Connected lighting system

• US 10,057,966 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2016
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Inventors: Amrine, James M., Hollenkamp, Daniel J., Ivey, John, Palazzolo, Francis, Rundell, Scott, Scapa, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Don
• Application Number:
  US15/393,558
• Publication Number:
  US 20170290132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 315130
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/199 Commissioning of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Techniques are described for a lighting system in which light sources are controllable using signals sent over a wireless mesh network. During a commissioning process, a user interface (UI) may present a representation of nodes (e.g., light sources, sensors, controllers, etc.) that are broadcasting a wireless advertising signal. In response to a selection of a particular node, a wireless message may be sent to instruct the selected node to provide a visual indication of its presence, such as a flashing light. The visual indication may enable a user to discern the physical location of the node, such that each node may be added to the mesh network and, in some instances, to a group of nodes. The UI may also enable the definition of scenes, where each scene describes the brightness level or other operating characteristics of particular light source(s) and/or group(s) of light sources when the scene is active.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method performed by at least one processor, the method comprising:

presenting in a user interface (UI), by the at least one processor, a representation of a plurality of light sources for which a corresponding wireless advertising signal has been received;

in response to detecting, by the at least one processor, a selection through the UI of a first light source from the plurality of light sources, sending a wireless signal to instruct the first light source to activate a visual indicator that is a component of the first light source, wherein the visual indicator provides a visible indication of a presence of the first light source, wherein the representation of the first light source in the UI is altered while the visual indicator of the first light source is active;

receiving through the UI, by the at least one processor, an indication that the first light source is included in a group or that the first light source is designated as a stand-alone light source and, in response, adding the first light source to a wireless network; and

storing, by the at least one processor, group information indicating that the first light source is in the group or is a stand-alone light source.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless network is a wireless mesh network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of light sources are installed in each of one or more light fixtures.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of light sources comprises one or more light-emitting diode (LED) light sources each configured to fit in a corresponding conventional light fixture.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving through the UI, by the at least one processor, scene information indicating that the group is to be set to a state when a scene is active; and

sending over the wireless network, by the at least one processor, at least a portion of the scene information to be stored in memory on the first light source.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

sending, by the at least one processor, a wireless scene activation signal over the wireless network, wherein the wireless scene activation signal specifies the scene to be activated, and wherein receipt of the wireless scene activation signal causes the first light source to be in the state associated with the scene.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the state includes at least one of a brightness, a color, a color temperature, or a number of LEDs for one or more light sources in the group when the scene is active.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the visual indicator is a LED affixed to the first light source; and

the visible indication includes a flashing of the LED affixed to the first light source.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of light sources includes a corresponding wireless radio that employs Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) to send the wireless advertising signal and receive the wireless signal.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of light sources includes a sensor.

11. A lighting system comprising:

a plurality of light sources, each associated with a corresponding wireless radio for communicating over a wireless network and a corresponding memory module, wherein each of the memory modules stores scene information indicating, for one or more scenes, a state of the respective light source when a respective scene is active;

a controller including a plurality of switches and a wireless radio for communicating over the wireless network, wherein one or more of the plurality of switches correspond to the one or more scenes, and wherein the wireless radio of the controller emits a wireless scene activation signal over the wireless network in response to a manipulation of one of the plurality of switches, the wireless scene activation signal causing the respective light source to be in the state indicated by the scene information for the corresponding scene stored on the respective light source; and

a user device that presents, in a user interface (UI), a representation of the plurality of light sources and that sends, in response to detecting a selection through the UI of a first light source from the plurality of light sources, a wireless signal to instruct the first light source to activate a visual indicator that is a component of the first light source, wherein the visual indicator provides a visible indication of a presence of the light source, and wherein the representation of the first light source in the UI is altered while the visual indicator of the first light source is active.

12. The lighting system of claim 11, wherein the wireless network is a wireless mesh network.

13. The lighting system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of light sources comprises one or more light-emitting diode (LED) light sources.

14. The lighting system of claim 11, further comprising one or more light fixtures, each light fixture comprising one or more of the plurality of light sources.

15. The lighting system of claim 11, wherein the controller is affixed to a surface.

16. The lighting system of claim 11, further comprising at least one sensor that includes a wireless radio for communicating over the wireless network.

17. The lighting system of claim 16, wherein:

the at least one sensor detects an ambient light level in an area proximal to the at least one sensor; and

the state of the respective light source when the scene is active is at least partly dependent on the ambient light level that is detected by the at least one sensor and communicated by the at least one sensor to the controller over the wireless network.

18. The lighting system of claim 16, wherein:

the at least one sensor detects an occupancy state in an area proximal to the at least one sensor; and

the state of the respective light source when the scene is active is at least partly dependent on the occupancy state that is detected by the at least one sensor and communicated by the at least one sensor to the controller over the wireless network.

19. One or more computer-readable media storing instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:

presenting, in a user interface (UI), a representation of a plurality of light sources for which a corresponding wireless advertising signal has been received;

in response to detecting a selection through the UI of a first light source from the plurality of light sources, sending a wireless signal to instruct the first light source to activate a visual indicator that is a component of the first light source, wherein the visual indicator provides a visible indication of a presence of the first light source, wherein the representation of the first light source in the UI is altered while the visual indicator of the first light source is active;

receiving, through the UI, an indication that the first light source is included in a group or that the first light source is designated as a stand-alone light source and, in response, adding the first light source to a wireless network; and

storing group information indicating that the first light source is in the group.

20. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 19, the operations further comprising:

receiving through the UI scene information indicating that the group is to be set to a state when a scene is active; and

sending over the wireless network at least a portion of the scene information to be stored in memory on the first light source.

21. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 20, the operations further comprising:

sending a wireless scene activation signal over the wireless network, wherein the wireless scene activation signal specifies the scene to be activated, and wherein receipt of the wireless scene activation signal causes the first light source to be in the state associated with the scene.