OUTDOOR STREET LUMINAIRE

Abstract

 The invention relates an outdoor street luminaire (106), designed for covering with its light output street areas (104, 102) comprising at least one pedestrian zone (104) and at least one motorized zone (102). Moreover, the luminaire (106) comprises in one housing (106a) at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone (202) and at least one white-light LED based module for the motorized zone (204), wherein the white-light LED module for motorized zone (202) has a different color temperature than the white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone (204).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to an outdoor street luminaire.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In the prior art luminaires are provided which have optics either dedicated to pedestrian zones of streets, namely working in illuminance with P-Class and C-Class lighting calculations, or dedicated to motorized zones (roads), namely working in luminance with M-Class lighting calculation.

[0003] Moreover, other types of luminaires are based on a variable light distribution, whereas others are based on spacing, namely variation of intensity along the street or road.

[0004] Furthermore, luminaires with full light distribution flexibility having multitude of oriented optics are also known in the prior art.

[0005] However, the above mentioned luminaires have some disadvantages as discussed in the following.

[0006] Luminaries with comfortable light distribution are usually not the most optimized when talking about luminance generation (reduction of the max intensity angle). Furthermore, luminaires with comfortable CCTs are usually not the most efficient (4000K ∼+30% vs 2200K efficiency).

[0007] Thus, it is an objective to provide an improved outdoor street luminaire.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The object of the present invention is achieved by the solution provided in the enclosed independent claims. Advantageous implementations of the present invention are further defined in the dependent claims.

[0009] According to a first aspect the invention relates to an outdoor street luminaire, designed for covering with its light output street areas comprising at least one pedestrian zone and at least one motorized zone, wherein the luminaire comprises in one housing of the luminaire at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone and at least one white-light LED based module for the motorized zone, wherein the white-light LED module for motorized zone has a different color temperature than the white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone.

[0010] This provides the advantage that a comfortable lighting for pedestrian is achieved, while optimizing energy efficiency.

[0011] Moreover, this provides the advantage that there is a limited impact on power consumption on the installation.

[0012] Furthermore, oversizing is avoided since there is only one housing comprising the at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone and at least one white-light LED based module for the motorized zone.

[0013] In an implementation form of the first aspect, the at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone and the at least one white-light LED based module for the motorized zone are respectively supplied each by one driver.

[0014] In a further implementation form of the first aspect, the color temperature of the at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone has a lower color temperature than the at least one white-light LED based module for the motorized zone.

[0015] In a further implementation form of the first aspect, the color temperature of the at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone is warm-white in the order of 2000 Kelvin (K), while the color temperature of the at least one white-light LED based module for the motorized zone is neutral- or cold-white in the order of 4000 K.

[0016] In a further implementation form of the first aspect, the color temperature of the at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone is lower than 3000 K.

[0017] In a further implementation form of the first aspect, an average lighting level of the at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone is from about 3 lux to 10 lux.

[0018] In a further implementation form of the first aspect, the at least one white-light LED based module for the motorized zone is always switched on.

[0019] In a further implementation form of the first aspect, the at least one white-light LED based module for the motorized zone is activated upon detection of the presence and especially of the motion of a motorized vehicle.

[0020] In a further implementation form of the first aspect, the at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone is always switched on.

[0021] In a further implementation form of the first aspect, the at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone covers both the at least one pedestrian zone and at least one motorized zone.

[0022] In a further implementation form of the first aspect, the at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone is selectively switched on upon the presence or the motion of a walking human.

[0023] In a further implementation form of the first aspect, the luminaire comprises, within its housing, only one driver supplying both the at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone and the at least one white-light LED based module for the motorized zone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The invention will be explained in the followings together with the figures.

Fig. 1

shows an outdoor street comprising a luminaire according to an embodiment;

Fig. 2

shows an outdoor street comprising a luminaire according to an embodiment;

Fig. 3

shows an illuminance as a function of a color temperature according to an embodiment;

Fig. 4

shows a housing for an outdoor street luminaire according to an embodiment; and

Fig. 5

shows different embodiments of an outdoor street luminaire.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Aspects of the present invention are described herein in the context of a luminaire.

[0026] The present invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which various aspects of the present invention are shown. This invention however may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the various aspects of the present invention presented through this disclosure. Rather, these aspects are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art. The various aspects of the present invention illustrated in the drawings may not be drawn to scale. Rather, the dimensions of the various features may be expanded or reduced for clarity. In addition, some of the drawings may be simplified for clarity. Thus, the drawings may not depict all of the components of a given apparatus.

[0027] Various aspects of a luminaire will be presented. However, as those skilled in the art will readily appreciate, these aspects may be extended to aspects of luminaires without departing from the invention.

[0028] It is further understood that the aspect of the present invention might contain integrated circuits that are readily manufacturable using conventional semiconductor technologies, such as complementary metal-oxide semiconductor technology, short "CMOS". In addition, the aspects of the present invention may be implemented with other manufacturing processes for making optical as well as electrical devices. Reference will now be made in detail to implementations of the exemplary aspects as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The same references signs will be used throughout the drawings and the following detailed descriptions to refer to the same or like parts.

[0029] Now referring to Fig. 1, an outdoor street 100 comprising a luminaire 106 according to an embodiment is shown.

[0030] The outdoor street luminaire 106, especially for lighting street areas covering both pedestrian (walking path) areas 104 and motorized areas 102, especially for cars 108, is designed for covering with its light output street areas comprising at least one pedestrian zone 104, where a human 110 is walking, and at least one motorized zone 102, where a car 108 is being driven.

[0031] The pedestrian zone can be comfortable because of G4-G6 glare rating.

[0032] The luminaire 106 comprises, within the same housing 106a, at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone 202 and at least one white-light LED based module for the motorized zone 204.

[0033] The white-light LED module for motorized zone 202 has a different color temperature than the white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone 204.

[0034] Moreover, the switch from the comfortable pedestrian zone in P-class to the performance mode in M-Class occurs with the activation of neutral- or cold-white LED module.

[0035] Fig. 2 shows an outdoor street 100 comprising a luminaire 106 according to an embodiment.

[0036] The color temperature of the at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone 202, wherein three humans 110, 110a and 110b are walking, can have a lower color temperature than the at least one white-light LED based module for the motorized zone 204, in which the car 108 is being driven.

[0037] In particular, the color temperature of the at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone 202 can be warm-white in the order of 2000 K, as shown in Fig. 2, while the color temperature of the at least one white-light LED based module for the motorized zone 204 can be neutral- or cold- white in the order of 4000 K.

[0038] In an embodiment, the color temperature of the at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone 106 is in the order of 2000 K and, in particular is lower than 3000 K.

[0039] In a yet another embodiment, an average lighting level or illuminance of the at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone 202 is from about 3 lux to 10 lux.

[0040] In order to better understand how the illuminance and color temperature may affect the human visual perception, in Fig. 3, the limits of 3 areas are shown with the illuminance in lux as a function of the color temperature in kelvin.

[0041] As it can be taken from Fig. 3, the higher the color temperature, the more the object appears bluish and, thus, "colder". On the other hand, the lower the color temperature the more the object appears reddish and thus "warmer".

[0042] Between the reddish and the bluish regions, there is a comfortable or pleasing region.

[0043] Moreover, a detection system for the presence or motion such as high frequency radar or infrared sensor, can be comprised in the outdoor street 100.

[0044] In one embodiment, the at least one white-light LED based module for the motorized zone 204 is always switched on, independently from the presence or not of vehicles 108.

[0045] In another embodiment, the at least one white-light LED based module for the motorized zone 204 is activated upon detection, in the detection zone 112, of the presence and especially of the motion of a motorized vehicle 108.

[0046] The same applies in the case of the at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone 202, which can either be always switched on or is selectively switched on upon the presence or the motion of a walking human 110.

[0047] Moreover, the at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone 202 can cover both the at least one pedestrian zone 104 and at least one motorized zone 102.

[0048] Thus, the luminaire 106 can also be equipped with a mixed optical system: on one side, a wide light distribution system (across the street) or the least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone 202 with relatively low glare (G class G4-G6) with warm or very warm light. On the other side, a narrow light distribution system (across the street) or the at least one white-light LED based module for the motorized zone 204 with relatively high glare (G class G0-G3) with neutral or cold white light.

[0049] In particular, the first system is used when only pedestrian (or cycles) are on the lighted area, while the first and the second are used in combination when motorized vehicles or motorized vehicles and pedestrian (or cycles) are on the lighted area.

[0050] Fig. 4 shows a housing 106a for an outdoor street luminaire 106 according to an embodiment.

[0051] In this embodiment, the housing 106a comprises the at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone 202 and the at least one white-light LED based module for the motorized zone 204.

[0052] The at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone 202 and the at least one white-light LED based module for the motorized zone 204 can respectively be supplied each by one driver.

[0053] In another embodiment, the luminaire 106 comprises only one driver supplying both the at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone 202 and the at least one white-light LED based module for the motorized zone 204.

[0054] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone 202 comprises two sub-modules 202a and 202b comprising lights 202c, which are connected to each other and the at least one white-light LED based module for the motorized zone 204 comprises two sub-modules 204a and 204b comprising lights 204c, which are connected to each other as well.

[0055] In a preferred embodiment, the warm LED module or at least one white-light LED based module for the motorized zone 204 is always switched on such that the pedestrian zone 104 is always lit at least to a minimum comfort level.

[0056] Advantageously, for different widths of roads both the regulatory requirements for the pedestrian areas (P class) as well as for the motorized areas (M class) are met, especially when the comfort light is overlapping with the performance lighting.

[0057] Fig. 5 shows different embodiments of an outdoor street luminaire 106.

[0058] The luminaire 106 can have different numbers of lights ranging from 24 to 96, which can be grouped in lights which are always on or which can be on/off. Moreover, the lights are arranged in different configurations and the luminaire can have different shapes ranging from almost circular to almost rectangular.

[0059] All features of all embodiments described, shown and/or claimed herein can be combined with each other.

[0060] While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only and not limitation. Numerous changes to the disclosed embodiments can be made in accordance with the disclosure herein without departing from the spirit of scope of the invention. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described embodiments. Rather, the scope of the invention should be defined in accordance with the following claims and their equivalence.

[0061] Although the invention has been illustrated and described with respect to one or more implementations, equivalent alternations and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art upon the reading of the understanding of the specification and the annexed drawings. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been disclosed with respect to only of the several implementations, such features may be combined with one or more other features of the other implementations as may be desired and advantage for any given or particular application.

Claims

1. An outdoor street luminaire (106), designed for covering with its light output street areas (104, 102) comprising at least one pedestrian zone (104) and at least one motorized zone (102), wherein

- the luminaire (106) comprises in one housing (106a) at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone (202) and at least one white-light LED based module for the motorized zone (204), wherein

- the white-light LED module for motorized zone (202) has a different color temperature than the white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone (204).

2. The luminaire (106) of claim 1, wherein the at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone (202) and the at least one white-light LED based module for the motorized zone (204) are respectively supplied each independently.

3. The luminaire (106) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the color temperature of the at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone (202) has a lower color temperature than the at least one white-light LED based module for the motorized zone (204).

4. The luminaire (106) of claim 3, wherein the color temperature of the at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone (202) is warm-white in the order of 2000 K, while the color temperature of the at least one white-light LED based module for the motorized zone (204) is neutral- or cold-white in the order of 4000 K.

5. The luminaire (106) of claim 3, wherein the color temperature of the at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone (202) is lower than 3000 K.

6. The luminaire (106) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein an average lighting level of the at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone (202) is from about 3 lux to 10 lux.

7. The luminaire (106) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one white-light LED based module for the motorized zone (204) is always switched on.

8. The luminaire (106) of any one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, wherein the at least one white-light LED based module for the motorized zone (204) is activated upon detection of the presence and especially of the motion of a motorized vehicle (108).

9. The luminaire (106) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone (202) is always switched on.

10. The luminaire (106) of claim 9, wherein the at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone (202) covers both the at least one pedestrian zone (104) and at least one motorized zone (102).

11. The luminaire (106) of any one of the preceding claims 1 to 9, wherein the at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone (202) is selectively switched on upon the presence or the motion of a walking human (110).

12. The luminaire (106) of any one of any one of the preceding claims 3 to 12, wherein the luminaire (106) comprises only one driver supplying both the at least one white-light LED based module for the pedestrian zone (202) and the at least one white-light LED based module for the motorized zone (204).

Drawing