Luminaire, street light, system and method

Abstract

A luminaire (1) is provided comprising a luminaire housing (3), a light module(5), and a communication module (7). The light module comprises a light source (15) for emitting light from the luminaire (1) and wherein the light module (5) is accommodated at least partly within the luminaire housing (3). The communication module (7) is configured for wireless transmitting and/or receiving communication signals which are unrelated to the 5 lighting function of the luminaire and/or to the operation of the light module. The communication module (7) is accommodated within the luminaire housing (3).

Claims

1. An outdoor luminaire comprising a luminaire housing, a light module, and a communication module, wherein the light module comprises a light source for emitting light from the outdoor luminaire and wherein the light module is accommodated at least partly within the luminaire housing, wherein the communication module is configured for wireless transmitting and/or receiving communication signals which are unrelated to the lighting function of the outdoor luminaire and/or to operation of the light module and wherein the communication module is accommodated within the luminaire housing, wherein the luminaire housing comprises a transmissive housing part being transmissive for the communication signals, wherein the communication module comprises one or more of signal emitters, signal directors and signal receivers, and wherein the outdoor luminaire comprises a mount for accommodating the communication module within the housing, such that each of the one or more of signal emitters, signal directors and signal receivers are aligned with the one or more transmissive housing parts, wherein the mount defines one or more mount windows being transmissive for the communication signals, and each of the one or more of signal emitters, signal directors and signal receivers, the one or more mount windows, and the one or more transmissive housing parts are aligned, and wherein the mount windows are formed as apertures in the mount.

2. The outdoor luminaire according to claim 1, wherein the light source is arranged at a light emitting side (LS) of the light module and the communication module is arranged in the luminaire housing opposite the light emitting side (LS) of the light module, the opposite side being opposite to the light emitting side (LS); and/or wherein the outdoor luminaire comprises a light directing structure defining a light emission direction (LD) and the communication module is arranged in the luminaire housing at an opposite side of the light direction structure relative to the light emission direction (LD).

3. The outdoor luminaire according to claim 1, wherein at least the transmissive housing part is opaque for visible light.

4. The outdoor luminaire according to claim 1, wherein the mount is or comprises a thermal conductor and/or a metallic part, and the thermal conductor and/or metallic part is in thermal contact with at least part of the communication module and at least part of a heat sinking element.

5. The outdoor luminaire according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the mount and/or the communication module is arranged in the outdoor luminaire spaced from the luminaire housing thereby enabling an air flow between the mount and/or communication module on the one hand and the luminaire housing on the other hand.

6. The outdoor luminaire according to claim 5, wherein the luminaire housing comprises at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet allowing air from outside the outdoor luminaire to flow from the at least one air inlet through the space between the mount and/or communication module on the one hand and the luminaire housing on the other hand and to the at least one air outlet.

7. The outdoor luminaire according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the light source comprises one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs); the light module comprises a light source driver operably coupled with the light source; the light module comprises a controller operably coupled with the light source or a light source driver operably coupled with the light source, wherein the controller is configured for receiving and/or emitting one or more lighting communication signals associated with operation of the light module.

8. The outdoor luminaire according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the communication signals comprise at least one of radio-frequency signals, millimeter-wavelength signals, and optical signals, for 4G, 4G-LTE, 5G, WiFi, mmWave communication; the communication module is configured for also cable-based transmitting and/or receiving communication signals which are unrelated to the lighting function of the outdoor luminaire and/or to operation of the light module; the outdoor luminaire has a data connection for connecting the communication module to a wired data network; the outdoor luminaire comprises a power supply for providing power to both the light module and the communication module.

9. A street light comprising a pole and an outdoor luminaire according to claim 1.

10. A system comprising a plurality of outdoor luminaires claim 1, wherein the communication module of at least one of the plurality of outdoor luminaires is configured for transmitting at least some of the communication signals to and/or receiving at least some of the communication signals from at least one other one of the plurality of outdoor luminaires.

11. A system according to claim 10, further comprising a further outdoor luminaire having a substantially the same design and lighting functionality as a design and lighting functionality of the plurality of outdoor luminaires.

12. Method of retrofitting an existing outdoor luminaire comprising a luminaire housing and an existing light module, the method comprising: replacing the existing light module with a light module comprising at least one LED-based light source, adding a communication module according to claim 1 and a mount according to claim 1, collectively configured for wireless transmitting and/or receiving communication signals which are unrelated to the lighting function of the outdoor luminaire and/or to operation of the light module and such that the communication module is accommodated within the outdoor luminaire housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The above-described aspects will hereafter be more explained with further details and benefits with reference to the drawings showing a number of luminaires by way of example.

(2) FIGS. 1-3 show an example of a luminaire, wherein FIG. 1 is a partly cut-away perspective view, FIG. 2 is an exploded view and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the luminaire without cover (see text below);

(3) FIGS. 4-7 show different examples in cross section view;

(4) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another example of a luminaire;

(5) FIG. 9 is a partial cross section view of the luminaire of FIG. 8;

(6) FIG. 10 is a partial exploded view of the luminaire of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(7) It is noted that the drawings are schematic, not necessarily to scale and that details that are not required for understanding the present invention may have been omitted. The terms upward, downward, below, above, and the like relate to the embodiments as oriented in the drawings, unless otherwise specified. Further, elements that are at least substantially identical or that perform an at least substantially identical function are denoted by the same numeral, raised by hundreds (100, 200, etc).

(8) Further, unless otherwise specified, terms like detachable and removably connected are intended to mean that respective parts may be disconnected essentially without damage or destruction of either part, e.g. excluding structures in which the parts are integral (e.g. welded or molded as one piece), but including structures in which parts are attached by or as mated connectors, fasteners, releasable self-fastening features, etc.

(9) FIGS. 1-3 show an embodiment of a luminaire 1 comprising a luminaire housing 3, a light module 5, and a communication module 7.

(10) The luminaire housing 3 comprises a base portion 9 and a lens 11 through which the light from the light module 5 is emitted.

(11) The light module 5 is accommodated in the luminaire housing 3 and comprises a substrate 13 supporting a light source 15 here comprising a plurality of LEDs 17. The substrate 13 and light source 15 define a light emitting side LS of the light module 5. The assembly of the light source 15 mounted to the substrate 13 provides a light direction structure defining a light emission direction LD, pointing down in the Figures; note that the luminaire may be configured for providing light in a significantly wider solid angle than indicated with the arrow, possibly up to about ? or 2? steradians. The light module 5 further comprises a light source driver 19 arranged in the luminaire housing 3 at an opposite side DS of the light direction structure 19 relative to the light emission direction LD, opposite the light emitting side LS.

(12) The communication module 7 is also accommodated in the luminaire housing 3, here in the base portion 9 thereof and at an opposite side of the light direction structure relative to the light emission direction LD. The communication module 7 is configured for wireless transmitting and/or receiving communication signals. For that, the communication module 7 comprises one or more of signal emitters, signal directors and signal receivers which may be integrated at least in part in a modem or other part of the communication module 7 and which are generally indicated with 21 in FIG. 2.

(13) The base portion 9 of the luminaire housing 3 is shown, as an option, as a multipart housing portion and in the shown embodiment comprises a base structure 22 and an outer cover 23. The base structure 22 provides structural integrity to the luminaire housing 3. As shown, the cover 23, which may be formed in cover segments, covers at least part of the communication module 7 and of the base structure 22 protecting them from weather influences and/or hiding them from view when opaque. The cover 23 also provides transmissive housing parts 24 being transmissive for the communication signals. In particular, the transmissive housing parts 24 may be an integral part of the outer cover 23.

(14) Best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the luminaire comprises a mount 25 for accommodating the communication module within the luminaire housing 3. In the shown embodiment, the mount 25 forms part of the base structure 22 of the luminaire housing 3. The mount 25 defines one or more mount windows 27, being transmissive for the communication signals. Here, the mount windows 27 are formed as apertures in the mount. When assembled, see FIG. 3, the communication module 7 is accommodated in the mount 25 such that each of the one or more of signal emitters, signal directors and signal receivers are aligned with a mount window 27, and with a transmissive housing part 24 when mounted in the luminaire housing. Thus, a signal path for the communication signals is defined. In the shown embodiment, the transmissive housing part 24 is formed as a thin-walled cylindrical portion about the communication module 5, wherein optional ribs 28 of the luminaire housing are arranged substantially out of the signal path of the communication signals to prevent local material thickness variations affecting signals transmission along the signal path.

(15) The mount 25 may be, at least in part, of metal. The use of metal support structures within the luminaire to mount luminaire components provides robustness to the luminaire and allows the luminaire housing, especially the transmissive housing part 24, to be comparably thin without jeopardizing the structural integrity and robustness of the luminaire as a whole. Also, the mount may be thermally conductive and provide a large wall surface area for heat exchange. The mount 25 may be provided with heat fins (not shown).

(16) In the shown embodiment, the mount 25 provides part of the base structure 22 of the luminaire 1: see FIG. 3.

(17) The mount 25 may be mounted in close thermal contact with an optional skirt 29 of (the base structure 22 of) the luminaire housing 3 and/or, possibly via an optional flange 26, a top 31 of the luminaire housing 3. The skirt 29 and top 31 may therefore act as heat sinking elements. The luminaire may comprise further structures e.g. such as a screen 32 provided to the skirt 29. Also, the luminaire 1 may be mounted to a support such as a pole (not shown), e.g. supported from the top of the luminaire as a pendant (either via a clamp mechanism around top port 31 or via an optional mounting point 34), wherein at least part of the pole and/or a fixture between the pole and the luminaire 1 (e.g. the clamp mechanism mentioned above) may act as a, possibly further, heat sinking element. Thus, also when no communication module 7 is included in the mount 25, the luminaire housing 3 and light module 5 have the same look and feel and, except for some communication aspects, the same technical functionalities than the luminaire 1 which does comprise a communication module 7. Hence, the two types of luminaire (with and without communication module 7) may be interchanged otherwise.

(18) Best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the communication module 7 is arranged in the mount 25 and spaced from the mount walls and from the luminaire housing 3. Thereby, an air flow is enabled between the communication module 7, the the mount 25 and the luminaire housing, by which the communication module 7 may be cooled. Cooling may be further promoted by providing the luminaire housing, e.g. the cover, with one or more openings for functioning as air inlet 33 and, respectively, air outlet 35 and/or forming the cover at least partly from a material that is thin and/or has a high thermal conductivity.

(19) In some cases, as part of a retrofit of an existing luminaire into a luminaire 3 as shown in FIGS. 1-3, the base structure 22 of the luminaire housing 3 may have been formed from an existing luminaire housing. E.g. the mount 25 may be formed from a part of the existing luminaire housing into which windows 27 have been formed, e.g. metal wall sections having been removed. Also or alternatively, the mount 25 may be formed as a new portion replacing part of the existing luminaire housing, e.g. in case the communication module 7 would not fit in the existing luminaire housing, whereas other parts of the luminaire (e.g. lens 11, screen 32, skirt 29, top 31) may have been retained. Thus, structural aspects like mechanical stability of the existing luminaire may, at least in part, be retained for the adapted and enhanced luminaire, whereas the cover 23 may serve for (re)establishment of weather proof features of the (thus adapted) luminaire 3, for which a comparably light weight cover 23 may be provided. Thus, one or more of material, manufacturing and/or assembling time, design calculations and costs may be saved compared to provisioning of a brand new luminaire 3. Also, the appearance of the existing luminaire may, at least in part, be retained, wherein optional ribs 28 and/or other ornaments on and/or in the cover 23 may serve for further mechanical stability of the (light weight) cover 23 and/or aesthetic functions and/or obscuring retrofitting adaptation and/or restoring design aspect ratios of the retrofitted luminaire 3 with respect to the existing luminaire as a possible consequence of fattening the luminaire with new components, such as a communication module. Thus public acceptance of the enhanced luminaires 3 (now including a communication module), in particular in historic towns, may be improved.

(20) FIGS. 4-6 are cross section views of different embodiments of a luminaire 100, 200, 300, 400, largely similar to the luminaire 1 of FIGS. 1-3 and each comprising a respective luminaire housing 103, 203, 303, 403, light module 105, 205, 305, 405 and communication module 107, 207, 307, 407.

(21) The different luminaires 1, 100, 200, 300, 400, differ mainly in that the luminaire housings 103, 203, 303, 403, of the respective luminaires have differently shaped covers covering the communication module and formed of transmissive housing parts 24, 124, 224, 324, 424 each being transmissive for the communication signals. Further, each of the different luminaires 1, 100, 200, 300, 400, is provided with one or more air inlets 133, 233, 333, 433 and one or more air outlets 135, 235, 335, 435 arranged in different positions facilitating an air flow through the respective luminaire 100, 200, 300, 400 as indicated with a dotted arrow. In some cases further apertures are provided in the light module 5 and/or the base structure 22, e.g. the skirt 29 thereof, to facilitate at least part of the air flow to pass through such apertures (FIGS. 5-6). In each of the shown cases, the air inlets 133, 233, 333, 433 are located below at least part of the respective communication module 107, 207, 307, 407, while the respective one or more air outlets 135, 235, 335, 435, are located above them, facilitating a chimney effect. The one or more air inlets 133, 233, 333, 433 and/or one or more air outlets 135, 235, 335, 435 and/or the position of one or more of them may be, as shown, at least in part defined by the cover 23; this simplifies providing luminaires 1, 100, 200, 300, 400, with different appearances (e.g. compare in FIGS. 4-5 the positions of the air outlets 135, 235 and in FIGS. 6-7 the positions of the air inlets 333, 433, and ribs 328, 428).

(22) As indicated above, it is noted that luminaires exist which have an existing luminaire housing in the general shape of the base structure 22 shown in FIGS. 1-3; such luminaire may be retrofitted and transformed into a luminaire as provided herein (FIGS. 1-5) by replacing an existing light module with a light module comprising at least one LED-based light source, providing a communication module mounted into/onto a mount comprising transmissive window and replacing the existing luminaire housing with a new luminaire housing, which may have the same design or look and feel as the existing luminaire housing but having transmissive portions at least corresponding with the transmissive window(s) of the communication module mount. Alternatively, the existing luminaire housing may be reworked or retrofitted itself to include the transmissive portions.

(23) FIGS. 8-10 show as further embodiment of a luminaire 500. The luminaire 500 comprises comprising a luminaire housing 503 having a relatively slender portion 503A and a relatively bulky portion 503B. The luminaire 500 comprises, accommodated in the housing 503 a light module 505 and a communication module 507.

(24) In the shown embodiment the light module 505 and the communication module 507 are arranged in part laterally adjacent each other, the light module 505 being arranged in the slender portion 503A and the communication module 507 being arranged in the bulky portion 503B at an opposite side of a light direction structure of the light module 505 relative to the light emission direction LD of the latter.

(25) The luminaire 500 comprises a connector 537 for mounting the luminaire to (an arm of) a light pole (not shown). In the luminaire housing 503 a mount 525 is comprised made of a metal, e.g. aluminum or an alloy of that. In this embodiment, the mount 525 covers part of the communication module 507 and is arranged in close thermal contact with a heat sink 539 provided with heat fins and providing part of an outside surface of the luminaire 500 which may facilitate cooling of the communication module 507 mounted to the mount 525. The thermal contact may be promoted by placement of a thermal conductive substance, e.g. a gap pad 541 between the mount 525 and/or the communication module 507 and the heat sinking element 539.

(26) The communication module 507 comprises one or more antennas 521. The antennas 521 are arranged outside of the mount 525 and such that, in a mounted position, they align with transmissive housing parts 524 in cover 523, the transmissive housing parts 524 being transmissive for the communication signals from/to (the antennas 521 of) the communication module 507. The antennas 521 may comprise antenna arrays, e.g. plural antenna modules formed on a circuit board.

(27) The luminaire housing 503 comprises an air inlet 533 and an air outlet 535 facilitating an air flow through part of the luminaire housing 503 (dashed arrow in FIG. 10).

(28) The luminaire 500 may comprise an optional further module 543, such as a sensor module (e.g. for any combination of weather, noise, vibration, tilt, image capture, air quality, photocell or any other sensor function), speaker, auxiliary light (for decoration, warning or signal function), active cooling unit, lighting controller and the like. The module 543 may be operably coupled with the light module 505 and/or the communication module 507.

(29) Note that in a luminaire of the general design of the luminaire 500, at least parts of the light module 505 and of the communication module 507 may be arranged laterally adjacent each other in a slender portion 503A and/or in a bulky portion 503B respectively and/or vertically adjacent each other in the housing 503 (not shown); note that either module (505, 507) may comprise or even share one or more printed circuit boards for power elements and/or antennas allowing flexibility in placement of at least parts of the modules within the luminaire.

(30) This disclosure is not restricted to the above described embodiments which can be varied in a number of ways within the scope of the claims. Elements and aspects discussed for or in relation with a particular embodiment may be suitably combined with elements and aspects of other embodiments, unless explicitly stated otherwise.