HK1171890B - Module for managing lampposts and services, and telemanagement system comprising at least one such module - Google Patents

Description

The field of invention

The present invention relates to the field of lighting systems.

It offers in particular lighting management modules and services connected to a command centre by an electrical supply network.

It also offers a remote management system comprising a command centre and one or more lamppost management modules and services connected to this command centre by the power supply network.

Background of the invention

The telecommunications management of public lighting (urban communities, private areas) is a rapidly expanding technical field.

In particular, the desire to achieve energy savings in the public lighting system and to reduce its cost leads to the search for solutions to optimise the electrical power consumption of the chandeliers.

It is known for remote control systems that allow the control of street lighting by low-current carrier current.

In addition, the development of new technologies for remote monitoring, remote metering, Wi-Fi terminals in cities, etc., makes it necessary to provide adequate support in the urban environment. Since the chandeliers are a relatively regular mesh of an urban area, it seems interesting to use them as a support for these new equipment.

A public lighting remote control device with a carrier current communication, in phase modulation at a frequency of 132 kHz, between a central station on the one hand and the devices associated with the lamps and controlling their lighting lamps on the other hand is already known from WO 96/36202.

This document does not provide for the use of additional services in the lighting remote management system; on the contrary, such a system using a 132 kHz phase modulated carrier current transmission is difficult to implement on the same network for data exchange in IP format.

The document FR 2 888 068 proposes that candlesticks connected in clusters to a single power cabinet be used to form a network for communication and to provide the lighting masts with a number of services. To this end, the candlestick masts are equipped with router-switches. The function of these router-switches is to ensure the transmission of binary data between a CPL wired network using the mains power supply network and various equipment located near the candlestick masts and communicating with these router-switches by wireless technology.

It should be noted, however, that in such a system the power cabinet must keep the lamps on in order for the services which are associated with their masts to function.

It should also be noted that this document proposes for CPL technology to use the Home Plug standard, which has so far been mainly developed for apartment or house type installations ( indoor ), i.e. for short distances, without signal repeat function to cope with distances to be covered on public lighting, and with waterproof technology.

Document US 2005/0036323 describes the possibility of using a public facility such as a street lamp to house active and passive elements of a communication network and for this purpose proposes a street lamp that may contain active and passive network elements and the energy supply arrangements for those network elements.

The paper Caponetto R et al., Power consumption reduction in a remote controlled street lighting system , Power electronics, electrical drives, automation and motion, 2008 describes a remote control equipment for monitoring and managing a street lighting system.

Finally, WO 2009/103245 describes a light emitting diode (LED) headlamp which includes a PLC modem and a control circuit.

One purpose of the invention is to provide a solution for remote management of chandeliers, which can be used to support a wide variety of equipment and services.

Another aim of the invention is to propose a solution which is easy and inexpensive to install, while allowing for the independent management of the lighting and the service equipment associated with the lamps and installed on the same electrical network (on/off, but also lighting adjustment, programming, consumption recording, fault detection and warning, etc.).

Another aim of the invention is to propose a solution which makes it very easy to move equipment from one lampstand to another, in order to reconfigure an area on which a given service is being carried out.

Another aim is to provide a solution for the secure transmission of information between the lighting fixtures and service equipment deployed and remote user providers.

A brief description of the invention

The invention relates in particular to a lamp management module connected to an electrical power supply, which includes an electronics unit comprising an in-line carrier current injector/receiver by which it is connected to the electrical power supply and which allows it to communicate with a command centre to receive, inter alia, instructions for the lamp on/off.

The module is also capable of providing at least one additional service such as video protection, sound, Wi-Fi, electric vehicle charging station, etc.

The management it carries out for the lamp stand and the management it carries out for the complementary service (s) shall be independent , the said module comprising: at least two outputs capable of supplying power independently to the lamp (s) of the lamp stand and at least one service equipment associated with the lamp stand,at least one port for connecting a computer cable between this equipment and the said module, The electronics are arranged in a housing and contain: means capable of independently controlling power outputs according to instructions transmitted by carrier current from the command centre, data processing and/or transmission means connected to the port and to the carrier current injector/receiver, the carrier current injector/receiver being of the high-speed type.

It is understood that such a module allows both the remote management of street lighting and the integration of different complementary services.Through such a module, street lighting and services are managed in a differentiated way, in particular in terms of extinguishing/programming.This in particular allows energy savings and improves the lifetimes of equipment.

The installation of such a module is also particularly easy and inexpensive, and does not require any civil engineering work.

The advantage of electronics is that it can include: a CPL injector/receiver motherboard which contains the means of processing and transmitting data and which is connected to the connection port of the computer cable and a daughterboard which contains the means of controlling power outputs, the said daughterboard interacting with the CPL injector/receiver motherboard.

The module may contain, as shown on the housing: a first connector for a cable suitable for connection to the lamp circuit breaker,a power connector for a cable incorporating at least two two-wire sheaths for independent power supply of the lamp (s) and service equipment,a connector for an Ethernet connector cable.

These connectors help to make installation easy and modifiable.

Preferably, the electronics have means of generating at least an output voltage for controlling the dimming of the lantern of a candlestick.

The module electronics may also contain means for filtering out EMF disturbances potentially generated by the ballasts of the lamps, thus solving the possible problems of broadband disturbance due to the high frequencies of the ballasts of the lamps.

The electronic equipment may also have means of measuring the individual consumption of the lamp (s) of the lampstand and/or associated service equipment. In particular, the means of data processing and transmission include, for example, means of processing the individual consumption measured and thus facilitating the billing of service providers to users according to their actual consumption. They also include means of generating an alert signal to the command centre or directly to users when an anomaly in the operation of the lamp (s), service equipment and/or the electrical network is detected.

The invention also proposes a system for the remote management of street lighting, characterised by the fact that it includes a command centre for a set of lamps and at least one management module installed in, on or near a lamps and capable of providing independent management of the lamps lighting and at least one additional service, the said module communicating with the command centre by high-speed in-line carrier current.

In particular, the command centre can communicate with a remote control unit of the network, which avoids information overloads. e control unit has means of transmitting IP data securely to service users.

In particular, the command centre shall be able to detect the connection of new service equipment to a module and shall have means to query that equipment during such connection and to transmit to a control unit the identification data compared by the control unit with data stored in a database, in order to allow the authentication of that equipment and thus secure access.

A brief description of the drawings

Other features and advantages of the invention will be shown in the following detailed description, by reference to the figures given in the annexes, without limitation, on which: Figure 1 illustrates a remote control system conforming to an embodiment of the invention, with at least one control module integrated in a chandelier.Figure 2 is a schematic representation in perspective of the housing and connector of a control module conforming to an embodiment of the invention.Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the control module in Figure 2 andFigure 4 is a principle diagram of the control module in Figures 2 and 3.

The manufacturer shall provide the manufacturer with a detailed description of the device.

Figure 1 shows an L-lamp with a D-disconnect, connected with other similar L-lamps (not shown) to a control and power cabinet 3 by an electrical supply network 2.

Inside the L-lamp, on it (e.g. at the foot of the L-lamp) or in its immediate vicinity, a management module 1 is installed which is connected to the power supply network 2 by connection to the circuit breaker D. The ballasts of the various L-lamp lamps 5, 6 (in this case two) and one or more service equipment (in the example shown, a camera S) are connected to this module 1 by different cables.

As shown in Figures 2 to 4, module 1 is a B-box with different connectors 10.

In this case, the B-box incorporates a 10a connector to connect it to the D-breaker by means of a two-wire CD power cable.

It also has a connector 10b for connecting a CE cable which itself integrates several pairs of cables. the power supply to the first lamp 5 (on/off command) (gain Al5), the power supply to the second lamp 6 (on/off command) (gain Al6), the lighting step of the first lamp 5 (grade 1-10 V) (gain GRAD5), the lighting step of the second lamp 6 (grade 1-10 V) (gain GRAD6), and the power supply to service equipment S (on/off command of this equipment) (gain AlS).

Alternatively, a single pair of wires may be used for powering/extinguishing and/or dimming the lighting of the two lamps.

The B-box also has a separate 10c connector for a computer connection, typically for connecting a CIP Ethernet cable with an RJ45 or RS 232 socket.

The B-box is a watertight box, the dimensions of which are adapted to allow module 1 to be inserted into the mast of the L-lamp and fixed to the mast by means of fixing devices such as hooks and/or a system of screws and nuts.

Typically, externally, the housing has a length (including fastening legs) of less than 500 mm, and a width (excluding all) and height (excluding screws) of less than 100 mm, e.g. 274 mm x 64 mm x 64 mm.

The electronics inside the B-box have a motherboard 20 (Figure 3) adapted to allow communication between module 1 and the control centre 3 by high-speed CPL 4 in-line carrier current which allows it to decode the signal received via the electrical network 2.

CPL technology generally consists of transmitting information by means of electric current.

This information is superimposed on the 220V electric current (with a frequency of 50 or 60 Hz) in the form of a higher frequency, low energy signal.

In the case of low-speed CPL, frequency modulation techniques are used in the band 9-150 kHz (in Europe).

For high-speed CPL, multi-carrier modulations in the band 1,6 to 30 MHz shall be used.

The module 1 operates at high bandwidth and is therefore suitable for services such as video protection, sound, Wi-Fi, electric vehicle charging station, where broadband has significant advantages over the Hertz network, in particular for video.

The basic components of a CPL network are: a CPL injector which superimposes information on the electric current, thus allowing the signal to propagate over the electrical network; a CPL receiver located on the electrical network and equipped with a coupler which allows the removal of low frequency components and the processing of the high frequency signal.

The CPL receiver may be a CPL repeater/receiver, e.g. a component supplied by DS2 based on a CPL protocol operating at a choice of 2 to 34 MHz.

The motherboard 20 has a motherboard injector/repeater/receiver and an Ethernet port corresponding to the 10c connector.

It is connected to a 30 daughter card which controls the various ON/OFF power supplies of the lantern (s) and the associated service equipment (s).

It also has metrology devices which allow it to measure the individual consumption of the various lamps and service equipment.

This daughter board 30 communicates with the motherboard 20 to which it is connected and from which it receives, inter alia, the commands for power and dimming of lighting and for powering service equipment.

It transmits itself to the motherboard 20 information to be sent back to the control centre of the power cabinet 3 to which module 1 is connected (data on the individual consumption of lamps or service equipment, data flows from the latter, etc.), which is itself sent back, if necessary by conventional means of internet connection, to a U remote control unit on the network (Figure 1), which itself will process this information and transmit it to different recipients (for the purposes of billing services or electricity consumption, for example).

The U-control unit also avoids information overload at the level of the control centre 3 processing server.

The daughter board 30 or the mother board 20 are also suitable for assessing the condition of lamps and equipment.

For this purpose, the daughter card 30 (or mother card 20) compares the measured consumption values with expected theoretical consumption and sends warning messages to the command centre 3 if the measured consumption differs from the expected theoretical consumption.

Alerts are then sent to the command centre 3 which itself relay them to the central unit U and from this central unit U to the various providers concerned, preferably in SNMP language.

The daughter board 30 also has an F circuit for the filtering of EMFs in the immediate vicinity of connector 10b. This circuit is intended to limit the disturbances of the CPL signals which may be generated by the ballasts of the lamps.

It is understandable that such a module 1 is particularly easy to install by a plug and play system. It is sufficient to connect its power connector 10a to the circuit breaker D of the L-lamp, to connect the power and ballast grading inputs of the various lamps to a cable of the type of the CE five-wire cable itself connected to connector 10b and finally to connect an Ethernet cable from service equipment S to an IP cable connected to connector 10c.

With such a module 1, the L-lamp lanterns and its service equipment (camera S) are controlled and powered completely independently, making it possible to power them separately according to separate schedules, depending on whether the associated service is in real time (video surveillance, etc.) or decorrelation (lighting, tourist information desk, etc.).

The on/off instructions are communicated to module 1 by the command centre 3 either at a specific time or in the form of a calendar which is transmitted to module 1 by the command centre 3 and stored in a memory of module 1.

The calendar shall include, for a given period of time (e.g. a few days), the timing of the lighting and the switching off of the lamps with possible gradation.

These hours may vary depending on the time of week (working day or public holiday), the season, but also on planned events (e.g. large nighttime attendance at a sporting event).

At regular intervals (e.g. every minute), the module looks up the state (or gradation level) in which it should be in the calendar.

If the state is different from the module, then a new gradation command is sent.

If the grading status has not changed after a certain time (e.g. several days), Module 1 shall send an alert to Command Centre 3.

It should be noted that the power cabinet or command centre 3 has a central server which stores the different switching/off schedules of the network lamps and communicates them to the corresponding management modules via the high-speed in-line carrier current.

For these exchanges with modules 1, such a command centre is equipped with a high-speed CPL injector/repeater/receiver which allows the signal to be superimposed on the electric current.

It shall also be noted that each module 1 can be authenticated by interrogation by the command centre 3 when placed in or on an L-lamp.

Also, each service equipment S that can be used on network 2 is declared in a database that can be queried by the external unit U. When the command centre 3 detects the connection of an equipment S, it queries that equipment to provide individual identification information. The data thus retrieved is compared by the command centre 3 and the U unit for authentication of the equipment S against the contents of the database.

It is also known that the networks of the different electrical enclosures (or command centres 3) are typically connected by safety networks which allow a supply to be maintained even in the event of a power failure of the main supply to one of the enclosures 3.

Individual identification/authentication of each S equipment when connected to a module 1 makes it very easy to move equipment from one L lamp to another and thus reconfigure a given service to suit the needs of the urban community, by simply disconnecting and then reconnecting the S equipment to the network socket (RJ45 or other), and then reporting the S equipment to the new command centre 3.

For example, an IP camera mounted on top of the L-lamp for remote monitoring, e.g. of road traffic and/or street safety, can be connected to the module.

Another example of IP service is an ambient sound system, also placed on the candlestick and allowing sound to be received over IP and broadcast over loudspeaker.

Another example of an IP service is a Wi-Fi terminal, which provides passengers with Internet access.

The appropriate connector for such equipment is for example an RJ45 socket.

Another possibility is to connect to the module a radio frequency meter (water, electricity, gas, etc.) tele-monitoring system.

The management module thus allows interviews with nearby communicating meters (e.g. via the Wavenis protocol), sorting and storing the data transmitted by the different meters, and returning them to the command centre 3.

The appropriate connector for the tele-relevage system is, for example, an RS-232 socket.

The equipment is also selected to operate properly in a temperature range of - 20 to + 50°C.

Another example is the charging of electric vehicles at charging stations integrated into the urban landscape at the foot of street lamps.

It should be noted, with regard to the IP connection, that the management module 1 can only include a connector for connection to an IP service. Since the lamps are close together in a locality or on a road, it is not necessary for each of them to carry a camera for remote monitoring, a loudspeaker for sound, etc. A distribution of IP services among a set of adjacent lamps is therefore quite possible. Typically, one camera every 30 to 100 lamps, one speaker every 4 lamps, one multimedia terminal every 10 lamps is sufficient to meet the needs of a locality.

The examples given are of course only particular illustrations and by no means limiting as to the fields of application and functionalities of the invention.

Claims (14)

1. A management module (1) for lamppost (L) connected to an electric power supply network (2), said module (1) including electronics which comprises a power line carrier current injector/receiver, or PLC, through which it is connected to the electric network and which allows it to communicate with a control center for notably receiving instructions for switching on/off the lamppost, characterized in that said module is able to ensure management of at least one additional service (S) and includes for this purpose:

   - at least two outputs capable of providing power independently to the lantern(s) (5, 6) of the lamppost (L) and to at least one piece of service equipment (S) associated with the lamppost (L),

   - at least one port for connecting a computer cable between this piece of equipment and said module,

   the electronics being positioned in a casing (B) capable of being integrated inside the lamppost (L), thereon or near and including:

   - means (30) capable of controlling independently the power supply outputs according to instructions transmitted by the carrier current by the control center,

   - means for processing and/or transmitting data (20) connected to the port on the one hand and to the carrier current injector/receiver on the other hand, said carrier current injector/receiver being of the type with a high throughput.
2. The module (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronics includes:

   - a motherboard (20) with a PLC injector/receiver which includes the data processing and transmitting means and which is connected to the port for connecting the computer cable, and

   - a daughterboard (30) which includes means capable of controlling the power supply output, said daughterboard (30) conversing with the motherboard (20) having a PLC injector/receiver.
3. The module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes, added on the casing (B),

   - a first connection (10a) for a cable capable of ensuring the connection on the circuit breaker of the lamppost (L),

   - a power supply connection (10b) for a cable integrating at least two sheaths with two wires (AI5, AI6, AIS) for the power supply independently of the lantern(s) (5, 6) of the lamppost (L) and of a piece of service equipment (S),

   - a connection (10c) for an Ethernet connector cable.
4. The module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronics further includes means (GRAD5, GRAD6) for generating at least one output voltage for controlling the dimming of the lantern (5, 6) of a lamppost (L).
5. The module (1) according to claims 3 and 4 taken as a combination, characterized in that the power supply connection is capable of receiving a cable further integrating the sheaths with power supply wires, at least one sheath with two wires receiving the dimming control voltage.
6. The module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that its electronics includes means (F) for filtering EMC perturbations potentially generated by the ballasts of the lampposts (L).
7. The module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronics includes means for measuring the individual consumption of the lantern(s) (5, 6) of the lamppost (L) and/or of an associated piece of service equipment (S).
8. The module (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the data processing and transmission means include means for processing the measured individual consumptions and generating an alert signal intended for the control center when an abnormality is detected in the operation of the lantern(s) (5, 6) of the lamppost (L), of the service equipment (S) and/or of the electric network.
9. The module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes a memory for recording a timetable for switching on/off the lamppost (L) and/or the services (S), communicated to said module by the control center.
10. The module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, for its integration inside a lamppost (L), the casing (B) has a length of less than 500 mm, as well as a width and a height of less than 100 mm.
11. The module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the injector/receiver also has a repeater function.
12. A system for telemanagement of public lighting, characterized in that it comprises a center (3) for controlling a set of lampposts (L) and at least one management module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, installed in, on or in proximity to a lamppost (L) and capable of ensuring independent management of the lighting of the lamppost (L) and of at least one additional service (S), said module communicating with the control center (3) through a high throughput power line carrier current.
13. The system according to claim 12, characterized in that the control center (3) exchanges with a remote control unit (U) of the network, said control unit (U) including means for securely transmitting IP data towards providers/users of services (S).
14. The system according to claim 12, characterized in that the control center (3) is capable of detecting the connection of a new piece of service equipment (S) on a module (1) and includes means for querying said piece of equipment upon such a connection and transmitting to a control unit (U) identification data compared by the control unit (U) with data stored in memory in a database, in order to allow authentication of said equipment (S).