Method and apparatus for controlling light levels to save energy

• US 10,327,307 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2017
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Watt Stopper Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: The Watt Stopper Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Joyce, Jason, Grey, Thomas L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Tung X
• Application Number:
  US15/659,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20180014378A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 315307, 315312, 315360
• 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: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An occupancy sensor with integral light level sensors is configured to turn off or disable peripheral circuits and go into a periodic deep sleep mode to reduce phantom loading. Peripheral circuits include occupancy sensor circuits and relay drive circuits, but may include other circuits such as communication circuits. The sensor may be configured to periodically wake itself up, check ambient light conditions to see if lighting is below the set threshold. If it is not, the sensor goes back to sleep. If it is, then the sensor can power up the occupancy sensor circuit to see if the space is occupied; if not, it can go back to sleep. If the space is occupied, it can turn on other peripheral circuits necessary to control the load.

Claims

1. A method of operating a lighting control system comprising:

providing a lighting control system comprising a lighting control component and a sensor, the lighting control component operably connected to mains power, the lighting control component having a microcontroller for controlling the application of power to loads and providing low voltage power comprising a voltage and a current to the lighting control system;

providing one or more loads operatively connected to the lighting control component; and

wherein the sensor is operatively connected to the lighting control component, the sensor including an internal control component and producing a first signal when it senses a first condition and a second signal when it senses a second condition;

wherein the microcontroller reduces power to the lighting control system when the first signal is received and restores full power to the lighting control system when the second signal is received.

2. The method of operating the lighting control system of claim 1 wherein the step of the microcontroller reducing and restoring power to the lighting control system is part of a multi-layer control system.

3. The method of operating the lighting control system of claim 1 further comprising:

providing one or more lighting control sensors or load control sensors;

providing a low voltage power and communication network interconnecting the lighting control component and the one or more lighting control sensors or load control sensors; and

wherein the microcontroller transmits signals through the low voltage power and communication network to the one or more lighting control sensors or load control sensors to reduce power when the first signal is received and restore full power when the second signal is received.

4. The method of operating the lighting control system of claim 3 wherein the one or more lighting control sensors or load control sensors are wirelessly connected to the lighting control component.

5. The method of operating the lighting control system of claim 3 further comprising the step:

disabling power to lighting control component, the sensor and the one or more lighting control sensors or load control sensors as a function of time.

6. The method of operating the lighting control system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is wirelessly connected to the lighting control component.

7. The method of operating the lighting control system of claim 1 further comprising the step:

disabling power to sensor'"'"'s control component and sensor as a function of time.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step:

wherein the internal microcontroller reduces the voltage of the low voltage power to the lighting system when the first signal is received and restores full voltage of the low voltage power when the second signal is received.

9. A lighting control system comprising:

a lighting control component with a microcontroller for providing low voltage power to the lighting control system and for controlling the application of mains power to one or more loads operatively connected to the lighting control component;

a low voltage power and communication network interconnecting the lighting control component and one or more control sensors; and

one of the one or more control sensors operatively connected to the lighting control component, the one of the one or more control sensors producing a first signal when it senses a first condition and a second signal when it senses a second condition;

wherein the microcontroller reduces power to the lighting control system when the first signal is received and restores full power when the second signal is received.

10. The lighting control system of claim 9 wherein the sensor is wirelessly connected to the lighting control component.

11. The lighting control system of claim 9 wherein the one or more control sensors are wirelessly connected to the lighting control component.

12. The lighting control system of claim 9 wherein the one or more control sensors are selected from the group consisting of an ambient light sensor, a cadmium sulphide sensor, a photodiode or a digital light sensor.

13. The lighting control system of claim 9 wherein the lighting control component and the one or more control sensors are powered and unpowered as a function of time.

14. A lighting control system comprising:

a lighting control component operably connected to mains power, the lighting control component having a microcontroller for providing low voltage power to the lighting control system and for controlling the application of power to one or more loads operatively connected to the lighting control component;

an occupancy sensor operatively connected to the mains power; and

an electronic switch operatively connected to a passive ambient light sensor to interrupt power to the lighting control component.