Controlling light intensity at a location

• US 10,143,068 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2016
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Karc, Jeffrey, Steiner, James P., Fricke, William Bryce
• Primary Examiner(s): Richardson, Jany
• Application Number:
  US15/168,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20160278188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/24 Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blindsoperating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/024 in which a parameter or coefficient is automatically adjusted to optimise the performance
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/24 Structural elements or technologies for improving thermal insulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 80/00 Architectural or constructional elements improving the thermal performance of buildings

Abstract

A mobile device that is configured for wireless communication may be configured to operate as a remote control device in a lighting control system, controlling one or more lighting control devices of the lighting control system. The remote control device may control the light intensity in a space, for instance at a location of the remote control device, in response to an ambient light intensity measured at the remote control device. The remote control device may define a user interface for receiving an input that indicates a desired light intensity at the location. The remote control device may measure the ambient light intensity at the location via a light detector, compare the measured ambient light intensity to the desired light intensity, and cause the one or more lighting control devices to adjust the ambient light intensity at the remote control device until it agrees with the desired light intensity.

Claims

1. A remote control device for use with a lighting control device that is configured to control light intensity, the remote control device comprising:

a user interface that is configured to receive an input that is indicative of a desired light intensity;

a light detector that is configured to perform a measurement of an ambient light intensity at the remote control device in response to receipt of the input;

a wireless communication circuit; and

a control circuit that is configured to cause the wireless communication circuit to transmit a message to the lighting control device based on the measurement of the ambient light intensity and on a location of the remote control device, wherein the message causes the ambient light intensity at the remote control device to be adjusted towards the desired light intensity.

2. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to determine the location of the remote control device.

3. The remote control device of claim 2, further comprising:

a locator circuit that is communicatively coupled to the control circuit,

wherein the control circuit is further configured to determine the location of the remote control device via the locator circuit.

4. The remote control device of claim 3, wherein the locator circuit comprises a GPS receiver.

5. The remote control device of claim 2, wherein the control circuit is further configured to determine the location of the remote control device based on respective signal strengths of wireless signals received by the wireless communication circuit.

6. The remote control device of claim 2, wherein the light detector is further configured to receive a visible light communication message, and

wherein the control circuit is further configured to determine the location of the remote control device based on the visible light communication message.

7. The remote control device of claim 2, wherein the control circuit is further configured to determine that the remote control device has been moved from the location to a second location, and to cause the wireless communication circuit to transmit a second message to a second lighting control device based on the second location and a measurement of a second ambient light intensity at the second location,

wherein the second message causes the second ambient light intensity at the second location to be adjusted towards the desired light intensity.

8. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to cause the ambient light intensity at the remote control device to be adjusted such that the ambient light intensity at the remote control device agrees with the desired light intensity.

9. The remote control device of claim 8, wherein the control circuit is further configured to maintain agreement between the ambient light intensity at the remote control device and the desired light intensity.

10. The remote control device of claim 8, wherein the ambient light intensity at the remote control device agrees with the desired light intensity when a difference between the measured ambient light intensity and the desired light intensity falls within a difference threshold.

11. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to cause the wireless communication circuit to transmit the message to the lighting control device based on a proximity of the remote control device to a lighting source controlled by the lighting control device.

12. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the message includes a command that causes the lighting control device to adjust the ambient light intensity at the remote control device by a specific amount of intensity that is based on the measurement of the ambient light intensity.

13. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the message includes the measurement of the ambient light intensity.

14. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the message includes a command that causes the lighting control device to adjust an intensity of a lighting load that is controlled by the lighting control device.

15. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the message includes a command that causes the lighting control device to adjust an amount of natural light that arrives at the remote control device.

16. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to detect whether the light detector is obstructed, and if the control circuit detects that the light detector is obstructed, to cease causing adjustment of the ambient light intensity at the remote control device.

17. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the remote control device comprises one of a mobile control device, a smart phone, a tablet device, a laptop, a wearable device, or a media device.

18. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the remote control device comprises a dedicated remote control device that is configured to control the lighting control device.

19. A method of controlling light intensity, the method comprising:

receiving an input that is indicative of a desired light intensity;

determining a location of a remote control device;

measuring, by the remote control device, an ambient light intensity at the remote control device; and

if the measured ambient light intensity disagrees with the desired light intensity, transmitting to a first lighting control device, based on the determined location of the remote control device, a command to adjust the ambient light intensity at the remote control device towards the desired light intensity.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the command causes the first lighting control device to adjust the ambient light intensity at the remote control device until at least one of:

the adjusted ambient light intensity agrees with the desired light intensity;

or

an adjustment limit of the first lighting control device is reached.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

if the adjustment limit of the first lighting control device is reached,

transmitting to a second lighting control device a second command to further adjust the ambient light intensity at the remote control device until at least one of;

the adjusted ambient light intensity agrees with the desired light intensity;

or

an adjustment limit of the second lighting control device is reached.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

determining that the remote control device has been moved from the location to a second location;

measuring, by the remote control device, a second ambient light intensity at the second location; and

if the measured second ambient light intensity disagrees with the desired light intensity, transmitting to a second lighting control device, based on the second location, a command to adjust the second ambient light intensity at the second location towards the desired light intensity.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein receiving the input that is indicative of the desired light intensity comprises receiving an indication of an actuation of a button of the remote control device.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the remote control device is configured to determine the location of the remote control device.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the command causes the first lighting control device to adjust the ambient light intensity at the remote control device until the ambient light intensity at the remote control device agrees with the desired light intensity.

26. A lighting control system, the system comprising:

a lighting control device that is configured to control an amount of light in a space; and

a remote control device having a light detector and a user interface that is configured to receive an input that is indicative of a desired light intensity for the space, the remote control device configured to, upon receipt of the input;

measure an ambient light intensity at the remote control device;

compare the measured ambient light intensity with the desired light intensity; and

if the measured ambient light intensity disagrees with the desired light intensity, and based on a location of the remote control device, cause the lighting control device to adjust the ambient light intensity at the remote control device towards the desired light intensity.

27. The lighting control system of claim 26, wherein the remote control device is further configured to, upon actuation, transmit a message to the lighting control device.

28. The lighting control system of claim 27, wherein the lighting control device is configured to adjust an intensity of a lighting load that is controlled by the lighting control device, and

wherein the message includes a command that causes the lighting control device to adjust the ambient light intensity at the remote control device by adjusting the intensity of the lighting load.

29. The lighting control system of claim 27, wherein the lighting control device is configured to control an amount of natural light that enters the space, and

wherein the message includes a command that causes the lighting control device to adjust the ambient light intensity at the remote control device by adjusting the amount of natural light that enters the space.

30. The lighting control system of claim 27, wherein the message includes an indication of the measured ambient light intensity.

31. The lighting control system of claim 27, wherein the message includes a command that causes the lighting control device to adjust the ambient light intensity at the remote control device until the ambient light intensity at the remote control device agrees with the desired light intensity.

32. The lighting control system of claim 26, further comprising:

a central controller,

wherein the remote control device is further configured to, upon receipt of the input, transmit a first message to the central controller, and

wherein the central controller is configured to transmit a second message to the lighting control device in response to receipt of the first message.

33. The lighting control system of claim 32, wherein the lighting control device is configured to adjust an intensity of a lighting load that is controlled by the lighting control device,

wherein the first message includes an indication of the measured ambient light intensity, and

wherein the second message includes a command that causes the lighting control device to the ambient light intensity at the remote control device by adjusting the intensity of the lighting load.

34. The lighting control system of claim 32, wherein the lighting control device is configured to control an amount of natural light that enters the space,

wherein the first message includes an indication of the measured ambient light intensity, and

wherein the second message includes a command that causes the lighting control device to adjust the ambient light intensity at the remote control device by adjusting the amount of natural light that enters the space.

35. The lighting control system of claim 26, wherein the remote control device is further configured to determine the location of the remote control device.