Schreder

Didier Wellens

Daniel Brand

Helmut Schröder

Jörg Richter

Described herein is a method for marking luminaires, particularly traffic route luminaires, in a luminaire network, the network being controllable via a server. Each luminaire is provided, in its operational state, with a controller () for controlling its operation and a mark that is visually recognizable from the outside the luminaire. The mark is formed by an information storage medium (), in particular, and can be used to identify the luminaire. The mark is linked to the controller () or to the luminaire to be controlled by the controller before the mark is added to the luminaire.

Method for marking luminaires, controller arrangement and luminaire

Described herein is method for setting up a network of luminaires and their subsequent operation. A plurality of luminaires are located on a street (), and each luminaire comprises a control module (). The method for setting up the network comprises, for each control module, scanning the environment and providing environmental information to a central server, which, allocates the control modules and their associated luminaires into groups (A, B). A group controller () is allocated for each group which has long-distance communication with the server and short-distance communication with control modules within its group. Each group controller and control modules within the group form a network which can operate autonomously or under the control of the server. Some of the control modules may include sensors (S, S) which provide signals indicative of changes in the environment allowing the network to adapt its operation in accordance with those changes.

Method for setting up and operating a network of luminaires

Method for the operation and expansion of a network of lights Described herein is method for the operation and the expansion of a network of lights, each light in the network including a control module which is assigned to a group, each control module being in communication with a group controller as well as control modules in the same group. The network can be expanded by installing new lights with their associated control modules (), and each new control module scans its environment and transmits environmental information to a central server () where the environmental information is analysed and the new control modules are allocated into groups (). After allocation to a group in which control modules may be moved from one group to another or a new group is formed, the new control modules are available for normal operation. This process is repeated for each new light and associated control module.

Method for the operation and expansion of a network of lights

A method for controlling the light distribution of a traffic route luminaire 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 while the light distribution of the luminaire is variable. The luminaire communicates luminaire data to at least one server, the luminaire data being luminaire-specific and related to the installation location of the luminaire. The data for a light distribution are automatically allocated to the luminaire and a setting of the light module is automatically effected on the basis of the data.

Method for controlling the light distribution of a luminaire

Described herein is method for operating and controlling a network of lights comprising a plurality of lights arranged in a number of groups (A, B) using a short-distance network. Each light includes a control module () for controlling its normal operation and for short-distance communication over the short-distance network with a designated group controller () and other control modules within the group. Each designated group controller () is also operable for long-distance communication with a central server and transmits its own specific information as a control module as well as information received from other control modules within the group. Information relevant to more than one group can quickly be exchanged between adjacent groups over a long-distance network via the group controller of the adjacent groups, by-passing the central server, or directly over the short-distance connection to a control module of an adjacent group. Failure of a group controller () can be managed by designating another control module () within the group as a new group controller and the flexible short-distance network is re-formed around the new group controller.

Network of lights and operating method thereof

Described herein is control module for a street light which is mounted on the street light and provides a control output for controlling the operation of the light. The control module has a circuit board () on which a controller () is mounted, the controller being connected a long-distance communication module, a short-distance communication module, and a geocoordinate module. A network is formed by the control modules in which a central server uses long-distance communication for communicating with the control modules at start up and with a group controller after start up, the group controller using short-distance communication for communicating with control modules within its group.

Control module for controlling a light, particularly a street light, and network of lights

Method for the operation and the expansion of a network of lights, each light in the network including a control module which is assigned to a group, each control module being in communication with a group controller as well as control modules in the same group. The network can be expanded by installing () new lights with their associated control modules, and each new control module scans () its environment and transmits environmental information to a central server where the environmental information is analysed and the new control modules are allocated () into groups. After allocation to a group in which control modules may be moved from one group to another or a new group is formed, the new control modules are available for normal operation. This process is repeated for each new light and associated control module.

Described herein is method for the detection of seismic activity using a network of lights, and in particular, street lights () arranged over a number of streets (). Each light includes a control module having the facility for both long- and short-distance communication, the control modules being grouped with other control modules and associated with a group controller to create a short-distance or mesh network. Each control module includes a sensor which is capable of detecting seismic activity and data relating to such activity may be transmitted to a central server via its group controller using long-distance communication. Even if the sensors are relatively inaccurate, the high number of such sensors present in the network makes it possible to detect and analyze the activity using geocoordinate information provided by the control modules at the server. Information relating to an epicentre of an earthquake can be determined and distributed to control modules in the vicinity of the detected seismic activity () to provide warning light signals for the population in that vicinity.

Method for detecting earthquakes and locating epicentres by means of a network of lights

Method for controlling the light distribution of a traffic route luminaire () 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: &#x2014;automatically allocating a light distribution to the luminaire () in accordance with the communicated luminaire data; &#x2014;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 ().

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Kraainem, Belgium

Didier Wellens