Streetlight-Mountable Telecom Unit With Power Metering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing streetlight controllers lack integrated telecommunications support units that can efficiently provide bidirectional communications and smart city infrastructure functionalities, such as smart lighting controls and environmental data collection, while also supporting utility-grade power metering and cellular network enhancements.
Innovation Solution
A streetlight-mountable telecommunications support unit (TSU) that can operate as a baseband unit, cellular telecom repeater, or combined baseband/repeater device, incorporating microcontroller circuitry for smart streetlight control, utility-grade power metering, and high-bandwidth communication interfaces, mounted via a standardized powerline interface to streetlights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If streetlight controllers are equipped with onboard photo-sensitive circuitry for automatic lighting control, then the lighting automation function is improved, but the device cannot provide telecommunications support functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines streetlight control functionality and telecommunications support functionality into a single integrated controller device. The controller includes both photo-sensitive circuitry for automated lighting control and baseband unit circuitry for telecommunications operations, thereby resolving the contradiction between automation capability and telecommunications versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller is designed as a multi-functional device that can simultaneously perform streetlight control, environmental sensing, and telecommunications support functions. This universal design allows a single device to replace multiple separate devices, achieving both automation and telecommunications capability.
2Reliability
If baseband units are used to couple mobile devices to telecommunications infrastructure, then telecommunications connectivity is improved, but the devices cannot provide smart streetlight control functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges baseband unit functionality with smart streetlight control functionality in a single integrated device. The controller includes both the telecommunications interface for reliable mobile device connectivity and the control circuitry for smart lighting operations, environmental sensors, and power management.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller is designed as a universal platform that can simultaneously handle telecommunications baseband operations and smart city infrastructure functions including lighting control, environmental monitoring, and power metering.
3Reliability
If repeaters are deployed to extend cellular coverage in obstructed areas, then network coverage is improved, but the devices cannot provide integrated smart city infrastructure functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines repeater functionality with smart city infrastructure functions in a single device mounted on streetlights. The controller includes radio frequency circuitry for cellular signal repetition and amplification, along with baseband processing, lighting control, and environmental sensing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller serves as a universal node that can function as a repeater for cellular coverage extension while simultaneously providing smart lighting control and environmental monitoring, reducing the need for separate infrastructure devices.
4Ease of manufacture
If separate devices are used for streetlight control and telecommunications support, then device functionality is specialized, but installation space and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple previously separate devices into a single unified controller mounted on each streetlight. This includes combining streetlight control circuitry, baseband unit functionality, repeater capabilities, environmental sensors, and power management into one device, thereby reducing installation space and simplifying the overall system.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller is designed as a universal multi-functional platform that consolidates numerous specialized functions into a single device, reducing the total number of components needed while maintaining all necessary capabilities for smart city operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing device includes a housing, a powerline interface, a wireless communication interface, a controller, and a load-side power metering circuit. The housing is mountable to a support structure of a streetlight. The powerline interface is configured though a boundary of the housing and connectable to an external power source. The wireless communication interface is operable to provide communicative coupling to a remote computing device. The load-side power metering circuit is operable to meter power consumed by the computing device. The computing device may further include a clamp to mechanically couple the housing to the streetlight's support structure. A method may include establishing a wireless communication link between a first computing device and at least one cellular transceiver; performing load-side power metering by the first computing device; and communicating at least metering data between the first computing device and a second computing device through at least the wireless communication link.