Multi-mode lighting system and method

• US 10,455,658 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2018
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: USAI, LLC
• Original Assignee: USAI, LLC
• Inventors: Wray, Donald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens, Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yang, Amy X
• Application Number:
  US16/110,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20190069367A1
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 315291-308
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/14 using electrical feedback from LEDs or from LED modules
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control

Abstract

A lighting system and method includes a light module and control module having analog and digital inputs. The control module sends a lighting control output signal to the light module. A mode selector sets a mode of the control module. In a first mode, the lighting control output signal is based on one analog dimming lighting control input signal provided to an analog input. In a second mode, the lighting control output signal is based on dimming and color lighting control input signals provided to two analog inputs. In a third mode, the lighting output control signal is based on a digital lighting control input signal provided to a digital input. In a fourth mode, the control module determines a selected lighting scene based on a scene selection input signal provided to an analog input, and the lighting output signal is based on the selected lighting scene.

Claims

1. A multi-mode lighting system comprising:

a light module;

a control module coupled to the light module via a first pair of wires adapted to transmit power to said light module and a second pair of wires adapted to transmit control signals to said light module, the control module being operable to receive a plurality of lighting control input signals and to send at least one lighting control output signal via the second pair of wires to the light module based on at least one of the lighting control input signals, and the lighting control output signal being operable to control at least one of an intensity and color of light emitted by the light module;

the control module having a plurality of inputs including at least two analog inputs each adapted to receive an analog lighting control input signal and at least one digital input adapted to receive a digital lighting control input signal;

a mode selector coupled to the control module, the mode selector being operable to set the control module into any one of at least first, second, third and fourth modes;

wherein in the first mode of the control module the lighting control output signal is based on one analog lighting control input signal provided to one of the two analog inputs where the one analog lighting control input signal is a dimming control signal to selectively control the intensity of the light emitted by the light module, and the control module is operable to send the lighting control output signal to the light module according to the one analog lighting control input signal;

wherein in the second mode of the control module the lighting control output signal is based on first and second analog lighting control input signals respectively provided to the two analog inputs where the first analog lighting control input signal is a dimming control signal to selectively control the intensity of the light emitted by the light module and the second analog lighting control input signal is a color selection signal to selectively control the color of the light emitted by the light module, and the control module is operable to send the lighting control output signal to the light module according to the first lighting control input signal and the second lighting control input signal;

wherein in the third mode of the control module the lighting output control signal is based on a digital lighting control input signal provided to the digital input, and the control module is operable to send the lighting control output signal to the light module according to the digital lighting control input signal; and

wherein in the fourth mode the control module is operable to receive a lighting scene selection signal provided to one of the two analog inputs and is operable to determine a selected lighting scene according to the lighting scene selection signal, where the selected lighting scene is determined by an algorithm or is selected from among a plurality of predetermined lighting scenes stored in a memory of the lighting module, and the control module is operable to send the lighting control output signal to the light module according to the selected lighting scene.

2. The multi-mode lighting system of claim 1, wherein, in the fourth mode:

the control module is operable to receive the lighting scene selection signal from a dimmer which generates a non-linear signal with respect to a position of the dimmer; and

the control module is operable to compensate for the non-linear signal so that scene selection is at least approximately linear with respect to the position of the dimmer.

3. The multi-mode lighting system of claim 2, wherein, in the fourth mode:

the control module is operable to convert the lighting scene selection signal into a digital value and the digital value is used to select the selected lighting scene from the predetermined lighting scenes; and

a distribution of the predetermined lighting scenes in the memory is weighted according to a dimming curve of the non-linear signal generated by the dimmer so that scene selection is at least approximately linear with respect to the position of the dimmer.

4. The multi-mode lighting system of claim 1, wherein, in the fourth mode:

the control module employs a hysteresis function to stabilize the determination of the selected lighting scene.

5. The multi-mode lighting system of claim 1, wherein the light module is located remotely from the control module.

6. The multi-mode lighting system of claim 1, wherein:

in the first mode, the lighting control output signal is based solely on the one analog lighting control input signal;

in the second mode, the lighting control output signal is based only on the first and second analog lighting control input signals;

in the third mode, the lighting control output signal is based solely on the digital lighting control input signal; and

in the fourth mode, the control module is operable to determine the selected lighting scene according to only the lighting scene selection signal.

7. The multi-mode lighting system of claim 1, wherein the light module and control module are disposed in a single housing.

8. The multi-mode lighting system of claim 1, wherein, in the fourth mode:

each of the predetermined lighting scenes corresponds to a different combination of at least color and intensity of the light emitted by the light module.

9. The multi-mode lighting system of claim 1, wherein, in the first mode:

the lighting control output signal comprises a digital signal.

10. The multi-mode lighting system of claim 1, wherein, in the second mode:

the lighting control output signal comprises a digital signal.

11. The multi-mode lighting system of claim 1, wherein, in the third mode:

the lighting control output signal comprises a digital signal.

12. The multi-mode lighting system of claim 1, wherein, in the fourth mode:

the lighting control output signal comprises a digital signal.

13. The multi-mode lighting system of claim 1, wherein, in the first, second, third and fourth modes:

the lighting control output signal comprises a digital signal.

14. The multi-mode lighting system of claim 1, wherein the two analog inputs are each adapted to receive 0-10 volt analog signals.

15. The multi-mode lighting system of claim 1, wherein, in the fourth mode the control module is operable to receive the lighting scene selection signal from a dimmer wherein scene selection corresponds to a position of the dimmer.

16. The multi-mode lighting system of claim 1, wherein,

in the first mode the control module sends a digital signal to the light source to control the intensity of the light source;

in the second mode the control module sends a digital signal to the light source to control the intensity and the color of the light source;

in the third mode the control module sends a digital signal to the light source to control the light source; and

in the fourth mode the control module sends a digital signal to the light source to control the light source based on the selected lighting scene.

17. A multi-mode lighting system comprising:

a control module operable to receive a plurality of input signals, the control module having at least three inputs each adapted to receive a lighting control signal;

a light source coupled to the control module via a first pair of wires adapted to transmit power to said light source and a second pair of wires adapted to transmit control signals to said light source;

a mode selector coupled to the control module, the mode selector being operable to set the lighting system into any one of a plurality of lighting modes;

wherein in a first mode the control module functions based solely on one analog lighting control signal provided to one of the at least three inputs where the one analog lighting control signal is a dimming control signal to selectively control an intensity of the light source, and the control module controlling an intensity of the light source according to the one analog lighting control signal;

wherein in a second mode the control module functions based solely on a first analog input signal provided to one of the at least three inputs and a second analog input signal provided to a second of the at least three inputs, the first analog input signal is a dimming control signal to selectively control an intensity of the light source and the second analog input signal is a color selection signal to selectively control a color of the light source, and the control module controlling an intensity and a color of the light source based on the first and second analog input signals;

wherein in a third mode the control module functions based solely on a digital input signal provided to one of the at least three inputs, and the control module controlling the light source according to the digital input signal; and

wherein in a fourth mode the control module functions based solely on a lighting control signal provided to one of the at least three inputs, where the lighting control signal received is a lighting scene selection signal, and the control module is operable to determine a lighting scene according to the received lighting scene selection signal, where a selected lighting scene is determined by an algorithm or is selected from among a plurality of predetermined lighting scenes stored in a memory of the lighting system and where each of the predetermined lighting scenes corresponds to a combination of at least color and intensity of the light source, and the control module controlling the light source according to the selected lighting scene.

18. The multi-mode lighting system of claim 17, wherein,

in the first mode the control module sends a digital signal to the light source to control the intensity of the light source;

in the second mode the control module sends a digital signal to the light source to control the intensity and the color of the light source;

in the third mode the control module sends a digital signal to the light source to control the light source; and

in the fourth mode the control module sends a digital signal to the light source to control the light source based on the selected lighting scene.

19. A method of comprising:

providing a light module;

providing a control module coupled to the light module via a first pair of wires adapted to transmit power to the light module and a second pair of wires adapted to transmit control signals to the light module, the control module being operable to receive a plurality of lighting control input signals and to send at least one lighting control output signal via the second pair of wires to the light module based on at least one of the lighting control input signals, and the lighting control output signal being operable to control at least one of an intensity and color of light emitted by the light module;

the control module having a plurality of inputs including at least two analog inputs each adapted to receive an analog lighting control input signal and at least one digital input adapted to receive a digital lighting control input signal;

providing a mode selector coupled to the control module, the mode selector being operable to set the control module into any one of at least first, second, third and fourth modes;

operating to the mode selector to set the control module to one the first, second, third or fourth modes;

wherein in a first mode of the control module the lighting control output signal is based on one analog lighting control input signal provided to one of the two analog inputs where the one analog lighting control input signal is a dimming control signal to selectively control the intensity of the light emitted by the light module, and the control module is operable to send the lighting control output signal to the light module according to the one analog lighting control input signal;

wherein in a second mode of the control module the lighting control output signal is based on first and second analog lighting control input signals respectively provided to the two analog inputs where the first analog lighting control input signal is a dimming control signal to selectively control the intensity of the light emitted by the light module and the second analog lighting control input signal is a color selection signal to selectively control the color of the light emitted by the light module, and the control module is operable to send the lighting control output signal to the light module i according to the first lighting control input signal and the second lighting control input signal;

wherein in a third mode of the control module the lighting output control signal is based on a digital lighting control input signal provided to the digital input, and the control module is operable to send the lighting control output signal to the light module according to the digital lighting control input signal; and

wherein in a fourth mode the control module is operable to receive a lighting scene selection signal provided to one of the two analog inputs and is operable to determine a selected lighting scene according to the lighting scene selection signal, where the selected lighting scene is determined by an algorithm or is selected from among a plurality of predetermined lighting scenes stored in a memory of the lighting module, and the control module is operable to send the lighting control output signal to the light module according to the selected lighting scene.

20. The method claim 19, wherein in the fourth mode:

the control module is operable to receive the lighting scene selection signal from a dimmer which generates a non-linear signal with respect to a position of the dimmer; and

the control module is operable to compensate for the non-linear signal so that scene selection is at least approximately linear with respect to the position of the dimmer.