WO2014174389A1

WO2014174389A1 - Controlled large area outdoor lighting system

Info

Publication number: WO2014174389A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/060128
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ridas Matonis
Original assignee: Uab "Elmo Technologijos"
Priority date: 2013-04-23
Filing date: 2014-03-25
Publication date: 2014-10-30
Also published as: LT2013038A; LT5985B

Abstract

The aim of this invention is a cost-saving mobile lighting system that uses LEDs or mirrors to illuminate large outdoor area of any terrain from a relatively high altitude. Cost-efficiency of the system is guaranteed by use of LEDs. Vertical mobility of the system is provided by using heat produced by LEDs that are fitted to a heat conducting surface, balloons, and/or propellers. Horizontal mobility of the system is guaranteed by propellers and/or lighting system retaining ropes. Lighting angle and intensity of focus of the system are adjusted using controlled lens system of specific design. Position of the system is adjusted either manually or automatically. Systems of this type provide ideal illumination of construction sites, events, stadiums, water areas, forests, rivers, lakes, fields, residential areas, etc., i.e. locations that either lack or have no stationary lighting. Such lighting systems can also function as monitoring and data collection systems, or as systems for transportation of small loads (including people) to difficult to access areas (e.g. in the mountains) or during rescue operations (without using any helicopters).

Description

CONTROLLED LARGE AREA OUTDOOR LIGHTING SYSTEM

Technical Field

This invention belongs to the field of lighting systems, in particular large-area outdoor lighting systems. It is also relate to light emitting diodes (LEDs) and above-ground in-the-air positioning of lighting systems.

Background Art

Large outdoor area illumination is a fairly serious and topical issue. Illumination of a large outdoor area usually requires considerable energy resources. It is also not easy to ensure operation of such system in various weather conditions, nearby people's safety and usability.

Situation changed radically with the emergence of light emitting diodes (LEDs). Although LEDs appeared as such in 1962, they emitted low-intensity light limited to red only. At present, LEDs are produced for various wave lengths (from infrared to UV light). As the current flows in the forward direction, the P-N junction of the diode emits light of almost the same wave length (monochromatic). When several diodes are placed in a single housing, non-monochromatic light can be produced. Colour of the light can be gradually changed by separately adjusting the current flowing in diodes placed in the same housing. A LED module nowadays may be used as a more cost-saving and more durable substitute to a conventional incandescent light bulb.

International application No. WO2011055659 is known to have been published on 12 May, 2011. The application describes larger LED lighting apparatus comprised of a base, light emitting diode, and heat dissipating section. This application is based on use of LEDs and efficient heat dissipation. This opens the possibility of successful replacement of old hot lamp systems with cost-saving and safe lighting systems based on LEDs.

Another known patent is Chinese patent No. CN102595711 published on 18 July, 2012. The patent describes a high-power (500-1000 W) LED lamp remotely controlled via network using specific software. The following LED lighting system has the following adjustable parameters: brightness of separate LED lamps, light colour, beam angle of light, and direction of light. The system also comprises a fault diagnosis system and heat-conducting system.

Chinese patent No. CN202588916 published on 18 July, 2012 describes LED light source with lighting angle controlled by lens system. The lens system offers the possibility of both horizontal and vertical adjustment of the lighting angle of the LED source. Thus, the emitted light can be accurately directed as required without changing the position of the LED source.

The closer issue to the technical level is the international application No. WO2010104787 published on 16 September 2010. It describes a portable lighting system based on a LED light source fitted to a movable/mobile trailer mounted tower. The system also comprises a solar power device (with batteries) to convert solar energy in order to power the mentioned LED light source. The main disadvantage of the system is inability to illuminate large area, as the height of the tower is very limited. Another disadvantage is that such system cannot provide quality lighting of an area (e.g. lake, tough terrain etc.) that is difficult to access by the mentioned trailer.

The closest issue to the technical level is the Australian patent No. AU2012205277 published on 7 February 2013. This patent describes a mobile lighting tower with the system comprising (5 x 12) 60 LED light fixtures for night time illumination of an outdoor area. Its distinctive feature is LED matrix modules. This lighting tower comprises low-voltage power packs and rechargeable batteries (or battery packs). It also incorporates a 24 V DC generator. However, this solution shares the same disadvantages with WO2010104787: very limited height and very complicated (or even impossible) access to areas that are difficult to access.

In order to illuminate large outdoor area/space of any terrain (e.g. construction site), two main issues are encountered: altitude and mobility. Fixed mounting of LED sources to a taller object is not difficult to implement; however, such object is stationary or almost stationary (not mobile). Hence, in order to provide proper illumination of such area, at least 4-5 stationary lighting systems are used. In case of mobile systems (trailers, etc.) with mounted LED lighting systems, limited altitude is the issue: altitude above 3-4 metres becomes a difficult obstacle (not to mention that the terrain has to be properly prepared). While in case of the altitude of 20-200 metres (or even several kilometres) and difficult terrain, any solutions provided in patent documentation are completely unsuitable.

The invention disclosed hereunder provides efficient solution for the abovementioned issue of combining altitude and mobility.

Technical Problem

Technical Solution

The invention is aimed at developing a cost-saving mobile lighting system that uses LEDs or mirrors to illuminate large outdoor area of any terrain from a relatively high altitude (altitude above ground level may vary from several metres to several kilometres). Position of the system is adjusted manually (directly or remotely) or automatically/autonomously, and both horizontally (any direction in the horizontal plane) and vertically (relative to ground). This lighting system also provides the possibility to adjust lighting angle, focus the light on a chosen smaller outdoor area, adjust intensity of the focus (focal length) and lighting angle under a remote-controlled program either automatically or manually (monitoring or detection function), transport small loads (including people).

Cost-efficiency of the system is guaranteed by use of LEDs. These systems use low voltage; hence, such mobile systems are ideal for illumination of not only ground, but also water area (e.g. lake).

In order to illuminate any type of terrain, the system may be raised to high altitude, controlled in the horizontal plane, powered either with a single cable (or a limited number of cables) or without any cables (by electromagnetic waves).

Vertical mobility of the system is provided by active/forced (not unassisted) conduction of heat produced by LEDs that are fitted to a heat conducting surface. Vertical position of the system can also be adjusted by special balloons, adjustable vertical lift propeller(s) and/or lighting system retention ropes. The lighting system also provides the possibility of telescopic unloading from a vehicle, i.e. the system is lifted and put down in steps under the same principle as in telescopic systems.

Horizontal mobility of the system is guaranteed by use propellers and/or lighting system retaining ropes.

Lighting angle and intensity of focus (focal length) of the system are adjusted using controlled lens system of specific design.

Flat mirrors can be used as a substitute for LEDs. In this kind of a lighting system, light source is localized not in the lighting system above ground, but on the ground, i.e. unfocused, focused or even laser beams are directed into the mirrors of lighting system and deflected by the mirrors onto a specific area. The distinctive feature of this system is that no energy source is required in the lighting system, or only minor energy source is needed to power the processor, lens positioning system, etc. The mentioned mirrors may be not only flat, but also concave, convex, or even custom irregular shape.

Manual direct adjustment of the position, lighting angle and intensity of the focus (focal length) of the system is implemented by controlling the mechanisms and setting the parameters while being next to structural members of the lighting system. Manual remote adjustment is implemented by remote control of the mechanisms from any place in the world, using specific software and 'remote' server system. Automatic (or autonomous/robotic) mode of the system covers the set of sensors that collect and transmit data to the processor located in the structure of the lighting system or to a remote server. Data provided by the sensors are processed, and the lighting system receives specific commands.

Systems of this type provide ideal illumination of construction sites, events, stadiums, water areas, forests, rivers, lakes, fields, residential areas, etc., i.e. locations that either lack or have no stationary lighting. Such lighting systems can also function as monitoring and data collection systems, or as systems for transportation of small loads (including people) to difficult to access areas (e.g. in the mountains) or during rescue operations (without using any helicopters).

The key distinctive feature of this invention is that such lighting system can illuminate large outdoor area of any type and terrain from a relatively high altitude.

Advantageous Effects

Description of Drawings

Fig. 1 provides overview of the lighting system of this invention, including possible object of illumination (landscape).

Fig. 2 provides more enlarged slightly overhead side view of the lighting system of this invention with balloons.

Fig. 3 provides more enlarged slightly bottom-up side view of the light emitting lighting system of this invention with balloons.

Fig. 4. provides more enlarged view of LED module showing the entire matrix of active heat conducting elements/fans.

Fig. 5 provides more enlarged view of LED module without the matrix of active heat conducting elements, but with one large fan functioning as an altitude regulator of the lighting system.

Best Mode

Large outdoor area illumination is a fairly serious and topical issue. Efficient illumination of a large outdoor area (of a complex terrain, in particular) is expensive, usually inconvenient and difficult to implement using conventional lighting devices. In order to illuminate large outdoor area/space of any terrain (e.g. construction site), two main issues are encountered: altitude and mobility of the lighting system. Fixed mounting of LED sources to a taller object usually does not present any problems; however, such object is stationary or almost stationary (not mobile). Hence, in order to provide proper illumination of such area, at least 4-5 stationary lighting systems are used. In case of mobile systems (trailers, etc.) with mounted LED lighting systems, limited altitude is the issue: altitude above 3-4 metres becomes a difficult obstacle (not to mention that the terrain has to be properly prepared). While in case of the altitude of 20-200 metres (or even several kilometres) and difficult terrain, any solutions provided in patent documentation are completely unsuitable.

Fig. 1 provides overview of the lighting system (1) of this invention, including possible illuminated object/landscape (9). The lighting system (1) of this invention comprises the following main structural members: LED module (2), heat conducting material/panel (3), cover (4), fixing elements (5), ropes/retainers (6), power supply (7) and connecting elements (8).

Cost-efficiency of the system is guaranteed by use of LED module (2). These LED systems use low voltage; hence, compared to old lamp systems, the system of this invention can provide quality illumination of a larger outdoor area at the same capacity of the system. The mentioned LED module (2) can be square, round or other regular or irregular shape. In this lighting system (1), LEDs or their system is the light source.

Heat conducting panel (3) is located above the LED module (2) and functions as a radiator and heat conductor, i.e. it collects the heat produced by LEDs and further transfers it upwards (in a vertical direction) towards the cover (4). This heat produced by LEDs (2) can be used to maintain the altitude of the entire lighting system (1). Empirical experiments have demonstrated that in order to efficiently control the altitude of the lighting system (1) using the heat produced by LEDs (2), unassisted heat conduction is not enough, and the heat is conducted by active use of the entire matrix of fans (12) intended specifically for this purpose (Fig. 4). Another alternative for adjustment of the altitude of the lighting system (1) is one (or more) powerful fan (13) (Fig. 5) mounted to the LED module (2).

Cover (4) is located above the mentioned panel (3) to retain heat produced by LEDs (2) and adjust the altitude of the entire lighting system (1). Connecting elements (8) are fitted between the mentioned panel (3) and cover (4) on the sides to form an air gap between the heat conducting panel (3) and the cover (4). The structure of the lighting system (1) with the mentioned fan (13) does not include a cover (4).

In order to retain the lighting system (1) in a fixed position, ropes (6) are attached to LED module (2), with their other ends attached to fixing elements (5) on the ground. Fixing elements (5) can be either stationary or mobile (e.g. a car, etc.).

The lighting system is powered by power cable (7), with its one end (on the bottom) connected to a power supply or batteries, and another end (on the top) - to the LED module (2). The mentioned ropes (6) can be produced of elastic, semi-elastic, or non-elastic material.

Such system (1) can be raised to a very high altitude: from several metres to several kilometres. It can be used to for illumination of very large area of a complex terrain: construction sites, big events, stadiums, water areas, forests, rivers, fields, residential areas, etc., i.e. locations that either lack or have no stationary lighting. Such lighting systems can also function as monitoring and data collection systems (using video or still cameras) or as systems for transportation of small loads (including people) to difficult to access areas (e.g. in the mountains) or during rescue operations (without using any helicopters).

In order to increase the effective (illuminated) outdoor area, applicable lens system can be integrated into the LED module (2) to adjust the direction and focus beams emitted by LEDs. This kind of lighting systems can function not only as lighting fixtures, but also perform the functions of data collection, analysis, and response formation. Manual adjustment of the position, lighting angle, and intensity of the focus of the lighting system (1) can be implemented by controlling the mechanical devices in the lighting system (1) either directly or by remote control, e.g. from any place in the world, using specific software and web / satellite communication. Automatic (or autonomous/robotic) mode of the system covers the set of sensors that are integrated into the mentioned LED module (2) and collect and transfer data to the processor located in the structure of the lighting system (1) or to a remote server. Data provided by the sensors are processed, and the lighting system receives specific commands.

The lighting system (1) also provides the possibility of telescopic unloading from a vehicle, i.e. the system is lifted and put down in steps under the same principle as in telescopic systems. In this case, high altitude is impossible to achieve; however, such system is particularly compact for a stationary system.

Fig. 2 provides more enlarged slightly overhead side view of the lighting system (1) of this invention with balloons. Vertical mobility of the system may be provided not only by heat produced by LEDs fitted to the heat conducting surface. Position of the system in the vertical direction can also be adjusted using special balloons (10), adjustable vertical lift propellers, and ropes (6) acting as retainers, the quantity of which is chosen as required. Horizontal mobility of the system (1) is provided by propellers and/or the ropes (6) used to retain the lighting system.

Fig. 3 provides more enlarged slightly bottom-up side view of the light emitting (11) lighting system (1) of this invention with balloons (10). It must be noted that not only contact energy transfer using the power cable (7), but also non-contact energy transfer using electromagnetic waves can be applied.

Fig. 4. provides more enlarged view of LED module (2) showing the entire matrix of active heat conducting elements/fans (12).

Fig. 5 provides more enlarged view of LED module (2) without the matrix of active heat conducting elements (12), but with one large fan (13) functioning as an altitude regulator of the lighting system (1).

In certain situations or under certain requirements, power supply to the part of the lighting system (1) suspended in the air is undesirable. In such cases, LEDs can be substituted with mirrors of various types: flat, concave, convex, or custom irregular shape. In this kind of a lighting system, light source is localized not in the lighting system above ground, but on the ground, using special spotlights, i.e. unfocused, focused or even laser beams are directed by the ground light source into the mentioned mirrors of lighting system and deflected by the mirrors onto a specific area. The distinctive feature of this system is that no energy source is required in the lighting system, or only minor energy source is needed to power the processor, lens positioning system, etc. LEDs can be used in combination with mirrors in the lighting system, i.e. both LEDs and mirrors may be used at the same time.

In case of a specific task and individual design of the system for specific application, various vertical and horizontal adjustment combinations of the lighting system (1) of this invention are possible depending on weather conditions and other external factors, as well as the requirement: with balloons (10), without balloons (10); with/without propellers; with ropes (6), without ropes (6), using/not using heat produced by LEDs, with power cable (7), without power cable (7), with/without diverting mirrors; using active heat conducting elements (12) in the structure with the cover (4) or using the fan (13) in the structure without the cover (4).

The above descriptions of the preferred embodiment options have been provided to depict and describe this invention. This is not a comprehensive or restrictive invention aimed at defining a specific shape or embodiment. The above description should be viewed as an illustration rather than a restriction. Specialists of the field may obviously see multiple modifications and variations. The embodiment options have been chosen and described for the specialists of the field for them to explore the principles of this invention as well as possible and the best possible practical application of various embodiment options with various modifications adopted for specific application or embodiment. The scope of invention is defined by the enclosed claims and its equivalents, where all the terms have been used in the broadest meaning, unless stated otherwise. It must be noted that embodiment options described by the specialists of the field might contain alterations that do not deviate from the scope of the invention, as stated further under the Claims.

Mode for Invention

Industrial Applicability

Sequence List Text

Claims

1. Lighting system for illumination of a large outdoor area of any terrain from a relatively high altitude (altitude above ground level may vary from several metres to several kilometres),

comprising a light source and light source fixing system to fix the light source to the ground,

c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that it (the lighting system) comprises the following main structural members:

LED module (2) with or without active heat conducting elements (12):

in this system (1), LEDs or the system of LEDs is the light source,

the mentioned LED module (2) may be square, round, other regular or irregular shape;

head conducting material/panel (3):

located above LED module (2),

it functions as a radiator and heat conductor, i.e. it collects the heat produced by LEDs and further transfers it upwards (in a vertical direction) towards the cover (4);

cover (4),

located above the mentioned panel (3), designed to retain heat produced by LEDs (2) and adjust the altitude of the entire lighting system (1) (the cover (4) is not used in a system (1) with a fan (13));

fixing elements (5),

located on the ground (either stationary or mobile) are intended to attach ropes/retainers (6) of the lighting system (1);

ropes/retainers (6),

intended to retain a fixed position of the lighting system (1) at a specific altitude, with one end attached to the LED module (2), and another end attached to fixing elements (5) on the ground;

power cable (7),

intended to power LEDs (2) and other equipment, installed in the lighting system (1), with one end (bottom) connected to a power supply or batteries, and another end (top) connected to the LED module (2) and other equipment; and

connecting elements (8),

fitted between the panel (3) and cover (4) on the sides to form an air gap between the heat conducting panel (3) and cover (4);

possibly a fan (12), fitted to the LED module (2) functioning as an altitude regulator of the lighting system (1);

where:

the mentioned ropes (6) may be produced of elastic, semi-elastic, or non-elastic material.

2. Lighting system according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the lighting system (1) is powered not via a power cable (7), but using electromagnetic waves, i.e. the lighting system (1) may not include the power cable (7).

3. Lighting system according to claims 1-2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that mirrors (flat, concave, convex, regular or irregular shape) are used instead of the LEDs (2) in the lighting system (1); as a result, light source is localized not in the lighting system (1) above ground, but on the ground, using special spotlights that emit beams (unfocused, focused, laser, etc.), directed from the ground light source to the mentioned mirrors of the lighting system (1), that, in turn, direct the mentioned beams to the specific area on the ground.

4. Lighting system according to claims 1-3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that various vertical and horizontal adjustment combinations of the lighting system (1) of this invention are possible depending on weather conditions and other external factors, as well as the requirement: with balloons (10), without balloons (10); with/without propellers; with ropes (6), without ropes (6), using/not using heat produced by LEDs, with power cable (7), without power cable (7), with/without diverting mirrors; using active heat conducting elements (12) in the structure with the cover (4) or using the fan (13) in the structure without the cover (4) .

5. Lighting system according to claims 1-4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the lighting system (1) can be lifted off under the telescopic principle, i.e. the system is lifted and put down (e.g. from a vehicle) in steps under the same principle as in telescopic systems.