Outdoor Light Intensity Control with Precipitation Delays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional street lighting systems fail to adjust light intensity effectively in response to precipitation, leading to either excessive brightness when it's clear or insufficient illumination when it's still partially covered, which affects visual comfort and safety, and energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling outdoor lamp light intensity using an electronic control device that adjusts light intensity with delays in response to precipitation onset and cessation, utilizing a communication unit to receive signals from precipitation detectors and adapt based on ambient temperature and precipitation intensity, ensuring optimal lighting conditions by gradually changing light intensity between suitable values for completely clear and completely covered conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If street lights illuminate immediately with low luminous intensity when precipitation begins, then energy is saved and visual comfort is improved, but the road becomes under-illuminated until completely covered by precipitation
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies a delay period before reducing luminous intensity after precipitation detection. During this delay, the light maintains high intensity to ensure adequate road illumination while precipitation is accumulating. Only after the delay (when road is fully covered) does the intensity reduce to save energy, resolving the contradiction between immediate energy saving and maintaining illumination.
2Illumination intensity
If street lights illuminate immediately with high luminous intensity when precipitation ends, then road illumination is adequate, but the road becomes over-illuminated while still partially covered by precipitation
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies a delay period after precipitation ends before restoring high luminous intensity. During this delay, the light maintains reduced intensity because the road is still wet and reflective. After the delay (when road is fully clear), intensity returns to high levels, preventing over-illumination and unnecessary energy consumption.
3Device complexity
If street lights use fixed luminous intensity, then control is simple, but energy efficiency is reduced and visual comfort deteriorates in precipitation conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts luminous intensity based on precipitation detection and delay timing, transitioning from static fixed intensity to adaptive variable intensity. The control device modifies output levels in response to environmental conditions (precipitation onset/cessation), optimizing energy efficiency and visual comfort while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated control.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to the control of the light intensity of an outdoor light (100) in a first spatial direction (160) by means of an electronic control device (130), wherein, when the onset of precipitation is detected, the light intensity is reduced with a first delay, and/or, when the end of precipitation is detected, the light intensity is increased with a second delay.