Outdoor Lighting Control Using Cloud Coverage to Reduce Sky Glow
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing use of indium gallium nitride (InGaN) LED technology in street lighting is causing an increase in light pollution, which negatively affects astronomical observation and raises concerns about crime prevention and traffic safety, as ordinances to reduce light pollution may compromise these benefits.
Innovation Solution
A control system that uses sensors to detect cloud coverage and adjusts the intensity and wavelength of streetlight output based on predetermined policies, including cloud coverage thresholds and local factors, to minimize sky glow and light pollution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If InGaN LED technology is used for street lighting, then illumination efficiency and energy savings are improved, but light pollution and sky glow increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of LED operation based on real-time sky condition monitoring. Sensors detect atmospheric clarity and cloud coverage, and the control system adjusts LED intensity or shuts down lighting accordingly. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain energy efficiency when pollution control is needed while minimizing light pollution when skies are clear, directly resolving the contradiction between continuous energy savings and intermittent pollution control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes operational parameters of the LED lighting system based on environmental conditions. By monitoring sky clarity and adjusting lighting intensity, wavelength, or duration of operation, the system modifies its output parameters to reduce short-wavelength emission that causes sky glow during clear conditions, while maintaining full functionality when cloud cover naturally masks the light pollution.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If street lighting is reduced or eliminated to minimize light pollution, then sky glow decreases, but crime prevention and traffic safety are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts lighting levels based on real-time sky condition monitoring rather than using fixed reduction levels. When sensors detect clear skies, lighting is reduced to minimize sky glow. When cloud cover is detected, lighting automatically increases to maintain safety functions for crime prevention and traffic visibility. This dynamic response ensures both pollution control and safety maintenance without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback control loop where sensors continuously monitor sky conditions and feed this information back to the control system, which adjusts lighting levels accordingly. This closed-loop feedback ensures that lighting is only reduced when sky conditions permit, maintaining safety functions when atmospheric conditions would make light reduction ineffective for pollution control.
3Reliability
If continuous street lighting is maintained for safety, then crime prevention and traffic safety are ensured, but light pollution increases on clear nights
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static continuous lighting to dynamic conditional lighting. Sensors monitor sky clarity and cloud coverage in real-time, and the control system adjusts lighting intensity or duration based on these conditions. On clear nights, lighting is reduced or turned off to minimize pollution. On cloudy nights or when safety concerns arise, lighting automatically increases to maintain safety functions. This dynamic operation eliminates unnecessary continuous lighting while ensuring safety when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic monitoring of sky conditions and adjusts lighting in response to changing atmospheric conditions rather than operating continuously at fixed levels. This periodic assessment and adjustment allows the system to minimize light pollution during clear periods while maintaining safety during periods when atmospheric conditions or other factors require illumination.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of adjusting lighting to reduce sky glow. The method includes the steps of detecting, by a plurality of sensors, an amount of cloud coverage in a region of the troposphere; determining, by a sky glow reduction circuitry, whether the amount of clouds is greater than, less than, or equal to a predetermined cloud coverage threshold; and adjusting, by a light output controller circuitry, a light output of a plurality of light sources to reduce sky glow if the amount of clouds is less than or equal to the predetermined cloud coverage threshold. The adjusting step is at least partially based on a predetermined policy.