Method and device for controlling a lighting system

• US 10,153,916 B1
• Filed: 11/30/2017
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Optotronic GmbH (Inventronics (Hangzhou), Inc.)
• Original Assignee: OSRAM GmbH (Ams-Osram AG)
• Inventors: Kostrun, Marijan
• Primary Examiner(s): Tan, Vibol
• Application Number:
  US15/826,803
• Time in Patent Office: 376 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/281 indicating a format for calling an appliance service function in a home automation network for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40013 Details regarding a bus controller
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/46 Interconnection of networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0869 Validating the configuration within one network element
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3725 Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/385 using flyback topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/183 using digital addressable lighting interface [DALI] communication protocols

Abstract

A controller for accessing a network of lighting system devices, the controller comprising: a communication subsystem configured to allow the controller to be identified as a node on the network, and to communicate according to a first protocol with at least one of said lighting system devices on the network; wherein the controller is configured to detect the presence of a Master lighting system device on the network via the first protocol; wherein the controller is configured to assume a role based on the detection.

Claims

1. A controller for accessing a network of lighting system devices, the controller comprising:

a communication subsystem configured to allow the controller to be identified as a node on the network, and to communicate according to a first protocol with at least one of the lighting system devices on the network;

wherein the controller is configured to detect the presence of a Master lighting system device on the network via the first protocol;

wherein the controller is configured to assume a role based on the detection; and

a master power supply comprising a switching feature configured to power the network when the switching feature is connected to the network.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the network is a DALI network.

3. The controller of claim 1, wherein the role is a DALI Slave role and the master power supply is not in connection with the network via the switching feature.

4. The controller of claim 1, wherein the role is a DALI Master role and the master power supply is in connection with the network via the switching feature.

5. The controller of claim 1, wherein the role is a DALI Slave and Master-on-Demand.

6. The controller of claim 3, wherein the DALI Slave role indicates a Master lighting system device on the network.

7. The controller of claim 4, wherein the DALI Master role indicates the absence of a Master lighting system device on the network.

8. The controller of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to operate as a DALI Master while the presence of the Master lighting device is detected on the network after a predetermined amount of inactivity.

9. The controller of claim 1, further comprising a digital communication channel, wherein the digital communication channel is configured to communicate with an independent device through a second protocol.

10. A method for a controller accessing a network of lighting devices comprising:

identifying the controller as a node on said network through a communication subsystem;

communicating according to a first protocol with at least one of said lighting devices on the network;

determining the presence of a Master lighting device on the network;

assuming a role based on the detection; and

controlling a switching feature of a master power supply of the controller based on the assumed role,

wherein the master power supply is configured to power the network.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the network is a DALI network.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising detecting the presence of the Master lighting device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising assuming a DALI Slave and Master-on-Demand role.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising operating the controller as a DALI Slave on the network, wherein the master power supply is not in connection with the network via the switching feature.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

detecting a delay in communication from the Master lighting device;

switching the switching feature of the master power supply of the controller to the network;

powering the network with the master power supply;

issuing commands from the controller to the network.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

detecting a communication from the Master lighting device; and

disconnecting the switching feature of the master power supply from the network.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

communicating with an independent device according to a second protocol,

wherein the second protocol is configured to communicate through a digital communication channel in the controller.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a command from independent device; and

relaying the command to the lighting devices.

19. A network of lighting system devices comprising:

at least one lighting system device;

and a controller comprising;

a communication subsystem configured to allow the controller to be identified as a node on the network, and to communicate according to a first protocol with at least one of the lighting system devices on the network;

wherein the controller is configured to detect the presence of a Master lighting system device on the network via the first protocol;

wherein the controller is configured to assume a role based on the detection; and

a master power supply comprising a switching feature configured to power the network when the switching feature is connected to the network.