Smart Streetlight Controller Celestial Scheduling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional streetlight controllers rely on photo-sensitive circuitry, which can fail or be obstructed, leading to inefficient or unsafe lighting conditions, as they lack the ability to programmatically adjust based on celestial events and location-specific solar positions.
Innovation Solution
A smart streetlight controller that identifies its terrestrial location, calculates sunrise and sunset times, and adjusts lighting accordingly using a standardized powerline interface, location positioning device, and processor to control illumination signals, allowing for manual, programmatic, or data-driven adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If photo-sensitive circuitry is used to control streetlight timing, then the system is simple and low-cost, but the reliability deteriorates due to potential failure or obstruction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/photo-sensitive sensing system with a computational system that calculates sunrise and sunset times based on geographic location and date. The processor uses algorithms to determine when to activate or deactivate the streetlight, substituting physical light sensing with mathematical computation to eliminate sensor failure and obstruction issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary computational layer between the geographic location data and the streetlight control decision. Instead of directly sensing light, the system uses location coordinates and date information as intermediaries to calculate the appropriate lighting schedule, adding robustness while managing complexity through standardized interfaces.
2Adaptability or versatility
If photo-sensitive circuitry is used, then the device complexity is low, but the adaptability deteriorates as the system cannot programmatically adjust for location-specific solar positions or celestial events
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adaptability by making the streetlight control system responsive to changing geographic and temporal conditions. The processor calculates sunrise and sunset times based on the specific installation location and current date, automatically adjusting the lighting schedule to match local solar patterns, seasonal variations, and daylight saving time changes without manual reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key parameters (sunrise and sunset times) based on geographic location coordinates and date information. By using location-specific latitude and longitude values along with calendar dates, the system dynamically determines the appropriate lighting schedule, enabling adaptability to different installations and temporal conditions while maintaining a consistent control architecture.
3Loss of energy
If photo-sensitive circuitry controls streetlight timing, then the system operates passively, but the energy efficiency deteriorates due to inability to precisely time activation and deactivation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating sunrise and sunset times based on geographic location and date before the actual lighting decision is made. The processor determines the optimal activation and deactivation times in advance using computational algorithms, allowing the system to proactively schedule lighting operations for maximum energy efficiency rather than reactively responding to ambient light changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the processor continuously monitors location data and date information to recalculate and adjust sunrise and sunset times. This feedback loop ensures the lighting schedule remains optimized for energy efficiency by adapting to seasonal changes, geographic variations, and daylight saving time adjustments, maintaining precise timing control.
Data Source
AI summary
A method to control a streetlight with a smart streetlight controller, includes isolating a terrestrial position of the smart streetlight controller, isolating a specific date, and calculating, at the smart streetlight controller, a time value associated with an event, such as sunrise or sunset, that is defined by a position of the sun on the specific date. The method further includes generating a streetlight control time by applying an offset to the time value, and executing a streetlight control command, such as a command to turn the streetlight on or off, at the streetlight control time.