Power optimization for battery powered street lighting system
AssigneeEuro Sino Optical Research and Development Centre B.V
InventorJohannes Otto Rooymans
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Abstract
A network is disclosed of a plurality of outdoor lighting units. Each lighting unit comprises a light fixture, for example a LED lamp; a power generating means, such as a solar panel or a wind turbine; and a storage means for electric energy, for example a battery. The energy storage means of neighboring lighting units are connected by a conductor. An imbalance in power generation or power consumption results in a balancing current through the conductor. The balancing current equalizes the charge levels of the energy storage means in the system. In an embodiment the conductor comprises a single core wire and ground.
Claims14
A network of a plurality of outdoor lighting units, each unit comprising:
- a. a light fixture;
- b. a power generating means;
- c. a storage means for electric energy;
- and
- d. a connection to ground;
- wherein neighboring lighting units are distanced from each other with an amount of ground therebetween and the storage means of neighboring lighting units are connected by a conductor that consists of a wire and a connection through the ground;
- wherein the conductor serves to conduct electric energy from a first storage means of a first lighting unit to a second storage means of a second lighting unit by conduction through the ground between the lighting units, so as to balance charge states of the first storage means and the second storage means;
- and
- wherein each lighting unit further comprises a controller configured to receive signals over the conductor, and each lighting unit is adapted to additionally communicate with a neighboring lighting unit via the conductor.
A network of a plurality of outdoor lighting units, each unit comprising:
- a light fixture,
- a power generating means,
- a storage means for electric energy, and
- a connection to ground;
- wherein neighboring lighting units are distanced from each other with an amount of ground therebetween and the storage means of neighboring lighting units are connected by a conductor that consists of a wire and a connection through the ground;
- wherein the conductor conducts electric energy from a first storage means of a first lighting unit to a second storage means of a second lighting unit by conduction through the ground between the lighting units to balance charge states of the first storage means and the second storage means;
- and
- wherein each lighting unit comprises a controller configured to receive signals over the conductor, a driver connected to the conductor that is configured to receive signals communicated over the conductor, and each lighting unit is adapted to additionally communicate with a neighboring lighting unit via the conductor.
A network of a plurality of outdoor lighting units, each unit comprising:
- a light fixture,
- a power generating means,
- a storage means for electric energy, and
- a connection to ground;
- wherein neighboring lighting units are distanced from each other with an amount of ground therebetween and the storage means of neighboring lighting units are connected by a conductor that consists of a wire and a connection through the ground;
- wherein the conductor is arranged to conduct electric energy from a first storage means of a first lighting unit to a second storage means of a second lighting unit by conduction through the ground between the lighting units in order to balance charge states of the first storage means and the second storage means;
- wherein each lighting unit comprises a controller configured to receive signals over the conductor and is further configured to transmit digital information over the conductor and/or to communicate with a neighboring lighting unit via the conductor by pulse modulation;
- and
- wherein each lighting unit is adapted to additionally communicate with a neighboring lighting unit via the conductor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.