Intelligent lighting control system automated adjustment apparatuses, systems, and methods

• US 10,143,069 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2017
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Savant Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Noon Home, Inc. (Savant Systems, LLC)
• Inventors: Cheung, Ann Claire Lim Chi, Lark, Jr., William
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Haissa
• Application Number:
  US15/644,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20180014393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/96 Touch switches specially adapted for electronic time-pieces with no moving parts G04G21/08
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960785 with illumination
• 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 47/125 by using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/13 by using passive infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/14 by determining electrical parameters of the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/1965 using handheld communication devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an intelligent lighting control system for automated lighting adjustments. The system includes a first light control module configured to cause a transmission of a first quantity of electrical energy to a first lighting circuit of a first light fixture electrically connected to the first lighting control module. The system transmits a control message from the first light control module to at least one second light control module configured to cause a transmission of a second quantity of electrical energy to at least one second lighting circuit of at least one second light fixture electrically connected to the at least one second lighting control module. The system changes a flow of electricity from the at least one second light control module to the at least one second lighting circuit based on the input received via the first light control module.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a lighting control system, the method comprising:

receiving an input via a first light control module configured to cause a transmission of a first quantity of electrical energy to a first lighting circuit of a first light fixture electrically connected to the first lighting control module;

transmitting a control message from the first light control module to at least one second light control module configured to cause a transmission of a second quantity of electrical energy to at least one second lighting circuit of at least one second light fixture electrically connected to the at least one second lighting control module; and

changing a flow of electricity from the at least one second light control module to the at least one second lighting circuit based on the input received via the first light control module.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising changing a flow of electrical energy from the first light control module to the first light fixture in synchronization with changing the flow of the electricity from the at least one second light control module to the at least one second lighting circuit.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein changing the flow of electrical energy from the first light control module to the first light fixture in synchronization with changing the flow of the electricity from the at least one second light control module comprises discontinuing the flow of electrical energy from the first light control module to the first light fixture in synchronization with discontinuing the flow of electrical energy from the at least one second light control module to the at least one second lighting circuit.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein transmitting comprises wirelessly transmitting the control message from the first light control module to the at least one second light control module.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein changing the flow of electricity from the at least one second light control module to the at least one second lighting circuit comprises causing a light bulb connected to the second lighting circuit to dim.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the input comprises receiving the input from a detector circuit positioned in the first light control module.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein receiving the input comprises receiving from the detector circuit at least one of a signal responsive to light, sound, image, heat, radio waves, acceleration, and electricity.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the detector circuit includes at least one of a light detector, an infrared light detector, a microphone, an image capture system, a video capture system, a heat sensor, a radio wave receiver, a proximity sensor, a current sensor, a voltage sensor.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving an input comprises receiving an input from at least one of a garage door, a doorbell, a security alarm, a thermostat, a mobile electronic device, an automobile, a television, a set top box, a computing device, an accelerometer.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising determining an activation operation from among a plurality of operations.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising determining the quantity of electrical energy in response to the determination of the activation operation.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising determining a time of day and modulating the quantity of electrical energy based on the time of day.

13. The method according to claim 9, further comprising detecting a level of ambient light and modulating the quantity of electrical energy based on the level of ambient light.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the input comprises one of multiple gestures or input combinations to the control module'"'"'s physical momentary switch.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the input comprises a press-and-hold on the control module'"'"'s button.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the input comprises a rapid double-tap on the control module'"'"'s button.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the input comprises a preset pattern of presses on the control module'"'"'s button.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the input comprises detecting one or more of multiple gestures and input combinations via a touch display of the lighting control module.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising detecting a rapid double-tap on the touch display.

20. The method according to claim 18, further comprising detecting a tap-and-hold on the touch display.

21. The method according to claim 18, further comprising detecting a preset gesture on the touch display.

22. A method of controlling a lighting control system, the method comprising:

wirelessly detecting, via a detection circuit of a lighting control module, at least one of an activation and an operation of a remote electronic device;

causing, via the lighting control module, a quantity of electrical energy to be transmitted to a lighting circuit of a light fixture electrically connected to the lighting control module in response to the at least one of the activation and the operation of the remote electronic device;

modulating the quantity of electrical energy being transmitted; and

identifying a device type of the remote electronic device, wherein modulating the quantity of electrical energy comprises modulating the quantity responsive to the identification of the device type.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the lighting control module is configured to modulate the quantity of electrical energy.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein modulating the quantity of electrical energy comprises gradually increasing the quantity of electrical energy over a time period.

25. The method according to claim 22, further comprising identifying the operation and wherein modulating the quantity of electrical energy comprises modulating the quantity responsive to the identification of the operation.

26. The method according to claim 22, wherein modulating the quantity of electrical energy comprises modulating the quantity responsive to a time of day that the remote electronic device is operated or activated.

27. The method according to claim 22, wherein modulating the quantity of electrical energy comprises modulating the quantity responsive to at least one detection of a signal responsive to light, sound, image, heat, radio waves, acceleration, and electricity.

28. The method according to claim 22, further comprising generating and storing a time dated record of the quantity of electrical energy transmitted to the lighting circuit.

29. The method according to claim 22, further comprising identifying the remote electronic device from a plurality of remote electronic devices.

30. The method according to claim 29, further comprising selecting a user profile from among a plurality of stored user profiles based on the identification of the remote electronic device.

31. A method of controlling a lighting control system, the method comprising:

wirelessly detecting, via a detection circuit of a lighting control module, at least one of an activation and an operation of a remote electronic device;

causing, via the lighting control module, a quantity of electrical energy to be transmitted to a lighting circuit of a light fixture electrically connected to the lighting control module in response to the at least one of the activation and the operation of the remote electronic device;

modulating the quantity of electrical energy being transmitted, wherein modulating the quantity of electrical energy comprises modulating the quantity responsive to a time of day that the remote electronic device is operated or activated.