External Surge Protection for LED Road Lighting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional road lighting control methods focus on timing control, leading to energy loss, and existing surge protection devices for LED road lighting are prone to damage from long-term surge attacks, requiring frequent replacement and costly, hazardous maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A photocontrol device integrating a surge protection unit with differential, common, or all-mode protection schemes, using a combination of MOVs and thermal protection devices, connected to a ground connector for easy installation and replacement, reducing maintenance costs and improving safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If surge protection device is mounted inside LED road lighting on high light pole (5-10m height), then surge protection function is provided, but installation and replacement require lift trucks and take significant time, increasing maintenance cost and safety risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurge protection functionVSAvoidinstallation and maintenance accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention separates the surge protection device from the LED road lighting fixture, making it an independent externally-mountable unit. This segmentation allows the surge protection device to be installed separately on the lighting pole without requiring disassembly of the lighting fixture itself, thereby improving accessibility while maintaining protection functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces an external mounting structure as an intermediary between the lighting pole and the surge protection device. This intermediary mounting structure provides easy access for installation and maintenance personnel while securing the surge protection device in position, eliminating the need for complex internal integration within the lighting fixture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The integrated surge protection enhances energy efficiency and safety by providing simultaneous surge voltage and current protection, simplifying maintenance and reducing operational risks for maintenance staff.

Implementation Method 1

The surge protection circuit is disposed inside the hermetic chamber. The surge protection circuit includes at least one protection component. The surge protection unit is designed as differential mode, common mode, or all-mode scheme according to the different number of protection components.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurge protection:

Implementation Method 2

The principle of photo control is that, based on changes of the photosensitive component with respect to changes of the intensity of the light source, the on/off of the lighting power supply is controlled

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhoto control: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3128816B1Optical controller with surge protecting function
Publication Date: 2019.01.09 XIAMEN SET ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3128816B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3128816B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3128816B1 patent drawingFigure 2A

AI summary

The application relates to a photocontrol, more particularly to a photocontrol with a surge protecting function.