Systems and methods for providing high-mast lighting

Abstract

Systems and methods of providing illumination may be provided in accordance with the invention. A lighting unit may be provided comprising a plurality of light sources, each light source of said plurality being at least partially surrounded by an optical element, and a support configured to support the light source above a surface. The light sources may be light emitting plasma sources, and the support may be a high-mast support. In some embodiments, the optical element may be a reflector containing one or more facets, directing the light toward the surface. In some configurations, each light source of said plurality may be independently controllable and/or dimmable. A lighting unit may communicate with an external controller, which may provide instructions for controlling the light sources. A lighting system may be provided with a host controlling a plurality of lighting units, which may be organized into zones. The zones, lighting units, and/or light sources may be independently controllable.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lighting unit comprising:
 one or more light emitting plasma light sources, each light source being at least partially surrounded by an optical element, wherein said optical element is an IES Type V optic; and   a high-mast support configured to support the light source above a surface.   
     
     
         2 . The lighting unit of  claim 1  wherein the optical element is a reflector containing one or more facets, directing the light toward the surface. 
     
     
         3 . The lighting unit of  claim 1 , wherein each light source is partially surrounded by a separate optical element. 
     
     
         4 . The lighting unit of  claim 1 , wherein the high-mast support supports the light source above the surface at a height of 80 feet or greater. 
     
     
         5 . The lighting unit of  claim 1 , wherein each light source is independently dimmable. 
     
     
         6 . The lighting unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a communication unit capable of communicating with an external controller. 
     
     
         7 . The lighting unit of  claim 6 , wherein one or more lighting characteristic of each light source is adjustable based on instructions from the external controller. 
     
     
         8 . A lighting system comprising:
 a plurality of lighting units, an individual lighting unit of said plurality having a light source at least partially surrounded by an optical element configured to direct light toward a surface in an IES Type V light distribution pattern;   a high-mast support configured to support the light source above the surface;   a communication unit capable of wireless communications; and   a host capable of determining a desired status for a light source of each of said plurality of lighting units, and sending instructions, via a gateway linking a plurality of lighting units, to the communication unit to an individual lighting unit of said plurality, thereby effecting said desired status for the light source of said individual lighting unit.   
     
     
         9 . The lighting unit of  claim 8  wherein the light source is a light emitting plasma light source. 
     
     
         10 . The lighting unit of  claim 8  wherein the desired status is a dim level for the light source. 
     
     
         11 . The lighting unit of  claim 8  wherein the host divides the plurality of lighting units into a plurality of zones. 
     
     
         12 . A lighting unit comprising:
 a light emitting plasma light source, said light source being at least partially surrounded by an IES Type V optic, wherein said IES Type V optic comprises an optical element formed from a plurality of optical element components held or pressed together mechanically in a predetermined configuration between two or more support members; and   a high-mast support configured to support the light source above a surface.   
     
     
         13 . A lighting system comprising:
 a plurality of lighting units divided into a plurality of zones, an individual lighting unit of said plurality having a light emitting plasma light source at least partially surrounded by an optical element configured to direct light toward a surface, and a high-mast support configured to support the light source above the surface;   a motion sensor configured to monitor movement in at least one of said plurality of zones; and   a network for communicating a signal from said motion sensor to at least one of said plurality of lighting units.   
     
     
         14 . The lighting system of  claim 13 , further comprising a camera in communication with said network. 
     
     
         15 . The lighting system of  claim 13 , further comprising a beacon receiver for receiving a signal from a vessel and communicating said signal to at least one of said plurality of lighting units over said network. 
     
     
         16 . The lighting system of  claim 15 , further comprising a user interface for providing, with the aid of a processor, data communicated over said network to one or more users. 
     
     
         17 . The lighting system of  claim 16 , wherein said user interface is a graphical user interface. 
     
     
         18 . The lighting system of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of zones are provided at a port comprising one or more berths. 
     
     
         19 . The lighting system of  claim 13  wherein each zone has one or more lighting units. 
     
     
         20 . The lighting system of  claim 13  further comprising a processor in communication with a memory storing a schedule of events, capable of providing a signal to at least one of said plurality of lighting units based on said schedule.