Outdoor lighting fixture for street lights

Abstract

An outdoor lighting fixture for streetlights includes an antenna system for transmitting and / or receiving wireless signals and a wireless communication module. The antenna system includes at least one antenna housed within an antenna enclosure that allows passage of the wireless signals. The outer housing has a recess that has a recess opening in the outer housing at the rear of the recess. The antenna enclosure is positioned within or rearward of the recess opening such that the antenna enclosure recedes from the front opening over the entire circumference of the antenna enclosure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of lighting fixtures, and more particularly to lighting fixtures for street lamps.

Background Art

[0002] Lighting fixtures for street lamps are well known and have been continuously developed for decades. A recent trend is the use of light-emitting diode systems as light sources in such street lamps. The cobra head design is common in order to direct the light emitted by the street lamp downward, i.e., towards the ground, thereby reducing light pollution.

[0003] For example, it has been proposed to integrate an antenna system and a wireless module into a lighting fixture for a street lamp in order to provide wireless connectivity to individuals in the vicinity of the street lamp and / or to form a connectivity grid.

[0004] A clear path is required for the RF signals used by the antenna system, but it is also necessary for the components of the lighting fixture (including the antenna) to have ingress protection. Placing the antenna inside the main housing will reduce the signal strength, while placing the antenna outside will expose it to damage.

[0005] US 2020 / 373682 discloses an outdoor lighting fixture with a communication module piggybacked on top of the main lighting fixture housing. Each antenna is housed in its own antenna storage structure, such as a plastic housing, that allows the RF signal to propagate. These antenna storage structures may be partially inside and partially outside the housing of the communication module, or may be recessed flush with the housing of the communication module.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] There remains the difficulty of incorporating an antenna into the main lighting fixture housing.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The present invention is defined by the claims.

[0008] According to an example of one aspect of the present invention, an outdoor lighting fixture for a street lamp, the outdoor lighting fixture comprising: an outer housing; a light source within the outer housing; an antenna system for transmitting and / or receiving wireless signals; a wireless communication module within the outer housing communicatively coupled to the antenna system and configured to control the transmission of wireless signals transmitted by the antenna system and / or process received wireless signals received by the antenna system; and the antenna system includes at least one antenna housed within an antenna enclosure that permits passage of the wireless signal, the outer housing has a recessed portion having a recess opening in the outer housing at the rear of the recessed portion, and the front of the recessed portion has a front opening, the lighting fixture is provided such that the antenna enclosure is positioned within or behind the recess opening such that the antenna enclosure is set back from the front opening all around the antenna enclosure.

[0009] This lighting fixture design has one or more antennas recessed behind the general outer envelope of the outer housing. This protects the antennas from damage by contact or from other weather conditions such as hail, rain or sunlight. The antenna enclosure protects the antenna such that it can be exposed to the surrounding environment through the recess opening at the rear of the recess. The antenna enclosure(s) is / are attached, for example, to a chassis within the outer housing, which may support, for example, a wireless communication module and a heat sink for the wireless communication module.

[0010] The front opening may be considered to correspond to a part of the outer housing that would be present if there were no recess.

[0011] For example, the antenna enclosure is recessed at least 1 cm from the front opening along at least one edge of the antenna enclosure and / or the antenna enclosure is recessed at most 10 cm from the front opening along any edge of the antenna enclosure.

[0012] Thus, at least a portion of the antenna enclosure is far back into the outer housing. The set-back distance described above may be at least 2 cm, more preferably at least 2.5 cm, and most preferably at least 3 cm. The maximum distance described above is preferably 9 cm, more preferably 8 cm, and most preferably 7 cm.

[0013] The recess has a top recess wall, a bottom recess wall and side recess walls, and the recess walls may taper outwardly from the rear of the recess.

[0014] The taper enables the antenna to transmit and receive within the intended field of view. The taper is steep enough such that the recess forms an indented area rather than being a smooth continuation of the general curvature of the outer housing.

[0015] For example, the taper angle of the top recess wall and the bottom recess wall is smaller than that of the side recess wall. The antenna is intended to have a wider field of view in the horizontal plane than in the vertical plane, for example.

[0016] The taper angle of the top recess wall may be different from that of the bottom recess wall and / or the recess length of the top recess wall may be different from that of the bottom recess wall. Thus, the recess walls may be shaped to match the desired outer contour of the outer housing.

[0017] For example, the taper angles of the top recess wall and the bottom recess wall with respect to the non-tapered direction are in the range of 10 to 25 degrees.

[0018] For example, the taper angle of the side recess wall with respect to the non-tapered direction is in the range of 25 to 60 degrees.

[0019] The antenna system may include an array of antennas, each housed within a respective antenna enclosure. This enables the range of communication directions to be extended.

[0020] The array of antennas may include a set of four antennas, each facing outward at 90-degree intervals in a plane intended to be horizontal when the lighting fixture is in use. This enables all-around communication in the horizontal plane between lighting fixtures forming, for example, a grid of streetlights.

[0021] For example, the light source is part of a light source module housed within an ingress protection enclosure, the wireless communication module is housed within a communication module ingress protection enclosure, and each antenna enclosure provides ingress protection for the associated antenna.

[0022] Preferably, the antenna, the light source module, and the wireless communication module each have their own ingress protection. Thus, they may be used in a modular fashion, and the final outer housing need not have ingress prevention. Instead, it may be designed to allow for the flow of ambient air for cooling.

[0023] For example, the light source module may include a light source and a light source driver and / or controller circuit, and the wireless communication module may be attached to a heat sink. The wireless communication module may be associated with its own heat sink, which may be separate from the heat sink for the light source module.

[0024] There may be an air inlet gap between at least one outer edge of the antenna enclosure and the recess opening, such as between the top edge, side edge, and / or bottom edge of the antenna enclosure and the recess opening. This air gap exists around or partially around each antenna module to provide for the flow of cooling air into the space defined by the outer housing.

[0025] Alternatively, the antenna enclosure may close the recess opening, and the recess may have an air inlet opening in one or more of the top recess wall, bottom recess wall, side recess wall, and rear recess wall. This alternative provides that the antenna module closes the recess opening, but the flow of cooling air is provided into the space defined by the outer housing through one or more openings in the walls defining the recess.

[0026] For example, the air inlet gap or air inlet opening leads to a light source heat sink for the light source. Thus, the air flow takes heat away from the light source.

[0027] The outer housing may further have air outlet openings. Thus, the flow of air into and out of the main housing is facilitated. These air outlet openings are, for example, at the top of the outer housing such that hot air rises through the air outlet openings and a flow is generated.

[0028] For example, the outer housing includes a top canopy and a luminaire housing, and the top canopy is disposed on top of the luminaire housing. In this case, the light source is disposed within the luminaire housing and the wireless communication module is disposed within the top canopy. In this case, the recess of the outer housing is also formed in the top canopy.

[0029] The luminaire housing provides a self - contained luminaire function, and the top canopy may provide additional wireless connectivity capabilities.

[0030] The present invention also provides a pole, a luminaire as defined above that is mechanically attached to the pole, and provides a street lamp.

[0031] These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0032] For a better understanding of the present invention and to more clearly show how the present invention may be implemented, by way of example only, the accompanying drawings are referred to.

Figure 1

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Figure 8

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0033] The present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0034] It should be understood that the detailed description and specific exemplifications show exemplary embodiments of the devices, systems and methods, but are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. These and other features, aspects and advantages of the devices, systems and methods of the present invention will be better understood from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the drawings are merely schematic and not drawn to scale. It should also be understood that the same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to indicate the same or similar parts.

[0035] The present invention provides an outdoor lighting fixture for street lights including an antenna system for transmitting and / or receiving wireless signals and a wireless communication module. The antenna system includes at least one antenna housed within an antenna enclosure that allows passage of the wireless signal. The outer housing has a recess, and the recess has a recess opening in the outer housing at the rear of the recess. The antenna enclosure is located within or behind the recess opening such that the antenna enclosure recedes from the front opening over the entire circumference of the antenna enclosure.

[0036] First, a general form of an example of a street light design to which the present invention can be applied will be described. Thereafter, a method of applying the present invention to the design will be described.

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a known general configuration of a street light 10 for the purpose of enhancing understanding of the context.

[0038] The street light includes an outdoor lighting fixture 100 and a pole 150. The outdoor lighting fixture 100 is mechanically attached to the pole 150 by, for example, one or more fixing means.

[0039] The outdoor lighting fixture 100 includes a lighting fixture housing 110. The lighting fixture housing 110 defines a light exit window 115, and a first heat sink 120 is formed on the lighting fixture housing 110. The lighting fixture housing defines an ingress protection enclosure.

[0040] The light exit window 115 is configured to allow passage of light from within the lighting fixture housing 110 to the outside of the housing. Preferably, the light exit window 115 is formed of a transparent or translucent material (e.g., glass or plastic). However, in some examples, the light exit window may be formed from a gap or hole in the lighting fixture housing.

[0041] The first heat sink 120 is configured to conduct heat generated by an element housed by the lighting fixture housing, i.e., by the outdoor lighting fixture 100, away from the outdoor lighting fixture 100. The first heat sink includes a first set of fins 121. The fins provide a reliable and well-established technique for conducting heat away from an object. The first heat sink is a light source heat sink and is the primary heat sink of the lighting fixture.

[0042] The outdoor lighting fixture further includes a light source (not visible). The light source is positioned inside the lighting fixture housing, between the light exit window 115 and the first heat sink 120. Light emitted or generated by the light source is output through the light exit window. Heat generated by the light source (typically forming about 20% - 30% of the energy generated by the light source) is thermally conducted away from the outdoor lighting fixture 100 by the first heat sink 120.

[0043] Thereby, the lighting fixture housing 110 forms a light source housing configured to house the light source and dissipate heat generated by the light source.

[0044] Figure 2 shows a modified design proposed by the applicant but not yet published.

[0045] Figure 2 again shows a lighting fixture 200 including the lighting fixture housing 110. The lighting fixture housing 110 may be formed in the same manner as the lighting fixture housing described above. Thus, the housing defines a light exit window (not visible) and includes a first heat sink 120. The first heat sink is configured to conduct heat away from the lighting fixture housing.

[0046] The outdoor lighting fixture 200 also includes a light source (not visible). The light source is positioned inside the lighting fixture housing between the light exit window and the first heat sink 120. As described above, thereby, the lighting fixture housing 110 forms a light source housing.

[0047] The outdoor lighting fixture 200 further includes a top canopy 210. This top canopy may be considered to include the top portion of the overall outer housing of the lighting fixture. The top canopy 210 has an upper part 211 and side parts 212. The top canopy 210 is fitted over the lighting fixture housing 110 which may be considered to include the bottom portion of the overall outer housing of the lighting fixture.

[0048] The upper part 211 of the canopy 210 is configured to cover the uppermost surface 119 of the lighting fixture housing 110. In particular, the upper part 211 is configured to cover at least a part of the first heat sink 120 defined by the lighting fixture housing 110.

[0049] The side parts 212 are configured to connect or couple the upper part 211 to the lighting fixture housing. This can be done using a clip mechanism or other connecting means.

[0050] The upper part 211, the side parts 212, and the covered part of the uppermost surface 119 of the lighting fixture housing 110 together form or define a canopy enclosure. Therefore, the canopy enclosure is a volume bounded by the upper part 211 and the side parts 212 of the canopy 210 and the covered part of the uppermost surface 119 of the lighting fixture housing.

[0051] As a result, the canopy 210 functions as a cover or an additional cover that covers at least a part of the uppermost surface of the lighting fixture housing. The canopy enclosure effectively forms a separate enclosed volume (separate from the volume enclosed by the lighting fixture housing 110). In other words, the canopy may form a second chamber separated from a first chamber (formed in the lighting fixture housing) by the uppermost surface of the lighting fixture housing.

[0052] The canopy enclosure (defined by the volume enclosed by the uppermost surface 119 of the canopy 210 and the lighting fixture housing 110) is configured to accommodate a portion (e.g., part or all) of the first set of fins of the first heat sink 120. Thus, at least a part of the heat generated or conducted from the lighting fixture housing 110 (originally generated by, for example, a light source within the housing 110) is introduced into the canopy enclosure.

[0053] The outdoor lighting fixture 200 further includes an antenna system 220, and the antenna system 220 is housed or contained within the canopy enclosure. Thus, the antenna system 220 is formed within a volume bounded by the upper portion 210 of the canopy, the side portion 212 of the canopy, and the uppermost surface 119 of the lighting fixture housing 110. The antenna system 220 is configured to transmit and / or receive wireless signals 229.

[0054] In the illustrated example, the antenna system 220 includes a plurality, four antenna modules 211, 212, 213, 214. However, the antenna system 220 may include any number of antenna modules, for example, a single antenna module, two antenna modules, three antenna modules, or five or more antenna modules. Each antenna system includes an antenna and an antenna circuit. The antenna 211a of the antenna module 211 is schematically shown in FIG. 2.

[0055] Each antenna module may be placed on its respective antenna mount 227 or may be supported by its respective antenna mount 227. Each antenna mount 227 may be configured to extend toward the upper portion 211 of the canopy 210.

[0056] The outdoor lighting fixture 200 further includes a wireless communication module 230, that is, a radio module. The wireless module is communicatively coupled to the antenna system 220. The wireless communication module 230 is configured to control the transmission of a wireless signal 229, such as an electromagnetic signal like a radio signal, by the antenna system 220. The wireless communication module 230 is also configured to process the received wireless signal obtained by the antenna system 220. The wireless communication module defines an intrusion protection enclosure.

[0057] The wireless communication module 230 may include, for example, a modem, a processing unit, and / or an input / output unit within the intrusion protection enclosure. Suitable examples of wireless modules for handling and processing wireless signals are well established in the art and will not be described in detail for clarity.

[0058] The wireless signal 229 controlled by the wireless module may operate according to any known wireless communication protocol. Suitable wireless communication protocols include infrared links, ZigBee®, Bluetooth®, wireless local area network protocols (e.g., according to the IEEE 802.11 standard), 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, or 6G telecommunication protocols, and so on. Other forms will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0059] In some examples, the wireless signal 229 transmitted and / or received by the wireless module 230 and the antenna system 220 is independent of the operation of a light source (not shown). In certain examples, the antenna module 220 and the wireless communication module 230 may function as a node of a network of nodes to provide wireless coverage within an area covered by the network of nodes. Thus, the antenna module 220 and the wireless communication module 230 may be configured to function as nodes as part of a wireless mesh network.

[0060] Of course, in other examples, the wireless signal 229 transmitted and / or received by the wireless communication module 230 and the antenna system 220 may be related to the operation of the light source. Thus, the two modules / systems may cooperate to provide information for controlling one or more parameters or characteristics of the light source.

[0061] Each antenna module 221, 222, 223, 224 of the antenna system 220 may provide an antenna for the wireless module 230. The line of sign of the antenna module may define a range of directions in which a wireless signal is received by and / or output by the antenna module.

[0062] To achieve an improved range of sensitivity to the wireless signal, the antenna system may be configured such that the combined line of sight of the antenna system 220 covers a 360° range in the horizontal plane, for example, through appropriate selection and placement of any antenna module(s) 221, 222, 223, 224.

[0063] As an example, in the case of an antenna system including four antenna modules, the antenna modules may be aligned in a cross configuration. In such a cross configuration, the angle between the lines of sight of the antenna modules may be 90° (i.e., β = 90°). In this way, the radiation patterns of the four antenna modules can effectively cover a 360° range in the horizontal plane to improve sensitivity.

[0064] The outdoor lighting fixture 200 further includes a second heat sink 240 that is partially accommodated by the canopy enclosure and is in thermal contact with the wireless communication module 230. Thus, the second heat sink is configured to conduct and release the heat generated by the wireless module. At least a part of the heat output by the second heat sink is passed through the canopy enclosure. The second heat sink is a wireless communication module heat sink and a secondary heat sink of the lighting fixture.

[0065] As described above, at least a part of the heat generated by the first heat sink and the second heat sink is introduced or emitted into the canopy enclosure.

[0066] To improve the thermal management of the heat generated by the outdoor lighting fixture 200, the upper part and / or the side part of the canopy includes one or more air inlets 250 to allow the passage of external air into the canopy.

[0067] The upper part 211 and / or the side part 212 also includes one or more air outlets 260 to allow the passage of the internal air, which is the external air taken in through the air inlet and heated by the first and / or second heat sinks, to the outside of the canopy.

[0068] The air inlet or air outlet can be embodied as a hole, gap or slit within the canopy. Preferably, each air inlet or air outlet is formed from an elongated hole or gap. Each air inlet or air outlet is preferably a hole that is completely surrounded or bounded by the material of the canopy in order to improve the structural integrity of the canopy.

[0069] In this way, the outdoor lighting fixture provides a mechanism for discharging or dissipating the heat introduced into the canopy enclosure by the first / second heat sink. Thereby, the air inlet(s) and air outlet(s) provide a path for fresh or cold air to flow through the canopy enclosure in order to expel the air heated by the heat sink from the canopy enclosure.

[0070] To improve the heat dissipation effect from the canopy enclosure, one or more air inlets may be positioned on the side portion 212 of the canopy enclosure 210, and one or more air outlets may be positioned on the upper portion 211 of the canopy enclosure 210. Thereby, a chimney effect is achieved where cold air is taken in from a lower position or location and warm or heated air is emitted from a higher position or location.

[0071] Thus, when the lighting fixture is installed, the air inlet(s) may be positioned below the air outlet(s). Since warm air rises above cold air, this utilizes the chimney or stack effect to facilitate the movement of air from the air inlet(s) through the air outlet(s). Since the heat sink is positioned between the air inlet(s) and air outlet(s), the air taken in by the canopy enclosure is heated and discharged from the air outlet.

[0072] Thereby, the proposed canopy enclosure provides a means for good or improved thermal management of the outdoor lighting fixture.

[0073] To improve heat dissipation by the second heat sink, the second heat sink 240 may include a second set of fins 241 configured to extend toward the upper portion 211 of the canopy 210. This can improve or facilitate heat dissipation toward any air outlet 260 that is directed toward and thus positioned at the upper portion of the canopy.

[0074] In the illustrated example, a planar element 270 is mechanically connected to the first heat sink 120. In particular, the planar element 270 is mounted on top of the first heat sink, i.e., so as to cover at least a portion of the first set of fins 121. The planar element 270 is housed by the canopy enclosure. The planar element is thermally conductive and is made of a thermally conductive material such as, for example, metal, and is thermally connected to the first heat sink. In this way, the planar element can function as a special heat sink or heat distribution element for distributing heat (from the first heat sink) with respect to the canopy enclosure. This can improve the thermal management of the outdoor lighting fixture. The planar element functions as a chassis.

[0075] The thermally conductive planar element 270 is further thermally coupled to the second heat sink 240. Thus, the planar element may provide a heat path (a path that is thermally conductive) between the first heat sink 120 and the second heat sink 240. This further improves the distribution of heat with respect to the canopy enclosure.

[0076] The light source is likely to generate a greater amount of (waste) heat compared to the wireless communication module 230. This is due to the lower efficiency of the light source compared to the wireless module. Therefore, it would be advantageous to improve the dissipation of heat from the first heat sink by thermally coupling the first heat sink to the second heat sink via the planar element. This improves the thermal management of the outdoor lighting fixture.

[0077] The present invention relates, inter alia, to the design of the canopy 210, and more particularly to protecting the antenna and improving the transmission and reception of wireless communication signals.

[0078] Figures 3 and 4 show the outer housing design of the outdoor lighting fixture 250 according to an example of the present invention in the vicinity of one of the antennas.

[0079] Each antenna of the antenna system is housed within an antenna enclosure 300, one of which is shown in Figure 3. The antenna enclosure 300 has a top edge 300a, a bottom edge 300b, and side edges 300c, 300d.

[0080] Each antenna enclosure 300 allows the passage of the wireless signal 229. For example, the antenna enclosure is made of plastic. These provide ingress protection to protect the antennas inside. The wireless communication module 230 is also formed within an ingress-protected enclosure, and the light source also has its own ingress-protected enclosure. The enclosure of the light source houses a light source module including, for example, a light source and a light source driver and / or controller circuit.

[0081] As a result, since the parts that require ingress protection are individually protected in a modular manner, it is acceptable for the canopy 210 to have an opening.

[0082] The outer housing, and in particular the canopy 210 that forms the top part of the outer housing, has a recess 310, and the recess 310 has a recess opening 312 in the outer housing at the rear of the recess. Figures 3 and 4 show two views of one recess 310 for one of the antenna enclosures 300. The front part of the recess 310 has a front opening 314, shown hatched in Figure 3. This has the shape of a cut out of a general outer envelope shape where the recess may be considered to be located.

[0083] The antenna enclosure 300 is located within the recessed opening 312 or behind the recessed opening 312 such that the antenna enclosure recedes from the front opening 314 over the entire circumference of the antenna enclosure. The transmit / receive surface of the antenna module within the antenna enclosure 300 is not covered by the outer housing, and the antenna enclosure recedes further from flush with the front opening 314 over the entire circumference of the antenna enclosure.

[0084] Thus, the lighting fixture design has one or more antennas within an enclosure that is recessed behind the general outer envelope of the outer housings 110, 210. This protects the antennas from damage by contact or from other weather conditions such as hail, rain or sunlight. The antenna enclosure 300 protects the antenna such that it can be exposed to the surrounding environment through the recessed opening at the rear of the recess. The front opening 314 may be considered to correspond to a portion of the outer housing that would be present if there were no recess.

[0085] For example, the canopy 210 has a curved envelope profile, while the antenna enclosure is, for example, planar and mounted vertically. As a result, the depth of the recess (up to reaching the front 314 of the recessed opening 312) is not the same over the entire circumference of the antenna enclosure 300. In the case of the dome-shaped canopy as shown, the depth of the recess at the top edge is less than the depth of the recess at the bottom edge.

[0086] The antenna enclosure recedes over the entire periphery of its outer surface (i.e., at least a non-zero distance from the front opening 314). The antenna enclosure recedes, for example, at least 1 cm (e.g., at least 2 cm, or 2.5 cm, or 3 cm) from the front opening along at least one edge of the antenna enclosure. The resulting effect is improved protection of the antenna. The antenna enclosure recedes, for example, at most 10 cm (e.g., at most 9 cm, or 8 cm, or 7 cm) from the front opening along any edge of the antenna enclosure. The resulting effect is sufficient transmission and reception performance of the wireless signal.

[0087] The recess 310 has a top recess wall portion 310a, a bottom recess wall portion 310b, and side recess wall portions 310c, 310d. The recess has a rear recess wall 310e. The recess wall portions 310a - 310d are tapered outward from the rear wall portion 310e of the recess.

[0088] The taper enables the antenna to transmit and receive in the intended field of view. The taper is steep enough such that the recess forms an indented area rather than a smooth continuation of the general curvature of the outer housing. Thus, there is an abrupt angular transition from the smooth general outer contour of the canopy 210 to the top, bottom, and / or side recess walls of the recess 310.

[0089] For example, the taper angle of the top recess wall portion and the bottom recess wall portion is smaller than the taper angle of the side recess wall portions. The antenna is intended, for example, to have a wider field of view in the horizontal plane than in the vertical plane.

[0090] The recess side walls 310c, 310d typically have the same taper angle such that the recess is symmetric in the lateral direction (however, since the outer envelope has a curved shape, the taper angle may not be uniform along the height of the side wall). However, the taper angles of the top recess wall and the bottom recess wall may be different, and thus, it may be asymmetric in the vertical direction.

[0091] For example, the taper angles of the top recess wall and the bottom recess wall with respect to the non-taper direction are in the range of 10 to 25 degrees. For example, the taper angle of the side recess wall with respect to the non-taper direction is in the range of 25 to 60 degrees. This is, for example, to match the anisotropic line of sight of each antenna module such as 2x12 degrees (vertical), 2x45 degrees (horizontal), etc.

[0092] As can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4, the recess opening 312 in this example is larger than the antenna enclosure 300, and thus, there is a gap between the outer edge of the antenna enclosure and the recess opening 312. In FIGS. 3 and 4, there are gaps adjacent to each edge (FIG. 4 shows a top gap 320, a bottom gap 322, and side gaps 324, 326). However, there may be fewer gaps, or there may be only one gap, such as below the antenna enclosure 300.

[0093] The gap(s) function(s) as an air inlet gap between the outer edge of the antenna enclosure 300 and the recess opening 312. As described above, the air gap provides a flow of cooling air into the space defined by the canopy 210 of the outer housing to provide cooling. In particular, the air supplied into the air inlet defined by these gaps preferably flows over the fins 121 of the heat sink of the light engine. This may also cool the antenna module. The fins of the heat sink of the light engine are aligned, for example, in a direction perpendicular to one or more air inlet openings. An air outlet 260 is provided, for example, at the top of the canopy as shown in FIG. 2. There may be a plurality, M, of air outlets, and M may be greater than the number N of air inlets. In FIGS. 3 and 4, the fins 121 are visible through the bottom gap 322.

[0094] FIG. 5 shows a view of the antenna module with the canopy 210 removed.

[0095] FIG. 6 shows a cut-away view with the canopy 210 covering the antenna envelope 300.

[0096] As shown in FIG. 6, the rear wall portion 310e of the recess is recessed backward at the lower part rather than at the upper part. In fact, the upper part of the rear wall portion 310e is vertical and there is no top recess wall portion protruding forward. However, still, the upper part of the rear wall portion 310e is recessed compared to the original outer envelope shape (314 in FIG. 3) of the canopy 210 that exists, for example, on each side of the recess 310.

[0097] FIG. 6 also shows one taper angle α of the side wall portion from the lateral edge of the front opening 314 to the rear of the recess.

[0098] FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional side view. FIG. 7 shows that the antenna enclosure is located behind the outer surface of the rear wall portion 310e of the recess 310.

[0099] FIG. 7 also shows one taper angle θ of the bottom wall portion from the lower edge of the front opening 314 to the rear portion of the recess.

[0100] In the above example, there is an air gap around the antenna enclosure.

[0101] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8, the antenna enclosure closes the recess opening, and the recess may have an air inlet opening 330 in one or more of the top recess wall portion, bottom recess wall portion, side recess wall portion, and rear recess wall portion of the recess. This alternative is such that the antenna module closes the recess opening, but the flow of cooling air is provided into the space defined by the outer housing through one or more openings in the walls defining the recess.

[0102] Embodiments of the present invention may also provide an outdoor lighting system including a plurality of streetlights, each including a lighting fixture as described above. The plurality of streetlights may be able to see and / or communicate with each other. Each wireless module of the plurality of streetlights may be able to wirelessly communicate with each other in order to effectively form a network of wireless modules. This can be used to provide wireless connectivity to mobile devices in the vicinity of the network of wireless modules.

[0103] The number of the plurality of streetlights may be at least 10, 1,000, or 10,000, or even more than 100,000 for a very wide communication network covering an entire city, country, and / or continent.

[0104] When using the above-described outdoor lighting fixture in a fixture of an outdoor lighting system, it is possible to construct a mesh network using the wireless module of such a lighting fixture. The mesh network can be used, for example, to provide wireless connectivity to mobile devices in the vicinity of the network of wireless modules according to known principles.

[0105] By consideration of the drawings, the present disclosure, and the appended claims, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood by those skilled in the art and can also be carried out when practicing the claimed invention. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality.

[0106] The mere fact that certain means are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these means cannot be used advantageously.

[0107] It should be noted that when the term "adapted to" is used in the claims or the specification, the term "adapted to" is intended to be equivalent to the term "configured to". It should be noted that when the term "arrangement" is used in the claims or the specification, the term "arrangement" is intended to be equivalent to the term "system", and vice versa.

[0108] Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

1. An outdoor lighting fixture for streetlights, the outdoor lighting fixture comprising: an outer housing, a light source disposed within the outer housing, an antenna system for transmitting and / or receiving wireless signals, a wireless communication module within the outer housing communicatively coupled to the antenna system and configured to control the transmission of wireless signals transmitted by the antenna system and / or process received wireless signals received by the antenna system, and the antenna system includes at least one antenna housed within an antenna enclosure that allows passage of the wireless signal, the outer housing has a recess, the recess having a recess opening in the outer housing at a rear portion of the recess, a front portion of the recess having a front opening, the antenna enclosure is located within the recess opening or behind the recess opening such that the antenna enclosure is recessed from the front opening over the entire circumference of the antenna enclosure, the lighting fixture.

2. the antenna enclosure is recessed from the front opening by at least 1 cm along at least one edge of the antenna enclosure, and / or the antenna enclosure is recessed from the front opening by at most 10 cm along any edge of the antenna enclosure, the lighting fixture according to claim 1.

3. the recess has a top recess wall, a bottom recess wall, and side recess walls, and (i) the top recess wall, the bottom recess wall, and / or (ii) the side recess walls are tapered outwardly from a rear portion of the recess, the lighting fixture according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The lighting fixture according to claim 3, wherein the taper angles of the top recess wall portion and the bottom recess wall portion are smaller than the taper angle of the side recess wall portion.

5. The lighting fixture according to claim 4, wherein the taper angle of the top recess wall portion is different from the taper angle of the bottom recess wall portion, and / or the recess length of the top recess wall portion is different from the recess length of the bottom recess wall portion.

6. The taper angles of the top recess wall portion and the bottom recess wall portion with respect to the non-taper direction are within the range of 10 to 25 degrees, and / or The lighting fixture according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the taper angle of the side recess wall portion with respect to the non-taper direction is within the range of 25 to 60 degrees.

7. The antenna system includes an array of antennas, each housed in a respective antenna enclosure, for example, a set of four antennas each facing outward at 90-degree intervals in a plane intended to be horizontal when the lighting fixture is in use, according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The light source is part of a light source module housed in a lighting fixture housing, the lighting fixture housing defines an ingress protection enclosure, the wireless communication module defines an ingress protection enclosure, and each antenna enclosure provides ingress protection for the associated antenna, according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The light source module includes the light source and a light source driver and / or a controller circuit, and the wireless communication module is attached to a wireless communication module heat sink, according to claim 8.

10. There is an air inlet gap between at least one outer edge of the antenna enclosure, such as between the top edge, side edge and / or bottom edge of the antenna enclosure and the recess opening, and the recess opening, according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. The antenna enclosure closes the recess opening, and the recess has an air inlet opening in one or more of a top recess wall portion, a bottom recess wall portion, a side recess wall portion, and a rear recess wall portion of the recess. The lighting fixture according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

12. The air inlet gap or the air inlet opening communicates with a light source heat sink for the light source. The lighting fixture according to claim 10 or 11.

13. The outer housing has an air outlet opening, such as an air outlet opening at an upper portion of the outer housing. The lighting fixture according to any one of claims 10 to 12.

14. The outer housing includes a top canopy and a lighting fixture housing. The top canopy is disposed on the lighting fixture housing. The light source is disposed within the lighting fixture housing. The wireless communication module is disposed within the top canopy. The recess of the outer housing is formed in the top canopy. The lighting fixture according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. A pole, The lighting fixture according to any one of claims 1 to 14, which is mechanically attached to the pole, and a street lamp including the same.

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