outdoor light

Abstract

Outdoor light (10) with a light housing (20) and with at least one holder (30) connected to the light housing (20) via at least one support (40), wherein a control unit, a power supply unit, preferably in the form of a battery, and an actuator are arranged in the light housing (20) and are connected to each other, and wherein the light housing (20) is rotatably mounted relative to the holder (30) via the actuator and the light housing (20) has an LED panel (40) on one side and a photovoltaic module (70) on the opposite side, each of which is connected to the power supply unit.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an outdoor light, in particular a solar-powered LED spotlight for outdoor use, especially with a motion detector and with a preferably electromechanically operated actuator that enables controlled alignment of the light housing between a day and a night position.

[0002] Solar-powered LED spotlights with motion detectors and power supply are known from the prior art. These are attached to house walls or mounting poles via a bracket and have a fixed or manually adjustable solar panel with PV modules. In these known systems, the solar panel does not automatically align itself with the sun's position, so the utilization of light irradiance and the charging efficiency of the energy storage system are limited by suboptimal sunlight.

[0003] There are also spotlights that are activated by motion detectors and have a control of the light intensity depending on the outside brightness.

[0004] The invention is based on the objective of providing a solar-powered LED spotlight that exhibits improved charging efficiency and, on the other hand, enables optimized illumination of the surroundings, preferably from the beginning of dusk. Such a combination of a solar module with an LED spotlight featuring a controllable adjustment mechanism that changes the orientation of the solar panel and the spotlight depending on the ambient brightness is not known in the prior art.

[0005] This problem of the invention is solved by providing an outdoor light with the features of the main claim.

[0006] More precisely, the invention relates to an outdoor light with a light housing and with at least one holder connected to the light housing via at least one support, wherein a control unit, a power supply unit, preferably as a power storage device in the form of a battery, and an actuator are arranged in the light housing and are conductively connected to each other via cables, and wherein the light housing is rotatably mounted relative to the holder via the actuator and the light housing has an LED panel on one side and a photovoltaic module on the opposite side for charging the power supply unit, each of which is conductively connected to the power supply unit via cables.

[0007] In one embodiment of the outdoor luminaire according to the invention, the control unit has at least one light sensor and is designed to adjust the tilt of the luminaire housing in the operating position of the outdoor luminaire by means of the actuator, depending on the measurement data of the light sensor. In principle, the tilt of the luminaire housing can also be adjusted by measuring the voltage measured by the PV module; however, the independent use of a light sensor is advantageous.

[0008] Preferably, the control unit is designed to adjust the inclination of the luminaire housing in the operating position of the outdoor luminaire by means of the actuator in an angular range of -90° to 0°, particularly from -60° to 0° relative to the horizontal.

[0009] To illuminate the area under the outdoor spotlight in an energy-saving manner, the control unit can be designed to switch on the LED module depending on the signals from the motion detector and to switch it off again after a predetermined period of time.

[0010] When the PV module receives high levels of sunlight, the energy storage unit inside the luminaire housing can quickly become fully charged, and the PV module continues to supply voltage. This voltage can then be used to charge a second energy storage unit. This second unit can be located outside the luminaire housing, for example, as the main storage unit of a PV system in the house, and thus the PV module can contribute to charging this second unit. For this to work, the control unit can be designed so that when the power supply unit inside the luminaire housing is fully charged, the voltage generated by the PV module is passed on to a second power supply unit located outside the luminaire housing.

[0011] In one embodiment of the outdoor light according to the invention, the actuator is designed as a hydraulic or electromechanical drive, in particular as a stepper motor or geared motor.

[0012] To enable the user of the outdoor light to easily operate and adjust the tilt angle, light sensor sensitivity and lighting duration, a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth module connected to the control unit can be placed in the light housing, allowing access to the outdoor light's settings via an app.

[0013] In a simple embodiment, the outdoor luminaire according to the invention can have a luminaire housing that is essentially cuboid in shape with surrounding side walls (25), with a top plate arranged on the surrounding side walls at the top in the operating position, with a PV module mounted thereon, and with a bottom plate arranged on the surrounding side walls at the bottom in the operating position, with an LED panel mounted thereon. The luminaire housing can advantageously be supported by an approximately U-shaped bracket, which is arranged on the luminaire housing via two brackets located on the outside of opposing side walls.

[0014] Reduced to its essentials, the invention also relates to a solar-powered LED spotlight with the following features: 1. The spotlight includes a housing that contains both an LED light unit and a solar panel. 2. A motion detector (PIR sensor) is provided, which activates the lighting unit when movement is detected. 3. A control unit controls a motor located inside the housing, which tilts the housing or the spotlight into a day or night position. 4. In the daytime position, the spotlight is lowered so that the solar panel is aligned towards the sun. 5. In the night position, the spotlight is tilted upwards so that the LED light unit is aligned to illuminate the surroundings. 6. The control unit evaluates sensor data (especially from a light sensor and the motion detector) and controls both the motor and the light intensity of the LED lighting unit.

[0015] Advantages of the invention are in particular • Increased charging efficiency through automatic alignment of the solar panel depending on the time of day. • Optimization of the illumination duration through two-stage positioning. • Increased safety through a constant base brightness while simultaneously saving energy. • Autonomous operation without manual tracking. • The LED module, acting as a lighting unit, initially produces full brightness after activation by the motion detector. • After a predetermined period of time, the light intensity is either reduced to a lower basic brightness or switched off completely, depending on the selected mode. • The housing and holder can preferably be made of stainless steel, which allows for outdoor mounting in a wide variety of weather conditions.

[0016] The present invention is further illustrated with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0017] Figure one shows a perspective top view of the lamp according to the invention from below, and Figure two shows a perspective top view of the lamp according to the invention from above.

[0018] The in Fig. 1 The outdoor light 10 shown has a light housing 20 which can be fixed to a wall via the holder 30 using at least one bracket 40.

[0019] On the bottom side of the luminaire housing 20, which faces the ground when installed, the outdoor luminaire 10 has an LED panel with a large number of individual LEDs, which are supplied with power via a power supply unit such as a battery located inside the luminaire housing 20.

[0020] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the luminaire housing 20 has a photovoltaic module (PV module) on its upper side, facing away from the ground and opposite the ground, which can have a large number of individual PV elements such as individual LEDs that are in electrical contact with the power supply unit.

[0021] In the embodiment shown in the figures, the luminaire according to the invention is designed in the form of an almost rectangular cuboid, which is connected to the holder 30 via a bracket 40 on the opposite transverse sides. However, this cuboid shape is not mandatory, and the outdoor luminaire according to the invention can also assume any other three-dimensional shape, as long as the functional units of the PV panel with the LED elements and the PV module can fulfill their function.

[0022] For example, it is also possible that the outdoor light according to the invention is designed in the shape of a hemisphere or semi-ellipsoid and is connected to the holder on only one side of the light housing via the mounting bracket. In this embodiment, it is particularly possible to allow a rotational movement about the one-sided suspension.

[0023] The outdoor luminaire according to the invention has, inside the luminaire housing, in addition to the power supply unit, a control unit (not shown in the figures) with control electronics that can adjust the tilt of the luminaire housing relative to the horizontal via a motor control. This makes it possible to align the luminaire housing so that the PV module mounted on the top of the luminaire housing is always oriented relative to the incident light radiation in such a way as to achieve maximum luminous efficacy.

[0024] Instead of the power supply unit in the form of a battery, the outdoor light according to the invention can also be connected to a mains power supply in order to enable trouble-free operation even when the voltage of the power storage unit decreases; however, an outdoor light with only one power storage unit in the form of a battery is preferred, since such an embodiment can be attached to the building or mast in a more versatile manner.

[0025] As light intensity decreases and twilight begins, the control unit can actuate the actuator, for example an electric motor, to tilt the luminaire housing 20. The actuator acts on the bracket 40 inside the luminaire housing 20, causing the luminaire housing 20 to rotate relative to the bracket 40. This can be achieved by the actuator acting on the bracket 40 via a gear, which has external teeth at its end located inside the luminaire housing 20.

[0026] This ensures, firstly, that in strong sunlight the top of the outdoor light assumes an optimal position / tilt to maximize light intensity, and secondly, that at dusk the light housing rotates so that the LEDs on the underside of the housing provide the best possible illumination of the area beneath the light. The LED panel's power supply can also be controlled by a motion detector (60 mm), so that when movement is detected within the detector's range, the LED panel switches on and remains on until the movement ceases.

[0027] With only one-sided fixing of the luminaire housing 20 via the bracket 40 on the holder 30, further improved mobility of the luminaire housing is possible, not only around a rotational axis between the brackets 40, but also a deflection of the luminaire housing from the rotational axis. This allows, on the one hand, a further improved alignment of the luminaire housing with respect to the sunlight, and on the other hand, an alignment of the luminaire housing with respect to the object to be illuminated at dusk.

[0028] Preferably, the outdoor light fixture, consisting of the light housing, bracket and holder, is made of stainless steel, and the top and bottom of the light housing are sealed to be splash-proof against both the PV module and the LED panel. Reference symbol list 10 outdoor lights 20 light housings 25 side wall 30 light holders 40 Mounting bracket for the light housing 50 LED panels 60 motion detectors 70 PV modules

Claims

[1] Outdoor light (10) with a light housing (20) and with at least one holder (30) connected to the light housing (20) via at least one support (40), wherein a control unit, a power supply unit, preferably in the form of a battery, and an actuator are arranged in the light housing (20) and are connected to each other, and wherein the light housing (20) is rotatably mounted relative to the holder (30) via the actuator and the light housing (20) has an LED panel (40) on one side and a photovoltaic module (70) on the opposite side, each of which is connected to the power supply unit. [2] Outdoor light (10) according to claim 1, wherein the control unit has at least one light sensor and is designed to adjust the inclination of the light housing (20) in the operating position of the outdoor light (10) by means of the actuator depending on the measurement data of the at least one light sensor. [3] Outdoor light (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit is designed to adjust the inclination of the light housing (20) in the operating position of the outdoor light (10) by means of the actuator in an angular range of - 90° to 0°, in particular from - 60° to 0° relative to the horizontal. [4] Outdoor light (10) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the control unit is designed to switch on the LED module depending on the signals from the motion detector and to switch it off again after a predetermined time period. [5] Outdoor light (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit is designed such that the voltage generated by the PV module is passed on to a further power supply unit arranged outside the light housing (20) when the power supply unit arranged in the light housing (20) is fully charged: [6] Outdoor light (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuator is designed as a hydraulic or electromechanical drive, in particular as a stepper motor or geared motor. [7] Outdoor light (10) according to one of the preceding claims, which additionally has a WLAN module or Bluetooth module arranged in the light housing and connected to the control unit, which allows access to the settings of the outdoor light via an app. [8] Outdoor light (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the light housing (20) is essentially cuboid in shape with circumferential side walls (25), with a top plate arranged on the circumferential side walls (25) in the operating position with a PV module (70) arranged thereon and with a bottom plate arranged on the circumferential side walls (25) in the operating position with an LED panel (40) arranged thereon, and the light housing (20) is connected to the light housing (20) by a holder (30) connected to the light housing (20) via two brackets (40) arranged on the outside on opposite side walls (25).

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