Connected lighting system

• US 10,349,500 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2018
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Inventors: Amrine, James M., Hollenkamp, Daniel J., Ivey, John, Palazzolo, Francis, Rundell, Scott, Scapa, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Don P
• Application Number:
  US16/041,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20180332693A1
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 315130
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• 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 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/199 Commissioning of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Techniques are described for a lighting system in which light sources are controllable using signals sent over a wireless mesh network. During a commissioning process, a user interface (UI) may present a representation of nodes (e.g., light sources, sensors, controllers, etc.) that are broadcasting a wireless advertising signal. In response to a selection of a particular node, a wireless message may be sent to instruct the selected node to provide a visual indication of its presence, such as a flashing light. The visual indication may enable a user to discern the physical location of the node, such that each node may be added to the mesh network and, in some instances, to a group of nodes. The UI may also enable the definition of scenes, where each scene describes the brightness level or other operating characteristics of particular light source(s) and/or group(s) of light sources when the scene is active.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method performed by at least one processor, the method comprising:

presenting, by the at least one processor, in a user interface (UI), a representation of a plurality of light sources, the representation based on receiving a respective wireless advertising signal from each of the plurality of light sources;

in response to an identification in the UI of a light source of the plurality of light sources, sending, by the at least one processor, a wireless signal to cause the light source to visibly indicate its presence, wherein the representation of the light source in the UI is altered while the light source is visibly indicating its presence;

receiving, by the at least one processor, through the UI, a designation of the light source for subsequent control through a wireless network and, in response, adding the light source to the wireless network; and

providing, by the at least one processor, information that describes the designation of the light source.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the light source includes an indicator component; and

the wireless signal activates the indicator component to visibly indicate the presence of the light source.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the indicator component includes at least one light-emitting diode (LED) affixed to the light source; and

activating the indicator component includes illuminating the at least one LED.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the representation of the plurality of light sources includes a stack of UI elements that each represents a respective light source; and

the light source is represented by a top UI element in the stack.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the top UI element in the stack pulsates while the light source is visibly indicating its presence.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the UI elements in the stack are sorted within the stack based on location of the respective light sources represented by the UI elements.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the designation of the light source includes a group that includes the light source, or an identification of the light source as a stand-alone light source.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the at least one processor, through the UI, scene information indicating that the light source is to be set to a state when a scene is active; and

sending, by the at least one processor, over the wireless network, at least a portion of the scene information to be stored in memory on the light source.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

sending, by the at least one processor, a wireless scene activation signal over the wireless network, wherein the wireless scene activation signal specifies the scene to be activated, and wherein receipt of the wireless scene activation signal by the light source sets the light source to the state associated with the scene.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the state includes one or more of a brightness, a color, a color temperature, and a number of illuminated LEDs for the light source.

11. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory communicatively coupled to the at least one processor, the memory storing instructions which, when executed, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising;

presenting, in a user interface (UI), a representation of a plurality of light sources, the representation based on receiving a respective wireless advertising signal from each of the plurality of light sources;

in response to an identification in the UI of a light source of the plurality of light sources, sending a wireless signal to cause the light source to visibly indicate its presence, wherein the representation of the light source in the UI is altered while the light source is visibly indicating its presence;

receiving, through the UI, a designation of the light source for subsequent control through a wireless network and, in response, adding the light source to the wireless network; and

providing information that describes the designation of the light source.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the light source includes an indicator component; and

the wireless signal activates the indicator component to visibly indicate the presence of the light source.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the indicator component includes at least one light-emitting diode (LED) affixed to the light source; and

activating the indicator component includes illuminating the at least one LED.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the representation of the plurality of light sources includes a stack of UI elements that each represents a respective light source; and

the light source is represented by a top UI element in the stack.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the top UI element in the stack pulsates while the light source is visibly indicating its presence.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the UI elements in the stack are sorted within the stack based on location of the respective light sources represented by the UI elements.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the designation of the light source includes a group that includes the light source, or an identification of the light source as a stand-alone light source.

18. The system of claim 11, the operations further comprising:

receiving, through the UI, scene information indicating that the light source is to be set to a state when a scene is active; and

sending, over the wireless network, at least a portion of the scene information to be stored in memory on the light source.

19. The system of claim 18, the operations further comprising:

sending a wireless scene activation signal over the wireless network, wherein the wireless scene activation signal specifies the scene to be activated, and wherein receipt of the wireless scene activation signal by the light source sets the light source to the state associated with the scene.

20. One or more computer-readable media storing instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:

presenting, in a user interface (UI), a representation of a plurality of light sources, the representation based on receiving a respective wireless advertising signal from each of the plurality of light sources;

in response to an identification in the UI of a light source of the plurality of light sources, sending a wireless signal to cause the light source to visibly indicate its presence, wherein the representation of the light source in the UI is altered while the light source is visibly indicating its presence;

receiving, through the UI, a designation of the light source for subsequent control through a wireless network and, in response, adding the light source to the wireless network; and

providing information that describes the designation of the light source.