Intelligent outdoor lighting control system

Claim 2

An outdoor lighting control system for a string of outdoor illumination lamps disposed at various locations along an outdoor lighting system comprising: at each of plural lamp locations in the string, a controller module comprising input means for receiving electric power input and output means for supplying electric power to the remainder of the string; each of said plural lamp locations further comprising one or more outdoor illumination lamps; each controller module comprising first switching means for switching the electric power input to deliver current to the one or more outdoor illumination lamps at the controller module's location, and second switching means for switching electric input power from the controller module's input means to the controller module's output means in response to receipt of electric power input at the controller module's input means; in which each controller module comprises its own electronic control unit for controlling its first switching means and its second switching means and in which each controller module further comprises a first current sensing means for sensing current flowing through its first switching means and a second current sensing means for sensing current flowing through its second switching means.

Claim 3

An outdoor lighting control system for a string of outdoor illumination lamps disposed at various locations along an outdoor lighting system comprising: for each of plural lamp locations in the string, a controller module comprising input means for receiving electric power input and output means for supplying electric power to the remainder of the string; each of said plural lamp locations further comprising one or more outdoor illumination lamps; each controller module comprising first switching means for switching the electric power input to deliver current to the one or more outdoor illumination lamps at the controller module's location, and second switching means for switching electric input power from the controller module's input means to the controller module's output means in response to receipt of electric power input at the controller module's input means; each controller module comprising its own electronic control unit for controlling its first switching means and its second switching means; each controller module further comprising a first current sensing means for sensing current flowing through its first switching means and a second current sensing means for sensing current flowing through its second switching means; and in which the second current sensing means of each controller module is operatively connected to the controller module's electronic control unit, and the electronic control unit comprises means for causing the second switching means to interrupt flow of electric power from the output means when the second current sensing means senses a fault condition.

Claim 4

An outdoor lighting control system for a string of outdoor illumination lamps disposed at various locations along an outdoor lighting system comprising: for each of plural lamp locations in the string, a controller module comprising input means for receiving electric power input and output means for supplying electric power to the remainder of the string; each of said plural lamp locations further comprising one or more outdoor illumination lamps; each controller module comprising first switching means for switching the electric power input to deliver current to the one or more outdoor illumination lamps at the controller module's location, and second switching means for switching electric input power from the controller module's input means to the controller module's output means in response to receipt of electric power input at the controller module's input means; each controller module comprising its own electronic control unit for controlling its first switching means and its second switching means; each controller module further comprising a first current sensing means for sensing current flowing through its first switching means and a second current sensing means for sensing current flowing through its second switching means; and in which the second current sensing means of each controller module is operatively connected to the controller module's electronic control unit, and the electronic control unit comprises means for causing the second switching means to interrupt flow of electric power from the output means when the second current sensing means senses a fault condition.

Claim 5

An outdoor lighting control system for a string of outdoor illumination lamps disposed at various locations along an outdoor lighting system comprising: at each of plural lamp locations in the string, a controller module comprising input means for receiving electric power input and output means for supplying electric power to the remainder of the string; each of said plural lamp locations further comprising one or more outdoor illumination lamps; each controller module comprising first switching means for switching the electric power input to deliver current to the one or more outdoor illumination lamps at the controller module's location and second switching means for switching electric input power from the controller module's input means to the controller module's output means in response to receipt of electric power input at the controller modules input means; in which each controller module comprises its own electronic control unit for controlling its first switching means and its second switching means and in which each of said first switching means is a first relay and each of said second switching means is a second relay.

Claim 6

An outdoor lighting control system for a string of outdoor illumination lamps disposed at various locations along an outdoor lighting system comprising: at each of plural lamp locations in the string, a controller module comprising input means for receiving electric power input and output means for supplying electric power to the remainder of the string; each of said plural lamp locations further comprising one or more outdoor illumination lamps; each controller module comprising first switching means for switching the electric power input to deliver current to the one or more outdoor illumination lamps at the controller module's location and second switching means for switching electric input power from the controller module's input means to the controller module's output means in response to receipt of electric power input at the controller modules input means; in which each controller module comprises its own electronic control unit for controlling its first switching means and its second switching means and in which each of said first switching means is a first relay and each of said second switching means is a second relay.

Claim 7

An outdoor lighting control system for a string of outdoor illumination lamps disposed at various locations along an outdoor lighting system comprising: at each of plural lamp locations in the string, a controller module comprising input means for receiving electric power input and output means for supplying electric power to the remainder of the string; each of said plural lamp locations further comprising one or more outdoor illumination lamps; each controller module comprising first switching means for switching the electric power input to deliver current to the one or more outdoor illumination lamps at the controller module's location, and second switching means for switching electric input power from the controller module's input means to the controller module's output means in response to receipt of electric power input at the controller modules input means; in which each controller module comprises its own electronic control unit for controlling its first switching means and its second switching means and in which said input means, said second switching means, and output means of the controller module at each of said plural locations form portions of a bi-directional data link between said plural locations.

Claim 8

An outdoor lighting control system for a string of outdoor illumination lamps disposed at various locations along an outdoor lighting system comprising: at each of plural lamp locations in the string, a controller module comprising input means for receiving electric power input and output means for supplying electric power to the remainder of the string; each of said plural lamp locations further comprising one or more outdoor illumination lamps; each controller module comprising first switching means for switching the electric power input to deliver current to the one or more outdoor illumination lamps at the controller module's location, and second switching means for switching electric input power from the controller module's input means to the controller module's output means in response to receipt of electric power input at the controller modules input means; in which each controller module comprises its own electronic control unit for controlling its first switching means and its second switching means and in which said input means, said second switching means, and output means of the controller module at each of said plural locations form portions of a bi-directional data link between said plural locations.

Claim 9

An outdoor lighting control system as set forth in claim 4 further including a command station that controls said controller modules to operate the first switching means and the second switching means at each of said plural locations via the medium.

Claim 10

An outdoor lighting control system for a string of outdoor illumination lamps disposed at various locations along an outdoor lighting system comprising: for each of plural lamp locations in the string, a controller module comprising input means for receiving electric power input and output means for supplying electric power to the remainder of the string; each of said plural lamp locations further comprising one or more outdoor illumination lamps; each controller module comprising first switching means for switching the electric power input to deliver current to the one or more outdoor illumination lamps at the controller module's location, and second switching means for switching electric input power from the controller module's input means to the controller module's output means in response to receipt of electric power input at the controller module's input means; each controller module comprising its own electronic control unit for controlling its first switching means and its second switching means; in which electric power lines connect successive locations in the string, and in which said input means, said second switching means, and output means of the controller module at each of said plural locations, together with said power lines, provide a medium for both electric power delivery and electronic communication between said plural locations; and further including a command station that controls said controller modules to operate the first switching means and the second switching means at each of said plural locations via the medium; and in which the command station also controls the delivery of electric power to the string of outdoor illumination lamps via the power lines from a power source to the input means of a first of said controller modules, and from the output means of the controller module at each of said plural locations to an input means of a succeeding controller module in the string.

Claim 11

An outdoor lighting control system for a string of outdoor illumination lamps disposed at various locations along an outdoor lighting system comprising: for each of plural lamp locations in the string, a controller module comprising input means for receiving electric power input and output means for supplying electric power to the remainder of the string; each of said plural lamp locations further comprising one or more outdoor illumination lamps; each controller module comprising first switching means for switching the electric power input to deliver current to the one or more outdoor illumination lamps at the controller module's location, and second switching means for switching electric input power from the controller module's input means to the controller module's output means in response to receipt of electric power input at the controller module's input means; each controller module comprising its own electronic control unit for controlling its first switching means and its second switching means; in which electric power lines connect successive locations in the string, and in which said input means, said second switching means, and output means of the controller module at each of said plural locations, together with said power lines, provide a medium for both electric power delivery and electronic communication between said plural locations; and further including a command station that controls said controller modules to operate the first switching means and the second switching means at each of said plural locations via the medium; and in which the command station also controls the delivery of electric power to the string of outdoor illumination lamps via the power lines from a power source to the input means of a first of said controller modules, and from the output means of the controller module at each of said plural locations to an input means of a succeeding controller module in the string.

Claim 12

An outdoor lighting control system for a string of outdoor illumination lamps disposed at various locations along an outdoor lighting system comprising: for each of plural lamp locations in the string, a controller module comprising input means for receiving electric power input and output means for supplying electric power to the remainder of the string; each of said plural lamp locations further comprising one or more outdoor illumination lamps; each controller module comprising first switching means for switching the electric power input to deliver current to the one or more outdoor illumination lamps at the controller module's location, and second switching means for switching electric input power from the controller module's input means to the controller module's output means in response to receipt of electric power input at the controller module's input means; each controller module comprising its own electronic control unit for controlling its first switching means and its second switching means; in which electric power lines connect successive locations in the string, and in which said input means, said second switching means, and output means of the controller module at each of said plural locations, together with said power lines, provide a medium for both electric power delivery and electronic communication between said plural locations; and further including a command station that controls said controller modules to operate the first switching means and the second switching means at each of said plural locations via the medium; and in which each of said plural lamp locations further comprises a capacitor and a ballast, and each controller module provides to the command station, data identifying its location and the operation of the associated outdoor illumination lamp or lamps, the associated capacitor, and the associated ballast.

Claim 13

An outdoor lighting control system for a string of outdoor illumination lamps disposed at various locations along an outdoor lighting system comprising: for each of plural lamp locations in the string, a controller module comprising input means for receiving electric power input and output means for supplying electric power to the remainder of the string; each of said plural lamp locations further comprising one or more outdoor illumination lamps; each controller module comprising first switching means for switching the electric power input to deliver current to the one or more outdoor illumination lamps at the controller module's location, and second switching means for switching electric input power from the controller module's input means to the controller module's output means in response to receipt of electric power input at the controller module's input means; each controller module comprising its own electronic control unit for controlling its first switching means and its second switching means; in which electric power lines connect successive locations in the string, and in which said input means, said second switching means, and output means of the controller module at each of said plural locations, together with said power lines, provide a medium for both electric power delivery and electronic communication between said plural locations; and further including a command station that controls said controller modules to operate the first switching means and the second switching means at each of said plural locations via the medium; and in which each of said plural lamp locations further comprises a capacitor and a ballast, and each controller module provides to the command station, data identifying its location and the operation of the associated outdoor illumination lamp or lamps, the associated capacitor, and the associated ballast.

Claim 14

An outdoor lighting control system as set forth in claim 7 in which each of said plural locations comprises reset means that is operated by service personnel to send a signal to the command station to indicate that a component has been replaced, and the command station logs data concerning the replacement.

Claim 15

An outdoor lighting control system for a string of outdoor illumination lamps disposed at various locations along an outdoor lighting system comprising: for each of plural lamp locations in the string, a controller module comprising input means for receiving electric power input and output means for supplying electric power to the remainder of the string; each of said plural lamp locations further comprising one or more outdoor illumination lamps; each controller module comprising first switching means for switching the electric power input to deliver current to the one or more outdoor illumination lamps at the controller module's location, and second switching means for switching electric input power from the controller module's input means to the controller module's output means in response to receipt of electric power input at the controller module's input means; each controller module comprising its own electronic control unit for controlling its first switching means and its second switching means; in which electric power lines connect successive locations in the string, and in which said input means, said second switching means, and output means of the controller module at each of said plural locations, together with said power lines, provide a medium for both electric power delivery and electronic communication between said plural locations; and further including a command station that controls said controller modules to operate the first switching means and the second switching means at each of said plural locations via the medium; and in which a lighting cabinet is disposed between the command station and the string.

Claim 16

An outdoor lighting control system for a string of outdoor illumination lamps disposed at various locations along an outdoor lighting system comprising: for each of plural lamp locations in the string, a controller module comprising input means for receiving electric power input and output means for supplying electric power to the remainder of the string; each of said plural lamp locations further comprising one or more outdoor illumination lamps; each controller module comprising first switching means for switching the electric power input to deliver current to the one or more outdoor illumination lamps at the controller module's location, and second switching means for switching electric input power from the controller module's input means to the controller module's output means in response to receipt of electric power input at the controller module's input means; each controller module comprising its own electronic control unit for controlling its first switching means and its second switching means; in which electric power lines connect successive locations in the string, and in which said input means, said second switching means, and output means of the controller module at each of said plural locations, together with said power lines, provide a medium for both electric power delivery and electronic communication between said plural locations; and further including a command station that controls said controller modules to operate the first switching means and the second switching means at each of said plural locations via the medium; and in which a lighting cabinet is disposed between the command station and the string.

Claim 17

An outdoor lighting control system for a string of outdoor illumination lamps disposed at various locations along an outdoor lighting system comprising: for each of plural lamp locations in the string, a controller module comprising input means for receiving electric power input and output means for supplying electric power to the remainder of the string; each of said plural lamp locations further comprising one or more outdoor illumination lamps; each controller module comprising first switching means for switching the electric power input to deliver current to the one or more outdoor illumination lamps at the controller module's location, and second switching means for switching electric input power from the controller module's input means to the controller module's output means in response to receipt of electric power input at the controller module's input means; each controller module comprising its own electronic control unit for controlling its first switching means and its second switching means; and in which each electronic control unit comprises a LON chip.

Claim 18

An outdoor lighting control system for a string of outdoor illumination lamps disposed at various locations along an outdoor lighting system comprising: for each of plural lamp locations in the string, a controller module comprising input means for receiving electric power input and output means for supplying electric power to the remainder of the string; each of said plural lamp locations further comprising one or more outdoor illumination lamps; each controller module comprising first switching means for switching the electric power input to deliver current to the one or more outdoor illumination lamps at the controller module's location, and second switching means for switching electric input power from the controller module's input means to the controller module's output means in response to receipt of electric power input at the controller module's input means; each controller module comprising its own electronic control unit for controlling its first switching means and its second switching means; and in which each electronic control unit comprises a LON chip.

Claim 19

An outdoor lighting control system as set forth in claim 10 in which each of said plural lamp locations further comprises a pole containing said one or more outdoor illumination lamps, and each controller module is disposed in the base of its pole.