Smart lighting system

• US 10,524,331 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2019
• Issued: 12/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rein, Harry
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Haissa
• Application Number:
  US16/272,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20190246476A1
• Time in Patent Office: 323 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/125 by using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

According to at least one embodiment, a computer-implemented method to illuminate a room is described. At least one person entering the room may be identified. The room may be illuminated based at least in part on the identifying. An occupancy count for the room may be maintained based at least in part on the illuminating, wherein the occupancy count comprises a number of one or more people present in the room. The room may be darkened based at least in part on the occupancy count for the room reaching a pre-determined count.

Claims

1. A method to illuminate a room, the method comprising:

detecting a person entering the room comprising at least one light;

tracking a pattern of room occupancy for the room based at least in part on the detecting;

determining a darkening time period for the at least one light based at least in part on the pattern of room occupancy; and

adjusting the at least one light after an expiration of the determined darkening time.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that an occupancy count for the room falls below a pre-determined count; and

initiating the darkening time period based at least in part on determining that the occupancy count for the room falls below the pre-determined count, wherein adjusting the at least one light is based at least in part on the initiating.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying an interaction between the person and an appliance in the room, wherein the determining the darkening time period for the at least one light is based at least in part on the identified interaction.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving visual data indicating one or more activities occurring in the room from a camera positioned in the room, wherein identifying the interaction is based at least in part on the visual data.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the adjusting the at least one light is based at least in part on a type of the appliance.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

predicting, based at least in part on the pattern of room occupancy, a schedule for the person indicating a predicted time of day the person will enter the room; and

illuminating the room at the predicted time of day based at least in part on the schedule.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining, after illuminating the room, that an occupancy count for the room is below a pre-determined count; and

initiating the darkening time period based at least in part on determining that the occupancy count for the room is below the pre-determined count, wherein adjusting the at least one light is based at least in part on the initiating.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving a calendar associated with the person, wherein the predicting is based at least in part on the calendar.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining an occupancy count for the room comprising a number of people present in the room, wherein tracking the pattern of room occupancy is based at least in part on the occupancy count.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the at least one light comprises adjusting the at least one light while the person is in the room.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the at least one light comprises darkening the at least one light.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting directional motion of the person based at least in part on one or more lasers, wherein tracking the pattern of room occupancy is based at least in part on the directional motion of the person.

13. An automation system to illuminate a room comprising:

a processor;

a memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

detect a person entering the room comprising at least one light;

track a pattern of room occupancy for the room based at least in part on the detecting;

determine a darkening time period for the at least one light based at least in part on the pattern of room occupancy; and

adjust the at least one light after an expiration of the determined darkening time.

14. The automation system of claim 13, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

determine that an occupancy count for the room falls below a pre-determined count; and

initiate the darkening time period based at least in part on determining that the occupancy count for the room falls below the pre-determined count, wherein adjusting the at least one light is based at least in part on the initiating.

15. The automation system of claim 13, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

identify an interaction between the person and an appliance in the room, wherein the determining the darkening time period for the at least one light is based at least in part on the identified interaction.

16. The automation system of claim 15, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

receive visual data indicating one or more activities occurring in the room from a camera positioned in the room, wherein identifying the interaction is based at least in part on the visual data.

17. The automation system of claim 13, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

predict, based at least in part on the pattern of room occupancy, a schedule for the person indicating a predicted time of day the person will enter the room; and

illuminate the room at the predicted time of day based at least in part on the schedule.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor to:

detect a person entering a room comprising at least one light;

track a pattern of room occupancy for the room based at least in part on the detecting;

determine a darkening time period for the at least one light based at least in part on the pattern of room occupancy; and

adjust the at least one light after an expiration of the determined darkening time.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

determine that an occupancy count for the room falls below a pre-determined count; and

initiate the darkening time period based at least in part on determining that the occupancy count for the room falls below the pre-determined count, wherein adjusting the at least one light is based at least in part on the initiating.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

identify an interaction between the person and an appliance in the room, wherein the determining the darkening time period for the at least one light is based at least in part on the identified interaction.