METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE LIGHT DISTRIBUTION OF A LUMINAIRE

Abstract

Method for controlling the light distribution of a traffic route luminaire (1) in a network of luminaires, which is preferably also organized as a mesh network. The luminaire has a luminaire head having a settable light module and a controller, the light distribution of the luminaire being variable. The luminaire communicates luminaire data to at least one server, the luminaire data being luminaire-specific and including the installation location of the luminaire. The method comprises the steps of: —automatically allocating a light distribution to the luminaire (1) in accordance with the communicated luminaire data; —automatically setting the light module on the basis of the allocated light distribution; and determining, by said at least one server, a light distribution class of the traffic route luminaire on the basis of a traffic route topology (2,3,4,5,6).

Claims

1. A method for controlling the light distribution of a traffic route luminaire in a network of luminaires, the traffic route luminaire including a luminaire head having a settable light module and a controller, the light distribution of the traffic route luminaire being variable, the method comprising: providing communication between the traffic route luminaire and at least one server in the network of luminaires; communicating, from the traffic route luminaire, luminaire data to said at least one server, said luminaire data being luminaire-specific and including the installation location of the luminaire; automatically allocating a light distribution to the luminaire in accordance with the communicated luminaire data; automatically setting the light module on the basis of the allocated light distribution; and determining, by said at least one server, a light distribution class of the traffic route luminaire on the basis of a traffic route topology.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: classifying a plurality of light-emitting diodes of the settable light module or a plurality of organic light-emitting diodes of the settable light module into different groups for realizing the desired light distribution; providing the controller with a data set for the setting of the different groups, said data set including an assignment of different light distributions; instigating, by the controller, the setting of the groups; and driving the individual groups via one of a bus system and separate control outputs of the controller.

3-5. (canceled)

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: communicating data relating to the light distribution during initial start-up of the traffic route luminaire or with a temporal separation after initial start-up of the traffic route luminaire.

7. (canceled)

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of: communicating data relating to the light distribution in either an automated or manual manner.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of: communicating data relating to the light distribution provides a widened emission compared to a previous emission in accordance with a failure of an adjacent traffic route luminaire.

10-14. (canceled)

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: determining the traffic route topology based on at least one of a road situation, a type of road, the required light distribution of the road, the required light distribution of the road region, and the arrangement of light points along the road.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: varying the orientation of circuit boards of the settable light module for setting the light distribution.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: varying the form of printed circuit boards of the settable light module for setting the light distribution.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: varying the orientation of lenses assigned to the settable light module for setting the light distribution.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: varying the form of lenses assigned to the settable light module for setting the light distribution.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: varying the orientation of reflectors assigned to the settable light module for setting the light distribution.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: varying the form of reflectors assigned to the settable light module for setting the light distribution.

22. A traffic route luminaire with a variable light distribution and a luminaire head, comprising: a controller comprising electronic data processing means and communication means, the controller having means for: communicating luminaire data to a server, said luminaire data being luminaire-specific and including the installation location of the luminaire; and forwarding control signals for driving light of the traffic route luminaire in accordance with a light distribution determined by the method according to claim 1; a settable light module comprising a plurality of light-emitting diode elements arranged in groups with each group being mounted on a circuit board; and actuating means for varying the emission angle of the light originating from the diode elements.

23. The traffic route luminaire of claim 22, wherein the settable light module further comprises a plurality of lenses associated with the plurality of light-emitting diode elements, the actuating means being suitable for varying the orientation or the form of the lenses in order to vary the emission angle of the light originating from the diode elements for setting the light distribution.

24. The traffic route luminaire of claim 22, wherein the settable light module further comprises reflectors, the actuating means being suitable for varying the orientation or the form of the reflectors in order to vary the emission angle of the light originating from the diode elements for setting the light distribution.

25. A network of luminaires, comprising: a plurality of traffic route luminaires according to claim 22; and at least one server and means for communication between the traffic route luminaires and the at least one server.

26. The network of luminaires of claim 25, wherein the means for communication is suitable for providing communication between the traffic luminaires themselves.

27. The traffic route luminaire of claim 22, wherein the actuating means are suitable for varying the orientation or the form of the circuit board in order to vary the emission angle of the light originating from the diode elements for setting the light distribution.

28. The network of luminaires of claim 25, wherein the at least one server is configured for: automatically allocating a light distribution to the luminaire in accordance with the communicated luminaire data; and determining a light distribution class of the traffic route luminaire on the basis of a traffic route topology, the light distribution being allocated in accordance with the light distribution class.

Description

[0044] Further advantages and details of the invention can be gathered from the following description of the figures. In the schematic illustrations in the figures:

[0045] FIG. 1 illustrates a road topology with individual luminaires;

[0046] FIGS. 2a to 2e illustrate possible light distribution classes;

[0047] FIG. 3 illustrates a traffic route luminaire in a partial bottom view;

[0048] FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrate parts of the traffic route luminaire according to FIG. 3 in different operating modes;

[0049] FIG. 5 illustrates a further exemplary embodiment of a traffic route luminaire according to the invention in a partial bottom view;

[0050] FIGS. 6a and 6b respectively illustrate parts of the traffic route luminaire according to FIG. 5 in different operating modes;

[0051] FIG. 7 illustrates an illumination situation on a road; and

[0052] FIG. 8 illustrates an illumination situation on the road with a widened emission compared to the illumination situation in FIG. 7.

[0053] Individual technical features of the exemplary embodiments described below can also be combined in combination with exemplary embodiments described previously and also the features of the independent claims and with possible further claims to form subject-matter according to the invention. Insofar as is expedient, elements having a functionally identical action are provided with identical reference numerals.

[0054] In order to carry out the method according to the present invention in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment, first starting with traffic route luminaire information relating to the installation location of the luminaires, a mapping of the road topology with assigned light points, each corresponding to a traffic route luminaire, is formed. A view of such a topology with associated luminaires 1 is illustrated in FIG. 1. From the spatial coordinates communicated by the luminaires, which coordinates thus constitute luminaire data relating to the installation location of the luminaire, luminaires 1 are integrated into a road topology. The road topology can be obtained from Internet databases, from a dedicated database or is present on the server side, for example. The road topology shows a plurality of roads and characterizes them clearly. FIG. 1 shows a road 2 being a main traffic road, a road 3 being a link road, a ring of roads corresponding to a roundabout 4 and a road 5 being an access to a car park 6. Further information about the roads can be gathered from the road topology. For example, to what extent a multi-lane road is involved, how wide said road is and whether one-way streets or traffic-calmed zones are involved.

[0055] The spatial assignment of the light points or of the luminaires 1 to the respective roads is effected by means of a distance function, for example. As a result of the knowledge of light distribution classes assigned to the respective roads the light distribution or light distribution class required for the respective luminaire arises taking account of the distance between the luminaires.

[0056] FIGS. 2a to 2e illustrate some examples of respective light distribution classes which can correspondingly be assigned to traffic route luminaires 1.

[0057] For example, the luminaire 1 arranged on the narrow road 5 (FIG. 1) designed as a one-way street and functioning as an access road to a car park is to be operated with a light distribution in accordance with FIG. 2b) (light distribution class II) where only a narrow road needs to be illuminated. For a luminaire 1 arranged centrally in the roundabout 4 or at a cross roads where the intersecting roads are the same size and need to be uniformly lit, the luminaire is to be classified with a light distribution in accordance with FIG. 2e) (light distribution class V). The luminaires 1 arranged on the main road 2 are characterized by means of the light distribution in accordance with FIG. 2d) (light distribution class IV). Similarly, FIGS. 2a and 2c respectively illustrate luminaires 1 which are classified in accordance with light distribution classes I and III.

[0058] In addition to the classification in accordance with FIGS. 2a to 2e, further light distribution classes representing further-reaching light distributions can be defined depending on the situation or on empirical values. The respective light distributions arise on the basis of the emission characteristics of a luminaire 1 arranged relative to a schematically illustrated road 7. An envelope 8 of the light distribution from the luminaire 1 appears as a transition from an area illuminated with a specific brightness towards the surroundings. The envelope 8 arises substantially as a result of the emission angles of the light emerging from the light module of a luminaire 1.

[0059] In accordance with the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 3, a light module 9 in the present exemplary embodiment has a total of eight groups 11 of, in each case, two LEDs 12. The LED groups 11, which can also constitute in each case a dedicated printed circuit board, are laterally delimited by reflectors 13 by means of which the light emergence can furthermore be influenced. It will be appreciated that a light module may comprise a different number of groups, each group comprising a different number of LEDs.

[0060] After the allocation of a light distribution class by the server and by corresponding instructions in the controller the groups 11, as shown in the vertical section IV-IV indicated in FIG. 3, can pivot from their position shown in FIG. 4a) to the predefined position in accordance with FIG. 4b). Clockwise arrows 14CW and counter-clockwise arrows 14CCW show the direction of movement of the individual LED groups 11 mounted on their dedicated printed circuit boards 15, which pivot about a pivoting axis (not illustrated) in a motor-driven fashion by actuating means.

[0061] In accordance with the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 5, a light module 9 is realized in which the illuminants or LEDs of the groups 11 are settable (i.e. the emission angles are variable) not just by a variation of the orientation of the entire groups 11 including the underlying printed circuit board 15 as illustrated in FIG. 4, but also via lenses 16 that are adaptable in terms of their form.

[0062] In this regard, the lenses 16 as shown in the vertical section VI-VI indicated in FIG. 5 change from a basic position having, for example, a semi-circular form in accordance with FIG. 6a) towards a lens form shaped depending on the desired emission characteristic, for example as an obliquely truncated elliptical paraboloid 16′ in accordance with FIG. 6b). In particular, electroactive polymers having a sufficient thermal stability can be used in this case.

[0063] Alternatively or additionally, further changes in the emission characteristic can be brought about by means of an adjustment of the orientation of the printed circuit boards 15 and/or the reflectors 13.

[0064] For sufficient illumination, depending on the road topology and the light distribution class, a setting in accordance with FIG. 7 arises in which an emission angle α of a luminaire 1—viewed in the plane of the figure— embodied as a traffic route luminaire is about 70°, for example. A road 3 is sufficiently illuminated thereby. For the case where the middle luminaire 1 illustrated in FIG. 7 then fails and a corresponding signal from a server of an assigned telemanagement system or of the network of luminaires 1 requires knowledge of this, the adjacent luminaires 1 can be instructed in an automated manner to adapt their light distribution in order to ensure sufficient illumination for the road despite the failure. In this case, the aperture angles in the emission are altered towards the middle luminaire in such a way that both adjacent luminaires 1 have an emission angle α′ of somewhat more than 90° as viewed in the plane of the figure, for example. Additionally, the lighting current towards the middle luminaire can be increased.

[0065] Although the emission angle α of each of the luminaires 1 in FIG. 7 are shown to be the same, it will readily be appreciated that each emission angle may be different for each luminaire 1.

[0066] Moreover, it will readily be understood that the emission angle is not limited to the plane of the figure but is, in effect, defined by an angle of a cone and can be regular or irregular in accordance with the light distribution class as described above with reference to FIGS. 2a to 2e.