The lighting industry is now forming a hierarchical system, unlike the systems now operating in the automotive industry. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) focus on their core competencies and leave the development of peripheral technology to suppliers. The development of an AC / DC converter is an example. In the past, most lighting companies were developing their own converters. Now they can buy a dimming socket with a built-in converter. All OEMs now have to do is develop their own control circuitry that can be connected to the module to form the final assembly. In this way, OEMs can develop unique products with minimal development and get to market quickly.
Figure 1 to achieve the full control of the next generation of outdoor lighting
More diverse street lighting control
With LED lighting, we can now re-create and control lighting in an efficient and cost-effective manner. One such example is the sensor ready (SR) platform, a new connectivity standard for outdoor fixtures designed to integrate sensors with LED light sources and drivers for new levels of control. The Endurance S platform reduces the complexity of street lighting architecture by eliminating hard-wired auxiliary modules and associated wiring and provides a 100% pluggable AM solution. It consists of a socket, a sealing cap, a modular plug base and an associated dome cover. Used in conjunction with the SR drive, the SR pluggable sensor module can be plugged into a 4-hole toggle SR receptacle for a high degree of sensor control flexibility.
Some time ago NEMA and ANSI set a standard around sockets installed at the top of streetlights. Often there is only one photocell plugged in, so the lights turn on and off depending on the ambient light, but now more and more sophisticated sockets are being installed. Some NEMA dimmer sockets provide a higher level of functionality in the photo control module. Lighting can be dimmed, colors can be modified, and even flashing.
TE recently developed the LUMAWISE Endurance N reinforced base to create a rapid R & D and manufacturing platform for street and outdoor lighting control solutions that meet the standards of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) . It provides the AC power switch and DC power required for complex control node solutions, giving designers more time to focus on value-added features. ANSI-compliant mechanical construction supports design reuse and modularity of the entire lighting control product. It can be used for street and road lighting control, commercial and campus outdoor lighting management, smart city control networks, and smart grid connections to smart cities.
These developments have helped to significantly improve our control over the lighting system. As long as we need, when and where it can be bright. But there are many more things to do.
Expansion of LED functions, not just simple lighting
As we become more familiar with LED lighting, we can begin to study how control can further its potential, not only in design but also in function. For example, it is now possible to use LED lighting for safe line-of-sight data transfer.
Parking meters can communicate with nearby street lights that use very high-speed modulation capabilities to relay information to a nearby timer attendant. "This car has been out of place for more than a minute." Or, they can provide accurate data on available parking spaces.
In fact, a form of "smart parking" has been deployed in the world's largest parking monitoring system, and in Moscow, the system has been installed to reduce congestion by more than a quarter. Major cities in Russia and China are in deployment.
Figure 2 fully rotatable dimming socket, photo control base and groove
Figure 3 Smarter street lighting application module
LED lighting new standard
In the past few years, engineers and system architects of large component suppliers have been working with downstream partners to create a new street lighting structure. A key consideration is the potential of new architectures and new features to help developers, installers and outdoor lighting users realize the value while moving from individually programmed street lighting to the Central Management System (CMS).
In the past, designers mostly only chose NEMA / ANSI's standard product line, just because of other specific alternative standards, not even in Europe. Now there is a new solution for connecting LED street lighting, as well as a new European standard for outdoor fixtures.
Now there is a compact connection solution for LED street lamps that offers greater flexibility in lamp design and street lighting construction, and is LUMAWISE Endurance S. Because it can be upgraded in the field, existing fixtures can be upgraded simply and quickly.
The standardized interface between the socket and the module base or cover uses an integrated single washer to hold and seal the lamp and module. At the same time, the same connection interface can be used for central management systems of 40 mm or 80 mm diameter. This allows different modules to be swapped and upgraded in seconds without powering down the poles.
The new product was jointly developed by several partners to ensure a complete and available system, including specific application-specific drivers and control nodes. These partnerships also work with the Global Lighting Industry Organization Zhaga Consortium.
Prospects and conclusions
Functional limitations of outdoor LED lighting systems continue to expand. The radio transceiver allows a single lamp to be integrated into the network. Sensors can monitor energy consumption and the general "health" of individual lights, and any problems are flagged. Outdoor LED lighting can now even be part of the city's environmental control system.
There are many more things to do. In the near future, when an ambulance is about to go to a first-aid place, the brightness of the street light, or even the color, will change, providing the driver with the quickest route. The street lights will be more than just street lights; they will become nodes in smart, smart cities.
People living, working and gathering places need outdoor lighting. Therefore, sensing applications have the potential to make lighting more suitable for people's needs. In tunnel lighting, the sensors can monitor temperature and humidity and can be used to control the closed-loop system of airflow. Early warning of fire may even be issued if a peak event occurs.
Imagine if the entire city's networked lighting systems use temperature and humidity sensors, which makes it possible to assess the microclimate in the local area of the city and adjust it accordingly.
For example, sensors can identify areas where airflow is stagnant, city managers can issue environmental alerts faster than before, and urban residents can avoid related health problems.