Ambient light regulation methods

• US 10,470,267 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2013
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated), RF Micro Devices Incorporated (Qorvo, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pope, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Taningco, Alexander H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bahr, Kurtis R
• Application Number:
  US14/087,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20150145418A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,174 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/18 using temperature feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A lighting fixture includes a solid-state light source and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to receive one or more ambient light level measurements corresponding to the amount of ambient light detected by an ambient light sensor, and determine a range of values for the one or more ambient light level measurements corresponding to a desired amount of light detected by the ambient light sensor. The control circuitry is then configured to drive the solid-state light source such that the one or more ambient light level measurements received from the ambient light sensor fall within the determined range of values.

Claims

1. A lighting fixture comprising:

an ambient light sensor configured to provide an ambient light sensor output;

a solid-state light source; and

control circuitry coupled to the ambient light sensor and the solid-state light source and configured to;

read the ambient light sensor output to obtain one or more initial ambient light level measurements;

determine a setpoint for the ambient light sensor output based on the one or more initial ambient light level measurements, the setpoint corresponding with a light intensity detected by the ambient light sensor;

determine a first value that is below the setpoint for the ambient light sensor output and a second value that is above the setpoint for the ambient light sensor output;

independently drive the solid-state light source to an output dimming level such that the ambient light sensor output falls between the first value and the second value; and

adjust the setpoint when changes to a drive current signal are detected while the ambient light sensor output falls between the first value and the second value.

2. The lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein a range defined by the first value and the second value is between 2% and 4% of a total range of the ambient light sensor output.

3. The lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein determining the setpoint for the ambient light sensor output comprises:

reading the ambient light sensor output with the solid-state light source driven at a first level to obtain one or more first ambient light level measurements;

reading the ambient light sensor output with the solid-state light source driven at a second level to obtain one or more second ambient light level measurements; and

determining the setpoint based on a difference between the one or more first ambient light level measurements and the one or more second ambient light level measurements.

4. The lighting fixture of claim 3 wherein the first level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven to a fully on state.

5. The lighting fixture of claim 4 wherein the second level corresponds to the solid-state light source being off.

6. The lighting fixture of claim 3 wherein the first level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven at a first dimming level and the second level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven at a second dimming level, which is different from the first dimming level.

7. The lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein the light intensity detected by the ambient light sensor corresponds to a reference light level being reflected off of a task surface that is at least partially illuminated by the lighting fixture.

8. The lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein the solid-state light source comprises a plurality of LEDs.

9. The lighting fixture of claim 8 wherein the plurality of LEDs comprises at least one LED that emits light at a first color and at least one other LED that emits light at a second color that is different from the first color.

10. A lighting fixture network comprising the lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the lighting fixture is configured to operate independently from other lighting fixtures in the lighting fixture network while providing light in a concerted fashion.

11. A lighting fixture network comprising a plurality of lighting fixtures and each of the plurality of lighting fixtures comprises:

an ambient light sensor configured to provide an ambient light sensor output;

a solid-state light source; and

control circuitry coupled to the solid-state light source and configured to;

read the ambient light sensor output to obtain one or more initial ambient light level measurements;

determine a setpoint for the ambient light sensor output based on the one or more initial ambient light level measurements, the setpoint corresponding with a light intensity detected by the ambient light sensor; and

independently adjust the setpoint based on changes to a drive current signal provided to the solid-state light source such that each of the plurality of light fixtures operates independently from others while providing light in a concerted fashion.

12. The lighting fixture network of claim 11 wherein determining the setpoint for the ambient light sensor output comprises:

reading the ambient light sensor output with the solid-state light source driven at a first level to obtain one or more first ambient light level measurements;

reading the ambient light sensor output with the solid-state light source driven at a second level to obtain one or more second ambient light level measurements; and

determining the setpoint based on a difference between the one or more first ambient light level measurements and the one or more second ambient light level measurements.

13. The lighting fixture network of claim 12 wherein the first level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven to a fully on state.

14. The lighting fixture network of claim 13 wherein the second level corresponds to the solid-state light source being off.

15. The lighting fixture network of claim 12 wherein the first level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven at a first dimming level and the second level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven at a second dimming level, which is different from the first dimming level.

16. The lighting fixture network of claim 11 wherein the light intensity detected by the ambient light sensor corresponds to a reference light level being reflected off of a task surface that is at least partially illuminated by the lighting fixture network.

17. The lighting fixture network of claim 11 wherein the solid-state light source comprises a plurality of LEDs.

18. The lighting fixture network of claim 17 wherein the plurality of LEDs comprises at least one LED that emits light at a first color and at least one other LED that emits light at a second color that is different from the first color.

19. The lighting fixture network of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is configured to independently drive the solid-state light source to an output dimming level corresponding to the setpoint, and adjust the setpoint again when changes to the drive current signal are detected.

20. A lighting fixture network comprising a plurality of lighting fixtures and each of the plurality of lighting fixtures comprises:

an ambient light sensor configured to provide an ambient light sensor output;

a solid-state light source; and

control circuitry configured to;

read the ambient light sensor output to obtain one or more initial ambient light level measurements;

determine a setpoint for the ambient light sensor output based on the one or more initial ambient light level measurements, the setpoint corresponding with a light intensity detected by the ambient light sensor;

determine a first value that is below the setpoint for the ambient light sensor output and a second value that is above the setpoint for the ambient light sensor output; and

independently adjust one or more of the first value and the second value based on changes to a drive current signal provided to the solid-state light source such that each of the plurality of light fixtures operates independently from others while providing light in a concerted fashion.

21. The lighting fixture network of claim 20 wherein a range defined by the first value and the second value is between 2% and 4% of a total range of the ambient light sensor output.

22. The lighting fixture network of claim 20 wherein determining the setpoint for the ambient light sensor output comprises:

reading the ambient light sensor output with the solid-state light source driven at a first level to obtain one or more first ambient light level measurements;

reading the ambient light sensor output with the solid-state light source driven at a second level to obtain one or more second ambient light level measurements; and

determining the setpoint based on a difference between the one or more first ambient light level measurements and the one or more second ambient light level measurements.

23. The lighting fixture network of claim 22 wherein the first level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven to a fully on state.

24. The lighting fixture network of claim 23 wherein the second level corresponds to the solid-state light source being off.

25. The lighting fixture network of claim 22 wherein the first level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven at a first dimming level and the second level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven at a second dimming level, which is different from the first dimming level.

26. The lighting fixture network of claim 20 wherein the light intensity detected by the ambient light sensor corresponds to a reference light level being reflected off of a task surface that is at least partially illuminated by the lighting fixture network.

27. The lighting fixture network of claim 20 wherein the solid-state light source comprises a plurality of LEDs.

28. The lighting fixture network of claim 27 wherein the plurality of LEDs comprises at least one LED that emits light at a first color and at least one other LED that emits light at a second color that is different from the first color.

29. The lighting fixture network of claim 20, wherein the control circuitry is configured to independently drive the solid-state light source to an output dimming level such that the ambient light sensor output falls between the first value and the second value, and adjust the setpoint when changes to the drive current signal are detected while the ambient light sensor output falls between the first value and the second value.

30. A method of operating a lighting fixture including a solid-state light source comprising:

reading an ambient light sensor output from an ambient light sensor to obtain one or more initial ambient light level measurements;

determining a setpoint for the ambient light sensor output based on the one or more initial ambient light level measurements, the setpoint corresponding with a light intensity detected by the ambient light sensor;

determining a first value that is below the setpoint for the ambient light sensor output and a second value that is above the setpoint for the ambient light sensor output;

independently driving the solid-state light source to an output dimming level such that the ambient light sensor output falls between the first value and the second value; and

adjusting the setpoint when changes to a drive current signal are detected while the ambient light sensor output falls between the first value and the second value.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the ambient light sensor is included in the lighting fixture.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein a range defined by the first value and the second value is between 2% and 4% of a total range of the ambient light sensor output.

33. The method of claim 30 wherein determining the setpoint for the ambient light sensor output comprises:

reading the ambient light sensor output with the solid-state light source driven at a first level to obtain one or more first ambient light measurement signals;

reading the ambient light sensor output with the solid-state light source driven at a second level to obtain one or more second ambient light measurement signals; and

determining the setpoint based on a difference between the one or more first ambient light measurement signals and the one or more second ambient light measurement signals.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the first level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven to a fully on state.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the second level corresponds to the solid-state light source being off.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein the first level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven at a first dimming level and the second level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven at a second dimming level, which is different from the first dimming level.

37. The method of claim 30 wherein the light intensity detected by the ambient light sensor corresponds to a reference light level being reflected off of a task surface that is at least partially illuminated by the lighting fixture.

38. The method of claim 30 wherein the solid-state light source comprises a plurality of LEDs.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the plurality of LEDs comprises at least one LED that emits light at a first color and at least one other LED that emits light at a second color that is different from the first color.

40. A method of operating a lighting fixture network comprising a plurality of lighting fixtures and each of the plurality of lighting fixtures includes a solid-state light source, the method comprising:

reading an ambient light sensor output from an ambient light sensor to obtain one or more initial ambient light level measurements;

determining a setpoint for the ambient light sensor output based on the one or more initial ambient light level measurements, the setpoint corresponding with a light intensity detected by the ambient light sensor; and

independently adjusting the setpoint based on changes to a drive current signal provided to the solid-state light source such that each of the plurality of light fixtures operates independently from others while providing light in a concerted fashion.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the ambient light sensor is included in the lighting fixture network.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein determining the setpoint for the ambient light sensor output comprises:

reading the ambient light sensor output with the solid-state light source driven at a first level to obtain one or more first ambient light measurement signals;

reading the ambient light sensor output with the solid-state light source driven at a second level to obtain one or more second ambient light measurement signals; and

determining the setpoint based on a difference between the one or more first ambient light measurement signals and the one or more second ambient light measurement signals.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein the first level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven to a fully on state.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein the second level corresponds to the solid-state light source being off.

45. The method of claim 42 wherein the first level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven at a first dimming level and the second level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven at a second dimming level, which is different from the first dimming level.

46. The method of claim 40 wherein the light intensity detected by the ambient light sensor corresponds to a reference light level being reflected off of a task surface that is at least partially illuminated by the lighting fixture network.

47. The method of claim 40 wherein the solid-state light source comprises a plurality of LEDs.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein the plurality of LEDs comprises at least one LED that emits light at a first color and at least one other LED that emits light at a second color that is different from the first color.

49. A method of operating a lighting fixture network comprising a plurality of lighting fixtures and each of the plurality of lighting fixtures includes a solid-state light source, the method comprising:

reading an ambient light sensor output from an ambient light sensor to obtain one or more initial ambient light level measurements;

determining a range of values for the ambient light sensor output based on the one or more initial ambient light level measurements, the range of values corresponding with a light intensity detected by the ambient light sensor; and

independently adjusting the range of values based on changes to a drive current signal provided to the solid-state light source such that each of the plurality of light fixtures operates independently from others while providing light in a concerted fashion.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein the ambient light sensor is included in the lighting fixture network.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein the range of values is defined by a lower value and an upper value that is between 2% and 4% of a total range of the ambient light sensor output.

52. The method of claim 49 wherein determining the range of values for the ambient light sensor output comprises:

reading the ambient light sensor output with the solid-state light source driven at a first level to obtain one or more first ambient light measurement signals;

reading the ambient light sensor output with the solid-state light source driven at a second level to obtain one or more second ambient light measurement signals; and

determining the range of values based on a difference between the one or more first ambient light measurement signals and the one or more second ambient light measurement signals.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein the first level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven to a fully on state.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein the second level corresponds to the solid-state light source being off.

55. The method of claim 52 wherein the first level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven at a first dimming level and the second level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven at a second dimming level, which is different from the first dimming level.

56. The method of claim 49 wherein the light intensity detected by the ambient light sensor corresponds to a reference light level being reflected off of a task surface that is at least partially illuminated by the lighting fixture network.

57. The method of claim 49 wherein the solid-state light source comprises a plurality of LEDs.

58. The method of claim 57 wherein the plurality of LEDs comprises at least one LED that emits light at a first color and at least one other LED that emits light at a second color that is different from the first color.