System and method for reducing peak and off-peak electricity demand by monitoring, controlling and metering lighting in a facility

• US 10,334,704 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2015
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Potts, Michael J., Verfuerth, Neal R., Wang, Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Abdelaziez, Yasser A
• Application Number:
  US14/968,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20160174344A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,289 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier

Abstract

A method of reducing electricity usage during peak demand periods includes the steps of establishing predetermined load reduction criteria representative of a desire by a power provider to reduce loading on an electricity supply grid, and coordinating with a facility having lighting equipment to permit the power provider to turn-off one or more of the lighting equipment by sending instructions to a master controller at the facility in response to the predetermined load reduction criteria, and establishing a list of lighting equipment to be turned-off in response to the instructions, and configuring the master controller to send an override control signal to the lighting equipment to implement the instructions, and configuring the lighting equipment to send a response signal to the master controller providing a status of the lighting equipment.

Claims

1. A method for metering energy use in a facility having a plurality of lighting fixtures, comprising:

wirelessly transmitting an override signal from a first lighting fixture to a first group of lighting fixtures within a first transmission range;

receiving the override signal at the first group of lighting fixtures;

wirelessly retransmitting the override signal from one or more of the first group of lighting fixtures to a second group of lighting fixtures within a second transmission range, wherein the second transmission range is outside of the transmission range of the first lighting fixture;

receiving the retransmitted override signal at the second group of lighting fixtures and, in response to the retransmitted override signal;

(a) conducting an override at the second group of lighting fixtures and (b) reporting a status update from each of the second group of lighting fixtures to a master controller via at least one retransmission by one or more of the first group of lighting fixtures;

metering, by the master controller, lighting system energy usage using at least the status update from the second group of lighting fixtures retransmitted to the master controller by the one or more of the first group of lighting fixtures; and

evaluating a parameter near the first lighting fixture using a sensor coupled to control circuitry local to the first lighting fixture;

wherein the first lighting fixture is configured to wirelessly transmit the override signal based on the evaluated parameter; and

wherein at least one lighting fixture of the first group of lighting fixtures and the second group of lighting fixtures retransmits the override signal to the master controller.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter includes at least one of an ambient light level, a motion level, a temperature level, and a sound level.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein metering lighting system energy usage comprises at least one of:

monitoring the status of the plurality of lighting fixtures by recording one or more times that each lighting fixture transitions from on to off and from off to on and

determining an amount of time that each lighting fixture was actually off during a normally scheduled on time due to the override signal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the metering does not include using energy metering devices on power lines of the lighting system.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein metering lighting system energy usage further comprises:

calculating the amount of energy saved based on each lighting fixture'"'"'s electrical power consumption rating applied over the amount of time that each lighting fixture was actually off during a normally scheduled on time due to the override signal.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

using the recorded times to controllably cause a time delay to elapse before a lighting fixture of the plurality of lighting fixtures is cycled on again after it has been turned off.

7. A system for metering energy use in a facility having a plurality of lighting fixtures, comprising:

a first group of lighting fixtures including a first lighting fixture;

a master controller configured to wirelessly transmit an override signal to the first group of lighting fixtures within a wireless transmission range of the master controller;

a second group of lighting fixtures outside the wireless transmission range of the master controller;

wherein one or more lighting fixtures of the first group of lighting fixtures are configured to retransmit the override signal received from the master controller to the second group of lighting fixtures;

wherein the second group of lighting fixtures are configured to, in response to receiving the retransmitted override signal, conduct an override of normal operation and report a status update to the master controller via at least one retransmission by one or more of the first group of lighting fixtures;

wherein the master controller is configured to meter lighting system energy usage using at least the status update from the second group of lighting fixtures retransmitted to the master controller by the one or more lighting fixtures of the first group of lighting fixtures

wherein the master controller is configured to evaluate a parameter near the first lighting fixture using a sensor coupled to control circuitry local to the first lighting fixture; and

wherein the master controller is configured to wirelessly transmit the override signal based on the evaluated parameter.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the master controller meters lighting system energy without using energy metering devices on power lines of the lighting system.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the master controller is configured to monitor the status of the plurality of lighting fixtures by recording the times that each lighting fixture transitions from on to off and from off to on.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the master controller is further configured to determine an amount of time that each lighting fixture was actually off during a normally scheduled on time due to the override signal.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the master controller is configured to calculate the amount of energy saved based on each lighting fixture'"'"'s electrical power consumption rating applied over the amount of time that each lighting fixture was actually off during a normally scheduled on time due to the override signal.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the master controller is further configured to use the recorded times to controllably cause a time delay to elapse before a lighting fixture of the plurality of lighting fixtures is cycled on again after it has been turned off.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the parameter includes at least one of an ambient light level, a motion level, a temperature level, and a sound level.

14. A system of lights for use within a zone of a building, comprising:

a first lighting fixture comprising a first wireless transceiver;

a second lighting fixture comprising a second wireless transceiver;

wherein the first wireless transceiver receives a control signal, the control signal configured to change a state of the first lighting fixture;

wherein the first wireless transceiver is further configured to retransmit the control signal to the second lighting fixture; and

wherein the first lighting fixture is configured to evaluate a parameter near the first lighting fixture using a sensor coupled to control circuitry local to the first lighting fixture; and

wherein the first lighting fixture is configured to wirelessly transmit the override signal based on the evaluated parameter.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the parameter includes at least one of an ambient light level, a motion level, a temperature level, and a sound level.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first wireless transceiver is configured to transmit a first signal representative of the status of the first lighting fixture in response to changing states;

and

wherein the second wireless transceiver is configured to transmit a second signal representative of the status of the second lighting fixture in response to changing states.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first wireless transceiver is configured to receive the second signal representative of the status of the second lighting fixture and to retransmit the second signal.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the control signal indicates a lighting level of less than 100% and above 0%, and wherein the control signal is received at the first lighting fixture from a master controller.