, a lighting profile may be determined for the sixth luminaire21gto modify a lighting profile of the sixth luminaire21gsuch that pedestrians may be more easily seen when crossing, stronger light intensity for example. Another lighting profile of the sixth luminaire21gmay be determined when the proximity sensor detects an approaching pedestrian intent on crossing, blinking lighting pattern for example.

FIG.3illustrates a flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of a method for managing a luminaire of a luminaire network according to the present invention.

As can be seen in the embodiment ofFIG.3, the method comprises a step S31of retrieving a position of one or more luminaire of the plurality of luminaires from a luminaire network database. The step S31may be similar to the step S11ofFIG.1.

As can be seen in the embodiment ofFIG.3, the method comprises a step S32of retrieving traffic data from at least one traffic database. The existing traffic databases typically comprise current traffic data. By using this traffic data in combination with infrastructure uses and/or features, traffic conditions can be acquired in real time, and optionally be predicted in an accurate manner for a future time period, typically a rather short period of time in the near future.

In step S37of the embodiment ofFIG.3, taking into account the acquired or predicted traffic conditions, one or more profiles, such as a lighting profile defining one or more lighting settings of the luminaire in function of time or a sensing profile defining one or more lighting settings of the luminaire in function of time, can be updated in an improved manner. Indeed, when it is expected that the traffic will be dense in the future time period, due to the presence of a conflict area for example, the light intensity may be increased. In another example, in addition or alternatively, when it is expected that the traffic will be dense in the future time period, a pollution sensor of a luminaire may be activated, e.g. at regular time intervals within the future time period. In other words the operation of a luminaire of the luminaire network can be managed more accurately based on predicted traffic conditions for that luminaire for a future time period.

As can be seen in the embodiment ofFIG.3, the method comprises a step S33of retrieving weather data. The retrieving of weather data S33comprises retrieving weather data from at least one weather database and/or retrieving weather data sensed by a sensor associated with one or more luminaires of the plurality of luminaires. Similarly as above with respect to the retrieval of traffic data S32, the retrieval of weather data S33may allow for an improved tailoring of the at least one profile in step S37; thereby leading to an environment with improved security whilst at the same time minimizing energy consumption by adjusting the at least one profile in accordance with the needs.

As can be seen in the embodiment ofFIG.3, the method comprises a step S34of retrieving environmental sensor data from one or more environmental sensors associated with one or more luminaires of the plurality of luminaires. In an embodiment, the determining of the at least one profile S37may be further based on data sensed by a light sensor or a motion sensor of one or more luminaire of the luminaire network. The one or more environmental sensors may comprise one or more of the following: a light sensor, an image sensor, a motion detector, sound sensor, a Doppler-effect radar sensor, a pollution sensor, a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor, a visibility sensor.

As can be seen in the embodiment ofFIG.3, the method comprises a step S35of, based on the retrieved position, selecting a pathway type from the infrastructure database said infrastructure database further storing a plurality of different pathway types, and, based on the selected pathway type, determining, for each of the one more luminaires, one or more predetermined lighting rules defining one or more lighting requirements in function of the pathway type.

Indeed, depending on some characteristics of the pathway, e.g. number of lanes, density of traffic, type of pathway users, a luminaire neighboring may have to satisfy some lighting rules, such as standards, e.g. a public road lighting standard, or recommendations, such as EN 13201, IES RP-8, CIE 115.

Then, in step S37, one can determine at least one profile, preferably a lighting profile, satisfying both the minimum requirements established by the one or more predetermined lighting rules, as well as satisfying considerations with respect to the selected infrastructure use and/or feature. In an embodiment, the one or more predetermined lighting rules may help to determine a base lighting profile, and this base lighting profile may be more finely determined and modulated according to the selected infrastructure use and/or feature. In another embodiment, the determined base lighting profile may help to determine the profile of another functional unit of the luminaire, e.g. an image-capturing device, such that both base lighting profile and the profile of the another functional unit are coordinated.

The selecting of the pathway type S35may be performed manually by a user faced with a selection interface, and/or automatically by the control system. In an embodiment, a given infrastructure in the infrastructure database may be already associated with a pathway type, e.g. a pathway class, and, when a position of a luminaire is within a predetermined range of the given infrastructure, the control system automatically selects the corresponding pathway type and determines the one or more predetermined lighting rules corresponding to the luminaire within range.

As seen in the embodiment ofFIG.3, the method comprises the step S36of, based on the retrieved position, selecting an infrastructure use and/or feature from an infrastructure database, said infrastructure database storing a plurality of different infrastructure uses and/or features. The step S36ofFIG.3may be similar to the step S12ofFIG.1.

Embodiments of step S37inFIG.3may be similar to step S13ofFIG.1.

As can be seen in the embodiment ofFIG.3, the method comprises the step S38of storing, for each of the one or more luminaires, the at least one profile in a memory of the corresponding luminaire. The luminaires may function accurately without further direct management from a central control system. In an embodiment, the memory of the corresponding luminaire may be included in a luminaire controller associated to the luminaire.

In an embodiment, the determining of the at least one profile S37is performed periodically, preferably once a day, more preferably once an hour, most preferably once a minute.

In this way, the determination of the at least one profile S37may be achieved in a dynamic manner better suited to the local changes in the infrastructure uses and/or features of the luminaires. The periodicity of determining the at least one profile S37may be similar or different from the selecting of the infrastructure use and/or feature S36.

It is to be noted that, although the steps inFIG.3are presented in a sequential manner, steps S32-S35may be performed additionally or alternatively in the step S39of checking for additional data. Step S36may also be performed in step S39.

In the above embodiments, the determining, for each of the one or more luminaires, of the at least one profile based on the selected infrastructure use and/or feature may depend on a weighted sum of one or more parameters associated to the selected infrastructure use and/or feature, or may depend on the parameter with the heaviest weight value among the one or more parameters associated to the selected infrastructure use and/or feature. The parameters considered and associated weight may be seen in the following table. The skilled person will understand that the parameters and weight values below are not limiting and may be adapted following the desired degrees of tuning when determining the at least one profiled.

In an embodiment, a luminaire may be in close proximity to two infrastructures features: a speed bump and a school. Both the speed bump and the school may be associated to the parameter of a low recommended speed. Additionally, the school has a time-dependent infrastructure use which may be associated to a high traffic volume with a user composition of mixed vehicles, pedestrians, and bicycles when the school starts and finishes during week days. Depending on the time of the day, the weighted sum taking into account the weight values of the above mentioned parameters is used as basis to determine the at least one profile of a lighting unit of the luminaire.

In another embodiment, a luminaire may be in close proximity to one infrastructure feature: a junction where a bicycle lane separated from a city road joins that road. The junction may be associated to a low recommended speed, a mixte traffic composition, no lane separation, and the presence of a conflict area.

In yet another embodiment, a luminaire may be in close proximity to a restaurant in a pedestrian street. The restaurant may correspond to a selected infrastructure use and associated to a high traffic volume during lunch and dinner times. The pedestrian street may correspond also to a selected infrastructure use with a mixte traffic composition during delivery hours to the restaurant.

In still another embodiment, a luminaire may be in close proximity to a city street consisting of two lanes with parking areas on each side, and with road works blocking one of the two lanes. To the road works, one can associate a high traffic volume, motorized only traffic composition, with a low recommended speed. To the city street, one can associate the presence of parked vehicles.

The skilled person will understand that the parameters considered may not be limited to the ones mentioned in the table below, and the at least one profile determined may also be based on a base lighting profile depending on a detected natural light intensity and/or the time of the day, said base lighting profile being adapted based on a weighted sum of the one or more parameters associated to the selected infrastructure use and/or feature, or based on the parameter with the heaviest weight value among the one or more parameters associated to the selected infrastructure use and/or feature.

ParametersOptionsDescriptionWeight valueRecommendedVery highs >= 100 km/h2speedHigh70 < s < 100 km/h1Medium40 < s <= 70 km/h−1Lows <= 40 km/h−2MotorwaysOthersTrafficHigh>65% of the>45% of the max.1volumemax. capacitycapacityMedium35 to 65% of the15 to 45% of the0max. capacitymax. capacityLow<35% of the max.<15% of the max.−1capacitycapacityTrafficMixte with a2compositionhigh proportionof non-motorizedusersMixte1Motorized0onlyLanesYes0separationNo1ConflictYes0areaNo1ParkedYes0vehiclesNo1

Whilst the principles of the invention have been set out above in connection with specific embodiments, it is to be understood that this description is merely made by way of example and not as a limitation of the scope of protection which is determined by the appended claims.